CA2000258A1 - Pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives and their use as 5-lipoxygenase pathway inhibitors - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Compounds comprising pyridyl and phenyl substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole derivatives and pyridyl and phenyl subsituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds, and their use as 5-lipoxygenase pathway inhibitors.

Description

25~3 .

PYRROLO[l,2-a]IMIDAZOLE AND IMIDAZO[l,2-alPYRIDINE

INHIBITORS

- CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of Serial No.

15 092,258, filed September 2, 1988, which is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 856,928, filed April 28, 1986, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 808,407, filed December 12, 1985, which is abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to novel compounds, pharma-ceutical compositions and methods of inhibiting the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism in an animal in need thereof which comprises administering to ~ 25 such animal an effective, 5-lipoxygenase pathway inhibiting : amount of a pyridyl and phenyl substituted pyrrolo-tl,2-a]imidazole, or pyridyl and phenyl substituted : imidazo[l,2-a]pyridine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Davidson et al., U. S. Patent 4,507,481, issued March 26, 1985, disclose compounds of the formula:

a 2~l3 1 wherein:
X is ~ or S(O)n;
n is 0, 1 or 2;
Rl is H, lower alkyl, phenyl, benzyl or benzyl substituted with lower alkylamino, lower alkylamino, nitro, halo, hydroxy or lower alkoxy-;
R2 is H or XRl;
A is C~2 or CH2CH3;
R3 and R4 are independently selected from A, lower alkyl, aryl, aryl substituted with lower alkyl, amino, lower alkylamino, nitro, lower alkoxy, hydroxy or halogen;
provided that at least one of R3 and R4 is aryl or substituted aryl; and R5 and R6 are each H or join to form a double bond at the 2,3-position.
Davidson et al. also disclose that such comounds are immunostimulants or immunosuppresants based on (a) their inhibiting or stimulating activity in a chemotaxis assay which measures the ability of a drug substance to influence the movement of murine macrophages responding to comple-ment; (b) their immunosuppressing or activating activity in the Kennedy plaque assay in which an animal's humoral S immune system is depressed artificially with 6-mercapto-purine. Neither the chemotaxis assay nor the Kennedy plaque assay is of any known utility for detecting or suggesting compounds which are inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. Davidson et al~ alsc disclose that such compounds have antiinflammatory activity as determined by the carrageenan-induced paw edema assay in rats. As stated above, such assay has no known utility in detecting or suggesting compounds which are inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. Davidson et al. also disclose that such compounds have antiviral activity in mice with hepatitis; but such activity is of no known utility in 2il;~

1 detecting or suggesting compounds which are inhibitors of the S-lipoxygenase pathway.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a compound of.the formula (I) ~2 ~3 ,a . ~
~ t FORMULA (I) wherein . 1) One of R or Rl must be alkyl substituted pyridyl and the other is selected frQm:
(a) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is selected from H, halo, hydroxy Cl 3 alkoxy, Cl 3 alkylthio, Cl 4 alkyl, Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl, Cl_3 alkylamino, Cl 3 dialkylamino, CF3, N-(Cl_3 alkyl)-N-(cl-3alkanamido)~
N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, prop-2-ene-1-oxy or 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy;
(b) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are the same and are selected from halo, Cl_3 alkoxy, Cl_3 alkylamino, Cl_3 dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy, prop-2-ene-1-oxy, or hydroxy, or the disubstituents together form methylene dioxy group;

. ~ , 2il~
_ 4 --1 (c) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are not the same and are independently selected from halo, Cl 3 alkylamino, nitro, N-(Cl 3alkyl)-N-(C1 3 alkanamido, Cl 3 dialkylamino, amino, ~-pyrrolidino or N-piperidino;
(d) disubstituted phenyl wherein one of said substituents must be Cl 3 alkoxy, hydroxy, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy or prop-2-ene-1-oxy and the other substituent is independently selected from halo, Cl_3 alkylamino, N-(Cl_3alkyl)-N-Cl 3alkanamido), Cl 3dialkylamino, amino, N-pyrrolidino or N-piperidino; or (e) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is selected from Cl_3 alkylthio, Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, and Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl and the other is selected from C2 3 alkoxy, nitro, halo, amino, Cl 3 aIkylamino, or Cl 3 dialkylamino; or 2) One of R or Rl is 2-pyridyl or 3-pyridyl and the other is selected from:
(a) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is selected from Cl 3 alkylthio, Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl, Cl_3alkoxy or hydroxy; or (b) disubstituted phenyl wherein one : substituent is selected from Cl 3 alkylthio, Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, or Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl and the other is selected from Cl_3 alkoxy, nitro, halo, amino, Cl 3 alkylamino, or Cl_3 dialkylamino, or 3) R is 4-pyridyl and Rl is selected from:
(a) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is selected from Cl 3 alkylthio, 1. Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl or hydroxy; or (b) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is selected from Cl 3 alkylthio, Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, or Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl and the other is selected from C2 3 alkoxy, nitro, halo, amino, Cl 3 alkylamino, or Cl 3 dialkylamino; or 4) Rl is 4-pyridyl and ~ selected from:
(a) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is selected from Cl 3 alkylthio, Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl, hydroxy or C2 3 alkoxy, or branched or unbranched C2 5 alkenylthio or C2 5 alkenylsulfinyl; or (b) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is selected from Cl_3 alkylthio, Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, or Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl and the other is selected from C2 3 alkoxy, nitro, halo, amino, C} 3 alkylamino, or Cl 3 dialkylamino, or branched or unbranched C2 5 alkenylthio or C2 5 alkenylsulfinyl; or 5) One of R or R is pyridyl or alkyl substituted pyridyl and the other is (a) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is from alkenylthio, alkenylsulfinyl, thiol tHS-], acylthio tAC(O)S-], dithioacyl tAC(S)S-], thiocarbamyl [AAlNC(O)S-], dithiocarbamyl [AAlNC(S)S-], alkylcarbonylalkylthio CAC(O)CH2S-], carbalkoxyalkylthio tBOC(O)CH2S-], alkoxycarbonylthio [BOC(O)S-], alkoxythionothio~BOC(S)S-], phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio[BOC~2S-~, alkoxyalkyl-.sulfinyltBOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], disulfide ~BlSS-], or 2~ 2.~

1 acyloxyalkylthio tAC(O)OCH2S-] wherein the - CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl_4alkyl, and A and A are hydrogen, Cl galkyl or phenyl, B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, and Bl is Cl g alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or a Formula (I~
compound linked through the thio group on the phenyl ring of R or Rl;
b) disubstituted phenyl wherein the substitutents are the same and are selected from Cl 3 alkylthio, Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl, alkenylthio, alkenylsulfinyl, thiol [HS-], acylthio tAC(O)S-], dithioacyl [AC(S)S-], thiocarbamyl [AAlNC(O)S-], dithiocarbamyl tAAlNC(S)S-], alkylcarbonylalkylthio tAC(O)CH2S-], carbalkoxyalkylthio [BOC(O)CH2S-], alkoxycarbonylthio tBOC(O)S-], alkoxythionothio[BOC(S)S-], phenylthio, alkox~alkylthiotBOCH2S-], alkoxyalkyl-sulfinyltBOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], disulfide tBlSS-], or acyloxyalkylthio tAC(O)OCH2S-] wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and A and Al are hydrogen, Cl galkyl or phenyl, B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, and Bl is Cl g alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or a Formula (I) compound linked through the thio group on the phenyl ring of R or Rl: or (c) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is seleated rom C2_3 alkoxy, nitro, halo, amino, Cl 3 alkylamino, Cl 3 dialkylamino and the other is selected from alkenylthio, alkenylsulfinyl, thiol tHS-], acylthio tAC(O)S-], dithioacyl tAC~S)S-], thiocarb~myl tAAlNC(O)S-], dithiocarbamyl 1 ~AAlNC(S)S-], alkylcarbonylalkylthio tAc(o)cH2s-]~ carbalkoxyalkylthio ~BOC(o)CH2S-], alkoxycarbonylthio tBOC(O)S-], alkoxythionothio[30C(S)S-], phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio~BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkyl-sulfinyl~BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio ~BSCH2S-], disulfide ~BlSS-], or acyloxyalkylthio ~AC(O)OCH2S-] wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alXyl, and A and A are hydrogen, Cl galkyl or phenyl, B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, and Bl is Cl_g alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or a Formula (I) compound linked through the thio group on the phenyl ring of R or Rl; or 6) One of Rl or R is pyridyl or alkyl substituted pyridyl and the other is selected from monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is ~S~(C~2~n~5 wherein Rl is pyridyl or alkyl substituted pyridyl and R2, R3, R , R , R , R , : R~ and R9 are defined as in formula (I);
and R2 R3 R4 R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are H, or one or two of R , R , R , R , R , R , R7, R8 and R9 are independently selected from H or Cl 2 alkyl; and n is O or l;
35 or a pharmaceuticaily acceptable salt thereof.
~ ' .

.5l~

1 The term N-(Cl 3 alkyl)-N-(Cl 3 alkanamido) is used herein at all occurrances to mean one of the following:
O O
Cl 2 alkyl-CN - or HCN -~1 3 alkyl Cl 3 alkyl The term aryl or heteroaryl is used herein at all occurences to mean aromatic ring(s) or ring systems from 5 10 to 16 carbon atoms, which may include bi- or tri-cyclic systems and may include, but are not limited to heteroatoms selected from O, N, or S. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, phenyl, napthyl, pyridyl, thiazinyl, and furanyl.
This invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and an effective, non-toxic 5-lipoxygenase pathway inhibiting amount of a compound of the formula (I) as defined above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt 20 thereof~
This invention also relates to a method of~treating a 5-lipoxygenase pathway mediated disease in an animal in need thereof which comprises administering to such animal an effective, non-toxic 5-lipoxygenase pathway inhibiting 2; amount of a compound of Formula (I) as defined above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
This invention also relates to intermediate compoullds used in the preparation of a compound of Formula (I) having the following structural formula (J):

~i~~2 ~ ~R
FORMULA (J) Z~ r~

wherein n is 0 or 1;
R2 R3 R4 R5, R6, R7, R8 5 and R9 are H, or one or two of R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are independently selected from H or Cl 2 alkyl;
Rlo is Cl_4 alkyl;
and Xl is selected from (a) phenyl or monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is selected from H, fluoro, chloro, Cl_3 alkoxy, Cl_4 alkyl, Cl_3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio [BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl lS ~BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], C1 3 dialkylamino, CF3, Cl 3 alkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, prop-2-ene-1-oxy or 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy, wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl_galkyl or phenyl,;
(b) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are the same and a~e selected from fluoro, chloro, Cl_3 alkoxy, Cl_3 y amino, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy, prop-2-ene-1-oxy, Cl 3alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio ~BOCH2S-], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl_4alkyl, B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, or the disubstituents together ~orm a methylene dioxy group:
(c) disubstituted phenyl wherein said s-bstituents are not the same and are independently selected from fluoro, chloro, 3s Cl 3 alkylamino, Cl 3 dialkylamino, N~pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino;

.

1 (d) disubstituted phenyl wherein one of said substituents must be Cl 3 alkoxy, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy or prop-2-ene-1-oxy and the other substituent is independently selected from S fluoro, chloro, Cl 3 alkylamino, Cl 3 dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino or N-piperidino;
(e) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is selected from C2 3alkoxy, nitro, halo, N-(Cl 3alkanamido), di~Cl_3alkyl)amino, or Cl 3 alkylamino and the other is selected from alkenylthio, phenylthio, alko~yalkylthio [BOCH2S-], alkylthioalkylthio tBSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl; or lS (f) pyridyl or alkyl substituted pyridyl.
This inventibn also relates to intermediate compounds used in the preparation of a compound of Formula (I) having the followinq structural Formula (L):

~ R9 : 25 ~ a6 EoRMU~A
wherein:
n i8 0 or 1, R , R3, R4, R5, R6 R7 R8 R~
are all H, or one or two of R2, R3, R4, RS R6 R7 R8 and R9 are independently selected from H or Cl 2 alkyl;
one of yl or y2 is independently selected 35. from 4-tl,2-dihydro-2-(C1 4-alkyl]pyridyl substituted with N-(Cl 8 alkanoyl~, N-(Cl 8 2~

1 alkoxycarbonyl), N-(benzoyl), N-(phenoxy-carbonyl), N-(phenylacetyl), or N-(benzyloxy-carbonyl);
and the other is selected from (a) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is selected from H, halo, Cl 3 alkoxy, Cl 3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio ~BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl tBOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio ~BSCH2S-], wherein the C~2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, Cl 4 alkyl, N-(Cl_3 alkyl)-N-(Cl_3 alkanamido), Cl 3 dialkylamino, CF3, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, prop-2-ene-1-oxy or 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy;
(b? disubstituted phenyl wherein said substitutents are the same and are selected from halo~ Cl_3 alkoxy, Cl 3 dialkylamino, Cl 3alkylthio, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, . 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy, prop-2-ene-1-oxy, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio [BOCH2S-], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Ci 4alkyl, and B is Cl 9alkyl or phenyl, or : 25 the disubstituents together form a methylene dioxy group;
(c) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are not the same and are independently selected from halo, N-tCl 3 alkyl)-N-(Cl_3 alkanamido), Cl 3 dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino; or (d) disubsti.uted ~henyl wherein one of said substituents must be Cl 3 alkoxy, Cl 3 alkylthio, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy or prop-2-ene-1-oxy and the other substituent is independently selected from halo, Cl 3 2~
_ 12 -1 alkylamino, N-(Cl 3 alkyl)-N-~Cl 3 alkanamido), Cl 3dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino;
(e) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is selected from C2 3alkoxy, nitro, halo, N-~Cl 3alkanamido), di(Cl 3alkyl)amino, or Cl 3 alkylamino and the other is selected from alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio tBOCH2S-], alkylthioalkylthio [~SCH2S-~, wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl;
or a salt thereof.

~ETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) as described above, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and a compound of Formula (I), methods of treating 5-lipoxygenase pathway mediated diseases comprising 20administration of a compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutical composition containing a compound of Formula ~I). This invention also relates to compounds of Formula (J) and (L) as described above.
All of the compounds of Formula (I) are useful in 25 inhibiting the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism in an animal in need thereof.
The compounds of Formula (I) can be prepared according to the following synthetic route:

z~

~9 ) ca~'9 F08~ ~) . FOEI~ t8 ) N ~ ~ X ~ R3 F~

$~ ~c~ FORM~SI.A (EI) FO~MIJLA ( E ) FO~A ~ F ~ ~ ~R

Br FORMU~A ( ~) o~ 6 / y2 ~ 9 FO~M~) FORMULA (L ) 2~J~b~ ~ S ~

1 All the compounds of Formula (E), Formula (F), Formula (G), Formula (~), Formula (J) and Formula ~L) are useful as intermediates in the preparation of compounds of Formula (I). All of the necessary compounds of Formula 5 (A), Formula (B), Formula (C) and Formula (D) can be obtained from commercial sources or are preparable by conventional techniques such as those set out herein.
The compounds of Formula (E) have the following structure ~1~
J

FORMULA (E) wherein n is 0 or 1;
R2 R3 R4 R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are H, or one or two of R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 R7 R8 and R9 are independently selected from H or Cl 2 alkyl;
X is selected from:
(a) pyridyl;
(b) monosubstit~ted phenyl, wherein said substituent is seleated from halo, Cl 3 alkoxy, amino, hydroxy, Cl 3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio ~BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl ~BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally subs~ tuted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, Cl 4 alkyl, Cl 3 alkylamino, Cl 3 dialkylamino, CF3, N-(Cl 3 alkanamido), N-(Cl 3 alkyl)-~-(Cl 3 Z~ Z~

1 alkanamido), N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, prop-2-ene-1-oxy or 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy;
(c) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are the same and are selected from halo, Cl_3 alkoxy, Cl_3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio tBOCH2S-], alkylthioalkylthio tBSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, Cl 3 alkylamino, Cl 3 dialkylamino, amino, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy, prop-2-ene-l-osy, hydroxy, or the disu~stituents together form a methylene diosy group;
(d) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are not the same and are independently selected from halo, Cl 3 alkylamino, nitro, N-(Cl 3 alkanamido), N-(Cl_3 alkyl)-N-(Cl 3 alkanamido), Cl 3 dialkylamino, amino, N-pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino; or (e) disubstituted phenyl wherein one of said substituents must be Cl 3 alkoxy, hydroxy, Cl 3 alkylthio, 2,2,2-trihaloetho~y or prop-2-ene-1-osy and the other substituent is independently selected from halo, Cl 3 alkylamino, nitro, N-(Cl 3 alkyl)-N-~Cl 3 alkanamido), Cl 3 dialkylamino, amino, N-pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino;
(f) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is selected from C2 3alkoxy, nitro, halo, N-(Cl 3alkanamido), di(Cl 3alkyl)amino, or Cl 3 alkylamino and the other is selected from alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio tBOCH2S-], alkylthioalkylthio tBSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl;

2~,5 ~r5~

1 provided that when n is 1, and R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are H, X is other than 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl or 4-aminophenyl;
or a salt thereof.
A further intermediate compound used in the preparation of a compound of Formula (I) is a compound of the formula:
~2 S~ a3 ~ '`p,9 ~7 ~ 6 FORMULA (F) wherein:
n is 0 or 1, R , R3, R4, R5, R6 R7 R8 R9 are all H, or one or two of R2, R3, R4, RS R6 R7 R8 and R9 are independently selected from H or Cl 2 alkyl;
x2 is 4-(1,4-dihydro)pyridyl substituted with N-(Cl 8 alkanoyl), N-(Cl_8 y carbonyl), N-(benzoyl), N-(phenoxycarbonyl), N-(phenylacetyl), or N-(benzyloxycarbonyl);
xl is selected from (a) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is selected from H, halo, Cl 3 alkoxy, hydroxy, Cl_3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio [BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl ~BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, 3s and B is ~1 galkyl or phenyl, Cl 4 alkyl, N-(Cl 3 alkyl)-N-(Cl 3 alkanamido), Cl 3 2~

1 dialkylamino, CF3, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, prop-2-ene-1-oxy or 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy;
(b) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substitutents are the same and are selected from halo~ Cl_3 alkoxy~ Cl_3 dialkylamino~ Cl 3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alko~yalkylthio [BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl [BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio tBSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy, or prop-2-ene-1-oxy, or the disubstituents together form a methylene dioxy group;
(c) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are not the same and are independently selected from halo, nitro, hydroxy, N-(Cl_3 alkyl)-N-(Cl 3 alkanamido), Cl 3 dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino; or (d) disubstituted phenyl wherein one of said substituents must be Cl 3 alko~y, hydrosy, Cl 3 alkylthio, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy or prop-2-ene-1-osy and the other substituent is : independently selected from halo, Cl 3 alkylamino, nitro, N-(Ci 3 alkyl)-N-(Cl 3 alkanamido), Cl 3dialkylamino, amino, N-pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino;
(e) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is selected from C2 3alko~y, nitro, halo, N-(Cl 3alkanamido), di(Cl 3alkyl)amino, or Cl 3 alkylamino and the other is selected from alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio IBOCH2S-], alkylthioalkylthio tBscH2s-]~
wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl;
or a salt thereof.

