Synthesis and biological evaluation of indazole derivatives

The inhibition of neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthases (nNOS and iNOS) by a series of 36 indazoles has been evaluated, showing that most of the assayed derivatives are better iNOS than nNOS inhibitors. A parabolic model relating the iNOS inhibition percentage with the difference, Erel, between stacking and apical interaction energies of indazoles with the active site of the NOS enzyme has been established.

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► synthetic indazoles are good inhibitors of NOS isoforms.
► fluorine atoms in the molecule increase the inhibitory potency against NOS.
► 4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazole is a potent and selective iNOS inhibitor.
► a parabolic model relates the interaction between inhibitory indazoles and iNOS.