Soluble guanylate cyclase activators

1. A compound of structural Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

W is selected from the group consisting of CH and N;

Z is selected from the group consisting of:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OC 1-6 alkyl and —N(R 5 ) 2 ;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of —C 1-2 perfluoroalkyl and —NH 2 ;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of:

1) —C 1-6 alkyl substituted with 1-3 of —F,

2) —COR 4 and

3) —SO 2 R 6 ;

R 3a is selected from the group consisting of —H; —C 1-3 alkyl; C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F; and —CH 2 —C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F;

R 4 is selected from the group consisting of:

1) —H,

2) —C 1-3 alkyl,

3) —OC 1-3 alkyl

4) —C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F,

5) —CH 2 —C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F,

6) —OC 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F, and

7) —N(R 5 ) 2 ;

R 5 is independently selected at each occurrence from —H and —C 1-3 alkyl;

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of —C 1-3 alkyl; —C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di- substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F; and —CH 2 —C 3-6 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F;

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of —H and —CH 3 ;

R a and R b are independently selected at each occurrence from —F, —Cl and —Cl 1-3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-3 of —F; and

R c and R d are independently selected at each occurrence from —F, —Cl and —C 1-3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-3 of —F.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein W is N or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein W is CH or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

5. The compound of claim 1 wherein Z is

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 is —OH and R 2 is —C 1-2 perfluoroalkyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

7. The compound of claim 6 wherein R 3 is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with 1-3 of —F;

(b) —COR 4 wherein R 4 is selected from the group consisting of —C 1-3 alkyl; —OC 1-3 alkyl; —C 3-4 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F; and —N(R 5 ) 2 wherein R 5 is independently selected each occurrence from —H, —CH 3 and —CH 2 CH 3 ; and

(c) —SO 2 R 6 and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of —C 1-3 alkyl, and cyclopropyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 3a is selected from the group consisting of —H, —CH 3 and —CH 2 -cyclopropyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

9. The compound of claim 1 having a structural Formula selected from the group consisting of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein:

R 1 is —OH;

R 2 is —C 1-2 perfluoroalkyl;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with 1-3 of —F;

(b) —COR 4 wherein R 4 is selected from the group consisting of —C 1-3 alkyl; —OC 1-3 alkyl; —C 3-4 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F; and —N(R 5 ) 2 wherein R 5 is independently selected each occurrence from —H, —CH 3 and —CH 2 CH 3 ; and

(c) —SO 2 R 6 wherein R 6 is selected from the group consisting of —C 1-3 alkyl and cyclopropyl;

R 3a when present is selected from the group consisting of —H, —CH 3 and —CH 2 -cyclopropyl; and R 7 is —H.

10. The compound of claim 1 having a structural Formula V:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

11. The compound f claim 10 wherein R 3 is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) —C 1-4 alkyl substituted with 1-3 of —F;

(b) —COR 4 wherein R 4 is selected from the group consisting of —C 1-3 alkyl; —OC 1-3 alkyl; —C 3-4 cycloalkyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 and —F; and —N(R 5 ) 2 wherein R 5 is independently selected each occurrence from —H, —CH 3 and —CH 2 CH 3 ; and

(c) —SO 2 R 6 wherein R 6 is selected from the group consisting of —C 1-3 alkyl and cyclopropyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

12. The compound of claim 9 having a structural Formula selected from the group consisting of Formula II, III and IV or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein the substituents R a , R b , R c and R d are optionally present at the positions on the rings as shown in Formula VIa:

13. The compound of claim 10 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein the substituents R a , R b , R c and R d are optionally present at the positions on the rings as shown in Formula VIa:

14. The compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:

1-[6-[2-[[4-[1-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl)-4-piperidinyl]phenyl]methoxy]phenyl]-2-pyridinyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(3-Chloro-5-fluoro-2-((4-(1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)-phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(2-((2-Methyl-4-(1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-{6-[3-fluoro-2-({4-[1-(methoxycarbonyl)piperidin-4 yl]benzyl}oxy)phenyl]pyridin-2-yl}-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(2-((4-(1-(methoxycarbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(2-((4-(1-(cyclopropylcarbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(2-((4-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(3-chloro-2-((4-(1-(cyclopropylcarbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-{6-2-({4-[1-(Cyclopropylcarbonyl)piperidin-4-yl]benzyl}oxy)-3-(difluoromethyl)phenyl]pyridin-2-yl}-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(3-methyl-2-((4-(1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(3,5-difluoro-2-((4-(1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

5-(Trifluoromethyl)-1-{6-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-2-({4-1-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)pyrrolidin-3-yl]benzyl}oxy)phenyl]pyridin-2-yl}-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (enantiomer A);

1-(6-(5-fluoro-2-((2-methyl-4-(1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)-phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(4-fluoro-2-((2-methyl-4-(1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)-oxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(2-((4-(1-(methoxycarbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)-3-methylphenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(3-(difluoromethyl)-2-((4-(1-(methoxycarbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)-phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

1-(6-(2-((4-(1-(Methoxycarbonyl)azetidin-3-yl)benzyl)oxy)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

15. A method for activating soluble guanylate cyclase comprising the step of administering an amount efficacious therefore of a compound of claim 1 to a patient in need thereof.

16. A method for the treatment of hypertension, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 to a patient in need thereof.

17. A method for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 to a patient in need thereof.

18. A method for the treatment of heart failure comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 to a patient in need thereof.

19. A pharmaceutical composition comprised of a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

20. The composition of claim 19 additionally comprising one or more active agents selected from the group consisting of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, a neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, an aldosterone antagonist, a renin inhibitor, an endothelin receptors antagonist, a vasodilator, a calcium channel blocker, a potassium channel activators, a diuretic, a sympatholitic, a beta-adrenergic blocking drug, an alpha adrenergic blocking drug, a central alpha adrenergic agonist, a peripheral vasodilator, a lipid lowering agent, and a metabolic altering agent.

21. The compound of claim 1 that is 1-[6-[2-[[4-[1-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl)-4-piperidinyl]phenyl]methoxy]phenyl]-2-pyridinyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

22. The compound of claim 1 that is 1-(6-(3-Chloro-5-fluoro-2-((4-(1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

23. The compound of claim 1 that is 1-(6-((2-Methyl-4-(1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)pyridine-2-yl)-5-trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.