Diphenyl Substituted Cycloalkanes, Compositions Containing Such Compounds and Methods Of Use

1 . A compound represented by Formula I:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and solvates thereof wherein:

a is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3 and 4;

each R 1a is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —C 1-6 alkyl, —CN, —OH, C 1-6 alkyl-OH, —OC 1-6 alkyl, -fluoroC 1-6 alkyl, -fluoroC 1-6 alkoxy, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-6 alkyl, —N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 , —C 1-6 alkyl-NH 2 , —C 1-6 alkyl-NHC 1-6 alkyl, —C 1-6 alkyl-N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 , —NHC(O)C 1-6 alkyl, —CO 2 C 1-6 alkyl, —C(O)NHC 1-6 alkyl and —C(O)N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 ;

each R 1b is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, —F, —C 1-6 alkyl, —OH, —OC 1-6 alkyl, -fluoroC 1-6 alkyl, -fluoroC 1-6 alkoxy, —N(R a ) 2 and —C 1-6 alkyl-N(R a ) 2 ,

or one R 1b group can represent oxo and the other is as previously defined;

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of:

a) Z 1 ,

b) —CO 2 R a , —C(O)NR a R b , —N(R a ) 2 , —NR b SO p R a , —NR b C(O)R a , —NR b C(O)NR a R b ; —NR b CO 2 R a , —OC(O)NR a R b , —OH and —CN,

c) —C 1-6 alkyl, —C 2-6 alkenyl, —C 2-6 alkynyl, —OC 1-6 alkyl, —OC 2-6 alkenyl and —OC 2-6 alkynyl, said groups being optionally substituted with R 4 and optionally substituted with R 5 ,

wherein R 4 is selected from the group consisting of: —CO 2 R a , —C(O)NR a R b , —N(R a ) 2 , —NR b SO p R a , —NR b C(O)R a , —NR b C(O)NR a R b , —NR b CO 2 R a , —OC(O)NR a R b , —C(O)SO p NR a R b , —C(O)NR a R b , —S(O) p NR a R b , —SO p NR a R b C(O)R a , —S(O) p R a , —F, —CF 3 , phenyl, Hetcy and Z 1 ; and R 5 is selected from the group consisting of —F and —OH, and

d) phenyl, optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: —F, —Cl, —C 1-6 alkyl, —CN, —OH, —OC 1-6 alkyl, -fluoroC 1-6 alkyl, -fluoroC 1-6 alkoxy, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-6 alkyl, —N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 , —C 1-6 alkyl-NH 2 , —C 1-6 alkyl-NHC 1-6 alkyl, —C 1-6 alkyl-N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 , —C 1-6 alkyl-CN, —NHC(O)C 1-6 alkyl, —C(O)NHC 1-6 alkyl and —C(O)N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 ;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of —H and —C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with a group selected from —OH and —F;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of —H and —C 1-6 alkyl;

each “p” independently represents an integer selected from 0, 1 and 2;

each R a is independently selected from the group consisting of

a) —H,

b) —C 1-4 alkyl, —C 2-4 alkenyl and —C 2-4 alkyl, wherein each is optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-4 alkyl, and —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —F and —CF 3 ,

c) phenyl and phenyl-C 1-4 alkyl-, the phenyl moieties being optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: —F, —Cl, —C 1-4 alkyl, —CN, —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, -fluoroC 1-4 alkyl, -fluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-4 alkyl, —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —C 1-4 alkyl-NH 2 , —C 1-4 alkyl-NHC 1-4 alkyl, —C 1-4 alkyl-N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —C 1-4 alkyl-CN, —NHC(O)C 1-4 alkyl, —C(O)NHC 1-4 alkyl and —C(O)N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 ,

and the alkyl portion of phenyl-C 1-4 alkyl- being optionally substituted with —OH, —CN, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-4 alkyl, —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , and 1-3 of fluoro,

d) Hetcy and Hetcy-C 1-4 alkyl-, the Hetcy moieties being optionally substituted on carbon with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of —F, —OH, —CO 2 H, —C 1-4 alkyl, —CO 2 C 1-4 alkyl, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-4 alkyl, —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —NHC(O)C 1-4 alkyl, oxo, —C(O)NHC 1-4 alkyl and —C(O)N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 ; and optionally substituted on nitrogen when present with a group selected from —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 acyl,

and the alkyl portion of Hetcy-C 1-4 alkyl- being optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of —OH, —CN, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-4 alkyl, —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 and 1-3 of fluoro,

e) Z 2 and Z 2 -C 1-4 alkyl- and the alkyl portion of Z 2 -C 1-4 alkyl- being optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of —OH, —CN, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —NH 2 , —NHC 1-4 alkyl, —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 and 1-3 of fluoro;

each R b is independently selected from the group consisting of —H and —C 1-3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of NH 2 , —OH, —F, —CN and —CF 3 ;

X is selected from the group consisting of —O— and —CHR 6 —, wherein R 6 is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH and —C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with a group selected from —OH and —F;

