Sulfonic acids, their derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions containing them

1. A compound of formula (I):

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,

wherein

Ar is a substituted phenyl group, selected from 3′-benzoylphenyl, 3′-(4-chloro-benzoyl)-phenyl, 3′-(4-methyl-benzoyl)-phenyl, 3′-acetyl-phenyl, 3′-propionyl-phenyl, 3′-isobutanoyl-phenyl, 4′-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy-phenyl, 4′-benzenesulfonyloxy-phenyl, 4′-trifluoromethanesulfonylamino-phenyl, 4′-benzenesulfonylamino-phenyl, 4′-benzenesulfonylmethyl-phenyl, 4′-acetoxyphenyl, 4′-propionyloxy-phenyl, 4′-benzoyloxy-phenyl, 4′acetylamino-phenyl, 4′propionylamino-phenyl, 4′-benzoylamino-phenyl, or Ar is a substituted 5-6 membered heteroaryl ring;

X represents either a —CH 2 — or a —CH(CH 3 )— group or an ethylenic group of formula (II)

in the E configuration wherein R′ is hydrogen (H) or CH 3 ;

Y is selected from oxygen (O) and NH; and

when Y is O, R is H;

when Y is NH, R is selected from H, C 1 -C 5 -alkyl, C 1 -C 5 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 5 -alkenyl, C 1 -C 5 -acyl, a residue of formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —Z—(CH 2 —CH 2 O)nR″ wherein R″ is H or C 1 -C 5 -alkyl, n is an integer from 0 to 2 and Z is oxygen or sulfur, a residue of formula —(CH2)n-NRaRb wherein n is an integer from 0 to 5 and each Ra and Rb, which may be the same or different,

are C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkenyl or Ra and Rb, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, form a heterocycle from 3 to 7 members of formula (III)

wherein W represents a single bond, CH2, O, S or N-Rc, Rc being H, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl or C 1 -C 6 -alkylphenyl.

2. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein Ar is a heteroaryl ring selected from substituted pyridine, pyrrole, thiophene, furane, or indole.

3. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein YR is OH.

4. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein Y is NH and R is:

H, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 acyl;

a residue of formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —O—(CH 2 —CH 2 O)R″ wherein R″ is H or C 1 -C 5 -alkyl;

a residue of formula —(CH2)n-NRaRb wherein n is the integer 2 or 3, more preferably 3and the group NRaRb is N,N-dimethylamine, N,N-diethylamine, 1-piperidyl, 4-morpholyl, 1-pyrrolidyl, 1-piperazinyl, 1-(4-methyl)piperazinyl.

5. The compound of claim 1 , selected from the group consisting of:

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanesulfonic acid

1-[4-(1-oxo-2-isoindolinyl)phenyl]ethanesulfonic acid

2-(4-phenylsulfonyloxy)ethanesulfonic acid

(1-methyl-5-acetylpyrrolyl)-1-methanesulfonic acid

2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethanesulfonic acid

2-(3-isopropylphenyl)ethanesulfonic acid

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethenesulfonic acid

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethenesulfonic acid

E-2-(4-methanesulfonylaminophenyl)ethenesulfonic acid

E-2-(4-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxyphenyl)ethenesulfonic acid

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethenesulfonamide

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethenesulfonamide

E-2-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethenesulfonamide

E-2-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethenesulfonamide

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethene-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethene-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide

E-2-[4(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethene-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl) sulfonamide

E-2-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethene-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethene-N-methyl sulfonamide

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethene-N-methyl sulfonamide

E-2-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethene-N-methyl sulfonamide

E-2-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethene-N-methyl sulfonamide

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethene-N-(2″-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethene-N-(2″-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide

E-2-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethene-N-(2″-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide

E-2-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethene-N-(2″-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide

(1-methyl-5-isobutirrylpyrrolyl)-1-methanesulfonamide

(1-methyl-5-acetylpyrrolyl)-1-methanesulfonamide

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanesulfonamide

1-(3-isopropylphenyl)ethanesulfonamide

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethane-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide

1-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethane-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide

1-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethane-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl) sulfonamide

1-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethane-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethane-N-(2-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide

1-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethane-N-(2-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide

1-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethane-N-(2-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide

1-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethane-N-(2-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethane-N-methyl sulfonamide

1-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethane-N-methyl sulfonamide

1-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethane-N-methyl sulfonamide

1-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethane-N-methyl sulfonamide

1-[4-isobutylphenyl]ethane-N-acetyl sulfonamide

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)-2-methyl-ethenesulfonamide

E-2-(3-isopropylphenyl)-2-methyl-ethenesulfonamide

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-2-methyl-ethenesulfonamide

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

6. Compounds according to claim 5 , wherein the compounds are ethanesulfonamides, in the form of single (−) or (+) enantiomers.

