The present invention relates to novel ACSS2 inhibitors having activity as anti-cancer therapy, treatment of alcoholism, and viral infection (e.g., CMV), composition and methods of preparation thereof, and uses thereof for treating viral infection, alcoholism, alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), obesity/weight gain, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, inflammatory/autoimmune conditions and cancer, including metastatic cancer, advanced cancer, and drug resistant cancer of various types.