Aryloxyethylamine compounds suitable for treating disorders that respond to modulation of the dopamine D3 receptor

1. An aryloxyethylamine compound of the formula I

wherein

Ar is phenyl or an aromatic 5- or 6-membered C-bound heteroaromatic radical, wherein Ar may carry 1 radical R a and wherein Ar may also carry 1 or 2 radicals R b ;

R a is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, fluorinated C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 -hydroxyalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -hydroxyalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, COOH, NR 4 R 5 , CH 2 NR 4 R 5 , ONR 4 R 5 , NHC(O)NR 4 R 5 , C(O)NR 4 R 5 , SO 2 NR 4 R 5 , C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonylamino, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonylamino, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyloxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyloxy, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxycarbonyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylthio, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfinyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfonyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, phenyl, phenoxy, benzyloxy, pyridin-2-yloxy and a 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic radical, wherein the phenyl groups, the pyridyl group and the heterocyclyl group in the six last mentioned radicals may carry 1, 2, 3 or 4 radicals selected from halogen, cyano, OH, oxo, CN, and a radical R aa , wherein

R aa is selected from C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, fluorinated C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 -hydroxyalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -hydroxyalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, COOH, NR 4 R 5 , CH 2 NR 4 R 5 , ONR 4 R 5 , NHC(O)NR 4 R 5 C(O)NR 4 R 5 , SO 2 NR 4 R 5 C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonylamino, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonylamino, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyloxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyloxy, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxycarbonyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylthio, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfinyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfonyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfonyl,

each R b is selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, OH, methyl, methoxy, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, fluormethoxy, difluoromethoxy and trifluoromethoxy, or

the radical R a and one radical R b , if present, which are bound to two adjacent carbon atoms of phenyl, may form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring which is fused to the phenyl ring and which is unsubstituted or which may carry 1, 2 or 3 radicals selected from halogen, NO 2 , NH 2 , OH, CN, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 -hydroxyalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy-C 2 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -hydroxyalkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy-C 2 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylamino, di-C 1 -C 6 -alkylamino, C 1 -C 6 -alkylaminocarbonyl, di-C 1 -C 6 -alkylaminocarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonylamino, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonylamino, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyloxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyloxy, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylthio, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfinyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfonyl and fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfonyl;

X is N or CH;

R 1 is H, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 4 -cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 4 -cycloalkylmethyl, C 3 -C 4 -alkenyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 4 -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 4 -cycloalkylmethyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 4 -alkenyl, formyl or C 1 -C 3 -alkylcarbonyl;

R 1a is H, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 4 -cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 4 -cycloalkylmethyl, C 3 -C 4 -alkenyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 4 -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 4 -cycloalkylmethyl, or fluorinated C 3 -C 4 -alkenyl; or

R 1 and R 1a together are (CR 6 R 7 ) r with r being 3, 4 or 5;

R 2 and R 2a are independently of each other H, fluorine, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl or fluorinated C 1 -C 4 -alkyl or R 2a and R 2 together may form a ring member (CR 6 R 7 ) m with m being 2, 3, 4 or 5; or

R 1a and R 2a together are (CR 6 R 7 ) n with n being 2, 3 or 4;

R 3 is H or C 1 -C 4 -alkyl;

R 4 , R 5 independently of each other and independently of their individual occurrence are selected from H, C 1 -C 3 -alkyl, C 1 -C 3 -alkoxy and fluorinated C 1 -C 3 -alkyl;

R 6 , R 7 independently of each other and independently of their individual occurrence are selected from H, fluorine, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl and fluorinated C 1 -C 4 -alkyl;

R 8 , R 8a independently of each other are H, fluorine, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl or fluorinated C 1 -C 4 -alkyl or

R 1a and R 8a together may form a ring member (CR 6 R 7 ) q with q being 2, 3, 4 or 5; or

R 1a and R 8a together are (CR 6 R 7 ), with s being 2 or 3;

R 9 is H, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy or fluorinated C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy;

and the physiologically tolerated acid addition salts of these compounds.

2. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein Ar is phenyl or an aromatic 5- or 6-membered C-bound heteroaromatic radical, comprising 1 nitrogen atom as ring member and 0, 1, 2 or 3 further heteroatoms selected from O, S and N as ring members, wherein Ar carries one radical R a which is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, NR 4 R 5 , 1-aziridinyl, azetidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl or piperidin-1-yl, wherein the last four mentioned radicals may be fluorinated, a phenyl group and an aromatic 5- or 6-membered C-bound heteroaromatic radical comprising 1 nitrogen atom as ring member and 0, 1, 2 or 3 further heteroatoms selected from O, S and N as ring members, wherein the last two mentioned radicals may carry 1, 2, 3 or 4 radicals selected from halogen and a radical R aa , wherein R aa is selected from C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy and NR 4 R 5 ; and wherein Ar may carry 1 or 2 further radicals R b , which are independently of each other selected from halogen, cyano, methyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, difluoromethoxy and trifluoromethoxy; and wherein R 4 , R 5 , independently of each other and independently of each individual occurrence, are selected from H, C 1 -C 3 -alkyl and fluorinated C 1 -C 3 -alkyl.

3. The compound as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein Ar carries one radical R a of the formula R a′

wherein

Y is N, CH or CF,

R 1a and R a2 are independently of each other selected from C 1 -C 2 -alkyl, C 1 -C 2 -alkoxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 2 -alkyl, provided for Y being CH or CF one of the radicals R a1 or R a2 may also be hydrogen or fluorine, or

R a1 and R a2 together form a ring member (CH 2 ) k wherein 1 or 2 of the hydrogen atoms may be replaced by fluorine, hydroxy, oxo, C 1 -C 2 -alkyl or C 1 -C 2 -alkoxy, and wherein one CH 2 moiety may be replaced by O, S, S═O, SO 2 or N−R c , with R c being hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 -alkyl, and wherein k is 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

4. The compound as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the radical R a′ is selected from isopropyl, (R)-1-fluoroethyl, (S)-1-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 1,1-difluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, (R)-1-fluoropropyl, (S)-1-fluoropropyl, 2-fluoropropyl, 3-fluoropropyl, 1,1-difluoropropyl, 2,2-difluoropropyl, 3,3-difluoropropyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, (R)-2-fluoro-1-methylethyl, (S)-2-fluoro-1-methylethyl, (R)-2,2-difluoro-1-methylethyl, (S)-2,2-difluoro-1-methylethyl, (R)-1,2-difluoro-1-methylethyl, (S)-1,2-difluoro-1-methylethyl, (R)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-methylethyl, (S)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-methylethyl, 2-fluoro-1-(fluoromethyhethyl, 1-(difluoromethyl)-2,2-difluoroethyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, 1-fluorocyclopropyl, and 2-fluorocyclopropyl.

5. The compound as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the radical R a′ is selected from 4-morpholinyl, 4-thiomorpholinyl, 4-(1,1-dioxo)thiomorpholinyl, piperazin-1-yl, 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl, azetidin-1-yl, 2-methylazetidin-1-yl, (S)-2-methylazetidin-1-yl, (R)-2-methylazetidin-1-yl, 3-fluoroazetidin-1-yl, 3-methoxyazetidin-1-yl, 3-hydroxyazetidin-1-yl, 1,3-oxazol-5-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-2-yl, (S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl, (R)-pyrrolidin-2-yl, pyrrolidin-3-yl, (S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl, (R)-pyrrolidin-3-yl, 2-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, (S)-2-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, (R)-2-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, (S)-3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, (R)-3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, (S)-2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, (R)-2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, (S)-3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, (R)-3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl, (S)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl, (R)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl, 1-methylpyrrolidin-3-yl, (S)-1-methylpyrrolidin-3-yl, (R)-1-methylpyrrolidin-3-yl, 2,2-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3,3-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, (S)-2-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, (R)-2-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, (S)-3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, (R)-3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-oxazolidin-3-yl, piperidin-1-yl, 2-methylpiperidin-1-yl, (S)-2-methylpiperidin-1-yl and (R)-2-methylpiperidin-1-yl.

