Compounds and compositions as hedgehog pathway modulators

1. A compound of Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer thereof,

in which:

R 1 is selected from cyano, C 1-6 alkyl, halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkoxy, dimethyl-amino, C 1-6 alkyl-sulfanyl and C 3-8 heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted with up to two C 1-6 alkyl radicals;

R 2 and R 5 are independently selected from hydrogen, cyano, halo, C 1-6 alkyl, halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkoxy and dimethylamino;

R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from hydrogen, halo, cyano, C 1-6 alkyl, halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy and halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkoxy;

R 6 and R 7 are independently selected from hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, C 1-6 alkyl, halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy and halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkoxy; with the proviso that R 6 and R 7 are not both hydrogen;

R 8 is selected from hydrogen, halo, C 1-6 alkyl, halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy and halosubstituted-C 1-6 alkoxy;

R 9 is selected from —S(O) 2 R 11 , —OR 11 , —C(O)R 11 , —NR 12a R 12b and —R 11 ; wherein R 11 is selected from thiomorpholino, sulfonomorpholino, morpholino, cyclohexyl, phenyl, azepan-1-yl, 2-oxopiperazin-1-yl, 1,4-oxazepan-4-yl, piperidin-1-yl, tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl, piperidin-3-yl, piperazinyl, pyrrolidinyl and 1,4-diazepan-1-yl; R 12a and R 12b are independently selected from isobutyl, hydroxy-ethyl,

wherein said thiomorpholino, sulfonomorpholino, morpholino, cyclohexyl, phenyl, azepan-1-yl, 2-oxopiperazin-1-yl, 1,4-oxazepan-4-yl, piperidin- 1 -yl, tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl, piperidin-3-yl, piperazinyl, pyrrolidinyl or 1,4-diazepan-1-yl of R 9 can be optionally substituted with 1 to 3 radicals independently selected from methyl, ethyl, methoxy, benzyl, thienyl-methyl, pyridinyl-methyl, benzo[d][1,3]dioxo1-6-yl and 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-7-yl;

wherein said benzyl substituent of R 9 is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 radicals independently selected from methoxy, ethoxy, methyl-piperazinyl, methyl, trifluoromethoxy, chloro, fluoro and trifluoromethyl.

2. The compound of claim 1 in which:

R 6 and R 7 are independently selected from hydrogen methyl, chloro, fluoro, bromo, trifluoromethyl and methoxy; with the proviso that R 6 and R 7 are not both hydrogen; and

R 8 is selected from hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, methyl and trifluoromethyl.

3. The compound of claim 2 in which:

R 1 is selected from cyano, methyl, ethyl, t-butyl, propyl, isobutyl, isopropyl, isopropyloxy, butoxy, methoxy, dimethyl-amino, ethoxy, methyl-sulfanyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy and piperazinyl optionally substituted with up to 2 methyl radicals;

R 2 and R 5 are independently selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro, cyano, methyl, trifluoromethyl, isopropyloxy, methoxy, ethoxy, trifluoromethoxy and dimethylamino; and

R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from hydrogen, chloro, methyl, methoxy and cyano.

4. The compound of claim 3 in which R 8 is hydrogen.

5. A compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:

N-(6-((2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholino)pyridin-3-yl)-2-methyl-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-carboxamide,

4′-cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2,6-dimethyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-2-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Methoxy-2-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Methoxy-2-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2-methyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

6-Chloro-4′-dimethylamino-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-[1,4]oxazepan-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6-Chloro-4′-dimethylamino-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-morpholin-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6-Chloro-4′-dimethylamino-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6-Chloro-4′-methoxy-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2-methyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

6-Chloro-4′-methoxy-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-[1,4]oxazepan-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6-Chloro-4′-methoxy-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6-Chloro-4′-methoxy-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-morpholin-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-morpholin-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-[1,4]oxazepan-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2-methyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Dimethylamino-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2-methyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Dimethylamino-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-[1,4]oxazepan-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Dimethylamino-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-morpholin-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Ethoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6-Methyl-4′-methylsulfanyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Dimethylamino-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