2.5~

1 A further intermediate compound used in the preparation of a compound of Formula (I) is a compound of the formula:

S SL ~ 8 ~" a~
FORMULA ~G) wherein:
n is 0 or 1, R2 R3 R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are all H, or one or two of R2, R3, R , R5, R6, R7, R8 and-R9 are independently selected from H or Cl 2 alkyl; and xl is selected from (a) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is selected from H, fluoro, chloro, Cl 3 alkoxy, C~_4 alkyl, Cl_3 dialkyl-amino, CF3, Cl 3 alkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, prop-2-ene-1-oxy or 2,2,2-tri-haloethoxy, Cl 3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio tBOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl tBOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio tBSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl_4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl;
(b) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are the same and are selected from fluoro, chloro, Cl 3 alkoxy, Cl 3 dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, N-piperidino, - 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy, prop-2-ene-1-oxy, Cl 3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, 2')~

1 alkoxyalkylthio tBOCH~S-~, alkoxyalXylsulfinyl tBOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio tBSCH2S-~, wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, or the disubstituents together form a methylene dioxy group;
(c) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are not the same and are independently selected from fluoro, chloro, Cl 3 alkylamino, Cl 3 dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino; or (d) disubstituted phenyl wherein one of said substituents must be Cl 3 alkoxy, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy or prop-2-ene-1-oxy and the other substituent is independently selected from fluoro, chloro, Cl 3 alkyl-amino, Cl 3 dialkylamino, ~-pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino; or (e) disubstituted phe~yl wherein one substituent is selected from C2 3alkoxy, nitro, halo, N-(Cl 3alkanamido), di(Cl 3alkyl)amino, or Cl 3dialkylamino and the other is selected from alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio tBocH2s-]~
alkylthioalkylthio tBSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl_galkyl or phenyl;
or a salt thereof.
A fu~ther intermediate compound used in the preparation of a compound of Formula (I) is a compound of the formula:

~ ~ ~
o ~N~ (C~ g ~6 , .

, FORMULA (H) 2i~ .5t~

1 wherein:
n is 0 or l;
R2 R3 R4 R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are H, or one or two of R2, R3, R4 R5 R6 R7, R8 and R9 are independently selected from H or Cl 2 alkyl;
X is selected from:
(a) pyridyl;
(b) monosubstituted phenyl, wherein said substituent is selected from H, halo, Cl 3 alkoxy, Cl 3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio ~BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl [BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio ~BSCH2S-], wherein the lS CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, Cl 4 alkyl, N-(Cl 3 alkanamido), Cl_3 dialkylamino, CF3, N-pyrrolidino, or .N-piperidino;
(c) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are the same and are select.ed from halo, Ci_3 alkoxy, Cl_3 alkylthio~
alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio tBoCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl [BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl, N-(Cl_3 alkanamido), Cl_3 dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, or N-p.iperidino, or the disubstituents together form a methylene-dioxy group:
(d) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are not the same and are independently selected from halo, nitro, N-(Cl_3 alkanamido), Cl_3 alkoxy, Cl_3 dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino, or N-piperidino;
or Z~ 5~

1 (e) disubstituted phenyl wherein one of said substituents must be Cl 3 alkoxy, Cl 3alkylthio, hydroxy, 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy or prop-2-ene-1-oxy and the other substituent is independently selected from halo, nitro, N-(Cl_3 alkyl)-N-(Cl_3 alkanamido), Cl 3 dialkylamino, N-pyrrolidino or N-piperidino;or (f) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is selected from C2 3alkoxy, nitro, halo, N-(Cl 3alkanamido), di(Cl 3alkyl)amino, or Cl 3 alkylamino and the other is selected from alkenylthio, phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio tBOCH2S-], alkylthioalkylthio tBSCH2S-], wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl, and B is Cl galkyl or phenyl;
or a salt thereof.

. Compounds of Formula (B), wherein n, R2, R3, 20 R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are as defi~ed above, can be prepared by 0-alkylation of the corresponding 2-piperidone or 2-pyrrolidone of Formula (A), wherein n, R2, R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 8 and R9 are as defined above, with an alkylating agent, 25 such as dimethylsulfate, according to the method of Wick et al., Helv. Chim Acta, 54, 513 (1971). The necessary compounds of Formula (A) are commercially available or are prepared by known techniques. Compounds of Formula (C) wherein n, R2, R3, R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 30 R9 are as defined above, can be prepared by treatment of the corresponding compound of Formula (B) with ammonia or an ammonium salt, such as ammonium chloride, in absolute ethanol according to the method of Etienne et al., Compt.
~n~ 2, 2660 (1964). Compounds of Formula (C) wherein 35 n is 0 or 1 and R2; R3, R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 and R are H are preferably prepared as described by the 2~-5 1 method of Moriconia and Cevasco, J. Orq. Chem., 33, 2109 (1968) as their hydrohalide salts and liberated to the bases with concentrated aqueous NaOH or preferably with one molar equivalent of sodium methoxide in an alcoholic 5 solvent. Compounds of Formula (D), wherein ~ is Br and X is as defined above, are commercially available or are prepared by treatment of the correspondingly substituted acetophenone in CH2C12, CHC13, acetic acid or 48%
hydrobromic acid with one equivalent of bromine [See, Langley~ Or~. SYn. Coll., 1, 127 (1944); Cowper et al., Orq. SYn. Coll., 2, 480 (1943); and Lorenzin, et al., J.
Orq. Chem., 32, 4008 (1967)], or alternatively, by reaction in chloroform-ethyl acetate with a suspension of copper (II) bromide by the method of King and Ostrum, J.
5orq~ Chem., 29, 3459 (1964).
The necessary acetophenones are commercially available or preparable by known techniques.
Alternatively the Formula (D) compounds, wherein X3 is chloro and X is (a) 4-monosubstituted phenyl where the 20 substituent is selected from H, halo, C1 4 alkyl, Cl 3 alkoxy, or (b) 3,4-disubstituted phenyl wherein the substituents are the same and are selected from C1 3 alkoxy, or methylenedioxy, or where the substituents are independently selected from halo or Cl 3 alkoxy, can be 25 prepared by acylating the corresponding mono- or disubstituted benzene by Friedel Crafts reaction with 2-chloroacetyl-chloride and AlC13, by the method of Joshi et al., J. HeterocYclic Chem., 16, 1141 (1979).
Compounds of Formula (E) serve as intermediates 30 in the preparation of the compounds of Formula (I).
Preferably, compounds of Formula (E) are prepared from their corresponding compound of Formula (H). Com-pounds of Formula tH) ser-!e as intermediates in the preparation of compounds of Formula (E). Compounds of 35 Formula (H)~are prepared by treatment of a solution of a substituted Formula (D) compound, such as a 2-haloaceto-phenone, or a 2-bromoacetyl-2, 3 or 4-pyridine, which are 2;,~

1 described by Taurins et al., J. HeterocYclic Chem., 7, 1137 (1970), in a neutral, preferably nonpolar solvent with one molar equivalent of the corresponding Formula (C) compound, maintaining the temperature at or below 25C.
5 The resulting Formula (H) hydrohalide salts are converted to Formula (E) compounds by refluxing in water.
Alternatively, compounds of Formula (E) are prepared by treatment of a solution of the 2-iminopyrrolidine or 2-iminopiperidine with a substituted 2-bromoacetophenone lOOf Formula (D), either in a polar organic solvent, such as DMF or ethanol, or in a nonpolar chlorinated hydrocarbon, followed by removing all or most of the solvent and refluxing the residue in aqueous solution. Compounds of Formula (E) wherein X is a pyridyl optionally substituted lsby a Cl_4 alkyl group are prepared by treatment of a mixture of a bromoacetylpyridine and 2-iminopyrrolidine or their hydrohalide salts in a polar aprotic solvent, such as dimethylformamide, with 2 to S equivalents of a base, such as a metal carbonate salt.
Compounds of Formula (I) where R is phenyl or substituted phenyl, and Rl is 4-pyridyl are preferably prepared in two steps by a modification of the method of Lantos et al., European Patent Application No. 203,787 published March 12, 1986. In the first step, the 25 coEresponding compound of Formula (E) is treated, preferably at 20-25C, with pyridine and an acyl halide, an aroylhalide, an arylalkyl haloformate ester, or an alkyl haloformate ester, such as acetyl bromide, benzoylchloride, benzyl chloroformate, or preferably ethyl 30 chloroformate, in a solvent in which the reactants are soluble and inert to form the compound of Formula (F).
Alternatively the acyl pyridinium salt can be preformed and added to the solution of the Formula (E) compound.
Compounds of Formula (F) serve as intermediates in the 35 preparation of the compounds of Formula (I). In the second step, the Formula ~F) compound, a 1,4-dihydropyridine product, is deacylated and aromatized with - Z~10~

1 sulfur in refluxing decalin, tetralin, P-cymene or xylene, or preferably with potassium tert.-butoxide in tert.-butanol with 2 gas at reflux for 15 minutes to the afford the corresponding compound of Formula (I).
Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is alkyl substituted pyridyl can be prepared by a similar process from compounds of Formula (L). The Formula (L) compound is deacylated and aromatized with sulfur in decalin, tetralin, p-cymene or xylene or with potassium 10tert-butoxide in tert.-butanol with oxygen gas at reflux for 15 minutes to afford the corresponding Formula (I) compound. The compounds of Formula (I) may now be optionally reduced, hydrolyzed, oxidized, demethylated, or acylated to produce other desired Formula (I) compounds lSproduced by this synthetic route. Compounds of Formula (L) are prepared by treatment of the Formula (I) compound with an acyl halide, aroylhalide, arylalkyl haloformate ester or an alkyl haloformate ester and a Cl 4 alkyl Grignard reagent using the process of Comins, D.L., and 20Abdullah, A.H., J. Orq. Chem., ~ol. 47, p. 4315 (1982).
The same Formula (E) compounds used to prepare-the 4-pyridyl Formula (I) compounds are employed to prepare the 2-pyridyl and 3-pyridyl Formula (I) compounds.
Treatment of the Formula (E) compounds with bromine by the 25 procedure of Kano, Yakuqaku Zasshi, 92, 51 (1972), results in 3-bromination to afford the 3-bromo-2-(substituted phenyl)-6,7-dihydro-(5H)-pyrrolo(1,2-a)imidazoles and 3-bromo-2-(substituted phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo-(1,2-a)pyridines compounds of Formula (G). The compounds 30 of Formula (G) serve as intermediates in the preparation of compounds of Formula (I). Formula (E) or Formula (G) compounds are treated with n-butyl }ithium (n-BuLi) in tetrahydrofuran to afford their 3-lithio derivat.~es by metalla~ion or halogen-metal interchange respectively.
3s Transmetallation of the 3-lithio compounds with Mg8r2 or ZnC12 to the corresponding magnesium or zinc compounds, 2~

1 according to the method of ~egishi et al., J. Orq. Chem., 42, 1821, (1977), permits aryl coupling to a 2-, 3- or 4-bromopyridine, 2-, 3- or 4-iodopyridine, or 2-,3-, or 4-trifluro methyl sulfonyl oxy-pyridine or otherwise called 5 the trifilate esters of 2-,3-, or 4- hydroxy pyridines,in the presence of PdC12~1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)-butane) catalyst, a bidentate Pd (II) catalyst, using the method of Kumada et al., Tetrahedron Letters, 22, 5319 (1981).
Alternatively the Formula (G) compounds may be coupled to 10the 2 or 3-metalated pyridine employing this bidentate Pd (II) catalyst, or the corresponding Ni(II) C12 (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino) ethane catalyst tsee, Pridgen, J. Orq. Chem., 47, 4319 (1982)]. By either of these routes, Formula (I) compounds are obtained where Rl is 152-pyridyl or 3-pyridyl. Yet another preparation for Formula (I) compounds is treating the Formula (G) compounds with an alkyllithium reagent to afford the 3-lithio derivative as noted above, transmetallate with magnesium bromide to form the Grignard reagent and add a 20 catalytic amount of a cuprous(I3 halide, such as cuprous(I) iodide, in the presence of a solution of an N-acyl pyridinium salt, followed by deacylation and oxidation. The final compounds produced by these coupling reaction(s) may then be optionally acylated, oxidized, 25 reduced, demethylated, and hydrolyzed to produced other desired compoudns of Formula (I) compounds.
The compounds of Formula (I) can also be prepared from Formula (E) by preparation of the trialkyltin derivative of Formula (E), designated as Formula (J). The 30 compound of Formula (J) is prepared by treatment of the 3-lithio derivative of Formula (E) with trialkyltin chloride. The Formula (J) compound is reacted with a mixture of an aryl or heteroaryl halide, preferably iodide, or triflate, and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-35 palladium in a mix~ure of THF (tetrahydrofuran~ and HMPA(hexamethylphosphoramide) to yield a compound of Formula 2~

l(I). The compounds of Formula (I) wherein either of R and Rl are 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl or wherein R is 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl or 4-pyridyl are preferably made by this route.
The compounds of Formula (I) wherein either or both of R
5 and Rl are alkyl substituted pyridyl are also prepared by this route. Alternatively, compounds of Formula (I) may be prepared by the analogous reaction of an aryl or heteroaryl trialkyltin compound with a mixture of a Formula (G) compound and tetrakis-(triphenylphosphine)-lOpalladium under similar conditions. The reactionconditions for Formula (G), and (J) compounds require that the substituent amino and sulfur substituted compounds, for example, be in their lowest oxidation state, as well as protected, i.e. N-(Cl 3 alkyl)-N-(Cl 3alkanamido), 15etc., hence the final products of these reactions are all optionally subject to additional oxidation/acylation, etc.
procedures.
Regioisomers of Formula (I) compounds where Rl is substituted phenyl, or 2,3 or 4-pyridyl and R is 2, 3, 20and 4-pyridyl are obtained from compounds of Formula (E) where X is 2,3, or 4-pyridyl. Compounds of Formula (E) where X is 2, 3 or 4-pyridyl are prepared by treàtment of a 2, 3, or 4-bromoacetylpyridine hydrobromide salt of Formula (D), wherein R is 2, 3 or 4-pyridyl [prepared as 2s described by Taurins et al., J. Het Chem., 7, 1137 (1970)]
with 2-3 equivalents of the 2-iminopyrrolidine or 2-iminopiperidine by the procedure used to prepare the other compounds of Formula (E) described above. 3-Bromination, by the procedure of Kano cited above, affords 30 the corresponding Formula (G) compounds. Metallation of the Formula (E) compounds with n-BuLi or halogen-metal interchange of the Formula (G) compounds with n-BuLi, followed by transmetallation with MgBr2 and coupling to the substituted halobenzene, preferably iodobenzene, or 35 2,3, or 4-halopyridine, preferably where halo is iodo, in the presence of the bidentate phosphine-palladium or Z~ Z~

nickel complex as described above affords the desired regioisomers of Formula (I). Alternatively the metallated pyridine or substituted benzene may be coupled to the Formula (G) compounds employing the catalysts as described 5 above.
Alternately the compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is a mono or di-substituted phenyl having at least one fluoro substituent can be converted to the corresponding Formula (I) compounds having an alkylthio losubstituted phenyl group or a phenylthio substituted phenyl group. The fluoro substituted phenyl compound of Formula (I) is treated with 1.2 equivalents of the sodium salt of the alkylmercaptan or arylmercaptan in an aprotic polar solvent, preferably dimethylformamide.
Compounds of Formula (I) where R or Rl is a mono- or di-substituted phenyl having at least one Cl 3 alkylsulfinyl, Cl 3alkylsulfonyl, acyloxyalkylsulfinyl, or Cl 3alkenylsulfinyl substituent are prepared by treatment of one or more equivalents of the corresponding 20 compound of Formula (I) where R or Rl are Cl 3 alkylthiophenyl, Cl 3alkylsulfinylphenyl, acyloxy-alkylthiophenyl or alkenylthiophenyl with one or more equivalents of an oxidizing agent (such as 3-chloroperbenzoic acid in an inert solvent or sodi~m 25 periodate in a polar solvent such as aqueous methanol containing a mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid) per mercapto function, in an inert solvent. Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl are Cl 3 alkylsulfonyl substituted phenyl are prepared by treatment o~ one 30 equivalent of the corresponding Cl 3 sulfinyl Formula (I) compound with 2/3 equivalent of KMnO4 per sulfinyl function in aqueous acid solution by the method of Chatterway e~ al., ~. Chem. Soc. 1352 (1930~, or alternatively with one equivalent of a peracid.
Acetophenones substituted with a mono- or di-substituted phenyl having at least one N-(Cl 3alkanamido) Zi~ 5f~

lor N-(C1_3 alkyl)-N-(Cl 3 alkanamido), and in some cases the Formula (E), and Formula (I) compounds, are prepared by acylation of the corresponding amino and N-(Cl 3 alkylamino) compounds with the alkanoic acid 5 anhydride or chloride in pyridine. Another alternative preparation of the N-(Cl 3 alkyl)-N-(Cl 3 alkanamido) phenyl substituted Formula (E) and Formula (I) compounds is the alkylation of the corresponding N-(Cl 3 alkan-amido) substituted compounds with sodium hydride and a 10Cl_3 alkyl bromide or iodide in dimethylformamide.
Formula (E) and Formula (I) compounds containing a mono- or di-substituted phenyl having at least one amino substituent are prepared either by hydrolysis of the corresponding N-(Cl 3 alkanamido) compounds in refluxing 156 N mineral acid or by catalytic reduction of the correspondlng nitro compounds.
Formula (E), Formula (G), and Formula (I) compounds containing a mono- or di-substituted phenyl having at least one N-(Cl 3 alkylamino) substituent are 20preferably prepared by acid cat'alyzed hydrolysis of the corresponding N-(Cl 3 alkyl)-N-(Cl 3 alkanamido) compounds of Formula (E), Formula (G) and Formula (I), respectively, prepared as described above for the aminophenyl substituted 'compounds, or alternatively, either 25by (a) reduction of the corresponding N-(Cl 3 alkanamido) compounds with borane or borane dimethylsulfide complex in THF by the method of Brown, "Organic Synthesis via Boranes", John Wiley and Sons, (1975), or (b) by cleavage of the corresponding N,N-(di Cl 3 alkylamino)phenyl 30 substituted Formula (E) and Formula (I) compounds with cyanogen bromide in the Von Braun reaction ~see, Hageman Org. Reactions, Vol. 7, 198 (1953)].
Fo mula (E) and Formula (I) compounds containing a mono- or di- substituted phenyl having at least one N,N-35 (di Cl 3 alkylamino) substituent are alternativelyprepared either by reduction of the corresponding Z~ 51~

1 ~-(Cl_3 alkyl)-N-(Cl_3 alkanamido) compounds of Formula (E) and Formula (I) with borane as described above for the N-(Cl 3 alkylamino) substituted compounds, or by displacement of the bromide by a N,N-dialkylamine in the 5 corresponding 4-bromo-3-nitrophenyl Formula (E) and Formula (I) compounds by heating at 140C with the ~,N-dialkylamine and potassium carbonate in an inert solvent.
Formula (E) and Formula (I) compounds containing a mono- or di-substituted phenyl having at least one loN-pyrrolidino and N-piperidino substituent are alternatively prepared by cyclodialkylation of the corresponding aminophenyl compounds with dibromobutane or dibromopentane and anhydrous potassium carbonate in an inert solvent such as dimethylformamide.
lS Compounds of Formula (E) where X is mono- or di-substituted phenyl having at least one 2,2,2-trihaloethoxy or prop-2-ene-1-oxy substituent are prepared by alkylation of the appropriate phenols of Formula (E) with trifluoromethylsulfonic acid 20 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ester or allyl bromide respectively as described by Bender et al., J. Med. Chem., 28, 1169 (1985), for preparation of compounds No. 23 and 33 described therein. Appropriately substituted mono and dihydroxy phenyl compounds or disubstitued phenyl compounds wherein 25 one substituent is hydroxy of Formula (E) and Formula (I) are obtained by treatment of their respective correspondingly substituted methoxy derivatives with HBr in acetic acid, or preferably with BBr3 in CH2C12 by the method described by Bender et al., J. Med. Chem., _ , 1169 30 (1985),for the preparation of compound No. 14 described therein.
Compounds of Formula (I) where R is Cl 3alkoxy mono- or di- substituted phenyl a;e pre ared by alkyl.tion of the appropriately substituted hydroxyphenyl compounds 35 with the corresponding Cl 3 alkylhalide in the presence of a strong base such as sodium hydride ln an aprotic organic solvent such as dimethylformamide.

