Organic compounds as TRPM8 activators

1 . A method of modulating of transient receptor potential channel melastatin member 8 (TRPM8) comprising bringing the receptor into contact with a compound of formula (I), a salt or solvate thereof

wherein one of X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 is >N—C (O) R and the other two are independently selected from C, N, and O, with the proviso that not both of them are C, and wherein R is selected from C 1 -C 15 hydrocarbon residue optionally comprising one heteroatom selected from O and S; and

a) R1 is H; and B represents a monovalent residue (a)

or

b) R 1 is selected from

i) halogen,

ii) C 6 -C 10 aryl optionally substituted with up to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of:

halogen; OH (hydroxyl); C≡N (cyano); NO 2 (nitro);

C 1 -C 6 alky optionally comprising up to 5 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkyl comprising up to 3 OH groups;

C 2 -C 6 alkenyl;

C 1 -C 6 alkoxy optionally comprising up to 3 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkoxy C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl;

—C(O) R 10 wherein R 10 is selected from C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—OC(O) R 11 wherein R 11 is selected from H, and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—C(O) O—R 12 wherein R 12 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—(CH 2 ) m N (R 13 )R 14 wherein m is 0 or 1, R 13 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and —SO 2 R 15 wherein R 15 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 14 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and —SO 2 R 16 wherein R 16 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, or wherein R 13 and R 14 form together with the N atom to which they are attached morpholine, thiomorpholine, or 1,1-dioxothiomorpholine;

—SR 17 wherein R 17 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and

—S(O) 2 R 18 wherein R 18 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

with the proviso that when the aryl ring is substituted with two or more substituents, two substituents may form a cyclic ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, and

iii) C 5 -C 10 mono- or bicyclic heteroaryl wherein up to 2 C-atoms are replaced by a hetero atoms independently selected from sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, optionally substituted with up to four substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen; OH; C≡N; NO 2 ;

C 1 -C 6 alky optionally comprising up to 5 halogen atoms;

C 2 -C 6 alkenyl;

C 1 -C 6 alkoxy optionally comprising up to 3 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkoxy C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl;

—C(O)R 20 wherein R 20 is selected from C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—OC(O)R 21 wherein R 21 is selected from H, and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—C(O)O-R 22 wherein R 22 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—(CH 2 ) m N(R 23 )R 24 wherein m is 0 or 1, R 23 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and —SO 2 R 25 wherein R 25 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 24 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and —SO 2 R 26 wherein R 26 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, or wherein R 23 and R 24 form together with the N atom to which they are attached morpholine, thiomorpholine, or 1,1-dioxothiomorpholine;

—SR 27 wherein R 27 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and

—S(O) 2 R 28 wherein R 28 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and

B represents a monovalent residue (b)

wherein

R 4 , R 5 and R 6 form together with the carbon atom to which they are attached a hydrocarbon group optionally comprising up to five hetero atoms selected from O, N, S, and F; and

Z is either C, S or S(O).

2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the compound of formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of 1-(2-(1-propionyl-4-(p-tolyl)-1H- imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl) propan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-isobutyryl-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-y1) piperidin-1-yl)-2-methylpropan-1-one; 2-(methylthio)-1-(2-(1-(2-(methylthio) propanoyl) -4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl) propan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-acetyl-4-(p-tolyl)-1H -imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl)-2-(methylthio) propan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-isobutyryl-4-(p-tolyl) -1H-imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl)-2-(methylthio) propan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-benzoyl-4-(p-tolyl) -1H-imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl)-2-(methylthio) propan-1-one; 1-(2-(1- ((1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexane-1-carbonyl)-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl)-2-(methylthio) propan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-acetyl-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl)-2-methylbutan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-isobutyryl-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl)-2-methylbutan-1-one; 1-(2-(1- ((1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexane-1-carbonyl)-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl)-2-methylbutan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-(2-methoxyacetyl) -4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl)-2-methylbutan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-(2-(benzyloxy) acetyl)-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl) piperidin-1-yl)-2-methylbutan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-(2-(methylthio) propanoyl) piperidin-2-yl)-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-1-yl) dodecan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-(2-methylbutanoyl) piperidin-2-yl)-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-1-yl) dodecan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-(2-(methylthio) propanoyl) piperidin-2-yl)-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-1-yl) hexan-1-one; 1-(2-(1-(2-methylbutanoyl) piperidin-2-yl)-4-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-1-yl) hexan-1-one; N-(1-benzoyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-2-(p-tolyloxy) acetamide; N-(1-isobutyryl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-2-(p-tolyloxy) acetamide; N-(1-acetyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-2-(p-tolyloxy) acetamide, and combinations thereof.

