NZ551341A - Benzimidazolone carboxylic acid derivatives - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a compound of formula (I), wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification. The compounds are benzimidazolone carboxylic acid derivatives which have selective 5-HT4 receptor agonistic activity.

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 551 341 P551341 Benzimidazolone Carboxvlic Acid Derivatives Background of the Invention This invention relates to benzimidazolone carboxylic acid derivatives. These compounds have selective 5-HT4 receptor agonistic activity. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical 5 composition, method of treatment and use, comprising the above derivatives for the treatment of disease conditions mediated by 5-HT4 receptor activity; in particular 5-HT4 receptor agonistic activity.

In general, 5-HT4 receptor agonists are found to be useful for the treatment of a variety of diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal disease, gastric motility disorder, non-ulcer dyspepsia, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, dyspepsia, 10 esophagitis, gastroesophageral disease, nausea, central nervous system disease, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive disorder, emesis, migraine, neurological disease, pain, cardiovascular disorders, cardiac failure, heart arrhythmia, diabetes and apnea syndrome (See TiPs, 1992, 13,141; Ford A. P. D. W. et al., Med. Res. Rev., 1993, 13, 633; Gullikson G. W. et al., Drug Dev. Res., 1992, 26, 405; Richard M. Eglen et al, TiPS, 1995,16, 391; Bockaert J. Et al., CNS Drugs, 1, 6; Romanelli M. N. et al., Arzheim ForschJDrug 15 Res., 1993, 43, 913; Kaumann A. et al., Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's. 1991, 344,150; and Romanelli M. N. et al., Arzheim Forsch. /Drug Res., 1993, 43, 913).

W094/00449 discloses benzimidazolone compounds as 5-HT4 agonists or antagonists and/or 5-HT3 antagonists. Especially, compounds represented by the following formula is disclosed as Example 10: \\ r y—nh N >=0 N N ^ ^ Compound A There is a need to provide new 5-HT4 agonists that are good drug candidates. In particular, preferred compounds should bind potently to the 5-HT4 receptor whilst showing little affinity for other receptors and show functional activity as agonists. They should be well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, be metabolically stable and possess favorable pharmacokinetic properties. When targeted against 25 receptors in the central nervous system they should cross the blood brain barrier freely and when targeted selectively against receptors in the peripheral nervous system they should not cross the blood brain barrier. They should be non-toxic and demonstrate few side-effects. Furthermore, the ideal drug candidate will exist in a physical form that is stable, non-hygroscopic and easily formulated.

Summary of the Invention In this invention, it has now been found out that (1) replacing the quinuclidine ring with a piperidine/pyrrolidine ring improves affinity for 5-HT4 receptor, and/or (2) introduction of the carboxy moiety decreases affinity for dofetilide that results the prevention of the QT prolongation.

Therefore, it has now surprisingly been found that compounds of this invention have stronger 35 selective 5-HT4 agonistic activity and/or improved dofetilide affinity, compared with the prior art, and thus are useful for the treatment of disease conditions mediated by 5-HT4 activity such as gastroesophageal P551341 2 reflux disease, gastrointestinal disease, gastric motility disorder, non-ulcer dyspepsia, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, dyspepsia, esophagitis, gastroesophageral disease, nausea, central nervous system disease, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive disorder, emesis, migraine, neurological disease, pain, cardiovascular disorders, cardiac failure, heart arrhythmia, diabetes and apnea syndrome (especially caused by an opioid administration).

The present invention provides a compound of the following formula (I): (I) or a pharmaceutical^ acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein A is an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being unsubstituted or substituted 10 with 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; R1 is an isopropyl group or a cyclopentyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group, a tetrazolyl group, a 5-oxo-1,2,4-oxadiazole-3-yl group or a 5-oxo-l,2,4-thiadiazole-3-yl group; and m is the integer 1 or 2.

One embodiment of the invention provides a compound of formula (I), as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein: A is an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group 25 having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; R1 is an isopropyl group or a cyclopentyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group, a tetrazolyl group, a 5-oxo-1,2,4-oxadiazole-3-yl group or a 5-oxo-l,2,4-thiadiazole-3-yl group; and m is the integer 1 or 2.

One embodiment of the invention provides a compound of formula (I), as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein: P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 3 A is an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to 5 which they are attached to form a 5-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; R1 is an isopropyl group or a cyclopentyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group, a tetrazolyl group, a 5-oxo-1,2,4-oxadiazole-3-yl group or a 10 5-oxo-l ,2,4-thiadiazole-3-yl group; and m is the integer 1 or 2.

One embodiment of the invention provides a compound of formula (I), as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein: A is an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 1 to 4 15 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3 to 4-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; R1 is an isopropyl group or a cyclopentyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group, a tetrazolyl group, a 5-oxo-1,2,4-oxadiazole-3-yl group or a 5-oxo-1,2,4-thiadiazole-3-yl group; and m is the integer 1 or 2.

Also, the present invention provides the use of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, each as described herein, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a condition mediated by 5-HT4 receptor activity; in particular, 5-HT4 agonistic activity.

Preferably, the present invention also provides the use of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, each as described herein, for the manufacture of a 30 medicament for the treatment of diseases selected from gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal disease, gastric motility disorder, non-ulcer dyspepsia, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, dyspepsia, esophagitis, gastroesophageral disease, nausea, central nervous system disease, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive disorder, emesis, migraine, neurological disease, pain, cardiovascular disorders, cardiac failure, heart arrhythmia, diabetes and apnea syndrome. 35 Also, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, each as described herein, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for said compound.

Further, the present invention provides a method of treatment of a condition mediated by 5-HT4 receptor activity, in a mammalian subject, which comprises administering to a mammal in need of such 40 treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable P551341 4 salt or solvate thereof, each as described herein.

Examples of conditions mediated by 5-HT4 receptor activity include, but are not limited to, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal disease, gastric motility disorder, non-ulcer dyspepsia, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, dyspepsia, esophagitis, gastroesophageral disease, nausea, central nervous system disease, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive disorder, emesis, migraine, neurological disease, pain, cardiovascular disorders, cardiac failure, heart arrhythmia, diabetes and apnea syndrome.

Also, the present invention provides a compound of formula (XI) or a salt thereof, wherein: R2 is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group or a halogen atom; R6 is a hydrogen atom or an amino-protecting group; Y is an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a dialkylamino group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, an imidazolyl group, a phtalimidyl group, succinimidyl group or sulfonyl group; and m is 1 or 2.

Also, the present invention provides a compound of formula (IXa) or a salt thereof, wherein: A is an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3 to 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group or a halogen atom; R4 is a hydroxy group or a carboxy-protecting group; R6 is a hydrogen atom or an amino-protecting group; and m is 1 or 2.

The compounds of the present invention may show less toxicity, good absorption, distribution, good solubility, less protein binding affinity, less drug-drug interaction, and good metabolic stability.

Detailed Description of the Invention In the compounds of the present invention: Where A is an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, this may be a straight chain group, and examples include, but are not limited to, a methylene, ethylene, trimethylene and tetramethylene. Of these, methylene and ethylene are preferred; and ethylene is most preferred.

Where the substituent of A is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, this may be a straight or (XI) P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 branched chain group, and examples include, but are not limited to, a methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl and ferf-butyl. Of these, alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms are preferred; methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl are more preferred; and methyl and ethyl are most preferred.

Where the substituent of Y is an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, this represents the 5 oxygen atom substituted by the said alkyl group, and examples include, but are not limited to, a methoxy, ethoxy, propyloxy, isopropyloxy, butyloxy, isobutyloxy, sec-butyloxy and ferf-butyloxy. Of these, alkyl groups having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms are preferred; methoxy are more preferred.

Where the substituent of Y is a dialkylamino group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, this represents the amino group substituted by two of the said alkyl group, and examples include, but are not limited to, a 10 dimethylamino, A/-methyl-A/-ethylamino, diethylamino, dipropylamino, diisopropylamino, dibutylamino, diisobutylamino, and A/,A/-di(1-methylpropyl)amino. Of these, dialkylamino groups having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms are preferred; dimethylamino, A/-methyl-A/-ethylamino, and diethylamino are more preferred.

Where the substituent of A is a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, this may be a straight or branched chain group, and examples include, but are not limited to, a hydroxymethyl, 15 2-hydroxyethyl, 1-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, 2-hydroxy-1 -methylethyl, 4-hydroxybutyl, 3-hydroxybutyl, 2-hydroxybutyl, 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl and 3-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl. Of these, hydroxy-alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms are preferred; hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, and 2-hydroxypropyl are more preferred; and hydroxymethyl and 2-hydroxyethyl are most preferred.

Where the substituent of A is an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, this may be a straight or branched chain group, and examples include, but are not limited to, a methoxymethyi, ethoxymethyl, 2-methoxyethyl, 2-ethoxyethyl, 1-methoxyethyl, 3-methoxypropyl, 3-ethoxypropyl, 2-methoxypropyl, 2-methoxy-1-methylethyl, 4-methoxybutyl, 4-ethoxybutyl, 3-methoxybutyl, 2-methoxybutyl, 3-methoxy-2-methylpropyl and 3-methoxy-1-methylpropyl. Of these, alkyloxy-alkyl groups 25 having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms are preferred; methoxymethyi, 2-methoxyethyl and 3-methoxypropyl are more preferred; and 2-methoxyethyl and 3-methoxypropyl are most preferred.

Where any 2 non-halogen substituents of A can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3, 4, 5, or 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S. Such a ring may be a cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl group and examples include a 30 cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, cyclohexyl, methylcyclopropyl, ethylcyclopropyl, methylcyclobutyl, methylcyclopentyl, methylcyclohexyl, ethylcyclohexyl, hydroxycyclopropyl, hydroxycyclobutyl, hydroxycyclopentyl, hydroxycyclohexyl, methoxycyclopropyl, methoxycyclobutyl, methoxycyclopentyl, methoxycyclohexyl, tetrahydrofuryl and tetrahydropyranyl, preferably cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, methoxycyclohexyl and tetrahydropyranyl, and most preferably cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, 35 cyclohexyl and tetrahydropyranyl.

Where the R6 is the amino-protecting group, this represents a protecting group capable of being cleaved by chemical means, such as hydrogenolysis, hydrolysis, electrolysis or photolysis.and such amino-protecting groups are described in Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis edited by T. W. Greene et al. (John Wiley & Sons, 1999), and examples include, but are not limited to, benzyl, C2H50(C=0)-, 40 CH3(C=0)-, f-butyldimethylsilyl, f-butyldiphenylsilyl, benzyloxycarbonyl and f-buthoxycarbonyl. Of these P551341 6 groups, f-buthoxycarbonyl is preferred.

Where the R4 is the carboxy-protecting group, this represents a protecting group capable of being cleaved by chemical means, such as hydrogenolysis, hydrolysis, electrolysis or photolysis.and such carboxy-protecting groups are described in Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis edited by T. W. Greene 5 et al. (John Wiley & Sons, 1999), and examples include, methoxy, ethoxy, f-butyloxy, methoxymethoxy, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxy, benzyloxy, diphenylmethoxy, trimethylsilyloxy, f-butyldimethylsilyloxy and allyloxy. Of these groups, f-butyloxy, methoxy or ethoxy is preferred.

Where R1 and the substituent of A represent a halogen atom, these may be a fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom. Of these, a fluorine or a chlorine atom is preferred.

The term "treating" and "treatment", as used herein, refers to curative, palliative and prophylactic treatment, including reversing, alleviating, inhibiting the progress of, or preventing the disorder or condition to which such term applies, or one or more symptoms of such disorder or condition.

As used herein, the article "a" or "an" refers to both the singular and plural form of the object to which it refers unless indicated otherwise.

Preferred classes of compounds of the present invention are those compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, each as described herein, in which: (A) R1 is an isopropyl group; (B) R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; (C) R2 is a hydrogen atom; (D) R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; (E) R3 is a carboxy group; (F) A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S; (G) A is an alkylene group having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 geminal substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein non-halogen geminal substituents can be taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S; (H) A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 said substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 5-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; 40 (I) A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 P551341 7 geminal substituents independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein said geminal substituents can be taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 5-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; (J) A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein said substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3 to 4-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; (K) A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 geminal substituents independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein said geminal substituents can be taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 3 to 4-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; (L) A is OCH3 och3 (M) A is (N) A is (O) A is (P) A is P551341 8 or (Q) m is the integer 2.

Particularly preferred compounds of the present invention are those compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof in which 5 (R) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen 10 substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2; (S) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 geminal 15 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein said geminal substituents can be taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2; (T) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is ^ ; and m is the integer 2; (U) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group; A is alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen geminal substituents can be taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2; (V) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy ; and m is the integer 2; (W) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1to 4 carbon atoms and group; A is P551341 9 being substituted with 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 said substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 5-membered ring optionally containing at 5 least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2; (X) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 geminal substituents independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 10 carbon atoms, wherein said geminal substituents can be taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 5-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2; (Y) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is ; and m is the integer 2; (Z) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group; A is alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 said substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which 20 they are attached to form a 5-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2; (AA) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group; A is ; and m is the integer 2; (AB) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group;R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein said substituents can be taken together with 30 the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3 to 4-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2; (AC) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 geminal substituents independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon 35 atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein said geminal substituents can be taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 3 to 4-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom P551341 selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2;.

(AD) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is A ; and m is the integer 2; (AE) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group;R3is a carboxy 5 group; A is alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3 to 4-membered ring optionally containing at 10 least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2; (AF) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group; A is A ; and m is the integer 2; (AG) R1 is an isopropyl group, R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group, R3 is a carboxy 15 group, A is O and m is the integer 2; or (AH) R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is One embodiment of the invention provides a compound selected from the group consisting of: 4-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-777-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl}t etrahydro-2AV-pyran-4-carboxylic acid; 1-{[4-({[(3-isopropyI-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-77/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yi]methyl} cyclohexanecarboxylic acid; 25 1-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-777-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl} cyclopentanecarboxylic acid; 1-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-77/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyi)piperidin-1-yl]methyl} cyclopropanecarboxylic acid; 1-{[4-hydroxy-4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7i/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1 30 -yl]methyl}cyclohexanecarboxylic acid; 1-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7/7-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl} P551341 11 cyclobutanecarboxylic acid; and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

One embodiment of the invention provides a compound from the group consisting of: 4-{[4-({[(3-isopr°pyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1/-/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl}t 5 etrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxylic acid; 1 -{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1 -yl] methyl} cyclohexanecarboxylic acid; and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and solvate thereof.

One embodiment of the invention provides a compound from the group consisting of: 10 1-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1/-/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl} cyclopentanecarboxylic acid; and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and solvate thereof.

One embodiment of the invention provides a compound from the group consisting of: 1 -{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1 -yl]methyl} 15 cyclopropanecarboxylic acid; 1 -{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1 -yl]methyl} cyclobutanecarboxylic acid; and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and solvate thereof.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of a compound of formula (I) include the acid addition and base 20 salts (including disalts) thereof.

Suitable acid addition salts are formed from acids which form non-toxic salts. Examples include the acetate, aspartate, benzoate, besylate, bicarbonate/carbonate, bisulphate/sulphate, borate, camsylate, citrate, edisylate, esylate, formate, fumarate, gluceptate, gluconate, glucuronate, hexafluorophosphate, hibenzate, hydrochloride/chloride, hydrobromide/bromide, hydroiodide/iodide, 25 isethionate, lactate, malate, maleate, malonate, mesylate, methylsulphate, naphthylate, 2-napsylate, nicotinate, nitrate, orotate, oxalate, palmitate, pamoate, phosphate/hydrogen phosphate/dihydrogen phosphate, saccharate, stearate, succinate, tartrate, tosylate and trifluoroacetate salts.

Suitable base salts are formed from bases which form non-toxic salts. Examples include the aluminium, arginine, benzathine, calcium, choline, diethylamine, diolamine, glycine, lysine, magnesium, 30 meglumine, olamine, potassium, sodium, tromethamine and zinc salts.

For a review on suitable salts, see "Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts: Properties, Selection, and Use" by Stahl and Wermuth (Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany, 2002). A pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of formula (I) may be readily prepared by mixing together solutions of the compound of formula (I) and the desired acid or base, as appropriate. The salt may precipitate from solution and be 35 collected by filtration or may be recovered by evaporation of the solvent. The degree of ionisation in the salt may vary from completely ionised to almost non-ionised.

The compounds of the invention may exist in both unsolvated and solvated forms. The term 'solvate' is used herein to describe a molecular complex comprising a compound of the invention and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable solvent molecules, for example, ethanol. The term 'hydrate' is employed 40 when said solvent is water.

P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 12 Pharmaceutically acceptable solvates in accordance with the invention include hydrates and solvates wherein the solvent of crystallization may be isotopically substituted, e.g. D20, d6-acetone, d6-DMSO Included within the scope of the invention are complexes such as clathrates, drug-host inclusion 5 complexes wherein, in contrast to the aforementioned solvates, the drug and host are present in stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric amounts. Also included are complexes of the drug containing two or more organic and/or inorganic components which may be in stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric amounts. The resulting complexes may be ionised, partially ionised, or non-ionised. For a review of such complexes, see J Pharm Sci. 64 (8), 1269-1288 by Haleblian (August 1975).

Hereinafter all references to a compound of formula (I) include references to salts, solvates and complexes thereof and to solvates and complexes of salts thereof.

The term "compound of the invention" or "compounds of the invention" refers to, unless indicated otherwise, a compound of formula (I) as hereinbefore defined, polymorphs, prodrugs, and isomers thereof (including optical, geometric and tautomeric isomers) as hereinafter defined and isotopically-labeled 15 compounds of formula (I).

Also within the scope of the invention are so-called 'prodrugs' of the compounds of formula (I). Thus certain derivatives of compounds of formula (I) which may have little or no pharmacological activity themselves can, when administered into or onto the body, be converted into compounds of formula (I) having the desired activity, for example, by hydrolytic cleavage. Such derivatives are referred to as 20 'prodrugs'. Further information on the use of prodrugs may be found in 'Pro-drugs as Novel Delivery Systems, Vol. 14, ACS Symposium Series (T Higuchi and W Stella) and 'Bioreversible Carriers in Drug Design', Pergamon Press, 1987 (ed. E B Roche, American Pharmaceutical Association).

Prodrugs in accordance with the invention can, for example, be produced by replacing appropriate functionalities present in the compounds of formula (I) with certain moieties known to those skilled in the 25 art as 'pro-moieties' as described, for example, in "Design of Prodrugs" by H Bundgaard (Elsevier, 1985). Some examples of prodrugs in accordance with the invention include: (i) where the compound of formula (I) contains a carboxylic acid functionality (-COOH), an ester thereof, for example, replacement of the hydrogen with (CrCsJalkyl; (ii) where the compound of formula (I) contains an alcohol functionality (-OH), an ether thereof, for 30 example, replacement of the hydrogen with (CrC^alkanoyloxymethyl; and (iii) where the compound of formula (I) contains a primary or secondary amino functionality (-NH2 or -NHR where R + H), an amide thereof, for example, replacement of one or both hydrogens with (CrCioJalkanoyl.

Further examples of replacement groups in accordance with the foregoing examples and examples 35 of other prodrug types may be found in the aforementioned references.

Finally, certain compounds of formula (I) may themselves act as prodrugs of other compounds of formula (I).

Compounds of formula (I) containing one or more asymmetric carbon atoms can exist as two or more stereoisomers. Where a compound of formula (I) contains an alkenyl or alkenylene group, geometric 40 cis/trans (or Z/E) isomers are possible. Where the compound contains, for example, a keto or oxime group P551341 13 or an aromatic moiety, tautomeric isomerism ('tautomerism') can occur. It follows that a single compound may exhibit more than one type of isomerism.

Included within the scope of the present invention are all stereoisomers, geometric isomers and tautomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I), including compounds exhibiting more than one type of 5 isomerism, and mixtures of one or more thereof. Also included are acid addition or base salts wherein the counterion is optically active, for example, D-lactate or L-lysine, or racemic, for example, DL-tartrate or DL-arginine.

Cis/trans isomers may be separated by conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art, for example, chromatography and fractional crystallization.

Conventional techniques for the preparation/isolation of individual enantiomers include chiral synthesis from a suitable optically pure precursor or resolution of the racemate (or the racemate of a salt or derivative) using, for example, chiral high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Alternatively, the racemate (or a racemic precursor) may be reacted with a suitable optically active compound, for example, an alcohol, or, in the case where the compound of formula (I) contains an acidic 15 or basic moiety, an acid or base such as tartaric acid or 1-phenylethylamine. The resulting diastereomeric mixture may be separated by chromatography and/or fractional crystallization and one or both of the diastereoisomers converted to the corresponding pure enantiomer(s) by means well known to a skilled person.

Chiral compounds of the invention (and chiral precursors thereof) may be obtained in 20 enantiomerically-enriched form using chromatography, typically HPLC, on an asymmetric resin with a mobile phase consisting of a hydrocarbon, typically heptane or hexane, containing from 0 to 50% isopropanol, typically from 2 to 20%, and from 0 to 5% of an alkylamine, typically 0.1% diethylamine. Concentration of the eluate affords the enriched mixture.