Y is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a 9-membered unsaturated ortho-fused bicyclic ring system containing 2-3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of —N═, —NH—, —N(Me)—, —S— and —O—, and wherein the ring system is optionally substituted with 1-3 of fluoro,

b) a 10-membered aromatic ortho-fused bicyclic ring system containing 1-3 of —N—, wherein the ring system is optionally substituted with 1-3 of fluoro, and

c) pyridinyl substituted with a group selected from —C 1-4 alkyl, —F, —CF 2 H and CF 3 , and optionally having a second substituent which is —C 1-4 alkyl;

Hetcy is selected from the group consisting of azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, tetraydrofuranyl and β-lactamyl, δ-lactamyl and -γ-lactamyl;

Z 1 is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a 5-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 2-4 nitrogen atoms, wherein one nitrogen in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro, and one carbon in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from ═O, ═S, —SMe, —NH 2 , —CF 3 , —Cl, —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro,

b) a 5-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 2-3 heteroatoms selected from one oxygen or one sulfur and 1-2 of nitrogen, wherein one nitrogen in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from C 1-4 alkyl and C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro, and one carbon in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from ═O, ═S, —SMe, —NH 2 , —CF 3 , —Cl, —C 1-4 alkyl and C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro,

c) a 6-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1-2 nitrogen atoms, wherein one nitrogen in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro, and one carbon in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from ═O, ═S, —SMe, —NH 2 , —CF 3 , —Cl, —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro,

d) an 8-membered unsaturated ortho-fused bicyclic ring system containing 3-5 heteroatoms selected from one sulfur and 2-4 of nitrogen wherein one carbon in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from ═O, ═S, —SMe, —NH 2 , —CF 3 , —Cl, —C 1-4 alkyl and C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro, and

e) a 9-membered unsaturated ortho-fused bicyclic ring system containing 3-4 nitrogen atoms, wherein one carbon in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from ═O, ═S, —SMe, —NH 2 , —CF 3 , —Cl, —C 1-4 alkyl and C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro; and

Z 2 is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a 5-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 2-4 nitrogen atoms, wherein one nitrogen in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro, and one carbon in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from ═O, ═S, —SMe, —NH 2 , —CF 3 , —Cl, —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro,

b) a 5-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 2-3 heteroatoms selected from one oxygen or one sulfur and 1-2 of nitrogen, wherein one nitrogen in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from C 1-4 alkyl and C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro, and one carbon in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from ═O, ═S, —SMe, —NH 2 , —CF 3 , —Cl, and C 1-4 alkyl optionally substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro, and

c) a 6-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1-2 nitrogen atoms, wherein one nitrogen in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro, and one carbon in the ring is optionally substituted with a group selected from ═O, ═S, —SMe, —NH 2 , —CF 3 , —Cl, —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro.

2 . The compound of claim 1 wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R d is selected from —C 1-4 alkyl, —F, —CF 2 H and —CF 3 ; R e is selected from —H and —C 1-4 alkyl; and n is an integer selected from zero, 1, 2 and 3.

3 . The compound of claim 2 wherein R 1 is selected from —COOH, —COOC 1-3 alkyl, —C(O)—NR a R b , —OC(O)—NR a R b , —CH 2 C(O)—NR a R b and Z 1 .

4 . The compound of claim 3 wherein X is —O—.

5 . The compound of claim 4 wherein Z 1 is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R is selected from —H, —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro, and R c C is selected from —H, ═O, ═S, —SMe, —NH 2 , —CF 3 , —Cl, —C 1-4 alkyl and —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with a group selected from —NH 2 , —OH, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —CN and 1-3 of fluoro.

6 . The compound of claim 5 wherein R a is selected from —H and Z 2 , and R b is selected from —H, methyl, ethyl, propyl and i-propyl.

7 . The compound of claim 6 wherein Z 2 is selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, triazolyl and pyrazolyl, each optionally substituted.

8 . The compound of claim 7 wherein R 4 is selected from —H, —CONR a R b , —OCONR a R b and —CO 2 R a .

9 . The compound of claim 8 wherein a is selected from 2, 3 and 4;

each R 1a is independently selected from —H and —F; each R 1b is independently selected from —H and —CH 3 ; R 2 is —H; R 3 is —H; and Hetcy is selected from pyrrolidinyl and piperidinyl.

10 . The compound of claim 1 of structural Formula Ia

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and solvates thereof.

11 . The compound of claim 1 of structural formula Ib

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and solvates thereof.

12 . A pharmaceutical composition comprised of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

13 . A method for treating a leukotriene-mediated medical condition comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 to a patient in need of such treatment.

14 . A method for treating an inflammatory condition comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 to a patient in need of such treatment.

15 . A method for treating atherosclerosis comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 to a patient in need of such treatment.

16 . The method of claim 15 for halting or slowing atherosclerotic plaque progression.

17 . The method of claim 15 for effecting regression of atherosclerotic plaque.

18 . The method of claim 15 for preventing or reducing the risk of atherosclerotic plaque rupture in a patient having atherosclerotic plaque.

19 . A method for preventing or reducing the risk of an atherosclerotic disease event comprising administering a prophylactically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 to a patient at risk for having an atherosclerotic disease event.

20 . The method of treating atherosclerosis of claim 19 further comprising administering to the patient a compound selected from the group consisting of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, cholesterol absorption inhibitor, CETP inhibitor, PPARγ agonist, PPARα agonist, PPAR dual α/γ agonist, and combinations thereof.