Tetrahydropyridothiophenes

1. A compound of formula I

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1,

R 1 is 1 - 4 C-alkyl, or 1 - 4 C-alkyl substituted by one to four substituents independently selected from R 2 ,

Rb is -T-Q, in which

T is 1-6C-alkylene or 3-7C-cycloalkylene,

Q is optionally substituted by Rca and/or Rcb, and is Har,

each R2 is the same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of:

3-7C-cycloalkyl, phenyl, Har, Het,

halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, cyano,

—C(O)R3, —C(O)OR4, —C(O)N(R5)R6, —S(O) 2 R3, —S(O) 2 N(R5)R6,

—N(R7)C(O)R3, —N(R7)C(O)OR4, —N(R7)C(O)N(R5)R6, guanidino,

—OC(O)R3,

completely or predominantly fluorine-substituted 1-4C-alkoxy,

—O[C(R8)R9] y N(R5)R6, —O[C(R8)R9] y C(O)N(R5)R6,

—OR4, hydroxy-2-4C-alkoxy, 1-4C-alkoxy-2-4C-alkoxy, pyridyl-1-4C-alkoxy, (1-4C-alkoxy-2-4C-alkoxy)-2-4C-alkoxy, —N(R5)R6, and —SR3,

wherein each of said 3-7C-cycloalkyl, phenyl, Har and Het is optionally substituted by one to four substituents independently selected from R10,

each R3, R4, R5 and R6 is the same or different and is each independently selected from the group consisting of:

hydrogen, 1-7C-alkyl, 3-7C-cycloalkyl, phenyl, and phenyl-1-4C-alkyl,

each R7 is the same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of:

hydrogen, 1-7C-alkyl, and 3-7C-cycloalkyl,

each R8 and R9 is the same or different and is each independently selected from the group consisting of:

hydrogen, and 1-4C-alkyl,

each R10 is the same or different is independently selected from the group consisting of:

1-4C-alkyl, phenyl,

halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano,

1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl,

hydroxyl, and phenoxy,

wherein each of said phenyl and phenoxy radicals can be unsubstituted or optionally substituted by up to four halogen radicals and up to two 1-4C-alkyl, hydroxyl, trifluoromethyl or cyano radicals,

each y is 1, 2, 3 or 4,

each Rca, and Rcb is the same or different and is each independently selected from the group consisting of:

1-4C-alkyl, phenyl,

halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano,

1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl,

hydroxyl, and phenoxy,

wherein each of said phenyl and phenoxy can be unsubstituted or optionally substituted by up to four halogen radicals and up to two 1-4C-alkyl, hydroxyl, trifluoromethyl or cyano radicals,

each Har is the same or different and is independently a fully aromatic or partially aromatic mono- or fused bicyclic ring or ring system, which contains at least one heteroatom in the ring or ring system, made up of

a first constituent being a 5- or 6-member monocyclic unsaturated, aromatic heteroaryl ring A,

which heteroaryl ring A comprises one to four heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur,

and, optionally, fused to said first constituent,

a second constituent being a benzene ring, a 5-6C-cycloalkane ring, an additional heteroaryl ring A as defined herein afore, or a heterocyclic ring B,

whereby said Har is attached via a substitutable ring carbon or ring nitrogen atom of Har,

each Het is the same or different and is independently a fully saturated or partially unsaturated mono- or fused bicyclic ring or ring system made up of

a first constituent being a 3- to 7-membered monocyclic fully saturated or partially unsaturated, non-aromatic heterocyclic ring B,

which heterocyclic ring B comprises one to three heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur,

and which heterocyclic ring B is optionally substituted by one or two oxo groups,

and, optionally, fused to said first constituent,

a second constituent being a benzene ring, a 3-7C-cycloalkane ring, or an additional heterocyclic ring B as defined herein afore,

wherein said Het is attached via a substitutable ring carbon or ring nitrogen atom;

under the proviso, that

(6-acetyl-3-cyano-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)-3-phenyl-propionamide is disclaimed;

or a salt thereof.