6. The compound as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the radical R a′ carries 1, 2, 3 or 4 fluorine atoms.

7. The compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein Ar is unsubstituted or carries one radical R a , which is selected from the group consisting of (CH 2 ) v CF 3 , (CH 2 ) v CHF 2 , (CH 2 ) v CH 2 F, O(CH 2 ) v CF 3 , O(CH 2 ) v CHF 2 and O(CH 2 ) v CH 2 F, with v being 0, 1, 2 or 3.

8. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein Ar is unsubstituted or carries one radical R a , which is selected from 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic radicals having as ring member 1 heteroatom selected from O, S and N and which may further have 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms as ring members, and wherein the 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic radical may carry 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halogen, NO 2 , NH 2 , OH, CN, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 -hydroxyalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -hydroxyalkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy-C 2 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylamino, di-C 1 -C 6 -alkylamino, C 1 -C 6 -alkylaminocarbonyl, di-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl-aminocarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonylamino, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonylamino, C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyloxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbonyloxy, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylthio, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfinyl, fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfonyl and fluorinated C 1 -C 6 -alkylsulfonyl.

9. The compound as claimed in claim 8 , wherein Ar carries one heteroaromatic radical R a , which is selected from furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, [1,3,4]-thiadiazolyl, [1,2,4]-triazolyl, [1,2,3]-triazolyl and tetrazolyl, where the heteroaromatic radical may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from halogen, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, fluorinated C 1 -C 4 -alkyl and fluorinated C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy.

10. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein Ar is phenyl.

11. The compound as claimed in claim 10 , wherein Ar carries one radical R a in the 4-position of the phenyl ring.

12. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein X is CH.

13. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 9 is hydrogen, methoxy or methyl.

14. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 9 is located at the 2-position relative to the 1-position of the nitrogen ring atom and to the 3-position of the —NR 3 —SO 2 —Ar group.

15. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 1 is H, methyl, n-propyl, fluorinated C 2 -C 3 -alkyl or 1-propen-3-yl.

16. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 1a is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 -alkyl.

17. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 2a is hydrogen.

18. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 2 is hydrogen.

19. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 8a is hydrogen.

20. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 8 is hydrogen.

21. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 2a and R 1a together form an alkylene group (CH 2 ) n with n being 2, 3 or 4.

22. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 8a and R 1a together form an alkylene group (CH 2 ) s with s being 2 or 3.

23. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 1a together form an alkylene group (CH 2 ) r with r being 3, 4 or 5.

24. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 1a , R 2 , R 2a , R 8 and R 8a are each H, R 1 is propyl, R 9 is methoxy.

25. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 1a , R 2 , R 2a , R 8 and R 8a are H, R 1 is propyl, R 9 is methyl.

26. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as claimed in claim 1 , optionally together with at least one physiologically acceptable carrier or auxiliary substance.

27. A method for treating the acute or chronic signs, symptoms and/or malfunctions of a medical disorder susceptible to treatment with a dopamine D3 receptor ligand, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, impaired learning and memory, depression, anxiety, psychic disorders and behavioral disturbances caused by the abuse of psychotropic substances, and diabetic nephropathy, said method comprising administering an effective amount of at least one compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as claimed in claim 1 to a subject in need thereof.

28. A method for suppressing the symptoms of a medical disorder susceptible to treatment with a dopamine D3 receptor ligand, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, impaired learning and memory, depression, anxiety, psychic disorders and behavioral disturbances caused by the abuse of psychotropic substances, and diabetic nephropathy, said method comprising administering an effective amount of at least one compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as claimed in claim 1 to a subject in need thereof.