Hydrophenalene–Cr(CO)3 complexes as anti-inflammatory agents based on specific inhibition of NOD2 signalling: a SAR study

Abstract

Small molecules, which specifically inhibit NOD2 signalling, are of high interest in the search for new anti-inflammatory drugs. In this context, the previously discovered hydrophenalene–Cr(CO)₃ complex 1 was taken as a lead and new structural analogues were prepared by means of chemical synthesis. The NOD2-inhibiting activity of the compounds was determined with cell-based reporter assays employing human embryonic kidney cells. As a result of the study, some clear structure activity relationships (SARs) could be identified. The best compounds were active at low μM concentration.