Abstract The TWIK-related K+ channel, TREK-1, has recently emerged as an attractive therapeutic target for the development of a novel class of analgesic drugs. It has been reported that TREK-1−/− mice were more sensitive than wild-type mice to painful stimuli, suggesting that activation of TREK-1 could result in pain inhibition. Here we report the synthesis of a series of substituted caffeate esters (12a–u) based on the hit compound ...