3′-Chloro-6-methyl-4′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6,4′-Dimethyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Ethyl-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-tert-Butyl-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6-Methyl-4′-propyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Isobutyl-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Isopropyl-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6-Methyl-4′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

6-Methyl-4′-trifluoromethoxy-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-[1,4]oxazepan-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2-methyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-[1,2′]bipyridinyl-5′-yl)-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-morpholin-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methoxy-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan- 1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Cyano-2-methoxy-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Cyano-2-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

3′-Fluoro-4′-methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Isopropoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Butoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

3′-Chloro-4′-methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Methoxy-6,3′-dimethyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-azepan-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-benzyl-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-thiophen-3-ylmethyl-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-2-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2,6-dimethyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Methoxy-2-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2,6-dimethyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

2-Methyl-4′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2,6-dimethyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

2-Methyl-4′-trifluoromethoxy-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2,6-dimethyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-2-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2-methyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-pyridin-3-ylmethyl-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(2,6-dimethoxy-benzyl)-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl]-pyridin-3yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(2-ethoxy-benzyl)-[1,4]diazepan- 1-yl]-pyridin-3}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (6-{4-[2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-benzyl]-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl}-pyridin-3-yl)-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(4-methoxy-2,3-dimethyl-benzyl)-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-[1,4]diazepan-1- yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(2-trifluoromethoxy-benzyl)-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(2,3-difluoro-benzyl)-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(2-chloro-4-fluoro-benzyl)-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(2,6-difluoro-benzyl)-[1,4]diazepan-1-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2,6-dimethyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

2-Chloro-4′-cyano-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2,6-dimethyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-ethyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(2,6-dimethyl-morpholin-4-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(3-fluoro-benzyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(2-trifluoromethoxy-benzyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid {6-[4-(3-chloro-benzyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-benzyl-piperazin-1-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-pyridin-3-ylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

4′-Cyano-6-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid [6-(4-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-pyridin-3-yl]-amide,

(R)-2-methyl-N-(6-(2-methylmorpholino)pyridin-3-yl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-3-carboxamide,

4′-cyano-2-methyl-N-(6-sulfonylmorpholinopyridin-3-yl)biphenyl-3-carboxamide,

(S)-4′-cyano-2-methyl-N-(6-(2-methylmorpholino)pyridin-3-yl)biphenyl-3-carboxamide,

(R)-6-chloro-N-(6-(2-methylmorpholino)pyridin-3-yl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-3-carboxamide,

2-methyl-N-(6-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yloxy)pyridin-3-yl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-3-carboxamide,

N-(6-(4-ethylpiperazine-1-carbonyl)pyridin-3-yl)-2-methyl-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-3-carboxamide,

2-methyl-N-(6-(2-oxopiperazin-1-yl)pyridin-3-yl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-3-carboxamide,

2-methyl-N-(6-(2-oxo-4-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)piperazin-1-yl)pyridin-3-yl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-3-carboxamide;

2-methyl-N-(6-(1-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)piperidin-3-yl)pyridin-3-yl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-3-carboxamide, and

N-(6-(1-ethylpiperidin-3-yl)pyridin-3-yl)-2-methyl-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-3-carboxamide,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer thereof.

6. A method of inhibiting the hedgehog pathway in a cell, comprising contacting the cell with a compound of claim 1 .

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the cell has a phenotype of Ptc loss-of-function, hedgehog gain-of-function, smoothened gain-of-function or Gli gain-of-function.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the compound is administered to an animal as part of a therapeutic application, wherein the therapeutic application is selected from pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, medulloblastoma, basal cell carcinoma, and small-cell lung cancer.

9. A method for inhibiting unwanted proliferation of a cell, comprising contacting the cell with a compound of claim 1 , wherein the cell is selected from pancreatic cancer, prostrate cancer, medulloblastoma, basal cell carcinoma and small-cell lung cancer.

10. A compound, N-(6-((2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholino)pyridin-3-yl)-2-methyl-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-carboxamide, of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

11. A compound, N-(6((2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholino)pyridin-3-yl)-2-methyl-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-carboxamide, of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer thereof.

12. A compound, N-(6((2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholino)pyridin-3-yl)-2-methyl-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-carboxamide, of the formula: