Diarymethyl and related compounds

1. A compound of formula IV:

wherein

R 4 is a divalent group of the formula:

—(R 4a ) d -(A 1 ) e -(R 4b ) f -Q-(R 4c ) g -(A 2 ) h -(R 4d ) i —

wherein

d, e, f, g, h and i are each independently selected from 0 and 1;

R 4a , R 4b , R 4c and R 4d are each independently selected from (1-10C)alkylene, (2-10C)alkenylene and (2-10C)alkynylene, wherein each alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene group is unsubstituted or substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents independently selected from (1-4C)alkyl, fluoro, hydroxy, phenyl and phenyl-(1-4C)alkyl;

A 1 and A 2 are each independently selected from (3-7C)cycloalkylene, (6-10C)arylene, —O-(6-10C)arylene, (6-10C)arylene-O—, (2-9C)heteroarylene, —O-(2-9C)heteroarylene, (2-9C)heteroarylene-O— and (3-6C)heterocyclene, wherein each cycloalkylene is unsubstituted or substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents selected independently from (1-4C)alkyl, and each arylene, heteroarylene or heterocyclene group is unsubstituted or substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from halo, (1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkoxy, —S-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O)-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O) 2 -(1-4C)alkyl, —C(O)O(1-4C)alkyl, carboxy, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

Q is selected from a bond, —O—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —S—, —S—(O) 2 —, —N(Q a )C(O)—, —C(O)N(Q b )-, —N(Q c )S(O) 2 —, —S(O) 2 N(Q d )-, —N(Q e )C(O)N(Q f )-, —N(Q g )S(O) 2 N(Q h )-, —OC(O)N(Q i )-, —N(Q j )C(O)O— and —N(Q k );

Q a , Q b , Q c , Q d , Q e , Q f , Q g , Q h , Q i , Q j and Q k are each independently selected from hydrogen, (1-6C)alkyl, A 3 and (1-4C)alkylene-A 4 , wherein the alkyl group is unsubstituted or substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from fluoro, hydroxy and (1-4C)alkoxy; or together with the nitrogen atom and the group R 4b or R 4c to which they are attached, form a 4-6 membered azacycloalkylene group;

A 3 and A 4 are each independently selected from (3-6C)cycloalkyl, (6-10C)aryl, (2-9C)heteroaryl and (3-6C)heterocyclyl, wherein each cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents selected independently from (1-4C)alkyl and each aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl group is unsubstituted or substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from halo, (1-4C)alkyl and (1-4C)alkoxy;

provided that the number of contiguous atoms in the shortest chain between the two nitrogen atoms to which R 4 is attached is in the range of from 4 to 16;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer thereof.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the number of contiguous atoms in the shortest chain between the two nitrogen atoms to which R 4 is attached is in the range of from 8 to 14.

3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the number of contiguous atoms in the shortest chain between the two nitrogen atoms to which R 4 is attached is 8, 9, 10 or 11.

4. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 4 is a divalent group of the formula: —(R 4a ) d — where R 4a is (4-10C)alkylene.

5. The compound of claim 4 , wherein R 4 is —(CH 2 ) 8 —, —(CH 2 ) 9 , and —(CH 2 ) 10 —.

6. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 4 is a divalent group of the formula:

—(R 4a ) d -(A 2 ) h -(R 4d ) i —

wherein R 4a is (1-10C)alkylene; A 2 is (6-10C)arylene or (2-9C)heteroarylene; and R 4d is (1-10C)alkylene.

7. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 4 is a divalent group of the formula:

—(R 4a ) d -Q-(A 2 ) h -(R 4d ) i —

wherein Q is —O— or —N(Q k )-; Q k is hydrogen or (1-3C)alkyl; R 4a is (1-10C)alkylene; A 2 is (6-10C)arylene or (2-9C)heteroarylene; and R 4d is (1-10C)alkylene.

8. The compound of claim 1 , wherein Q is —N(Q a )C(O)— or —C(O)N(Q b )-.

9. The compound of claim 8 wherein R 4 is selected from:

wherein m is an integer from 2 to 10; and n is an integer from 2 to 10; provided that m+n is an integer from 4 to 12;

wherein o is an integer from 2 to 7; and p is an integer from 1 to 6; provided that o+p is an integer from 3 to 8; and wherein the phen-1,4-ylene group is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from halo, (1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkoxy, —S-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O)-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O) 2 -(1-4C)alkyl, —C(O)O(1-4C)alkyl, carboxy, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

wherein q is an integer from 2 to 6; r is an integer from 1 to 5; and s is an integer from 1 to 5; provided that q+r+s is an integer from 4 to 8; and wherein the phen-1,4-ylene group is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from halo, (1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkoxy, —S-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O)-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O) 2 -(1-4C)alkyl, —C(O)O(1-4C)alkyl, carboxy, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

wherein t is an integer from 2 to 10; and u is an integer from 2 to 10; provided that t+u is an integer from 4 to 12;

wherein v is an integer from 2 to 7; and w is an integer from 1 to 6; provided that v+w is an integer from 3 to 8; and wherein the phen-1,4-ylene group is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from halo, (1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkoxy, —S-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O)-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O) 2 -(1-4C)alkyl, —C(O)O(1-4C)alkyl, carboxy, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy; and

wherein x is an integer from 2 to 6; y is an integer from 1 to 5; and z is an integer from 1 to 5; provided that x+y+z is an integer from 4 to 8; and wherein the phen-1,4-ylene group is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from halo, (1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkoxy, —S-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O)-(1-4C)alkyl, —S(O) 2 -(1-4C)alkyl, —C(O)O(1-4C)alkyl, carboxy, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy.

10. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 4 is selected from:

—(CH 2 ) 7 —;

—(CH 2 ) 8 —;

—(CH 2 ) 9 —;

—(CH 2 ) 10 —;

—(CH 2 ) 11 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(CH 2 ) 5 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)(CH 2 ) 5 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)NH(CH 2 ) 5 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 NHC(O)NH(CH 2 ) 5 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NHCH 2 (cyclohex-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)(cis-cyclopent-1,3-ylene)-;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

1-[—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)]piperidin-4-yl)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)(trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)(cis-cyclopent-1,3-ylene)-;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

1-[-(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)](piperidin-4-yl)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—CH 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NHCH 2 (phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NHCH 2 (pyrid-2,6-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(cis-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)(cis-cyclopent-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)(phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)(trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)C*H(CH 3 )— ((S)-isomer);

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)C*H(CH 3 )— ((R)-isomer);

2-[(S)-(—CH 2 -](pyrrolidin-1-yl)C(O)(CH 2 ) 4 —;

2-[(S)-(—CH 2 -](pyrrolidin-1-yl)C(O)(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(4-chlorophen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—CH 2 (2-fluorophen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(4-methylphen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(6-chlorophen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2-chlorophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2,6-dichlorophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)NHCH 2 (phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

4-[—CH 2 —](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)N(CH 2 CH 3 )(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

1-[—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)](piperidin-4-yl)-;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)(thien-2,5-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)(3-nitrophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)(trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)-;

1-[—CH 2 (2-fluorophen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 ](piperidin-4-yl)-;

5-[—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)](pyrid-2-yl)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (thien-2,5-ylene)(CH 2 ) 3 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—CH 2 (phen-1,2-ylene)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

1-[—CH 2 (2-fluorophen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 ](piperidin-4-yl)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

1-[—CH 2 (2-fluorophen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 ](piperidin-4-yl)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(3-chlorophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2-(CF 3 O—)phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (phen-1,3-ylene)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 S(O) 2 NH(CH 2 ) 5 —; —CH 2 (phen-1,3-ylene)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2-iodophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2-chloro-5-methoxyphen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2-chloro-6-methylphen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(CH 2 ) 5 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )S(O) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2-bromophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (phen-1,4-ylene)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (phen-1,2-ylene)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

1-[—CH 2 (2-fluorophen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 ](piperidin-4-yl)(CH 2 ) 3 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2-methoxyphen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 5 NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 -](piperidin-1-yl)(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)CH(CH 3 )CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 -(trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2-fluorophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,3-ylene)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2,5-difluorophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

1-[—CH 2 (Pyrid-2,6-ylene)CH 2 ](piperidin-4-yl)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NH(naphth-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 O(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

1-[—(CH 2 ) 3 ](piperidin-4-yl)CH 2 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (phen-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 O(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

2-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](benzimidazol-5-yl)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 -(trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 -(trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(CH 2 ) 4 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 -(trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(CH 2 ) 5 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )(CH 2 ) 2 (cis-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)-;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2,6-diiodophen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)(CH 2 ) 3 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)(CH 2 ) 4 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)(CH 2 ) 5 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NHCH 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)NHCH 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(2-methylphen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

1-[—(CH 2 ) 3 O(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-4-yl)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NHCH 2 (phen-1,3-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 O(phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)(fur-2,5-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)(thien-2,5-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 O(phen-1,4-ylene)O(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,2-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(fur-2,5-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(thien-2,5-ylene)CH 2 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,2-ylene)CH 2 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)(fur-2,5-ylene)CH 2 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)(thien-2,5-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,2-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)CH 2 O(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(fur-2,5-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (phen-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(thien-2,5-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 (trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)NHC(O)(phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 O(phen-1,3-ylene)CH 2 —;

—CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 4 NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)CH 2 NHC(O)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NHCH 2 (trans-cyclohex-1,4-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 NHC(O)(CH 2 ) 5 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 O(phen-1,3-ylene)O(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 O(phen-1,2-ylene)O(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—CH 2 (phen-1,2-ylene)O(phen-1,2-ylene)CH 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 C(O)NH(CH 2 ) 6 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 3 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 4 (phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (furan-2,5-ylene)(CH 2 ) 3 —;

—(CH 2 ) 2 N(CH 3 )C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

4-[—(CH 2 ) 2 ](piperidin-1-yl)C(O)NH(phen-1,4-ylene)(CH 2 ) 2 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (phen-1,3-ylene)(CH 2 ) 3 —;

—(CH 2 ) 3 (tetrahydrofuran-2,5-ylene)(CH 2 ) 3 —; and

—(CH 2 ) 2 O(phen-1,4-ylene)C(O)(CH 2 ) 2 —.

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