Thiol compounds, their production and use

1. A compound represented by Formula:

wherein ring A and ring B may be same or different and each is an optionally substituted homocyclic or heterocyclic ring,

wherein the substituents on ring A and ring B may be bound to each other and taken together with ring A, ring B and X 2 to form a condensed ring,

each R 1 may be same or different and is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an acyl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group or SR 2 ,

wherein R 2 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an acyl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group,

X 1 is a bond, an optionally substituted divalent C 1-3 aliphatic hydrocarbon group or —NR 3 —,

wherein R 3 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an acyl group,

X 2 is a bond, an optionally substituted divalent C 1-3 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, —NR 4 —, —O— or —S(O) p —,

wherein R 4 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an acyl group,

and wherein p is 0, 1 or 2,

each Y may be same or different and is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, a halogen atom, a carboxyl group, an acyl group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group, an optionally substituted amino group, SR 5 , an oxo group, a thioxo group, an optionally substituted imino group, a nitro group or a cyano group,

wherein R 5 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an acyl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group,

each m may be same or different and is 0 or 1,

n is 3,

q 1 is an integer of 1 to 2n+4,

q 2 is an integer of 0 to 2n+3,

and the sum of q 1 and q 2 is 2n+4,

provided that when ring B is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring then X 2 binds to a position capable of being substituted except for a nitrogen atom on ring B, or a salt thereof.

2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein each of ring A and ring B is an optionally substituted benzene ring.

3. A compound according to claim 1 wherein each R 1 may be same or different and is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted lower alkyl group, —(C═O)—R 6 or SR 2 wherein R 6 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted amino group or an optionally substituted hydroxy group and wherein R 2 has a meaning defined in claim 1 .

4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein each R 1 may be same or different and is represented by Formula:

wherein each symbol has a meaning defined in claim 1 , or by formula

wherein each symbol has a meaning defined in claim 1 .

5. A compound according to claim 1 wherein X 1 is an optionally substituted methylene group.

6. A compound according to claim 1 wherein X 2 is —O—.

7. A compound according to claim 1 wherein m is 0.

8. A method for producing a compound represented by Formula:

wherein each symbol has a meaning defined in claim 1 or a salt thereof, comprising reacting a compound represented by Formula:

wherein L is a leaving group and each of other symbols has a meaning defined in claim 1 or a salt thereof with a compound represented by Formula:

R 1 SH

wherein R 1 has a meaning defined in claim 1 or a salt thereof.

9. A method for producing a compound represented by Formula:

wherein each symbol has a meaning defined in claim 1 or a salt thereof, comprising reacting a compound represented by Formula:

wherein each symbol has a meaning defined in claim 1 or a salt thereof, or a compound represented by Formula:

wherein each symbol has a meaning defined in claim 1 or a salt thereof, with a compound represented by Formula:

R 1 SH

wherein R 1 has a meaning defined in claim 1 or a salt thereof.

10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound represented by Formula:

wherein ring A and ring B may be same or different and each is an optionally substituted homocyclic or heterocyclic ring,

wherein the substituents on ring A and ring B may be bound to each other and taken together with ring A, ring B and X 2 to form a condensed ring,

each R 1 may be same or different and is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an acyl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group or SR 2

wherein R 2 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an acyl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group,

X 1 is a bond, an optionally substituted divalent C 1-3 aliphatic hydrocarbon group or —NR 3 — wherein R 3 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an acyl group, X 2 is a bond, an optionally substituted divalent C 1-3 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, —NR 4 —, —O— or —S(O) p —,

wherein R 4 a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an acyl group,

and wherein p is 0, 1 or 2,

each Y may be same or different and is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, a halogen atom, a carboxyl group, an acyl group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group, an optionally substituted amino group, SR 5 , an oxo group, a thioxo group, an optionally substituted imino group, a nitro group or a cyano group,

wherein R 5 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an acyl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group,

each m may be same or different and is 0 or 1,

n is 3,

q 1 is an integer of 1 to 2n+4,

q 1 is an integer of 0 to 2n+3,

and the sum of q 1 and q 1 is 2n+4

or a salt thereof

and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

11. A method for treating osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, periodontosis or corneal ulcer comprising administering a composition according to claim 10 a salt thereof.