Stereoisomeric conglomerates may be separated by conventional techniques known to those skilled 25 in the art - see, for example, "Stereochemistry of Organic Compounds" by E L Eliel (Wiley, New York, 1994).

The present invention includes all pharmaceutically acceptable isotopically-labelled compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more atoms are replaced by atoms having the same atomic number, but an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number usually found in nature. 30 Examples of isotopes suitable for inclusion in the compounds of the invention include isotopes of hydrogen, such as 2H and 3H, carbon, such as 11C, 13C and 14C, chlorine, such as 36CI, fluorine, such as 18F, iodine, such as 123l and 125l, nitrogen, such as 13N and 15N, oxygen, such as 150,170 and 180, phosphorus, such as 32P, and sulphur, such as 35S.

Certain isotopically-labelled compounds of formula (I), for example, those incorporating a 35 radioactive isotope, are useful in drug and/or substrate tissue distribution studies. The radioactive isotopes tritium, i.e. 3H, and carbon-14, i.e. 14C, are particularly useful for this purpose in view of their ease of incorporation and ready means of detection.

Substitution with heavier isotopes such as deuterium, i.e. 2H, may afford certain therapeutic advantages resulting from greater metabolic stability, for example, increased in vivo half-life or reduced 40 dosage requirements, and hence may be preferred in some circumstances.

P551341 14 Substitution with positron emitting isotopes, such as 11C, 1SF, 1sO and 13N, can be useful in Positron Emission Topography (PET) studies for examining substrate receptor occupancy. isotopically-labeled compounds of formula (I) can generally be prepared by conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art or by processes analogous to those described in the accompanying 5 Examples and Preparations using an appropriate isotopically-labeled reagents in place of the non-labeled reagent previously employed.

All of the compounds of the formula (I) can be prepared by the procedures described in the general methods presented below or by the specific methods described in the Examples section and the Preparations section, or by routine modifications thereof. The present invention also encompasses any 10 one or more of these processes for preparing the compounds of formula (I), in addition to any novel intermediates used therein.

General Synthesis The compounds of the present invention may be prepared by a variety of processes well known 15 for the preparation of compounds of this type, for example as shown in the following Methods A to G.

The following Methods A and B illustrate the preparation of compounds of formula (I). Methods C through G illustrate the preparation of various intermediates.

Unless otherwise indicated, R1, R2, R3, m and A in the following Methods are as defined above. The term "protecting group", as used hereinafter, means a hydroxy, carboxy or amino-protecting group 20 which is selected from typical hydroxy, carboxy or amino-protecting groups described in Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis edited by T. W. Greene et al. (John Wiley & Sons, 1999). All starting materials in the following general syntheses may be commercially available or obtained by conventional methods known to those skilled in the art, such as European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 12(1), 87-91; 1977 and the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Method A This illustrates the preparation of compounds of formula (I).

Reaction Scheme A o. R2 M Step A1 3 rTW" Ovr3 [ [ >=0 N R2 (Ill) In Reaction Scheme A, R3a is R3 as defined above or a group of formula -C(=0)-R4, wherein R4 is a carboxy-protecting group.

The term "carboxy-protecting group", as used herein, signifies a protecting group capable of being cleaved by chemical means, such as hydrogenolysis, hydrolysis, electrolysis or photolysis, and such carboxy-protecting groups are described in Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis edited by T. W. Greene P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 et al. (John Wiley & Sons, 1999). Typical carboxy-protecting groups include, but are not limited to: methoxy, ethoxy, f-butyloxy, methoxymethoxy, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxy, benzyloxy, diphenylmethoxy, trimethylsilyloxy, f-butyldimethylsilyloxy and allyloxy. Of these groups, f-butyloxy, methoxy or ethoxy is preferred.

Step A1 In this step, the desired compound of formula (I) of the present invention is prepared by carbonylation of the compound of formula (II) with the compound of formula (III). The compound of formula (II) is commercially available. The compound of formula (III) can be prepared according to Method C set forth below.

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular 10 restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene and nitrobenzene; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; 15 and amides, such as A/,A/-dimethylformamide and A/,A/-dimethylacetamide. Of these solvents, dichloromethane is preferred.

There is likewise no particular restriction on the nature of the carbonylating agents used, and any carbonylating agent commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such carbonylating agents include, but are not limited to: an imidazole derivative such as N,N'-20 carbonyldiimidazole (CDI); a chloroformate such as trichloromethyl chloroformate and 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate; urea; and triphosgene. Of these, 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to 25 carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about -78°C to about 120°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours will usually suffice.

In the case where R3a is a group of formula -C(=0)-R4, the deprotection reaction will follow to yield a carboxy group. This reaction is described in detail by T. W. Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 369-453, (1999), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The following exemplifies a typical reaction involving the protecting group f-butyl.

The deprotection reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is 35 no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; and aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene and nitrobenzene. Of these solvents, halogenated hydrocarbons are preferred. 40 The deprotection reaction is carried out in the presence of an acid. There is likewise no particular P551341 16 restriction on the nature of the acids used, and any acid commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such acids include, but are not limited to: acids, such as hydrochloric acid, acetic acid p-toluenesulfonic acid or trifluoroacetic acid. Of these, trifluoroacetic acid is preferred. The deprotection reaction may be carried out in the presence of a radical scavenger. There is 5 likewise no particular restriction on the nature of the radical scavenger used, and any radical scavenger commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such radical scavengers include, but are not limited to: HBr, dimethylsulfoxide or (CH3CH2)3SiH. Of these, (CH3CH2)3SiH is preferred.

The deprotection reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise 10 reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 100°C, more preferably from about 0°C to about 50°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, 15 provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, more preferably from about 1 hour to about 24 hours, will usually suffice.

Method B This illustrates an alternative preparation of the desired compound of formula (I).

Reaction Scheme B OR2 O R'" N>=o ^n-r5 StepB1 ■ (V>4 ^NH R1 R1 (IV) (V) o. R2 prVS Step B2 ^ V H / v V; \R3 X^R3a or 0HCVR3a (VI) (VM) "1 (I) In Reaction Scheme B, R3a is as defined above; R5 is an amino-protecting group; Aa is A as defined above or an alkylene group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon 25 atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein 2 of said substituents may optionally be taken together with the carbon atom(s) form a 3 to 6 membered ring; and X is a halogen atom such as an iodine atom, a chlorine atom or a bromine atom.

The term "amino-protecting group", as used herein, signifies a protecting group capable of being P551341 17 cleaved by chemical means, such as hydrogenolysis, hydrolysis, electrolysis or photolysis.and such amino-protecting groups are described in Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis edited by T. W. Greene et al. (John Wiley & Sons, 1999). Typical amino-protecting groups include, but are not limited to, benzyl, C2H50(C=0)-, CH3(C=0)-, f-butyldimethylsilyl, f-butyldiphenylsilyl, benzyloxycarbonyl and 5 f-buthoxycarbonyl. Of these groups, f-buthoxycarbonyl is preferred.

Step B1 In this step, the compound of formula (V) is prepared by the deprotection of the compound of formula (IV), which may be prepared, for example, by a method similar to that described in Method A for 10 the preparation of the compound of formula (I) from a compound of formula (II). This deprotection method is described in detail by T. W. Greene et al. [Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 494-653, (1999)], the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The following exemplifies a typical method involving the protecting group f-buthoxycarbonyl.

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular i restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; and alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol and butanol. Of these solvents, alcohols are preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of excess amount of an acid. There is likewise no particular restriction on the nature of the acids used, and any acid commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such acids include, but are not limited to: acids, such as hydrochloric acid, or trifluoroacetic acid. Of these, hydrochloric acid is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction 25 temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 100°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected 30 under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, will usually suffice.

Step B2 In this step, the desired compound of formula (I) is prepared by the coupling (B2-a) of the 35 compound of formula (V) prepared as described in Step B1 with the compound of formula (VI) or by the reductive amination (B2-b) of the compound of formula (V) with the compound of formula (VII). (B2-a) coupling with the compound of formula (V): The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the 40 reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 18 chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; amines, such as A/-methylmorpholine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine, diisopropylethylamine, dicyclohexylamine, A/-methylpiperidine, /V-methylpyrrolidine, pyridine, 4- pyrrolidinopyridine, A/,/V-dimethylaniline and N,N- diethylamide; and amides, such as 5 A/,A/-dimethylformamide and A/,A/-dimethylacetamide. Of these, A/,A/-dimethylformamide or /V-methylpyrrolidine is preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of a base. There is likewise no particular restriction on the nature of the base used, and any base commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such bases include, but are not limited to: amines, such as /V-methylmorpholine, 10 triethylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine, diisopropylethylamine, dicyclohexylamine, A/-methylpiperidine, pyridine, 4-pyrrolidinopyridine, picoline, 4-(A/,A/-dimethylamino)pyridine, 2,6-di(t-butyl)-4-methylpyridine, quinoline, A/,A/-dimethylaniline, A/,A/-diethylaniline, 1,5- diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN), 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU); alkali metal hydrides, such as lithium hydride, sodium hydride and potassium hydride; and alkali metal alkoxides, such 15 as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, potassium t-butoxide. Of these, diisopropylethylamine is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to 20 carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 120°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 48 hours will usually suffice.

(B2-b) reductive amination: The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, 30 chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol and butanol; acetic acid; and water. Of these solvents, halogenated hydrocarbons are preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of a reducing reagent. There is likewise no particular restriction on the nature of the reducing reagents used, and any reducing reagent commonly used in 35 reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such reducing reagent include, but are not limited to: sodium borohydride, sodium cyanoborohydride and sodium triacetoxyborohydride. Of these, sodium triacetoxyborohydride is preferred. The quantity of the reducing reagent required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, that the reaction is effected under preferred conditions, 40 a chemical equivalent ratio of 1 to 3 of the reducing reagent to the starting material will usually suffice.

P551341 19 The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about -20°C to about 60°C. The time required for the 5 reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, will usually suffice.

In the case where R3a is a group of formula -C(=0)-R4, the deprotection reaction will follow to 10 yield a carboxy group. The reaction may be carried out under the same conditions as described in Step A1 of Method A.

Method C This illustrates the preparation of the compound of formula (III).

Reaction Scheme C (IN) In Reaction Scheme C, X, A, Aa , and R3a, R6 and are each as defined above. Therefore, when R3a is -C(=0)-R4, the above compound of formula (IX) is as follows.

"Msy *<ixa> Step C1 In this step, the compound of formula (IX) is prepared by the coupling of the compound of formula (VIII) with a compound of formula (VI) or by the reductive amination of the compound of formula (VIII) with the compound of formula (VII). The compound of formula (VIII) can be prepared according to Methods F and G set forth below or is commercially available.

Step C2 In this step, the compound of formula (III) is prepared by the deprotection of the compound of formula (IX) prepared as described in Step C1. The reaction may be carried out under the same conditions P551341 as described in Step B1 of Method B.

Method D This illustrates the preparation of the compound of formula (Ilia).

Reaction Scheme D r2 ^2 2 ^ StepDI RVk1^L/ \ Step D2 N pr\)™ . N yf^)m . H2N-'N-fA m " O" H-V H R?Q f (VIII) <X) ,x„ & R' <"'=> <xll> In Reaction Scheme D, R3a, R4, R6 and Y are each as defined above and R7 is a silyl group such as t- butyldimethylsilyl, f-butyldiphenylsilyl, triethylsilyl or trimethyisilyl, preferably trimethyisilyl; R8 and R9 independently represent a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein R8 and R9 may 10 optionally be taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 3 to 6 membered ring; Ab is A as defined above with proviso a methylene group and a substituted methylene group are excluded.

Step D1 In this step, the compound of formula (XI) is prepared by condensation of the compound of formula (VIII) with the compound of formula (X) in the presence of paraformaldehyde. A compound of formula (VIII) can be prepared according to Method F and G or is commercially available.

In the case that Y is not an alkoxy group, the reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided 20 that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; and alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol and butanol;. Of these, dichloromethane or ethanol is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 120°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the 30 nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 48 hours, will usually suffice.

P551341 21 Step D2 In this step, the compound of formula (Ilia) is prepared by Mannnich reaction of the compound of formula (XI) with the compound of formula (XII).

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; nitriles, such as acetonitrile and benzonitrile; and amides, such as formamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide and hexamethylphosphoric triamide. Of these solvents, dichloromethane is preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of a Lewis acid. There is likewise no particular restriction on the nature of the Lewis acids used, and any Lewis acid commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such Lewis acid include, but are not limited to: BF3, AICI3, FeCI3, MgCI2, AgCI, Fe(N03)3, CF3S03Si(CH3)3, Yb(CF3S03)3 and SnCI4. Of these, Yb(CF3 S03)3, MgCI2, or CF3S03Si(CH3)3 is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 100°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, will usually suffice.

This illustrates the preparation of the compound of formula (III) wherein R2 is a hydrogen atom and A is Ab.

Method E Reaction Scheme E aa , NC" (XIII) (XV) NC ^>h)m Step E3 Ha)™ Step E4 H2N (XVII) (1Mb) In Reaction Scheme E, Aa, Ab and R3a are each as defined above; each of R and R' is an alkyl P551341 22 group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably a methyl group, or an aralkyl group such as a benzyl or phenethyl group, preferably a benzyl group.

Step E1 In this step, the compound of formula (XIV) is prepared by reduction of the cyano group of the 5 compound of formula (XIII), which is commercially available.

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, 10 tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene and nitrobenzene; and alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol and butanol. Of these, methanol is preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of a reducing agent. There is likewise no particular restriction on the nature of the reducing agents used, and any reducing agent commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such reducing agents include, but are not limited to: 15 metal borohydrides such as sodium borohydride and sodium cyanoborohydride; combinations of hydrogen gas and a catalyst such as palladium-carbon, platinum and Raney nickel; and hydride compounds such as lithium aluminum hydride, and diisobutyl aluminum hydride. Of these, Raney nickel is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such 20 factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 100°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, will 25 usually suffice.

Step E2 In this step, the compound of formula (XVI) is prepared by reacting a compound of formula (XV), which is commercially available, with a compound of formula (XIV).

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: water; and alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol and butanol. Of these, a mixture of water and ethanol is preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of a base. There is likewise no particular restriction on the nature of the base used, and any base commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such bases include, but are not limited to: alkali metal hydroxides, such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide; alkali metal alkoxides, such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, potassium t-butoxide; and alkali metal carbonates, such as lithium carbonate, sodium 40 carbonate and potassium carbonate. Of these, potassium carbonate is preferred.

P551341 23 The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 120°C. The time required for the 5 reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, will usually suffice.

Step E3 In this step, the compound of formula (XVII) is prepared by converting the carbonyl group of the compound of formula (XVI) to a cyano group in the presence of p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide.

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the 15 reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; and alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol and butanol. Of these, a mixture of ethylene glycol dimethyl ether and ethanol is preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of a base. There is likewise no particular restriction on 20 the nature of the base used, and any base commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such bases include, but are not limited to: alkali metal alkoxides, such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide and potassium t-butoxide. Of these, potassium t-butoxide is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such 25 factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 100°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, will 30 usually suffice.

Step E4 In this step, the compound of formula (lllb) is prepared by reduction of the cyano group of the compound of formula (XVII). The reaction may be carried out under the same conditions as described in 35 Step E1 of Method E.

Method F This illustrates the preparation of compounds of formula (VIII) wherein R2 is a halogen atom.

P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 24 Reaction Scheme F m o <-o *2a Vf,)m Step F1 VL)m Step F2 H0^SCk) ( NR10 " \,NR10 C/NR' (CH3)3S(0)l (XVIII) (XIX) (XX) □23 Step F3 F Step F4 Re K .... ! \ ... .

(XXI) (Villa) 2a ;heme F, R is a halog< amino-protecting group, preferably a benzoyl group.

In Reaction Scheme F, R2a is a halogen atom; R6 is as defined above; and R10 is an Step F1 In this step, the compound of formula (XIX) is prepared by converting the carbonyl group of the compound of formula (XVIII) into the epoxide group.

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the 10 reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: amides, such as formamide, /V,/V-dimethylformamide, A/,A/-dimethylacetamide and hexamethylphosphoric triamide; sulfoxide such as dimethyl sulfoxide or sulfolane. Of these solvents, dimethyl sulfoxide is preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of a base. There is likewise no particular restriction on 15 the nature of the base used, and any base commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such bases include, but are not limited to: alkali metal alkoxides, such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide and potassium f-butoxide; and alkali metal carbonates, such as lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate.. Of these, potassium f-butoxide is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction 20 temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 100°C, more preferably from about 10°C to about 50°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, 25 provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, more preferably from about 60 minutes to about 12 hours, will usually suffice.

Step F2 In this step, the compound of formula (XX) is prepared by reacting a hydrogen halide with the 30 compound of formula (XIX).

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the P551341 reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; amides, such as formamide, A/,/V-dimethylformamide, A/,A/-dimethylacetamide and hexamethylphosphoric triamide. Of these solvents, tetrahydrofuran is 5 preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 100°C, more preferably from about 10°C 10 to about 50°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, more preferably from about 60 minutes to about 12 hours, will usually suffice.

Step F3 In this step, the compound of formula (XXI) is prepared by reaction of the compound of formula (XX) with sodium azide (F3-a) followed by the reduction of the azide group (F3-b).

(F3-a1 reaction with sodium azide: The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular 20 restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; amides, such as formamide, W,W-dimethylformamide, 25 A/,A/-dimethylacetamide and hexamethylphosphoric triamide; and sulfoxide such as dimethyl sulfoxide and sulfolane. Of these solvents, A/,A/-dimethylformamide is preferred.

Before adding sodium azide, the hydroxy group is converted to a leaving group, such as a methylsulfonyl group, a trifluoromethylsulfonyl group and 4-methyl phenylsulfonyl group by adding reagents, such as trifluoromethanelsulfonylchloride, mesyl chloride and tosyl chloride. Of these reagents, 30 mesyl chloride is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 120°C. The time required for the 35 reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, will usually suffice.

(F3-b^ reduction: 40 The reaction may be carried out under the same conditions as described in Step E1 of Method E.

P551341 26 Step F4 In this step, the compound of formula (Villa) is prepared by introducing the amino-protecting group R6 to the primary amino group (F4-a) and selectively deprotecting the amino-protecting group R10 of 5 the secondary amino group (F4-b).

(F4-a) Introduction of the amino-protecting group: This reaction is described in detail by T. W. Greene et al. [Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 494-653, (1999)], the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The following exemplifies a typical reaction involving the protecting group f-buthoxycarbonyl.

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: water; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; and sulfoxide such as dimethyl sulfoxide and sulfolane. Of these solvents, 15 tetrahydrofuran is preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of reagent. There is likewise no particular restriction on the nature of the reagents used, and any reagent commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such reagents include, but are not limited to: di-f-butyl carbonate and 1-(f-butoxycarbonyl)benztriazole. Of these, di-f-butyl carbonate is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 120°C, more preferably from about 20°C to about 80°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, 25 notably the reaction temperature and the nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, more preferably from about 60 minutes to about 12 hours, will usually suffice. (F4-b) deprotection: This method is described in detail by T. W. Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic 30 Synthesis, 494-653, (1999), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The following exemplifies a typical method involving the benzoyl protecting group in the presence of combinations of hydrogen gas and a catalyst such as palladium-carbon or platinum.

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the 35 reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol and butanol; and ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane. Of these solvents, methanol is preferred. 40 The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction P551341 27 temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 120°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the 5 nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, will usually suffice.

Method G This illustrates the preparation of compounds of formula (VIII) wherein R2 is a hydroxy group.

Reaction Scheme G O OH Step G1 N°7^h)min Step G2 \^NR (^NR10 (XVIII) (XXII) OH Qion rvo _0 OH R"N'S-tA)m \^NH H \^NH (XXIII) (Vlllb) In Reaction Scherr Step G1 In Reaction Scheme G, R6 and R10 are each as defined above.

In this step, the compound of formula (XXII) is prepared by reacting the carbonyl group of the 15 compound of formula (XVIII), which is commercially available, with trimethyisilyl cyanide.

The reaction is normally and preferably effected in the presence of solvent. There is no particular restriction on the nature of the solvent to be employed, provided that it has no adverse effect on the reaction or the reagents involved and that it can dissolve reagents, at least to some extent. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to: aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene and 20 nitrobenzene; halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; nitriles, such as acetonitrile and benzonitrile; and alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol and butanol. Of these, toluene is preferred.

The reaction is carried out in the presence of a reagent. There is likewise no particular restriction 25 on the nature of the reagents used, and any reagent commonly used in reactions of this type may equally be used here. Examples of such reagent include, but are not limited to: Lewis acids, such asBF3, AICI3, FeCI3, AgCI, Znl2, Fe(N03)3, CF3S03Si(CH3)3, Yb(CF3S03)3 and SnCI4; bases, such as CaO; ethers, such as 18-crown-6; acids, such as Amberlite XAD-4 resin. Of these, Znl2 is preferred.

