Indole derivatives having cPLA

1. A compound, or its salt, represented by the formula (I):

wherein R 1 indicates (1) a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon group, (2) a 5- to 10-membered aromatic heterocyclic group including one to four hetero atoms selected from nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms and oxygen atoms, other than carbon atoms or (3) a bicyclic or tricyclic condensed polycyclic group formed by the condensation the above aromatic heterocyclic group and the above C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic ring,

where said group (1) to (3) of R 1 may be optionally substituted with one to five groups selected from (i) a halogen atom, (ii) a nitro, (iii) a cyano, (iv) a C 1 to C 6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups selected from a halogen atom, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a C 1 to C 7 acyloxy, a hydroxyl, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms and a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (v) a C 2 to C 6 alkenyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (vi) a C 2 to C 6 alkynyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (vii) a C 3 to C 6 cycloalkyl, (viii) a hydroxyl, (ix) a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups selected from a halogen atom, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a C 7 to C 16 aralkyloxy, a hydroxyl, a mono- or di-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino, a carbamoyl, a mono- or di-C 1 to C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, a mono- or di-C 7 to C 16 aralkylcarbamoyl, a carboxyl, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, a C 1 to C 6 acyloxy, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms and a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (x) a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups selected from a halogen atom, a C 1 to C 6 alkyl, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy, and a hydroxyl, (xi) a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (xii) a C 1 to C 5 alkylenedioxy, (xiii) a C 1 to C 6 alkylthio unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups selected from a halogen atom, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy, a hydroxyl, a mono- or di-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino, a carbamoyl, a mono- or di-C 1 to C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, a mono- or di-C 7 to C 16 aralkylcarbamoyl, a carboxyl, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, a C 1 to C 6 acyloxy, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms and a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (xiv) a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic thio unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (xv) an amino, (xvi) a mono-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino, (xvii) a di-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino, (xviii) a 5- to 6-membered cyclic amino, (xix) a C 1 to C 6 acyl, (xx) a carboxyl, (xxi) a C 1 to C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, (xxii) a carbamoyl, (xxiii) a thiocarbamoyl, (xxiv) a mono-C 1 to C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, (xxv) a di-C 1 to C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, (xxvi) a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic carbonyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (xxvii) a sulfo, (xxviii) a C 1 to C 6 alkylsulfonyl, (xxix) a C 1 to C 6 acylamino unsubstituted or substituted with a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy, (xxx) a C 1 to C 6 alkoxycarbonylamino, (xxxi) an aminosulfonyl, (xxxii) a mono- or di-C 1 to C 6 alkylaminosulfonyl and (xxxiii) a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic sulfonyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms and

R 2 indicates (1) a hydrogen atom, (2) a C 1 to C 6 alkyl, (3) a C 3 to C 6 cycloalkyl group and (4) a halogen atom,

R 3 indicates (1) a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon group or (2) a 5- to 10-membered aromatic heterocyclic group including one to four hetero atoms selected from nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms and oxygen atoms, other than carbon atoms,

where the groups (1) to (2) of said R 3 may be optionally substituted with one to five groups selected from (i) a halogen atom, (ii) a C 1 to C 6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (iii) a C 3 to C 6 cycloalkyl, (iv) a hydroxyl, (v) a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (vi) a C 1 to C 5 alkylenedioxy, (vii) a C 1 to C 6 alkylthio unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (viii) an amino, (ix) a mono-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino and (x) a di-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino,

R 4 indicates (1) —CO 2 R 5 where R 5 indicates a hydrogen atom, a C 1 to C 6 alkyl or a C 7 to C 16 aralkyl, (2) —COC(R 6 ) 3 where R 6 indicates a halogen atom, (3) —CONR 7 R 8 where R 7 and R 8 may be the same or different and indicate a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl, a C 1 to C 6 alkyl, a C 7 to C 16 aralkyl, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy, a C 7 to C 16 aralkyloxy, a cyano, or a tetrazole, (4) —CHO, (5) —CONHSO 2 R 9 where R 9 indicates a hydrogen atom, a C 1 to C 6 alkyl, a phenyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three C 1 to C 3 alkyls or a C 7 to C 16 aralkyl, (6) a cyano, (7) a tetrazole, (8) an isoxazole, (9) an isothiazole or (10) a hydroxythiadiazole,

X 1 indicates (1) a carbonyl group or (2) methylene,

X 2 indicates (1) a straight-chain, branched or cyclic C 1 to C 6 alkylene or (2) a connecting bond, and

X 3 indicates (1) a straight-chain or branched C 1 to C 6 alkylene, (2) a straight-chain or branched C 2 to C 6 alkenylene, or (3) a straight-chain or branched C 2 to C 6 alkynylene.

