The synthesis of three isotopomers of 2‐methyl‐2‐(4‐[3‐[1‐(4‐methylbenzyl)‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐[1,2,4]triazol‐3‐yl]propyl]phenoxy)propionic acid,a potent and selective peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha agonist

Although fenofibrate ( 1a ) is commercially available and clinically effective in lowering serum triglycerides, its activity and sub‐type selectivity at the PPARα receptors are only moderate; therefore, there exists a need for more potent and sub‐type selective PPARα agonists. To that end, discovery efforts have identified 2‐methyl‐2‐(4‐[3‐[1‐(4‐methylbenzyl)‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐[1,2,4]triazol‐3‐yl]propyl]phenoxy)propionic acid ( 2 ), a potent and selective human PPARα receptor agonist. In support of pre‐clinical ADME studies and bioanalysis, three isotopomers of 2 have been synthesized. The results of these efforts are described below. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.