Novel and potent inhibitors of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1. Part I: Discovery of 3-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-4-methoxy-N-[5-(3-trifluoromethylbenzyl)thiazol-2-yl]benzamide

A series of structurally novel 5-benzylthiazole-based stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) inhibitors has been identified. Preliminary SAR studies led to the discovery of highly potent and orally available SCD-1 inhibitors.