New corticosteroids

1 . Nitrooxy derivatives of steroidal compounds of general formula

B—X 1 —NO 2   (I)

or esters or salts thereof, wherein:

B is a steroidal radical having the following structure:

wherein at the place of the hydrogen of the CH group, or of the two hydrogens of the CH 2 group indicated in the general formula, there can be the following substituents:

in position 1-2: a double bond;

in position 2-3 the following substituent:

in position 2: Cl, Br;

in position 3: oxo, —O—CH 2 —CH 2 —Cl, OH, OCH 3 ;

in position 4-5: a double bond;

in position 5-6: a double bond;

in position 6: Cl, F, Br, CH 3 , —CHO;

the ring defined by the carbon atoms numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 is an aromatic ring when B is the residue of an estrogen;

in position 7: Cl, OH;

in position 9: Cl, F, Br;

in position 11: OH, oxo, Cl;

in position 16: CH 3 , OH, ═CH 2 ;

in position 17: OH, CH 3 , OCO(O) ua (CH 2 ) va CH 3 wherein ua is an integer equal to 0 or 1, va is an integer from 0 to 4, ethynyl (C≡CH); or

in position 16-17 the following groups:

wherein RA 1 is H, CH 3 ; RA 2 is C 1 -C 10 linear o branched alkyl chain, preferably C 1 -C 3 , still more preferably CH 3 , or a saturated cycloaliphatic ring having 5-6 carbon atoms or an aromatic ring optionally substituted in para position with N(R 1c ) 2 wherein R 1c is a C 1 -C 10 , preferably C 1 -C 4 , linear or branched alkyl; R and R′, equal to or different from each other, can be hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 linear or branched alkyls, preferably R═R′═CH 3 or R═R′═H;

preferably B is a corticosteroid residue;

R″ in position 17 is a bivalent radical having one of the following meanings:

IB) —(CO-L) t -(X O ) t1 -, wherein t=1 and t1 is 0 or 1, preferably 0;

IC) -L-(X 0 ) t1 -, wherein t1 is 0 or 1, preferably 1;

the bivalent linking group L has the following meaning:

(CR 4 R 5 ) na (O) nb (CR 4′ R 5′ ) n′a (CO) n′b (O) n″b (CO) n′″b (CR 4′ R 5′ ) n″a

wherein na, n′a, and n″a, equal to or different from each other, are integers from 0 to 6, preferably 1-3; nb, n′b, n″b and n′″b, equal to or different from each other, are integers equal to 0 or 1; R 4 , R 5 , R 4′ , R 5′ , R 4″ , R 5″ , equal to or different from each other, are selected from H, C 1 -C 5 , preferably C 1 -C 3 , linear or branched alkyl;

X O ≡O—, —NH—, —NR 1c — wherein R 1c is as above defined;

the bond between the steroid and the linking group X 1 is of ester or amidic type;

X 1 is a bivalent linking group selected from the following:

Y AR1 :

wherein n3 is an integer from 0 to 5 and n3′ is an integer from 1 to 3;

Y AR2 :

wherein n3 and n3′ have the above meaning. Y p :

wherein:

nIX is an integer from 0 to 10, preferably 1-3;

nIIX is an integer from 1 to 10, preferably 1-5;

R TIX , R TIX′ , R TIIX , R TIIX′ , equal to or different from each other are H or C 1 -C 4 linear or branched alkyl; preferably R TIX , R TIX′ , R TIIX , R TIIX′ are H; Y 3 is a saturated, unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring, having 5 or 6 atoms, containing from one to three heteroatoms, preferably from one to two, said heteroatoms being equal or different and selected from nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur, preferably nitrogen;

t3 is zero or 1;

Z has the following meaning:

wherein:

shows the position of the ONO 2 group;

T has the following meanings:

—COX 3 —, —X 3 CO—, wherein X 3 ═S or X o as above defined;

—X 3 — as above defined;

n3 and n′3 are as above defined.

2 . Compounds according to claim 1 , wherein Y 3 is selected from the following bivalent radicals:

3 . Compounds according to claim 2 , wherein Y 3 is selected from the following: (Y12), having the two free valences in the ortho positions with respect to the nitrogen atom; (Y16) with the two valences linked to the two heteroatoms, (Y1) (pyrazol) 3,5-disubstituted; (Y16) is particularly preferred.

4 . Compounds according to claim 1 , wherein the precursor of B is selected from the following: Budesonide, Hy-drocortisone, Alclomethasone, Algestone, Beclomethasone, Betamethasone, Chloroprednisone, Ciclesonide, Clobetasol, Clobetasone, Clocortolone, Cloprednol, Cortisone, Corticosterone, Deflazacort, Desonide, Desoximethasone, Dexa-methasone, Dexamethasone 17-furoate, Diflorasone Diflu-cortolone, Difluprednate, Fluazacort, Flucloronide, Flumethasone, Flunisolide, Fluocinolone Acetonide, Fluocinonide, Fluocortyn Butyl, Fluocortolone, Fluorometholone, Fluperolone Acetate, Fluprednidene Acetate, Fluprednisolone, Flurandrenolide, Formocortal, Halcinonide, Halobetasol Propionate, Halomethasone, Halopredone Ace-tate, Hydrocortamate, Itrocinonide, Loteprednol Eta-bonate, Meclonisone, Medrysone, Meprednisone, Methylprednisolone, Momethasone Furoate, Paramethasone, Prednicarbate, Prednisolone, Prednisolone 25-Diethylaminoacetate, Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate, Prednisone, Prednival, Prednylidene, Rofleponide Rimexolone, Triamcinolone, 21-Acetoxypregnenolone, Cortivazol, Amcinonide, Fluticasone Propionate, Mazipredone, Taucorten, Tixocortol, Triamcinolone Hexacetonide; Ursodesoxycholic acid, Chenodesoxycholic acid; Mytatrienediol, Moxestrol, Ethynyl-estradiol, Estradiol, Mestranol; methyl (20R)-6-alpha, 9alpha-difluoro-11beta-hydroxy-16alpha, 17alpha propyl methylene dioxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one-17beta-carboxylate.

