Probucol nitro-derivatives

1. A compound of general formula (I) and/or salts thereof

wherein X and X 1 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen and a group of formula (II)

(T) n —Y—NO 2   (II)

with the proviso that X and X 1 cannot be both hydrogen, wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 1, where when n=1, T is the group (CO), Y is a bivalent radical having the following meanings:

a) R 1 O, wherein R 1 is:

straight or branched C 1 –C 20 -alkylene optionally containing one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, or one or more groups —O(CO)—, —NH(CO)—, —S(CO)—, optionally substituted with one or more of the following: —OH, —SH, —NH 2 , —NHCOR 2 , where R 2 is straight or branched C 1 –C 10 -alkyl;

cycloalkylene with from 5 to 7 carbon atoms in the ring, where one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and the ring can be substituted with side chains R 2 , R 2 being defined as above;

wherein n3 is an integer of from 0 to 20, and n3′ is an integer of from 1 to 20,

wherein m is an integer of from 1 to 6, Rf is hydrogen or CH 3

wherein:

nIX is an integer of from 0 to 10;

nIIX is an integer of from 1 to 10;

R TIX , R TIX′ , R TIIX , R TIIX′ are the same or different and are H or straight or branched C 1 –C 4 alkyl;

Y 3 is a 5 or 6-membered heterocyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic ring containing one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.

2. A compound of general formula (I) according to claim 1 , that is: 4-nitrooxybutanoic , [4-[[1-[[3,5-bis(1,1 dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]thio]-1-methylethyl]thio]-2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]ester

3. A compound of general formula (I) according to claim 1 , that is: 4-nitrooxybutanoic acid, (1-methylethylidene)bis[thio[2,6-bis(1,1 dimethylethyl)-4,1-phenylene]]ester

4. A compound of general formula (I) according to claim 1 , that is: phenol, [4-[[1-[[3,5-bis(1,1dimethylethyl)-4-[4-(nitrooxy)butoxy]phenyl]-thio]-1-methylethyl]thio]-2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)

5. A compound of general formula (I) according to claim 1 , that is: acetone, bis[3,5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-(4-nitrooxybutoxy)phenyl]-mercaptol

6. A compound of general formula (I) according to claim 1 , that is: 4-(nitrooxymethyl) benzoic acid, [4-[[1-[[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4 hydroxyphenyl]thio]-1-methylethyl]thio]-2,6-bis(1,1 dimethylethyl)phenyl]ester

7. A compound of general formula (I) according to claim 1 , that is: 2-[4-(3-nitrooxypropyl)-1 piperazinyl]acetic acid, [4-[[1-[[3,5-bis(1,1 dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]thio]-1-methylethyl]thio]2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]ester

8. A method for treatment of hyperlipidemia and/or hypercholesterolemia comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 to a subject.

9. A method for treatment of inflammatory disorders comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 to a subject.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the inflammatory disorders are selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dermatitis, psoriasis, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, vasculitis, and organ transplant rejection.

11. A method for treatment of cardiovascular disease comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 to a subject.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cardiovascular diseases are selected from the group consisting of atherosclerosis, restenosis, coronary artery disease, angina, small artery disease, diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, stroke and myocardic infarct.

13. A method for treatment of ocular diseases comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 to a subject.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the ocular diseases are selected from the group consisting of uveitis and macular degeneration.

15. A method of treatment of autoimmune diseases comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 to a subject.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the autoimmune diseases are selected from the group consisting of systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune type-1 diabetes and graft versus host disease.

17. A method of treatment of neurological disorders comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 to a subject.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the neurological disorders are selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

19. A method of treatment of tumor metastasis and angiogenesis comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 to a subject.

20. A method of treatment of VCAM-1 mediated diseases comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 to a subject.

21. A method of treatment of endothelial dysfunctions and oxidative stress comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 to a subject.

22. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of general formula I and/or a salt thereof according to claim 1 .

23. A composition according to claim 22 in a suitable form for the oral, parenteral, rectal, topical and transdermic administration, by inhalation spray or aerosol or iontophoresis devices.

24. Liquid or solid pharmaceutical composition for the oral, parenteral, rectal, topical or transdermic administration or inhalation spray or aerosol or iontophoresis devices in the form of tablets, capsules or pills optionally with enteric coating, powders, granules, gels, emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups, elixir, injectable forms, suppositories, in transdermal patches or liposomes, containing a compound of formula I according to claim 1 and/or a salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

25. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is CH 3 .

26. The compound of claim 1 , wherein m is an integer from 1 to 4.

27. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R TIX , R TIX′ , and R TIIX′ are H.

28. The compound of claim 1 , wherein Y 3 is selected from the group consisting of: