6,7-dihydroxyisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids are potent inhibitors on the binding of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) to IGF-binding proteins: optimization of the 1-position benzoyl side chain.

A series of 1-benzoyl isoquinolines, based on compound 1, was synthesized and evaluated for their ability to displace IGF-I from its complex with IGF_binding protein-3. Successful modifications of 1 included the replacement of the 3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl group with a substituted benzyl group. These alternations culminated in the discovery of compounds such as 7o which had excellent in vitro potency (Ki=9.4 nM) but with one less of the labile catechol functionality of 1.