17-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 inhibitors for the treatment of androgen dependent diseases

1. A compound of the formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound wherein,

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl and diphenylalkyl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b) —OCF 3 or —OCHF 2 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

d) —CN;

e) alkyl or R 18 -alkyl;

f) heteroalkyl or R 18 -heteroalkyl;

g) aryl or R 18 -aryl;

h) heteroaryl or R 18 -heteroaryl;

i) arylalkyl or R 18 -arylalkyl;

j) heteroarylalkyl or R 18 -heteroarylalkyl;

k) hydroxy;

l) alkoxy;

m) aryloxy;

n) —SO 2 -alkyl;

o) —NR 11 R 12 ;

p) —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 ,

q) methylenedioxy;

r) difluoramethylenedioxy;

s) trifluoroalkoxy;

t) —SCH 3 or —SCF 3 ; and

u) —SO 2 CF 3 or —NHSO 2 CF 3 ;

R 2 and R 3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, —OH, alkoxy, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, trifluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, arylalkoxy, heteroarylalkoxy, —(CH 2 ) n —NR 11 R 12 and —(CH 2 ) n —SR 11 , provided that when X is N, then R 2 and R 3 are each not —OH, alkoxy, arylalkoxy or heteroarylalkoxy;

R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, —OR 14 , —NR 11 R 12 , —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 , alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl,

provided that when Z and/or X is N, then R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are each not —OR 14 , —NR 11 R 12 or —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 ;

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of —C(O)R 15 and —SO 2 R 15 ;

R 9 and R 10 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, —CF 3 , —CHF 2 , alkyl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyoloalkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, —NR 11 R 12 and —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 , provided that when Z is N, then R 9 and R 10 are each not F, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, —NR 11 R 12 or —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 ;

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

R 12 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

R 13 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy and aryloxy;

R 14 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

R 15 is selected from the group consisting of —NR 16 R 17 , —OR 16 , alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl and heteroarylalkyl, each optionally substituted with R 18 ;

R 16 and R 17 are each independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with R 18 , and H, provided that when R 15 is —OR 16 , R 16 is not H;

R 18 is one to four substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, halo, cyano, nitro, haloalkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, carboxamide, mercapto, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, aryl and heteroaryl;

X is N;

Z is C;

and

n is 1-4,

wherein the term “heteroaryl” refers to 5- or 10-membered single or benzofused aromatic ring consisting of 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S, and —N═, provided that the rings do not possess adjacent oxygen and/or sulfur atoms, wherein said heteroaryl can be unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, or three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl, halo, cyano, nitro, haloalkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, carboxamide, mercapto, amino, alkylamino and dialkylamino; the term “heteroarylalkyl” refers to a heteroaryl group bonded through an alkyl group; the term “heterocyoloalkyl” refers to a non-aromatic, heterocyclic ring of 3-7 atoms containing 1-3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S; and the term “heterocycloalkylalkyl” refers to a heterocycloalkyl group bonded through an alkyl group.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein,

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b) —OCF 3 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

d) —CN;

e) (C1-C20)alkyl or R 18 —(C1-C20)alkyl;

f) heteroalkyl or R 18 -heteroalkyl;

g) aryl or R 18 -aryl;

h) heteroaryl or R 18 -heteroaryl;

i) arylalkyl or R 18 -arylalkyl;

j) heteroarylalkyl or R 18 -heteroarylalkyl;

k) hydroxy;

l) alkoxy;

m) aryloxy;

n) —SO 2 -alkyl;

o) —NR 11 R 12 ;

p) —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 ;

q) methylenedioxy;

r) difluoromethylenedioxy;

s) trifluoroalkoxy;

t) —SCH 3 ; and

u) —SO 2 CF 3 ;

R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, —OR 14 , —NR 11 R 12 ,

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H alkyl;

Z is C; and

n is 1-3.

3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b) —OCF 3 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

e) (C1-C6)alkyl or R 18 —(C1-C6)alkyl;

f) heteroalkyl or R 18 -heteroalkyl;

g) aryl or R 18 -aryl;

i) arylalkyl or R 18 -arylalkyl;

j) heteroarylalkyl or R 18 -heteroarylalkyl; and

l) alkoxy; and

s) trifluoroalkoxy;

R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, —OR 14 , —NR 11 R 12 , alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl,

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl;

Z is C; and

n is 1-3.

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b) —OCF 3 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

e) (C1-C6)alkyl or R 18 —(C1-C6)alkyl;

l) alkoxy; and

s) trifluoroalkoxy;

R 2 and R 3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, and heteroalkyl;

R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, —OR 14 , —NR 11 R 12 ,

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl; and

Z is C.

5. The compound of claim 1 wherein,

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b) —OCF 3 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

l) alkoxy; and

s) trifluoroalkoxy;

R 2 is alkyl;

R 3 is H;

R 4 and R 5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, (C1-C6)alkyl, heteroalkyl and

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, —OR 14 and —NR 11 R 12 ;

R 8 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl; and

Z is C.

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein,

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and pyridyl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) Br; F or Cl;

b) —OCF 3 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

l) methoxy, ethoxy or cyclopropylmethoxy; and

s) —OCH 2 CF 3 ;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, cyclopropylmethyl and t-butyl;

R 3 is H;

R 4 and R 5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl and t-butyl;

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H, —OR 14 and alkyl;

R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 and R 14 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl;

R 13 is alkyl;

R 15 is selected from the group consisting of —NR 16 R 17 , —OR 18 and alkyl;

R 16 and R 17 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl; and

Z is C.

7. The compound of claim 1 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound selected from the group consisting of:

8. The compound according to claim 1 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound selected from the group consisting of:

9. The compound according to claim 8 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound which is:

10. The compound according to claim 8 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound which is:

11. The compound according to claim 8 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound which is:

12. The compound according to claim 8 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound which is:

13. The compound according to claim 8 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound which is:

14. The compound according to claim 8 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound which is:

15. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.

16. A method of inhibiting Type 3 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and thereby treating an androgen dependent disease wherein the androgen dependent disease is selected from the group consisting of prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, hirsutism, acne, androgenic alopecia, and polycystic ovary syndrome which method comprises administering to patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the androgen dependent disease is selected from the group consisting of prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

18. A method of inhibiting Type 3 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, which comprises administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 , or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.