2. A compound according to claim 1 , which is a compound of one of the formulae Ia, Ib, Ic, Id and Id′

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1,

R1 is 1-4C-alkyl, or 1-C-alkyl substituted by one or two substituents independently selected from R2,

Q is optionally substituted by Rca and/or Rcb, and is Har,

each R2 is the same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of:

Har, Het,

—C(O)R3, —C(O)OR4, —C(O)N(R5)R6,

—N(R7)C(O)R3, —OC(O)R3,

—OR4, hydroxy-2-4C-alkoxy, 1-4C-alkoxy-2-4C-alkoxy, pyridyl-1-4C-alkoxy, (1-4C-alkoxy-2-4C-alkoxy) -2-4C-alkoxy, and phenyl-1-4C-alkoxy,

wherein each of said Har and Het is optionally substituted by one or two substituents independently selected from R10,

each R3, R4, R5 and R6 is the same or different and is each independently selected from the group consisting of:

hydrogen, and 1-4C-alkyl,

each R7 is the same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of:

hydrogen, and 1-4C-alkyl,

each R10 is the same or different is independently selected from the group consisting of:

1-4C-alkyl, halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano,

1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, and

hydroxyl,

each Rca and Rcb is the same or different and is each independently selected from the group consisting of:

1-4C-alkyl, halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano,

1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, and

hydroxyl,

each Har is the same or different and is independently

a 5-membered monocyclic heteroaryl radical comprising one heteroatom independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur,

wherein said Har is attached via a ring carbon or ring nitrogen atom of Har,

or

a 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl radical comprising one or two nitrogen atoms,

whereby said Har is attached via a ring carbon atom of Har,

Het is a 3- to 7-membered monocyclic fully saturated heterocyclic ring comprising one or two heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur,

whereby said Het is attached via a ring carbon or ring nitrogen atom;

or salt thereof.

3. A compound according to claim 1 , which is a compound of one of the formulae Ia, Ib, Ic, Id and Id′

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1,

R1 is 1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkyl substituted by one substituent selected from R2, or 3-4C-alkyl substituted by two hydroxyl radicals on different carbon atoms,

Q is optionally substituted by Rca and/or Rcb, and is pyridinyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl or imidazolyl,

each R2 is the same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of:

Har, morpholino, 4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl,

—C(O)R3, —C(O)OR4, —C(O)N(R5)R6,

—N(R7)C(O)R3, —OC(O)R3,

—OR4, hydroxy-2-4C-alkoxy, 1-4C-alkoxy-2-4C-alkoxy, pyridyl-1-4C-alkoxy, phenyl-1-4C-akoxy, and (1-4C-alkoxy-2-4C-alkoxy)-2-4C-alkoxy,

wherein said Har is optionally substituted by one or two substituents independently selected from R10,

each R3, R4, R5 and R6 is the same or different and is each independently selected from the group consisting of:

hydrogen, and 1-4C-alkyl,

R7 is hydrogen,

Har is bonded via a ring carbon atom or a ring nitrogen atom of Har, and is imidazolyl, pyrazolyl or triazolyl,

or

Har is bonded via a ring carbon atom of Har, and is pyridinyl, pyrazinyl or pyrimidinyl,

R10 is 1-4C-alkyl,

each Rca and Rcb is the same or different and is each independently selected from the group consisting of:

1-4C-alkyl, fluorine, chlorine, trifluoromethyl, and cyano;

or a salt thereof.

4. A compound according to claim 1 , which is a compound of one of the formulae Ia, Ib and Ic

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1,

R1 is 1-4C-alkyl,

or

1-4C-alkyl which is substituted by one substituent selected from R2,

or

1-2C-alkyl which is substituted by 2,2-dimethyl-[1,3]dioxolan-4-yl,

or

3-4C-alkyl which is substituted by two hydroxyl radicals on different carbon atoms,