The reaction can take place over a wide range of temperatures, and the precise reaction 30 temperature is not critical to the invention. The preferred reaction temperature will depend upon such factors as the nature of the solvent, and the starting materials. However, in general, it is convenient to carry out the reaction at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 100°C. The time required for the reaction may also vary widely, depending on many factors, notably the reaction temperature and the P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 28 nature of the starting materials and solvent employed. However, provided that the reaction is effected under the preferred conditions outlined above, a period of from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours, will usually suffice.

Step G2 In this step, the compound of formula (XXIII) is prepared by converting the cyano group of the compound of formula (XXII) to an amino group followed by deprotection of the amino-protecting group R10. The reaction may be carried out under the same conditions as described in Step E1 of Method E and Step F4 of Method F.

Step G3 In this step, the compound of formula (Vlllb) is prepared by protecting and deprotecting the amino groups of the compound of formula (XXIII). The reaction may be carried out under the same conditions as described in Step F4 of Method F.

The compounds of formula (I), and the intermediates above-mentioned preparation methods can be isolated and purified by conventional procedures, such as distillation, recrystallization or chromatographic purification.

Compounds of the invention intended for pharmaceutical use may be administered as crystalline or amorphous products. They may be obtained, for example, as solid plugs, powders, or films by methods 20 such as precipitation, crystallization, freeze drying, spray drying, or evaporative drying. Microwave or radio frequency drying may be used for this purpose.

They may be administered alone or in combination with one or more other compounds of the invention or in combination with one or more other drugs (or as any combination thereof). Generally, they will be administered as a pharmaceutical composition or formulation in association with one or more 25 pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients. The term "carrier" or "excipient" is used herein to describe any ingredient other than the compound(s) of the invention. The choice of carrier or excipient will to a large extent depend on factors such as the particular mode of administration, the effect of the excipient on solubility and stability, and the nature of the dosage form.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the delivery of compounds of the present invention and 30 methods for their preparation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such compositions and methods for their preparation may be found, for example, in 'Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences', 19th Edition (Mack Publishing Company, 1995).

ORAL ADMINISTRATION The compounds of the invention may be administered orally. Oral administration may involve swallowing, so that the compound enters the gastrointestinal tract, or buccal or sublingual administration may be employed by which the compound enters the blood stream directly from the mouth.

Formulations suitable for oral administration include solid formulations such as, for example, tablets, capsules containing particulates, liquids, or powders, lozenges (including liquid-filled), chews, 40 multi- and nano-particulates, gels, solid solution, liposome, films (including muco-adhesive), ovules, P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 29 sprays and liquid formulations.

Liquid formulations include, for example, suspensions, solutions, syrups and elixirs. Such formulations may be employed as fillers in soft or hard capsules and typically comprise a carrier, for example, water, ethanol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, methylcellulose, or a suitable oil, and one 5 or more emulsifying agents and/or suspending agents. Liquid formulations may also be prepared by the reconstitution of a solid, for example, from a sachet.

The compounds of the invention may also be used in fast-dissolving, fast-disintegrating dosage forms such as those described in Expert Opinion in Therapeutic Patents. 11 (6), 981-986 by Liang and Chen (2001).

For tablet dosage forms, depending on dose, the drug may make up from about 1 wt% to about 80 wt% of the dosage form, more typically from about 5 wt% to about 60 wt% of the dosage form. In addition to the drug, tablets generally contain a disintegrant. Examples of disintegrants include sodium starch glycolate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, calcium carboxymethyl cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, polyvinylpyrrolidone, methyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, lower 15 alkyl-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, starch, pregelatinised starch and sodium alginate. Generally, the disintegrant will comprise from about 1 wt% to about 25 wt%, preferably from about 5 wt% to about 20 wt% of the dosage form.

Binders are generally used to impart cohesive qualities to a tablet formulation. Suitable binders include microcrystalline cellulose, gelatin, sugars, polyethylene glycol, natural and synthetic gums, 20 polyvinylpyrrolidone, pregelatinised starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Tablets may also contain diluents, such as lactose (monohydrate, spray-dried monohydrate, anhydrous and the like), mannitol, xylitol, dextrose, sucrose, sorbitol, microcrystalline cellulose, starch and dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate.

Tablets may also optionally comprise surface active agents, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and 25 polysorbate 80, and glidants such as silicon dioxide and talc. When present, surface active agents may comprise from about 0.2 wt% to about 5 wt% of the tablet, and glidants may comprise from about 0.2 wt% to about 1 wt% of the tablet.

Tablets also generally contain lubricants such as magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, and mixtures of magnesium stearate with sodium lauryl sulphate. 30 Lubricants generally comprise from about 0.25 wt% to about 10 wt%, preferably from about 0.5 wt% to about 3 wt% of the tablet.

Other possible ingredients include anti-oxidants, colourants, flavouring agents, preservatives and taste-masking agents.

Exemplary tablets contain up to about 80% drug, from about 10 wt% to about 90 wt% binder, 35 from about 0 wt% to about 85 wt% diluent, from about 2 wt% to about 10 wt% disintegrant, and from about 0.25 wt% to about 10 wt% lubricant.

Tablet blends may be compressed directly or by roller to form tablets. Tablet blends or portions of blends may alternatively be wet-, dry-, or melt-granulated, melt congealed, or extruded before tabletting. The final formulation may comprise one or more layers and may be coated or uncoated; it may even be 40 encapsulated.

P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 The formulation of tablets is discussed in "Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Tablets, Vol. 1", by H. Lieberman and L. Lachman, Marcel Dekker, N.Y., N.Y., 1980 (ISBN 0-8247-6918-X).

Solid formulations for oral administration may be formulated to be immediate and/or modified release. Modified release formulations include delayed-, sustained-, pulsed-, controlled-, targeted and 5 programmed release.

Suitable modified release formulations for the purposes of the invention are described in US Patent No. 6,106,864. Details of other suitable release technologies such as high energy dispersions and osmotic and coated particles are to be found in Verma et al, Pharmaceutical Technology On-line. 25(2), 1-14 (2001). The use of chewing gum to achieve controlled release is described in WO 00/35298.

PARENTERAL ADMINISTRATION The compounds of the invention may also be administered directly into the blood stream, into muscle, or into an internal organ. Suitable means for parenteral administration include intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intraurethral, intrasternal, intracranial, 15 intramuscular and subcutaneous. Suitable devices for parenteral administration include needle (including microneedle) injectors, needle-free injectors and infusion techniques.

Parenteral formulations are typically aqueous solutions which may contain excipients such as salts, carbohydrates and buffering agents (preferably to a pH of from about 3 to about 9), but, for some applications, they may be more suitably formulated as a sterile non-aqueous solution or as a dried form to 20 be used in conjunction with a suitable vehicle such as sterile, pyrogen-free water.

The preparation of parenteral formulations under sterile conditions, for example, by lyophilisation, may readily be accomplished using standard pharmaceutical techniques well known to those skilled in the art.

The solubility of compounds of formula (I) used in the preparation of parenteral solutions may be 25 increased by the use of appropriate formulation techniques, such as the incorporation of solubility-enhancing agents.

Formulations for parenteral administration may be formulated to be immediate and/or modified release. Modified release formulations include delayed-, sustained-, pulsed-, controlled-, targeted and programmed release. Thus compounds of the invention may be formulated as a solid, semi-solid, or 30 thixotropic liquid for administration as an implanted depot providing modified release of the active compound. Examples of such formulations include drug-coated stents and PGLA microspheres.

TOPICAL ADMINISTRATION The compounds of the invention may also be administered topically to the skin or mucosa, that is, 35 dermally or transdermally. Typical formulations for this purpose include gels, hydrogels, lotions, solutions, creams, ointments, dusting powders, dressings, foams, films, skin patches, wafers, implants, sponges, fibres, bandages and microemulsions. Liposomes may also be used. Typical carriers include alcohol, water, mineral oil, liquid petrolatum, white petrolatum, glycerin, polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Penetration enhancers may be incorporated - see, for example, J Pharm Sci, 88 (10), 955-958 by Finnin 40 and Morgan (October 1999).

P551341 31 Other means of topical administration include delivery by electroporation, iontophoresis, phonophoresis, sonophoresis and microneedle or needle-free (e.g. Powderject™, Bioject™, etc.) injection.

Formulations for topical administration may be formulated to be immediate and/or modified release. Modified release formulations include delayed-, sustained-, pulsed-, controlled-, targeted and 5 programmed release.

INHALED/INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION The compounds of the invention can also be administered intranasally or by inhalation, typically in the form of a dry powder (either alone, as a mixture, for example, in a dry blend with lactose, or as a 10 mixed component particle, for example, mixed with phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine) from a dry powder inhaler or as an aerosol spray from a pressurized container, pump, spray, atomiser (preferably an atomiser using electrohydrodynamics to produce a fine mist), or nebuliser, with or without the use of a suitable propellant, such as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane. For intranasal use, the powder may comprise a bioadhesive agent, for example, chitosan or cyclodextrin. 15 The pressurized container, pump, spray, atomizer, or nebuliser contains a solution or suspension of the compound(s) of the invention comprising, for example, ethanol, aqueous ethanol, or a suitable alternative agent for dispersing, solubilising, or extending release of the active, a propellant(s) as solvent and an optional surfactant, such as sorbitan trioleate, oleic acid, or an oligolactic acid.

Prior to use in a dry powder or suspension formulation, the drug product is micronised to a size 20 suitable for delivery by inhalation (typically less than 5 microns). This may be achieved by any appropriate comminuting method, such as spiral jet milling, fluid bed jet milling, supercritical fluid processing to form nanoparticles, high pressure homogenization, or spray drying.

Capsules (made, for example, from gelatin or HPMC), blisters and cartridges for use in an inhaler or insufflator may be formulated to contain a powder mix of the compound of the invention, a suitable 25 powder base such as lactose or starch and a performance modifier such as /-leucine, mannitol, or magnesium stearate. The lactose may be anhydrous or in the form of the monohydrate, preferably the latter. Other suitable excipients include dextran, glucose, maltose, sorbitol, xylitol, fructose, sucrose and trehalose.

A suitable solution formulation for use in an atomiser using electrohydrodynamics to produce a 30 fine mist may contain from about 1//g to about 20mg of the compound of the invention per actuation and the actuation volume may vary from about 1//I to about 100/vl. A typical formulation may comprise a compound of formula (I), propylene glycol, sterile water, ethanol and sodium chloride. Alternative solvents which may be used instead of propylene glycol include glycerol and polyethylene glycol.

Suitable flavours, such as menthol and levomenthol, or sweeteners, such as saccharin or 35 saccharin sodium, may be added to those formulations of the invention intended for inhaled/intranasal administration. Formulations for inhaled/intranasal administration may be formulated to be immediate and/or modified release using, for example, poly(DL-lactic-coglycolic acid (PGLA). Modified release formulations include delayed-, sustained-, pulsed-, controlled-, targeted and programmed release.

In the case of dry powder inhalers and aerosols, the dosage unit is determined by means of a 40 valve which delivers a metered amount. Units in accordance with the invention are typically arranged to P551341 32 administer a metered dose or "puff' containing from about 1 to about 100 jjq of the compound of formula (I). The overall daily dose will typically be in the range about 50 fjg to about 20 mg which may be administered in a single dose or, more usually, as divided doses throughout the day.

RECTAL/INTRAVAGINAL ADMINISTRATION The compounds of the invention may be administered rectally or vaginally, for example, in the form of a suppository, pessary, or enema. Cocoa butter is a traditional suppository base, but various alternatives may be used as appropriate.

Formulations for rectal/vaginal administration may be formulated to be immediate and/or modified release. Modified release formulations include delayed-, sustained-, pulsed-, controlled-, targeted and programmed release.

OCULAR/AURAL ADMINISTRATION 15 The compounds of the invention may also be administered directly to the eye or ear, typically in the form of drops of a micronised suspension or solution in isotonic, pH-adjusted, sterile saline. Other formulations suitable for ocular and aural administration include ointments, biodegradable (e.g. absorbable gel sponges, collagen) and non-biodegradable (e.g. silicone) implants, wafers, lenses and particulate or vesicular systems, such as niosomes or liposomes. A polymer such as crossed-linked polyacrylic acid, 20 polyvinylalcohol, hyaluronic acid, a cellulosic polymer, for example, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, or methyl cellulose, or a heteropolysaccharide polymer, for example, gelan gum, may be incorporated together with a preservative, such as benzalkonium chloride. Such formulations may also be delivered by iontophoresis.

Formulations for ocular/aural administration may be formulated to be immediate and/or modified 25 release. Modified release formulations include delayed-, sustained-, pulsed-, controlled-, targeted, or programmed release.

OTHER TECHNOLOGIES The compounds of the invention may be combined with soluble macromolecular entities, such as 30 cyclodextrin and suitable derivatives thereof or polyethylene glycol-containing polymers, in order to improve their solubility, dissolution rate, taste-masking, bioavailability and/or stability for use in any of the aforementioned modes of administration.

Drug-cyclodextrin complexes, for example, are found to be generally useful for most dosage forms and administration routes. Both inclusion and non-inclusion complexes may be used. As an 35 alternative to direct complexation with the drug, the cyclodextrin may be used as an auxiliary additive, i.e. as a carrier, diluent, or solubiliser. Most commonly used for these purposes are alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins, examples of which may be found in International Patent Applications Nos. WO 91/11172, WO 94/02518 and WO 98/55148. 40 KIT-OF-PARTS P551341 33 Inasmuch as it may be desirable to administer a combination of active compounds, for example, for the purpose of treating a particular disease or condition, it is within the scope of the present invention that two or more pharmaceutical compositions, at least one of which contains a compound in accordance with the invention, may conveniently be combined in the form of a kit suitable for coadministration of the 5 compositions.

Thus the kit of the invention comprises two or more separate pharmaceutical compositions, at least one of which contains a compound of formula (I) in accordance with the invention, and means for separately retaining said compositions, such as a container, divided bottle, or divided foil packet. An example of such a kit is the familiar blister pack used for the packaging of tablets, capsules and the like. 10 The kit of the invention is particularly suitable for administering different dosage forms, for example, oral and parenteral, for administering the separate compositions at different dosage intervals, or for titrating the separate compositions against one another. To assist compliance, the kit typically comprises directions for administration and may be provided with a so-called memory aid.

DOSAGE For administration to human patients, the total daily dose of the compounds of the invention is typically in the range of about 0.05 mg to about 100 mg depending, of course, on the mode of administration, preferred in the range of about 0.1 mg to about 50 mg and more preferred in the range of about 0.5 mg to about 20 mg. For example, oral administration may require a total daily dose of from about 1 mg to about 20 mg, while an intravenous dose may only require from about 0.5 mg to about 10 mg. The 20 total daily dose may be administered in single or divided doses.

These dosages are based on an average human subject having a weight of about 65kg to about 70kg. The physician will readily be able to determine doses for subjects whose weight falls outside this range, such as infants and the elderly.

COMBINATION As discussed above, a compound of the invention exhibits 5-HT4 agonist activity. A 5-HT4 agonist of the present invention may be usefully combined with at least one other pharmacologically active agent or compound, particularly in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. For example, a 5-HT4 agonist, particularly a compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, as defined above, may be administered simultaneously, sequentially or separately in combination with one 30 or more pharmacologically active agents selected from: (i) histamine H2 receptor antagonists, e.g. ranitidine, lafutidine, nizatidine, cimetidine, famotidine and roxatidine; (ii) proton pump inhibitors, e.g. omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, tenatoprazole, ilaprazole and lansoprazole; (iii) Acid pump antagonists, e.g. soraprazan, revaprazan(YH-1885), AZD-0865, CS-526, AU-2064 and YJA-20379-8; (iv) oral antacid mixtures, e.g. Maalox®, Aludrox® and Gaviscon®; (v) mucosal protective agents, e.g. polaprezinc, ecabet sodium, rebamipide, teprenone, cetraxate, sucralfate, chloropylline-copper and plaunotol; 40 (vi) GABAb agonists, e.g. baclofen and AZD-3355; P551341 34 (vii) cx2 agonists, e.g. clonidine, medetomidine, lofexidine, moxonidine, - tizanidine, guanfacine, guanabenz, talipexole and dexmedetomidine; (viii) Xanthin derivatives, e.g. Theophylline, aminophylline and doxofylline; (ix) calcium channel blockers, e.g. aranidipine, lacidipine, falodipine, azelnidipine, clinidipine, 5 lomerizine, diltiazem, gallopamil, efonidipine, nisoldipine, amiodipine, lercanidipine, bevantolol, nicardipine, isradipine, benidipine, verapamil, nitrendipine, barnidipine, propafenone, manidipine, bepridil, nifedipine, nilvadipine, nimodipine, and fasudil; (x) benzodiazepine agonists, e.g. diazepam, zaleplon, Zolpidem, haloxazolam, clonazepam, prazepam, quazepam, flutazolam, triazolam, lormetazepam, midazolam, tofisopam, clobazam, flunitrazepam and flutoprazepam; (xi) prostaglandin analogues, e.g. Prostaglandin, misoprostol, treprostinil, esoprostenol, latanoprost, iloprost, beraprost, enprostil, ibudilast and ozagrel; (xii) histamine H3 agonists, e.g. R-alpha-methylhistamine and BP-294; (xiii) anti-gastric agents, e.g. Anti-gastrin vaccine, itriglumide and Z-360; (xiv) 5-HT3 antagonists, e.g. dolasetron, palonosetron, alosetron, azasetron, ramosetron, mitrazapine, granisetron, tropisetron, E-3620, ondansetron and indisetron; (xv) tricyclic antidepressants, e.g. imipramine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, amoxapine and lofepramine; (xvi) GABA agonists, e.g. gabapentin, topiramate, cinolazepam, clonazepam, progabide, brotizolam, zopiclone, pregabalin and eszopiclone; (xvii) opioid analgesics, e.g. morphine, heroin, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, levorphanol, levallorphan, methadone, meperidine, fentanyl, ***e, codeine, dihydrocodeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, propoxyphene, nalmefene, nalorphine, naloxone, naltrexone, buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine and pentazocine; (xviii) somatostatin analogues, e.g. octreotide, AN-238 and PTR-3173; (xix) CI Channel activator: e.g. lubiprostone; (xx) selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, e.g. sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, nefazodone, fluvoxamine, citalopram, milnacipran, paroxetine, venlafaxine, tramadol, sibutramine, duloxetine, desvenlafaxine and dapoxetine; (xxi) anticholinergics, e.g. dicyclomine and hyoscyamine; (xxii) laxatives, e.g. Trifyba®, Fybogel®, Konsyl®, Isogel®, Regulan®, Celevac® and Normacol®; (xxiii) fiber products, e.g. Metamucil®; (xxiv) antispasmodics, e.g.: mebeverine; (xxv) dopamine antagonists, e.g. metoclopramide, domperidone and levosulpiride; (xxvi) cholinergics, e.g. neostigmine (xxvii) AChE inhibitors, e.g. galantamine, metrifonate, rivastigmine, itopride and donepezil; (xxviii) Tachykinin (NK) antagonists, particularly NK-3, NK-2 and NK-1 antagonists e.g.nepadutant, saredutant, talnetant, (aR,9R)-7-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]-8,9,10,11-tetrahydro-9-methyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-7H-[1,4]d 40 iazocino[2,1-g][1,7]naphthridine-6-13-dione (TAK-637), P551341 -[[(2R,3S)-2-[(1R)-1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethoxy-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-morpholinyl]methyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one (MK-869), lanepitant, dapitant and 3-[[2-methoxy-5-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]methylamino]-2-phenyl-piperidine (2S,3S).

Method for assessing biological activities: The 5-HT4 receptor binding affinities of the compounds of this invention are determined by the following procedures.

Human 5-HT^ bindingfD Human 5-HT4(d) transfected HEK293 cells were prepared and grown in-house. The collected cells were Suspended in 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.4 at 4°C) supplemented with protease inhibitor cocktail (Boehringer, 1:1000 dilution) and homogenized using a hand held Polytron PT 1200 disruptor set at full power for 30 sec on ice. The homogenates were centrifuged at 40,000 x g at 4 °C for 30 min. The pellets were then resuspended in 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.4 at 4 °C) and centrifuged once more in the same manner. 15 The final pellets were resuspended in an appropriate volume of 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.4 at 25 °C), homogenized, aliquoted and stored at -80°C until use. An aliquot of membrane fractions was used for protein concentration determination using BCA protein assay kit (PIERCE) and ARVOsx plate reader (Wallac).

For the binding experiments, 25 pi of test compounds were incubated with 25 pi of [3H]-GR113808 20 (Amersham, final 0.2 nM) and 150 pi of membrane homogenate and WGA-SPA beads (Amersham) suspension solutions (10 pg protein and 1mg SPA beads/well) for 60 minutes at room temperature. Nonspecific binding was determined by 1 pM GR113808 (Tocris) at the final concentration. Incubation was terminated by centrifugation at 1000 rpm.

