Substituted naphthalene sulfonamides

1. A compound of the formula II:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

P is

P and R 3 are bound to the same ring and are disposed in meta- or para-positions relative to each other;

R 1 is

(a) C 1-6 alkyl,

(b) C 1-6 alkoxyalkyl,

(c) straight or branched C 1-6 hydroxyalkyl,

(d) straight or branched C 1-6 alkylhalides, or

(e) a group Ar;

Ar is

(a) phenyl,

(b) 1-naphthyl,

(c) 2-naphthyl,

(d) benzyl,

(e) cinnamoyl,

(f) a 5 to 7-membered, optionally aromatic, partially saturated or completely saturated, heterocyclic ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms, selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, or

(g) a bicyclic ring system comprising at least one heterocyclic ring according to (f);

wherein the group Ar is optionally substituted in one or more positions with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of

(a) halogen,

(b) C 1-6 alkyl,

(c) —CF 3 ,

(d) hydroxy,

(e) C 1-6 alkoxy,

(f) C 2-4 alkenyl,

(g) phenyl,

(h) phenoxy,

(i) benzyloxy,

(j) benzoyl,

(k) —OCF 3 ,

(l) —CN,

(m) straight or branched C 1-6 hydroxyalkyl,

(n) straight or branched C 1-6 alkylhalides,

(o) —NR 4 R 5 ,

(p) —NO 2 ,

(q) —CONR 4 R 5 ,

(r) —NHSO 2 R 4 ,

(s) —NR 4 COR 5 ,

(t) —SO 2 NR 4 R 5 ,

(u) —C(═O)R 4 ,

(v) —CO 2 R 4 ,

(w) —S(O) n R 4 , wherein n is 0, 1, 2 or 3,

(x) —S—(C 1-6 )alkyl,

(y) —SCF 3 , and

(z) a 5 to 7-membered, optionally aromatic, partially saturated or completely saturated, heterocyclic ring each containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;

R 2 is

(a) H,

(b) C 1-6 alkyl,

(c) C 1-6 alkoxy,

(d) straight or branched C 1-6 hydroxyalkyl, or

(e) straight or branched C 1-6 alkylhalides;

R 3 is a group selected from the group consisting of

X and Y are independently

(a) H,

(b) halogen,

(c) C 1-6 alkyl,

(d) —CF 3 ,

(e) hydroxy,

(f) C 1-6 alkoxy,

(g) C 2-4 alkenyl,

(h) phenyl,

(i) phenoxy,

(j) benzyloxy,

(k) benzoyl,

(l) —OCF 3 ,

(m) —CN,

(n) straight or branched C 1-6 hydroxyalkyl,

(o) straight or branched C 1-6 alkylhalides,

(p) —NR 4 R 5 ,

(q) —NO 2 ,

(r) —CONR 4 R 5 ,

(s) —NHSO 2 R 4 ,

(t) —NR 4 COR 5 ,

(u) —SO 2 NR 4 R 5 ,

(v) —C(═O)R 4 ,

(w) —CO 2 R 4 ,

(x) —S(O) n R 4 ; wherein n is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

(y) —S—(C 1-6 )alkyl, or

(z) —SCF 3 ;

each R 4 and R 5 independently

(a) H,

(b) C 1-6 alkyl,

(c) C 3-7 cycloalkyl, or

(d) Ar 1 ;

wherein Ar 1 is selected from the group consisting of

(a) phenyl,

(b) 1-naphthyl,

(c) 2-naphthyl,

(d) benzyl,

(e) cinnamoyl,

(f) a 5 to 7-membered, optionally aromatic, partially saturated or completely saturated, heterocyclic ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms, selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, and

(g) a bicyclic ring system comprising at least one heterocyclic ring according to (f);

wherein the group Ar 1 is optionally substituted in one or more positions with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of

(a) halogen,

(b) C 1-6 alkyl,

(c) —CF 3 ,

(d) hydroxy,

(e) C 1-6 alkoxy,

(f) C 2-4 alkenyl;

