HCV NS3 protease inhibitors

1. A compound of formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

n is 1 or 2;

R 1 is CO 2 R 10 , CONR 10 SO 2 R 6 , CONR 10 SO 2 NR 8 R 9 , or tetrazolyl;

R 2 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl or C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl or cycloalkyl is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 halo;

R 3 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 8 )alkyl, aryl(C 1 -C 8 )alkyl, or Het, wherein aryl is phenyl or naphthyl and said alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, OR 10 , SR 10 , N(R 10 ) 2 , N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, halo(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), NO 2 , CN, CF 3 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), S(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NR 10 SO 2 R 6 , SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , NHCOOR 6 , NHCOR 6 , NHCONHR 6 , CO 2 R 10 , C(O)R 10 , and CON(R 10 ) 2 ;

Het is a 5- or 6-membered saturated cyclic ring having 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, wherein said ring is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, OR 10 , SR 10 , N(R 10 ) 2 , N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, halo(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), NO 2 , CN, CF 3 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), S(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NR 10 SO 2 R 6 , SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , NHCOOR 6 , NHCOR 6 , NHCONHR 6 , CO 2 R 10 , C(O)R 10 , and CON(R 10 ) 2 ;

R 4 is H, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 8 )alkyl, or aryl(C 1 -C 8 )alkyl; wherein aryl is phenyl or naphthyl and said alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, OR 10 , SR 10 , N(R 10 ) 2 , N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, halo(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), NO 2 , CN, CF 3 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), S(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NR 10 SO 2 R 6 , SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , NHCOOR 6 , NHCOR 6 , NHCONHR 6 , CO 2 R 10 , C(O)R 10 , and CON(R 10 ) 2 ;

R 5 is H, halo, OH, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, CN, CF 3 , SR 10 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, N(R 7 ) 2 , aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl;

wherein aryl is phenyl or naphthyl, heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring having 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen, and heterocyclyl is a 5- to 7-membered saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic ring having 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen; and wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, alkyl or alkoxy is optionally substituted with 1 to 4 substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, OR 10 , SR 10 , N(R 7 ) 2 , N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, halo(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkoxy, NO 2 , CN, CF 3 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NR 10 SO 2 R 6 , SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , S(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NHCOOR 6 , NHCOR 6 , NHCONHR 6 , CO 2 R 10 , C(O)R 10 , and CON(R 10 ) 2 ; wherein the 2 adjacent substituents of said cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl are optionally taken together to form a 3- to 6-membered cyclic ring containing 0-3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S;

R 6 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl(C 1 - 5 )alkyl, aryl, aryl(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C 1 -C 4 alkyl), heterocyclyl, or heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 8 alkyl), wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with 1 to 2 W′ substituents; and wherein each aryl is independently phenyl or naphthyl, each heteroaryl is independently a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring having 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen, and each heterocyclyl is independently a 5- to 7-membered saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic ring having 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen;

Y is C(═O), SO 2 , or C(═N—CN);

Z is C(R 10 ) 2 , O, or N(R 4 );

M is C 1 -C 12 alkylene or C 2 -C 12 alkenylene or C 2 -C 12 alkynylene, wherein said alkylene or alkenylene is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 8 alkyl), and aryl(C 1 -C 8 alkyl); wherein 2 substituents on adjacent carbon atoms of M are optionally taken together to form a 3- to 6-membered cyclic ring containing 0-3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, or 2 substituents on the same carbon atom of M are optionally taken together to form a 3- to 6-membered cyclic ring containing 0-3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S;

A is C(R 11 ) or N;

when R 5 is other than H, R 11 is H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, halo, OR 10 , SR 10 , or N(R 10 ) 2 ;

when R 5 is H, R 11 is H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, halo, OH, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, CN, CF 3 , SR 10 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, N(R 7 ) 2 , aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl; wherein aryl is phenyl or naphthyl, heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring having 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen, and heterocyclyl is a 5- to 7-membered saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic ring having 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen; and wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, alkyl or alkoxy is optionally substituted with 1 to 4 substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, OR 10 , SR 10 , N(R 7 ) 2 , N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, halo(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkoxy, NO 2 , CN, CF 3 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NR 10 SO 2 R 6 , SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , S(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NHCOOR 6 , NHCOR 6 , NHCONHR 6 , CO 2 R 10 , C(O)R 10 , and CON(R 10 ) 2 ; wherein the 2 adjacent substituents of said cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl are optionally taken together to form a 3- to 6-membered cyclic ring containing 0-3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S;