Receptor-bound radioactivity was quantified by counting with MicroBeta plate counter (Wallac). 25 All compounds of Examples showed 5HT4 receptor affinity.

Human 5-HT^ binding(2) Human 5-HT4(d) transfected HEK293 cells were prepared and grown in-house. The collected cells were suspended in 50 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.4 at 4°C) supplemented with protease inhibitor cocktail 30 (Boehringer, 1:1000 dilution) and homogenized using a hand held Polytron PT 1200 disruptor set at full power for 30 sec on ice. The homogenates were centrifuged at 40,000 x g at 4 °C for 10 min. The pellets were then resuspended in 50 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.4 at 4 °C) and centrifuged once more in the same manner. The final pellets were resuspended in an appropriate volume of 50 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.4 at 25 °C) containing 10 mM MgCI2, homogenized, aliquoted and stored at -80°C until use. An aliquot of 35 membrane fractions was used for protein concentration determination using BCA protein assay kit (PIERCE) and ARVOsx plate reader (Wallac).

For the binding experiments, 50 pi of test compounds were incubated with 50 pi of ^H] 5-HT (Amersham, final 8.0 nM) and 400 pi of membrane homogenate (300 pg protein/ tube) for 60 minutes at room temperature. Nonspecific binding was determined by 50 pM GR113808 (Tocris) at the final concentration. 40 All incubations were terminated by rapid vacuum filtration over 0.2 % PEI soaked glass fiber filter papers P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 36 using BRANDEL harvester followed by three washes with 50 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.4 at 25 °C). Receptor-bound radioactivity was quantified by liquid scintillation counting using Packard LS counter.

All compounds of Examples showed 5HT4 receptor affinity.

Agonist-induced cAMP elevation in human 5-HTdMi transfected HEK293 cells Human 5-HT4(d) transfected HEK293 cells were established in-house. The cells were grown at 37°C and 5% C02 in DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS, 20 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 200 jag/ml hygromycin B (Gibco), 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 pg/ml streptomycin.

The cells were grown to 60-80% confluence. On the previous day before treatment with compounds 10 dialyzed FCS (Gibco) was substituted for normal and the cells were incubated overnight.

Compounds were prepared in 96-well plates (12.5 pl/well). The cells were harvested with PBS/1 mM EDTA, centrifuged and washed with PBS. At the beginning of the assay, cell pellet was resuspended in DMEM supplemented with 20 mM HEPES, 10 pM pargyline (Sigma) and 1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (Sigma) at the concentration of 1.6 x 105 cells/ml and left for 15 minutes at room temperature. The reaction 15 was initiated by addition of the cells into plates (12.5 pl/well). After incubation for 15 minutes at room temperature, 1% Triton X-100 was added to stop the reaction (25 pl/well) and the plates were left for 30 minutes at room temperature. Homogenous time-resolved fluorescence-based cAMP (Schering) detection was made according to the manufacturer's instruction. ARVOsx multilabel counter (Wallac) was used to measure HTRF (excitation 320 nm, emission 665 nm/620 nm, delay time 50 ps, window time 400 ps). 20 Data was analyzed based on the ratio of fluorescence intensity of each well at 620 nm and 665 nm followed by cAMP quantification using cAMP standard curve. Enhancement of cAMP production elicited by each compound was normalized to the amount of cAMP produced by 1000 nM serotonin (Sigma).

All compounds of Examples showed 5HT4 receptor agonistic activity.

Human dofetilide binding Human HERG transfected HEK293S cells were prepared and grown in-house. The collected cells were suspended in 50 mM Tris-HCI (pH 7.4 at 4°C) and homogenized using a hand held Polytron PT 1200 disruptor set at full power for 20 sec on ice. The homogenates were centrifuged at 48,000 x g at 4 °C for 20 min. The pellets were then resuspended, homogenized, and centrifuged once more in the same manner. 30 The final pellets were resuspended in an appropriate volume of 50 mM Tris-HCI, 10 mM KCI, 1 mM MgCI2 (pH 7.4 at 4°C), homogenized, aliquoted and stored at -80°C until use. An aliquot of membrane fractions was used for protein concentration determination using BCA protein assay kit (PIERCE) and ARVOsx plate reader (Wallac).

Binding assays were conducted in a total volume of 200 pi in 96-well plates. Twenty pi of test 35 compounds were incubated with 20 pi of [3H]-dofetilide (Amersham, final 5 nM) and 160 pi of membrane homogenate (25 pg protein) for 60 minutes at room temperature. Nonspecific binding was determined by 10 pM dofetilide at the final concentration. Incubation was terminated by rapid vacuum filtration over 0.5% presoaked GF/B Betaplate filter using Skatron cell harvester with 50 mM Tris-HCI, 10 mM KCI, 1 mM MgCI2, pH 7.4 at 4°C. The filters were dried, put into sample bags and filled with Betaplate Scint. 40 Radioactivity bound to filter was counted with Wallac Betaplate counter.

P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 37 Caco-2 permeability Caco-2 permeability was measured according to the method described in Shiyin Yee,Pharmaceutical Research, 763 (1997).

Caco-2 cells were grown on filter supports (Falcon HTS multiwell insert system) for 14 days. 5 Culture medium was removed from both the apical and basolateral compartments and the monolayers were preincubated with pre-warmed 0.3 ml apical buffer and 1.0 ml basolateral buffer for 0.5 hour at 37°C in a shaker water bath at 50 cycles/min. The apical buffer consisted of Hanks Balanced Salt Solution, 25 mM D-glucose monohydrate, 20 mM MES Biological Buffer, 1.25 mM CaCI2 and 0.5 mM MgCI2 (pH 6.5). The basolateral buffer consisted of Hanks Balanced Salt Solution, 25 mM D-glucose monohydrate, 20 mM 10 HEPES Biological Buffer, 1.25 mM CaCI2 and 0.5 mM MgCI2 (pH 7.4). At the end of the preincubation, the media was removed and test compound solution (10pM) in buffer was added to the apical compartment. The inserts were moved to wells containing fresh basolateral buffer at 1 hr. Drug concentration in the buffer was measured by LC/MS analysis.

Flux rate (F, mass/time) was calculated from the slope of cumulative appearance of substrate on 15 the receiver side and apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) was calculated from the following equation. Papp (cm/sec) = (F * VD) / (SA * MD) where SA is surface area for transport (0.3 cm2), VD is the donor volume (0.3ml), MD is the total amount of drug on the donor side at t = 0. All data represent the mean of 2 inserts. Monolayer integrity was determined by Lucifer Yellow transport.

Half-life in human liver microsomes (HLM) Test compounds (1 pM) were incubated with 3.3 mM MgCI2 and 0.78 mg/mL HLM (HL101) in 100 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37°C on the 96-deep well plate. The reaction mixture was split into two groups, a non-P450 and a P450 group. NADPH was only added to the reaction mixture of 25 the P450 group. An aliquot of samples of P450 group was collected at 0, 10, 30, and 60 min time point, where 0 min time point indicated the time when NADPH was added into the reaction mixture of P450 group. An aliquot of samples of non-P450 group was collected at -10 and 65 min time point. Collected aliquots were extracted with acetonitrile solution containing an internal standard. The precipitated protein was spun down in centrifuge (2000 rpm, 15 min). The compound concentration in supernatant was measured 30 by LC/MS/MS system.

The half-life value was obtained by plotting the natural logarithm of the peak area ratio of compounds/ internal standard versus time. The slope of the line of best fit through the points yields the rate of metabolism (k). This was converted to a half-life value using following equations: Half-life = In 2 / k Examples The invention is illustrated in the following non-limiting examples in which, unless stated otherwise: all reagents are commercially available, all operations were carried out at room or ambient temperature, that is, in the range of about 18-25 °C; evaporation of solvent was carried out using a rotary 40 evaporator under reduced pressure with a bath temperature of up to about 60 °C; reactions were monitored by thin layer chromatography (tic) and reaction times are given for illustration only; melting P551341 38 points (m.p.) given are uncorrected (polymorphism may result in different melting points); the structure and purity of all isolated compounds were assured by at least one of the following techniques: tic (Merck silica gel 60 F254 precoated TLC plates or Merck NH2 F254s precoated HPTLC plates), mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared red absorption spectra (IR) or microanalysis. Yields are given for illustrative purposes only. Flash column chromatography was carried out using Merck silica gel 60 (230-400 mesh ASTM) or Fuji Silysia Chromatorex® DU3050 (Amino Type, 30~50 (xm).

Low-resolution mass spectral data (El) were obtained on a Integrity (Waters) mass spectrometer or a Automass 120 (JEOL) mass spectrometer. Low-resolution mass spectral data (ESI) were obtained on a ZMD2 (Waters) mass spectrometer or a Quattro II (Micromass) mass spectrometer. NMR data was determined at 270 MHz (JEOL JNM-LA 270 spectrometer) or 300 MHz (JEOL JNM-LA300) using deuterated chloroform (99.8% D) or dimethylsulfoxide (99.9% D) as solvent unless indicated otherwise, relative to tetramethylsilane (TMS) as internal standard in parts per million (ppm); conventional abbreviations used are: s = singlet, d = doublet, t = triplet, q = quartet, m = multiplet, br. = broad, etc. IR spectra were measured by a Shimazu infrared spectrometer (IR-470). Optical rotations were measured using a JASCO DIP-370 Digital Polarimeter (Japan Spectroscopic Co., Ltd.). Chemical symbols have their usual meanings; b.p. (boiling point), m.p. (melting point), I (liter(s)), mL (milliliter(s)), g (gram(s)), mg(milligram(s)), mol (moles), mmol (millimoles), eq. (equivalent(s)). The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern was determined using a Rigaku RINT-TTR powder X-ray diffractometer fitted with an automatic sample changer, a 2 theta-theta goniometer, beam divergence slits, a secondary monochromator and a scintillation counter. The sample was prepared for analysis by packing the powder on to an aluminum sample holder. The specimen was rotated by 60.00rpm and scanned by 4°/min at room temprature with Cu-Ka radiation.

EXAMPLE 1: 4-ir4-({r(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-,fA/-berizimidazol-1-v0carbonvn amino}methvl)piperidin-1-vl lmethvlltetrahvdro-2H-pvran-4-carboxvlic acid Step 1. ferf-butvl 4-cvanotetrahvdro-2A7-pvran-4-carboxvlate To a stirred suspension of NaH (17.7 g, 0.443 mol) in DMF (200 mL) was added dropwise terf-butyl cyanoacetate (25.0 g, 0.177 mol) in DMF (100 mL) at 0°C under N2. The mixture was allowed to warm to ambient temperature, and stirred for 1 hour. Then, bis(2-bromoethyl)ether (49.3 g, 0.177 mol) was added to the mixture, and the resulting mixture was stirred at 90°C for 24h. After cooling to 0°C, the mixture was quenched with water (100mL). The volatile components were removed by evaporation and the residue was precipitated with a mixture of EtOAc-Toluene (1:2, 500 mL) and water (500 mL). The organic phase was washed with water (500 mL) for three times, dried over Na2S04, filtered and evaporated. The solid was washed with Hexane and dried in vacuo to give 19.0 g (57 %) of the title compound as a white crystal.

P551341 39 1H-NMR (CDCI3) 5: 3.96 (2 H, dt, J=3.9 Hz, 12.3 Hz), 3.73 (2 H, dt, J =2.6 Hz, 12.3 Hz), 2.20-1.94 (4 H, m), 1.52 (9 H, s).

Step 2. tert-butvl 4-(aminomethvDtetrahvdro-2H-pyran-4-carboxvlate A mixture of ferf-butyl 4-cyanotetrahydro-2/-/-pyran-4-carboxylate (18.95 g, 0.0897 mol, stepl) and 5 Raney Ni (1.00 g) in methanol (200 mL) was hydrogenated (3 atm) at room temperature for 12 h. Then, the mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give 16.01 g (83%) of the title compound as a yellow syrup. 1H-NMR (CDCI3) 8: 3.86 (2 H, dt, J=4.1 Hz, 11.4 Hz), 3.48 (2 H, dt, J=2.5 Hz, 11.5 Hz), 2.75 (2 H, s), 2.03 (2 H, brd, J=10.7 Hz), 1.55-1.35 (13 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.49 ppm).

Step 3. ferf-butvl 4-[Y4-oxopiperidin-1-vDmethvntetrahvdro-2/-/-pvran-4-carboxvlate To a refluxing mixture of ferf-butyl 4-(aminomethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxylate (8.00 g, 0.0372 mol, step2) and K2C03 (0.51 g, 0.0372 mol) in EtOH- H20 (2:1, 240 mL) was added dropwise 1-ethyl-1-methyl-4-oxopiperidinium iodide (12.0 g, 0.0445 mol, J. Org. Chem. 1995, 60, 4324-4330) in EtOH- H20 (2:1, 150 mL), and the resulting mixture was stirred at the same temperature (reflux) for 1 h. 15 After cooling to room temperature, the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was poured into sat. NaHC03 aq. (200 mL), and the mixture was extracted with CH2CI2 (200 mLx three times). The extracts were dried over Na2S04 and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (3:1 to 2:1) to give 10.77 g (98%) of the title compound as a colorless syrup.

MS (ESI) m/z: 298 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCI3) 5 3.84 (2 H, brd, J=11.4 Hz), 3.50 ( 2 H, dt, J= 2.0 Hz, 11.7 Hz), 2.85 (4 H, t, J=5.9 Hz), 2.61 (2 H, s), 2.39 (4 H, t, J=6.1 Hz), 2.05 (2 H, d, J=11.5 Hz), 1.75-1.45 (11 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.49 ppm).

Step 4. tert-butvl 4-r(4-cvanopiperidin-1-vDmethvntetrahvdro-2/-/-pvran-4-carboxvlate 25 To a stirred solution of ferf-butyl 4-[(4-oxopiperidin-1 -yl)methyl]tetrahydro-2/-/-pyran-4-carboxylate (8.77 g, 0.0295 mol, step 3) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (250 mL) was added p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide (11.51g, 0.0590 mol), EtOH (3.96 mL, 0.0678 mol) and f-BuOK (11.58 g, 0.1032 mol) at 0°C. The resulting mixture was stirred at 50°C for 16 h. After cooling, the reaction mixture was poured into sat. NaHC03 aq. (200 mL), and the mixture was extracted with CH2CI2 (200 mL x 3 times). The extracts were 30 dried over Na2S04 and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (2:1) to give 5.76 g (63%) of the title compound as a yellow syrup.

MS (ESI) m/z: 309 (M+H+). 1H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 3.81 (2 H, dt, J=3.1 Hz, 11.0 Hz), 3.48 (2 H, dt, J=2.1 Hz, 11.7 Hz), 2.76-2.64 (2 H, m), 2.64-2.52 (1 H, m), 2.50-2.35 (4 H, m, including 2 H, s, 2.46 ppm), 1.98 (2 H, brd, J=11.9 Hz), 1.92-1.70 (4 35 H, m), 1.65-1.40 (11 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.47 ppm).

Step 5. ferf-butvl 4-([4-(aminomethvnpiperidin-1-vllmethvl)tetrahvdro-2/-/-pyran-4-carboxvlate A mixture of ferf-butyl 4-[(4-cyanopiperidin-1-yl)methyl]tetrahydro-2A7-pyran-4-carboxylate (5.76 g, 0.0187 mol, step 4) and Raney Ni (3.00 g) in methanol (100 mL) was hydrogenated (3 atm) at room temperature for 12 h. Then, the mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite, and the filtrate was 40 concentrated in vacuo to give 5.72 g (98%) of the title compound as a yellow syrup.

P551341 40 MS (ESI) m/z: 313 (M+H+). 1H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 3.80 (2 H, dt, J=3.1 Hz, 11.5 Hz), 3.49 (2 H, dt, J=2.1 Hz, 12.2 Hz), 2.80 (2 H, br d, J= 11.5 Hz), 2.58-2.40 (4 H, m, including 2 H, s, 2.43 ppm), 2.15 (2 H, brt, J=7.3 Hz), 1.98 (2 H, brd, J=13.7 Hz), 1.70-1.40 (16 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.47 ppm), 1.30-1.10 (2 H, m).

Step 6. ferf-butvl 4-f!4-(fr(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7A7-benzimidazol-1 -vncarbonvnamincrtmethvDpip eridin-1-vnmethvl)tetrahvdro-2/-/-pvran-4-carboxvlate A mixture of p-nitrophenylchloroformate (4.14 g, 0.0205 mol), 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydrq-2/-/-benzimidazol-2-one (3.62 g, 0.0205 mol, J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 2870-2880) and Et3N (7.81 mL, 0.0560 mol) in CH2CI2 (100 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 4 h. Then, 10 ferf-butyl 4-{[4-(aminomethyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl}tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxylate (5.72 g, 0.0187 mol, step 5) was added, and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with sat. NaHC03 aq. (300 mL), extracted with CH2CI2 (300 mL) for three times. The combined extract was dried over Na2S04 and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on a column of NH-silica gel eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (1:1) to give 9.83 g (100%) of the title compound 15 as a yellow syrup.

MS (ESI) m/z: 515(M+H)+. lK NMR (CDCIs) 5 8.90 (1 H, t, J=4.9 Hz), 8.31-8.21 (1 H, m), 7.25-7.10 (3 H, m), 4.80-4.60 (1 H, m), 3.80 (2 H, dt, J=3.1 Hz, 11.5 Hz), 3.49 (2 H, dt, J=1.7 Hz, 11.4 Hz), 3.28 (2 H, t, J= 6.4 Hz), 2.81 (2 H, br d, J=10.4 Hz), 2.44 (2 H, s), 2.16 (2 H, t, J=10.4 Hz), 1.98 (2 H, d, J=12.4 Hz), 1.81-1.20 (22 H, m, including 6 20 H, d, J = 7.1 Hz, 1.56 ppm and 9 H, s, 1.47 ppm).

Step 7. 4-(r4-((r(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-W-benzimidazol-1-vBcarbonvnamino)methvltoiperidin-1-v llmethvl)tetrahvdro-2/-/-pyran-4-carboxvlic acid To a stirred solution of ferf-butyl 4-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7#-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl}t 25 etrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxylate (3.67 g, 7.13 mmol, step 6) in THF (80 mL) was added conc. HCI (40 mL) at 0°C and the resulting mixture was stirred for 20 h at room temperature. The mixture was concentrated to remove the solvent and the residue was poured into sat. NaHC03 aq. The mixture was extracted with CH2CI2 for three times and the organic layer was dried over Na2S04. Removal of the solvent gave a residue, which was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting MeOH/ CH2CI2 (1:10) to give 30 3.01 g (92%) of the title compound. The product was recrystalized from THF to give the titled compound (0.893 g) as white crystals.

MS (ESI) m/z: 459 (M+H)\ 1H NMR (CDCI3) 8 8.99 (1 H, t, J=5.6 Hz), 8.30-8.15 (1 H, m), 7.25-7.105 (3 H, m), 4.80-4.60 (1 H, m), 3.95-3.70 (4 H, m), 3.34 (2 H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 3.14 (2 H, br d, J=12.0 Hz), 2.65-2.45 (4 H, m, including 2 H, s, 35 2.59 ppm), 1.92 (4 H, t, J=13.8 Hz), 1.85-1.40 (11 H, m, including 6 H, d, J=6.9 Hz, 1.57 ppm). m.p.: 176 °C.

IR(KBr) v: 3281, 2947, 1720, 1688, 1611, 1595, 1547, 1481, 1447, 1375, 1200, 1159, 1136, 1105, 760 cm"1.

Anal, calcd. for C24H34N405: C, 62.86; H, 7.47; N, 12.22. Found: C, 62.77; H, 7.42; N, 12.16. 40 P551341 41 Alternative route to synthesize 4-(r4-((r(3-lsopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1H-benzimidazol-1-vl)carbonvlla mino)methvnDiperidin-1-vllmethvl)tetrahvdro-2H-pvran-4-carboxvlic acid is described below.

Step 8. tert-Butvl (ri-(ethoxvmethv0piperidin-4-vnmethvl)carbamate To a stirred solution of ferf-butyl (piperidin-4-ylmethyl)carbamate (7.0 g, 33 mmol) in ethanol (19 5 mL), paraformaldehyde (1.2 g, 39 mmol) and potassium carbonate (5.4 g, 39 mmol) were added at ambient temperature. The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 4 h. The mixture was filtered and the filter cake was washed with ethanol (50 mL). The volatile components were removed by evaporation to give the title compound 8.9 g (quant.) as a white powder. 1H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 4.60 (1 H, brs), 4.07 (2 H, s), 3.49 (2 H, q, J=7A Hz), 3.08-2.83 (4 H, m), 2.50-2.36 (2 10 H, m), 1.75-1.60 (2 H, m), 1.44 (9 H,s), 1.52-1.35(1 H, m), 1.19 (3 H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.31-1.12 (2 H, m). Step 9. rMethoxv(tetrahvdro-4H-pvran-4-vlidene)methoxvl(trimethvl)silane To a stirred solution of diisopropylamine (1.6 g, 0.016 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (4 mL) was added dropwise n-butyllithium (1.59 M in hexane, 9.2 mL, 0.014 mol) at 0 °C under nitrogen, and stirred for 20 min. Then, the reaction mixture was cooled to -40 °C, methyl tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxylate (1.9 g, 15 0.013 mol) and trimethyisilyl chloride (2.0 mL, 0.015 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) was added, and the resulting mixture was gradually warmed to room temperature over 3 h. The volatile components were removed by evaporation and the residue was filtered through a pad of celite washing with hexane. The filtrate was dried in vacuo to give 2.9 g (quant.) of the title compound as a clear yellow oil. 1H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 3.64-3.59 (4 H, m), 3.52 (3 H, s), 2.24 (2 H, t, J = 5.2 Hz), 2.15 (2 H, t, J = 5.3 Hz), 0.22 20 (9 H, s).

