Arylsulfonamides as antiviral agents

1. A compound of the general formula (I)

in which

R 2 and R 3 are identical or different and represent hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy or represent a group of the formula

 in which

R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are identical or different and each represents hydrogen or (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which for its part may be substituted by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, halogen, cyano, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy,

A represents five- or six-membered heteroaryl, which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring via a C atom and has one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S,

R 1 represents (C 6 –C 10 )-aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl or 5- to 10-membered heterocyclyl having in each case one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, where

R 1 may be substituted by up to three substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino, mono-(C 1 –C 6 )-alkylamino, di-(C 1 –C 6 )-alkylamino, halogen, nitro, cyano, oxo, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which for its part may be substituted by amino or hydroxyl, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy, phenyl, 5- or 6-membered heterocyclyl having up to two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl having one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, —C(O)—O—R 8 , —C(O)—NR 9 R 10 , —NH—C(O)—R 11 , —NH—C(O)—C(O)—R 12 and —NH—SO 2 —R 13 ,

where

R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are identical or different and each represents hydrogen or (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, or

R 9 and R 10 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle which may contain a further nitrogen or oxygen heteroatom and which may be mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of (C 1 –C 4 )-alkyl which for its part is optionally substituted by hydroxyl or amino, amino, hydroxyl, (C 1 –C 4 )-alkoxy, oxo, carboxyl and (C 1 –C 4 )-alkoxycarbonyl,

R 11 and R 12 are identical or different and each represents trifluoromethyl, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy, or hydroxyl or represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different constituents from the group consisting of amino, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxycarbonylamino, mono-(C 1 –C 6 )-acylamino, hydroxyl, amidino, guanidino, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl and phenyl, and

R 13 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl or (C 6 –C 10 )-aryl which may in each case be substituted by halogen, amino, hydroxyl, (C 1 –C 4 )-alkoxy or (C 1 –C 4 )-alkyl,

R 4 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, halogen, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy, (C 1 –C 5 )-alkanoyloxy and phenyl, which for its part is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, amino and hydroxyl,

or represents (C 3 –C 7 )-cycloalkyl which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, halogen, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy and (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, which for its part is optionally substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, halogen and (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy,

or represents (C 6 –C 10 )-aryl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, amino and hydroxyl,

and in which

X represents oxygen or sulphur,

and in which nitrogen-containing heterocycles may also be present as N-oxides,

or a tautomer, steroisomer, mixture of steroisomer, or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The compound of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 ,

in which

R 2 and R 3 are identical or different and represent hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy or represent a group of the formula

 in which

R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are identical or different and each represents hydrogen of (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, which for its part may be substituted by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, halogen, cyano, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy,

A represents five- or six-membered heteroaryl, which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring via a C atom and has one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S,

R 1 represents (C 6 –C 10 )-aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl or 5- to 10-membered heterocyclyl having in each case one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, where

R 1 may be substituted by up to three substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino, mono-(C 1 –C 6 )-alkylamino, di-(C 1 –C 6 )-alkylamino, halogen, nitro, cyano, oxo, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which for its part may be substituted by amino or hydroxyl, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy, phenyl, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl having one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, —C(O)—O—R 8 , —C(O)—NR 9 R 10 and —NH—C(O)—R 11 ,

where

R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are identical or different and each represents hydrogen or (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, and

R 11 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, guanidino, carboxyl and phenyl,

R 4 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, halogen, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy and phenyl, which for its part is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, amino and hydroxyl,

represents (C 3 –C 7 )-cycloalkyl which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, halogen, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy and (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, which for its part is optionally substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, halogen and (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy,

or represents (C 6 –C 10 )-aryl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, amino and hydroxyl,

and in which

X represents oxygen or sulphur,

and in which nitrogen-containing heterocycles may also be present as N-oxides,

or a tautomer, stereoisomer, mixture of stereoisomers, or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.

