Imidazole derivatives modulating the sodium channels

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A compound of the formula

in which

R 1 is alkyl of 3 to 16 carbon atoms or cycloalkylalkyl, the cycloalkyl of which has 3 to 7 carbon atoms and the alkyl of which has 1 to 6 carbon atoms,

or R 1 is aralkyl optionally substituted 1 to 3 times on the aryl by at least one member selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;

R 2 is phenyl optionally substituted 1 to 3 times by at least one member selected from the group consisting of halogen and alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms,

or R 2 is biphenyl optionally substituted from 1 to 4 times by at least one member selected from the group consisting of halogen and alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;

R 3 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;

it being understood however that:

when R 2 is phenyl optionally substituted from 1 to 3 times by at least one member selected from the group consisting of halogen and alkyl or alkoxy, then R 1 is neither alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms nor

in which R 9 is at least one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen and alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and R 10 and R 11 being hydrogen alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;

when R 2 is non-substituted biphenyl or when R 2 is phenyl optionally substituted from 1 to 3 times by halogen or alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, then R 1 is neither —(CH2)n-Z in which n is an integer from 0 to 3 and Z is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or phenyl optionally substituted by 1 to 3 halogen or alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

or a pharmaceutical salt thereof.

12 . A compound of claim 11 , selected from the group consisting of:

2-(1-pentylhexyl)-4-phenyl-1H-imidazole;

4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(1-pentylhexyl)-1H-imidazole;

2-(cyclohexylmethyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(1-pentylhexyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-(1-propylbutyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(1-propylbutyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(4′-bromo-1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(1-propylbutyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(2-cyclohexylethyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-[1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole;

4-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(1-propylbutyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(3-cyclohexylpropyl)-1H-imidazole;

and a salt of thereof.

13 . A compound selected from the group consisting of:

4-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(4-isobutylbenzyl)-1H-imidazole;

2-hexyl-4-(4-isobutylphenyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-phenyl-2-(3-phenylpropyl)-1H-imidazole;

4-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-hexyl-1H-imidazole;

4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-[1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole;

and a pharmaceutical salt thereof.