21~ 51~

1 Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is phenyl substituted with an acyloxyalkylthio group wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with Cl 4alkyl are prepared by treating a compound of Formula (I) wherein R
5 is phenyl substituted with at least one alkylsulfinyl group with an alkanoic acid anhydride. Hydrolysis of the resulting acyloxyalkylthio compounds yields compounds of Formula (I) wherein one of Rl or R is phenyl substituted with a sulfhydryl function. The sulfhydryl substituted lOcompounds can be treated with an alkanoic acid anhydride or an alkylthiono acid chloride in pyridine to prepare compounds of Formula (I) wherein one of Rl or R is phenyl substituted with one or more acylthio or dithioacyl groups.
Alternatively the sulfhydryl substituted compounds can be 15treated with an amine, or a hindered amine, such as di~Cl 3alkyl)amine under appropriate conditions to prepare compounds of Formula (I).
Compounds of Formula (I) wherein one of Rl or R
is phenyl substituted with at least one thiocarbamyl or 20dithiocarbamyl group are prepared by treating the sulfhydryl-containing compound prepared as above with a carbamyl halide or thiocarbamyl halide in the presence of a base such as pyridine to yield the desired compounds. The two hydrogen atoms on the respective nitrogen atom in the 25caEbamyl halides or thiocarbamyl halide derivatives may be replaced independently by alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl derivative, which may in turn be optionally substituted.
Compounds of Formula (I) wherein Rl or R is 30 phenyl substituted with an alkenylthio group wherein one carbon atom separates the sulfur from the carbon bearing the double bond can be prepared by alkylating a compound of Formula (I) wherei~ one of Rl or R is phenyl substituted with at least one sulfhydryl group with an appropriately 35 substituted alkenylhalide, such as allylbromide.

Zil;(~(?2~

.
1 Compounds of Formula (I) wherein Rl or R is phenyl substituted with an alkylcarbonylalkylthio or carbalkoxyalkylthio group are prepared by treatment of the corresponding sulfhydryl substituted compounds with an 5 alkylcarbonylalkylhalide, such as bromoacetone, or with a carbalkoxyalkylhalide, such as ethylbromoacetate.
Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is phenyl substituted with an alkenylthio group wherein the sulfur is attached to the carbon bearing the double bond lOare prepared from the corresponding compounds wherein the phenyl is substituted with a mercapto group. The mercapto - substituted compound is converted to a metal salt in a polar solvent with a strong base such as a metal hydride, a metal alkoxide or lithium diethylamide. The metal 15mercaptide salt is treated with trialkylsilyl-methylchloride to afford an intermediate compound of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is phenyl substituted with at least one trialkylsilylmethylsulfide group. This intermediate in an aprotic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran 20 is treated at reduced temperature with a lithiating reagent such as lithium diethylamide followed by treatment with an appropriate aliphatic aldehyde or ketonè to prepare the compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is phenyl substituted with one or more alkenylthio groups.
Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is phenyl substituted with an alkoxycarbonylthio are prepared by reacting a metal mercaptide salt prepared as described above, with an appropriate alkyl or aryl chloroformate.
The metal mercaptide salt is formed from a compound of 30 Formula (I) wherein one of R or Rl is phenyl substituted with a sulfhydryl function prepared as previously described. Compoundc of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is phenyl substit.uted with one or more alkoxythionothio groups are prepared by reacting the metal mercaptide with the 35 appropriate alkyl or aryl halothionoformate.

Zl~ Sf~

1 Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is alkoxyalkylthio are prepared by reacting the metal mercaptide salt, prepared as described above, with an approprate halomethyl ether. Oxidation of the resulting 5 alkoxyalkylthio compounds by reacting with a suitable oxidizing agent such as chloroperbenzoic acid yields the compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is phenyl substituted with an alkoxyalkylsulfinyl.
Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is 10phenyl substituted with an alkylthioalkylthio group are prepared by reacting the analogous sulfhydryl compound, prepared as described above, with the appropriate carbonyl component, such as formaldehyde, acetone, or acetaldehyde, using either mineral or Lewis acid catalysis conditions to lSyield the symmetrical dithioketal. The intermediate hydroxylalkylthio derivative reacts with another sulhydryl containing compound under the acid catalysis conditions to yield what is essentially a "bis" type compound, differing only by thç alkyl chain insertion, i.e. [Formula 20~ S-CRRl-S-Formula (I)]. The substitution of the alkyl, R,or Rl, is determined by the reactive carbonyl functional group; wherein R or Rl may be Cl g alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, all optionally substituted. The nonsymmetrical thioketals can be prepared by the reaction 250f the metal mercaptan salt, prepared as described above, with a halomethyl thioether to yield compounds of Formula (I) wherein one of ~ or Rl is phenyl substituted with one or more alkylthioalkylthio groups. The metal salt reacts with an independent and varying alkyl chain length 30 halomethyl~CRRl]thioalkyl~aryl/heteroaryl] compound to yield the "non-bis" type compounds, tFormula (I)-S-CRRl-S-R2], wherein R and Rl are as defined above for the "bis" compounds, and R2 is a Cl g alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group which may be optionally 3s substituted.

21~ f ~ r5 1 Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is phenyl substituted with a substituted disulfide group, a "bis" type structure, are prepared by mild air oxidation of the compounds of Formula (I) wherein R or Rl is phenyl 5 substituted with a sulfhydryl group, prepared as described above, i.e. ~Formula (I)-S-S-Formula (I)]. The nonsymmetrical disulfide compound, wherein only one component is a compound of Formula (I), and the other half of the disulfide link is an alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl derivative, may be prepared by reaction o~ a sulfhydryl compound of Formula (I), with the appropriate sulfenyl halide, in an ethereal solvent to afford compounds of Formula (I) wherein one of R or Rl is phenyl substituted with one or more ~alky}]- dithio groups, i.e. ~Formula 15 (I)-S-S-R2], wherein R-R2 are as defined in the above paragraph. The contemplated sulfenyl halide derivatives of alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl groups may be optionally susbtituted.
The disulfide compound(s) may also be prepared 20 from the corresponding alkyl sulfoxide compounds, such as methylsulfinyl, propylsulfinyl, iso-propylsulfinyl, wherein the alkyl can be a straight chain or branched derivative having from 1 to 9 carbon atoms, in a solvent, preferably a chlorinated one such as chloroethylene, methylene chloride 25 or.chloroform, to which is added a carboxcylic acid anhydride, such as trifluroacetic anhydride, or acetic anhydride. The Pummerer rearrangement reaction may require some heating prior to addition of an alkali metal hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide. I~ acetic anhydride 30 is used than heating is also likely to be needed during the hydroxide treatment, before addition of iodine solid (I2), which then affords the symmetrical disulf~de compound as is noted above Mixtures of the sulfoxide compounds may be present in the solution to yield "symmetrical" compounds but with varying substituent groups on the pyrrolo/ pyridyl-imidizole ring system.

2`il(~(~2~5~

1 Pharmaceutically acceptable salts and their . preparation are well known to.those skilled in pharmaceu-ticals. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of Formula (I) which are useful in the present invention 5 include, but are not limited to, maleate, fumarate, lactate, oxalate, methanesulfonate, ethane-sulfonate, benzenesulfonate, tartrate, citrate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulfate and phosphate salts. Preferred pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of Formula (I) include hydrochloride and hydro-bromide salts, and such salts can be prepared by known techniques such as the method of Bender et al., U.S. Patent 4,175,127, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
lS It has now been discovered that the compounds of Formula (I) are useful for treating disease states mediated by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism in an animal, including mammals, in need thereof. The discovery that the compounds of Formula (I) 20are inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway is based on the effects of the compounds of Formula (I) on tissue inflammation in vivo and on the production of 5-lipoxygenase products by inflammatory cells in vitro in assays,some of which are described hereinafter. In 25 summary, such assays reveal that the compounds of Formula (I) display anti-inflammatory activity in arachidonic acid-induced inflammation in the mouse ear mode.l. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, did not reduce inflammation in these assays. The 5-lipoxygenase pathway 30 inhibitory action of the compounds of Formula t$) was confirmed by showing that they impaired the production of 5-lipoxygenase products such as leukotriene B4 (di-HETE) and 5-HETE production by RBL-l cells.
The pathophysiological role of arachidonic acid 35 metabolites has been the focus of recent intensive studies.
In addition to the well-described phlogistic activity Z~5~

1 (i.e. general inflammatory activity) of prostaglandins, the more recent description of similar activity for eicosanoids has broadened the interest in these products as mediators of inflammation [See, O'Flaherty, Lab.
5 Invest., 47, 314-329 (1982)]. The reported discovery of potent chemotactic and algesic activity for LTB4 [see, Smith, Gen. Pharmacol., 12, 211-216 (1981) and Levine et al., Science, 22s, 743-745 (1984)], together with known LTC4 and LTD4-mediated increase in capillary lopermeability ~see, Simmons et al., Biochem. Pharmacol., 32, 1353-1359 (1983), Veno et al., Prostaqlandins, 21, 637-647 (1981), and Camp et al., Br. J. Pharmacol., 80, 497-502 (1983)], has led to their consideration as targets for pharmacological intervention in both the fluid and 15 cellular phases of inflammatory diseases.
The pharmacology of several inflammatory model systems has attested to the effectiveness of cortico-steroids in reducing the cellular infiltration. These results, and the observation that corticosteroids inhibit 20 the generation of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products, suggest that such dual inhibitors may effectively reduce both the fluid and cellular phases of the inflam-matory response since selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors do not reliably inhibit cell influx into inflammatory 25 sites tSee, Vinegar et al., Fed. Proc., 35, 2447-2456 (1976), Higgs et al., Brit. Bull., 39, 265-270 (1983), and Higgs et al., Prostaqlandins, Leukotrienes and Medicine, 13, 89-92 (l984)l~ The observations outlined above cogently argue that a dual inhibitor of arachidonic acid 30 metabolism would be a more effective antiinflammatory agent than an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase only. Under optimal conditions, it is likely that an agent with preferentia~ lipoxygenase inhibitory activity would not share the ulcerogenic liability of cyclooxygenase 35 inhibitors or the toxicity of corticosteroids. This may suggest that the compounds of the present invention could 21~ Z~R

1 be useful in treating diseases where it is beneficial to limit ulcerogenic activity or steroidal side effects such as osteoarthritis. [See Palmoski et al., "Benoxaprofen Stimulates Proteoglycan Synthesis in Normal Canine Knee 5 Cartiledge in Vitro," Arthritis and Rheumatism 26, 771-774 (1983) and Rainsford, K.D., Aqents and Actions 21, 316-319 (1987).]
Recent clinical data also support the enthusiasm for inhibitors of the S-lipoxygenase pathway in a variety lOof inflammatory diseases in which granulocyte and/or monocyte infiltration is prominent. The reported demonstration of elevated levels of LTB4 in rheumatoid arthritic joint fluid ~See, Davidson et al., Ann. Rheum.
Dis., 42, 677-679 (1983)] also suggests a contributing 15role for arachidonic acid metabolites in rheumatoid arthritis. The recently reported preliminary observation of efficacy, including remission, reported with sulfasalazine treatment of rheumatoid arthritic patients tSee Neumann et al., Brit. Med. J., 287, 1099-1102 (1983)]
20illustrates the utility of inhibitors of the 5-lipoxy-genase pathway in rheumatoid arthritis.
Sulfasalazine, which is used for treatment of ulcerative colitis, has been reported to inhibit L~B4 and 5-~ETE production in vitro [See, Stenson et al., J.
25 Clin. Invest., 69, 494-497 (1982)]. This observation, coupled with the fact that it has been reported that inflamed gastrointestinal mucosa from inflammatory bowel disease patients showed increased production of LTB4 [See, Sharon et al., Gastroenterol., 84, 1306 (1983)], 30 suggests that sulfasalazine can be effective by virtue of inhibition of production of chemotactic eicosanoids (such as the 5-lipoxygenase pathway product known as LTB4).
The observations serve to underscore utility of inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in inflammatorY bowel 35 disease.

2';, ~ S?~

1Another area of utility for an inhibitor of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway is in the treatment of psoriasis.
It was demonstrated that involved psoriatic skin had elevated levels of LTB4 ~See, Brain et al., Lancet, 19, 5 February 19, 1983]. The promising effect of benoxaprofen on psoriasis [See, Allen et al., Brit. J. Dermatol., los, 126-129 (1983)], a compound with in vitro lipoxygenase inhibitory activity on psoriasis, lends support to the concept that inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway can be useful in the treatment of psoriasis.
Lipoxygenase products have been identified in exudate fluids from gouty patients. This disorder is characterized by massive neutrophil infiltration during the acute inflammatory phases of the disease. Since a major 5-lipoxygenase product, LTB4, is produced by neutrophils, it follows that inhibition of the synthesis of LTB4 can block an amplification mechanism in gout.
Another area in which inhibitors of the 5-lipoxy-genase product can have utility is in mYocardial 20 infarction. Studies in dogs with the dual inhibitor, BW755-C, demonstrated that the area of infarction following coronary occlusion was reduced, and such reduction was attributed to inhibition of leukocyte infiltration into the ischaemic tissue tSee, Mullane et al., J. Pharmacol.
25 Exp. TheraP., 228, 510-S22 (1984)].
Yet another area of utility for inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway is in the area of prevention of reiection of orqan transPlants~ ~See, e.g., Foegh et al., Adv. Prostaqlandin, Thromboxane, and Leukotriene ~esearch, 30 13, 209-217 (1983).~
Yet another utility for inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase.pathway is in the treatment of tissue trauma. ~See, e.g., Denzlinger et ~1. Science, 2~0 (4723~, 330-332 (1985)].
35Purthermore, another area of utility for inhib-itors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway is in t.he treatment of 211~C~Z5~

inflammatorY reaction in the central nervous sYstem, including multiple sclerosis. [See, e.g., Mackay et al., Clin. Exp. Immunoloqy, 15, 471-482 (1973)].
Additionally, another area of utility for inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway is in the treatment of asthma. [See, e.g., Ford-Hutchinson, J.
AllerqY Clin. Immunol., 74, 437-440 (1984)].
Another area of utility for inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway is in the treatment of vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, and immune complex disease. [See Kadison et al., "Vasculitis: Mechanism of Vessel Damage"
in Inflammation: Basic Principles and Clinical Correlates, 703-718, Ed. Gallin et al., Raven Press, N.~., N.Y. (1988).]
Another area of utility for inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway is in the treatment of dermatitis.
tSee Pye et al., "Systemic Therapy" in Textbook of DermatoloqY, Vol. III, 2501-2528, Ed. Rook et al., Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, England (1986).]
Another area of utility for inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway is in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Recent studies have shown that inhibition of oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein slows progression of atherosclerosis, and that inhibitors of lipoxygenase effectively inhibit cell-induced oxidative modification. ~See Carew et al., Proc Natl. Acad Sci. USA, 84, 7725-7729, November 1987;
-and Steinberg, D., Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease,76, 3, 508-514(1987).l An additional area of utility for inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway is in the optical area, in particular general inflammation of the corneal anterior and posterior segments due to disease or surgery such as in post surgical inflammation, uveitis, and allergic conjuntivitis. [See Rao N. et al. Arch. Ophathmal. 105 (3) 413-419 (1987); Chiou, L. and Chiou, G. J. Ocular X'll~C~X~
_ 39 _ 1 Pharmacol. I, 383-390 (1985): Bazan H., J. Ocular Pharma.
4, 43-49 (19~8); and Verbey N.L. et al., Current EYe Research 7, 361-368 (1988).]
The pharmaceutically effective compounds of this 5 invention are administered in conventional dosage forms prepared by combining a compound of Formula (I) ("active ingredient") in an amount sufficient to produce 5-lipoxy-genase pathway inhibiting activity with standard pharma-ceutical carriers according to conventional procedures.
These procedures may involve mixing, granulating and compressing or dissolving the ingredients as appropriate to the desired preparation.
The pharmaceutical carrier employed may be, for example, either a solid or liquid. Exemplary of solid 15carriers are lactose, terra alba, sucrose, talc, gelatin, agar, pectin, acacia, magnesium stearate, stearic acid and the like. Exemplary of liquid carriers are syrup, peanut oil, olive oil, water and the like. Similarly, the carrier or diluent may include time delay material well known to 20 the art, such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate alone or with a wax.
A wide variety of pharmaceutical forms can be employed. Thus, if a solid carrier is used, the preparation can be tableted, placed in a hard gelatin 25 ca~sule in powder or pellet form or in the form of a troche or lozenge. The amount of solid carrier will vary widely but preferably will be from about 25 mg. to about 1 g. When a liquid carrier is used, the preparation will be in the form of a syrup, emulsion, soft gelatin capsule, 30 sterile injectable liquid such as an ampule or nonaqueous liquid suspension.
To obtain a stable water soluble dose form, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of Formu_a (I) is dissolve~ in an aqueous solution of an organic or 35 inorganic acid, such as a 0.3 M solution of succinic acid or, preferably, citric acid.