Q is optionally substituted by Rca and/or Rcb, and is pyridinyl, furanyl, thiophenyl or pyrazo1-yl,

each R2 is the same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of:

pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, R201- and/or R202-substituted pyridyl, R201- and/or R202-substituted pyrimidinyl, morpholino, imidazol-1-yl, pyrazol-1-yl, mono- or di-(R201)-substituted imidazol-1-yl, mono- or di-(R201)-substituted pyrazol-1-yl, 1N-(1-4C-alkyl)-imidazolyl, 1N-(1-4C-alkyl)-pyrazol -1-yl, R201-substituted 1N-(1-4C-alkyl)-imidazolyl, R201-substituted 1N-(1-4C-alkyl)-pyrazol-1-yl, 1N-(H)-imidazolyl, 1N-(H)-pyrazol-1-yl, R201-substituted 1N-(H)-imidazolyl, R201-substituted 1N-(H)-pyrazol-1-yl,

—C(O)OR4, —OC(O)R3,

—OR4,

phenyl-1-2C-alkoxy,

1-2C-alkoxy-2-3C-alkoxy, and

(1-2C-alkoxy-2-3C-alkoxy)-2-3C-alkoxy,

R3 is 1-4C-alkyl,

each R4 is the same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, and 1-4C-alkyl,

R201 is 1-4C-alkyl,

R202 is 1-4C-alkyl,

each Rca and Rcb is the same or different and is each independently selected from the group consisting of:

methyl, ethyl, fluorine, chlorine, and trifluoromethyl;

or a salt thereof.

5. A compound according to claim 1 , which is a compound of one of the formulae Ia, Ib and Ic

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1, in which

R1 is methyl, ethyl or propyl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, 2-(R2)-ethyl, or 3-(R2)-propyl,

or

R1 is 2,3-dihydroxypropyl,

Q is unsubstituted, and is pyridinyl, furanyl or thiophenyl,

or

Q is substituted by Rca and/or Rcb, and is pyridinyl, furanyl or thiophenyl,

each R2 is the same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of:

pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, methybsubstituted pyridyl, imidazol-1-yl, mono- or di-methyl-substituted imidazol-1-yl, 1N-methyl-imidazolyl, carboxyl methoxycarbonyl, hydroxyl, methylcarbonyloxy, methoxy, ethoxy, benzyloxy, and 2-methoxyethoxy,

each Rca and Rcb is the same or different and is each independently selected from the group consisting of:

methyl, ethyl and chlorine;

or a salt thereof.

6. A compound according to claim 1 , which is a compound of one of the formulae Ia, Ib and Ic

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1,

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is pyridyl,

or

R1is (R2)-methyl, in which

R2 is 1N-methyl-imidazolyl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is hydroxyl or methoxy,

or

R1 is (2-methoxyethoxy)-methyl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is imidazol-1-yl, or mono- or di-methyl-substituted imidazol-1-yl;

Q is unsubstituted, and is pyridinyl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is furanyl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is thiophenyl,

or

Q is 5-(Rca)-furan-2-yl, in which

Rca is methyl or chlorine,

or

Q 5-(Rca)-4-(Rcb)-furan-2-yl, in which

Rca is methyl or chlorine,

Rcb is methyl,

or

Q is 5-(Rca)-thiophen-2-yl, in which

Rca is methyl or chlorine,

or a salt thereof.

7. A compound according to claim 1 , which is a compound of one of the formulae Ia, Ib and Ic

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1,

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl or pyridin-4-yl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, in which

R2 is 1-methyl-imidazol-2-yl or 1-methyl-imidazol-5-yl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is hydroxyl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is imidazol-1-yl, 2-methyl-imidazol-1-yl, 4-methyl-imidazol-1-yl or 2,4-dimethyl-imidazol-1-yl;

Q is unsubstituted, and is pyridin-2-yl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is pyridin-3-yl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is furan-2-yl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is thiophen-2-yl,

or a salt thereof.

8. A compound according to claim 1 , which is a compound of one of the formulae Ia, Ib and Ic

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1, in which

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl or pyridin-4-yl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is hydroxyl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is imidazol-1-yl;

Q is unsubstituted, and is pyridin-2-yl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is pyridin-3-yl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is furan-2-yl,

or a salt thereof.