Step 10. 4-r(4-if(ferf-butoxvcarbonvnaminolmethvl)piperidin-1 -vhmethvlltetrahvdro-2/-/-pvran-4-carboxvla te To a stirred solution of ferf-butyl {[1-(ethoxymethyl)piperidin-4-yl]methyl}carbamate (4 g, 14 mmol, Step 8) and [methoxy(tetrahydro-4/-/-pyran-4-ylidene)methoxy](trimethyl)silane (2.9 g, 13 mmol, Step 9) in 25 dichloromethane (30 mL) was added dropwise trimethyisilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (0.24 mL, 1.3 mmol) at 0 °C, and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 12 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (150 mL), extracted with dichloromethane (30 mL x 2), and the combined organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the solvent gave a residue, which was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with ethyl acetate/hexane (1:1) to give 6.3 g 30 (64 %) of the title compound as a clear colorless oil.

MS (ESI) m/z: 371 (M+H)+. 1H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 4.57 (1 H, br s), 3.84-3.78 (2 H, m), 3.70 (3 H, s), 3.49-3.41 (2 H, m), 2.99-2.95 (2 H, m), 2.73-2.68 (2 H, m), 2.47 (2 H, s), 2.19-2.11 (2 H, m), 2.06-2.01 (2 H, m), 1.61-1.51 (5 H, m), 1.44 (9 H, s), 1.24-1.11 (2 H, m).

Step 11. 4-r(4-(r(ferf-butoxvcarbonvDaminolmethvl)piperidin-1-v0methvntetrahvdro-2Ay-pyran-4-carboxvlic acid To a solution of Methyl 4-[(4-{[(ferf-butoxycarbonyl) amino]methyl}piperidin-1-yl) methyl]tetrahydro-2/-/-pyran-4-carboxylate (6.47 g, 17.5 mmol, Step 10) in MeOH (32 mL), 5 N NaOH aq (10 mL) was added at room temperature (exothermic). The resulting solution was stirred at 60 °C for 7 40 h, then cooled to 5~10 °C in ice-cold bath. To this solution, 5 N HCI aq (10 mL) was added and the P551341 42 resulting solution (pH value was ca.6) was concentrated. To the residue, 2-propanol (80 mL) was added. This solution was concentrated. To the residue, 2-propanol (80 mL) was added and it was concentrated again. The residue was diluted with EtOH (80 mL) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 h. It was filtered through a celite pad (5.0 g) to remove NaCI. The Celite pad was washed with EtOH 5 (20 mL) and the combined filtrate was concentrated. To the residue, CH3CN (40 mL) was added and it was concentrated. During this procedure, the formation of white precipitate was noticed. To the residue CH3CN (40 mL) was added and the resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature for 2 h. This mixture was filtered and obtained solid was washed with CH3CN (10 mL), then dried under reduced pressure to give 4.1 g (65%) of the titled compound as white powder. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCI3) 5 4.66 (1H, m), 3.93-3.82 (3 H, m), 3.15-2.99 (4 H, m), 2.58 (2 H, s), 2.58-2.45 (2 H, m), 1.98-1.76 (4 H, m), 1.55-1.35 (6 H, m), 1.44 (9 H, s) mp 129 °C Step 12. 4-fl4-(aminonriethvDpiperidin-1-vrimethvl)tetrahvdro-2/-/-pvran-4-carboxvlic acid 4-methvlbenze nesulfonate In a 300 mL, 3-necked round bottom flask under N2, 4-[(4-{[(ferf-butoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl}piperidin-1 -yl)methyl]tetrahydro-2/-/-pyran-4-carboxylic acid (10 g, 28 mmol, Step 11) was placed and a solution of p-TsOH H20 (16g, 84 mmol) in IPA (150 mL) was poured at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at 60 °C for 7 h under N2 and Et3N (8.6 mL, 62 mmol) was added dropwise slowly during the period of 2 hr with seeding. The white precipitate was 20 formed during the addition of Et3N. The resulting white suspension was stirred at 60 °C for 3 h, at 50 °C for 5 h and at room temperature for 10 h. The suspension was filtered and the obtained solid was washed with IPA (100 mL), dried at 50 °C for 5 h to give 10.5 g (87 %) of the titled compound as white powder. 1H-NMR (D20) 5 7.54 (2 H, d, J = 7.4 Hz), 7.22 (2 H, J = 7.4 Hz), 3.80-3.65 (2 H, m), 3.55-3.40 (4 H, m), 25 3.20-2.75 (6 H, m), 2.24 (3 H, s), 1.90-1.80 (6 H, m), 1.55-1.35 (4 H, m) mp 247 °C Step 13. 4-(r4-({r(3-lsopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1H-benzimidazol-1-vl)carbonvnamino) methvl)piperidin-1 -vllmethvlHetrahvdro-2H-pvran-4-carboxvlic acid A mixture of 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (1.0 g, 5.7 mmol) and chloroformic 30 acid 4-nitrophenyl ester (1.14 g, 5.7 mmol) in CH2CI2 (20 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 5 min under N2. To this mixture, Et3N (1.7 mL, 12.5 mmol) was added slowly and this generated mixture was added to a mixture of 4-{[4-(aminomethyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl}tetrahydro-2AV-pyran-4-carboxylic acid 4-methylbenzenesulfonate (2.4 g, 5.7 mmol, Step 12) in CH2CI2 (15 mL) at rt. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs. This mixture was washed with 0.5 N HCI aq (100 mL) and the 35 organic layer was washed with saturated NaHC03 aq (75 ml) then the organic layer was concentrated. The residue was diluted with EtOAc (75 mL) and it was concentrated until ca 15 mL. After seeding of the product, this mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 min. During this procedure, the solid was formed and this mixture was filtered. Obtained solid was washed with EtOAc (10 mL), dried at 50 °C under vacuum to give 1.9 g (73 %) of the titled compound as white solid. 40 Step 14. 4-(r4-((r(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1/-/-benzimidazol-1-vncarbonvllaminotmethyDpiperidin-l-vnmethvlHetrahvdro-2/-/-pvran-4-carboxvlic acid benzenesulfonate P551341 43 To a suspension of 4-{[4-({[(3-lsopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro,-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl) carbonyi]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl}tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxylic acid (750 mg, Step13) in CH3CN (5 mL), a solution of benzenesulfonic acid monohydrate (288 mg) in CH3CN (5 mL) was added at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 days and it was 5 concentrated. The residue was dried to afford 909 mg (90%) of the titled compound as a solid. 1 H-NMR (CD3OD) 8 9.10 (1 H, t, J = 5.7 Hz), 8.11 (1 H, dt, J = 8.0, 0.8 Hz), 7.88-7.76 (2 H, m), 7.46-7.36 (3 H, m), 7.32 (1 H, dt, J =8.0, 0.8 Hz), 7.22 (1 H, td, J = 7.8,1.4 Hz), 7.13 (1 H, td, J = 7.8,1.4 Hz), 4.70 (1 H, sextet, J = 6.9 Hz), 3.85-3.55 (5 H, m), 3.50-3.38 (4 H, m), 3.23-3.05 (2 H, m), 2.15-1.90 (5 H, m), I.78-1.58 (5 H, m), 1,55 (6 H, d, J = 6.9 Hz) mp 223 °C Anal, calcd. for C30H40N4O8S: C, 58.42; H, 6.54; N, 9.08: Found: C, 58.50; H, 6.51; N, 9.11.

PXRD (20(+/- 0.1):5.3, 12.6, 21.4, 21.9) EXAMPLE 2: 1 -{r4-(lK3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H-benzimidazol-1 -vhcarbonvllamino} methvQpiperidin-1 -v llmethvDcvclohexanecarboxvlic acid Step 1. ferf-butvl 4-cvanocvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 1 of Example 1 by 20 using 1,5-dibromopentane. 1H-NMR (CDCI3) 8: 2.07 (2 H, d, J=13.0 Hz), 1.85-1.57 (7 H, m), 1.50 (9 H, s), 1.35-1.15 (1 H, m).

Step 2. ferf-butvl 1-(aminomethvncvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 2 of Example 1. MS (ESI) m/z: 214(M+H)+. 1 H-NMR (CDCI3) 8: 2.69 (2 H, s), 2.02 (2 H, d, J=13.2 Hz), 1.65-1.05 (19 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.47 ppm). Step 3. ferf-butvl 1 -f(4-oxopiperidin-1 -vOmethvllcvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 3 of Example 1. MS (ESI) m/z: 296 (M+H)+. 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 2.84 (4 H, t, J=6.1 Hz) 2.57 (2 H, s), 2.38 (4 H, t, J=6.1 Hz), 2.04 (2 H, d, J=12.2 Hz), 30 1.65-1.15 (17 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.47 ppm).

Step 4. ferf-butvl 1 -r(4-cvanopjperidin-1 -ynmethvllcvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 4 of Example 1. MS (ESI) m/z: 307 (M+H)+. 1 H-NMR (CDCI3) 8: 2.53-2.66 (2 H, m), 2.53-2.48 (1 H, m), 2.48-2.30 (4 H, m, including 2 H, s, 2.41 ppm), 35 1.97 (2 H, d, J=12.5 Hz), 1.92-1.70 (4 H, m), 1.65-1.10 (19 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.45 ppm).

Step 5. ferf-butvl 1-([4-faminomethvnpiperidin-1-vllmethvl}cvclohexanecarboxvlate P551341 44 The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 5 of Example 1. MS (ESI) m/z: 311 (M+H+). 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 2.81 (2 H, d, J=11.37 Hz), 2.55 (2 H, d, J=5.8 Hz), 2.39 (2 H, s), 2.11 (2 H, t, J=11.0 Hz), 2.03-1.85 (5 H, m), 1.65-1.10 (21 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.45 ppm).

Step 6. ferf-butvl 1 -Il4-(fr(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-ffl-benzimidazol-1 -vncarbonvnaminolmethvltoip eridin-1-vllmethvllcvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 6 of Example 1. MS (ESI) m/z: 513(M+H)\ 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 8.89 (1 H, t, J=5.3 Hz), 8.33-8.20 (1 H, m), 7.23-7.10 (3 H, m), 4.80-4.60 (1 H, m), 3.27 (2 H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 2.82 (2 H, d, J=11.5 Hz), 2.39 (2 H, s), 2.12 (2 H, t, J=11.4 Hz), 1.97 (2 H, d, J=13.2 Hz), 1.73-1.10 (28 H, m, including 6 H, d,J = 6.9 Hz, 1.56 ppm and 9 H, s, 1.45 ppm).

Step 7. 1-(r4-(fr(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7AV-benzimidazol-1-v0carbonvnamino)methvhpiperidin-1-v llmethvllcvclohexanecarboxvlic acid The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 7 of Example 1. MS (ESI) m/z: 457 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 8.98 (1 H, t, J=5.8 Hz), 8.28-8.18 (1 H, m), 7.25-7.10 (3 H, m), 4.80-4.60 (1 H, m), 3.34 (2 H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 3.11 (2 H, d, J=11.9 Hz), 2.61 (2 H, s), 2.48 (2H, t, J=12.2 Hz), 2.05-1.20 (21 H, m, including 6 H, d, J=6.9 Hz, 1.57 ppm). m.p.: 151 °C.

IR (KBr) v: 3291, 2930, 1732,1690, 1545, 1481, 1373, 1298, 1202, 1134, 762 cm"1.

Anal, calcd. for C25H36N404: C, 65.76; H, 7.95; N, 12.27. Found: C, 65.41; H, 8.18; N, 12.18.

EXAMPLE 3: 1-ir4-({r(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H-benzimidazol-1 -vhcarbonvllaminol methvl)piperidin-1 -vllmethvllcvclopentanecarboxvlic acid Step 1. Methyl 1-(iodomethvl)cvclopentanecarboxvlate To a stirred solution of HN(/Pr)2 (1.31 mL, 9.36 mmol) in THF (5 mL) was added n-BuLi (1.58 M in hexane, 5.43 mL, 8.58 mmol) with keeping -10°C under N2, and the mixture was stirred at -10°C for 1 h. Then, to this mixture was added a solution of methyl cyclopentanecarboxylate (1.00 g, 7.80 mmol) in THF (3 mL) dropwise at 0°C, and the mixture was stirred at 0°C for 2 h. Finally, to this mixture was added CH2I2 (0.628 mL, 7.80 mmol) at 0°C, and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with sat. NH4CI aq. (50 mL), extracted with Et20 (75 mL) for two times, and the combined organic layer was washed with brine (75 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na2S04, filtered and concentrated. Removal of the solvent gave a residue, which was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with EtOAc/hexane (1:20->1:10) to give 1.085 g (52%) of title compound as a P551341 45 colorless oil. 1 H-NMR (CDCI3) 8 3.73 (3 H, s), 3.42 (2 H, s), 2.30-2.15 (2 H, m), 1.80-1.55 (6 H, m).

Step 2. Methyl 1 -r(4-(r(ferf-butoxvcarbonvl)aminolmethvl)piperidine-1 -vDmethvllcvclopentanecarboxvlate A mixture of Methyl 1-(iodomethyl)cyclopentanecarboxylate(5.52 g, 0.0206 mol, Step 1), ferf-butyl 5 (piperidin-4-ylmethyl)carbamate (8.83 g, 0.0412 mol) and /Pr2NEt (10.76 mL, 0.0618 mol) in A/-methylpyrrolidone (70 mL) was stirred at 120°C for 24 h. After cooling, the reaction mixture was diluted with sat. NaHC03 aq. (200 mL), extracted with AcOEt (200 mL) for three times, and the combined organic layer was washed with water (200 mL) and brine (200 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na2S04, filtered and concentrated. Removal of the solvent gave a residue, which was chromatographed on a 10 column of silica gel eluting with EtOAc/hexane (1:1) to give 4.91 g (67%) of title compound as a yellow syrup.

MS (ESI) m/z: 355(M+H)+.

'H-NMR (CDCIs) 8 4.58 (1 H, br s), 3.66 (3 H, s), 2.97 (2 H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 2.77 (2 H, br d, J=11.5 Hz), 2.55 (2 H, s), 1.70-1.50 (9 H, m), 1.44 (9 H, s), 1.25-1.08 (2 H, m).

Step 3. Methyl 1-fr4-(aminomethvl)piperidin-1-vnmethvlk:vclopentanecarboxvlate A solution of methyl 1-[(4-{[(ferf-butoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl}piperidine-1-yl)methyl]cyclopentanecarboxylate (1.16 g, 3.27 mmol, Step2) in CH2CI2 (25 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 h. The reaction mixture was then concentrated and basified with sat. NaHC03 aq. (100 mL), extracted with 20 CHCI3 (100 mL) for five times. The combined extract was dried and concentrated to give 0.831 g (100%) of title compound as yellow syrup.

MS (ESI) m/z: 255 (M+H)+. 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8 3.66 (3 H, s), 2.78 (2 H, d, J=11.5 Hz), 2.62-2.50 (4 H, m), 2.15-1.98 (4 H, m), 1.80-1.40 (9 H, m), 1.30-1.05 (2 H, m).

Step 4. Methyl 1 -(r4-(ir(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-W-benzimidazol-1 -vMcarbonvnamino)methvl)piper idin-1-vnmethvllcvclopentanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 6 of Example 1. MS (ESI) m/z: 457 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCI3) 8 8.94 (1 H, t, J=5.7 Hz), 8.28-8.20 (7.25-7.10 (3 H, m), 4.80-4.60 (1 H, m), 3.66 (3 H, s), 30 3.27 (2 H, t, J=6.4 Hz), 2.84 (2 H, d, J=11.6Hz), 2.62 (2 H, s), 2.20-2.00 (4 H, m), 1.75-1.50 (15 H, m, including 6 H, d, J=7.0 Hz, 1.56 ppm), 1.40-1.20 (2 H, m).

Step 5. 1-(r4-(([Y3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7/-/-benzinr)idazol-1-vl)carbonvnamino)methvQpiperidin-1-v llmethvltovclopentanecarboxvlic acid A mixture of Methyl 1 -{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-W-benzimidazol-1 -yl)carbonyl]amino} 35 methyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl}cyclopentanecarboxylate (1.33 g , 2.90 mmol, Step 4) in 4N-HCI (6 mL) and acetic acid (6 mL) was stirred at reflux for 18 h . After cooling, the reaction mixture was concentrated and basified with sat. NaHC03 aq. (100 mL), extracted with CH2CI2 (150 mL) for three times. The combined extracts were dried over Na2S04, filtered and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluted with MeOH/CH2CI2 (1:10) to give 1.12 g (85%) of title compound as white solid. 40 The crude compound was recrystallized from EtOAc x 2 and dried in vacuo at 50°C for 2 days to give 610 P551341 46 mg of title compound as white crystal.

MS (ESI) m/z: 443 (M+H)+. m.p.: 165 °C.

IR(KBr) v: 3271, 2934, 1736, 1684, 1607, 1558, 1483, 1454, 1379, 1358, 1298, 1209, 1167, 1097, 758 5 cm"1. 1H NMR (CDCIg) 5 9.00 (1 H, t, J=5.5 Hz), 8.30-8.18 (1 H, m), 7.25-7.10 (3 H, m), 4.80-4.60 (1 H, m), 3.34 (2 H, t, J=11.0 Hz), 2.32-2.17 (2 H, m), 2.00-1.30 (17 H, m, including 6 H, d, 7.0 Hz, 1.57 ppm).

Anal, calcd. for C24H34N4O4 • 0.2 H20: C, 64.61; H, 7.77; N, 12.56. Found: C, 64.34; H, 7.79; N, 12.48.

Alternative route to synthesize 14r4-(ir(3-lsopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -vDcarbonvlla mino)methvDpiperidin-1 -vllmethvDcvclopentanecarboxvlic acid is described below.

Step 6. Methyl 1-r(4-(r(terf-butoxvcarbonvhamino1methvl)piperidine-1 -vDmethvllcvclopentanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in the Step 10 of the Example 1 using [cyclopentylidene(methoxy)methoxy](trimethyl)silane (Synthesis, 1982, 1, 58-60) instead 15 of [methoxy(tetrahydro-4H-pyran-4-ylidene)methoxy](trimethyl)silane.

MS (ESI) m/z: 355(M+H)+. 1 H-NMR (CDCI3) 5 4.58 (1 H, br s), 3.66 (3 H, s), 2.97 (2 H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 2.77 (2 H, br d, J= 11.5 Hz), 2.55 (2 H, s), 2.18-1.95(4H, m), 1.70-1.50 (9 H, m), 1.44 (9 H, s), 1.25-1.08 (2 H, m).

Step 7. 1-r(4"fr(fe/f-butoxvcarbonvnamino1methvl)piperidin-1-vl)methvncvclopentanecarboxvlic acid 20 To a solution of Methyl 1 -[(4-{[(ferf-butoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl}piperidin-1 -yl)methyl] cyclopentanecarboxylate (2.8 g, 8.0 mmol, Step 6) in MeOH (11 mL), 2 N aqueous NaOH solution (6 mL) was added at room temperature (exothermic). The resulting solution was stirred at 70 °C for 4 h, then cooled to 5-10 °C in ice-cold water bath. To the solution, 5 N HCI aq (6 mL) was added dropwise. The resulting solution (pH value was ca.6) was concentrated and to the residue, 2-propanol (40 mL) was added. 25 This solution was concentrated and to the residue, CH3CN (40 mL) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 h and it was filtered through a Celite pad (5.0 g) to remove NaCI. The filtrate was concentrated to give 2.4 g (quant) of the titled compound as white solid. 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6) 5 6.90-6.75 (1 H, m), 2.95-2.80 (2 H, m), 2.79 (2 H, t, J = 6.4 Hz), 2.58 (2 H, s), 2.25-2.05 (2 H, m), 2.05-1.85 (2 H, m), 1.65-1.50 (6 H, m), 1.50-1.25 (3 H, m), 1.37 (9 H, s), 1.20-0.95 30 (2 H, m). mp 150 °C.