(g) phenyl,

(h) phenoxy,

(i) benzyloxy,

(j) benzoyl,

(k) —OCF 3 ,

(l) —CN,

(m) straight or branched C 1-6 hydroxyalkyl,

(n) straight or branched C 1-6 alkylhalides,

(o) —NR 6 R 7 ,

(p) —NO 2 ,

(q) —CONR 7 R 8 ,

(r) —NHSO 2 R 7 ,

(s) —NR 7 COR 8 ,

(t) —SO 2 NR 7 R 8 ,

(u) —C(═O)R 7 ,

(v) —CO 2 R 7 ,

(w) —S(O) n R 7 , wherein n is 0, 1, 2 or 3,

(x) —S—(C 1-6 )alkyl,

(y) —SCF 3 ; and

(z) a 5 to 7-membered, optionally aromatic, partially saturated or completely saturated, heterocyclic ring each containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;

wherein each R 7 and R 8 is independently

(a) H,

(b) C 1-6 alkyl, or

(c) C 3-7 cycloalkyl;

alternatively, R 4 and R 5 are linked to form a group (CH 2 ) 3-5 ; and

R 6 is

(a) H, or

(b) straight or branched C 1-6 alkyl.

2. The compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein

R 1 is

(a) C 1-6 alkyl, or

(e) a group Ar;

Ar is

(a) phenyl,

(b) 1-naphthyl,

(c) 2-naphthyl, or

(f) a 5 to 7-membered, optionally aromatic, partially saturated or completely saturated, heterocyclic ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms, selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur;

wherein the group Ar is optionally substituted in one or more positions with substituents selected from the group consisting of

(a) halogen,

(b) C 1-6 alkyl,

(c) —CF 3 ,

(d) C 1-6 alkoxy,

(e) C 2-4 alkenyl,

(f) —OCF 3 , or

(g) straight or branched C 1-6 hydroxyalkyl;

R 2 is

(a) H, or

(b) C 1-3 alkyl; and

R 3 is

wherein R 6 is

(a) H, or

(b) C 1-6 alkyl.

3. A compound according to claim 2 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

R 2 is H or methyl; and

R 6 is H or methyl.

4. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:

N-(4-Methylphenyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-(3,4-Difluorophenyl)-4-(4-methyl-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-(3-Fluorophenyl)-4-(4-methyl-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

4-(4-Ethyl-1-piperazinyl)-N-phenyl-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

4-Hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-2(1H)-yl-N-(4-methylphenyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-4-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-2(1H)-yl-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

4-(4-Ethyl-1-piperazinyl)-N-(4-methylphenyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-(4-Methylphenyl)-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-[4-(2,5-Diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-1-naphthyl]-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide;

N-(2-Naphthyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-Methyl-N-(4-methylphenyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

4-(1,4-Diazepan-1-yl)-N-(4-methylphenyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide

4-(1,4-Diazepan-1-yl)-N-(2-methoxy-4-methylphenyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-(4-methylphenyl)-4-(3,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

4-(4-Isopropyl-1-piperazinyl)-N-(4-methylphenyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

4-Bromo-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

2,5-Dichloro-N-[4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthyl]benzenesulfonamide;

2-Chloro-4-fluoro-N-[4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthyl]benzenesulfonamide;

2,3-Dichloro-N-[4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthyl]benzenesulfonamide;

2,4-Dichloro-5-methyl-N-[4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthyl]benzenesulfonamide;

3-Trifluoromethyl-N-[4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthyl]benzenesulfonamide;

2-Trifluoromethyl-N-[4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthyl]benzenesulfonamide;

4-Bromo-N-methyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

Naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-amide;

2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid (4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-amide;

4-Methoxy-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

4-Chloro-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

2-Chloro-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

N-(4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide;

4-Fluoro-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

5-Fluoro-2-methyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

4-Phenoxy-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

2-Bromo-4-iodo-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-amide;

5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-amide;

3-Methyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

4-Butyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

2,4,6-Trimethyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

2,4,5-Trichloro-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

4-Iodo-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

2-Methyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

3,4-Dichloro-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

5-Bromo-2-methoxy-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

2-Bromo-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

2,6-Dichloro-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

3-Methoxy-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

3-Chloro-4-methyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

4-Bromo-2-fluoro-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

2,4-Dichloro-6-methyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

4-Bromo-2-methyl-N-(4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-benzenesulfonamide;

4,5-Dichloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalen-1-yl)-amide;

N-Methyl-N-(4-bromo-2-methylphenyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-Methyl-N-(5-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-Methyl-N-(2-methylphenyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-Methyl-N-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-Methyl-N-(2,5-dichlorothiophen-3-yl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-Methyl-N-(2-naphthyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-Methyl-N-(1-naphthyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-Methyl-N-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-Methyl-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-(1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

5-Fluoro-2-methyl-N-{4-[(2R,5S)-2,5-dimethyl-1-]piperazin-1-yl-1-naphthyl}benzenesulfonamide;