3 . A non-medical method of inducing a cooling sensation in a human or animal comprising contacting the human or animal with a compound of formula (I), or a salt or solvate thereof, as defined in claim 1 .

4 . A method of achieving a cooling effect on the skin or mucosa comprising contacting the skin or mucosa with a product comprising one or more compounds of formula (I) as defined in claim 1 .

5 . A compound of formula (I), a salt or solvate thereof

wherein one of X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 is >N—C(O)R and the other two are independently selected from C, N, and O, with the proviso that not both of them are C, and wherein R is selected from C 1 -C 15 hydrocarbon residue optionally comprising one heteroatom selected from O and S; and

a) R 1 is H; and B represents a monovalent residue (a)

or

b) R 1 is selected from

i) halogen,

ii) C 6 -C 10 aryl optionally substituted with up to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of:

halogen; OH (hydroxyl); C≡N (cyano); NO 2 (nitro);

C 1 -C 6 alky optionally comprising up to 5 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkyl comprising up to 3 OH groups;

C 2 -C 6 alkenyl;

C 1 -C 6 alkoxy optionally comprising up to 3 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkoxy C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl;

—C(O)R 10 wherein R 10 is selected from C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—OC(O)R 11 wherein R 11 is selected from H, and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—C(O)O—R 12 wherein R 12 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—(CH 2 ) m N(R 13 )R 14 wherein m is 0 or 1, R 13 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and

—SO 2 R 15 wherein R 15 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 14 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and

—SO 2 R 16 wherein R 16 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, or wherein R 13 and R 14 form together with the N atom to which they are attached morpholine, thiomorpholine, or 1,1-dioxothiomorpholine;

—SR 17 wherein R 17 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and

—S(O) 2 R 18 wherein R 18 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

with the proviso that when the aryl ring is substituted with two or more substituents, two substituents may form a cyclic ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached,

and

iii) C 5 -C 10 mono-or bicyclic heteroaryl wherein up to 2 C-atoms are replaced by a hetero atoms independently selected from sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, optionally substituted with up to four substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen; OH; C≡N; NO 2;

C 1 -C 6 alky optionally comprising up to 5 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkyl comprising up to 3 OH groups;

C 2 -C 6 alkenyl;

C 1 -C 6 alkoxy optionally comprising up to 3 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkoxy C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl;

—C(O)R 20 wherein R 20 is selected from C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—OC(O) R 21 wherein R 21 is selected from H, and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—C(O)O—R 22 wherein R 22 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—(CH 2 ) m N(R 23 )R 24 wherein m is 0 or 1, R 23 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and

—SO 2 R 25 wherein R 25 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 24 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and

—SO 2 R 26 wherein R 26 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, or wherein R 23 and R 24 form together with the N atom to which they are attached morpholine, thiomorpholine, or 1,1-dioxothiomorpholine;

—SR 27 wherein R 27 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and

—S(O) 2 R 28 wherein R 28 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and

B represents a monovalent residue (b)

wherein

R 4 , R 5 and R 6 form together with the carbon atom to which they are attached a hydrocarbon group optionally comprising up to five hetero atoms selected from O, N, S, and F; and

Z is either C, S or S(O).

6 . A consumer product comprising one or more compounds of formula (I) as defined in claim 5 .

7 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more compounds of formula (I) as defined in claim 5 .

8 . A method of utilizing the compound of formula (I) as defined in claim 5 as a medicament for a human or animal comprising contacting the human or animal with one or more compounds of formula (I).

9 . A composition comprising at least one compound of formula (I), a salt or solvate thereof, and a further cooling compound.

10 . The composition according to claim 9 wherein the further cooling compound from at least one of menthol, menthone, is selected 1 p-menthanecarboxamides, N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl-butanamide, menthyl lactate, menthone glycerol acetal, 3-(1-menthoxy)-propane-1,2-diol, p-menthane-3,8-diol, isopulegol, monomenthyl succinate, monomenthyl glutarate, o-menthylglycerol, menthyl N,N -dimethylsuccinamate, 2-(sec-butyl) cyclohexan-1-one, N-(pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-2-(p-tolyloxy) acetamide, 2-(4-ethylphenoxy)-N-(pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl) acetamide, 3-(benzo [d] [1,3] dioxol-5-yl)-N,N-diphenylacrylamide, 4-(2-(4-allyl -2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-ethoxypropyl)-2-methoxyphenol, 4-(2-(4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1- ((2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl) oxy) propyl)-2-methoxyphenol, N -(2-Hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-2-isopropyl-5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1-carboxamide, N-(4-(Cyanomethyl) phenyl)-2-isopropyl-5,5-dimethylcyclohexanecarboxamide or N-(3-Hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-isopropyl-5,5-dimethylcyclohexanecarboxamide.