2`~

1 Preferably, each parenteral dosage unit will contain the active ingredient ~i.e., the compound of Formula (I)] in an amount of from about 50 mg. to about 500 mg. Preferably, each oral dosage will contain the active ingredient in an amount of from about 100 mg to about 1000 mg.
The compounds of Formula (I) may also be admin-istered topically to a mammal in need of the inhibition of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism.
10 Thus, the compounds of Formula (I) may be administered topically in the treatment or prophylaxis of inflammation in an animal, including man and other mamm~ls, and may be used in the relief or prophylaxis of 5-lipoxygenase pathway mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid 15 spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and other arthritic conditions, inflamed joints, eczema, psoriasis or other inflammatory skin conditions such as sunburn;
inflammatory eye conditions including conjunctivitis;
pyresis, pain and other conditions associated with 20 inflammation.
The amount of a compound of Formula (I) (herein-after referred to as the active ingredient) required for therapeutic effect on topical administration will, of course, vary with the compound chosen, the nature and 25 sqverity of the inflammatory condition and the animal undergoing treatment, and is ultimately at the discretion of the physician. A suitable anti-inflammatory dose of an active ingredient is 1.5 ~g to 500 mg of base for topical administration, the most preferred dosage being 1 ~g to 1000 ~g, for example 5 to 25 ~g administered two or three times daily.
By topical administration is meant non-systemic administration and includes the -pplication of a compound of Formula (I) externally to the epidermis, to the buccal cavity and instil~ation of such a compound into the ear, eye and nose, and where the compound does not significantly Z~f~

l enter the blood stream. By systemic administration is meant oral, intravenous, intraperitoneal and intramuscular administration.
While it is possible for an active ingredient to 5 be administered alone as the raw chemical, it is prefera-ble to present it as a pharmaceutical formulation. The active ingredient may comprise, for topical administration, from 0.001% to 10% w/w, e.g. from 1% to 2% by weight of the formulation although it may comprise as much as lO~
lO w/w but preferably not in excess of 5~ w/w and more preferably from 0.1% to 1% w/w of the formulation.
The topical formulations of the present invention, both for veterinary and for human medical use, comprise an active ingredient together with one or more acceptable 15 carrier(s) ~herefor and optionally any other therapeutic ingredient(s). The carrier(s) must be 'acceptable' in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not deleterious to the recipient thereof.
Formulations suitable for topical administration include liquid or semi-liquid preparations suitable for penetration through the skin to the site of inflammation such as: liniments, lotions, creams, ointments or pastes, and drops suitable for administration to the eye, ear or 25 nose.
Drops according to the present invention may comprise sterile aqueous or oily solutions or suspensions and may be prepared by dissolving the active ingredient in a suitable aqueous solution of a bactericidal and/or 30 fungicidal agent and/or any other suitable preservative, and preferably including a surface active agent. The resulting solution may then be clarified by filtration, transferred ~o a ~uitable container which is then sealed and sterilized by autoclaving or maintaining at 98-100C.
35 for half an hour. Alternatively, the solution may be sterilized by filtration and transferred to the container 2lJlt~

1 by an aseptic technique. Examples of bactericidal and fungicidal agents suitable for inclusion in the drops are phenylmercuric nitrate or acetate (0.002%), benzalkonium chloride (0.01%) and chlorhexidine acetate (0.01%). Suita-5 ble solvents for the preparation of an oily solutioninclude glycerol, diluted alcohol and propylene glycol.
Lotions according to the present invention include those suitable for application to the skin or eye. An eye lotion may comprise a sterile aqueous solution 10 optionally containing a bactericide and may be prepared by methods similar to those for the preparation of drops.
Lotions or liniments for application to the skin may also include an agent to hasten drying and to cool the skin, such as an alcohol or acetone, and/or a moisturizer such 15 as glycerol or an oil such as castor oil or arachis oil.
Creams, ointments or pastes according to the present invention are semi-solid formulations of the active ingredient for external application. They may be made by mixing the active ingredient in finely-divided or powdered 20 form, alone or in solution or suspensiori in an aqueous or non-aqueous fluid, with t~e aid of suitable machinery, with a greasy or non-greasy basis. The basis may comprise hydrocarbons such as hard, soft or liquid paraffin, glycerol, beeswax, a metallic soap; a mucilage; an oil of 25 natural origin such as almond, corn, arachis, castor or olive oil; wool fat or its derivatives, or a fatty acid such as steric or oleic acid together with an alcohol such as prolylene glycol or macrogols. The formulation may incorporate any suitable surface active agent such as an 30 anionic, cationic or non-ionic sulfactant such as sorbitan esters or polyoxyethylene derivatives thereof~ Suspending agents such as natural gums, cellulose derivatives or inorganic materials such as silicaceous silicas, nd otL~r ingredients such as lanolin, may also be included.
The compounds of Formula (I) may also be administered by inhalation. By "inhalation" is meant 21`b~ 5 1 intranasal and oral inhalation administration.
Appropriate dosage forms for such administration, such as an aerosol formulation or a metered dose inhaler, may be prepared by conventional techniques. The preferred daily 5 dosage amount of a compound of Formula (I) administered by inhalation is from about 10 mg to about 100 mg per day.
This invention also relates to a method of treat-ing a disease state which is mediated by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in an animal in need thereof, including humans and other mammals, which comprises administering to such animal an effective, 5-lipoxygenase pathway inhibiting amount of a Formula (I) compound. By the term "treating" is meant either prophylactic or therapeutic therapy. By the term "mediated" is meant caused by or exacerbated by. Such 15Formula (I) compound can be administered to such animal in a conventional dosage form prepared by combining the Formula (I~ compound with a conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent according to known tech-niques. It will be recognized by one of skill in the art 20 that the form and character of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent is dictated by the amount of active ingredient with which it is to be combined, the route of administration and other well-known variables.
The Formula (I) compound is administered to an animal in 25 need of inhibition of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in an amount sufficient to inhibit the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.
The route of administration may be oral, parenteral, by inhalation or topical. The term parenteral as used herein includes intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intra-30 rectal, intravaginal or intraperitoneal administration.The subcutaneous and intramuscular forms of parenteral administration are generally preferred. The daily parenteral dosage regimen will preferably be from about sO
mg to about 1000 mg per day. The daily oral dosage 35 regimen will preferably be from about 150 mg to about 2000 mg per day. It will be recognized by one of skill in the 2'1~ Z~;~

1 art that the optimal quantity and spacing of individual dosages of the Formula (I) compound will be determined by the nature and extent of the condition being treated, the form, route and site of administration, and the particular animal being treated, and that such optimums can be determined by conventional techniques. It will also be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the optimal course of treatment, i.e., the number of doses of the Formula (I) compound given per day for a defined number of 10 days, can be ascertained by those skilled in the art using conventional course of treatment determination tests.
In the tests used to determine activity as S-lipoxYgenase pathway inhibitors, male Balb/c mice (20-28 g), were used. All mice were obtained from Charles River 15 Breeding Laboratories, Kingston, N.Y. Within a single experiment, mice were age matched.
Reagents were.employed as follows:
Compounds of Formula (I) were each used as the free base. The compounds were dissolved in acid saline.
20 Compounds were administered by lavage at the indicated dose in a final volume of 10 ml/kg.
For in vitro experiments, compounds wer`e dissolved at appropriate concentrations in ethanol (final cnncentra-tion 1.0%) and then diluted to final concentrations using 25 the buffers indicated in the text.
Arachidonic Acid-Induced Mouse Ear Inflammation Arachidonic acid in acetone (2 mg/20 ~1) was applied to the inner surface of the left ear. The thickness of both ears was then measured with a dial micrometer one hour after treatment, and the data were expressed as the change in thickness (10 3 cm) between treated and untreated ears.
Test compounds were given orally in acid/salin~
at the times indicated in the text prior to the topical application of arachidonic acid.
AssaY of 5-LipoxYqenase Activities 1 The 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) was isolated from extracts of RBL-l cells. These cells were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (#CRL 1378) and were grown at 37 with 5% CO2 in spinner culture using Eagles 5 essential medium (MEM) supplemented medium with 10% heat inactivated fetal calf serum. The cells were collected from culture by centrifugation at 2,000xg for 20 minutes and then washed twice with 50mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.0) that contained lmM EDTA and 0.1% gelatin. After this wash, the cells were resuspended in fresh phosphate buffer to achieve a concentration of 5X107 cells/ml. This suspension was disrupted by nitrogen cavitation using the Parr bomb at 750psi for 10 minutes. The broken cells were then centrifuged at lO,OOOxg for 20 minutes. The 15 supernatant was collected and centrifuged at 100,000 xg for 60 minutes. This supernatant was collected and stored at -70C until assayed.
The inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity was measured by one of two assays, the radiotracer extent 20 assay either measured after 90 seconds at 20C or measured according to the method of G. K. Hogaboom et al.,-Molecular Pharmacol. 30, 510-519 (1986)-or the continuous 2 consumption assay. The results from either assay are comparable if not identical. All compounds were dissolved 25 in ethanol with the final concentration of ethanol being 1% in the assay.
The radiotracer extent assay examined the 5-lipoxygenase products [transLTB4 (DI-HETE), SHETE and 5HPETE] produced after a 90 second incubation at 20C.
30 Aliquots (40~L) of the supernatant were preincubated with the inhibitor or vehicle for 10 minutes in 25mM
BisTris buffer (pH 7.0) that also contained lmM EDTA. lmM
ATP, 50mM NaCl, 5% e_hylen^ gylcol and lC0 ~g/ml of sonicated phosphatidylcholine (total volume 0.238 ml).
35 The 5-lipoxygenase reaction was initiated by the addition of CaC12 (2mM) and l-C14-arachidonic acid (25~M;

2'~

1 100,000dpm))(final volume 0.25ml). After 90 seconds, the reaction was terminated by the addition of two volumes (0.5ml) of ice chilled acetone. The sample was allowed to deproteinize on ice for 10 minutes prior to centrifuging 5 at 1,000 xg for 10 minutes. The deproteinized supernatants were dried under argon and then redissolved in 200 ~L of ethanol. These samples were then analyzed.by reverse phase HPLC as described by G.K.
Hogaboom et al., Molecular Pharmacol. 30: 510-519 (1986), 10 herein incorporated by reference. The compound-mediated inhibition of S-lipoxygenase activity is described as the concentration of compound causing a 50% inhibition of product synthesis.
The second assay for assessing inhibition of the 15 5-lipoxygenase activity was a continuous assay which monitored the consumption of 2 as the reaction progressed. The 5-lipoxygenase enzyme (200~L) was preincubated with the inhibitor or its vehicle in 25mM
BisTris buffer (pH 7.0) that contained lmM EDTA, lmM ATP, 20 5mM NaCl and 5% ethylene glycol for 2 minutes at 20C
(total volume 2.99 ml). Arachidonic acid (10~M) and CaC12 ~2mM) were added to start the reaction, and the decrease in 2 concentration followed with time using a Clark-type electrode and the Yellow Spring 2 monitor 25 (type 53)(Yellow Springs, OH). The optimum velocity was calculated from the progress curves. The compound-mediated inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity is described as the concentration of compound causing a 50%
inhibition of optimum velocity for the vehicle-treated 30 sample.
LTC-~ Production from ~uman Monoc~tes in vitro Human monocytes were prepared from leukosource packs supplied by t~e American Red Cross; The leukosource packs were fractionated by a two-step procedure described 35 by F. Colatta et al., J. Immunol. 132, 936 (1984), herein incorporated by reference, that uses sedimentation on 1 Ficoll followed by sedimentation on Percoll. The monocyte fraction that results from this technique was composed of 80-90% monocytes with the remainder being neutrophils and lymphocytes.
The monocytes (1.5x106) were placed into polypropylene tubes and used as a suspended culture. The assay buffer consisted of RPMI 1640 buffer, ~Moore, G. E.
et al., JAMA, 199, 519 (1967) herein incorporated by referenceJ 1% human A~3 serum, 2mM glutamine, 25 mM HEPES
t4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulfonic acid], and lmM CaC12 (total volume 0.45ml). Compounds (O.OSml) were added in 10% ethanol solution, and the cells were preincubated for 45-60 minutes at 37C with constant agitation. A23187 calcium ionophore (2~M) was used to 15 stimulate the cells. After an additional 15 minutes, the buffer was collected by centrifugation (6QO xg for 15 minutes) and stored at -70C until assayed. LTC4 production was measured by radioimmunassay which was performed using a New England Nuclear Leukotriene 20 C-4(3H) RIA Kit according to the manufacturer's (New England Nucelar, Boston Massachusetts) instructions. The compound-mediated inhibition of LTC4 is described as the concentration of compound causing a 50~ inhibition of LTC4 proauction.
25 Inhibition of the Eicosanoid Production Following Calcium Ionophore (60~M) Stimulation in Human Whole Blood The eicosanoids, which include the 5-lipoxygenase products LTB4, transLTB4, 20-hydroxyLTB4, S-HETE, and the 12-lipoxygenase product are extracted from the 30 whole blood following A23187 calcium ionophore stimulation. The extracts are separated by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography and quantified by absorbance methods.
Venous human blood is collected into 35 polypropylene tubes containing 1% heparin. The blood is then aliquoted into 4.5 ml volumes and preincubated at 2il~ 25~

1 37C for 10 minutes in polypropylene tubes (15 ml sizej.
Compound or carrier ~50 ~L dimethylsulfoxide) is added 5 minutes prior to stimulation. Calcium ionophore (0.5ml) is added, and the blood incubated for 10 minutes.
5 Prostaglandin B2(1 nmole) is added, and the blood extracted as described below.
The samples are centrifuged at lOOOxg for 15 minutes at 5C. The plasma is collected, and one volume of methanol is added to the plasma. This suspension is 10 then centrifuged at lOOOxg for ten minutes at 5C. The supernatant is collected and diluted with 1.5 volumes of chilled aqueous 1% formic acid: 1% triethylamine. This mixture is loaded onto a preconditioned J.T. Baker C18 SPE
cartridge (Phillipsburg, NJ) at a flow rate of 1-2 15 ml/minute. (The cartridge is preconditioned according to manufacture's recommendations.) The absorbed sample is washed in the following order with three (3) ml each of (i) aqueous 1% formic acid: 1% triethylamine; (ii) petroleum ether; and (iii) 20% acetonitrile: 1%
20 triethylamine-The eicosanoids are eluted in 3ml of 70%
acetonitrile: 1% triethylamine. The solvent is removed under vacuum. The sample is resuspended in 200uL of 50%
methanol buffered with ammonium acetate.
The sample (175 ~1) is loaded into a WATERS
(Milford, MA) RCM NOVA PAK C18 (lOOx8mm) column with the starting mobile phase of 90% A (A = 10% acetonitrile buffered with 30mM ammonium acetate to pH6.8) and 10% B
(B - 90% acetonitrile buffered with 30mM ammonium acetate 30 to pH6.8). The flow rate for the separation is 2.5ml/minute. At one minute the %B is increased to 27% in a step fashion. By 12 minutes the %B has increased in a concave hyperbolic functi~ (curve 9) t~ 40% and increases in a linear manner to 60% by 22 minutes. Under these 35 developing conditiQns, the retention times for the eicosanoids are: 20-hydroxyLTB4, 4.6 minutes;

_ ~,9 _ .
1 thromboxane B2, 6.5 minutes; transLTB4, 10 minutes;
LTB4, lO. 5 minutes; 12-HETE, 10. 4 minutes; 5-HETE, 21 minutes. The HPLC system consisted of WATERS 510 pumps, 840 controller, WISP injector and 990 detector.
The eicosanoids in the samples are verified by their retention times and their W absorbance spectra.
The peaks are quantified with reference to the internal standard and their absorbance response at their maximum absorbance wavelength.
10 The Effect of Compounds of Formula (I) on Arachidonic Acid-induced Inflammation Elucidation of the antiinflammatory activity of the compounds of Formula (I) was achieved in a model of arachidonic acid-induced edema in mice. The mouse ear 15 edematous response to arachidonic acid has been shown to be sensitive to agents that inhibit both lipoxygenase- and cyclooxygenase-generated mediators or that selectively inhibit lipoxygenase, but not cyclooxygenase, enzyme activity tSee, Young et al., J. Invest. Dermatol., 82, 20 367-371 (1984)]. Compounds of Formula (I) produced marked inhibition of the edematous response normally seen 1 hour after the application of 2 mg of arachidonic acid to the ear (Table I~. The cyclooxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin (10 mg/kg, p.o.), ibuprofen (250 mg/kg, p.o.) 25 and naproxen (100 mg/kg, p.o.) do not exhibit detectable antiinflammatory activity in this assay.
These findings indicate that compounds of Formula (I) are potent inhibitors of both the cellular and edema-tous responses of inflammation in mice. These inflammatory 30 responses were also inhibited by agents that inhibit lipoxygenase activity but not by selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors.
The Effect of ComPounds of Formula (I) on Arachidor.ic Acid Metabolism Experiments using a soluble extract preparation of RBL-l cells containing only lipoxygenase activity Zllti(?~5~

1 confirmed the inhibitory effects of compounds of Formula (I) on LTB4 (DI-HETE) production (Table II).
Indomethacin at concentrations up to 10 4M was inactive. The data presented in Table II indicate that 5 compounds of Formula (I) are inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway as confirmed by their ability to inhibit DI-HETE, a S-lipoxygenase pathway product. The data presented in Table III indicate that compounds of Formula (I) are inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway as confirmed by their ability to inhibit the total 5-HETE
and DI-HETE, 5-lipoxygenase pathway products. The data in Table IIIA indicates that compounds of Formula (I) are inhibitors of the S-lipoxygenase pathway as confirmed by measurement of oxygen consumption by the 5-lipoxygenase 15 enzyme.
LTC4 Inhibition AssaY
As shown in Table IV, compounds of Formula (I) were e~ficacious in inhibiting LTC4 production, a 5-lipoxygenase pathway product, by human monocytes. These 20 data confirm the ability of compounds of Formula (I) to inhibit the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.
Inhibition of E~lcosanoid Production As shown in Table V, compounds of Formula (I) were effective in inhibiting the production of various 25 S-lipoxygenase pathway products in human blood. This data demonstrates that the compounds of Formula (I) inhibit the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. The inhibition of thromboxane B2 demonstrates that the compounds inhibit the cyclooxygenase pathway and are therefore dual inhibitors.

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7 0 C 4-pyr1dyl 4-methylthiophenyl 200 ~ +

8 0 C 4-pyridyl 4-Tethylsulfinylphenyl 200 9 0 C 4-pyr1dyl 4-methylsulfonylphenyt 200 lO O C 4-pyr1dyl 4-ethYlthioPhenyl 200 ll O C 4-pyr1dyl 4-ethylsulf1nylphenyl 300 12 0 C 4-pyridyl 4-acetoxymethylthiophenyl 200 13 0 C H 4-pyridyl 200 14 0 C 4-Tethylthiophenyl 4-pyrtdyl 200 + +
lS O C 4-methyl5ulfinylphenyl 4-pyridyl 200 16 0 C 4-~2~nethyl)pyr1dyl 4-methylth10phenyl 200 17 0 C 4-~2-methyl)pyrldyl 4-methylsulf1nylphenyl 200 _ _ 18 0 C 4-~2-methyl)pyrldyl 4wnethoxyphenyl 200 M1nus s1gn 1nd1cates absenee and plus Sisn presence of convulsions at one hour and death at 24 hours.
This compound l~tabolt~es to the corresPonding sulfide which causes convulsions R , R , R , R , R , R , R and R each is hydrogen for comPounds 3 5 numbered to 18 above.

5~t~

Table VIII
P-450 Inh~ oQ

~ ~ .
x~~a7 No . ~ Bl B ~sol S 4-pyrtdyl 4-methoxyphenyl 12.5 0 2 S0 4-pyrldyl 4-methoxyphenyl >lO0 3 S02 4-pyr1dyl 4~nethoxyphenyl 26.2 4 S 4-pyridyl 4-fluorophenyl 0.9 C 4-pyr1dyl 4-methoxyphenyl 21.4 6 S 4-fluorophenyl 4-pyr1dyl 0.5 7 C 4-pyr1dyl 4-~l-ethoxy)phenyl 8.4 8 C 4-pyr1dyl 4-(l-propoxy)phenyl 62.7 9 C 4-pyr1dyl 4-(2-propoxy)phenyl 2.5 lo C 4-N-methylpyr1dyl 4-methoxyphenyl 108 ll C 4^pyrldyl 4-methylth10phenyl 43.7 12 C 4-pyridyl 4-methYlsul fi nyl phenyl 866 13 C 4-pyr1dyl 4-methylsulfonylphenyl >loo 14 C 4-pyrtdyl 4-ethylth10phenyl 28.1 lS C 4-pyr1dyl 4-ethylsulf1nylphenyl >lO0 16 C 2-pyr1dyl 4-methoxyphonyl >tO0 17 C 3-pyr1dyl 4-methoxyphenyl >lO0 18 C H 4-pyr1dyl 80.1 19 C 4-methylthiophenyl 4-pyridyl 5.2 C 4-methylsulf1nylphenyl 4-pyridyl 13.7 3 5 C 4-(2-methyl )pyridyl 4-methylthiophenyl 57.5 22 C 4-(2-methyl)pyridyl 4-methylsulflnylphenyl >lO00 23 C 4-(2-methyl )pyridyl 4-methoxyphenyl 56.6 R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7. R8, and R9 each ~s hydrogen and n is 0 for comPounds numbered l to 23 above.

.