or R 5 and R 11 are optionally taken together to form a 5- to 6-membered saturated, unsaturated non-aromatic, or aromatic cyclic ring having 0-2 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S;

each R 7 is independently H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl(C 1 - 5 )alkyl, aryl, aryl(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C 1 -C 4 alkyl), heterocyclyl, or heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 8 alkyl), wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with 1 to 2 W′ substituents; and wherein each aryl is independently phenyl or naphthyl, each heteroaryl is independently a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring having 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen, and each heterocyclyl is independently a 5- to 7-membered saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic ring having 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen;

each W is independently H, halo, OR 7 , C 1 -C 6 alkyl, CN, CF 3 , NO 2 , SR 7 , CO 2 R 7 , CON(R 7 ) 2 , C(O)R 7 , N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), S(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, N(R 7 ) 2 , N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), halo(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), NR 10 SO 2 R 7 , SO 2 N(R 7 ) 2 , NHCOOR 7 , NHCONHR 7 , aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl; wherein aryl is phenyl or naphthyl, heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring having 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen, and heterocyclyl is a 5- to 7-membered saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic ring having 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen; and wherein 2 adjacent W moieties are optionally taken together with the atoms to which they are attached to form a 5- to 6-membered saturated, unsaturated non-aromatic, or aromatic cyclic ring having 0-2 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S;

each W′ is independently halo, OR 10 , C 1 -C 6 alkyl, CN, CF 3 , NO 2 , SR 10 , CO 2 R 10 , CON(R 10 ) 2 , C(O)R 10 , N(R 10 )C(O)R 10 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), S(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, N(R 10 ) 2 , N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), halo(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), NR 10 SO 2 R 10 ,)SO 2 N(R 10 2 , NHCOOR 10 , NHCONHR 10 , aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl; wherein aryl is phenyl or naphthyl, heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring having 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen, and heterocyclyl is a 5- to 7-membered saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic ring having 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen; and wherein 2 adjacent W′ moieties are optionally taken together with the atoms to which they are attached to form a 5- to 6-membered saturated, unsaturated non-aromatic, or aromatic cyclic ring having 0-2 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S;

R 8 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 8 alkyl), aryl, aryl(C 1 -C 4 alkyl), heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl(C 1 -C 4 alkyl), or heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 8 alkyl), wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with 1 to 4 substituents selected from the group consisting of aryl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, halo(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), halo, OR 10 , SR 10 N(R 10 ) 2 , N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(O)R 10 , C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, NO 2 , CN, CF 3 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), S(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NR 10 SO 2 R 6 , SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , NHCOOR 6 , NHCOR 6 , NHCONHR 6 , CO 2 R 10 , and)C(O)N(R 10 2 ; wherein each aryl is independently phenyl or naphthyl; each heteroaryl is independently a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring having 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen;

and each heterocyclyl is independently a 5- to 7-membered saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic ring having 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen; and wherein the 2 adjacent substituents of said cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl are optionally taken together to form a 3- to 6-membered cyclic ring containing 0-3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S;

R 9 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl(C 1 -C 8 alkyl), C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkoxy, aryl, aryl(C 1 -C 4 alkyl), heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl(C 1 -C 4 alkyl), or heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 8 alkyl), wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with 1 to 4 substituents selected from the group consisting of aryl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, halo(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), halo, OR 10 , SR 10 , N(R 10 ) 2 , N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(O)R 10 , C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, NO 2 , CN, CF 3 , SO 2 (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), S(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NR 10 SO 2 R 6 , SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , NHCOOR 6 , NHCOR 6 , NHCONHR 6 , CO 2 R 10 , and)C(O)N(R 10 ) 2 ;

wherein each aryl is independently phenyl or naphthyl; each heteroaryl is independently a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring having 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen; and each heterocyclyl is independently a 5- to 7-membered saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic ring having 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, attached through a ring carbon or nitrogen; and wherein the 2 adjacent substituents of said cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl are optionally taken together to form a 3- to 6-membered cyclic ring containing 0-3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S;

or R 8 and R 9 are optionally taken together, with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, to form a 4- to 8-membered monocyclic ring containing 0-2 additional heteroatoms selected from N, O and S; and

each R 10 is independently H or C 1 -C 6 alkyl.

2. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the compound is of formula III:

3. The compound of claim 2 , wherein R 1 is CO 2 R 10 or CONR 10 SO 2 R 6 .

4. The compound of claim 3 , wherein R 1 is CO 2 H.

5. The compound of claim 3 , wherein R 1 is CONHSO 2 R 6 .

6. The compound of claim 5 , wherein R 6 is C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, aryl, or aryl(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl.

7. The compound of claim 3 , wherein R 2 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl or C 2 -C 4 alkenyl.

8. The compound of claim 7 , wherein R 3 is C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl or C 1 -C 8 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 halo substituents.

9. The compound of claim 8 , wherein R 5 is H, halo, aryl, heteroaryl or N(R 7 ) 2 .

10. The compound of claim 9 , wherein R 5 is H or halo.

11. The compound of claim 9 , wherein R 5 is aryl or heteroaryl.

12. The compound of claim 9 , wherein Y is C═O.

13. The compound of claim 12 , wherein Z is O, NH, N(C 1 -C 8 alkyl) or C(R 10 ) 2 .

14. The compound of claim 13 , wherein M is unsubstituted C 4 -C 7 alkylene or unsubstituted C 4 -C 7 alkenylene.

15. The compound of claim 14 , wherein n is 1 and W is H, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, OH, halo, N(R 7 ) 2 wherein R 7 is H or C 1 -C 6 alkyl.

16. The compound of claim 15 , wherein A is N.

17. The compound of claim 15 , wherein A is C(R 11 ) wherein R 11 is H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, hydroxy or halo.

18. The compound of claim 10 , wherein R 2 is C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, R 5 is H, R 6 is C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, W is R 7 or H, Y is C(═O), Z is O, and n is 1.

19. The compound of claim 18 , wherein M is selected from the group consisting of:

20. The compound of claim 19 , wherein R 3 is C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl or C 3 -C 5 alkyl.

21. The compound of claim 20 , wherein R 6 is C 3 -C 5 cycloalkyl.

22. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of compounds III-1 to III-38:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

23. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of compounds III-39 to III-187:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

24. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is (1R,2S)-1-({[(2R,4S,7S)-7-tert-Butyl-6,9-dioxo-3 ,4,6,7,8,9,12,13 -octahydro-2H,11H-16,18-ethanediylidene-2,5 -methanopyrido [2,3-k][1,10,3,6]dioxadiazacyclononadecin-4-yl]carbonyl}amino)-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

25. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

26. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 25 , further comprising a second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of a HCV antiviral agent, an immunomodulator, and an anti-infective agent.

27. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 26 , wherein the HCV antiviral agent is an antiviral selected from the group consisting of a HCV protease inhibitor and a HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor.

28. A method of inhibiting HCV NS3 protease activity in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .

29. A method of treating infection by HCV in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .

30. The method of claim 29 , further comprising administering at least one second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of a HCV antiviral agent, an immunomodulator, and an anti-infective agent.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the HCV antiviral agent is an antiviral selected from the group consisting of a HCV protease inhibitor and a HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor.

32. A compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

33. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of the compound of claim 32 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

34. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 33 , further comprising a second therapeutic agent selected from a HCV protease inhibitor and a HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor.

35. A method of inhibiting HCV NS3 protease activity and/or treating infection by HCV in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of the compound of claim 32 .

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein said method further comprises administering at least one second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of a HCV antiviral agent, an immunomodulator, and an anti-infective agent.

37. The method of claim 36 , wherein the HCV antiviral agent is an antiviral selected from the group consisting of a HCV protease inhibitor and a HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor.

38. A compound of formula III-131:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

39. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of the compound of claim 38 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

40. A method of inhibiting HCV NS3 protease activity and/or treating infection by HCV in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of the compound of claim 38 .