2. A compound, or its salt as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 1 is (1) a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon group or (2) a 5- to 6-membered aromatic heterocyclic group including one to four hetero atoms selected from nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms, and oxygen atoms, other than carbon atoms.

3. A compound, or its salt as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon group or aromatic heterocyclic group of R 1 is unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups selected from (i) a halogen atom, (ii) a nitro, (iii) a cyano, (iv) a C 1 to C 6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups selected from a halogen atom, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a C 1 to C 7 acyloxy, a hydroxyl, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms and a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (v) a C 2 to C 6 alkenyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (vi) a C 2 to C 6 alkynyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (vii) a C 3 to C 6 cycloalkyl, (viii) a hydroxyl, (ix) a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups selected from a halogen atom, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a C 7 to C 16 aralkyloxy, a hydroxyl, a mono- or di-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino, a carbamoyl, a mono- or di-C 1 to C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, a mono- or di-C 7 to C 16 aralkylcarbamoyl, a carboxyl, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, a C 1 to C 6 acyloxy, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms and a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (x) a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups selected from a halogen atom, a C 1 to C 6 alkyl, a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy and a hydroxyl, (xi) a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic oxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (xii) a C 1 to C 5 alkylenedioxy, (xv) an amino, (xvi) a mono-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino, (xvii) a di-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino, (xviii) a 5- to 6-membered cyclic amino, (xix) a C 1 to C 6 acyl, (xx) a carboxyl, (xxi) a C 1 to C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, (xxii) a carbamoyl, (xxiv) a mono-C 1 to C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, (xxv) a di-C 1 to C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, (xxvi) a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic carbonyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (xxvii) a sulfo, (xxviii) a C 1 to C 6 alkylsulfonyl, (xxix) a C 1 to C 6 acylamino unsubstituted or substituted with a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy, (xxx) a C 1 to C 6 alkoxycarbonylamino, (xxxi) an aminosulfonyl, (xxxii) a mono- or di-C 1 to C 6 alkylaminosulfonyl and (xxxiii) a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic sulfonyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms.

4. A compound, or its salt as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 2 is (1) a hydrogen atom or (2) a C 1 to C 6 alkyl.

5. A compound, or its salt as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

R 3 indicates (1) a C 6 to C 14 aromatic hydrocarbon group or (2) a 5- to 6-membered aromatic heterocyclic group including one to four hetero atoms selected from nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms and oxygen atoms, other than carbon atoms,

where the groups (1) to (2) of said R 3 may be optionally substituted with one to three groups selected from (i) a halogen atom, (ii) a C 1 to C 6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (iii) a hydroxyl and (iv) a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms.

6. A compound, or its salt as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 4 is (1) —CO 2 R 5 where R 5 indicates a hydrogen atom or a C 1 to C 4 alkyl or a C 7 to C 8 aralkyl, (2) —COC(R 6 ) 3 where R 6 indicates a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, or a bromine atom, (3) —CONR 7 R 8 where one of R 7 and R 8 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl, a C 1 to C 4 alkyl, a C 7 to C 8 aralkyl, a C 1 to C 4 alkoxy, a C 7 to C 8 aralkyloxy, a cyano or a tetrazole, (4) —CHO, (6) a cyano, or (7) a tetrazole.

7. A compound, or its salt as claimed in claim 6 , wherein R 4 is —CO 2 R 5 where R 5 indicates a hydrogen atom, a C 1 to C 4 alkyl or a C 7 to C 8 aralkyl.

8. A compound, or its salt as claimed in claim 1 , wherein X 2 is (1) a straight-chain C 1 to C 6 alkylene or (2) a connecting bond.

9. A compound, or its salt as claimed in claim 1 , wherein X 3 is (1) a straight-chain C 1 to C 6 alkylene or (2) a straight-chain C 2 to C 6 alkenylene.

10. A compound, or its salt as claimed in claim 1 , which is at least one member selected from the group of:

3-[1-phenyl-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]propanoic acid,

3-{1-[4-(benzyloxy)phenyl]-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl}propanoic acid,

3-[1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]propanoic acid,

3-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]propanoic acid,

3-{1-[4-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl}propanoic acid,

3-{3-(2-phenylethyl)-1-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]-1H-indol-5-yl}propanoic acid,

3-{1-[4-(methoxymethyl)phenyl]-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl}propanoic acid,

3-{1-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl}propanoic acid,

3-[1-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]propanoic acid and

(2E)-3-[1-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]propenoic acid

and their salts.

11. A salt of a compound, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said salt is sodium 3-[1-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]propanoate, 3-[1-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]propanoic acid 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol salt and/or 3-[1-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-3-(2-phenylethyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]propanoic acid L-arginine salt.