5 . Compounds according to claim 1 , wherein when B is the residue of a corticosteroid, R″=IB with t=1 and t1=0; preferably in the formula of the linking group L na=nb=n′b=1; n′a=n″b=n′″b=n″a=0; R 4 =R 5 =H; or n′b=n″b=1 and all the other na, nb, n′a, n′″b, n″a are equal to zero.

6 . Compounds according to claim 1 , wherein when B is the residue of a biliary acid, R″=IC with t1=1; preferably in the formula of the linking group L na=n′b=1, n′a=2, n″b=n′″b=n″a=nb=0, R 4 =CH 3 , R 5 =R 4″ =R 5″ =H.

7 . Compounds according to claim 1 , wherein when B is the residue of an estrogen

R″=IC wherein t1=0 and in the formula of the linking group L nb=n′b=1; na=n′a=n″b=n′″b=n″a=0, the other substituent of the carbon atom in position 17 is preferably H or ethynyl, and in position 3 one of the substituents is optionally the —R″—X 1 —NO 2 group (R″ as above defined); or

in position 3 the —R″—X 1 —NO 2 group is present, R″ being as above when B is the residue of an estrogen, then the substituents of the carbon atom in position 17 in formula (IA) of B are the following:

R″=—O—, wherein the oxygen free valence is saturated with H;

H is substituted with a group different from OH.

8 . Compounds according to claim 1 , selected from the following:

Hydrocortisone 21-(4′-nitrooxymethyl) benzoate

Hydrocortisone-21-[2-[6-(nitrooxymethyl)-2-pyridinyl]acetate]

Hydrocortisone-21 [2-[4-[2-[4-(nitrooxymethyl)benzoyloxy]ethyl]piperazinyl]acetate]

Hydrocortisone-21-[2-[4-[3-(nitrooxy)propyl]-1-pipera-zinyl]acetate]

Dexamethasone 21-(4′-nitrooxymethyl)benzoate

Dexamethasone-21-[2-[4-[3-(nitrooxy)propyl]-1-piperazi-nyl]acetate]

Dexamethasone-21 [2-[4-[2-[4-(nitrooxymethyl)benzoyloxy]ethyl]-1-piperazinyl]acetate]

Dexamethasone-21-[2-[6-(nitrooxymethyl)-2-pyridinyl]acetate]

Prednisolone 21-(4′-nitrooxymethyl)benzoate

Budesonide 21-(4′-nitrooxymethyl)benzoate:

Budesonide-21-[2-[6-(nitrooxymethyl)-2-pyridinyl]acetate]

Budesonide-21-[2-[4-[3-(nitrooxy)propyl]-1-piperazinyl]acetate]

Budesonide-21 [2-[4-[2-[4-nitrooxymethyl)benzoyl oxy]ethyl]-1-piperazinyl]acetate]

Flumethasone 21-(4′-nitrooxymethyl)benzoate:

Flumethasone-21-[2-[6-(nitrooxymethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ace-tate]

Flumethasone-21-[2-[4-[2-[4-(nitrooxymethyl)benzoyloxy]-ethy]-1-piperazinyl]acetate]

Flumethasone-21-[2-[4-[3-(nitrooxy)propyl]-1-piperazinyl]acetate]

Prednisolone-21-[2-[6-(nitrooxymethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ace-tate]

Prednisolone-21-[2-[4-(3-nitrooxy)propyl) piperazin-1-yl]acetate]and the corresponding bishydrochloride salt:

Prednisolone-21-[2-[4-[2-[(4′-nitrooxymethyl)benzoyl oxy]ethyl]piperazin-1-yl]acetate]and the corresponding bishydrochloride salt:

Flunisolide-21-[2-[4-[3-(nitrooxy)propyl]-1-piperazinyl]acetate]

Flunisolide-21-[(4′-nitrooxymethyl)]benzoate

Flunisolide-21-[2-[4-[2-[4-(nitrooxymethyl)benzoyloxy]ethyl]-1-piperazinyl]acetate]

Flunisolide-21-[2-[6-(nitrooxymethyl)-2-pyridinyl]aceta-te]

Flunisolide 21-[(4′-nitrooxymethyl)benzoate)]

9 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , for the preparation of medicaments.

10 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , as drugs having antiinflammatory activity at peripheral level.

11 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases on an inflammatory and traumatic basis of the nervous system.

12 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , as drugs having an antiarthritic activity.

13 . Use of the compounds of claim 1 , as drugs having an immunodepressive activity.

14 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , as drugs having an angiostatic/angiogenetic activity.

15 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , as drugs having an antiasthmatic activity.

16 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , in substitutive hormonal therapies, preferably in the post-menopause therapy.

17 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , in rheumatic disease therapies.

18 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , in renal disease therapies.

19 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , in bronchial disease therapies.

20 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , in ocular disease therapies.

21 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , in dermatologic disease therapies.

22 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , in autoimmune disease therapies.

23 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , in tumoral process therapies, optionally in combination with chemotherapic and/or radiotherapic treatments.

24 . Use according to claim 10 , in inflammatory pathologies affecting the gastrointestinal system.

25 . Use of the compounds according to claim 1 , wherein the glucocorticoid compounds are used in respiratory pathologies characterized by broncho-obstructive events.

26 . Pharmaceutical formulations comprising the compounds of claim 1.