3. The compound of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 ,

in which

R 2 and R 3 are identical or different and represent hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy or represent a group of the formula

 in which

R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are identical or different and each represents hydrogen or (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, which for its part may be substituted by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, halogen, cyano, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy,

A represents five- or six-membered heteroaryl, which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring, via a C atom and has one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S,

R 1 represents (C 6 –C 10 )-aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl or 5- to 10-membered heterocyclyl having in each case one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, where

R 1 may be substituted by up to three substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino, mono-(C 1 –C 6 )-alkylamino, di-(C 1 –C 6 )-alkylamino, halogen, nitro, cyano, oxo, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which for its part may be substituted by amino or hydroxyl, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy, phenyl, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl having one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, —C(O)—O—R 8 , —C(O)—NR 9 R 10 and —NH—C(O)—R 11 ,

where

R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are identical or different and each represents hydrogen or (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, and

R 11 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, guanidino, carboxyl and phenyl,

R 4 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, halogen, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy and phenyl, which for its part is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, amino and hydroxyl,

represents (C 3 –C 7 )-cycloalkyl which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, halogen, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy and (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl, which for its part is optionally substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, halogen and (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy,

or represents (C 6 –C 10 )-aryl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, amino and hydroxyl,

and in which

X represents oxygen,

and in which nitrogen-containing heterocycles may also be present as N-oxides,

or a tautomer, stereoisomer, mixture of stereoisomers, or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.

4. The compounds of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 ,

in which

R 2 and R 3 are identical or different and represent hydrogen or halogen,

A represents the radical (A-I)

 which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring via one of the carbon atoms in position 3 or 5,

 and in which

Y represents oxygen or sulphur, or

A represents the radical (A-II)

 which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring via one of the carbon atoms in position 2 or 5,

 and in which

Y represents oxygen or sulphur,

R 1 represents 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl or 5- or 10-membered heterocyclyl having in each case up to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, or represents phenyl, where

R 1 may be substituted by one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 –C 4 )-alkyl which for its part is optionally substituted by hydroxyl or amino, hydroxyl, oxo, halogen, amino, mono-(C 1 –C 4 )-alkylamino, di-(C 1 –C 4 )-alkylamino and —NH—C(O)—R 11 , where

R 11 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, guanidino and carboxyl,

R 4 represents (C 1 –C 4 )-alkyl which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, fluorine, chlorine and (C 1 –C 4 )alkoxy,

or represents (C 3 –C 5 )-cycloalkyl, which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, fluorine, chlorine, (C 1 –C 4 )-alkoxy and (C 1 –C 4 )-alkyl, which for its part is optionally substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, fluorine, chlorine and (C 1 –C 4 )-alkoxy,

and in which

X represents oxygen or sulphur,

and in which nitrogen-containing heterocycles may also be present as N-oxides,

or a tautomer, stereoisomer, mixture of stereoisomers, or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.

5. The compound of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 ,

in which

R 2 and R 3 are identical or different and represent hydrogen or halogen,

A represents the radical (A-I)

 which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring via one of the carbon atoms in position 3 or 5,

 and in which

Y represents oxygen or sulphur, or

A represents the radical (A-II)

 which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring via one of the carbon atoms in position 2 or 5,

 and in which

Y represents oxygen or sulphur,

R 1 represents 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl or 5- or 10-membered heterocyclyl having in each case up to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, or represents phenyl, where

R 1 may be substituted by one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 –C 4 )-alkyl which for its-part is optionally substituted by hydroxyl or amino, hydroxyl, oxo, halogen, amino, mono-(C 1 –C 4 )-alkylamino, di-(C 1 –C 4 )-alkylamino and —NH—C(O)—R 11 , where

R 11 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, guanidino and carboxyl,

R 4 represents (C 1 –C 4 )-alkyl which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, fluorine, chlorine and (C 1 –C 4 )-alkoxy,

or represents (C 3 –C 5 )-cycloalkyl which may be substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, fluorine, chlorine, (C 1 –C 4 )-alkoxy and (C 1 –C 4 )-alkyl, which for its part is optionally substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, fluorine, chlorine and (C 1 –C 4 )-alkoxy,

and in which

X represents oxygen,

or a tautomer, stereoisomer, mixture of stereoisomers, or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.

6. The compound of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 ,

in which

R 2 and R 3 represent hydrogen,

A represents one of the radicals

R 1 represents a radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, oxazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl and indolyl, where

R 1 may be substituted by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of methyl, aminomethyl, hydroxyl, bromine, chlorine, fluorine, amino, dimethylamino and —NH—C(O)—R 11 , where

R 11 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, guanidino and carboxyl,

R 4 represents tert-butyl which is optionally substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of hydroxyl, fluorine and chlorine,

or represents cyclopropyl or cyclobutyl which are substituted by methyl, which for its part is optionally substituted by hydroxyl, fluorine or chlorine,

and in which

X represents oxygen,

and in which nitrogen-containing heterocycles may also be present as N-oxides,

or a tautomer, stereoisomer, mixture of stereoisomers, or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.

7. The compounds of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 ,

in which

R 2 and R 3 represent hydrogen,

A represents one of the radicals

R 1 represents a radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, oxazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl and indolyl, where

R 1 may be substituted by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of methyl, aminomethyl, hydroxyl, bromine, chlorine, fluorine, amino, dimethylamino and —NH—C(O)—R 11 , where

R 11 represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of amino, hydroxyl, guanidino and carboxyl,

R 4 represents tert-butyl which is optionally substituted up to three times by identical or different substituents from the group consisting of hydroxyl, fluorine and chlorine,

or represents cyclopropyl or cyclobutyl which are substituted by methyl, which for its part is optionally substituted by hydroxyl, fluorine or chlorine,

and in which

X represents oxygen.

8. The compound according to claim 1 of the general formula (Ia)

in which

R 1 , R 4 , A and X are as defined in claim 1 , and

R 2 and R 3 are identical or different and represent hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkyl or (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy.

9. The compound of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 ,

in which

R 4 represents the radical

10. The compound of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 ,

in which

A represents a 1,2,4-oxadiazole attached via the 3-position.

11. The compound according to claim 1 , selected from the group consisting of the following compounds:

12. A process for preparing compounds of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 , in which

A represents the radical (A-I)

 which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring via one of the carbon atoms in position 3 or 5, and in which

Y represents oxygen, by

reacting an amidoxime of the general formula (D-1)

 in which

X, R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are as defined in claim 1 ,

with a carboxylic acid (E-1)

R 1 —COOH  (E-1)

 in which R 1 is as defined in claim 1 , or

 condensing a sulphonamide of the general formula (F-3)

 in which

X, R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are as defined in claim 1 ,

with an amidoxime of the general formula (G-1)

 in which

R 1 is as defined in claim 1 , giving a compound of the general formula (G-2)

 in which

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and X are as defined in claim 1 ,

 and subsequently cyclizing the compound (G-2) with elimination of water, giving the compound of the general formula (I).

13. A process for preparing compounds of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 in which

A represents the radical (A-II)

 which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring via one of the carbon atoms in position 2 or 5,

 and in which

Y represents oxygen,

by cyclizing a hydrazide of the general formula (H-2)

 in which X, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are as defined in claim 1 , and

FH represents hydrogen, an amino protective group or a polymeric support,

with elimination of water, to give a compound of the general formula (I).

14. A process for preparing compounds of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 , in which

X represents oxygen,

A represents the radical (A-II)

 which is attached to the adjacent phenyl ring via one of the carbon atoms of position 2 or 5,

 and in which

Y represents sulphur,

by cyclizing a hydrazide of the general formula (H-3)

 in which R 1 , R 2 , R 3 are as defined in claim 1 ,

FH represents hydrogen, an amino protective group or a polymeric support, and

R 4′ represents (C 1 –C 6 )-alkoxy, (C 1 –C 6 )-alkenoxy or aralkoxy,

 in the presence of a thio donor, to give a compound of the general formula (I) in which Y represents sulphur, then removing group —C(O)—R 4′ and finally reacting with a compound of the general formula

 in which R 4 is as defined in claim 1 and O represents a leaving group.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein said thio donor is Lawesson's reagent.

16. The process of claim 14 wherein said leaving group Q is halogen.

17. The process of claim 16 wherein said halogen is chlorine or bromine.

18. A method for treating cytomegalovirus infections comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .

19. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising a compound of the general formula (I) according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

20. A compound of the general formula (Ia) according to claim 1

in which

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , A and X are as defined in claim 1 .