Macrocyclic inhibitors of hepatitis C virus

1. A compound having the formula

an N-oxide, salt, or stereoisomer thereof,

wherein each dashed line (represented by - - - ) represents an optional double bond;

X is N, CH and where X bears a double bond it is C;

R 1a and R 1b are, independently, hydrogen, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, Het, C 1-6 alkoxy, C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with halo, C 1-6 alkoxy, cyano, polyhaloC 1-6 alkoxy, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, or with Het; or R 1a and R 1b together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 4 to 6 membered saturated, partially unsaturated or completely unsaturated heterocyclic ring optionally containing additional 1 to 3 heteroatoms each independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and wherein said heterocyclic ring may be optionally substituted with one or two substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-6 alkyl, polyhaloC 1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C 1-6 alkoxy, polyhaloC 1-6 alkoxy, C 1-6 alkoxyC 1-6 alkyl, carboxyl, C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl, cyano, mono- and diC 1-6 alkylamino, aryl and arylC 1-6 alkyl;

L is a direct bond, —O—, —O—C 1-4 alkanediyl-, —O—CO—, —O—C(═O)—NR 5a — or —O—C(═O)—NR 5a —C 1-4 alkanediyl-;

R 2 is hydrogen, and where X is C or CH, R 2 may also be C 1-6 alkyl;

R 3 is hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxyC 1-6 alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino;

R 4 is aryl or a saturated, a partially unsaturated or completely unsaturated 5 or 6 membered monocyclic or 9 to 12 membered bicyclic heterocyclic ring system wherein said ring system contains one nitrogen, and optionally one to three additional heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and wherein the remaining ring members are carbon atoms; wherein said ring system may be optionally substituted on any carbon or nitrogen ring atom with one, two, three, or four substituents each independently selected from C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, Het, —C(═O)NR 5a R 5b , —C(═O)R 7 , —C(═O)OR 6a , and C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, Het, —C(═O)NR 5a R 5b , —NR 5a R 5b , —C(═O)R 7 , —NR 5a C(═O)R 7 , —NR 5a SO p R 8 , —SO p R 8 , —SO p NR 5a R 5b , —C(═O)OR 6 , or —NR 5a C(═O)OR 6a ; and wherein the substituents on any carbon atom of the heterocyclic ring may also be selected from C 1-6 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, polyhalo-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkylthio, oxo, cyano, nitro, azido, —NR 5a R 5b , —NR 5a C(═O)R 7 , —NR 5a SO p R 8 , —SO p R 8 , —SO p NR 5a R 5b , —C(═O)OH, and —NR 5a C(═O)OR 6a ;

n is 3, 4, 5, or 6;

p is 1 or 2;

each R 5a and R 5b are, independently, hydrogen, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, Het, C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with halo, C 1-6 alkoxy, cyano, polyhaloC 1-6 alkoxy, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, or with Het;

R 6 is hydrogen, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, Het, or C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl or Het;

R 7 is C 2-6 alkenyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, Het, or C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl or Het;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, or aryl;

R 8 is hydrogen, polyhaloC 1-6 alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, Het, or C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl or Het;

aryl as a group or part of a group is phenyl, naphthyl, indanyl, or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-naphthyl, each of which may be optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents selected from halo, C 1-6 alkyl, polyhaloC 1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C 1-6 alkoxy, polyhaloC 1-6 alkoxy, C 1-6 alkoxyC 1-6 alkyl, carboxyl, C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl, C 1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, nitro, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino, aminocarbonyl, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylaminocarbonyl, azido, mercapto, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, phenyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylpiperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl-piperazinyl, and morpholinyl;

wherein the morpholinyl and piperidinyl groups may be optionally substituted with one or with two C 1-6 alkyl radicals; and the phenyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl groups may be optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents each independently selected from C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, halo, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino;

Het as a group or part of a group is a 5 or 6 membered saturated, partially unsaturated or completely unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, being optionally condensed with a benzene ring, and wherein the group Het as a whole may be optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-6 alkyl, polyhaloC 1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C 1-6 alkoxy, polyhaloC 1-6 alkoxy, C 1-6 alkoxyC 1-6 alkyl, carboxyl, C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl, C 1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, nitro, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino, aminocarbonyl, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylaminocarbonyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, phenyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylpiperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl-piperazinyl, and morpholinyl; wherein the morpholinyl and piperidinyl groups may be optionally substituted with one or with two C 1-6 alkyl radicals; and the phenyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl groups may be optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents each independently selected from C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, halo, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino.

2. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein the compound has the formula (I-c), (I-d), or (I-e):

3. A compound according to any one of claims 1 - 2 , wherein

(a) each R 1a and R 1b are, independently, hydrogen, or methyl, ethyl, or tert-butyl; or

(b) one of R 1a and R 1b is cyclopropyl, or phenyl; or

(c) R 1a and R 1b together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylpiperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylcarbonylpiperazinyl-piperazinyl, or morpholinyl; or

(d) one of R 1a and R 1b is a Het group selected from

4. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein L is —O—, —O—CO— or a direct bond.

5. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein L is —O— and R 1 is quinolinyl, quinolin-4-yl, isoquinolinyl, isoquinolin-1-yl, quinazolinyl), quinazolin-4-yl, or pyrimidinyl, pyrimidin-4-yl, either of which is, independently, optionally mono, di, or tri substituted with C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, nitro, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, —NR 5a R 5b , —C(═O)NR 5a R 5b , C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, Het, —C(═O)OH, or —C(═O)OR 6a ; wherein aryl or Het are each, independently, optionally substituted with halo, C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylpiperazinyl, 4-methylpiperazinyl, or morpholinyl; and wherein the morpholinyl and piperidinyl groups may optionally substituted with one or two C 1-6 alkyl radicals.

6. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein L is —O— and R 4 is

(d-1) a radical of formula

(d-2) a radical of formula

(d-3) a radical of formula

(d-4) a radical of formula

or (d-4-a) a radical of formula

(d-5) a radical of formula

or (d-5-a) a radical of formula

wherein in radicals (d-1)-(d-5), as well as in (d-4-a) and (d-5-a):

each R 4a , R 4b , R 4b′ , R 4d , R 4d′ , R 4e , R 4f are independently any of the substituents selected from those mentioned as possible substituents on the monocyclic or bicyclic ring systems of R 4 , as specified in claim 1 .

7. A compound according to claim 6 wherein L is —O— and R 4 is a radical of formula

wherein R 4f is hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyl, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylpiperazinyl, 4-methylpiperazinyl, or morpholinyl.

8. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 3 is

(a) R 3 is hydrogen; or

(b) R 3 is C 1-6 alkyl; or

(c) R 3 is amino, or mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino.

9. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein n is 4 or 5.

10. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is hydrogen.

11. A compound according to claim 1 , other than an N-oxide, or salt.

12. A combination comprising

(a) a compound as defined in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and

(b) ritonavir, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a carrier, and as active ingredient an anti-virally effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .

14. A method of inhibiting HCV replication in a warm-blooded animal said method comprising:

administering an effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or

administering in combination an effective amount of said compound or said pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an effective amount of ritonavir or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

15. A process for preparing a compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said process comprises:

(a) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein the bond between C 7 and C 8 is a double bond, which is a compound of formula (I-i), by forming a double bond between C 7 and C 8 , in particular via an olefin metathesis reaction, with concomitant cyclization to the macrocycle as outlined in the following reaction scheme:

wherein in the above and following structural formulae the group

is represented by —R 1 ;

(b) converting a compound of formula (I-i) to a compound of formula (I) wherein the link between C7 and C8 in the macrocycle is a single bond, i.e, a compound of formula (I-j):

by a reduction of the C 7 -C 8 double bond in the compounds of formula (I-j);

(c) forming an amide bond between a intermediate (2a) and an sulfonylamide (2b), as outlined in the following scheme wherein G represents a group:

(d) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein R 3 is hydrogen, said compound being represented by (1-L), from a corresponding nitrogen-protected intermediate (3a), wherein PG represents a nitrogen protecting group:

(e) reacting an intermediate (4a) with a intermediate (4b), (4c), (4d), (4e) or (4f) as outlined in the following reaction scheme:

wherein Y in (4a) represents hydroxy or a leaving group; which reaction in particular is an O-arylation reaction wherein Y represents a leaving group, or a Mitsunobu reaction, wherein Y represents hydroxy; and

wherein (4a) and (4c) or (4d) are reacted in the presence of a carbonyl introducing agent to form L being a urethane group (L is —O—C(═O)—NR 5a —); and

wherein (4a) and (4e) are reacted in an ester forming procedure; and

wherein (4a) and (4f) are reacted in an ether forming procedure;

(f) converting compounds of formula (I) into each other by a functional group transformation reaction; or

(g) preparing a salt form by reacting the free form of a compound of formula (I) with an acid or a base.

16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a carrier, and a combination according to claim 12 .