Synthesis of benzoylpyrimidines as antagonists of the corticotropin-releasing factor-1 receptor

A series of benzoylpyrimidines derived from the anilinepyrimidine CRF1 antagonists were synthesized. Several synthetic routes were developed to explore the SAR of this series of compounds. Compounds such as 8d (Ki=15 nM) exhibited high binding affinities at the human CRF1 receptor.