Step 8.1-(r4-(aminomethvDpiperidin-1-vnmethvlk:vclopentanecarboxvlic acid 4-methvlbenzenesulfonate In a 100 mL, 2-necked round bottom flask, to a mixture of 1-[(4-{[(ferf-butoxycarbonyl) amino]methyl}piperidin-1-yl)methyl]cyclopentanecarboxylic acid (5 g, 14.7 mmol, Step 7) in THF (25 mL), a 35 solution of p-TsOH H20 (8.4 g, 44 mmol) in THF (25 mL) was added at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at 70 °C for 3 h under N2 and it was cooled down to room temperature. To this solution, Et3N (6 mL, 44 mmol) was added dropwise slowly. The white precipitate was formed during the addition of Et3N, and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 14 h. The suspension was filtered and the obtained solid was washed with THF (10 mL), dried at 50 °C for 5 h to give 5.9 g (97 %) of 40 the titled compound as a white solid.

P551341 47 1 H-NMR (DzO) 5 7.51 (2 H, J = 8.2 Hz), 7.19 (2 H, J = 8.2 Hz), 3.38 (2 H, d, J = 11.0 Hz), 3.09 (2 H, d, J = 2.6 Hz), 2.88 (2 H, t, J = 12.1 Hz), 2.79 (2 H, t, J = 6.6 Hz), 2.21 (3 H, s), 1.94-1.75 (5 H, m), 1.61-1.27 (9 H, m) Step 9. 1 -([4-(([(3-lsopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -vOcarbonvnamino) methyl toiperidin-1 -5 vllmethvllcvclopentanecarboxvlic acid A mixture of 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (10 g, 56.8 mmol) and chloroformic acid 4-nitrophenyl ester (11.4 g, 56.8 mmol) in CH2CI2 (150 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 5 min. To this mixture, Et3N (17.4 mL, 125 mmol) was added slowly and the resulting mixture was added to a mixture of 1-{[4-(aminomethyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl}cyclopentanecarboxylic acid 4-methylbenzene 10 sulfonate (23.4 g, 56.8 mmol, Step 8) in CH2CI2 (75 mL) at room temperature. After stirring for 10 min, Et3N (7.9 mL, 56.8 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hr. This mixture was washed with 1 N HCI aq (100 mL). Organic layer was concentrated at 50 °C until ca 5 vol and it was replaced by acetone (50 mL x 3) at 80 °C until ca 5 vol. To this mixture, H20 (100 mL) was added at 80 °C and the resulting mixture was concentrated at 100 °C. After cooling down to 50 °C, 20 % 15 /V,A/-dimethylaminoethanol aqueous solution (100 mL) was added to this mixture and the solid was observed. The resulting mixture was cooled in ice cold bath and it was stirred for 18 hrs at that temperature. This mixture was filtered and the obtained solid was washed with H20 (100 mL), dried at 50 °C under vacuum to afford 17.9 g (71 %) of the titled compound as white solid. mp. 166°C PXRD (2G(+/-0.1): 4.4, 8.8, 13.2, 17.6) EXAMPLE 4. 1 -ff4-({f(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H-benzimidazol-1 -vhcarbonvllamino} methvQpiperidin-1 -v llmethvllcvclopropanecarboxvlic acid hydrochloride Step 1. ferf-butvl 1-IY4-IT(fe/f-butoxvcarbonvDamino1methvl)piperidine-1-vl)methvncvclopropanecarboxvla te Terf-butyl 1-(iodomethyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate (including starting material ,3:2 mixture) was prepared according to the procedure described of Step 1 in the Example 3 using terf-butyl 30 cyclopropanecarboxylate (J. Organomet. Chem., 1983, 252, 267-274) instead of methyl cyclopentanecarboxylate. This was used for the next step without further purification.

The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 2 of Example 3. MS (ESI) m/z: 369 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCI3) 8 4.59 (1 H, br s), 2.99 (2 H, d, J=5.9 Hz), 2.89 (2 H, br d, J=11.5 Hz), 2.57 (2 H, s), 2.00 35 (2 H, t, J=11.7 Hz), 1.62 (2 H, d, J=12.9 Hz), 1.55-1.35 (1 H, m), 1.44 (9 H, s), 1.42 (9 H, s), 1.30-1.15 (2 H, m), 1.13 (2 H, dd, J=3.8 Hz, 6.6 Hz), 0.74 (2 H, dd, J=3.5 Hz, 6.3 Hz).

O P551341 WO 2005/123718 PCT/IB2005/001825 48 Step 2. ferf-butvl 1-(r4-(aminomethvl)piperidin-1-vllmethvl)cvclopropanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 3 of Example 3. MS (ESI) m/z: 269 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 2.96 (2 H, br d, J=11.5 Hz), 2.60-2.50 (4 H, m), 2.00 (2 H, t, J=11.4 Hz), 1.75-1.35 (14 H, 5 m, including 2 H, br d, J=9.6 Hz, 1.66 ppm and 9 H, s, 1.43 ppm), 1.33-1.16 (2 H, m), 1.13 (2 H, dd, J =4.0 Hz, 6.9 Hz), 0.74 (2 H, dd, J=3.8 Hz, 6.6 Hz).

Step 3. ferf-butvl 1 -(r4-(ir(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7AY-benzimidazol-1 -vl)carbonvllamino)methvl)pip eridin-1-vNmethvllcvclopropanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 4 of Example 3. 10 MS (ESI) m/z: 471 (M+H)\ 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 8.91 (1 H, brt, J=5.5 Hz), 8.32-8.20 (1 H, m), 7.25-7.10 (3 H, m), 4.80-4.60 (1 H, m), 3.30 (2 H, t, J=6.4 Hz), 2.91 (2 H, br d, J=11.6 Hz), 2.57 (2 H, s), 2.01 (2 H, br t, J=9.5 Hz), 1.73 (2 H, br d, J=12.1 Hz), 1.67-1.50 (10 H, m, including 6H, d, J=7.0 Hz, 1.56 ppm), 1.43 (9 H, s), 1.34-1.20 (2 H, m), 1.12 (2 H, dd, J =4.0 Hz, 7.0 Hz), 0.73 (2 H, dd, J=3.9 Hz, 6.8 Hz).

Step 4. 1-IT4-((r(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H -benzimidazol-1 -v0carbonvllamino}methvlbiperidin-1-vllmethvllcvclopropanecarboxvlic acid hydrochloride The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 7 of Example 1. MS (ESI) m/z: 415 (M+H)+. m.p.: 206 °C.

IR (KBr) v: 2936, 2700, 1732, 1688, 1556, 1485, 1383, 1359, 1182, 1164, 758 cm"1. 1H NMR (DMSO-cfe) 8 8.86 (1 H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 8.07 (1 H, dd, J=1.0 Hz, 7.8 Hz), 7.45 (1 H, d, J=7.1 Hz), 7.22 (1 H, dt, J=1.3 Hz, 7.6 Hz), 7.15 (1 H, dt, J=1.2 Hz, 7.7 Hz), 4.95-4.60 (1 H, m), 3.70-3.10 (6 H, m), 3.10-2.90 (2 H, m), 1.86 (3 H, m, including 2 H, d, J=11.2 Hz, 1.86 ppm), 1.70-1.53 (2 H, m), 1.49 (6 H, d, J= 6.9 Hz), 1.35-1.15 (4 H, m).

Anal, calcd. for CazHsoN^ • HCI • 0.2 H20: C, 58.13; H, 6.96; N, 12.33. Found: C, 57.93; H, 6.97; N, 12.18.

EXAMPLE 5. 3-r4-(fr(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-fH-benzimidazol-1-vncarbonvllaminol methvQpiperidin-1-v 30 llproparioic acid hydrochloride Step 1. ferf-Butvl 4-((r(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H -benzimidazol-1-vhcarbonvnaminolmethvnpiper idine-1 -carboxvlate To a stirred solution of 1 -isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2/-/-benzimidazol-2one (J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 35 2870-2880) (3.00 g, 17.02 mmol) and triethylamine (7.12 ml, 51.06 mmol) in 70 ml tetrahydrofuran was added triphosgene (5.15 g, 17.02 mmol) in 14 ml tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. The reaction P551341 49 mixture was refluxed for 19 hours. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature, ferf-butyl 4-(aminomethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (J. Prugh, L. A. Birchenough and M. S. Egbertson, Synth. Commun., 1992, 22, 2357-60) (3.28 g, 15.32 mmol) in 10 ml tetrahydrofuran was added. The reaction mixture was refluxed for another 24 hours. Then cooled and basified with aqueous saturated NaHC03 50 5 ml, and extracted with ethyl acetate 100 ml for three times. The combined extract was washed with brine, dried over MgS04 and concentrated. Flash chromatography of the residue (elutent: hexane/ethyl acetate=5/1 to 1/2) afforded a colorless oil 3.99 g (62%) as the titled compound. 1H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 9.04-8.88 (1 H, m), 8.83-8.20 (1H, m), 7.26-7.10 (3H, m), 4.80-4.60 (1H, m), 4.28-4.02 (2H, m), 3.32 (2H, t, J=6.1 Hz), 2.82-2.60 (2H, m), 1.94-1.10 (5H, m), 1.57 (6H, d, J=7.1 Hz), 1.45 (9H, s). 10 Step 2. 3-lsopropvl-2-oxo-A/-(piperidin-4-vlmethvl)-2.3-dihvdro-7Ay -benzimidazole-1-carboxamide A solution of tert-butyl 4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7#-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino} methyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (3.992 g, 9.58 mmol) in 50 ml 10% hydrochloric acid in methanol and 10 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The mixture was then concentrated and basified with aqueous Na2C03, extracted with CHCI3 (100 ml) for 3 times. The 15 combined extract was dried and concentrated. Flash chromatography of the residue (NH-silica gel, elutent: CH2CI2/methanol=100/1) afforded a colorless oil 2.272 g (75%) as the title compound.

MS (ESI) m/z: 317 (M+H)+. 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 8.93 (1H, br), 8.32-8.22 (1H, m), 7.24-7.02 (3H, m), 4.80-4.61 (1H, m), 3.31 (2H, t, J=6.0 Hz), 3.20-3.05 (2H, m), 2.79-2.54 (2H, m), 1.84-1.52 (3H, m), 1.57 (6H, d, J=6.9 Hz), 1.36-1.13 (2H, m). 20 Step 3. ferf-butvl 3-r4-((r(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7/-/ -benzimidazol-1-vDcarbonvllaminolmethvQpi peridin-1 -vllpropanoate A mixture of 3-isopropyl-2-oxo-A/-(piperidin-4-ylmethyl)-2,3-dihydro-7/-/-benzimidazole-1-carboxamide (0.50g, 1.58 mmol, Step2), ferf-butyl acrylate (0.340 mL, 2.37 mmol) and /'PrNEt (0.275 mL, 2.37 mmol) in THF (20 mL) was refluxed for 18 h. After cooling, the reaction mixture was diluted with sat. 25 NaHC03 aq. (100 mL), extracted with CH2CI2 (100 mL) for three times. The combined extracts were dried over Na2S04, filtered and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluted with MeOH/CH2CI2 (1:20—>1:10) and then NH-silica gel eluted with EtOAc/hexane (1:5—>1:2) to give 0.111 g (16%) of title compound as colorless syrup.

MS (ESI) m/z: 445 (M+H)\ 1H NMR (CDCI3) 8 8.94 (1 H, br s), 8.30-8.20 (1 H, m), 7.25-7.11 (3 H, m), 7.11-7.00 (1 H, m), 4.80-4.62 (1 H, m), 3.31 (2 H, t, J=6.2 Hz), 2.95 (2 H, br t, J=11.6 Hz), 2.68 (2 H, t, J=7.2 Hz), 2.43 (2 H, t, J=7.7 Hz), 2.03 (2 H, br t, J=11.4 Hz), 1.98-1.82 (1 H, m), 1.79 (2 H, d, J=12.1 Hz), 1.56 (6 H, d, J=7.2 Hz), 1.50-1.30 (11 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.44 ppm).

Step 4. 3-r4-({T(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7/-/ -benzimidazol-1-vl)carbonvllamino)nnethvDpiperidin-1-v 35 llpropanoic acid hydrochloride The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 7 of Example 1. MS (ESI) m/z: 389 (M+H)+.

IR (KBr) v: 2939, 2637, 1724, 1682, 1542, 1466, 1373, 1217, 1194, 953, 762 cm"1. 1H NMR (DMSO-de) 8 8.86 (1 H, t, J=5.9 Hz), 8.07 (1 H, dd, J=0.8 Hz, 7.7 Hz), 7.49 (1 H, d, J=7.6 Hz), 40 7.22 (1 H, dt, J=1.3 Hz, 7.6 Hz), 7.15 (1 H, dt, J=1.0 Hz, 7.6 Hz), 4.75-4.60 (1 H, m), 3.70-3.10 (6 H, m), P551341 50 2.93 (2 H, br t, J=11.2 Hz), 2.85-2.70 (2 H, m), 1.95-1.75 (3 H, m, including 2 H, d, J=11.5 Hz, 1.87 ppm), 1.65-1.40 (8 H, m, including 6 H, d, J=7.1 Hz, 1.49 ppm).

Anal, calcd. for C2oH28N404 • HCI • 0.8 HzO: C, 54.68; H, 7.02; N, 12.75. Found: C, 54.67; H, 6.88; N, 12.70.

EXAMPLE 6. 1-(r4-hvdroxv-4-(ir(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H -benzimidazol-1 -vOcarbonvHaminolmethynpi peridin-1 -vllmethvllcvclohexanecarboxvlic acid Step 1. methyl 1-(iodomethvl)cvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 1 of Example 3 by using Methyl cyclohexanecarboxylate. 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 3.73 (3 H, s), 3.32 (2 H, s), 2.20-2.05 (2 H, m), 1.70-1.20 (8 H, m).

Step 2. Methyl 1 -r(4-{r(ferf-butoxvcarbonvl)amino1methvl!-4-hvdroxvpiperidine-1 -vDmethvllcvclohexanec 15 arboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 2 of Example 3 by using ferf-butyl [(4-hydroxypiperidin-4-yl)miethyl]carbamate (Chem. Pharm. Bull., 2002, 50 (9) 1187-1194) and methyl 1-(iodomethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylate (Step 1 of Example 6).

MS (ESI) m/z: 385 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 4.86 (1 H, br s), 3.66 (3 H, s), 3.11 (2 H, d, J=6.3 Hz), 2.55-2.45 (6 H, m), 2.03 (2 H, br d, J=10.4 Hz), 1.70-1.15 (18 H, m, including 9 H, s, 1.44 ppm).

Step 3. Methyl 1-IT4-(aminomethv0-4-hvdroxvpiperidin-1-vnmethvl)cvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 3 of Example 3. MS (ESI) m/z: 285 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 3.66 (3 H, s), 2.61 (1 H, br s), 2.57-2.45 (5 H, m), 2.35-2.11 (3 H, m), 2.04 (2 H, br d, J=11.5 Hz), 1.65-1.45 (6 H, m), 1.45-1.20 (4 H, m).

Step 4. Methyl 1-(r4-hvdroxv-4-({rC3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7/-/ -benzimidazol-1-vDcarbonvllamino) methvDpiperidin-1-vllmethvl)cvclohexanecarboxvlate Step 5. 1-(r4-hvdroxv-4-(Tf(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7/-/ -benzimidazol-1 -vncarbonvllaminolmethvl) piperidin-1-vllmethvl)cvclohexanecarboxvlic acid The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 5 of Example 3.

P551341 51 MS (ESI) m/z: 473 (M+H)+. m.p.: 184°C.

IR (KBr) v: 3437, 3273, 2943, 1732, 1688, 1601, 1533, 1479, 1452, 1371, 1134, 978, 762 cm"1. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6) 8 8.94 (1 H, t, J=5.6 Hz), 8.09 (1 H, d, J=7.7 Hz), 7.43 (1 H, d, J=7.7 Hz), 7.22 (1 H, t, 5 J= 7.8 Hz), 7.14 (1 H, t, J=7.4 Hz), 4.75-4.58 (1 H, m), 4.59 (1 H, s), 2.47 (2 H, s), 4.00-3.00 (6 H, m), 1.86 (2 H, d, J=11.4 Hz), 1.60-1.10 (18 H, m, including 6 H, d, J=6.9 Hz, 1.49 ppm).

Anal, calcd. for CasHseN^As • 0.5 H20: C, 62.35; H, 7.74; N, 11.63. Found: C, 62.52; H, 7.70; N, 11.66.

EXAMPLE 7: 1 -{r4-nT(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H -benzimidazol-1 -vOcarbonvnaminol methvl)piperidin-1 -vllmethvllcvclobutanecarboxvlic acid Step 1. methyl 1-r(4-(r(tert-butoxvcarbonv0amino1methvl)piperidin-1-v0methvncvclobutanecarboxvlate To a stirred mixture of terf-butyl (piperidin-4-ylmethyl)carbamate (12.8 g, 60 mmol) and methyl 15 1-formylcyclobutanecarboxylate (2.13 g, 15 mmol, Davis, Charles R.; Swenson, Dale C.; Burton, Donald J., J. Org. Chem., 1993, 58, 6843) in tetrahydrofuran was added acetic acid (8.6 mL, 150 mmol) at ambient temperature. After 30 min, sodium triacetoxyborohydride (12.7 g, 60 mmol) was added to the mixture. Then, the mixture was heated to 60°C for 2h. extracted with dichloromethane for 3 times. The combined organic phase was washed with brine, dried over MgS04 and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (1:1) to give 4.25 g (83%) of the title compound as a white solid.

MS (ESI) m/z: 341 (M+H+). 1H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 3.69 (3 H, s), 2.96 (2 H, t, J=6.2 Hz), 2.75 (2 H, d, J=11.4 Hz), 2.67 (2 H, s), 2.37-2.46 25 (2 H, m), 1.78-2.05 (6 H, m), 1.45-1.65 (2 H, m), 1.43 (9 H, s), 1.09-1.21 (2 H, m), Step 2. methyl 1-(r4-(aminomethvPpiperidin-1-vnmethvl)cvclobutanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 3 of Example 3 from methyl 1 -[(4-{[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl}piperidin-1 -yl)methyl]cyclobutanecarboxylate (step 1 of Example 7).

MS (ESI) m/z: 241 (M+H+). 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 3.67 (3 H, s), 2.72-2.78 (2 H, m), 2.66 (2 H, s), 2.54 (2 H, d, J=6.2 Hz), 2.34 -2.47 (2 H, m), 1.79-2.04 (8 H, m), 1.54-1.64 (2 H, m), 1.05-1.35 (3 H, m)..

Step 3. Methyl 1-IT4-flT(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7/-/ -benzimidazol-1-vOcarbonvnaminoknethvnpip eridin-l-vllmethvllcvclobutanecarboxvlate 35 The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 6 of Example 1 from 1 -isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2/-/-benzimidazol-2-one and methyl After cooling, the reaction mixture was poured into sat. NaHC03 aq. The aqueous layer was P551341 52 1-[(4-{[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl}piperidin-1-yl)methyl]cyclobutanecarboxylate (step 2 of Example 7). 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 8.92-8.86 (1 H, m), 8.28-8.24 (1 H, m), 7.20-7.12 (3 H, m), 4.75-4.62 (1 H, m), 3.70 (3 H, s), 3.27 (2 H, t, J=6.4 Hz), 2.85-2.72 (2 H, m), 2.68 (2 H, s), 2.47-2.35 (2 H, m), 2.05-1.92 (4 H, m), 5 1.92-1.76 (2 H, m), 1.71-1.61 (2 H, m), 1.56 (6 H, d, J=7.0 Hz), 1.32-1.17 (2 H, m), MS (ESI) m/z: 443 (M+H+).

Step 4. 1-(F4-(([(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7/-/ -benzimidazol-1 -vncarbonvllamino)methvhpiperidin-1 -vllmethvDcvclobutanecarboxvlic acid The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 5 of Example 3 10 from Methyl 1-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7/-/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl} cyclobutanecarboxylate (step 3 of Example 7).

IR (KBr) v: 3293, 2979,2937,2875, 1732, 1687, 1610, 1548, 1479, 1375, 1298, 1203,1099, 761, 704 cm"1 1 H-NMR (CDCI3) 5: 9.02-8.95 (1 H, m), 8.26-8.22 (1 H, m), 7.22-7.12 (3 H, m), 4.76-4.62 (1 H, m), 3.33 (2 15 H, t, J=6.2 Hz), 3.10-3.00 (2 H, m), 2.77 (2 H, s), 2.58-2.48 (2 H, m), 2.44-2.24 (2 H, m), 1.92-1.79 (2 H, s), I.99-1.80 (5 H, m), 1.56 (6 H, d, J=7.0 Hz), 1.50-1.33 (3 H, m).

MS (ESI) m/z: 429 (M+H+).

Anal. Calcd. for C23H32N404: C, 64.46; H, 7.53; N, 13.07. Found: C, 64.47; H, 7.43; N, 12.93.

Alternative route to synthesize 1 -IT4-ffl"(3-lsopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -vDcarbonvlla mino)methvltoiperidin-1 -vnmethvllcvclobutanecarboxvlic acid is described below.

Step 5. Ethvl 1 -r(4-flYferf-butoxvcarbonvnaminolmethvltoiperidin-l -vnmethvllcvclobutanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in the Step 10 of the Example 1 using [cyclobutylidene(ethoxy)methoxy](trimethyl)silane (Chem. Commun., 1971, 136-137) 25 instead of [methoxy(tetrahydro-4H-pyran-4-ylidene)methoxy](trimethyl)silane.