. ~ ~

%~5`~

1 It has now been found that the compounds of the present invention have superior properties over previously known compounds as summarized by the data in Table VI.
Compound A, 5-(4-pyridyl)-6-(4-fluorophenyl)-2,3-5 dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole, and compound B, 5-(4-pyridyl)-6-(4-fluorophenyl)-2,3-dihydroimidazo [2,1-b]thiazole oxide, are representative of compounds taught in U.S. Patent 4,175,127 issued November 20, 1979~
Compound C,2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7 dihydro-~SH]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole is specifically taught in U.S. Patent 4,719,218 issuing from the parent case of the present application. Compound D, 2-(4-methylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-t5H]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole and compound E, 2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-15 6,7-dihydro-t5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole are representative of the present invention.
Structural modifications described in this application have reduced the severity, when compared to prior art compounds, of two undesirable side effects: 1) 20 CNS toxicity; and 2) inhibition of cytochrome P-450 dependent enzyme activities, which is a deficiency that could result in clinically relevant drug interactions.
More specifically, the elimination of the sulfur on the bicyclic fused ring nucleus of the compounds and 25 rep}acement of the fluorine with a methoxy group reduced inhibition of cytochrome P-450 dependent enzymes, but did not eliminate the presence of adverse central nervous system (CNS) activity~ This is shown by a comparison of the data in Table VI for compound C with A. It was 30 believed that the CNS effects were related to the ability of a compound to penetrate the CNS and hence to lipophilicity. Compounds A and C are both highly lipophilic and demonstrat^1 similar CNS effects. The log D shown on Table VI is a measure of lipophilicity 35 determined via high pressure liquid chromatography.

t(~
_ 1 However, it was found that introduction of polarity into the phenyl ring, pyridyl ring, or bicyclic fused ring reduced 5-lipoxygenase inhibition activity. A comparison of compounds D and E in Table VI demonstrate this effect 5 for introduction of polarity into the phenyl ring and comparison of compounds A and B demonstrates this effect for the bicyclic fused ring.
A comparison of compounds A and B demonstrated a reduction in the undesirable CNS activity. A similar ect is shown comparing claimed compounds D and E.
Incorporation of polarity into A yielded compound B, and reduced CNS toxicity. Incorporation of polarity into compound D yielded compound E, and reduced CNS toxicity.
Further compound E is metabolized in vivo to compound D.
Therefore, conversion of a polar but inactive prodrug (E) in vivo to its metabolite (D) reduces CNS toxicity. In addition compound D has less CNS toxicity than prior art compound A. Thus the claimed compounds D and E have reduced inhibition of cytochrome P-450 dependent enzymes 20 and reduced adverse CNS activity. This conclusion is further supported by the following data.

LOG D Determination The procedure used to determine the log D's 25 listed on Table VI was as follows. A 20 ~1 sample was injected into a Shandon Hypersil O~S, 5~ (100 mm x 4.6 mm ID) column and was eluted using a mobile phase of 65:35 MeOH:H2O (The aqueous portion was .Cl M in KH2PO4 and adjusted to pH 7.4 with KOH after mixing the MeOH), at 30 a flow rate of 2 ml per minute. Eluting peaks were detected by W absorbance at 222 nm. All samples were made up at 0.1 mg/ml. (Retentions were identical at 0.01 mg/ml.) 1 The data was analyzed by determining the regression line corresponding to the log k' vs. literature log P of the reference standards. (See Unger, S.H. et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 67, 1364 (1978). The log P (log D) was 5 then determined for the test sample from its log k' on this line. Reproduciblity was usually better than 0.5%.
The reference standards and their literature log P's included NaNO2, 0.0; acetanalide, 1.16;
acetophenone, 1.66; anisole, 2.08; chlorobenzene, 2.84;
benzophenone, 3.18; anthracene, 4.45; and pentachlorobenzene, 5.12.
CNS Activity Effects on the central nervous system (CNS) of the claimed and prior art compounds was demonstrated in cynomolgus monkeys.
Oral administration of 90 mg/kg/day of compound A
on Table VI, 5-(4-pyridyl)-6-(4-fluorophenyl)-2,3-dihydro imidazot2,1-b]thiazole to two cynomolgus monkeys (1 female, 1 male) for two consecutive days induced body 20 tremors in both monkeys and severe, recurrent convulsions in the male animal. Administration of 30 mg/kg/day of compound A on Table VI to two cynomolgus monkeys (1 female, 1 male) for S or 6 consecutive days was associated with emesis and gastric ulceration in both monkeys but 25 with no evidence of convulsions or body tremors. Monkeys, when administered a second dose of 90 mg~kg of compound A
died with convulsions within 1 to S hours after dosing.
A single oral dose of 90 mg/kg of compound C in Table VI, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-30 [SH]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole to 1 female and 1 male monkey resulted in death of both animals. The male became sedated, lost consciousness and died within l.S hours of dosing; the female demonstrated both decre~sed mc~or activity and convulsions prior to death within 3.5 hours 35 of dosing. A single oral dose of 60 mg/kg to two ¢ fi~rj~

1 additional monkeys resulted in sedation, loss of consciousness and death of one (male) within 1 hour of dosing. Additional monkeys tolerated repeated doses of 45 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg and one animal tolerated an escalating 5 dose schedule of 30-90-120 mg/kg.
Two monkeys (1 female, 1 male) were gavaged with 90 mg/kg of compound E, 2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole, and clinical effects were not observed. Additional monkeys were orally administered 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg of compound E to probe the limiting dose and toxic effect(s). Both monkeys receiving 800 mg/kg died, the female within 2 hours of dosing and the male between 12-24 hours of dosing. Convulsions in these animals were not observed.
The two monkeys administered 400 mg~kg were repeatedly administered this dose for 7 consecutive days;
each animal experienced emesis within 1 to 5 hours of dosing after the 1st, 3rd and 4th doses, whereas only the female experienced emesis after the 5th, 6th and 7th 20 doses. A complete necropsy, serum clinical chemistry, hematology and histological examination was completed on both monkeys. Evidence of drug related change was not observed. Emesis was the only observation in monkeys administered 400 mg/kg/day of compound E for 7 consecutive 25 days.
In summary, compounds A and C each caused conwlsions and death after either two or one doses respectively of 90 mg/kg, while compound E at that dosage caused no observable clinical effects. Compound E
30 administered at 400 mg/kg/day for seven days caused only emesis. Thus compound E does not have the adverse CNS
effects demonstrated by the prior art compounds A and C.

3~3 1 Effects on the central nervous system of the claimed and prior art compounds was also demonstrated in mice as shown by the data in Table VII. For compounds 1 to 5, representative of previously known compounds, 5 convulsions occurred in mice at one hour and death at 24 hours after administration of 3 of 5 compounds. For compounds 6 to 18 representing the present invention, convulsions occurred at one hour upon administration of only 3 of 13 compounds and death occurred at 24 hours for 104 Of 13 compounds. This data indicates a general improvement in reducing C~S activity for compounds of the present invention.

CYtochrome P-450 Inhibition The inhibitory effect of se~eral compounds on hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent mixed function oxidase actiYity was evaluated in vitro in rat microsomes using the prototypical substrate, ethoxycoumarin, as follows.
Animals: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, 9-10 weeks of age and 20 weighing 300-340 g, were dosed daily with Na-phenobarbital for three days, i.p. (1 ml/kg in ultrapure H2O), at 80 mg/kg/day. The animals were ~illed by cervical dislocation 24 hours after the last dose and pooled hepatic microsomes were prepared by differential 25 centrifugation. Microsomes were stored at -80C.

In vitro enzvme studies: The possible inhibitory effects of several compounds listed on Table VIII on hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent mixed function oxidase activity 30 were assessed using ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) activity. The deethylation of the substrate, 7-ethoxycoumarin, is detected by measuring the fluorescence of 7-hydroxycoumarin according to the method of Lee N.H. et al., Toxicoloqist, 5, 164 (1985).
35 Microsomal incubations consisting of 15 ~1 pooled t~ ~3 1 Na-phenobarbital-induced microsomes (approx. 0.3 mg/ml microsomal protein) and 875 ~1 reaction mixture of 0.45 mM 7-ethoxycoumarin, 5 mM glucose-6-phosphate, 0.5 units/ml glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 5 mM
5 MgC12 in 0.1 M N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N -2-ethanesulfonic acid,, pH 7.8 were prepared. Varying concentrations of the test compounds, dissolved in a small amount of dimethyl sulfoxide ~10 ~1), were added directly to the incubations. Solvent controls were 10 incubated in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide. After a two minute preincubation at 37C, the deethylation reaction was initiated by adding 100 ~1 0.74 mM
B-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate/0.74 mM
B-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide. The reaction was 15 stopped after incubating for 10 minutes at 37C by adding 2.5 ml basic MeOH, pH 9Ø The samples were spun at 2500 revolutions per minute for 15 minutes. Two mls of the supernatent was transferred into disposable fluorescence cuvets and the fluorescence of each sample was measured at 20 the excitation wavelength 390 nm and emission wavelength 454 nm! The PROBIT procedure was used to calculate IC50 values according to the SAS Institute Inc., SAS User's guide: Statistics, 1982 Edition, Cary NC: SAS Institute Inc. 1982, 287 pp.
The results are summarized in Table VIII and demonstrate that compounds of the claimed invention have reduced inhibition of P-450 enzyme compared to previously known compounds. Compounds 1 to 6 represent previously known compounds. The IC50, which is the concentration 30 at which S0% of the enzyme activity is inhibited, was less than 30 ~M for each of these compounds except compound 2. Compounds 7 to 23 represent the. claimed invention.
The major~.y of these co~pounds have an IC50 above 30 ~M. Compounds of the claimed invention, because of the 35 reduced inhibition-of cytochrome P-450 dependent enzymes, 2~ 5;~

1 would be expected to have significantly less clinicallyrelevant drug interactions than prior art compounds.
The following examples are to be construed as merely illustrative and not a limitation of the scope of 5 the present invention in any way.
Temperature is in degrees Centigrade (C).

EXAMP~E 1 2-(4-FluoroPhenyl)-6~7-dihydro-(5H)-pyrrolo~l~2-a]imidazole (Formula (E) ComPound) Method A.
A stirred solution of l5g (87 mmoles) of 2-chloro-4-fluoroacetophenone in 75ml of SD 30 alcohol was treated at 25 C with 10.65g (104 mmoles) of 2-iminopyrrolidine, lS resulting in an exothermic temperature rise to 40C.
After stirring for one hour (hr), approximately 75ml of ethyl acetate was added, and the mixture was extracted with dilute HCl to dissolve the precipitate. The aqueous acidic extract was separated from the organic phase, 20 adjusted to a pH between 4 and 5, and heated on a steam bath for 24 hrs. The solution was adjusted to pH 2, extracted with ether, brought to pH 8, and extracted with methylene ch}oride. The basic organic phase was chromato-graphed on silica, eluting with 4% methanol in methylene 25 chloride. The residue obtained on concentration of the pooled fractions was recrystallized from CC14, melting point (mp) 137.5-139C.
Method B.
(a) 1-(4-FluoroPhenYl)-2-(2-iminoPYrrolidin yl)-ethanone hYdrocholoride (Formula (H) comPound A stirred solution of 37.3g (216 mmoles) of 2-chloro~ 4-fluorophenyl)-ethanone (prepared as described by Joshi et al., J. HeterocYclic Chem. 16, 1141 35 (1979)) in 70 ml o chloroform chilled in a methanol-ice bath between 15-18C, was treated with a solution of 20g .

2~ r ~

1 (238 mmoles) of 2-imino-pyrrolidine in S0 ml of chloroform at such a rate as to maintain the temperature of the reaction mixture. After an additional 2 hours, the mixture was triturated with 300 ml Et2O, filtered, and 5 the crystals were washed with ether and recrystallized from alcohol to give white needles of the named Formula (H) compound, mp 207-208C.
Anal. Calcd. for C12H14Cl F N20:C, 56.15; H, 5.50;
N, 10.91. Found: C, 56.14; H, 5.50; N, 10.90. 0 (b) 2-(4-Fluorophen~1)-6,7-dihYdro-(5H)-pYrrolo ~1,2-a]imidazole (Formula (E) ComPound) An aqueous solution of 31g (0.12 mole) of the named Formula (H) compound of Method B, part a above, was heated in 300 ml of water on a steam bath for 8 hours.
15 The solution was adjusted to pH 6.5, and the resulting precipitate was filtered, dried under vacuum and recrystallized from CC14 to give the named Formula (E) compound, mp 137.5-139C.
Anal. Calcd. for C12HllFN2: C, 71.27; H, 5.48, N, 13.85.
20 Found: C, 71.00; H, 5.61; N, 13.73.

2-(4-FluorophenYl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6~7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo ~1,2-a]imidazole A stirred solution of 13.1g (0.065 mole) of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole, prepared as described in Example 1, and 51.4g (0.6S mole) of dry pyridine in 17ml of dry methylene chloride at 22-25C was treated over 1.5 hours (hr) with 35.~g (0.325 3~ mmole) of ethyl chloroformate. The solution was stirred at 25C overnight, and the treatment with pyridine and ethyl chloroformate repeated as before, followed by a 24 hr period of stirring. ~fter _ more treatments as described above, the solvent was removed in vacuo. The 35 residue was dissolved in 5% aqueous NaHCO3 and extracted into methylene chloride. The organic phase was washed with 5%

Z~

1 aqueous NaHCO3 and dried over anhydrous K2CO3. The volatile solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue extracted into methylene chloride. The organic phase was extracted repeatedly with 0.2M HCl until traces of starting 5 material were removed, then washed with 5% Na2CO3 -solution, dried over K2CO3 (anhydrous), and striped in vacuo. The residue was crystallized from toluene-hexane to give the compound of Formula (F) known as 3-(N-ethoxy-carbonyl-1,4-dihydro-4-pyridyl)-2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-6,7-10 dihydrot5H]-pyrrolo(1,2-a]imidazole, m.p. 146-147C.
Method A. 0.5g (1.4 mmoles) of the Formula (F) product described in Example 2 was heated with stirring in 5ml of decalin under argon. Upon reaching a temperature of 80C, 0.06g (1.8 mmoles) of sulfur was added and the 15 mixture heated to 1~5C until starting material was con-sumed. The cooled mixture was filtered and the solid washed with petroleum ether and dissolved in chloroform-ethyl acetate (1:1). This solution was decolorized with - Darco, and chromatographed on silica. Elution with 20%
20 methanol in chloroform-ethyl acetate (1:1) afforded a fraction which was concentrated in vacuo, and recrystal-lized from carbon tetrachloride to give the desired Example II title product, mp 163-164.5C.
Method B. 15.0g (42.4 mmoles) of a Formula (F) 25 c~mpound, i.e., 3-(N-ethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-4-pyridyl)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6,7-dihydrot5H)-pyrrolo~1,2-a~imidazole, prepared as described above, was added to a stirred solution of 28.6g (255 mmoles) of potassium tert.-butoxide dissolved in tert.-butanol ~2S0 ml) into which 2 was 30 being bubbled. The solution was heated to reflux for 15 minutes, and the solvent then removed in vacuo. The solid product was extracted into methylene chloride, washed with water and then extra~ted into aque~us 3~ HCl. This aqueous acidic phase was made basic with cold 10% aqueous sodium 35 hydroxide and extracted with methylene chloride. The resulting organic phase was dried over anhydrous K2CO3 .

;2''lJ ~ ,58 1 and the solvent was removed in vacuo. Two recrystalliza-tions from toluene gave the Example II title product, mp 165-166C. Anal. Calcd. for C17H14FN3:C, 73.10; H, 5.05; N, 15.04. Found: C, 73.31; H, 5.11; M, 15.08.

2-(4-Methylthiophen~rl)-3-(4-pyridYl)-6,7-dihYdro-[5H]-pYrrolotl,2-a]imidazole A stirred solution of 5.5 g (19.7 mmoles) of 10 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[l,2]imidazole, prepared as described in Example 2 in 75 ml of dry (sieve) dimethylformamide was treated with 1.65 g (23~6 mmoles) of sodium thiomethylate under argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture was heated overnight at lS 75C followed by an additional 2 hours at 95C, poured into cold water and extracted twice with ethyl acetate.
The organic phase was washed three times with water, dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, and stripped in vacuo. The residue was recrystallized twice from ethyl 20 acetate to afford the titled compound, mp 171-172C.
Anal- Calcd- for C18H17N3S C, 3 ;
13.67; S, 10.43. Found: C, 69.93; H, 5.40; N, 13.76; S, 10.75.
In an analagous manner to the process of Example 3, 25 2-(4-propylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo ~1,2-a] imidazole was prepared.
mp 92 -93 C.
Analysis Calcd. for C20H21N3S: C, 71.61; H, 6.31;
N, 12.53; S, 9.56. Found: C, 71.69; H, 6.41; N, 12.82;
30 S, 9,44, NMR (CDC13) ~: 8.55 (m, 2H), 7.45-7.15 (m, 6H), 4.04 (t, 2H), 2.96 (t, 2H), 2.90 (t, 2H), 2.65 (quintet, 2H), 1.66 (sextet, 2H), 1.00 (t, 3H'.
Mass Spec (DCl/NH3) 336 (m + 1) 5~

2-(4-MethYlsulfinYlphenyl)-3-(4-pyridYl~-6,7-dihYdro-~SH]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole.
To a stirred solution of S.0 g (16.3 mmoles) of 2-(4-methylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[SH]-pyrrolo[l,2-a]imidazole of Example 3 dissolved in 75 ml of chloroform, chilled in an ice bath, was added dropwise a solution of 3.30 g (16.3 mmoles) of 85% 3-chloroperbenzoic acid in chloroform. After stirring at 25C overnigh~, the 10 reaction mixture was washed with 5% sodium carbonate, dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, and stripped in vacuo. The residue was flash chromatographed on silica eluting with S to 10% methanol in methylene chloride:
2-propanol (9:1). The solvent was removed in vacuo and 15 the residue recrystallized from ethyl acetate to give the desired titled compound, mp 163.5-165.5C. lH NMR (360 MHz, CDC13) ~ 8.62 (2H,d), 7.68 (2H,d), 7.57 (2H,d), 7.25 (2H,d), 4.05 (2H,t), 3.02 (2H,t), 2.72 (s) superimposed upon 2.69 (m) (5H total). Mass Spec. (CI) 20 (M+H) 324 (MW = 323).
-- In an alternate procedure to that of Example 4, 2-(4-propylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]
pyrrolo~l,2-a]imidazole was prepared. The sulfide product 25 (1.4 g) 2-(4-propylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[SH]-pyrrolo ~1,2-a] imidazole prepared as described in Example 3 above was dissolved in 2s ml of acetic acid and added to a solution containing 1.35 g of potassium sulfate (K2S2O8) in 30 ml of water. The reaction was stirred 30 ovérnight at room temperature and worked up by diluting with methylene chloride neutralizing with potassium carbonate. The residue was columned on silica gel to afford the product and then further puri~`ied by recrystalization from ether/methylene chloride: m.p.
114-116C; mass spec (DCI/NH3) 352(M+1), 336. Analysis Calcd- for C2_H21N3SO: C, 68.35~ H, 6.02; N, 11.96;
S, 9.12. Found: C, 68.17; H, 6.14; N, 11.97; S, 9.05.

~i3~ P~.5 1 EXAMPLE s 2-~4-Methylsulfonylphenyl)-3-~4-pyridyl)-6 . 7-dihYdro- ~ 5H ] -pYrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole.
A stirred solution of 0.64 g (1.98 mmoles) of 5 2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[SH]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole of Example 4 in water was treated dropwise over 45 minutes with an aqueous solution of 0.209 g ~1.32 mmoles) of potassium permanganate. After stirring overnight, the suspension was extracted with methylene 10 chloride. The organic phase was dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate and stripped in vacuo. The residue flash chromatographed in silica eluting with 2 to 4%
methanol in chloroform. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue recrystallized from ethyl acetate to 15 afford the desired titled compound, mp 222.5-224C. 1H
NMR (250 MHz, CDC13) ~ 8.62 (2H,d), 7.85 (2H,d), 7.72 (2H,d), 7.26 (2H,d), 4.05 (2H,t), 3.05(s) superimposed upon 3.03(t) (5H total), 2.70 (2H,q).

