Novel ligands that modulate LXR-type receptors and cosmetic/pharmaceutical applications thereof

1 . A ligand compound having the following structural formula (I):

in which:

R 1 is:

(i) an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl or heteroaryl radical,

(ii) a radical:

wherein R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are as defined below,

(iii) a radical:

wherein R 6 and R 7 are as defined below,

(iv) a radical:

wherein R 5 is as defined below,

(v) a radical:

wherein R 13 , R 5 , R 8 and R 9 are as defined below,

R 3 is a linear alkylene radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms,

R 2 is an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms or an aryl, heteroaryl or aralkyl radical,

R′ 3 , which is a divalent radical, is an alkylene radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms or an aryl, heteroaryl or aralkyl radical,

R 4 is an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or heteraryl radical or a radical —COR 6 , wherein R 6 is as defined below,

R 5 , R 6 and R 7 , which may be identical or different, are each a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, an aryl, aralkyl or heteroaryl radical,

R 8 and R 9 , which may be identical or different, are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical,

Ar is an aryl, heteroaryl or aralkyl radical,

X is two hydrogen atoms, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom,

Y is an oxygen or sulfur atom,

n is 0 or 1,

and the optical and geometrical isomers and salts of the said compounds of formula (I).

2 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , wherein formula (I), R 1 is a radical (i).

3 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , wherein formula (I), R 1 is a radical (ii).

4 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , wherein formula (I), R 1 is a radical (iii).

5 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , wherein formula (I), R 1 is a radical (iv).

6 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , wherein formula (I), R 1 is a radical (v).

7 . An alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal, or zinc or organic amine salt of the ligand compound as defined by claim 1 .

8 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , comprising at least one alkyl radical substituted selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic, optionally branched radicals having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, which may be interrupted with a hetero atom.

9 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 8 , comprising at least one methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, butyl, tert-butyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl or cyclohexyl radical substituent.

10 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , comprising at least one phenyl, biphenyl, cinnamyl, indanyl or naphthyl radical substituent, which may be mono- or disubstituted with a halogen atom, a CF 3 radical, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, a nitro function, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl radical optionally protected with an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino function optionally protected with an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

11 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , comprising at least one benzyl, phenethyl or naphthalen-2-ylmethyl radical substituent, the aromatic moiety of which may be mono- or disubstituted with a halogen atom, a CF 3 radical, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, a nitro function, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl radical optionally protected with an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino function optionally protected with an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

12 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , comprising at least one pyridyl, furyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzimidazolyl, indolyl, benzofuryl, pyrazolinyl or indolizinyl radical substituent optionally substituted with at least one halogen, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a nitro function, a polyether radical, a heteroaryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl radical optionally protected with an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino function optionally protected with an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

13 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , selected from the group consisting of:

1. 1-[1-(4-cyclohexylbenzoyl) 4 -phenylpiperidin-4-yl]ethanone,

2. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-4-phenylbutan-1-one,

3. 1-{1-[5-(2-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)thiophene-2-carbonyl]-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}ethanone,

4. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-(1-ethyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propenone,

5. 1-{1-[5-(2-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)thiophene-2-carbonyl]4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}butan-1-one,

6. 1-{4-phenyl-1-[3-pyridin-4-yl-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonyl]piperidin-4-yl}butan-1-one,

7. 1-{1-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)indolizine-1-carbonyl]-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}ethanone,

8. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-3-dimethylamino-N-methylbenzamide,

9. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-4-isopropyl-N-methylbenzamide,

10. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]4-dimethylaminobenzamide,

11. N-[3-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4-isobutylbenzamide,

12. 1,1-dimethyl-N-[3-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]indan-4-carboxamide,

13. 1,1-dimethyl-N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]indan-4-carboxamide,

14. 4-tert-butyl-N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]benzamide,

15. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-(1-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propenone,

16. N-[3-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4-cyclohexylbenzamide,

17. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-4-tert-butylbenzamide,

18. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]4-cyclohexylbenzamide,

19. 1-{1-[2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionyl]4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}butan-1-one,

20. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-2-methanesulfonyl-N-methylbenzamide,

21. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]4-butyl-N-methylbenzamide,

22. 1-{4-phenyl-1-[3-pyridin-4-yl-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonyl]piperidin-4-yl}ethanone,

23. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-N-methyl-N-biphenyl-4-carboxamide,

24. 1-{1-[5-(3-chlorophenoxy)-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonyl]-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}butan-1-one,

25. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-4-isobutyl-N-methylbenzamide,

26. 1,1-dimethyl-N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]indan-4-carboxamide,

27. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-(2-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropan-1-one,

28. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-(1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propenone,

29. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-3-dimethylamino-N-methylbenzamide,

30. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]4-isobutylbenzamide,

31. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-3-trifluoromethylbenzamide,

32. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-N-methyl-3-trifluoromethylbenzamide,

33. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropan-1-one,

34. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-benzenesulfonylethanone,

35. 1-[1-(2-benzenesulfonylacetyl)-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl]butan-1-one,

36. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]biphenyl-4-carboxamide,

37. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-3-dimethylaminobenzamide,

38. 1-{1-[3-(1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)acryloyl]-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}butan-1-one,

39. 1-{1-[2-(2-tert-butyl-6-methylphenoxy)acetyl]-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}butan-1-one,

40. 4-butyl-N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]benzamide,

41. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]4-butylbenzamide,

42. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]4-isopropylbenzamide,

43. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4-cyclohexylbenzamide,

44. 1,1-dimethyl-N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-N-methylindan-4-carboxamide,

45. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-2-methanesulfonyl-N-methylbenzamide,

46. 1-(1-{3-[3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl]acryloyl}-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl)butan-1-one,

47. 1-{1-[2-(2-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionyl]-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}butan-1-one,

48. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]biphenyl-4-carboxamide,

49. 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-5-methyl-N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]isoxazole-4-carboxamide,

50. 1-{1-[5-(3-chlorophenoxy)-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonyl]-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}ethanone,

51. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]4-isobutyl-N-methylbenzamide,

52. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-4-isopropyl-N-methylbenzamide,

53. 1-{1-[3-(1-ethyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)acryloyl]4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}butan-1-one,

54. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]4-cyclohexylbenzamide,

55. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-N-methylnaphthalene-2-carboxamide,

56. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]naphthalene-2-carboxamide,

57. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4-isobutylbenzamide,

58. 4-tert-butyl-N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]benzamide,

59. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-[3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl]propenone,

60. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-N-methylbiphenyl-4-carboxamide,

61. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-N-methylnaphthalene-2-carboxamide,

62. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-phenoxyethanone,

63. N-[2-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]biphenyl-4-carboxamide,

64. 1,1-dimethyl-N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]indan-4-carboxamide,

65. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-N-methyl-4-trifluoromethylbenzamide,

66. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-4-isopropylbenzamide,

67. N-[3-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4-tert-butylbenzamide,

68. 1-{1-[3-(1-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)acryloyl]-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl}butan-1-one,

69. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-(2-tert-butyl-6-methylphenoxy)ethanone,

70. 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-5-methylisoxazole-4-carboxylic acid [2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]amide,

71. 1-[1-(2-phenoxyacetyl) 4 -phenylpiperidin-4-yl]butan-1-one,

72. 4-butyl-N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]benzamide,

73. N-[3-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]4-isopropylbenzamide,

74. 1-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-phenoxybutan-1-one,

75. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4-trifluoromethylbenzamide,

76. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4-isopropylbenzamide,

77. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-3-trifluoromethylbenzamide,

78. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-2-methanesulfonylbenzamide,

79. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]naphthalene-2-carboxamide,

80. 1-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-phenoxybutan-1-one,

81. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-3-dimethylaminobenzamide,

82. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-4-isobutylbenzamide,

83. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-3-dimethylaminobenzamide,

84. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4-dimethylaminobenzamide,

85. N-[2-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-4-dimethylaminobenzamide,

86. biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid [3-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]amide,

87. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]naphthalene-2-carboxamide,

88. N-[3-(4-butyryl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-2-methanesulfonylbenzamide,

89. N-[3-(4-acetyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropyl]naphthalene-2-carboxamide, and mixtures thereof.