7. A method for inhibiting chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear lymphocytes induced by IL-8 which comprises administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,

wherein

Ar is a substituted phenyl group selected from the group consisting of 3′-benzoylphenyl, 3′-(4-chloro-benzoyl)-phenyl, 3′-(4-methyl-benzoyl)-phenyl, 3′-acetyl-phenyl, 3′-propionyl-phenyl, 3′-isobutanoyl-phenyl, 4′-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy-phenyl, 4′-benzenesulfonyloxy-phenyl, 4′-trifluoromethanesulfonylamino-phenyl, 4′-benzenesulfonylamino-phenyl, 4′-benzenesulfonylmethyl-phenyl, 4′-acetoxyphenyl, 4′-propionyloxy-phenyl, 4-benzoyloxy-phenyl, 4′acetylamino-phenyl, 4′propionylamino-phenyl, 4′-benzoylamino-phenyl, or a heteroaryl ring selected from the group consisting of pyridine, pyrrole, thiophene, furane and indole;

X represents —CH 2 —, —CH(CH 3 )— or an ethylenic group of formula (II)

in the E configuration wherein R′ is hydrogen (H) or CH 3 ;

Y is selected from oxygen (O) and NH; and

when Y is O, R is H;

when Y is NH, R is selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 5 -alkyl, C 1 -C 5 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 5 -alkenyl, C 1 -C 5 -acyl, a residue of formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —Z—(CH 2 —CH 2 O)nR″ wherein R″ is H or C 1 -C 5 alkyl, n is an integer from 0 to 2 and Z is O or sulfur (S), or a residue of formula —(CH 2 )n-NRaRb wherein n is an integer from 0 to 5 and each Ra and Rb, which may be the same or different, are C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkenyl or Ra and Rb, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, form a heterocycle from 3 to 7 members of formula (III)

wherein W represents a single bond, CH 2 , O, S or N-Rc, Rc being H, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl or C 1 -C 6 -alkylphenyl.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the individual is treated for psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, melanoma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bullous pemphigoid, rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic fibrosis, glomerulonephritis or for the treatment of damage caused by ischemia and reperfusion.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein YR is OH.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein Y is NH and R is:

H, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 acyl, a residue of formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —O—(CH 2 —CH 2 O)R″ wherein R″ is H or C 1 -C 5 -alkyl, or a residue of formula —(CH2)n-NRaRb wherein n is the integer 2 or 3 and the group NRaRb is N,N-dimethylamine, N,N-diethylamine, 1-piperidyl, 4-morpholyl, 1-pyrrolidyl, 1-piperazinyl or 1-(4-methyl)piperazinyl.

11. The method according to claim 7 wherein said compound of formula (I) is selected from:

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanesulfonic acid,

1[4-(1-oxo-2-isoindolinyl)phenyl]ethanesulfonic acid,

2-(4-phenylsulfonyloxy)ethanesulfonic acid,

(1-methyl-5-acetylpyrrolyl)-1-methanesulfonic acid,

2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethanesulfonic acid,

2-(3-isopropylphenyl)ethanesulfonic acid,

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethenesulfonic acid,

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethenesulfonic acid,

E-2-(4-methanesulfonylaminophenyl)ethenesulfonic acid,

E-2-(4-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxyphenyl)ethenesulfonic acid,

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethenesulfonamide,

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethenesulfonamide,

E-2-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethenesulfonamide,

E-2-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethenesulfonamide,

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethene-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide,

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethene-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide,

E-2-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethene-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl) sulfonamide,

E-2-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethene-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl) sulfonamide,

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethene-N-methyl sulfonamide,

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethene-N-methyl sulfonamide,

E-2-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethene-N-methyl sulfonamide,

E-2-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethene-N-methyl sulfonamide,

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethene-N-(2″-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide,

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethene-N-(2″-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide,

E-2-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethene-N-(2″-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide,

E-2-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethene-N-(2″-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide,

(1-methyl-5-isobutirrylpyrrolyl)-1-methanesulfonamide,

(1-methyl -5-acetylpyrrolyl)-1-methanesulfonamide,

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanesulfonamide,

1-(3-isopropylphenyl)ethanesulfonamide,

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethane-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide,

1-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethane-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)sulfonamide,

1-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethane-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl) sulfonamide,

1-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethane-N-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl) sulfonamide,

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethane-N-(2-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide,

1-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethane-N-(2-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide,

1-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethane-N-(2-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide,

1-[4-(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethane-N-(2-methoxyethyl)sulfonamide,

1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethane-N-methyl sulfonamide,

1-(3-benzoylphenyl)ethane-N-methyl sulfonamide,

1-[4-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)phenyl]ethane-N-methyl sulfonamide,

1-[4(methanesulfonylamino)phenyl]ethane-N-methyl sulfonamide,

1-[4-isobutylphenyl]ethane-N-acetyl sulfonamide,

E-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)-2-methyl-ethenesulfonamide,

E-2-(3-isopropylphenyl)-2-methyl-ethenesulfonamide,

E-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-2-methyl-ethenesulfonamide,

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the compounds are ethanesulphonamides in the form of single(−) or (+) enantiomers.