Active Conformation of Seven‐Membered‐Ring Benzolactams as New ACAT Inhibitors: Latent Chirality at N5 in the 1,5‐Benzodiazepin‐2‐one Nucleus

Nitrogen chirality: Potent new ACAT inhibitors with seven-membered-ring benzolactams as the core structures were first prepared, and the axial chirality recognized by the enzyme was clarified (e.g., 1; see scheme). The chirality at the axis (aS) of 1 controls the conformation of the entire lactam ring, causing the N5-CH3 to arrange in a pseudo-equatorial position (i.e., the amine at N5 is a chiral center with the S-configuration) both in the crystal state and in solution.