14 . The ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , wherein formula (I) at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:

Ar is a phenyl radical,

Y is an oxygen atom,

R 2 is an alkyl radical,

X is an oxygen atom,

R1 is the radical:

R 3 is an alkylene radical,

R 5 is an aryl radical when R 1 is

and R 5 is a hydrogen atom when R 1 is the radical

and R 4 is 4-cyclohexylbenzoyl.

15 . A cosmetic/pharmaceutical composition useful for modulating LXR receptors, comprising a thus effective amount of at least one ligand compound as defined by claim 1 , formulated into a physiologically acceptable medium therefor.

16 . The cosmetic/pharmaceutical composition as defined by claim 15 , comprising from 0.001% to 10% by weight of said at least one ligand compound.

17 . The cosmetic/pharmaceutical composition as defined by claim 15 , comprising from 0.01% to 1% by weight of said at least one ligand compound.

18 . The cosmetic/pharmaceutical composition as defined by claim 15 , formulated for topical application.

19 . A regime or regimen for treating the following disorders, conditions or afflictions:

dermatological complaints associated with a keratinization disorder relating to differentiation and proliferation, common acne, comedones, polymorphs, rosacea, nodulocystic acne, acne conglobata, senile acne and secondary acne, or solar, medicinal or occupational acne,

ichthyosis, ichthyosiform conditions, Darier's disease, palmoplantar keratoderma, leukoplakia and leukoplakiform conditions, and cutaneous or mucous (oral) lichen,

dermatological complaints with an inflammatory immunoallergic component, with or without a cellular proliferation disorder, cutaneous, mucous or ungual psoriasis, psoriatic rheumatism, cutaneous atopy, eczema, respiratory atopy or gingival hypertrophy,

benign or malignant dermal or epidermal proliferations, whether or not of viral origin, common warts, flat warts, epidermodysplasia verruciformis, oral or florid papillomatoses and T lymphoma,

proliferations induced by ultraviolet light, basocellular and spinocellular epithelioma,

precancerous skin lesions, keratoacanthomas,

immune dermatitides, lupus erythematosus,

bullous immune diseases,

collagen diseases, scleroderma,

dermatological or systemic complaints with an immunological component,

skin disorders due to exposure to UV radiation, photo-induced or chronological aging of the skin or actinic pigmentations and keratoses, or any pathology associated with chronological or actinic aging, xerosis,

sebaceous function disorders, hyperseborrhoea of acne, simple seborrhoea or seborrhoeic dermatitis,

cicatrization disorders or stretch marks,

pigmentation disorders, hyperpigmentation, melasma, hypopigmentation or vitiligo,

lipid metabolism complaints, obesity, hyperlipidaemia, non-insulin-dependent diabetes or syndrome X,

inflammatory complaints, arthritis, cancerous or precancerous conditions,

alopecia of various origins, alopecia caused by chemotherapy or radiation,

immune system disorders, asthma, type I sugar diabetes, multiple sclerosis or other selective dysfunctions of the immune system, or

complaints of the cardiovascular system, arteriosclerosis or hypertension,

comprising administering to a mammalian organism in need of such treatment, a thus effective amount of at least one ligand compound as defined by claim 1 .

20 . A regime or regimen for treating an imbalance in the barrier function of the skin, comprising administering to a mammalian organism in need of such treatment, a thus effective amount of at least one ligand compound as defined by claim 1 .

21 . A regime or regimen for treating a disorder, condition or affliction associated with the LXR receptors, comprising administering to a mammalian organism in need of such treatment, a thus effective amount of at least one ligand compound as defined by claim 1 .

22 . A regime or regimen for treating a disorder, condition or affliction of differentiation and/or proliferation of epidermal cells, comprising administering to a mammalian organism in need of such treatment, a thus effective amount of at least one ligand compound as defined by claim 1.