Vanilloid receptor ligand compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, a method of producing them and the use thereof to treat pain and various other conditions

1. A compound corresponding to formula I:

wherein:

X represents O;

n is 1;

R 1 , R 3 and R 4 each represent H;

R 2 represents F; Cl or Br;

R 5 represents an alkyl residue selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl;

R 5 represents —C(═O)—R 28 or a residue selected from the group consisting of methyl, —CH 2 —CN, ethyl, —CH 2 —CH 2 —CN, n-propyl, —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CN, n-butyl, —CH 2 —CH 2 -CH 2 —CH 2 —CN, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert, butyl and n-pentyl;

R 7 represents an alkyl residue selected from the group consisting of —CH 2 —OH, —CH 2 —CH 2 —OH, —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —OH, —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —OH, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, methyl, ethyl and n-propyl;

R 8 represents hydrogen;

T denotes C—R 29 ; U denotes C—R 30 ; V denotes C—R 31 , and W denotes C—R 32 ,

R 9 represents —CF 3 ; or tert.-butyl;

R 28 represents a residue selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, ethenyl and propenyl;

R 29 , R 30 and R 31 each represent H;

R 32 represents —NHR 33 ; —NR 34 R 35 ; —OR 36 or —SR 37 ;

R 33 , R 36 and R 37 each independently represent a residue selected from the group consisting of cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl, which optionally may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, n-pentyl;

R 34 and R 35 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a residue selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl and azepanyl, wherein the heterocycloaliphatic moiety may be unsubstituted or optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 residues R 51 ;

R 51 represents —NHR 52 , —NR 53 R 54 or an alkyl residue selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, tert.-butyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl and isobutyl;

R 52 , R 53 and R 54 each independently represent —C(═O)—R 55 ; or an alkyl residue selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, tert.-butyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, and isobutyl; or

a phenyl residue, wherein the phenyl residue may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl; and

R 55 represents an alkyl residue selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, tert.-butyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, and isobutyl;

or a salt thereof.

2. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is in the form of an isolated stereoisomer.

3. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is in the form of a mixture of stereoisomers in any mixing ratio.

4. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is in the form of a racemic mixture.

5. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said compound corresponds to formula Ia:

wherein

V denotes CH; and

R 6 , R 9 , R 34 and R 35 have the respective meanings given in claim 1 ;

or a salt thereof.

6. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said compound corresponds to formula Ib:

wherein

V denotes CH; and

R 6 , R 9 and R 37 have the respective meanings given in claim 1 ;

or a salt thereof.

7. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of:

[12] 2-(3-fluoro-4-(N-methylmethylsulfonamido)phenyl)-N-(2-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)propanamide,

[13] N-(2-(cyclohexylthio)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-2-(3-fluoro-4-(N-methylmethylsulfonamido)phenyl)propanamide,

[14] N-(4-tert.-butyl-2-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)benzyl)-2-(3-fluoro-4-(N-methylmethylsulfonamido)phenyl)propanamide, and

[15] N-(4-tert.-butyl-2-(cyclohexylthio)benzyl)-2-(3-fluoro-4-(N-methylmethylsulfonamido)phenyl)propanamide,

or a salt thereof.

8. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein, in a FLIPR assay with CHO K1 cells transfected with the human gene VR1, said compound at a concentration of less than 2000 nM, brings about a 50% displacement of capsaicin which is present in a concentration of 100 nM.

9. A compound according to claim 8 , wherein said compound at a concentration of less than 300 nM, brings about a 50% displacement of capsaicin which is present in a concentration of 100 nM.

10. A compound according to claim 8 , wherein said compound at a concentration of less than 75 nM, brings about a 50% displacement of capsaicin which is present in a concentration of 100 nM.

11. A compound according to claim 8 , wherein said compound at a concentration of less than 10 nM, brings about a 50% displacement of capsaicin which is present in a concentration of 100 nM.

12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 , and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or pharmaceutical auxiliary substance.

13. A method of producing a compound according to claim 1 , said method comprising:

reacting a compound corresponding to formula II:

wherein R 9 , U, T, V, and W have the respective meanings given in claim 1 ,

m is 1, and

R represents hydrogen or a linear or branched C 1-6 alkyl residue,

in a reaction medium, in the presence of at least one reducing agent,

to yield a compound corresponding to formula III:

wherein R 9 , U, I, V, W and m have the respective meanings given above, and optionally isolating or purifying the compound of formula III;

reacting the compound corresponding to formula III in a reaction medium in the presence of diphenylphosphoryl azide or HN 3 to yield a compound corresponding to formula IV:

wherein R 9 , U, T, V, W and m have the respective meanings given above,

and optionally isolating or purifying the compound of formula IV;

reacting the compound of formula IV

in a reaction medium in the presence of a reducing agent, or

in a reaction medium in the presence of a catalyst and of hydrogen or hydrazine, or

in a reaction medium in the presence of triphenylphosphine to yield a compound corresponding to formula V:

wherein R 9 , U, T, V, W and in have the respective meanings given above;

or

reacting a compound corresponding to formula VI:

