Triazole derivatives for treating alzheimer'S disease and related conditions

1. A compound of formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof; wherein:

W completes an imidazole, triazole or pyrazole ring;

R 1a and R 1b independently represent H, C 1-6 alkyl, or CF 3 ;

Y1 and Y2 each independently represents N or CR 2 provided Y1 and Y2 do not both represent N;

R 2 represents H, halogen, CN, C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy or phenoxy, said alkyl, alkoxy and phenoxy optionally having up to 3 fluorine substituents or a cyclopropyl substituent;

each R 3 and each R 4 is independently H, C 1-6 alkyl, F, CO 2 R a or phenyl, where R a is H or C 1-4 alkyl, with the proviso that not more than one R 3 or R 4 group may represent CO 2 R a or phenyl;

or R 3 and R 4 attached to the same carbon atom may represent ═O or may together complete a carbocycle of 3 to 6 atoms;

m is 0 or an integer in the range 1-6;

or —(CR 3 R 4 ) m — is a linker selected from:

X is selected from H, R 5 , OR 6 , OCOR 5 , SR 5 , NR 6 R 7 , NR 7 COR 5 , NR 7 CO 2 R 8 and Si(R 8 ) 3 ;

R 5 is selected from:

(a) C 1-10 alkyl, phenylC 1-4 alkyl, diphenylmethyl, C 3-10 cycloalkyl or C 3-10 cycloalkenyl, said C 3-10 cycloalkyl or C 3-10 cycloalkenyl optionally having up to 2 benzene rings fused thereto;

(b) phenyl which optionally forms part of a polycyclic system containing up to 3 additional rings, each of which independently comprises 5, 6 or 7 members and is independently carbocyclic or heterocyclic;

(c) 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic which optionally forms part of a polycyclic system containing up to 3 additional rings, each of which independently comprises 5, 6 or 7 members and is independently carbocyclic or heterocyclic;

where the term “polycyclic system” at each occurrence thereof refers to a system of fused rings, or a system of rings linked by covalent bonds, or any combination of fused and covalently-linked rings;

the group represented by R 5 optionally bearing up to 5 substituents independently selected from halogen, CN, NO 2 , OH, oxo, C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-4 cycloalkyl, C 3-6 cycloalkylC 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkoxyC 1-4 alkyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1-4 alkylthio, C 1-4 alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, benzoyl, benzyl, naphthylmethyl, pyridylmethyl, SO 2 NR 2 , CONR 2 , NR 2 and R 2 N—C 1-4 alkyl where each R is independently H or C 1-4 alkyl or the two R groups together with the nitrogen to which they are attached complete a ring selected from azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine and morpholine, and where the aromatic portions of said phenylsulfonyl, benzoyl, benzyl, naphthylmethyl and pyridylmethyl optionally bear up to 3 substituents selected from halogen, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy and CF 3 ;

R 6 represents H or has the same definition as R 5 ;

R 7 represents H or C 1-6 alkyl which optionally bears a substituent selected from halogen, CN, OH, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-4 cycloalkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl and C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl; or R 7 represents C 3-6 cycloalkyl, benzyl or phenyl, said C 3-6 cycloalkyl, benzyl and phenyl optionally bearing up to 3 substituents selected from halogen, CN, OH, C 1-4 alkyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-4 cycloalkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl and C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl;

or R 6 and R 7 attached to the same nitrogen atom may complete a heterocyclic ring of up to 6 members, optionally forming part of a fused ring system of up to 20 ring atoms, said ring or fused ring system optionally bearing up to 3 substituents selected from halogen, C 1-4 alkyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-4 cycloalkyl, phenyl, OH, C 1-4 alkoxy, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl C 1-4 alkylthio, C 1-4 alkylsulfonyl, CONR 2 and NR 2 where each R 2 is independently H or C 1-4 alkyl or the two R 2 groups together with the nitrogen to which they are attached complete a ring selected from azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine and morpholine; and

R 8 represents C 1-6 alkyl, C 3-6 cycloalkyl or phenyl;

with the proviso that if m is 0 or —(CR 3 R 4 ) m — is a linker represented by (i), (ii) or (iii) then X represents R 5 and R 5 is not N-heterocyclyl.

2. A compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein W, R 1a and R 1b complete a group selected from: 4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl, 2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl, 2,4-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl, 4-trifluoromethyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl, 1H-imidazol-1-yl, 3-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl and 4-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl.

3. A compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one of Y1 and Y2 represents CH and the other represents CR 2 and R 2 represents H, F, Cl, CN, methyl, methoxy, 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy, cyclopropylmethoxy or phenoxy.

