A series of 2-dialkylamino-4-phenylpyrimidines (7) was designed and synthesized as CRF1 antagonists. SAR studies of this series resulted in the discovery of potent and selective antagonists 7b and 7n bearing a 4-(2, 4, 6-trisubstituted-phenyl) ring and a bulky 2-(N-bis (cyclopropane) methyl-N-propyl) amino group.