Condensed imidazole derivatives as aldosterone synthase inhibitors

1. A compound of the formula

in which

R is deuterium, halogen, or hydrogen;

R 1 is aryl-C 0 -C 4 -alkyl, which radical is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, C 1 -C 8 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 0 -C 8 alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 8 alkylsulphonyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, aryl-C 0 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, oxide, oxo, tri-C 1 -C 4 alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl;

R 2 is a) deuterium, halogen, hydroxy, cyano or hydrogen; or

is b) C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl-C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 0 -C 4 alkylcarbonyl, aryl-C 0 -C 4 alkyl, carboxy-C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, which radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, C 1 -C 8 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 0 -C 8 alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 8 alkylsulphonyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, aryl-C 0 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, oxide, oxo, tri-C 1 -C 4 alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl;

R 3 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl;

Q is oxygen;

m is a number 0, 1 or 2;

n is a number 1;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

where

R 1 is not C 1 -C 8 alkyl-substituted aryl if R 2 is hydrogen.

2. A compound according to claim 1 , which corresponds to the formula

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, where the meanings of the substituents R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , Q, m and n are as indicated for compounds of the formula (I) according to claim 1 , and * designates an asymmetric carbon atom and which compound shows an aldosterone synthase and/or 11-β-hydroxylase inhibitory activity at least 10 times higher, than the compound of the formula (Ia) with the opposite configuration around the asymmetric carbon atom labelled “*”.

3. A compound according to claim 2 , and which compound shows an aldosterone synthase and/or 11-β-hydroxylase inhibitory activity at least 20 times higher than the compound of the formula (Ia) with the opposite configuration around the asymmetric carbon atom labelled “*”.

4. A compound according to claim 3 , and which compound shows an aldosterone synthase and/or 11-β-hydroxylase inhibitory activity at least 40 times higher than the compound of the formula (Ia) with the opposite configuration around the asymmetric carbon atom labelled “*”.

5. A compound according to claim 1 , where R is deuterium or hydrogen.

6. A compound according to claim 2 , where R is deuterium or hydrogen.

7. A compound according to claim 1 , where R 1 is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted naphthyl, benzofuranyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, benzoimidazolyl, benzo[d]isothiazolyl, benzo[d]isoxazolyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, imidazolyl, indazolyl, oxazolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl or thiophenyl.

8. A compound according to claim 2 , where R 1 is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted naphthyl, benzofuranyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, benzoimidazolyl, benzo[d]isothiazolyl, benzo[d]isoxazolyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, imidazolyl, indazolyl, oxazolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl or thiophenyl.

9. A compound according to claim 1 , where R 2 is C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, hydroxy, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl-C 0 -C 4 alkyl, deuterium, halogen, cyano or hydrogen.

10. A compound according to claim 2 , where R 2 is C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, hydroxy, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl-C 0 -C 4 alkyl, deuterium, halogen, cyano or hydrogen.

11. A method for treatment of a patient having hypokalaemia, hypertension, congestive heart failure, acute or chronic renal failure, cardiovascular restenosis, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, adiposity (obesity), vasculitis, primary or secondary hyperaldosteronism, nephropathy, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, increased collagen formation, fibrosis, vascular or coronary tissue changes, secondary to high blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, or oedemas secondary to cirrhosis, nephrosis or congestive heart failure, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 1 to the patient.

12. A method for treatment of a patient having hypokalaemia, hypertension, congestive heart failure, acute or chronic renal failure, cardiovascular restenosis, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, adiposity (obesity), vasculitis, primary or secondary hyperaldosteronism, nephropathy, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, increased collagen formation, fibrosis, vascular or coronary tissue changes, secondary to high blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, or oedemas secondary to cirrhosis, nephrosis or congestive heart failure, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 2 to the patient.

13. A method for treatment of a patient having Cushing's syndrome or excessive or persistent cortisol secretion, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 1 to the patient.

14. A method for treatment of a patient having Cushing's syndrome or excessive or persistent cortisol secretion, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 2 to the patient.

15. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 1 , and a conventional excipient.

16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 2 , and a conventional excipient.

17. A pharmaceutical composition in the form of a product or of a kit comprising individual components consisting a) of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 1 , and b) at least one pharmaceutical form whose active ingredient has a blood pressure-lowering, an inotropic, a metabolic or a lipid-lowering effect.

18. A pharmaceutical composition in the form of a product or of a kit comprising individual components consisting a) of a compound of the formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 2 , and b) at least one pharmaceutical form whose active ingredient has a blood pressure-lowering, an inotropic, a metabolic or a lipid-lowering effect.