Quinuclidine carbamate derivatives and their use as M3 antagonists

1. A compound which is a carbamate of formula (I):

wherein

R1 represents

R3 represents a hydrogen or halogen atom, or a straight or branched lower alkyl group or a cyano group;

R2 represents a benzyl, phenethyl, furan-2-ylmethyl, furan-3-ylmethyl, thiophen-2-ylmethyl or thiophen-3-ylmethyl group or a straight or branched alkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl group of 3 to 6 carbon atoms;

p is 2 and the substitution in the azoniabicyclic ring may be in the 2, 3 or 4 position including all possible configurations of the asymmetric carbons;

or a mixture thereof;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. A compound according to claim 1 ,

wherein said compound is a quaternary ammonium salt of a carbamate of formula (I),

wherein said compound is represented by formula (II):

m is an integer from 0 to 8;

A represents a —CH 2 —, —CH═CR4—, —CR4═CH—, —CO—, —O—, —S—, —S(O), —SO 2 —NR4-, or —CR4R5- group, wherein R4 and R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a straight or branched lower alkyl group, or R4 and R5 together form an alicyclic ring;

n is an integer from 0 to 4;

B represents a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group, a cycloalkyl group, —COOR4 or —OOCR4 wherein R4 is as defined above, or a cyano group, a naphthalenyl group, a 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalenyl group, a biphenyl group, or a group of formula (i) or (ii)

wherein Z represents O, N or S; and

R6, R7 and R8 each independently represent a hydrogen or halogen atom, or a hydroxy, phenyl, —OR4, —SR4, —NR4R5, —NHCOR4, —CONR4R5, —CN, —NO 2 , —COOR4 or —CF 3 group or a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl group;

wherein R4 and R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a straight or branched lower alkyl group, or R4 and R5 together form an alicyclic ring; or R6 and R7 together form an aromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic ring; and

X represents a pharmaceutically acceptable anion of a mono or polyvalent acid or a mixture thereof.

3. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R1 represents a phenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, or 4-methylphenyl.

4. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R2 represents a benzyl, thiophen-2-ylmethyl, thiophen-3-ylmethyl, furan-2-ylmethyl, phenethyl, pent-4-enyl, pentyl, butyl, allyl or cyclopentyl group.

5. A compound according to claim 2 , wherein B represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl or furyl group, or a biphenyl, naphthalenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalenyl or benzo[1,3]dioxolyl group.

6. A compound according to claim 5 , wherein B represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group and R6, R7 and R8 each independently represent a hydrogen or halogen atom, or a hydroxyl, methyl, —CH 2 OH, —OMe, —NMe 2 , —NHCOMe, —CONH 2 , —CN, —NO2, —COOMe, or —CF 3 group.

7. A compound according to claim 6 , wherein B represents a phenyl, 4-fluorophenyl or 3-hydroxyphenyl group.

8. A compound according to claim 2 , wherein n=0 or 1; m is an integer from 1 to 6; and A represents a —CH 2 —, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —NMe—, —O— or —S— group.

9. A compound according to claim 8 , wherein m is 1, 2 or 3 and A represents a —CH2—, —CH═CH—, or —O— group.

10. A compound according to claim 2 , wherein B—(CH 2 ) n -A-(CH 2 ) m — represents a group selected from 3-phenoxypropyl, 2-phenoxyethyl, 3-phenylallyl, phenethyl, 3-phenylpropyl, 3-(3-hydroxyphenoxy)propyl, 3-(4-fluorophenoxy)propyl, 3-thiophen-2-ylpropyl, 1-allyl and 1-heptyl.

11. A compound according to claim 2 , wherein X − represents a chloride, bromide, or trifluoroacetate anion.

12. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein the azoniabicyclo group is substituted in the 3-position.

13. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein the azoniabicyclo group is substituted in the 3′-position and the substituent at the 3-position has the (R) configuration.

14. A compound according to claim 2 , which is a single isomer.

15. A compound according to claim 1 characterised in that it has an IC 50 value (nM) for muscarinic M3 receptors of less than 35.

16. A process for the preparation of a carbamate of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 ,

which process comprises reacting a compound of formula (III):

with a compound of formula (IV):

and optionally preparing a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of formula (I).

17. A process for producing a salt of formula (II) as claimed in claim 2 :

which process comprises quaternising the nitrogen atom of the azoniabicyclic ring of a compound of formula (I):

with an alkylating agent of formula (VI):

wherein R1, R2, p, m, n, A, B, and X are as defined in claim 2 , and W represents a leaving group.

18. A process according to claim 17 , wherein W represents a group X.

19. A process according to claim 17 , wherein the resulting reaction mixture is purified by solid phase extraction.

20. a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

21. A method of treating a respiratory, urinary or gastrointestinal disease, comprising administering to a human or animal patient in need of treatment an effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 ; wherein the muscarinic M3 receptor is implicated in said respiratory, urinary or gastrointestinal disease.

22. A combination product comprising

(i) a compound according to claim 1 ; and

(ii) another compound effective in the treatment of a respiratory, urological or gastrointestinal disease or disorder for simultaneous, separate or sequential use.

23. A combination product comprising

(i) a compound according to claim 1 ; and

(ii) a β 2 agonist, steroid, antiallergic drug, phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor and/or leukotriene D4 (LTD4 ) antagonist for simultaneous, separate or sequential use in the treatment of a respiratory disease.

24. A compound according to claim 2 , wherein R1 represents a phenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, or 4-methylphenyl.

25. A compound according to claim 2 , wherein R2 represents a benzyl, thiophen-2-ylmethyl, thiophen-3-ylmethyl, furan-2-ylmethyl, phenethyl, pent-4-enyl, pentyl, butyl, allyl or cyclopentyl.

26. A compound according to claim 2 , wherein the azoniabicyclo group is substituted in the 3-position.

27. A compound according to claim 2 , wherein the substituent at the 3-position has the (R) configuration.

28. A compound according to claim 2 , which is a single isomer.

29. A compound according to claim 2 characterized in that it has an IC 50 value (nM) for muscarinic M3 receptors of less than 35.

30. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 2 in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

31. A method of treating a respiratory, urinary or gastrointestinal disease, comprising administering to a human or animal patient in need of treatment an effective amount of a compound according to claim 2 ; where the muscarinic M3 receptor is implicated in said respiratory, urinary or gastrointestinal diseases.

32. A combination product comprising

(i) a compound according to claim 2 ; and

(ii) another compound effective in the treatment of a respiratory urological or gastrointestinal disease or disorder for simultaneous, separate or sequential use.

33. A combination product comprising

(i) a compound according to claim 2 ; and

(ii) a β 2 agonist, steroid, antiallergic drug, phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor and/or leukotriene D4 (LTD4) antagonist for simultaneous, separate or sequential use in the treatment of a respiratory disease.