5-Fluoro-2-methyl-N-[4-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)-1-naphthyl]benzenesulfonamide;

N-[4-(4-Methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2-naphthyl]benzenesulfonamide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid phenylamide;

4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2-methoxy-phenyl)-amide;

4-(cis-3,5-Dimethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2-methoxyphenyl)-amide;

4-(cis-3,5-Dimethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-chlorophenyl)-amide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-chloro-phenyl)-amide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid phenylamide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-chloro-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-methyl-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid methyl-(2-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid methyl-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-methyl-amide;

4-piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-ethyl-phenyl)-methyl-amide;

4-(3,5-Dimethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2-isopropylphenyl)-amide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2-isopropyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-ethyl-phenyl)-amide;

N-(2-Fluorophenyl)-4-piperazin-1-ylnaphthalene-1-sulfonamide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-amide;

N-(2,4-Difluorophenyl)-4-piperazin-1-ylnaphthalene-1-sulfonamide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-phenoxyphenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2-chloro-5-methyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (4-isopropyl-phenyl)-amide;

N-(3,5-Difluorophenyl)-4-piperazin-1-ylnaphthalene-1-sulfonamide;

1-[4-(1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroquinolin-1(2H)-ylsulfonyl)-1-naphthyl]piperazine;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-nitro-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-nitro-phenyl)-amide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-nitro-phenyl)-methyl-amide;

N-(4-Methylphenyl)-4-piperazin-1-ylnaphthalene-1-sulfonamide;

N-(3-Chloro-4-methylphenyl)-4-piperazin-1-ylnaphthalene-1-sulfonamide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-methyl-amide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (4-isopropyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (4-isopropyl-phenyl)-methyl-amide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2,4-dimethyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-[1,4]Diazepan-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2-chloro-5-methyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-acetyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (2,4-dimethyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-amide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid biphenyl-2-ylamide;

4-Piperazin-1-yl-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (3-benzyloxy-phenyl)-amide;

N-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-piperazin-1-ylnaphthalene-1-sulfonamide;

N-(3-Ethylphenyl)-4-piperazin-1-ylnaphthalene-1-sulfonamide;

4-Piperazinyl-N-[3-(trifluoromethylsulfanyl)phenyl]naphthalene-1-sulfonamide

4-Piperazinyl-N-[3-benzoylphenyl]naphthalene-1-sulfonamide;

4-Piperazinyl-N-[3-(4-bromo-1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)phenyl]naphthalene-1-sulfonamide; and

4-Piperazinyl-N-[biphenyl-3-yl]naphthalene-1-sulfonamide;

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

5. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

N-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(3-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

N-(4-Methylphenyl)-4-(3-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide;

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

6. A process for the preparation of a compound according to claim 1 , wherein P is

said method comprising the steps of:

(a) performing a nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the aromatic halogen atom in 1-chloro-3-nitronaphthalene or 1-chloro-4-nitronaphthalene with an aliphatic diamine;

(b) reducing the nitro group in 1-diamine-substituted 3-nitronaphthalene or 4-nitronaphthalene obtained in step (a) to form 1-diamine-substituted 3-aminonaphthalene or -4-aminonaphthalene, respectively; and

(c) reacting the 1-diamine-substituted 3-aminonaphthalene or -4-aminonaphthalene obtained in step (b) with a suitable sulfonyl chloride.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein step (a) is performed by means of Palladium catalyzed nucleophilic substitution.

8. A process for the preparation of a compound according to claim 1 , wherein P is

said method comprising the steps of:

(a) reacting a fluoronaphthalene and chlorosulfonic acid under acidic conditions, to introduce a sulfonyl chloride group in the para position to the carbon having the fluoro atom;

(b) reacting the product of step (a) with an aliphatic or aromatic primary amine to give a sulfonamide; and

(c) reacting the product of step (b) with a diamine.

9. A pharmaceutical formulation containing a compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as an active ingredient, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or earner.

10. A method for the treatment of obesity and/or type II diabetes, which comprises administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

11. A method for reducing body-weight or reducing food intake, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

12. A method for the treatment of a disorder of the central nervous system, which comprises administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the disorder of the central nervous system is selected from the group consisting of panic attacks, memory disorders, sleep disorders, migraine, anorexia, bulimia, binge disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, psychoses, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactive disorders, and drug abuse.

13. A method for the treatment of a disorder of the central nervous system, which comprises administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the disorder of the central nervous system is selected from the group consisting of anxiety and depression.