Triaryl substituted imidazole derivatives and taste-inhibiting uses thereof

1 . A method of inhibiting a taste modulating protein, the method comprising contacting the taste modulating protein with a compound of Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein:

R 1 is hydrogen, unsubstituted alkyl, or unsubstituted arylalkyl;

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are independently phenyl or heteroaryl, either of which is optionally substituted; and

Ar 3 is an optionally substituted: phenyl or heteroaryl.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein Ar 1 and Ar 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted: pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, and triazinyl, and N-oxides thereof.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein Ar 1 and Ar 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of: unsubstituted phenyl, methylphenyl, methoxyphenyl, halophenyl, cyanophenyl, carboxyphenyl, aminophenyl, and hydroxyphenyl.

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein Ar 3 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted phenyl, and optionally substituted: pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, and triazinyl, and N-oxides thereof.

7 . (canceled)

8 . (canceled)

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein Ar 3 is selected from the group consisting of: phenyl, C-attached pyridyl, C-attached pyrimidyl, and C-attached pyridazinyl; any of which is optionally substituted with one or more: nitro, halo, cyano, carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, alkyl, and cyanoalkyl substituents in any one or more of the ortho-, meta-, and para-positions.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein

R 1 is hydrogen, unsubstituted C 1-4 alkyl, or unsubstituted aryl(C 1-4 )alkyl;

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are both unsubstituted phenyl; and

Ar 3 is phenyl, optionally substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, amino, alkoxycarbonylamino, cyano, alkylsulfonylaminoalkyl, and nitro.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein Ar 3 is phenyl, substituted in the para-position by one carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxy, amino, alkoxycarbonylamino, cyano, alkylsulfonylaminoalkyl, or nitro.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is one of:

methyl4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoate;

[4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl]methanol;

4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)aniline;

4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol;

methyl4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenylcarbamate;

N-[4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl]acetamide;

4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzonitrile;

N-[4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzyl]methanesulfonamide;

4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoic acid; and

2-(4-nitro-phenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the taste modulating protein is a non-human TRPM5 protein.

14 . (canceled)

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the taste modulating protein is a human TRPM5 protein.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered as a pharmaceutical, veterinary, food, cosmetic, or dental hygeinic composition.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered in a concentration of about 0.01% to about 50%, by weight, of the composition.

19 - 26 . (canceled)

27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered in an amount of about 0.01 mg to about 100 mg.

28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered in an amount sufficient to inhibit the taste-modulating protein by about 10% to about 95%.

29 - 53 . (canceled)

54 . A method of inhibiting the depolarization of a taste receptor cell, comprising contacting the taste receptor cell with one or more compounds of Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein:

R 1 is hydrogen, unsubstituted alkyl, or unsubstituted arylalkyl;

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are independently phenyl or heteroaryl, either of which is optionally substituted; and

Ar 3 is an optionally substituted: phenyl or heteroaryl.

55 . The method of claim 54 , wherein Ar 1 and Ar 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted phenyl, and optionally substituted pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, and triazinyl, and N-oxides thereof.

56 . The method of claim 54 , wherein Ar 1 and Ar 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of: unsubstituted phenyl, methylphenyl, methoxyphenyl, halophenyl, cyanophenyl, carboxyphenyl, aminophenyl, and hydroxyphenyl.

57 . (canceled)

58 . (canceled)

59 . The method of claim 54 , wherein Ar 3 is selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted: phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, and triazinyl.

60 . (canceled)

61 . (canceled)

62 . The method of claim 54 , wherein Ar 3 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, C-attached pyridyl, C-attached pyrimidyl, and C-attached pyridazinyl, any of which is optionally substituted with one or more nitro, halo, cyano, carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, alkyl, and cyanoalkyl substituents in any one or more of the ortho-, meta-, and para-positions.

63 . The method of claim 54 , wherein:

R 1 is hydrogen, unsubstituted C 1-4 alkyl, or unsubstituted aryl(C 1-4 )alkyl;

Ar 1 and Ar 2 are both unsubstituted phenyl; and

Ar 3 is phenyl, substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, amino, alkoxycarbonylamino, cyano, alkylsulfonylaminoalkyl, and nitro.

64 . The method of claim 63 , wherein Ar 3 is phenyl, substituted in the para-position by one carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxy, amino, alkoxycarbonylamino, cyano, alkylsulfonylaminoalkyl, or nitro.

65 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the compound of Formula I is one of:

methyl4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoate;

[4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl]methanol;

4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)aniline;

4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol;

methyl4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenylcarbamate;

N-[4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl]acetamide;

4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzonitrile;

N-[4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzyl]methanesulfonamide;

4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoic acid; and

2-(4-nitro-phenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

66 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the taste receptor cell is human.

67 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered as a pharmaceutical, veterinary, food, cosmetic, or dental hygienic composition.

68 . The method of claim 67 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered in a concentration of about 0.01% to about 50%, by weight, of the composition.

69 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered in an amount of about 0.01 mg to about 100 mg.

70 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered in an amount sufficient to inhibit the depolarization of the taste-receptor cell by about 10% to about 95%.

71 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the taste receptor cell can sense a taste produced by a biologically active agent.

72 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the taste receptor cell can sense a taste produced by a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of analgesics, anesthetics, anorexiants, appetite depressants, antacidics, antiasthmatics, antidiuretics, antipyretics, antihistamines, anticholinergics, antidiarrheals, antitussives, antinauseants, antiarrhythmics, antimicrobials, antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals, anti-inflammatory agents, agents active against flatulence, antimigraine agents, beta-receptor blockers, bronchodilators, psychopharmacological agents, spasmolytics, sedatives, antihyperkinetics, tranquilizers, decongestants, demulcents, agents for alcohol withdrawal, antitussives, fluorine supplements, laxatives, local antibiotics, corticosteroid supplements, agents against goiter formation, antiepileptics, agents against dehydration, antiseptics, NSAIDs, H 2 -receptor antagonists, nutritional supplements, gastrointestinal active agents, alkaloids, supplements for trace elements, ion-exchange resins, cholesterol-depressant agents, lipid-lowering agents, expectorants, and combinations thereof.

73 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the taste receptor cell can sense a bitter taste.

74 - 213 . (canceled)

214 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered in an amount sufficient to inhibit the depolarization of the taste-receptor cell by about 25% to about 80%.