Indole, indazole and indoline derivatives as CETP inhibitors

1. A compound of the formula (I):

wherein:

—X—Y— is —CR a ═CR c — or —CR a ═N— or —CR a R b —CR c R d —,

R a , R b , R c and R d are independently from each other selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl;

R 1 , R 2 , R 4 and R 5 are independently from each other selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen and lower halogenalkyl;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, cycloalkyl being unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl, cyano or lower alkoxy, lower halogenalkyl, lower alkoxyalkyl, lower alkoxy-halogenalkyl, halogenalkoxy and pentafluorosulphuranyl; or

R 2 and R 3 taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic ring or a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring containing one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, said carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring being unsubstituted or substituted by one, two, three or four groups independently selected from lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, and lower halogenalkyl;

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl;

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl hydroxy and halogen;

R 8 is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower halogenalkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two groups independently selected from lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower halogenalkyl, lower halogenalkoxy and halogen, phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two groups independently selected from lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower halogenalkyl, lower halogenalkoxy and halogen, —OR 12 , wherein R 12 is lower alkyl or phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two groups independently selected from lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower halogenalkyl, lower halogenalkoxy and halogen, —NR 13 R 14 , wherein R 13 and R 14 independently from each other are selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, and phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two groups independently selected from lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower halogenalkyl, lower halogenalkoxy and halogen, and —C(O)—OR 15 , wherein R 15 is hydrogen or lower alkyl;

R 9 , R 10 and R 11 independently from each other are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkoxy, lower halogenalkyl, and halogen;

n is 1 or 2;

and all pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

2. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein —X—Y— signifies —CR a ═CR c — and R a and R c are independently from each other selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl.

3. The compound according to claim 1 , selected from the group consisting of:

5-chloro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(3-difluoromethoxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(3-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(4-chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(3,4-dichloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-2-chloro-benzyl)-[2-(3,4-dichloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-2-fluoro-benzyl)-[2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(3,4-dichloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide,

5-chloro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid (4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-[2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide;

5-chloro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid [4-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-benzyl]-[2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide, and

5-chloro-1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid [2-(3,4-dichloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-[4-(1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-trifluoromethyl-ethyl)-benzyl]-amide,

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

4. A process for the manufacture of a compound of formula I according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

a) reacting an acid of the formula II

 wherein —X—Y—, R 9 , R 10 and R 11 are as defined in claim 1 and R is hydrogen or lower alkyl, with an amine of formula III

 wherein R 1 to R 8 and n are as defined in claim 1 , in the presence of a coupling agent; or, alternatively,

b) reacting a halogen derivative of formula IV

 wherein —X—Y—, R 9 , R 10 and R 11 are as defined in claim 1 and Hal means halogen, with an amine of formula III in the presence of a suitable catalyst and carbon monoxide, and if desired,

converting the compound obtained into a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt.

5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 as well as a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or adjuvant.