2-(4-MethoxYphenYl)-6~7-dihvdro-~5H]-pYrrolo-~1,2-a]
imidazol-3-Yl-tri-n-butYltin a) 2-(4-MethoxYphenyl)-6,7-dih~dro-[5H]-PYrrolo tl,2-a]imidazole (Formula (E) ComPound).
To a solution of 6.8 g (29.7 mmoles) of 2-bromo-4'-methoxyacetophenone in 50 ml of CHC13 was added a solution of 5 g (59.4 mmoles) of 2-iminopyrrolidine in 30 ml of CHC13 with chilling. After 4 hours of stirring at 25C, the solvent was removed in vacuo. ~he residue 30 was dissolved in water, the pH adjusted to 2.5 and the solution heated on a steam bath under argon atmosphere for 8 hours. The cooled solution was adjusted to pH 6. The resulting precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried in vacuo to afford the titled compound, mp 35 116-117.5C.

;~ Jl~ r ~5~

1 b) 2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-6~7-dihydro-[sH]
pYrrolo[l,2-a]imidazol-3-Yl-tri-n-butYltin To an ice-cold (0C) solution of [16.8 g, 0.078 mol] 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-S pyrrolo[l,2-a]imidazole in 200 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran under argon was added dropwise over 20 minutes 35 mL
[0.0858 mol] of a 2.5M solution of n-butyl lithium in hexane. Once the addition was complete, the deep-red solution was stirred in the cold for five minutes and then 10 a solution of the tributyltin chloride [26.~ g, 0.0975 mol] in 50 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran was added over 20 min. The reaction mixture was stirred at ice-bath temperatures for 1.5 hours and then saturated ammonium chloride was added. The layers were shaken together and 15 separated and the organic extract was washed an additional time with saturated ammonium chloride and then dried with anhydrous potassium carbonate. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give 50g of a crude oil, which was taken up twice in cold hexane, filtering off the unreacted 20 2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]-imidazole each time. The product was purified on a column of silica, eluting with 1:1 ethyl acetate~hexane in the presence of 1% diethylamine, to give 19.2 g (49% of a yellow oil.
25 Anal. Calcd for C25H40Sn N20:
C, S9.66, H, 8.01; N, 5.57. Found: C,59.32; H, 8.01, N,5.41.

EXAM?LE 7 30 2-(4-MethoxYPhenYl)-3-(2-Pyridyl)-6~7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrr [1,2-a]imidazole A solution of 2-bromopyridine (0.948 g, 0.006 mol) in 2 ml of hexamethylphosphoramide and 10 mL of dry tetrahydrofuran was deoxygenated with argon for 30 minutes 35 in the dark. To this solution was added 70 mg of tetrakis (triphenylphosphine)palladium; the reaction was heated to P ~51~

1 50C for 15 minutes and then it was allowed to return to room temperature. The Formula (J) tin-intermediate prepared as in Example 6 (lg, 0.002 mol) in 10 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran was then added dropwise. The reaction 5 mixture was heated to reflux for 24 hours and then worked-up by adding ethyl acetate and twice shaking the organic extract with 10% potassium fluoride solution, washing with water twice and then drying with saturated sodium chloride solution and anhydrous magnesium sulfate.
10 The organic extract was concentrated in vacuo to give an oil which was purified by flash chromatography in silica, - eluting with 20-50% isopropanol in hexane. The resulting solid was recrystallized from ethyl acetate, mp.
142.5-145C;
15 NMR (CDC13)~: 8.55 (d, lH), 7.45 (d, 2H), 7.4-6.9 (m, 3H), 6.8 (d, 2H), 4.25 (t, 2H), 3.8(s, 3H) 2.9 (t, 2H), 2.6 (m, 2H) Mass Spec. (CI)(M+H) 292 (MW=291).

2-(4-MethoxYPhenyl)-3-(3-pyridyl)-6,7-dihYdro-~5H¦-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole The reaction was carried out as described in 25 Example 7 for 2-bromopyridine. Commercially-available 3-bromo-pyridine was used in synthesis of the above-named compound. The molar amounts were also the same. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography on silica, eluting with 20-30% isopropanol in hexane. The 30 product was recrystallized from ethyl acetate.
mp. 164-~65C.
NMR (CDC13)~: 8.6 (m 2H), 7.65 (m, lH), ;.45 (d, 2H), 7.3 (m, lH), 6.8 (d, 2H), 4.0 (t, 2H), 3.8 (s, 3H), 3.0 (t, 2H), 2.65 (m, 2H) Mass Spec (CI)(M + H)+ = 292 (MW=291).

5~

1 EXAMP~E 9 2-(4-MethoxYphenyl)-3-(2,6-dimethYl-4-pYridYl)-6,7-dihYdro-tsH]-pyrrolotl~2-a] imidazole The 4-bromo-2,6-lutidine used in the palladium catalyzed coupling reaction was synthesized from commercially-available 2,6-lutidine N-oxide as described in the literature tJ.O.C., 27, 1665 (1962), R. F. Evans and H.C. Brown]. The coupling reaction was carried out as described previously in Example 7.
The product was purified by flash chromatography, on silica, eluting with 20-50% isopropanol in hexane.
mp. 178-179C.
NMR(CDC13)~: 7.4 (d, 2H), 7.2(s,2H) 6.8 (d, 2H), 4.2 (t, 2H), 3.8 (s, 3H), 2.9 (s, 2H) 2.65 (m, 2H), 2.55 (s, 6H) In another process described by Stille et al. in J.A.C.S., 109, p. 5478-5486 (1987) the titled compound was 20 also prepared.
To a solution of 2,6-dimethyl-4-(trifluoromethyl-sulfonyloxy)pyridine tl mmol, prepared from the known 2,6-dimethyl-4-hydroxypyridine by treatment of the hydroxypyridine with sodium hydride in DMF containing 25 N-phenyltrifluoromethanesulfonimide followed by purification using silica gel chromatography\
NMR(CDC13)~: 2.59 (s, 6H), 6.91 (s, 2~)] in 5 mL of dioxane was added 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazol-3-yl-tri-n-butyltin (1 mmol), LiCl (3 mmol), Pd(PPh3)4(0.2 mmol), and a few crystals of ~,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol. The resulting mixture was stirred and heated at reflux under an argon atmosphere for sev~ral hours, then cooled to room temperature. Following workup the residue was columned on silica gel to afford the product which ~as further purified by recrystalization; m.p. 178-179C, ~MR(CDC13)~: 7.47 ,5~

1 (d,2H), 6.95 (s, 2H), 6.85 (d, 2H), 4.00 (t, 2H), 3.82 (s, 3H), 2.99 (t, 2H), 2.65 (m, 2H), 2.50 (s, 6H).
Analysis Calcd. for C20H21N3O: C, 75.21; H, 6.63;
N, 13.16. Found: C, 74.84; H, 6.74; N, 13.06 2-(4-HYdroxyphenYl)-3-(4-pYridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo tl,2-aJimidazole dihYdrobromide a. 2-(4-MethoxYphenYl~-6,7-dihydro-~SH]-~yrrolo [1,2-a]imidazole (Formula (E) ComPound).
To a solution of 6.8 g (29.7 mmoles) of 2-bromo-4'-methoxyacetophenone in 50 ml of CHC13 was added a solution of 5 g (59.4 mmoles) of lS 2-iminopyrrolidine in 30 ml of CHC13 with chilling.
After 4 hours of stirring at 25C, the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in water, the pH
adjusted to 2.5 and the solution heated on a steam bath under argon atmosphere for 8 hours. The cooled solution 20 was adjusted to pH 6. The resulting precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried in vacuo to afford the titled compound, mp 116-117.C.
b. 3-(N-EthYloxYcarbonY1-l,4-dihYdro-4-pyridyl)-2-(4-methoxYPhenYl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-Pyrrolo~l~2-a]imidazole A stirred solution of 2.8 g (13.1 mmoles) of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dihydro-~SH]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]
imidazole, prepared as described above, and 6.2 g (78.4 mmoles) of dry pyridine in 30 ml of dry CH2C12 was treated dropwise over 1 hour at S C under argon 30 atmosphere with 4.25 g (30.2 mmoles) of ethyl chloroformate. After stirring for 1 hour an additional 3.1 g (39.2 mmoles) of pyridine was added, followed by 2.15 g (19.8 mmoles) of ethyl chloroformate added over 2 hours. The mixture was stirred overnight at 25 C, then 35 poured into ice water made alkaline with Na2CO3 and extracted with CH2C12. The organic phase was 1 sequentially washed with 0.2 N HCl, water, and aqueous K2CO3 solution, dried over Na2SO4 and stripped in vacuo to afford the titled compound as an amber resin.

TLC (Alumina; CHC13) of extracte~ product shows mixture containing a major slower moving product spot (Rf 0.35) and a minor starting material spot (Rf 0.46); NMR
indicates a mixture of 61% 3-(~-ethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-4-pyridyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dihydro[5H]-pyrrolo-10 tl,2-a]imidazole Formula (F)* intermediate, 12%
2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro[5H]-pyrrolo-[1,2-a]imidazole spontaneously oxidized Formula (I) product, and 27% 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dihydro-tSH]-pyrrolo[l,2]a]imidazole Formula (E) starting material:
15 (9OMHz, CDC13) d 8.62 (d, 0.23H), 7.67 (d) and 7.42 (d) superimposed upon 7.8-7.15 (m, 2.33H), 7.15-6.8 (m, - 3.33H), 4.85 (d-d, 1.2H)*, 4.64 (p, 0.63H)*, 4.27 (q, 1.3H)*, 3.93 (t) superimposed upon 3.8 (s, 4.5H), 3.0-2.3 (m, 4.0H), 1.32 (t, 1.86H)*.

*Those signals indicated with an asterisk above represent exclusively the following Formula (F) protons: C3-H and C5-H protons on dihydropyridine ring, C4-H proton on dihydropyridine ring, CH20 protons on ethoxycarbonyl 25 function, and CH3 protons of ethoxycarbonyl function, respectively.
c. 2-(4-MethoxYPhenY1)-3-(4-pYridyl)-6~7-dihydr ~5H]-Pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole ~Formula (I) ComPound) 4.1 g (11.2 mmole) of the compound described in 30 Part b) above was heated with stirring in 25 ml of decalin under argon. Upon reaching 85C, the solid was dissolved, and 0.468 g (14.6 mmoles) of sulfur was added. The mixture was :~ated to 165C and another 0.235 g (7;3 mmoles) of sulfur was added. After another 45 minutes, 35 the starting material was consumed, and the cooled reaction mixture was diluted with 25 ml of petroleum ether 1 and filtered. The filtered solid was washed with additional petroleum ether, dissolved in CHC13-EtOAc and chromatographed on silica. The material eluting with 8 to 25% methanol in CHC13-EtOAc (1:1) was concentrated in 5 vacuo and recrystallized from toluene-cyclohexane to give the desired product, mp 157.5-158.5C; Anal. Calcd. for C18H17N3O:C, 74.20; H, 5.88; N, 14.42. Found: C, 74.09; H, 5.88; N, 14.45.
d. 2-(4-HYdroxYphenYl)-3-(4-pYridyl)-6~7-dihydr 10 [5HJ-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole dihYdrobromide.
A stirred solution of 3g (10.3 mmoles) of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo ~1,2-a]imidazole of Part c) above in 150 ml of dry methylene chloride was treated dropwise at -80C with a 15 solution of 17.7 g (30.9 mmoles) of boron tribromide in methylene chloride and allowed to warm to room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was chilled in an ice bath, 5 to 10 ml of water added, and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue was recrystallized from hot water 20 containing 0.5 ml. of 48% hydrobromic acid and dried in vacuo to afford the titled compound as bright yellow crystals, mp 257-258C. Anal. Calçd. for C17H15N3O.2HBr.l/3H2O: C, 45.87; H, 4.00; N, 9.44. Found: C,45.66; H, 3.69; N,9.67.

2-(4-Ethox~,rPhenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihYdro-~5H]-pYrrolo [1,2-a]imidazole.
A stirred solution of 1.2 g (2.7 mmoles) of 2-(4-30 hydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-d-ihydro-~SH]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole dihydrobromide of Example 10 in 25 ml of dry dimethylformamide cooled in an ice b.ath was treated with 360 mg (9.0 mmoles) of 60% sodium hydride dispGrsion and allowed to warm to room temperature. A solution of 420 mg 35 (2.7 mmoles) of ethyl iodide in 2 ml of dimethylformamide was added dropwise, and after 2 hours an additional 105 mg X~'J~ 5,~
. - 80 -1 (0.67 mmole) of ethyl iodide was added followed by another 90 mg (2.25 mmoles) of 60% sodium hydride suspension.
After stirring overnight, the mixture was poured into 10 volumes of ice water and extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with water, dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was flash chromatographed on silica and the fractions eluting with 4 to 6% methanol in chloroform were combined, concentrated in vacuo, and 10 recrystallized from ethyl acetate to afford the titled compound, mp 133-135C. Anal. Calcd. for ClgHlgN3O:
C, 74.73, H, 6.27: ~, 13.76. Found: C, 74.23; H, 6.01;
N, 13.74.

2-(4-(l-PropoxY)PhenYl)-3-(4-~yridvl)-6~7-dihydro-[5H]
pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole.
A stirred solution of 1.2 g (2.7 mmoles) of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolotl,2-20 a]imidazole dihydrobromide of Example 10 in 20 ml of dry dimethylformamide cooled in an ice bath was treated with 360 mg (9.0 mmoles) of 60% sodium hydride dispersion and allowed to warm to room temperature. 450 mg (2.7 mmoles) of powdered potassium iodide was added, followed by 25 d~opwise addition of a solution of 332 mg (2.7 mmoles) of l-propyl bromide in 2 ml of dimethylformamide. After 2 hours an additional 83 mg (0.67 mmole) of l-propyl bromide was added followed by another 90 mg (2.25 mmoles) of 60~
sodium hydride suspension, and the mixture heated to 65C
30 for 2.5 hours. After ætirring overnight, the mixture was poured into 10 volumes of ice water and extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with water, dried over anhyarous ~assium carbonate and concentrated ~n vacuo. The residue was flash chromatographed on.silica and the fractions eluting with 3 to 6% methanol in chloroform were combined, concentrated 1 in vacuo, and recrystallized from ethyl acetate to afford the titled compound, mp 148.5-150C. Anal. Calcd. for C20H21N3O: C, 75.21; H, 6.63; N, 13.16. Found: C, 74.95; H, 6.59; N, 13.17.

2-(4-(2-Propoxy)phenYl)-3-(4-PyridYl)-6,7-d hYdro-[5H]-pYrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole.
A stirred solution of o.so g (2.0 mmoles) of 10 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo~l,2-a]imidazole dihydrobromide of Example 10 in 20 ml of dry dimethylformamide cooled in an ice bath was treated with 267 mg (6.67 mmoles) of 60% sodium hydride dispersion and allowed to warm to room temperature. A
15 solution of 374 mg. (2.22 mmoles) of 2-propyl iodide in 2 ml of dimethylformamide was added dropwise and the reaction mixture heated at 100C for 4 hours. Another 35 mg (0.88 mmole) of 60% sodium hydride suspension was added at room temperature, followed by 113 mg (0.67 mmole) of 20 2-propyl iodide and the mixture heated at 100C for an additional 3 hours. After stirring overnight, the mixture was poured into 10 volumes of ice water and extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with water, dried over anhydrous potassium 25 carbonate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was flash chromatographed on silica and the fraction eluting with 2% methanol in chloroform, concentrated in vacuo, and recrystallized from ethyl acetate to afford the titled compound, mp 148-150C. Anal. Calcd. for C20H21N3O:
30 C, 75.21; H, 6.63; N, 13.16. Found: C, 75.38; H, 6.58;
N, 13.26.

3~2,5~

2-(4-Ethylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-EYrrolo[l~2-a]imidazole Sodium hydride (60%) (0.75 g, 19 mmol) was added 5 to a solution of ethanethiol (2.1 ml, 1.7 g, 28 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (15 ml) at 0C under an argon atmosphere. After stirring for 0.5 hours, 2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-t5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a~-imidazole (3.5 g, 12.5 mmol) of Example 2 was added and 10 the resulting solution heated to 95 C for 6 hours. The cooled reaction mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue partitioned between lN aqueous sodium hydroxide and dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed successively with water and brine, dried 15 (magnesium sulfate) and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel eluting with 25:1 chloroform/methanol. Fractions containing product were combined, the solvent evaporated and the residue recrystallized from ethyl acetate to afford the titled 20 compound; mp. 124-125 C. Anal. Calcd. for ClgHlgN3S: C,70.99; H, 5.96; N, 13.08; S, 9.97:
Found: C, 70.99; H, 5.92; N, 13.07; S, 9.81.

25 2-(4-Ethylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-tSH]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole The title comopund was prepared from 6,7-dihydro-2-(4-ethylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-[5H]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole of Example 14 by the procedure 30 described in Example 4. mp. 108-110. 1 H NMR (250 MHz, CDCL3)~ 8.61 (2H, d), 7~6S (2H, d), 7.53 (2H, d), 7.24 (2H, d), 4.05 (2H, t), 3.02 (2H, t), 2.86 (2H, m), 2.69 (2H, m), 1.23 (3H, t).

~J'!.`~

2-(4-Mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-~yrrolo-[1,2-a]imidazole To 5 g (15.5 mmole) of 2-(4-methylsulfinyl-S phenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]-imidazole prepared as in Example 4 dissolved in 100 ml methylene chloride and cooled to 0 was added 9.7 g (46.4 mmole, 6.5 ml) of trifluoroacetic anhydride in 25 ml of methylene chloride. The mixture was heated to reflux for 10 1 hour. The reaction mixture was stripped on the rotovap, then treated with water, and extracted with methylene chloride. The extract was washed with 3N NaHCO3 and saturated NaCl and treated with Na2SO4, then stripped to leave 5.1 g of crude product. This material was 15 dissolved in anhydrous methanol (50 ml) and treated with a 2s% solution of NaOCH3/MeOH (5 ml, 23 mmole). This mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, then poured onto ice water and neutralized with 3N NaHCO3.
After removing most of the methanol on the rotovap, the 20 residue was partitioned between methylene chloride and water. The organic layer was washed with water and saturated NaCl, treated with Na2SO4 and stripped. The residue was flash chromatographed on a silica gel column using a gradient of 1 to 5% MeOH in methylene chloride to 25 give 3.1 g (10.5 mmole) of the titled compound.

2-(4-Trimethylacetylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihYdro-~5H]-Pvrrolo~l,2-a]imidazole To 1.0 g (3.4 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a] imidazole prepared as in Example 16 in 50 ml methylene chloride at 0C was alded a solution of 0.3 g (3.7 mmole, 0.?6 ml) trimethylacetyl chloride in 10 ml CH2C12 over a period 35 of 10 minutes. The reaction was allowed to come to room temperature and was stirred for 30 minutes. The mixture - 8~ -1 was then diluted with methylene chloride and washed with 3N NaHCO3, saturated NaCl, treated with Na2SO4, stripped, then flash chromatographed on silica with methylene chloride containing 1% to 5~ MeOH. The isolated 5 material was recrystallized from ethyl acetate to give 0.43 g of the titled compound. 33.5% yield, mp 216-217.5 C. C22H23N3OS, Calculated, C: 70.00, H: 6.14, N:

11.13; Found, C: 70.01, H: 6.20, N: 10.99.

