Bicyclic oxopyridine and oxopyrimidine derivatives

1. A compound of formula (1a):

wherein:

the dashed line represents an optional bond;

A is a —N═ atom or a —N(R b )—, —C(R b )═ or —C(R b )(R c )— group;

R a , R b and R c are each independently a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted C 1-6 alkyl group;

X is a —S— atom;

Y is a N atom or CH group or substituted C atom;

n is zero or the integer 1;

Alk 1 is an optionally substituted aliphatic or heteroaliphatic chain;

L 1 is a covalent bond or a linker atom or group;

Cy 1 is an optionally substituted cycloaliphatic, polycycloaliphatic, heterocycloaliphatic, polyheterocycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic group;

Ar is an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group;

and the salts, solvates, and N-oxides thereof.

2. A compound according to claim 1 in which Cy 1 is an optionally substituted cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic group.

3. A compound according to claim 2 in which Cy 1 is an optionally substituted phenyl group.

4. A compound according to claim 1 in which Ar is an optionally substituted phenyl or monocyclic five- or six-membered heteroaromatic group.

5. A compound according to claim 4 in which Ar is an optionally substituted phenyl group.

6. A compound according to claim 1 in which R a is a hydrogen atom or methyl group.

7. A compound according to claim 1 in which L 1 is a covalent bond or an —O— or —S— atom or an —N(R 2 )—, —C(O)—, —C(S)—, —S(O)— or —S(O) 2 — group; and

R 2 is a hydrogen atom or a straight or branched alkyl group.

8. A compound according to claim 7 in which L 1 is a covalent bond.

9. A compound according to claim 1 in which n is zero.

10. A compound according to claim 1 in which each Y is a CH group or a substituted C atom.

11. A compound according to claim 1 in which the dashed line represents a bond and A is a —C(R b )═ group.

12. A compound according to claim 11 in which R b is a hydrogen atom.

13. A compound which is:

Ethyl 6-oxo-3,7-diphenyl-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate;

Ethyl 7-cyclopropylmethyl-6-oxo-3-phenyl -6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate;

Ethyl 6-oxo-3-phenyl-7-(3-thienyl)-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate;

Ethyl 3-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-oxo-7-phenyl-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate;

Ethyl 3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-6-oxo-7-phenyl-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate;

Ethyl 6-oxo-7-phenyl-3-(4-tolyl)-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate;

Ethyl 3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-6-oxo-7-phenyl-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate;

6-Oxo-3,7-diphenyl-N-(2-piperidinoethyl)-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamide;

6-Oxo-3,7-diphenyl-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carbonitrile;

3,7-Diphenylthieno[2,3-b]pyridin-6(7H)-one;

Ethyl 3-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-7-[4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl]-6-oxo-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate;

1,4-Diphenyl-1,4-dihydro-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridin-5-one;

Ethyl 7-(2-chlorophenyl)-6-oxo-3-phenyl-6,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate;

and the salts, solvates, and N-oxides thereof.

14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or diluents.

15. A method for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis comprising administering to a manual an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .