Aminothiazole derivatives and their use as CRF receptor ligands

1. A method of modulation of the action of corticotropin releasing factor, which comprises administering to a patient in need of such modulation a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

wherein

R 1 and R 2 , which may be identical or different, each independently represent a halogen atom; a hydroxy (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl; a (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl; an aralkyl in which the aryl portion is (C 6 -C 8 ) and the alkyl portion is (C 1 -C 4 ); a (C 1 -C 5 )alkoxy; a trifluoromethyl group; a nitro group; a nitrile group; a group —SR in which R represents hydrogen, a (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl or an aralkyl in which the aryl portion is (C 6 -C 8 ) and the alkyl portion is (C 1 -C 4 ); a group —S—CO—R in which R represents a (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl or an aralkyl radical in which the aryl portion is (C 6 -C 8 ) and the alkyl portion is (C 1 -C 4 ); a group —COORa in which Ra represents hydrogen or a (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl; a group —CONRaRb with Ra and Rb as defined above for Ra; a group —NRaRb with Ra and Rb as defined above for Ra; a group —CONRcRd or —NRcRd in which Rc and Rd constitute, with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, a 5- to 7-membered heterocycle; or a group —NHCO—NRaRb with Ra and Rb as defined above for Ra;

R 3 represents hydrogen or is as defined above for R 1 and R 2 ;

or alternatively R 2 constitutes with R 3 , when the latter substitutes the phenyl in position 5, a group —X—CH 2 —X— in which X independently represents a CH 2 or an oxygen or sulphur atom;

R 4 represents hydrogen, a (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl; a hydroxymethyl group; a formyl group; a halogen atom; or a (C 3 -C 5 )cycloalkyl group;

R 5 represents an alkynyl of 3 to 6 carbon atoms;

R 6 represents a (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; a (C 1 -C 6 )alkoxy(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl; a (C 3 -C 5 )cycloalkyl; a (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; a (C 1 -C 6 )alkylthio(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl; a (C 1 -C 6 )alkylsulphoxy(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl; or a (C 1 -C 6 )alkylsulphodioxy(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl; and

R 7 represents a phenyl which is unsubstituted, mono-, di- or trisubstituted in position 3, 4 or 5 with a halogen, with a (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl, with an —O—CH 2 —O— group on two neighbouring carbon atoms of the phenyl, with a —CF 3 , —NO 2 or —CN, with a group —COOR 8 or —CONR 8 R 9 or with a group —CH 2 OR 8 in which R 8 and R 9 represent a (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, OR 10 in which R 10 represents a (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl; or alternatively R 7 represents a pyridyl, thiophene, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, (C 3 -C 5 )cycloalkyl or (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl group; or

an acid or base addition salt thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said modulation treats a disease chosen from depression, anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorders, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, behavioral disorders, aggressiveness, anorexia, bulimia, hyperglycemia, premature labor, at-risk pregnancy, retarded growth, sleeping disorders and epilepsy.

3. A method of modulation of the action of corticotropin releasing factor, which comprises administering to a patient in need of such modulation a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I.2):

wherein

R 1 and R 2 , which may be identical or different, each independently represent a halogen atom; a (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl; or a (C 1 -C 5 )alkoxy;

R 3 represents hydrogen or is as defined above for R 1 and R 2 ;

R 6 represents a (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; a (C 1 -C 6 )alkoxy(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl; a (C 3 -C 5 )cycloalkyl; or a (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; and

R 7 represents a phenyl which is unsubstituted or mono- or disubstituted in position 3 or 4 with a halogen, a (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl group, a group —CH 2 OR 8 in which R 8 represents a (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl or with an —O—CH 2 —O— group in position 3, 4; or alternatively R 7 represents a (C 3 -C 5 )cycloalkyl group; or

an acid or base addition salt thereof.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said modulation treats a disease chosen from depression, anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorders, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, behavioral disorders, aggressiveness, anorexia, bulimia, hyperglycemia, premature labor, at-risk pregnancy, retarded growth, sleeping disorders and epilepsy.

5. A method of modulation of the action of corticotropin releasing factor, which comprises administering to a patient in need of such modulation a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of:

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1R)-(1-(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)-2-methoxyethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(1-phenylbutyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-phenylethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-phenylethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(1-phenylpentyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1R)-(2-methoxy-1-(4-methoxymethylphenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(1-(4-methoxymethylphenyl)pentyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)pentyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(cyclopropylphenylmethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(1-(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)pentyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)butyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(1-(3-fluoro-4-methoxymethylphenyl)butyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclobutyl-1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(2,4-dimethoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine;

[4-(4-methoxy-2,5-dimethylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(2-cyclopropyl-1-(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)ethyl)]prop-2-ynylamine; and

[4-(2-chloro-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-methylthiazol-2-yl][(1S)-(1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butyl)]prop-2-ynylamine; or

an acid or base addition salt thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said modulation treats a disease chosen from depression, anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorders, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, behavioral disorders, aggressiveness, anorexia, bulimia, hyperglycemia, premature labor, at-risk pregnancy, retarded growth, sleeping disorders and epilepsy.