2-(4-Acetylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pYrrO10 r 1,2-a~imidazole To 1.0 g (3.4 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a] imidazole 15 prepared as in Example 16 in 50 ml methylene chloride at 0C was added a solution of 0.3 g (3.7 mmole, 0.26 ml) acetyl chloride in 10 ml CH2C12 over a period of 10 minutes. The reaction was allowed to come to room temperature and was stirred for 30 minutes. The mixture 20 was then diluted with methylene chloride and washed with 3N NaHCO3, saturated NaCl, treated with Na2SO4, stripped, then flash chromatographed on silica with methylene chloride containing 1% to S~ MeOH. The isolated material was recrystallized twice from ethyl acetate to 25 give 0.20 g of the titled compound. 17.6% yield, mp 152-154C. ClgH17N3OS, Calculated, C: 68.03, H:
5.11, N: 12.53; Found, C: 68.25, H: 5.40, N: 12.14.

EXAMPLE 130 2-(4-PYridYl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole A stirred suspension of 10g (35.6 mmoles) of 4-(bromoacetyl)-pyridine hydrobromide and 12.9 g (107 mmoles) of 2-imino-pyrrolidine hydrochloride in 100 ml of dry dimethylformamide was treated with 18.9 g (178 mmoles) 35 of anhydrous sodium carbonate. This suspension was heated at 80C overnight in an oil bath. The solvent was removed 1 in vacuo, the residue dissolved in water and extracted with chloroform. The organic layer was washed three times with water, dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate and stripped in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed on silica and eluted with lQ-lS~ methanol in methylene chloride acetone (85:15). This fraction was stripped in vacuo and the solid residue recrystallized twice from ethyl acetate to afford the desired titled compound, mp 140-141C, lHNMR (250 MHz, CDC13) ~ 8.62 (2H,d), 10 7.60(2H,d), 7.34(1H,s), 4.04(2H,t), 2.95 (2H,t), 2.64(2H,q).

2-~4-(2-Methyl-propenylthio)phenyl]-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-15 dihYdro-[5H]-pYrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole.
A solution of 5g (17 mmoles) of 2-(4-mercapto-phenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~SH]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]-imidazole in dry tetrahydrofuran is treated at -20OC with a solution of 17 mmoles of lithium diethylamide from 6.8 20 ml of 2.5M n-butyl lithium. After warming, a solution of 1.57g (17 mmoles) of trimethylsilylmethylchloride in tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise. When the reaction is complete, the mixture is immersed in an ice bath and a second solution (17 mmoles) of lithium diethylamide is 25 added. After stirring for lS minutes, a solution of 0.99 g (17 mmoles) of acetone in tetrahydrofuran is added, and the mixture is stirred lS minutes at 0 and lS minutes at 25C. The mixture is poured into water, extracted with methylene chloride, and the organic layer dried, and 30 chromatographed on silica to afford the desired titled compound.

z~
~ 86 -3-(4-Methylsulfinylphenyl)-2-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-Pyrrolotl~2-a]imidazole a) 2-(4-PYridYl)-6,7-dihydro-t5H]-PYrrrolotl,2-a]imidazol-3-yl-tri-n-butvltin (Formula (J) ComPound).
To a cold (-5 to 0C) solution of 0.5 g (2.7 mmol) of 2-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo-tl,2-a]-imidazole prepared as in Example 19, in 20 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran under argon was added 1.08 ml (2.7 mmol) of a 2.5M solution of n-butyllithium in hexane dropwise over 20 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1.5 hours and then a solution of 1.0 g (3.07 mmol) of tri-n-butyltin chloride in 2 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was then treated with a saturated aq~eous solution of ammonium chloride. The organic layer was extracted a second time with saturated ammonium chloride solution and then dried over ~nhydrous potassium carbonate. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue extracted twice with hexane. The extract was concentrated and purified by chromatography on silica eluting with 5-8% methanol in hexane-ethyl acetate (1:1) containing 1% diethyl amine to afford the titled compound as an oil, 1HNMR(250MHz, CDC13) ~: 8.52 (2H,d), 7.47 (2H,d), 3.97 (2H,t), 2.95 (2H,t), 2.64(2H,g), 1.42 (6H,m), 1.27 (6H,m), 1.08 (6H,m), 0.84(6H,t).

b) 3-(4-MethYlthioPhenYl)-2-(4-PYridYl)-6,7-dihYdro-~5H]-p~Yrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole.
A solution of 2.69 g ~10.9 mmol) of l-methyl-thio-4-iodobenzene in 6.8 ml of hexamethyl-phosphoramide ~nd 68 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran was purged by bubbling argon through for 15 minutes and then treated with 240 mg of tetrakis(triphenyl-phosphine)palladium. The mixture was heated at 50C

1 for 15 minutes and then treated dropwise with a solution of 1.7 g (3.57 mmol) of compound a) above in 15 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran. The mixture was refluxed in an 80C oil bath overnight, then cooled, ethyl acetate added, and washed twice with 10%
aqueous sodium fluoride solution, three times with water, and extracted into cold 3~ HCL. The aqueous phase was washed twice with methylene chloride, made alkaline with 10% sodium hydroxide, and the product extracted into methylene chloride and dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography on silica eluting with 2-3% methanol in a solution of 66% methylene chloride and 33% acetone containing 2% water. The lS residue was recrystallized from ethanol-ethyl acetate and dried in vacuo to give the titled compound as yellow crystals, mp 174-175.5C.

c) 3-~4-MethYlsulfinylphenyl)-2-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole.
A solution of 0.345 g (1.12 mmol) of compound b) above, in S ml of water containing 0.75 ml of 3 N
hydrochloric acid was treated dropwise at 5C over 1.5 hours with a solution of 0.267 g (1.24 mmol) of sodium periodate in S ml of water. The reaction mixture was left at this temperature overnight, then warmed to 20C, extracted twice with methylene chloride, brought to pH 4 and extracted 4 times with methylene chloride, then brought to pH 10 with 30 aqueous sodium carbonate, and extracted into methylene chloride. The organic phase was dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was di~ssolved in hot ethyl acetate, crystallized and dried in vacuo to give the titled compound, mp 179.5-181.5C.

2~ 5?~

2-(4-Methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-~4-(2-methyl)-pyridyl]-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-]imidazole a) 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[4-(1-acetyl-2-methYl-1,2-dihYdro-~eyridvl)]-6,7-dihydro-[SH]-Pyrrolo[l~2~a]imidazole~
To a solution of 3.3g (11.9 mmole) of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H~-pyrrolo-[1,2,a]imidazole in dry tetrahydrofuran at -20C was added l.a4 g (23.8 mmole) of acetyl chloride. The reaction was stirred at -20C for 10 minutes and then 8.81 ml of 2.7M methylmagnesium bromide (20 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred an additional 15 minutes and then warmed to room temperature for 30 minutes. The reaction was quenched with aqueous NH4Cl, adjusted to pH 7.5 with bicarbonate, and extracted repeatedly with methylene chloride. The combined organic extracts were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to afford the crude dihydropyridine.
H NMR 250MHz (CDC13) ~: 7.58 (2H, d-d), 7.00 (2H, t), 6.48 (lH, d), 5.68 (lH, d), 5.32 (lH, P), 5.18 (lH, d), 3.96 (2H, q), 2.95 (2~, t), 2.60 (2H, p), 2.20 (3H, s), 1.22 (3H, d). NMR indicates 2.5~
starting material based upon an ~-pyridyl proton at 8.57.

b) 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-~4-(2-methyl)pyridyl~-6,7-dihydro-[SH~-Pyrrolo~l~2~a]imidazole~
The crude dihydropyridine was aromatized by heat.ng at 190C for 1 hour in a solution composed of 150 ml decalin, 15 ml diglyme, and 1.0 g (31 mmol) of sublimed sulfur. The reaction was filtered, diluted with petroleum.ether, and chilled. The resulting solid was collected and purified by ~lash Z~ 2,5~

1 chromatography on silica gel eluting with methylene chloride containing o.-1.5~ methanol and crystallized from ethyl acetate to afford 2.84g ~82% yield) 2-(4-fluorophenyl)3-[4-(2-methyl)pyridyl]6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo~1,2,a]imidazole.

lH NMR 250Mhz (CDC13) ~: 8.46 (lH, d), 7.48 (2H, d-d), 7.10 (lH, s), 7.01 (lH,d), 6.98 (2H, t), 4.05 (2H, t), 3.00 (2H, t), 2.65 (2H, p), 2.55 (3H, s).
Mass Spec (CI), m/e 294 (M + H)+.

c) 2-(4-Methylthiophenyl)-3-[4-(2-methyl)pyridyl]-6,7-dihYdro-[5H]-pYrrolo[l,2,a]imidazole.
A stirring solution of 3.0 g (10.2 mmol) of compound (b) above and 0.87 (11.8 mmol) of sodium thiomethoxide in 40 ml of dry dimethylformamide was heated under an argon atmosphere overnight at 120C.
The reaction was poured into cold water and extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was filtered, washed three times witX water, dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, and stripped in vacuo.
The residue was recrystallized from ethyl acetate to afford 1.1 g (34% yield) of the titled compound. mp.
131-i32C. NMR 250MHz (CDC13)~: 8.5 (d, lH), 7.45 (d, 2H), 7.lS (d, 2H), 7.14-7.1 (m, 2H), 4.01 (t, 2H), 3.0 (t, 2H), 2.62 (m, 2H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 2.47 (s, 3H). mp 131-132C.
Mass Spec (CI), m/e 322 (M + H)+.

d) 2-(4-Methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-~4-(2-methyl)pyridyl]-6,7-dihYdro-[5H]-~Yrrolo~1,2,a~imidazole.
A solution of 200 mg (0.62 mmol) of compound c) above dissolved in 1.5 ml of water containing 1 ml of 1.2 N HCl wa~ treated dropwise at 5C over 1.5 hours with a solution of 119 mg (0.56 mmol) of sodium ~i ) l b ~;~,5~

1 periodate in 1.5 ml of water. The reaction mixture was treated as in Example 21 (c) to yield 179 mg (87%
yield) of the titled compound.
mp 128-131C. NMR 250MHz (CDC13)~: 8.5(d, lH), 7.7~d, 2H), 7.55(d, 2H), 7.15-7.05(m, 2H), 4.05(t, 2H), 3.05(t, 2H), 2.75(s, 3H), 2.68(m, 2H).

Anal. Calcd. for ClgHlgN3S-O.5H20-0.25 EtOAc : C, 65.19; H, 6.02; N, 11.40. Found- C, 65.00; N, 11.23; H, 5.71.
Mass Spec (CI), m/e 338 (M + H)+.

In an analogous manner to the process of Example 22(a`) and (b) 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-~4-(2-methyl)pyridyl]-15 6~7-dihydro-tsH]-pyrrolotl~2-a]-imidazole in 40~ yield was prepared after flash chromatography on silica elution with methylene chloride in 0.-1.5% methanol, and crystallization from ethyl acetate. mp 158-160C from ETOAc.
20 Anal. Calcd. for Clg Hlg N30-1/4 H20: C, 73.64;
H, 6.34; N, 13.56. Found: C, 73.76; H, 6.28; N, 13.52.
Ma-ss Spec (CI), m/e 306 (M + H)+.
lH NMR 250 MHz (CDC13) ~: 8.44 (d, lH), 7.45 (d, 2H), 7.}3 (s, lH), 7.07 (d, lH), 6.83 (d, 2H), 4.05 (t, 25 2H), 3.82 (s, 3H), 3.00 (t, 2H), 2.67 (p, 2H), 2.52 ~s, 3H).
The 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-~4-(2-methyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridyl)~6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo ~1,2-]imidazole intermediate of the above example was purified by flash 30 chromatography in methylene chloride containg 0.5~
methanol, yielding the following data: lH ~MR 250MHz ~CDC13) ~: 7.57 (d, 2H), 6.88 (d, 2H), 6.47 (d, lH), 5.68 (d, lH), 5.4 - 5.25 (m, 1-2H), 5 20 (d, lH), 3.94 (q, 2H), 3.82 (s, 3H), 2.92 (t, 2H), 2.60 ~p, 2H), 2.20 (s, 35 3H), 1.22 (d, 3H).-~c~ ) r C~!~Z,51~

2-(4-Carbethoxymethylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-PYrrolo~l,2-a]imidazole To 1.0 gm (3.4 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole in 50 ml methylene chloride at 0 was added a solution of 0.63 g (3.7 mmole, 0.43 ml) ethyl bromoacetate in 10 ml CH2C12 over a period of 10 minutes. The reaction was allowed to come to room temperature and was stirred for 30 10 minutes. The mixture was then diluted with methylene chloride and washed with 3N NaHCO3, saturated NaCl, , treated with Na2SO4, stripped, then flash chromatographed on silica with methylene chloride containing 1% to 5% MeOH. The isolated material was 15 recrystallized from ethyl acetate to gi~e 0.35g of the titled product. 27.2% yield, mp 102-103C. Analyzed for C21H21N3O2S, Calculated, C: 66.47, H:5.58, N:
11.07; Found, C: 66.39, H: 5.62, N: 10.97.

2-(4-Acetoxymethylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-t5H]-Pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole To 1 g (3.1 mmole) of 2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole was 25 added 25 ml acetic anhydride. The mixture was heated to reflux for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was stripped on the rotovap, then treated with water, and extracted with methylene chloride. The extract was washed with 3N
NaHCO3 and saturated NaCl and treated with Na2SO4, 30 then stripped to leave 1.1 g of crude product. This crude material was then flash chromatographed on a silica gel column using a gradient of 1 to 5~ MeOH in methylene chloride to give after recrystallization from EtO~c 0.80 g (2.2 mmole) of the titled product. 71% yield, mp 125.5-126.5C. Analyzed for C20HlgN302S~
Calculated, C: 65.73, H:5.24, N: 11.50; ~ound, C: 66.03, H: 5.26, N: 11.30.

,5~

1 EX~MPLE 2s 2-(4-Methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-[4-(2,6-dimethyl)pyridyl]-6,7-dihYdro-t5H]-pYrrolotl~2-a]imidazole a) 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-Pvrrolotl,2-a]imidazole-3-Yl-tri-n-but~ltin To a -78C solution of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-t5H]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole (2.0g, 0.010 mole) in 60ml of tetrahydrofuran (THF) is added 4.Oml of 2.5M
n-butyllithium. The solution is warmed to -30C for 20 10 minutes and then tributyltin chloride (3.3g, 0.01 mole) in THF is added. The reaction is allowed to warm gradually to 20C and then is quenched with saturated ammonium chloride. Further workup and purification on silica as described in Example 6b yields the titled compound.
b) 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-t4-(2,6-dimethyl)pyridyl]-6,7-dihYdro-[5H]-pYrrolo[l~2-a]imidazole The 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[SH]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole-3-yl-tri-n-butyltin is coupled with 4-bromo-2,6-lutidine prepared as in Example 9 using 20 the coupling procedure described in Example 7. The product is purified by flash chromatography on silica.
c) 2-(4-Thiomethylphenyl)-3-t4-(2,6-dimethyl)-E~ridYl]-6,7-dihYdro-[SH]-~Yrrolotl,2-a]imidazole A stirring solution of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-t4-25 (2~6-dimethyl)pyridyl~-6~7-dihydro-tsH]-pyrroloEl~2-a]-imidazole (0.55g) and sodium thiomethylate (0.16g) in 7 ml of dry DMF is heated under an argon atmosphere overnight at l2aoc or greater. Then reaction is poured into cold water and extracted twice with ethyl acetate~ The 30 combined organic layer is washed with water, dried over potassium carbonate, and stripped in vacuo. Column chromatography on silica yields the titled compound.

2~, 4~t~

1 d) 2-(4-Methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-[4-(2,6-dimethyl)-pYridyl]-6,7-dihydro-~sH]-pyrrolo~l~2-a]imidazole A solution of the above thiomethyl compound is oxidized using the procedure described in Example 22(d).
Column chromatography on silica gives the titled methylsulfinyl compound.

2-(4-Ethoxycarbonylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-E 5H]-Pyrrolo(1,2-a]imidazole To an ice-bath cooled solution containing 1.0 g 3.4mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 and 0.5ml (3.6mmole) of triethylamine in lOml lS of methylene chloride is added 0.33ml (3.5mmole) of ethyl chloroformaté. The reaction is allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for several hours. Workup and chromatography in a manner analogous to that outlined in Example 18 affords the desired titled compound.

2-(4-Phenoxythiocarbonylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihYdro-t5H]-Pyrrolo~l~2-a]imidazole To an ice-bath cooled solution containing l.o g 25 (3.4mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl~-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-t5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 and 0.5 ml (3.6 mmole) of triethylamine in 10 ml of diglyme is added 0.48 ml (3.5mmole) of phenyl chlorothionoformate. The reaction is allowed to warm to 30 room temperature and heated at 40 to 120C for several hours. Workup and chromatography in a manner analogous to that outlined in Example 18 affords the desired titled com~ound.

s~

2[4-(2-OxobutYl)thiophenyl]-3-(4-p~ridvl)-6,7-dihydro-[SH]-_yrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole To an ice-bath cooled solution containing 1.0 g (3.4mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 and 0.5 ml (3.6 mmole) of triethylamine in 10 ml of methylene chloride is added 0.36 ml (3.5mmole) of l-bromo-2-butanone. The reaction is allowed to warm to 10 room temperature and stirred at room temperature for several hours. Workup and chromatography in a manner analogous to that outlined in Example 18 affords the desired titled compound.
, 2-(4-Metho~ynethylthiophenyl]-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H~-PYrrolotl,2-a]imidazole To an ice-bath cooled solution containing 1.0 g (3.4mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-20 dihydro-t5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 and 0.5 ml (3.6 mmole) of triethylamine in lOml of methylene chloride is added 0.27 ml ~3.5 mmole) of bromomethyl methyl ether. The reaction is allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred at room temperature for 25 several hours. Workup and chromatography in a manner analogous to that outlined in example 18 affords the desired titled compound.

30 2,2-Propan-diyl-bis[2-(4-thiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihYdro-[5H]-P~rrolo[l~2-a]imidazole To an ice-bath cooled solution containing 1.0 g (3.4 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[SH]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in 35 Example 16 and 0.12 ml (1.7 mmole) of acetone in S ml of methylene chloride is added 0.10 ml of boron trifluoride J ~ 51~
_ 95 _ 1 etherate. After 4 hours at 0C the reaction is diluted with methylene chloride and worked up as outlined in Example 18. Purification by chromatography on silica affords the desired dithioketal.

2-(4-Mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[SH]-Eyrrolo~l,2-a]imidazole disulfide.
2.0 (6.8 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-10 (4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-t5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 is dissolved in a solution containing 4 parts ethanol and 1 part concentrated aqueous ammonia and allowed to air oxidize in an open flash at 20-40C for 1 to 4 days. The solvent is stripped in -~acuo 15 and the product is purified by chromatography on silica to yield the desired disulfide.
In an alternate procedure to that described in Example 31, the title compound is prepared by adding to a stirred, ice-cooled solution containing l.Og of the 2Q sulfoxide, 2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-t5H]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole in 7 ml of chloroethylene, 1.27 ml of trifluroacetic anhydride. The solution was allowed to warm and stirred at room temperature for about 2 hours at which point lOml of 25 ethanol and 3ml of a 10% sodium hydroxide solution was added. Fifteen minutes later I2 (800mg) was added.
After about an additional 1 hour of stirEing the reaction mixture was diluted with methylene chloride, washed with a 10% sodium hydroxide solution, and dried over potass1um 30 carbonate. Flash chromatography on silica afforded 935 mg of product which was recrystallized to yield 530mg of a yellow solid.
M.P., 230 C., decomp.
Mass Spec. (DC}3/NH3) 585(M+1), 294; ~MR(C~C13) ~:
35 8.7 (m,4H), 7.5-7.2 (m,12H~, 3.9 (t,6H), 2.95 (t, 6H), ,5~

1 2.63 (m, 4H). Analysis Calcd. for C34H28S6S2: C, 69.84; H, 4.83; N, 14.37; S, 10.97. Found: C, 68.34; H, 4.88; N, 13.63; S, 10.49.