9. A compound according to claim 1 , which is a compound of one of the formulae Ia and Ic

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1,

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is pyridyl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is methoxy,

or

R1 is (2-methoxyethoxy)-methyl,

or

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is imidazol-1-yl;

Q is unsubstituted, and is pyridinyl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is furanyl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is thiophenyl,

or

Q is 5-(Rca)-furan-2-yl, in which

Rca is methyl or chlorine,

or

Q 5-(Rca)-4-(Rcb)-furan-2-yl, in which

Rca is methyl or chlorine,

Rcb is methyl,

or

Q is 5-(Rca)-thiophen-2-yl, in which

Rca is methyl or chlorine;

or a salt thereof.

10. A compound according to claim 1 , which is a compound of one of the formulae Ia and Ic

wherein

Ra is —C(O)R1,

R1 is (R2)-methyl, or 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is pyridyl,

or

R1 is 2-(R2)-ethyl, in which

R2 is imidazol-1-yl;

Q is unsubstituted, and is pyridin-2-yl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is pyridin-3-yl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is furan-2-yl,

or

Q is unsubstituted, and is thiophen-2-yl,

or a salt thereof.

11. A compound, which is selected from the group consisting of

N-{3-Cyano-6-[2-(2-methoxy-ethoxy)-ethanoyl]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl}-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl -propionamide,

N-(3-Cyano-6-(2-pyridin-3-yl-ethanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(3-pyridin-3-yl-propanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(2-methoxy-ethanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-(6-Butyryl-3-cyano-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(3-imidazol-1-yl-propanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(2-pyridin-4-yl-ethanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(3-pyridin-4-yl-propanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(3-pyridin-2-yl-propanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(2-imidazol-1-yl-ethanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-{3-Cyano-6[3-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-propanoyl]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl}-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(3-hydroxy-propanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N3-Cyano-6-(2-hydroxy-ethanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-furan-2-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(2-hydroxy-ethanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-pyridin-3-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(3-hydroxy-propanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-pyridin-3-yl-propionamide,

N-[3-Cyano-6-(2-hydroxy-ethanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahyduo-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-pyridin-2-yl-propionamide and

N-[3-Cyano-6-(3-hydroxy-propanoyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl]-3-pyridin-2-yl-propionamide,

and salts thereof.

12. An enantiomer of a compound according to claim 1 , or a salt thereof.

13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more compounds according to claim 1 , together with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent and/or carrier.

14. A combination comprising

a first active ingredient, which is at least one compound according to claim 1 , and

a second active ingredient, which is at least one anti-cancer agent selected from the group consisting of chemotherapeutic anti-cancer agents and target-specific anti-cancer agents.

15. The combination according to claim 14 , in which said chemotherapeutic anti-cancer agents are selected from the group consisting of (i) alkylating/carbamylating agents; (ii) platinum derivatives; (iii) antimitotic agents/tubulin inhibitors; (iv) topoisomerase inhibitors; (v) pyrimidine antagonists; (vi) purin antagonists; and (vii) folic acid antagonists.

16. The combination according to claim 14 , in which said target-specific anti-cancer agents are selected from the group consisting of (i) kinase inhibitors; (ii) proteasome inhibitors; (iii) histone deacetylase inhibitors; (iv) heat shock protein 90 inhibitors; (v) vascular targeting agents, anti-angiogenic drugs, and KDR tyrosine kinase inhibitors; (vi) monoclonal antibodies, mutants and conjugates of monoclonal antibodies, and antibody fragments; (vii) oligonucleotide based therapeutics; (viii) Toll-like receptor/TLR 9 agonists, TLR 7 agonists and TLR 7/8 agonists; (ix) protease inhibitors; (x) hormonal therapeutics; (xi) aromatase inhibitors; (xii) bleomycin; (xiii) retinoids; (xiv) DNA methyltransferase inhibitors; (xv) alanosine; (xvi) cytokines; (xvii) interferons; (xviii) death receptor agonists; (xix) DR4/5 agonistic antibodies; (xx) FasL; and (xxi) TNF-R agonists.