MS (ESI) m/z: 355 (M+H)+. 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 4.55 (1 H, br), 4.17 (2 H, q, J=7A Hz), 2.96 (2 H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 2.76 (2 H, d, J=11.4 Hz), 2.48-2.33 (2 H, m), 2.05-1.80 (6 H, m), 1.43 (9 H, s), 1.25 (3 H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 1.40-1.05 (7 H, m).

Step 6. 1-r(4-(r(ferf-butoxvcarbonvl)amino1methvl)piperidin-1-vl)methvn cyclobutanecarboxylic acid 30 A mixture of Ethyl 1-[(4-{[(ferf-butoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl}piperidin-1-yi) methyl]cyclobutanecarboxylate (4.2 g, 11.9 mmol, Step 5), 2N NaOH (18 mL) and EtOH (12 mL) was heated at 50 °C for 4 hrs. The resulting solution was cooled in ice bath and 2N HCI (ca 19 mL) was added until pH of the mixture was ca 5-6. The whole was extracted with CH2CI2 / 'PrOH (3:1, 30 mL x 3). Combined organic layer was dried (Na2S04) and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to give 3.8 g 35 (98%) of the titled compound as yellow solid.

Step 7.1-(r4-(aminomethvl)piperidin-1-vnmethvllcvclobutanecarboxvlic acid 4-methvlbenzenesulfonate 40 In a 500 mL, 3-necked round bottom flask under N2, a mixture of P551341 53 1-[(4-{[(ferf-butoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl}piperidin-1-yl)methyl]cyclobutane carboxylic acid (30 g, 92 mmol, Step 6) in THF (150 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 10 min. To this suspension, a solution of p-TsOH H20 (52.4 g, 276 mmol) in THF (150 mL) was added at room temperature. After stirring at that temp for 10 min, the resulting solution was heated under reflux condition for 3 hrs. After cooling down to 5 room temperature, Et3N (28.1 mL, 202 mmol) was added very slowly during the period of 1 h with seeding. The white precipitate was formed during the addition of Et3N. The resulting white suspension was stirred at room temperature for 6 h and it was filtered and the obtained solid was washed with THF (100 mL x 2), dried at 50 °C for 5 h to give 35 g (96 %) of the titled compound as white powder 1H-NMR (D20) 8 7.40 (2 H, d, J = 7.2 Hz), 7.07 (2 H, d, J = 7.2 Hz), 3.28-3.00 (4 H, m), 2.80-2.57 (4 H, m), 10 2.09 (3 H, s), 2.18-1.97 (2 H, m), 1.85-1.58 (8 H, m), 1.36-1.12 (2 H, m) mp: 210 °C Step 8. 1-IT4-({r(3-lsopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -vOcarbonvnamino) methvlbiperidin-1-vllmethyDcvclobutanecarboxvlic acid A mixture of 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2/-/-benzimidazol-2-one (486 mg, 2.8 mmol) and chloroformic acid 15 4-nitrophenyl ester (556 mg, 2.8 mmol) in CH2CI2 (10 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 5 min. To this mixture, Et3N (0.84 mL, 6.1 mmol) was added slowly and this mixture became a solution. This solution was added to a mixture of 1-{[4-(aminomethyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl}cyclobutanecarboxylic acid 4-methylbenzene sulfonate (1.1 g, 2.8 mmol, Step 7) in CH2CI2 (5 mL) at room temperature. After stirring for 10 min, Et3N (0.38 mL, 2.8 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature 20 for 2 hr. This mixture was washed with 0.5 N HCI aq (10 mL) and saturated NaHC03 aq (10 mL) then the organic layer was concentrated. To the residue, saturated NaHC03 aq (15 mL) and heptane (15 mL) was added at room temperature and it was stirred for 6 hrs at that temperature. Solid was observed and this mixture was filtered. The obtained solid was washed with H20 and heptane. After drying, crude material was obtained (1.0 g, 82%) as white solid. This crude material (4.0 g) was purified by recrystallization from 25 toluene (36 mL) to give 2.6 g of the titled compound (66 %) as white solid. mp. 173°C PXRD (20(+/-O.1): 10.8, 16.9, 18.9, 26.5) EXAMPLE 8: AM{1-(2-oxvcarbonvl-2-methvlpropvnpiperidin-4-vlknethvn-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H-benzi midazole-1 -carboxamide Step 1. tert-Butvl R1-(2-benzvloxvcarbonvl-2-methvlpropvltoiperidin-4-vl}methvncarbamate To a stirred solution of terf-butyl (piperidin-4-ylmethyl)carbamate (38.8 g, 181 mmol) in 35 A/,A/-dimethylformamide (100 mL) was added benzyl 3-chloropivalate {14.2 g, 124 mmol, prepared from 3-chloropivaloyl chloride (25.6 g, 165 mmol) and benzyl alcohol (19.6 g, 181 mmol), ethyldiisopropylamine P551341 54 (64.0 g, 495 mmol) and sodium iodide (27.1 g, 181 mmol) at ambient temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at 120 °C for 14 h. The volatile components were removed by evaporation and the resulting residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (1:1) to give 640 mg (1%) of the title compound as a pale yellow oil.

MS (ESI) m/z: 405 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 7.43-7.23 (5 H, m), 5.10 (2 H, s), 4.58 (1 H, br t), 2.95 (2 H, m), 2.71 (2 H, m), 2.46 (2 H, br s), 2.06 (2 H, m), 1.57-1.36 (3 H, m), 1.44 (9 H, s), 1.12 (2 H, m), 1.17 (6 H, s).

Step 2. A/-(f1-(2-benzvloxvcarbonvl-2-methvlpropvDpiperidin-4-vllmethvD-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7 /-/-benzimidazole-1 -carboxamide 10 To a stirred mixture of 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 2870-2880) (411 mg, 2.33 mmol) and triethylamine (1.00 mL, 7.17 mmol) in dichloromethane (20.0 mL) was added 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate (470 mg, 2.33 mmol) at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred for 2 h at room temperature. To the mixture was added a suspension of 1-(2-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-methylpropyl)-4-aminomethylpiperidine hydrochloride [prepared from 15 concentration of a mixture of ferf-butyl [{1-(2-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-methylpropyl)piperidin-4-yl}methyl]carbamate (step 1 of Example 1) (640 mg, 1.49 mmol) and 10% HCI in MeOH (20.0 mL)] and triethylamine (1.00 mL, 7.17 mmol) in dichloromethane (5.00 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred for 13 h at room temperature and 0.5 M NaOH aq. was added to the mixture. The mixture was extracted with dichloromethane. The extracts were washed with 0.5 M NaOH aq. and brine, dried over MgS04 and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by preparative thin layer chromatography (silica gel, eluting with dichloromethane /methanol (10 :1)) to give 508 mg (63%) of the title compound as a pale yellow oil.

MS (ESI) m/z: 507 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 8.89 (1 H, br t, J = 5.7 Hz), 8.26 (1 H, m), 7.43-7.05 (8 H, m), 5.10 (2 H, s), 4.70 (1 H, 25 septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.26 (2 H, m), 2.75 (2 H, m), 2.48 (2 H, br s), 2.11 (2 H, m), 1.61 (2 H, m), 1.56 (6 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz), 1.52 (1 H, m), 1.26 (2 H, m), 1.18 (6 H, s).

Step 3. A/-((1-(2-oxvcarbonvl-2-methvlpropvltoiperidin-4-vl)methvP-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7/-/-ben zimidazole-1 -carboxamide A mixture of /V-({1-(2-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-methylpropyl)piperidin-4-yl}methyl)-3-isopropyl-2 30 -oxo-2,3-dihydro-fH-benzimidazole-1 -carboxamide (step.2 of Example z) (418 mg, 0.825 mmol) and 20% Pd(OH)2/C (58.0 mg) in methanol (80 mL) was stirred under an atmosphere of hydrogen gas at room temperature for 12 h. The catalyst was filtered off on a pad of Celite, and the filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure. Recrystallization of the resulting solid with hexane-CH2Cl2 afforded a colorless solid 285 mg (84%) as the titled compound.

MS (ESI) m/z: 417 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (DMSO-de) 8 8.80 (1 H,brt, J = 5.8 Hz), 8.05(1 H, m), 7.42 (1 H, m), 7.20 (1 H, m), 7.12(1 H, m), 4.65 (1 H, septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.20 (2 H, m), 2.85 (2 H, m), 2.44 (2 H, br s), 2.18 (2 H, m), 1.61 (2 H, m), 1.50 (1 H, m), 1.47 (6 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz), 1.20 (2 H, m), 1.04 (6 H, s). The signal which correspond to carboxylic acid was not observed. 40 Anal, calcd. for C22H32N404 • 0.1 H20: C, 63.17; H, 7.76; N, 13.39. Found: C, 62.78; H, 7.74; N, 13.11.

P551341 55 EXAMPLE 9: AMU -(2-tetrazole-2-methvlpropv0piperidin-4-vl}methvl)-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-'/M-benzimid azole-1 -carboxamide Step 1. 2-benzvl-a.a-dimethvl-2/-/-tetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethvl ester To a stirred mixture of a,a-dimethyltetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethyl ester (J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 2354-2366.) (6.87 g, 37.3 mmol) and K2C03 (12.3 g, 89.0 mmol) in acetone (200 mL) was added benzyl bromide (4.45 mL, 37.4 mmol) at ambient temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at 50 °C for 18 10 h and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (10:1) to give 6.14 g (60%) of the title compound as a colorless oil.

MS (ESI) m/z: 275 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 7.45-7.23 (5 H, m), 5.73 (2 H, s), 4.11 (2 H, q, J = 7.2 Hz), 1.70 (6 H, s), 1.13 (3 H, t, J = 15 7.2 Hz).

Step 2. 2-benzvl-a.a-dimethvl-2/-/-tetrazole-5-acetaldehvde To a stirred mixture of 2-benzyl-a,a-dimethyl-2AV-tetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethyl ester acetaldehyde (step 1 of Example 9) (6.14 g, 22.4 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 mL) at-78 °C was added DIBAL (1.0 M in toluene, 50.0 mL, 50.0 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at -78 °C for 4 h. To the reaction 20 mixture was added DIBAL (1.0 M in toluene, 25.0 mL, 25.0 mmol) and the resulting mixture was stirred at -78 °C for 8 h. To the mixture were added 2 M aqueous HCI (100 mL) and saturated aqueous NH4CI (20 mL). The organic layer was separated, dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (10:1) to give 3.45 g (67%) of the title compound as a colorless oil.

MS (ESI) m/z: 231 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 9.68 (1 H, s), 7.45-7.23 (5 H, m), 5.74 (2 H, s), 1.56 (6 H, s).

Step 3. ferf-Butvl r(1-(2-(2-benzvltetrazole)-2-methvlpropvlbiperidin-4-vl}methvllcarbamate To a stirred solution of 2-benzyl-a,a-dimethyl-2W-tetrazole-5-acetaldehyde (step 2 of Example 9) (1.28 g, 5.56 mmol) and terf-butyl (piperidin-4-ylmethyl)carbamate (2.40 g, 11.2 mmol) in tetrahyrdofuran 30 (300 mL) were added NaBH(OAc)3 (5.90 g, 27.8 mmol) and AcOH (1.67 g, 27.8 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 60°C for 9 h and concentrated under reduced pressure. To the stirred residual oil and solid were added saturated aqueous NaHC03 and dichloromethane. The organic layer was separated, dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (1:1) to give 830 35 mg (35%) of the title compound as a colorless oil.

MS (ESI) m/z: 429 (M+H)+.

P551341 56 1H NMR (CDCI3) 6 7.43-7.23 (5 H, m), 5.72 (2 H, s), 4.50 (1 H, br t), 2.91 (2 H, m), 2.58 (2 H, br s), 2.49 (2 H, m), 2.05 (2 H, m), 1.68-1.14 (3 H, m), 1.44 (9 H, s), 1.38 (6 H, s), 1.00 (2 H, m).

Step 4. /V-({1-(2-(2-benzvltetrazole)-2-methvlpropvDpiperidin-4-vl)methviy-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-W-benzimidazole-1 -carboxamide 5 The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in step 2 of Example 8 from 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2/-/-benzimidazol-2-one and ferf-Butyl [{1-(2-(2-benzyltetrazole)-2-methylpropyl)piperidin-4-yl}methyl]carbamate (step 3 of Example 9).

MS (ESI) m/z: 531 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCI3) 8 8.86 (1 H, br t, J = 5.7 Hz), 8.26 (1 H, m), 7.43-7.08 (8 H, m), 5.72 (2 H, s), 4.70 (1 H, 10 septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.21 (2 H, m), 2.59 (2 H, br s), 2.51 (2 H, m), 2.07 (2 H, m), 1.65-1.32 (3 H, m), 1.56 (6 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz), 1.38 (6 H, s ), 1.10 (2 H, m).

Step 5. A/-((1-(2-methvl -2-tetrazolepropvltoiperidin-4-vl)methvh-3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-,//-/-benzi midazole-1 -carboxamide The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 3 of Example 8 15 from /V-({1-(2-(2-benzyltetrazole)-2-methylpropyl)piperidin-4-yl}methyl)-3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro -•//-/-benzimidazole-1-carboxamide (step 4 of Example 9).

MS (ESI) m/z: 441 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (DMSO-cfe) 8 8.77 (1 H, br t, J = 5.9 Hz), 8.04 (1 H, m), 7.40 (1 H, m), 7.18 (1 H, m), 7.11 (1 H, m), 4.63 (1 H, septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.15 (2 H, m), 2.54 (2 H, brs), 2.43 (2 H, m), 2.10 (2 H, m), 1.60-1.25 (3 H, 20 m), 1.45 (6 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz), 1.32 (6 H, s ), 1.14 (2 H, m). The signal which correspond to tetrazole was not observed.

Anal, calcd. for C22H32N804 • 0.95 H20: C, 57.74; H, 7.47; N, 24.48. Found: C, 58.03; H, 7.43; N, 24.10. EXAMPLE 10: A/-(f1 -(2-cvclopentvl-2-tetrazoleethv0piperidin-4-vl}methv0-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7/f-benzi midazole-1 -carboxamide Step 1. g-cvclopentvltetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethvl ester To a stirred solution of 1-cyano-1-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid, ethyl ester (Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1999, 9, 369-374.) (6.19 g, 37.0 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (100 mL) was added "Bu3SnN3 (12.3 g, 37.0 mmol) at ambient temperature. The resulting mixture was refluxed for 15 h and concentrated under reduced pressure. To the resulting residue was added 4 M HCI in 1,4-dioxane (50 mL) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting oil was washed twice with hexane to give crude product of the title compound as a yellow oil, which was used for the next step without further purification.

Step 2. 2-benzvl-a-cvclopentvl-2/-/-tetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethvl ester The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 1 of Example 9 P551341 57 from a-cyclopentyltetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethyl ester (step 1 of Example 10).

MS (ESI) m/z: 301 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 7.45-7.23 (5 H, m), 5.73 (2 H, s), 4.11 (2 H, q, J = 7.1 Hz), 2.55-2.35 (4 H, m), 1.88-1.56 (4 H, m), 1.12 (3 H, t, J = 7.1 Hz).

Step 3. 2-benzvl-a-cvclopentvl-2/-/-tetrazole-5-acetaldehvde The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 2 of Example 9 from 2-benzyl-a-cyclopentyl-2H-tetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethyl ester (step 2 of Example 10).

MS (ESI) m/z: 257 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 9.71 (1 H, s), 7.50-7.30 (5 H, m), 5.74 (2 H, s), 2.45-2.18 (4 H, m), 1.85-1.66 (4 H, m). 10 Step 4. ferf-Butvl f(1-(2-(2-benzvltetrazole)-2- cvclopentvlethvQpiperidin-4-vHmethvllcarbamate The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 3 of Example 9 from 2-benzyl-a-cyclopentyl-2/-/-tetrazole-5-acetaldehyde (step 3 of Example 10).

MS (ESI) m/z: 455 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 7.43-7.23 (5 H, m), 5.72 (2 H, s), 4.67 (1 H, br t), 2.88 (2 H, m), 2.66 (2 H, br s), 2.48 (2 15 H, m), 2.24 (2 H, m), 1.93 (2 H, m), 1.83 (2 H, m), 1.78-1.48 (4 H, m), 1.43 (9 H, s), 1.37 (2 H, m), 1.23 (1 H, m), 0.94 (2 H, m).

Step 5. A/-(f1-(2-(2-benzvltetrazole)-2-cvclopentvlethvnpiperidin-4-vl)methvh-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdr o-7/-/-benzimidazole-1-carboxamide The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in step 2 of Example 8 20 from 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one and terf-Butyl [{1-(2-(2-benzyltetrazole)-2-cyclopentylethyl)piperidin-4-yl}methyl]carbamate (step 4 of Example 10).

MS (ESI) m/z: 557 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 8.85 (1 H, br t, J = 5.5 Hz), 8.26 (1 H, m), 7.43-7.08 (8 H, m), 5.73 (2 H, s), 4.70 (1 H, septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.19 (2 H, m), 2.70 (2 H, brs), 2.53 (2 H, m), 2.25 (2 H, m), 2.15-1.35 (11 H, m), 1.56 (6 25 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz), 1.07 (2 H, m).

Step 6. A/-((1-(2-cvclopentvl-2-tetrazoleethvnpiperidin-4-vl}methvD-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-ffl-ben zimidazole-1 -carboxamide The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 3 of Example 8 from /V-({1-(2-(2-benzyltetrazole)-2-cyclopentylethyl)piperidin-4-yl}methyl)-3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro 30 -W-benzimidazole-1-carboxamide (step 5 of Example 10).

MS (ESI) m/z: 467 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (DMSO-cfe) 8 8.76 (1 H, br t, J = 5.9 Hz), 8.04 (1 H, m), 7.40 (1 H, m), 7.18 (1 H, m), 7.11 (1 H, m), 4.64 (1 H, septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.14 (2 H, m), 2.63 (2 H, br s), 2.54 (2 H, m), 2.08 (2 H, m), 2.00 (2 H, m), 1.76 (2 H, m), 1.68-0.96 (9 H, m), 1.46 (6 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz). The signal which correspond to tetrazole was 35 not observed.

Anal, calcd. for C24H34N804 • 1.0 HzO • 0.5 CH2CI2: C, 55.83; H, 7.08; N, 21.26. Found: C, 55.71; H, 7.48; N, 20.86.

EXAMPLE 11: 40 A/-(f1-(2-cvclohexvl-2-tetrazoleethvhpiperidin-4-vl>methvn-3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H-benzi P551341 58 midazole-1 -carboxamide ~-N Step 1. g-cvclohexvltetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethvl ester The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 1 of Example 10 5 from 1-cyano-1-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, ethyl ester (Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1999, 9, 369-374.).

Step 2. 2-benzvl-g-cvclohexvl-2/-/-tetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethvl ester The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 1 of Example 9 from g-cyclohexyltetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethyl ester (step 1 of Example 11).

MS (ESI) m/z: 315(M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 7.45-7.23 (5 H, m), 5.75 (2 H, s), 4.11 (2 H, q, J = 7.1 Hz), 2.36-2.16 (4 H, m), 1.70-1.44 (6 H, m), 1.12(3 H, t, J = 7.1 Hz).

Step 3. 2-benzvl-g-cvclohexvl-2/-/-tetrazole-5-acetaldehvde The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 2 of Example 9 from 2-benzyl-a-cyclohexyl-2/-/-tetrazole-5-acetic acid, ethyl ester (step 2 of Example 11).

MS (ESI) m/z: 271 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 9.55 (1 H, s), 7.45-7.25 (5 H, m), 5.75 (2 H, s), 2.34-2.16 (2 H, m), 2.14-1.94 (2 H, m), 1.70-1.32 (6 H, m).

Step 4. ferf-Butvl ni-(2-(2-benzvltetrazoleV2- cvclohexvlethvltoiperidin-4-vl)methvncarbamate The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 3 of Example 9 20 from 2-benzyl-g-cyclohexyl-2/-/-tetrazole-5-acetaldehyde (step 3 of Example 11).

MS (ESI) m/z: 469 (M+H)\ 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 7.43-7.23 (5 H, m), 5.74 (2 H, s), 4.55 (1 H, brt), 2.87 (2 H, m), 2.62-1.05 (17 H, m), 2.49 (2 H, br s), 1.43 (9 H, s), 0.93 (2 H, m).

Step 5. N-({1 -(2-(2-benzvltetrazole1-2-cvclohexvlethvnpiperidin-4-vl)methvl)-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdr 25 o-7H-benzimidazole-1-carboxamide The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in step 2 of Example 8 from 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2/-/-benzimidazol-2-one and ferf-Butyl [{1-(2-(2-benzyltetrazole)-2-cyclohexylethyl)piperidin-4-yl}methyl]carbamate (step 4 of Example 11).

