Prostaglandin E1 and E2 analogs for the treatment of various medical conditions

1. A compound of the general formula (I):

wherein dashed bonds may each independently represent a second carbon-carbon bond in order to give a carbon-carbon double bond with either (E) or (Z) geometry or may be ignored in order to give a carbon-carbon single bond;

wherein C 9 and C 11 each is independently C═CH 2 , C═O, CF 2 , CHF (any stereoisomer), or C(H)OH (any stereoisomer) with the proviso that C 9 does not equal C 11 and also with the proviso that when one of either C 9 or C 11 is CHF, the other is not C(H)OH;

wherein R 1 is CO 2 R 3 , CH 2 OR 3 , CONR 4 R 5 , COCH 2 OH, CONR 4 SO 2 R 5 , P(O)(OR 4 ) 2 , or

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

wherein R 4 and R 5 each is independently hydrogen or (C i -C o )-alkyl;

wherein m is 0, 1, 2, or 3;

wherein Z 1 and Z 2 each is independently hydrogen, fluorine, hydroxy, or methyl, or together are an oxygen atom that form a carbonyl group with the adjoining carbon atom of the ω chain;

wherein Z 3 and Z 4 each is independently hydrogen, fluorine, hydroxy, or methyl;

wherein n is 0 or 1, with the further proviso that when n is 1 and Z 3 is hydrogen, then Z 4 is not hydrogen; and with the further proviso that when n is 1 and Z 4 is hydrogen, then Z 3 is not hydrogen;

wherein Z 5 and Z 6 each is independently hydrogen, fluorine, hydroxy, or methyl;

wherein R 2 is

wherein V, if present, is 0, S, or NR 6 ;

wherein any U is CH or N;

wherein M, Q, W, X, and Y are independently hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, hydroxy, methoxy, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, trifluoromethyl, (C 3 -C 6 )-cycloalkyl, (C 2 -C 6 )-alkenyl, or (C 2 -C 6 )-alkynyl, wherein any alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl is optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms; and

wherein R 6 is hydrogen, (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl, (C 3 -C 6 )-cyclo alkyl, (C 2 -C 6 )-alkenyl, (C 2 -C 6 )-alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, three- to six-membered heterocycle, or five- to six-membered heteroaryl;

or any stereoisomer of the compound of the general formula (I), or any geometric isomer of the compound of the general formula (I), or an equivalent of the compound of the general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of the general formula (I).

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein C 9 and C 11 each is independently C═O or C(H)OH (any stereoisomer) or C═CH 2 with the proviso that C 9 does not equal C 11 .

3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein C 9 and C 11 each is independently C═O or C(H)OH (any stereoisomer) with the proviso that C 9 does not equal C 11 .

4. The compound of claim 1 , wherein C 9 and C 11 each is independently C═O or C(H)OH (any stereoisomer) or CF 2 with the proviso that C 9 does not equal C 11 .

5. The compound of claim 1 , wherein C 9 and C 11 each is independently C═O or CHF (any stereoisomer) with the proviso that C 9 does not equal C 11 .

6. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound of the general formula (I) comprises the compound of general formula (II):

7. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound of the general formula (I) comprises the compound of general formula (III):

8. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound of the general formula (I) comprises the compound of general formula (IV):

9. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound of the general formula (I) comprises the compound of general formula (V):

10. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound of the general formula (I) comprises (Z)-7-((1R,2R,3R)-2-((R,E)-3-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-3-hydroxyprop-1-enyl)-3-hydroxy-5-oxocyclopentyl)hept-5-enoic acid.

11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

12. A method of expanding hematopoietic stem cell populations in a culture or patient in need thereof comprising administering to the culture or the patient a compound according to claim 1 .

13. A method for treating EP receptor-mediated conditions in a subject, comprising the step of administering to the subject a compound according to claim 1 .

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said compound further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.