Leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors have potential as new therapeutic agents for asthma and inflammatory diseases. A series of novel substituted 2-cyanoquinolines have been synthesized and the structure activity relationships were evaluated with respect to their ability to inhibit the formation of leukotrienes via the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme. [1S,5R]-2-Cyano-4-(3-furyl)-7-{3-fluoro-5-[3-(3 alpha-hydroxy-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanyl)]phenoxymethyl}quinoline (L-746,530) 3 represents a distinct class of inhibitors and possesses in vitro and in vivo potency comparable or superior to naphthalenic analog (L-739,010) 2. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.