Design and synthesis of new potential photoaffinity labels for mammalian squalene epoxidase

Aromatic azides derived from known inhibitors have been prepared as potential photoaffinity labels for mammalian squalene epoxidase. Three of them (compounds 5b, 5c and 6) were found to inhibit pig liver SE with submicromolar affinities and to block cholesterol biosynthesis in HepG2 cells.