Thiolalkyl benzoic acid derivatives

1. A compound of formula Ib

or a pharmaceutically acceptable equivalent, wherein:

A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 are independently hydrogen, C 1 –C 9 alkyl, C 2 –C 9 alkenyl, C 2 –C 9 alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, carbocycle, heterocycle, halo, hydroxy, sulfhydryl, nitro, amino, cyano, isocyano, thiocyano, isothiocyano, formamido, thioformamido, sulfo, sulfino, C 1 –C 9 alkylsulfonyl, C 1 –C 9 alkoxy, C 2 –C 9 alkenoxy, phenoxy, or benzyloxy,

wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, carbocycle, heterocycle, alkoxy, alkenoxy, phenoxy, and benzyloxy are independently unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s),

wherein if A 1 is chloro, fluoro, amino, or thiolmethyl, then A 2 , A 3 , and A 4 may not all be hydrogen,

and wherein at least one of A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , and A 4 is not hydrogen.

2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein:

A 2 , A 3 , and A 4 are hydrogen; and

A 1 is —(CH 2 ) n —Ar or —Y—(CH 2 ) n —Ar, wherein n is 0–3, Y is O, S, or NR wherein R is hydrogen or C1–C4 alkyl, and Ar is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with C1–C4 alkyl, carboxy, or halo.

3. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein the compound is an enantiomer or part of an enantiomer-enriched mixture.

4. The compound according to claim 2 wherein the compound is:

5-(mercaptomethyl)-2-(2-phenylethoxy)-benzoic acid;

4-(mercaptomethyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2,3′-dicarboxylic acid;

5-(mercaptomethyl)-2-(phenylmethoxy)-benzoic acid; or

4-bromo-3-(mercaptomethyl)-benzoic acid;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

5. The compound according to claim 4 wherein the compound is 4-(mercaptomethyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2,3′-dicarboxylic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

6. A method for inhibiting NAALADase enzyme activity, treating a glutamate abnormality, effecting a neuronal activity, treating a prostate disease, treating cancer, inhibiting angiogenesis or effecting a TGF-β activity, comprising administering to a mammal in need of such inhibition, treatment or effect, an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said method is for treating a glutamate abnormality selected from the group consisting of a compulsive disorder, stroke, demyelinating disease, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, anxiety, anxiety disorder, memory impairment and glaucoma.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said method is for effecting a neuronal activity selected from the group consisting of stimulation of damaged neurons, promotion of neuronal regeneration, prevention of neurodegeneration and treatment of a neurological disorder.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the neuronal activity is treatment of a neurological disorder and said neurological disorder is pain, diabetic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy caused by physical injury or disease state, traumatic brain injury, physical damage to spinal cord, stroke associated with brain damage, a demyelinating disease or a neurological disorder relating to neurodegeneration.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said method is for treating cancer.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein said method is for inhibiting angiogenesis.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein said method is for treating a TGF-β abnormality selected from the group consisting of neurodegenerative disorder, extra-cellular matrix formation disorder, cell-growth related disease, infectious disease, immune related disease, epithelial tissue scarring, collagen vascular disease, fibroproliferative disorder, connective tissue disorder, inflammation, inflammatory disease, respiratory distress syndrome, infertility, and diabetes.

13. A method for detecting a disease, disorder or condition where NAALADase levels are altered, comprising:

(i) contacting a sample of bodily tissue or fluid with a compound according to claim 1 , wherein said compound binds to any NAALADase in said sample; and

(ii) measuring the amount of any NAALADase bound to said sample, wherein the amount of NAALADase is diagnostic for said disease, disorder, or condition.

14. A method for detecting a disease, disorder or condition where NAALADase levels are altered, comprising:

(i) labeling a compound according to claim 1 with an imaging reagent;

(ii) administering to an animal or mammal an effective amount of the labeled compound;

(iii) allowing said labeled compound to localize and bind to NAALADase present in said animal or mammal; and

(iv) measuring the amount of NAALADase bound to said labeled compound, wherein the amount of NAALADase is diagnostic for said disease, disorder, or condition.

15. A diagnostic kit for detecting a disease, disorder, or condition where NAALADase levels are altered, comprising a compound according to claim 1 labeled with a marker.

16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising:

(i) an effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 ; and

(ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.