17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 inhibitors for the treatment of androgen dependent diseases

1. A compound of the formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said compound or of said prodrug wherein,

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl and heteroarylalkyl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b) —OCF 3 or —OCHF 2 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

d) —CN;

e) alkyl or R 18 -alkyl;

f) heteroalkyl or R 18 -heteroalkyl;

g) aryl or R 18 -aryl;

h) heteroaryl or R 18 -heteroaryl;

i) arylalkyl or R 18 -arylakyl;

j) heteroarylalkyl or R 18 -heteroarylalkyl;

k) hydroxy;

l) alkoxy;

m) aryloxy;

n) —SO 2 -alkyl;

o) —NR 11 R 12 ;

p) —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 ,

q) methylenedioxy;

r) difluoromethylenedioxy;

s) trifluoroalkoxy;

t) —SCH 3 or —SCF 3 ; and

u) —SO 2 CF 3 or —NHSO 2 CF 3 ;

R 3 is H, —OH, alkoxy or alkyl, provided that when X is N, R 3 is not —OH or alkoxy;

R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, OR 14 , —NR 11 R 12 , —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 , alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl,

provided that when Z and/or X is N, then R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are not OH, OR 14 , —NR 11 R 12 , or —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 ;

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of —C(O)R 15 and —SO 2 R 15 ;

R 9 and R 10 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, —CF 3 , alkyl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, —NR 11 R 12 and —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 , provided that when Z is N, then R 9 and R 10 are each not F, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, —NR 11 R 12 or

—N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 ;

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

R 12 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

R 13 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy and aryloxy;

R 14 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

R 15 is selected from the group consisting of —NR 16 R 17 , —OR 16 , alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl and heteroarylalkyl, each optionally substituted with R 18 ; R 16 and R 17 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with R 18 , provided that when R 15 is —OR 16 , R 16 is not H;

R 18 is one to four substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, halo, cyano, nitro, haloalkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkoxy carbonyl, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, carboxamide, mercapto, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; and

either X=Z=N, or X=Z=C or X is C and Z is N,

wherein the term “heteroaryl” refers to 5- or 10-membered single or benzofused aromatic ring consisting of 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S, and —N═, provided that the rings do not possess adjacent oxygen and/or sulfur atoms, wherein said heteroaryl can be unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, or three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl, halo, cyano, nitro, haloalkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, carboxamide, mercapto, amino, alkylamino and dialkylamino; the term “heteroarylalkyl” refers to a heteroaryl group bonded through an alkyl group; the term “heterocycloalkyl” refers to a non-aromatic, heterocyclic ring of 3-7 atoms containing 1-3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S; and the term “heteroalkyl” refers to an alkyl group which containing at least one heteroatom.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein:

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b)—OCF 3 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

d) —CN;

e) (C1-C20)alkyl or R 18 -(C1-C20) alkyl;

f) heteroalkyl or R 18 -heteroalkyl;

g) aryl or R 18 -aryl;

h) heteroaryl or R 18 -heteroaryl;

i) arylalkyl or R 18 -arylalkyl;

j) heteroarylalkyl or R 18 -heteroarylalkyl;

k) hydroxy;

l) alkoxy;

m) aryloxy;

n) —SO 2 -alkyl;

o) —NR 11 R 12 ;

p) —N(R 11 )C(O)R 13 ;

q) methylenedioxy;

r) difluoromethylenedioxy;

s) trifluoroalkoxy;

t) —SCH 3 ; and

u) —SO 2 CF 3 ;

R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, —OR 14 , —NR 11 R 12 ,

provided that when Z and X are both N or when X is C and Z is N, then R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are each not —OR 14 or —NR 11 R 12 ; and

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl.

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein:

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b) —OCF 3 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

d) trifluoroalkoxy;

e) (C1-C6)alky or R 18 -(C1-C6)alkyl;

f) heteroalkyl or R 18 -heteroalkyl;

g) aryl or R 18 -aryl;

h) arylalkyl or R 18 - arylalkyl;

i) heteroarylalkyl or R 18 - heteroarylalkyl;

j) alkoxy;

k) —SO 2 -alkyl; and

l) —SO 2 CF 3 ;

R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, —OR 14 , —NR 11 R 12 ,

provided that when either Z and X are both N, or when Z is N and X is C, then R 4 , R 5 , R 7 and R 8 are each not —OR 14 or —NR 11 R 12 ; and

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl.

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein,

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b) —OCF 3 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

d) alkoxy;

e) trifluoralkoxy;

f) (C1-C6)alkyl;

g) —SO 2 -alkyl; and

h) —SO 2 CF 3 ;

R 3 is H or —OH, provided that when X is N, R 3 is not —OH;

R 4 and R 5 are the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, (C1-C6)alkyl, heteroalkyl and

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, —OR 14 and —NR 11 R 12 , provided that when X is N, R 7 is not —OR 14 or —NR 11 R 12 ;

R 8 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl; and

Z is C.

5. The compound of claim 1 wherein:

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) halogen;

b) —OCF 3 ,

c) alkoxy;

d) trifluoroalkoxy;

e) —CF 3 ;

f) —SO 2 -alkyl; and

g) —SO 2 CF 3 ;

R 3 is H;

R 4 and R 5 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, (C1-C6)alkyl, heteroalkyl, and

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of —C(O)R 15 and —SO 2 R 15 ;

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, —OR 14 and —NR 11 R 12 ; provided that when X is N, R 7 is not —OR 14 or —NR 11 R 12 ;

R 8 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl;

and R 11 is H or alkyl.

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein,

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl and pyridyl, each optionally substituted with one to six groups selected from the group consisting of:

a) Br, F or Cl;

b) —OCF 3 ;

c) —CF 3 ;

d) methoxy;

e) ethoxy;

f) cyclopropylmethoxy;

g) —OCH 2 CF 3 ;

h) —SO 2 -alkyl; and

i) —SO 2 CF 3

R 3 is H;

R 4 and R 5 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t-butyl and heteroalkyl;

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H, —OR 11 and alkyl;

R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 and R 14 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl;

R 13 is alkyl;

R 15 is selected from the group consisting of —NR 16 R 17 , —OR 16 and alkyl; R 16 and R 17 are the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl, provided that when R 15 is —OR 16 , R 16 is not H; and Z is C.

7. A compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said compound, said compound being selected from the group consisting of:

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.

9. A method of treating an androgen dependent disease, which comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the androgen dependent disease is selected from the group consisting of prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, hirsutism, acne, androgenic alopecia, polycystic ovary syndrome and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the androgen dependent disease is selected from the group consisting of prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

11. A method of inhibiting 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, which comprises administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

12. A method of treating benign prostatic hyperplasia comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 in combination with at least one agent useful in the treatment or prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the agent useful in the treatment or prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia is an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist.

14. A method of treating hair loss, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 in combination with at least one anti-alopecia agent.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the anti-alopecia agent is a potassium channel agonist or a 5α-reductase inhibitor.

16. A method of treating proliferative diseases comprising administering concurrently or sequentially to a mammal in need of such treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 in combination with an effective amount or therapy selected from the group consisting of chemotherapeutic agent, surgery, radiation therapy and combinations thereof, wherein the proliferative disease is selected from the group consisting of prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer; the chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil,temozolomide, vincristine, cisplatin, carboplatin, gemcitabine, taxotere and paclitaxel.