2-(4-Ethyldithiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-Pyrrolo[l~2-a~imidazole~
Ethanesulfenyl chloride (Q.33 g) is added dropwise to an ice-bath cooled solution containing 1.0 g 10 (3-4 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 in tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature. Workup yields the crude disulfide which is purified by chromatography on silica.

2-(4-N-Phenylaminocarbonylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihYdro-t5H]-Pyrrolo~l~2-a]imidazole Phenyl isocyanate (0.38ml, 3.Smmole) is added 20 dropwise to a stirring ice-bath cooled solution containing 1.0 g (3.4 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro[SH]-pyrrolotl,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 in tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature. Workup yields the crude titled 25 compound which is purified by chromatography on silica.

2-(4-~-Phenyldithiocarbamoylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihYdro-~5H]-Pyrrolo~l~2--a]imidazole Phe~yl isothiocyanate (0.42 ml, 3.5 mmole) is added dropwise to a stirring ice-bath cooled solution containing 1.0 g (3.4 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-~,7-dih~dro-~5H]-pyrr~1O~1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 in tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is allowed to warm.to room temperature and stirred for several hours. Workup yieldæ the crude titled compound which is purified by chromatography on silica.

~:~`5`~C~

2-(4-Dithiocarbamoylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pYrr-olo[l~2-a]imidazole Thiocarbamoyl chloride (336 mg, 3.5mmole) is added dropwise to a stirring ice-bath cooled solution containing 1.0 g (3.4 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 in tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 10 several hours. Workup yields the crude titled compound which is purified by chromatography on silica.

2-(4-N,N-Dimethylaminocarbonylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-15 dihYdro-[5H]-PYrrolotl,2-a]imidazole N,N-Dimethylcarbamoyl chloride (375 mg, 3.5 mmole) is added dropwise to a stirring -20C solution containing 1.0 g (3.4 mmole) of 2-(4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-t5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole prepared 20 as in Example 16 in tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature. Workup yields the crude thiocarbamate which is purified by chromatography on silica.

2-(4-Dithiobenzoylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-EYrrlo[1,2-a]imidazole Thiobenzoyl chloride (546 mg, 3.5 mmole) is added dropwise to a stirring ice-bath cooled solution containing 30 1.0 g (3.4 mmole) of 2-~4-mercaptophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-~5H]-pyrrolo~1,2-a]imidazole prepared as in Example 16 in tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for several hours Workup yields the crude titled compound which is purified 35 by chromatography ~n silica.

5~

2-(4-Methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-s,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[l~2-a]Pyridine a) 1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-(2-iminopiperidinYl)-ethan-l-one A solution of 15.3g (0.071 mole) of 25% sodium methoxide in methanol is added to a solution of 10g (0.074 mole) of 2-iminopiperidine hydrochloride in 50 ml of dry methanol with stirring under argon in an ice bath. The 10 solvent is removed in vacuo and the residue taken up in 50 ml of chloroform and filtered under argon. This solution is added dropwise to a stirred solution of 12.82 g (0.074 mole) of 2-chloro 1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethanone in 130 ml of chloroform at 15C. After 6 hours at room temperature the 15 solvent is concentrated in vacuo, a minimum amount of methylene chloride is added to dissolve the residue, and ether added to afford a heavy oil. The supernatant is discarded and the oil dried in vacuo to give the titled Formula (H) compound.
b) 2-(4-FluoroPhenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahYdro-imidazo~l,2-a]Pvridine.
The Formula (H) compound prepared as described in a) above is dissolved in a minimum volume of hot water and is refluxed under argon for 24 hours. On cooling in 25 an ice bath, a precipaitate is formed. The supernatant is decanted, the precipitate treated with 10% aqueous NaOH
solution and extracted into methylene chloride. The organic phase is dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by 30 chromatography on silica to afford the titled Formula (E) compound.

~i3 ~ ,5~
_ 99 _ c) 3-(~1-EthYloxYcarbonYl-1,4-dihYdro-4 pyridyl)-2-(4-fluorophenYl)-5~6~7~8 tetrahYdroimidazo[1,2-a]Pyridine A stirred solution of lOg (0.046 mole) of the 5 Formula (E) compound prepared as described in b) above, dried in vacuo, in 20 ml of dry methylene chloride and 181.9g (2.3 moles) of dry pyridine is treated over 2 hours with 25 g (0.23 mole) of ethylchloroformate maintaining the temperature below 25C. Every 48 hours another 25 g 10 of ethylchloroformate is added for a total of 125 g (1.15 moles). The solvent is removed in vacuo, poured into cold 5% NaHCO3 solution and extracted into methylene chloride. The organic phase is dried over anhydrous K2CO3 and all volatile solvents removed in vacuo. The 15 ~esidue is dissolved in methylene chloride extracted repeatedlY with 0.2M HCl until starting material removed, then washed with 5% NaHCO3 solution. The organic phase is dried over anhydrous K2CO3, and concentrated in vacuo to afford the titled Formula (F) compound.
d) 2-(4-FluoroPhenyl)-3-(4-PYridYl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahYdroimidazo[1,2-a]Pyridine 15g (0.041 mole) of the Formula (F) co~pound prepared as described in c) above is added to a stirred solution o~
13.8 g (0.123 mole) of potassium tert-butoxide in 125 ml 25 of. dry (sieve) tert-butanol into which 2 is bubbled.
The solution is heated to reflux under argon until all the starting material is consumed, and the solvent is then removed 1n vacuo. The product is isolated as described in Example 2, Method B above, purified by flash chromato-30 graphy on silca and dried in vacuo to afford the titledFormula (I) compound.
(e) 2-(4-MethylthioPhenYl)-3-~4-PYridvl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahYdroimidazotl,2-a]PYridine A stirred solution of sg (0.017 mole) of the 35 compound prepared in d) above in S0 ml of dry (sieve) dimethylformamide is treated with 1.47g (0.021 mole) of Z11~2,~

1 sodium thiomethylate at 95C overnight. The titled product is isolated as described in Example 22c.
(f) 2-(4-MethylsulfinylphenYl)-3-(4-pyridYl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo~1,2-a]pyridine A stirred solution of 2g (6.2 mmoles) of the compound prepared in e) above dissolved in 20 ml of water containing 4.1 ml of 3~ hydrochloric acid is treated with a solution of 1.5 g (6.9 mmoles) of sodium periodate dropwise at 5C over 1.5 hours in 20 ml of water. This 10 reaction mixture is treated as in Example 21(c) to afford the titled compound.

3-(4-Pyridyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-s~6~7~8-tetrahydroimidazo 15 [1,2-a] Pyridine a) 2-(4-methoxYPhenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahYdroimidazo-[1,2,-a] PYridine A solution of 15.3g (0.071 mole) of 25% (by weight) 20 sodium methoxide in absolute methanol was added to a stirred solution of 10g (0.074 mole) of 2-iminopiperidine hydrochloride in 40 ml of chloroform. This solution was added dropwise under argon to a stirred solution of 17.4g (0.074 mole) of 2-bromo-4'-methoxyacetophenone in 150ml of 25 dry chloroform at 15C. After addition, the solution was stirred for 4 hours at ambient temperature and then concentrated in vacuo. The resin was dissolved in a minimal amount of methylene chloride and ether was added to afford a heavy oily layer. The supernatant was decanted and the the oil layer dried of solvent in vacuo to afford the compound. This residue was dissolved in a minimal amount of hot water and the stirred solution heated on a steam bath under argon for 15 hours. On cooling, a precipitate formed which was filtered, made alkaline with aqueous sodium hydroxide and extracted into ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried over potassium 3~.~C~ .5~

1 carbonate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The solid was triturated with hexane and air dried to give the titled product, mp 124-126C.

b) 3-~-ethoxvcarbonYl-l~4-dihydro-4-pyridyl)-2 (4-methoxYphenvl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahYdroimidazo tl,2-a]
PYridine To a stirred solution of 2.7g (li.8mmoles) of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo ~1,2-a]
10 pyridine, as prepared in part (a) above, was added 16.84 g (213 mmoles) of dry pyridine in 30ml of dry methylene chloride over argon, and was treated dropwise over two hours at ambient temperature in a water bath with 7.7 g (71 mmoles) of ethyl chloroformate. After 48 hours, 15 another 3.84 g (35.4 mmoles) of ethyl chloroformate was added over 2 hours. The mixture was stirred overnight, poured into ice water, made alkaline and extracted into methylene chloride. The organic phase was se~uentially washed with 0.2~ hydrochloric acid, water and aqueous 20 potassium carbonate solution, dried over sodium sulfate and stripped in vacuo to afford the titled compound as a resin. TLC (Alumina; CH2C12) of extracted product shows a single elongated spot (Rf 0.55), while starting material gives a faster moving single elongated spot (Rf 25 0..64); NMR indicates sample is a mixture containing 42 mole percent residual pyridine as well as the desired titled Formula (F) intermediate: (9OMHz, CDC13) ~:
d 8.6 (broad d 0.84H), 7.7-6.65 ~m, 8.7H), 4.82 (broad d)*
superimposed upon 4.78 (broad s, 2.9H)*, (s, 7H), 2.85 30 (broad t, 1.85H)*, 1.86 (broad q 4.5H)*, 1.29 (q, 3.1H)*.

~ The signals indicated with an asterisk above represent exc~usively the Formula (F) protons.

Z i ) ~

c) 3-(4-Pyridyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahYdroimidazo [1,2-a] pyridine 2.7g (7.1mmoles) of the compound prepared in part (b) above was heated with stirring in 25 ml of decaline under 5 argon. Upon reaching 100C, the solid dissolved, and .34 g(l0.7 mmoles) of sulfur was added. The mixture was heated to 160C for 30 minutes and another 0.34g of sulfur was added. After another 45 minutes, the reaction mixture was cooled, diluted with 25ml of petroleum ether 10 and extracted with acetonitrile. The acetonitrile phase was separated, and concentrated in vacuo to a resin. The resin, dissolved in methylene chloride, was extracted with 3N hydrochloric acid. The aqueous acidic layer was made treated with 5% sodium carbonate solution and extracted 15 with chloroform. The chloroform layer was dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, concentrated in vacuo, and chromatographed on silica, eluting with çhloroform: ethyl acetate (1:2), containing 2% methanol. Evaporation of the solvent gave an oil which was crystallized from 20 toluene-hexane to give the titled product, mp 136.5-138 C .
Analyzed for C19 Hlg N3 O, Calculated, 74.73, H:
6.27, N:13.76; Found, C: 75.04, H: 6.43, N: 13.95.
Mass Spec (CI), m/e 305, (M + H)+.

A pharamceutical composition of this invention in the form of a capsule is prepared by filling a standard two-piece hard gelatin capsule with 50 mg. of a compound 30 of Formula (I), in powdered form, 110 mg. of lactose, 32 mg. of talc and 8 mg. of magnesium stearate.

EX~MPLE 41 -- INJECTA~LE PARENTERAL COMPOSITION
A pharmaceutical composition of this invention in 35 a form suitable for administration by injection is prepared by stirring 1.5~6 by weight of a compound of ~ q~ 258 1 Formula (I) in 10% by volume propylene glycol and water.
-The solution is sterilized by filtration!

EXAMPLE 42 - OI~TMENT COMPOSITION
5 Compound of Formula (I) 1.0 g White soft paraffin to 100.0 g The compound of Formula (I) i5 dispersed in a small volume of the vehicle and this dispersion is gradually incorporated into the bulk to produce a smooth, 10 homogeneous product which is filled into collapsible metal tubes.

Compound of Formula (I) 1.0 g 15 Polawax GP 200 20.0 g Lanolin Anhydrous 2.0 g White Beeswax 2.5 g Methyl hydroxybenzoate 0.1 g Distilled Water to 100.0 g 20The polawax, beeswax and lanolin are heated together at 60C and added to a solution of methyl hydroxybenzoate. Homogenization is achieved using high speed stirring and the temperature is allowed to fall to 50C. The compound of Formula (I) is added and dispersed 25 t~roughout, and the composition is allowed to cool with slow speed stirring.

Compound of Formula (I) 1.O g 30 Sorbitan Monolaurate 0.6 g Polysorbate 20 0.6 g Cetostearyl Alcohol 1.2 g Glycsrin 6 0 g Methyl Hydroxybenzoate 0.2 g 35 Purified Water B.P. to 100.00 ml 2,~

1 The methyl hydroxybenzoate and glycerin are dissolved in 70 ml of the water at 75. The sorbitan monolaurate, polysorbate 20 and cetostearyl alcohol are melted together at 75C and added to the aqueous solution. The resulting emulsion is homogenized, allowedto cool with continuous stirring and the compound of Formula (I) is added as a suspension in the remaining water. The whole suspension is stirred until homogenized.

Compound of Formula (I) 0.5 g Methyl Hydroxybenzoate 0.01 g Propyl Hydroxybenzoate 0.04 g Purified Water B.P. to 100.00 ml The methyl and propyl hydroxybenzoates are dissolved in 70 ml purified water at 75C and the resultin.g solution is allowed to cool. The compound of Formula (I) is then added, and the solution is made up to 100 ml with purified water. The solution is sterilized by 20 filtration through a membrane filter (0.22 mu m pore size) and packed aseptically into suitable sterile containers.

For an aerosol container with a capacity of 15-20 25 ml: Mix 10 mg of a compound of Formula (I) with 0.1-0.2%
of a iubricating agent, such as Span 85 or oleic acid, and disperse such mixture in a propellant (c.a.), such as freon, preferably a combination of freon 114 and freon 12, and put into an appropriate aerosol container adapted for either intranasal or oral inhalation administration.

For an aerosol container with a capacity of 15-20 ml: Dissolve 10 mg of a compound of Formula (I) in ethanol (6-8 ml),.add 0.1-0.2% of a lubricating agent, such as Span 85 or oleic acid, and disperse such in a , ~ p~s~

1 propellant (c.a.), such as freon, preferably a combintion of freon 144 and freon 12, and put into an appropriate aerosol container adapted for either intranasal or oral inhalation administration.
s

Claims (12)

1. A compound of the formula FORMULA (I) wherein 1) One of R1 or R is pyridyl or alkyl substituted pyridyl and the other is (a) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is selected from C1-3 alkylthio, alkenylthio, alkenylsulfinyl, thiol [HS-], acylthio [AC(O)S-], dithioacyl [AC(S)S-], thiocarbamyl [AA1NC(O)S-], dithiocarbamyl [AA1NC(S)S-], alkylcarbonylalkylthio [AC(O)CH2S-], carbalkoxyalkylthio [BOC(O)CH2S-], alkoxycarbonylthio [BOC(O)S-], alkoxythionothio[BOC(S)S-], phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio [BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl [BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], disulfide [B1SS-], or acyloxyalkylthio [AC(O)OCH2S-] wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with C1-4alkyl, and A and A1 are hydrogen, C1-9alkyl or phenyl, B is C1-9alkyl or phenyl, and B1 is C1-9 alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or a Formula (I) compound linked through the thio group on the phenyl ring of R or R1;
(b) disubstituted phenyl wherein the substituents are the same and are selected from C1-3alkylthio, C1-3alkylsulfinyl, C1-3alkylsulfonyl, alkenylthio, alkenylsulfinyl, thiol [HS-], acylthio [AC(O)S-], dithioacyl [AC(S)S-], thiocarbamyl [AA1NC(O)S-], dithiocarbamyl [AA1NC(S)S-], alkylcarbonylalkylthio [AC(O)CH2S-], carbalkoxyalkylthio [BOC(O)CH2S-], alkoxycarbonylthio [BOC(O)S-], alkoxythionothio[BOC(S)S-], phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio [BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl [BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], disulfide [B1SS-], or acyloxyalkylthio [AC(O)OCH2S-] wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with C1-4alkyl, and A and A1 are hydrogen, C1-9alkyl or phenyl, B is C1-9alkyl or phenyl, and B1 is C1-9 alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or a Formula (I) compound linked through the thio group on the phenyl ring of R or R1 ; or (c) disubstituted phenyl wherein one substituent is selected from C2-3alkoxy, nitro, halo, amino, C1-3alkylamino, or C1-3dialkylamino and the other is selected from alkenylthio, alkenylsulfinyl, thiol [HS-], acylthio [AC(O)S-], dithioacyl [AC(S)S-], thiocarbamyl [AA1NC(O)S-], dithiocarbamyl [AA1NC(S)S-], alkylcarbonylalkylthio [AC(O)CH2S-], carbalkoxyalkylthio [BOC(O)CH2S-], alkoxycarbonylthio [BOC(O)S-], alkoxythionothio[BOC(S)S-], phenylthio, alkoxyalkylthio [BOCH2S-], alkoxyalkylsulfinyl [BOCH2S(O)], alkylthioalkylthio [BSCH2S-], disulfide [B1SS-], or acyloxyalkylthio [AC(O)OCH2S-] wherein the CH2 is optionally substituted with C1-4alkyl, and A and A1 are hydrogen, C1-9alkyl or phenyl, B is C1-9alkyl or phenyl, and B1 is C1-9 alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or a Formula (I) compound linked through the thio group on the phenyl ring of R or R1 ; or (2) One of R1 or R is pyridyl or alkyl substituted pyridyl and the other is selected from monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is wherein R1 is pyridyl or alkyl substituted pyridyl and R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are defined as in formula (I);
and R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are H, or one or two of R2, R3, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are independently selected from H or C1-2 alkyl; n is 0 or 1;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The compound of Claim 1 which is:
2-(4-acetylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-alimidizole, 2-(4-mercatophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo [1,2-a]imidazole, 2-(4-trimethylacetylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]pyrrolo]1,2-a]imidazole, 2-(4-carbethoxymethylthiophenyl)-3-(4-?yridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole, 2-(4-acetoxymethylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo]1,2-imidazole, or

3-(4-pyridyl)-(4-thiophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole disulfide.
3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and an effective 5-lipoxygenase pathway inhibiting amount of a compound of Claim 1.

4. The composition of Claim 3 wherein the composition is in dosage unit form adapted for parenteral administration and which comprises from about 50 mg to about 500 mg of the active compound.

5. The composition of Claim 3 wherein the composition is in dosage unit form adapted for oral administration and which comprises from about 100 mg to about 1000 mg of the active compound.

6. The composition of Claim 3 wherein the composition is in a dosage unit form adapted for administration by inhalation or for topical administration.

7. The composition of Claim 5 wherein the active ingredient is:
2-(4-acetylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole, 2-(4-mercatophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo [1,2-a]imidazole, 2-(4-trimethylacetylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole, 2-(4-carbethoxymethylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole, 2-(4-acetoxymethylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo]1,2-imidazole, or 3-(4-pyridyl)-(4-thiophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole disulfide.

8. A compound of Formula I according to any of claims 1 or 2 for use as a medicant.

9. A method of treating osteoarthritis in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to such subject an effective, non-toxic 5-lipoxygenase pathway inhibiting amount of a compound or salt as defined in Claim 1.

10. A method according to Claim 9 wherein the compound is 3-(4-pyridyl)-(4-thiophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole disulfide.

11. A method of treating a 5-lipoxygenase pathway mediated disease in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to such subject an effective, non-toxic 5-lipoxygenase pathway inhibiting amount of a compound or salt as defined in Claim 1.

12. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the compound is 3-(4-pyridyl)-(4-thiophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole disulfide.