12. A cPLA 2 inhibitor comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

13. An inhibitor of arachidonic acid production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

14. An inhibitor of prostanoid production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

15. An inhibitor of prostaglandin production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

16. An inhibitor of leukotriene production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

17. An inhibitor of prostaglandin E 2 production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

18. An inhibitor of prostaglandin D 2 production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

19. An inhibitor of thromboxane A 2 or B 2 production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

20. An inhibitor of cysteinyl leukotriene production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

21. An inhibitor of leukotriene B 4 production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

22. An inhibitor of platelet activating factor (PAF) production comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its salt according to claim 1 .

23. A pharmaceutical composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or its pharmacologically acceptable salt according to claim 1 .

24. A method for producing a compound, or a salt thereof, having the formula (I):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , X 1 , X 2 and X 3 are as defined in claim 1

comprising reacting a compound (II), or a salt thereof, having the formula (II):

wherein R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , X 1 , X 2 and X 3 are as defined in claim 1

with a compound, or its salt, having the formula (III):

R 1 —Y 1   (III)

wherein R 1 is as defined in claim 1 and Y 1 is a halogen atom or a triflate

and, if necessary, removing the protective groups and/or reducing the same.

25. A method for producing a compound, or its salt, having the formula (I):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , X 1 , X 2 and X 3 are as defined in claim 1

comprising reacting a compound (IV), or its salt, having the formula (IV):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , X 1 and X 2 are as defined in claim 1 and Y 2 is a halogen atom

with a compound (V), or its salt, having the formula (V):

R 4 —X 3 —H  (V)

wherein R 4 and X 3 are as defined in claim 1

and, if necessary, removing the protective groups and/or reducing the same.

26. A method for producing a compound, or its salt, having the formula (I):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , X 1 , X 2 and X 3 are as defined in claim 1

comprising reacting a compound, or its salt, having the formula (VI):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 4 and X 3 are as defined in claim 1

with a compound having the formula (VII):

R 3 —X 2 —Z  (VII)

wherein R 3 and X 2 is as defined in claim 1 , Z is a halocarbonyl group or (1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-1-yl)carbonyl group

or a compound, a salt thereof, having the formula (VIII):

wherein R 3a is a 5- to 10-membered aromatic heterocyclic group including one to four hetero atoms selected from nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms and oxygen atoms, other than carbon atoms, and may be optionally substituted with one to five groups selected from (i) a halogen atom, (ii) a C 1 to C 6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (iii) a C 3 to C 6 cycloalkyl, (iv) a hydroxyl, (v) a C 1 to C 6 alkoxy unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (vi) a C 1 to C 5 alkylenedioxy, (vii) a C 1 to C 6 alkylthio unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen atoms, (viii) an amino, (ix) a mono-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino and (x) a di-C 1 to C 6 alkylamino

and, if necessary, removing the protective groups and/or reducing the same.

27. A compound, or its salt, having the formula (II):

wherein R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , X 1 , X 2 and X 3 are as defined in claim 1 , provided that the following compounds are removed:

(i) a compound where R 2 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl, R 3 is an unsubstituted pyridyl, R 4 is COOR 5 where R 5 is hydrogen, t-butyl or benzyl, X 1 is methylene, X 2 is a connecting bond, X 3 is C 2 alkenylene or C 3 alkylene;

(ii) a compound where R 2 is methyl, R 3 is unsubstituted imidazole, R 4 is COOR 5 where R 5 is benzyl, X 1 is methylene, X 2 is a connecting bond, X 3 is C 2 alkylene; and

(iii) a compound where R 2 is a hydrogen atom, R 3 is phenyl, R 4 is COOR 5 where R 5 is a hydrogen atom, X 1 is methylene, X 2 is C 1 alkylene, X 3 is C 1 alkylene.

28. A compound, or its salt, having the formula (IV):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , X 1 and X 2 are as defined in claim 1 and Y 2 is a halogen atom.

29. A compound, or its salt, having the formula (VI):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 4 and X 3 are as defined in claim 1 , provided that the following compounds are removed:

a compound where R 1 is 4-fluorophenyl, R 2 is a hydrogen atom, R 4 is cyano or tetrazol, X 3 is C 1 alkylene;

(ii) a compound where R 1 is unsubstituted 3-pyridyl, R 2 is a hydrogen atom, R 4 is COOR 5 where R 5 is a hydrogen atom or C 2 alkyl, X 3 is C 2 alkenylene.

30. A pharmaceutical composition for treating an inflammatory disease or an allergic disease selected from the group consisting of asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic and acute airway inflammation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, acute pain, multiple sclerosis, cerebral ischemia or reperfusion injury, dermatitis, urticaria, eczema, prurigo, pancreatitis, psoriasis, inflammatory colitis, food allergy, allergic colitis, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, bronchial asthma, and dysmenorrheal, comprising a compound or its pharmacologically acceptable salt according to claim 1 .