MS (ESI) m/z: 571 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 8.86 (1 H, br t, J = 5.7 Hz), 8.26 (1 H, m), 7.43-7.08 (8 H, m), 5.73 (2 H, s), 4.70 (1 H, septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.18 (2 H, m), 2.51 (2 H, brs), 2.45-1.15 (17 H, m), 1.56 (6 H, d,J = 7.0 Hz), 1.04 (2 H, m).

Step 6. A/-((1-(2-cvclohexvl-2-tetrazoleethvQpiperidin-4-vllmethvl)-3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7H-benz imidazole-1 -carboxamide The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 3 of Example 8 P551341 59 from /V-({1-(2-(2-benzyltetrazole)-2-cyclohexylethyl)piperidin-4-yl}methyl)-3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro -•/H-benzimidazole-1 -carboxamide (step 5 of Example 11).

MS (ESI) m/z: 481 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6) 8 8.76 (1 H, br t, J = 5.9 Hz), 8.04 (1 H, m), 7.41 (1 H, m), 7.18 (1 H, m), 7.12 (1 H, m), 5 4.64 (1 H, septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.14 (2 H, m), 2.38 (2 H, br s), 2.33-2.10 (4 H, m), 1.98 (2 H, m), 1.65-0.96 (13 H, m), 1.46 (6 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz). The signal which correspond to tetrazole was not observed.

EXAMPLE 12: 1 -f4-((f(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 H-benzimidazol-1 -vDcarbonvHamino'lmethvl)piperidin-1 -vile 10 vclohexanecarboxvlic acid hydrochloride Step 1. tert-butvl 1-(4-oxopiperidin-1-vncvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 3 of Example 1 by using tert- butyl 1-aminocyclohexanecarboxylate (Kenner et al., J.Chem.Soc.,. 1965, 6239,6243.). 15 MS (ESI) m/z: 282 (M+H+). 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 2.92 (4 H, t, J=5.9 Hz), 2.41 (4 H, t, J=6.0 Hz), 2.01-1.89 (2 H, m), 1.76-1.62 (4 H, m), 1.45 (9 H, s), 1.53-1.33 (4 H, m).

Step 2. tert-butvl 1-(4-cvanopiperidin-1-v0cvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 4 of Example 1 by 20 using terf-butyl 1-(4-oxopiperidin-1-yl)cyclohexanecarboxylate.

MS (ESI) m/z: 293 (M+H+). 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 2.94-2.85 (2 H, m), 2.67-2.56 (1 H, m), 2.55-2.42 (2 H, m), 1.96-1.72 (6 H, m), 1.70-1.23 (8 H, m), 1.48 (9 H, s).

Step 3. terf-butvl 1-r4-(aminomethvlbiperidin-1-vllcvclohexanecarboxvlate 25 The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 5 of Example 1 by using terf-butyl 1-(4-cyanopiperidin-1-yl)cyclohexanecarboxylate. 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 3.07-3.18 (2 H, m), 2.55 (2 H, d, J=6.4 Hz), 2.15-1.94 (4 H, m), 1.47 (9 H, s), 1.76-1.19 (13 H, m), 1.19-1.03(2 H, m),.

MS (ESI) m/z: 297 (M+H+).

Step 4. terf-butvl 1-r4-((r(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-7AV-benzimidazol-1-vl)carbonvllamino)methvnpip eridin-1-vllcvclohexanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 6 of Example 1 by using 1 -isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2/-/-benzimidazol-2-one and terf-butyl 1 -(4-cyanopiperidin-1 -yl)cyclohexanecarboxylate. 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 8.97-8.86 (1 H, m), 8.29-8.24 (1 H, m), 7.21-7.11 (3 H, m), 4.78-4.64 (1 H, m), 3.29 (2 P551341 60 H, t, J=6.2 Hz), 3.19-3.09 (2 H, m), 2.16-2.05 (2 H, m), 2.04-1.93 (2 H, m), 1.83-1.73 (2 H, m), 1.56 (6 H, d, J=7.0 Hz), 1.46 (9 H, s), 1.70-1.39 (2 H, m), 1.38-1.16 (7 H, m).

MS (ESI) m/z: 499 (M+H+).

Step 5. 1 -r4-((r(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2,3-dihvdro-ffl-benzimidazol-1 -vl)carbonvllaminoknethvDpiperidin-1 -vll 5 cvclohexanecarboxvlic acid hydrochloride To a stirred solution of ferf-butyl 1-[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro--//-/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]cyclohex anecarboxylate (400mg, 0.802mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL, 65.2 mmol) at room temperature. After 12h, the volatile components were removed under reduced pressure. To the residue was added 4N HCI in dioxane (5.0 mL) was added and stirred for 10 min. Then, the volatile was removed under reduced pressure.

The residue was precipitated in diethylether/ethanol to give 370 mg of the titled compound as a colorless powder.. 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d6) 8: 8.94-8.82 (1 H, m), 7.45 (1 H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 7.27-7.10 (2 H, m), 4.73-4.61 (1 H, m), 15 3.71-3.19 (7 H, m), 2.98-2.81 (2 H, m), 2.38-2.26 (2 H, m), 1.98-1.53 (10 H, m), 1.49 (6 H, d, J=7.0 Hz), I.38-1.03 (2 H, m), MS (ESI) m/z: 443 (M+H+).

Anal. Calcd. for C24H35N404-2H20: C, 55.97; H, 7.63; N, 10.88. Found: C, 55.61; H, 7.51; N, 10.48. 20 EXAMPLE 13: 2-ethvl-2-iF4-NT(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2,3-dihvdro-1 H-benzimidazol-1-vncarbonvnaminolmethvhpiperi din-1-vllmethvllbutanoic acid Step 1. Methyl 2-r(4-fr(ferf-butoxvcarbonvl)amino1methvl}piperidin-1-vnmethvH-2-ethvlbutanoate 25 The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 1 of Example 7 by using methyl 2-ethyl-2-formylbutanoate (Okano, K.; Morimoto, T.; Sekiya, M. Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications, 1985, 3,119) 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 4.62-4.48 (1 H, br), 3.65 (3 H, s), 3.01-2.93 (2 H, m), 2.73-2.65 (2 H, m), 2.46 (2 H, s), 2.13-2.02 (2 H, m), 1.73-1.50 (6 H, m), 1.44 (9 H, s), 1.28-1.10 (3 H, m), 0.76 (6 H, t, J=7.5 Hz) 30 MS (ESI) m/z: 357 (M+H+).

Step 2. Methyl 2-ethvl-2-(r4-((f(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -vDcarbonvHaminolmeth vltoiperidin-l-vllmethvllbutanoate The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 2 of Example 8 from 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one and Methyl 35 2-[(4-{[(ferf-butoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl}piperidin-1-yl)methyl]-2-ethylbutanoate (step 1 of Example 13). 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 8.92-8.86 (1 H, m), 8.28-8.23 (1 H, m), 7.20-7.12 (3 H, m), 4.77-4.61 (1 H, m), 3.65 (3 P551341 61 H, s), 3.27 (2 H, t, J=6.4 Hz), 2.75-2.66 (2 H, m), 2.47 (2 H, s), 2.16-2.05 (2 H, m), 1.72-1.49 (10 H, m), I.38-1.21 (5 H, m), 0.76 (6 H, d, J=7.5 Hz) MS (ESI) m/z: 459 (M+H+).

Step 3. 2-ethvl-2-(r4-(fr(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -vDcarbonvnaminolmethvltoiper 5 idin-1-vllmethvl)butanoic acid The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 5 of Example 3 from Methyl 2-ethyl-2-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1/-/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl] methyl}butanoate (step 3 of Example 13). 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 8.03-8.94 (1 H, m), 8.27-8.21 (1 H, m), 7.20-7.12 (3 H, m), 4.76-4.63 (1 H, m), 3.34 (2 H, t, J=6.2 Hz), 3.16-3.05 (2 H, m), 2.60 (2 H, s), 2.55-2.38 (2 H, m), 1.94-1.38 (2 H, m), 1.80-1.38 (15 H, m), 0.88 (6 H, d, J=7.5 Hz) MS (ESI) m/z: 445 (M+H+).

Anal. Calcd. for C24H37N404CI • 0.2H20: C, 59.48; H, 7.78; N, 11.56. Found: C, 59.38; H, 7.74; N, 11.29.

EXAMPLE 14: 1 -r4-KK3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 H-benzimidazol-1 -vl)carbonvHamino)methvl)piperidin-1 -vile vclopentanecarboxvlic acid hydrochloride Step 1. terf-butvl 1-(4-oxopiperidin-1-vl)cvclopentanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 3 of Example 1 by using terf-butyl 1-aminocyclopentanecarboxylate (WO 9105796) MS (ESI) m/z: 268(M+H+). 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 2.93 (4 H, t, J=5.9 Hz), 2.41 (4 H, t, J=6.0 Hz), 2.39-2.26 (2 H, m), 1.85-1.54 (8 H, m), 25 1.46 (9 H,s).

Step 2. terf-butvl 1 -(4-cvanopiperidin-1 -vDcvclopentanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 4 of Example 1 by using terf-butyl 1-(4-oxopiperidin-1-yl)cyclopentanecarboxylate.

MS (ESI) m/z: 279 (M+H+). 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 2.94-2.82 (2 H, m), 2.67-2.49 (3 H, m), 2.33-2.21 (2 H, m), 1.96-1.72 (5 H, m), 1.70-1.40 (6 H, m), 1.48 (9 H, s).

Step 3. terf-butvl 1-r4-(aminomethvQpiperidin-1-vncvclopentanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 5 of Example 1 by using terf-butyl 1 -(4-cyanopiperidin-1 -yl)cyclopentanecarboxylate. 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 8: 3.07-2.95 (2 H, m), 2.60-2.52 (2 H, m), 2.41-1.19 (4 H, m), 1.76-1.62 (4 H, m), 1.61-1.40 (12 H, m), 1.19-1.03 (2 H, m).

P551341 62 MS (ESI) m/z: 283 (M+H+).

Step 4. ferf-butvl 1 -r4-(fr(3-isopropvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -vDcarbonvnaminolmethvhpip eridin-1-vncvclopentanecarboxvlate The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 6 of Example 1 by 5 using 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2/-/-benzimidazol-2-one and ferf-butyl 1-[4-(aminomethyl)piperidin-1-yl]cyclopentanecarboxylate. 1 H-NMR (CDCIs) 5: 8.96-8.84 (1 H, m), 8.29-8.22 (1 H, m), 7.21-7.11 (3 H, m), 4.77-4.56 (1 H, m), 3.29 (2 H, t, J=6.2 Hz), 3.07-2.94 (2 H, m), 2.37-2.17 (4 H, m), 1.82-1.63 (6 H, m), 1.56 (6 H, d, J=7.1 Hz), 1.46 (9 H, s), 1.61-1.49 (2 H, m), 1.38-1.16 (3 H, m).

MS (ESI) m/z: 485 (M+H+).

Step 5. 1 -r4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -vncarbonvllaminolmethvl)piperidin-1 -vll cvclopentanecarboxvlic acid hydrochloride The title compound was prepared by a method similar to that shown in the Step 5 of Example 12 by using terf-butyl 1 -[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl) 15 piperidin-1 -yl]cyclopentanecarboxylate. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) 8: 8.91-8.82 (1 H, m), 8.07 (1 H, d, J=7.5 Hz), 7.45 (1 H, d, J=7.7 Hz), 7.26-7.09 (2 H, m), 4.74-4.56 (1 H, m), 3.60-3.00 (6 H, m), 2.26-2.10 (4 H, m), 1.96-1.57 (9 H, m), 1.49 (6 H, d, J=7.0 Hz). MS (ESI) m/z: 429 (M+H+).

Anal. Calcd. for C23H33N404CI: C, 59.41; H, 7.15; N, 12.05. Found: C, 59.14; H, 7.22; N, 11.82.

EXAMPLE 15: AMU -r(4-Oxvcarbonvltetrahvdro-2A/-pvran-4-vl)methvll-4-fluoropiperidin-4-vlTmethvl)-3-isopropvl-2 -oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1 H-benzimidazole-1 -carboxamide Step 1. Benzyl tetrahvdropyran-4-vl-carboxvlate A mixture of tetrahydropyran-4-yl-carboxylic acid (910 mg, 6.99 mmol) and SOCI2 (5.0 mL) was stirred for 1 h at 60 °C and concentrated in vacuo. To the residue were added benzyl alcohol (1.52 g, 14.1 mmol) and tetrahydrofuran (5.0 mL) at ambient temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred for 13 h at ambient temperature and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by preparative thin 30 layer chromatography (silica gel, eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (2:1)) to give 1.08 g (70%) of the title compound as a pale yellow oil. 1H NMR (CDCIs) 8 7.45-7.25 (5 H, m), 5.13 (2 H, s), 3.95 (2 H, m), 3.42 (2 H, m), 2.59 (1 H, m), 1.94-1.68 (4 H, m).

Step 2. Benzyl 4-iodomethvltetrahvdropyran-4-vl-carboxvlate 35 The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in step 1 of Example 3 from benzyl tetrahydropyran-4-yl-carboxylate (step 1 of Example 15).

P551341 63 1H NMR (CDCU) 5 7.45-7.25 (5 H, m), 5.19 (2 H, s), 3.80 (2 H, m), 3.47 (2 H, m), 3.31 (2 H, s), 2.18 (2 H, m), 1.56 (2 H, m).

Step 3. A/-benzovl-4-terf-butoxvcarbonvlaminomethvl-4-fluoropiperidine A mixture of W-benzoyl-4-aminomethyl-4-fluoropiperidine (J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42,1648-1660.) 5 (3.54 g, 15.0 mmol) and di-ferf-butyl dicarbonate (4.91 g, 22.5 mmol) in methanol (80 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 15 h and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was chromatographed on a column of silica gel eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (1 :1) to give 4.52 g (89%) of the title compound as a colorless oil.

MS (ESI) m/z: 337 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCI3) 5 7.55-7.25 (5 H, m), 5.16 (1 H, br t, J = 6.3 Hz), 4.51 (1 H, m), 3.62 (1 H, m), 3.55-3.00 (4 H, m), 2.10-1.25 (4 H, m), 1.43 (9 H, s).

Step 4. 4-ferf-Butoxvcarbonvlaminomethvl-4-fluoropiperidine A mixture of /V-benzoyl-4-ferf-butoxycarbonylaminomethyl-4-fluoropiperidine (step 3 of Example 15) (4.42 g, 13.1 mmol), NaOH (2.62 g, 65.5 mmol), H20 (9.00 mL) and ethanol (90.0 mL) was refluxed for 15 15 h and concentrated in vacuo. To the resulting residue were added water and chloroform. The organic layer was separated, dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. Recrystallization of the resulting solid with hexane-CH2CI2 afforded a colorless solid 1.77 g (58%) as the titled compound.

MS (ESI) m/z: 233 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCIs) 5 4.93 (1 H, m), 3.30 (2 H, dd, J = 21.5, 6.3 Hz), 2.91 (4 H, m), 1.88-1.34 (4 H, m), 1.45 (9 H, s), The signal which correspond to amino group was not observed.

Step 5. terf-Butvl ({1-IY4-benzvloxvcarbonvltetrahvdro-2f/-pvran-4-vnmethvn-4-fluoropiperidin-4-vl)methv Hcarbamate The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in step 2 of Example 3 25 from 4-ferf-butoxycarbonylaminomethyl-4-fluoropiperidine (step 4 of Example 15) and benzyl 4-iodomethyltetrahydropyran-4-yl-carboxylate (step 2 of Example 15).

MS (ESI) m/z: 465 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CDCI3) 5 7.45-7.25 (5 H, m), 5.16 (2 H, s), 4.78 (1 H, brt), 3.80 (2 H, m), 3.46 (2 H, m), 3.23 (2 H, dd, J = 21.9, 6.3 Hz), 2.64-2.32 (4 H, m), 2.52 (2 H, s), 2.08 (2 H, m), 1.90-1.35 (6 H, m), 1.45 (9 H, s). 30 Step 6. A/-((1-r(4-Benzvloxvcarbonvltetrahvdro-2H-pvran-4-vl')methvll-4-fluoropiperidin-4-vl)methvn-3-iso propvl-2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1/V-benzimidazole-1-carboxamide The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in step 6 of Example 1 from 1-isopropyl-1,3-dihydro-2W-benzimidazol-2-one and ferf-Butyl ({1-[(4-benzyloxycarbonyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)methyl]-4-fluoropiperidin-4-yl}methyl)carbamate (step 35 5 of Example 15).

MS (ESI) m/z: 567 (M+H+). 1H NMR (CDCI3) 8 9.08 (1 H, br t, J = 6.0 Hz), 8.25 (1 H, m), 7.46-7.06 (8 H, m), 5.16 (2 H, s), 4.71 (1 H, septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.80 (2 H, m), 3.54 (2 H, dd, J = 20.9, 6.0 Hz), 3.46 (2 H, m), 2.65-2.36 (4 H, m), 2.53 (2 H, br s), 2.08 (2 H, m), 1.88-1.44 (6 H, m), 1.56 (6 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz). 40 Step 7. A/-((1-r(4-Oxvcarbonvltetrahvdro-2/-/-pvran-4-vOmethvn-4-fluoropiperidin-4-vl)methvn-3-isopropvl-

Claims (3)

WO 2005/123718 P551341 64 PCT/IB2005/001825 2-oxo-2.3-dihvdro-1H-benzimidazole-1 -carboxamide The title compound was prepared according to the procedure described in Step 3 of Example 1 from /V-({1-[(4-benzyloxycarbonyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)methyl]-4-fluoropiperidin-4-yl}methyl)-3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1A7-benzimidazole-1 -carboxamide (step 6 of Example 15). 5 MS (ESI) m/z: 477 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (CD3OD) 5 7.93 (1 H, m), 7.12 (1 H, m), 7.02 (1 H, m), 6.93 (1 H, m), 4.49 (1 H, septet, J = 7.0 Hz), 3.65-3.36 (6 H, m), 3.15-2.82 (4 H, m), 2.80 (2 H, br s), 1.98-1.70 (6 H, m), 1.35 (6 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz), 1.34 (2 H, m). The signals which correspond to amide and carboxylic acid were not observed. 10 All publications, including but not limited to, issued patents, patent applications, and journal articles, cited in this application are each herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the invention has been described above with reference to the disclosed embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the specific experiments detailed are only illustrative of 15 the invention. It should be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims. WO 2005/123718 P551341 65 PCT/IB2005/001825 The claimed invention is: 1. A compound of the formula: N„..RC (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein: 5 A is an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen substituents can be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3 to 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one 10 heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; R1 is an isopropyl group or a cyclopentyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group, a tetrazolyl group, a 5-oxo-1,2,4-oxadiazole-3-yl group or a 5-oxo-1,2,4-thiadiazole-3-yl group; and 15 m is the integer 1 or 2. 2. The compound or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; 20 R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein any 2 non-halogen substituents can be taken together with the 25 carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3 to 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2. 30 3. The compound or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is an alkylene group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, said alkylene group being substituted with 2 geminal WO 2005/123718 P551341 66 PCT/IB2005/001825 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy-alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy-alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein said geminal substituents can be taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 3- to 6-membered ring optionally containing at least one heteroatom selected 5 from N, O, and S; and m is the integer 2. 4. The compound or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 is an isopropyl group; 10 R2 is a hydrogen atom; R3 is a carboxy group or a tetrazolyl group; A is m is the integer 2. 15 5. The compound or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, as claimed in claim 4, wherein R1 is an isopropyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a hydroxy group; R3 is a carboxy group; 20 A is m is the integer 2. 25 6. The compound as claimed in claim 1, which is selected from: 4-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1/-/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]me thyl}tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxylic acid; 1-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1/-/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1-yl]me thyl}cyclohexanecarboxylic acid; 30 1 -{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1 -yl]me thyl}cyclopentanecarboxylic acid; 1 -{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1 /-/-benzimidazol-1 -yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperidin-1 -yl]me thyl}cyclopropanecarboxylic acid; 1-{[4-hydroxy-4-({[(3-isopropyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1/-/-benzimidazol-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl)piperi 35 din-1-yl]methyl}cyclohexanecarboxylic acid; Received at IPONZ on 24 August 2010 P551341 67

1-{[4-({[(3-isopropyl-

2-oxo-2,

3-dihydro-1 H-benzimidazol-1 -yl)carbonyl]amino}methyl) pi peridin-1-yl]me thyl}cyclobutanecarboxylic acid; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. 5 7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 8. A pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 7, further comprising another pharmacologically active agent. 10 9. The use of a therapeutically effective amount of the compound or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in the production of a medicament for the treatment of a condition mediated by 5-HT4 receptor activity, in a mammalian subject, including a human. 15 10. The use as claimed in claim 9, wherein said condition is gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal disease, gastric motility disorder, non-ulcer dyspepsia, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, dyspepsia, esophagitis, gastroesophageral disease, nausea, central nervous system disease, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive disorder, emesis, migraine, neurological disease, 20 pain, cardiovascular disorders, cardiac failure, heart arrhythmia, diabetes or apnea syndrome. 11. A compound according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying Examples thereof. 25 12. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying Examples thereof. 30 13. The use according to claim 9, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying Examples thereof.