wherein R 9 , U, T, V, W and m have the respective meanings given above, in a reaction medium,

in the presence of a catalyst under a hydrogen atmosphere, optionally in the presence of an acid, or

in the presence of at least one reducing agent selected from the group consisting of BH 3 .S(CH 3 ) 2 , lithium aluminium hydride and sodium borohydride, optionally in the presence of NiCl 2 ,

to yield a compound corresponding to formula V or a salt thereof;

and optionally isolating or purifying the compound of formula V;

reacting the compound corresponding to formula V

with a compound corresponding to formula VII:

wherein

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 have the respective meanings given in claim 1 , and R 6 may additionally represent hydrogen,

in a reaction medium, optionally in the presence of a coupling agent, and optionally in the presence of a base;

or with a compound corresponding to formula VIII:

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 have the respective meanings given above, and LG denotes a leaving group,

in a reaction medium, and optionally in the presence of at least one base, to yield a compound corresponding to formula Ih:

wherein

T, U, V, W, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 and R 9 have the respective meanings given in claim 1 ; R 6 may additionally represent hydrogen, and n is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and optionally isolating or purifying the compound of formula Ih; and

optionally reacting the compound of formula Ih in a reaction medium

with a compound corresponding to formula IX:

wherein each of the phenyl residues is substituted with 1 or 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of methoxy, phenoxy, Cl, methyl and Br,

or with phosphorus pentasulfide,

to yield a compound corresponding to formula Ik:

wherein T, U, V, W, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and n have the respective meanings given above, optionally isolating or purifying the compound of formula Ik;

and—optionally reacting a compound corresponding to formula Io:

wherein X, T, U, V, W, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and n have the respective meanings given above,

in a reaction medium, in the presence of n compound corresponding to the formula

R 28 —C(═O)—O—C(═O)—R 28

wherein R 28 has the meaning given in claim 1 ,

to yield a compound of formula I,

wherein X, T, U, V, W, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 and R 9 have the respective meanings given in claim 1 ; R 6 denotes —C(═O)—R 28 , and n is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and optionally isolating or purifying the compound of formula I.

14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the compound of formula II is reacted in the presence of at least one reducing agent selected from the group consisting of sodium hydride, sodium, potassium hydride, lithium aluminium hydride, sodium borohydride and di(isobutyl)aluminium hydride; or wherein the compound of formula IV is reacted in the presence of at least one reducing agent selected from the group consisting of sodium hydride, potassium hydride, lithium aluminium hydride, sodium borohydride and di(isobutyl)aluminium hydride; or wherein the compound of formula IV is reacted in the presence of a platinum or palladium catalyst; or wherein a compound corresponding to formula VI is reacted in the presence of a palladium or platinum catalyst and of hydrochloric acid; or wherein LG denotes a chlorine or bromine atom; or wherein each of the phenyl groups in the compound of formula IX is substituted by 1 or 2 phenoxy or methoxy residues.

15. A method of producing a compound according to claim 1 , said method comprising:

reacting a compound corresponding to formula X:

wherein R 9 , U, T, V and W have the respective meanings given in claim 1 , with a compound corresponding to formula VII:

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 have the respective meanings given in claim 1 , and R 6 may additionally represent hydrogen,

in a reaction medium, optionally in the presence of a coupling agent, and optionally in the presence of a base,

or with a compound corresponding to formula VIII:

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 have the respective meanings given above, and LG denotes a leaving group,

in a reaction medium, and optionally in the presence of a base,

to yield a compound corresponding to formula Im:

wherein T, U, V, W, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 and R 9 have the respective meanings given above, and optionally isolating or purifying the compound of formula Im; and

optionally reacting a compound corresponding to formula Im in a reaction medium with a compound corresponding to formula IX:

wherein each of the phenyl residues is substituted with 1 or 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of methoxy, phenoxy, Cl, methyl and Br,

or with phosphorus pentasulfide,

to yield a compound corresponding to formula In:

wherein T, U, V, W, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 and R 9 have the respective meanings given above, and optionally isolating or purifying the compound of formula In; and

optionally reacting a compound corresponding to formula Ip:

wherein X, T, U, V, W, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 and R 9 have the respective meanings given above,

in a reaction medium and in the presence of a compound corresponding to the formula:

R 28 —C(═O)—O—C(═O)—R 28

wherein R 28 has the meaning given in claim 1 ,

to yield a compound of formula I, wherein X, T, U, V, W, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 and R 9 have the meanings given above and R 6 represents —C(═O)—R 28 , and

optionally isolating or purifying the compound of formula I.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein LG denotes a chlorine or bromine atom; or wherein each of the phenyl groups in the compound of formula IX is substituted with 1 or 2 phenoxy or methoxy residues; or wherein each of the phenyl groups in the compound of formula IX is substituted with a methoxy residue in the para position.

17. A method of treating or inhibiting pain in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject a pharmacologically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 .

18. A method according to claim 17 , wherein said pain is selected from the group consisting of acute pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, visceral pain, joint pain, hyperalgesia, allodynia, causalgia and migraine.