4. A compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the linker (CR 3 CR 4 ) m is selected from a bond, CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 , CF 2 , CH 2 CO, CF 2 CO, CH(CH 3 ), CH(Ph)CO, CHFCO, (1,1-cyclobutanediyl)CO, CH(CO 2 H)CH 2 CH 2 , CH(CO 2 CH 3 )CH 2 C(CH 3 ) 2 and the structures (i), (ii) and (iii):

5. A compound according to claim 1 of formula II:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof; wherein:

L represents CR 3 R 4 , CH 2 CH 2 or CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 ; and

Ar represents an aromatic moiety selected from:

(a) phenyl which is optionally fused to 1, 2 or 3 additional 5- or 6-membered carbocycles;

(b) phenyl which is fused to a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle;

(c) 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl which is optionally fused to 1 or 2 additional 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings; and

(d) a covalently linked bicyclic or tricyclic system represented by the formula Ar1-Ar2-(Ar3)y where Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 are independently selected from phenyl, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl and benzofused 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, and y is 0 or 1;

the moiety Ar bearing 0-4 substituents independently selected from halogen, NO 2 , CN, OH, C 1-4 alkyl, CF 3 , cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, and OCF 3 .

6. A compound according to claim 1 of formula III:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof; wherein:

R 33 and R 44 independently represent H, C 1-6 alkyl, F or phenyl, with the proviso that not more than one of R 33 and R 44 may represent phenyl;

or R 33 and R 44 together complete a carbocycle of 3 to 6 atoms.

7. A compound according to claim 6 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

R 6 is selected from optionally-substituted C 1-10 alkyl, phenylC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-10 cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, wherein the said phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl are optionally fused to a further 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, and wherein “optionally-substituted” refers to 0-4 substituents independently selected from halogen, CN, NO 2 , OH, C 1-4 alkyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-4 cycloalkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1-4 alkylthio, C 1-4 alkylsulfonyl, CONR 2 and NR 2 where each R is independently H or C 1-4 alkyl or the two R groups together with the nitrogen to which they are attached complete a ring selected from azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine and morpholine;

R 7 represents H or C 1-6 alkyl which optionally bears a substituent selected from halogen, CN, OH, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-4 cycloalkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl and C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl; or R 7 represents C 3-6 cycloalkyl, benzyl or phenyl, said C 3-6 cycloalkyl, benzyl and phenyl optionally bearing up to 3 substituents selected from halogen, CN, OH, C 1-4 alkyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-4 cycloalkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl and C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl;

or R 6 and R 7 together complete a heterocyclic ring of up to 6 members, optionally forming part of a fused ring system of up to 20 ring atoms, said ring or fused ring system optionally bearing up to 3 substituents selected from halogen, C 1-4 alkyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-4 cycloalkyl, phenyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl C 1-4 alkylthio, C 1-4 alkylsulfonyl, CONR 2 and NR 2 where each R 2 is independently H or C 1-4 alkyl.

8. A compound according to claim 1 of formula IV:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof; wherein:

Z represents CH 2 , CH 2 —CH 2 , O, S, NH, CH 2 —O, CH 2 —S or CH 2 —NH;

R 9 represent H, C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-6 cycloalkyl, C 3-6 cycloalkylC 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxyC 1-4 alkyl, amino C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, C 1-4 alkylsulfonyl, phenyl, phenylsulfonyl, benzoyl, benzyl, naphthylmethyl or pyridylmethyl, where said phenyl and the aromatic portions of said phenylsulfonyl, benzoyl, benzyl, naphthylmethyl and pyridylmethyl optionally bear up to 3 substituents selected from halogen, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy and CF 3 ; and

each R 10 independently represents halogen, OH, C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-6 cycloalkyl, C 3-6 cycloalkylC 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkoxyC 1-4 alkyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1-4 alkylthio, C 1-4 alkylsulfonyl, SO 2 NR 2 , CONR 2 or NR 2 where each R is independently H or C 1-4 alkyl or the two R 2 groups together with the nitrogen to which they are attached complete a ring selected from azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine and morpholine; or phenyl or benzyl either of which optionally is substituted with halogen, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy or CF 3 ;

or two R 10 groups attached to adjacent ring positions optionally complete a fused benzene, naphthalene, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, pyridine, thiophene or furan ring which optionally bears up to 2 substituents independently selected from halogen, NO 2 , CN, OH, phenyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 3-4 cycloalkyl, C 3-6 cycloalkylC 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkoxyC 1-4 alkyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, C 1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1-4 alkylthio, C 1-4 alkylsulfonyl, SO 2 NR 2 , CONR 2 or NR 2 where each R 2 is independently H or C 1-4 alkyl;

or two R 10 groups attached to non-adjacent ring positions optionally complete a CH 2 or CH 2 CH 2 bridge.

9. A compound according to claim 8 of formula IV(a):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof; wherein

x is 0, 1 or 2;

y is 0, 1 or 2;

R 11 represents methyl or phenyl with the proviso that x is not 2 when R 11 is phenyl, and

each R 12 is independently selected from phenyl, NO 2 , halogen, C 1-4 alkyl, polyfluoroC 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy and polyfluoroC 1-4 alkoxy with the provision that not more than one R 12 represents phenyl or NO 2 .

10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.