11 . A method of achieving a cooling effect on the skin or mucosa comprising hydrolysing the acetyl group (>N—C (O) R) of the compound of formula (I) as defined in claim 1 , resulting in a compound of formula (I′) and contacting the skin or mucosa with a compound of formula (I′), or a salt or solvate thereof

wherein one of X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 is >NH and the other two are independently selected from C, N, and O, with the proviso that not both of them are C; and

a) R 1 is H; and B represents a monovalent residue (a)

or

b) R1 is selected from

i) halogen,

ii) C6-C10 aryl optionally substituted with up to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of:

halogen; OH (hydroxyl); C≡N (cyano); NO 2 (nitro);

C 1 -C 6 alky optionally comprising up to 5 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkyl comprising up to 3 OH groups;

C 2 -C 6 alkenyl;

C 1 -C 6 alkoxy optionally comprising up to 3 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkoxy C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl;

—C(O) R 10 wherein R 10 is selected from C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—OC(O) R 11 wherein R 11 is selected from H, and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—C(O) O-R 12 wherein R 12 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—(CH 2 ) m N(R 13 )R 14 wherein m is 0 or 1, R 13 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C3 alkyl, and

—SO 2 R 15 wherein R15 is C1-C3 alkyl, and R 14 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and

—SO 2 R 16 wherein R16 is C1-C3 alkyl, or wherein R 13 and R 14 form together with the N atom to which they are attached morpholine, thiomorpholine, or 1,1-dioxothiomorpholine;

—SR 17 wherein R 17 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and

—S(O) 2 R 18 wherein R 18 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

with the proviso that when the aryl ring is substituted with two or more substituents, two substituents may form a cyclic ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, and

iii) C 5 -C 10 mono-or bicyclic heteroaryl wherein up to 2 C-atoms are replaced by a hetero atoms independently selected from sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, optionally substituted with up to four substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen; OH; C≡N; NO 2 ;

C 1 -C 6 alky optionally comprising up to 5 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkyl comprising up to 3 OH groups;

C 2 -C 6 alkenyl;

C 1 -C 6 alkoxy optionally comprising up to 3 halogen atoms;

C 1 -C 3 alkoxy C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl;

—C(O)R 20 wherein R 20 is selected from C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—OC(O)R 21 wherein R 21 is selected from H, and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—C(O)O—R 22 wherein R 22 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

—(CH 2 ) m N(R 23 )R 24 wherein m is 0 or 1, R 23 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and —SO 2 R 25 wherein R 25 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 24 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and —SO 2 R 26 wherein R 26 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, or wherein R 23 and R 24 form together with the N atom to which they are attached morpholine, thiomorpholine, or 1,1-dioxothiomorpholine;

—SR 27 wherein R 27 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and

—S(O) 2 R 28 wherein R28 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3 alkyl;

and

B represents a monovalent residue (b)

wherein

R 4 , R 5 and R 6 form together with the carbon atom to which they are attached a hydrocarbon group optionally comprising up to five hetero atoms selected from O, N, S, and F; and

Z is either C, S or S (O).

12 . The composition according to claim 10 , wherein the composition is a mediator of the transient receptor potential channel melastatin member 8 (TRPM8) and is selected from the group consisting of food products, beverages, chewing gum, tobacco and tobacco replacement products, dental care products, personal care products, intimate care products and combinations thereof.

13 . The composition according to claim 9 , wherein the composition is a mediator of the transient receptor potential channel melastatin member 8 (TRPM8) and is selected from the group consisting of food products, beverages, chewing gum, tobacco and tobacco replacement products, dental care products, personal care products, intimate care products and combinations thereof.

14 . The composition according to claim 10 , wherein the composition is a mediator of the transient receptor potential channel melastatin member 8 (TRPM8) and is selected from the group consisting of food products, beverages, chewing gum, tobacco and tobacco replacement products, dental care products, personal care products, intimate care products and combinations thereof.