ALPHA2C adrenoreceptor agonists

1. A compound represented by the structural formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said compound, wherein:

X is —O—;

J 1 , J 2 , J 3 , and J 4 are independently —C(R 2 )—;

R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, —OH, halo, —CN, —NO 2 , —(CH 2 ) q YR 7 , —(CH 2 ) q NR 7 YR 7′ , —(CH 2 ) q OYR 7 , —(CH 2 ) q ON═CR 7 R 7′ , —P(═O)(OR 7 )(O R 7′ ), —P(═O)(NR 7 R 7′ ) 2 , —P(═O)R 8 2 , and alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, and heterocyclyl groups optionally substituted with at least one R 5 ;

Y is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —C(═O)—, —C(═O)NR 7 —, —C(═O)O—, —C(═NR 7 )—, —C(═NOR 7 )—, —C(═NR 7 )NR 7 —, —C(═NR 7 )NR 7 O—, —S(O) p —, SO 2 NR 7 —, and —C(S)NR 7 —;

R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkenyloxy, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyclyl, and heterocyclylalkyl groups optionally substituted with at least one R 5 ;

R 4 is independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkenyloxy, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyclyl, and heterocyclylalkyl groups optionally substituted with at least one R 5 ;

R 5 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —NR 7 R 7′ , —SR 7 , and alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkenyloxy, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyclyl, and heterocyclylalkyl groups, each of which is optionally substituted with at least one of halo, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —NR 7 R 7′ , and —S(O) p R 7 substituents;

R 7 is independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, and heteroarylalkyl groups, each of which is optionally substituted with at least one of halo, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , and —SR 11 substituents;

R 7′ is independently selected from the group consisting of selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, and heteroarylalkyl groups, each of which is optionally substituted with at least one of halo, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , and —SR 11 substituents; or

R 7 and R 7′ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 3- to 8-membered heterocyclyl, heterocyclenyl or heteroaryl ring having, in addition to the N atom, 1 or 2 additional hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of O, N, —N(R 9 )— and S, wherein said rings are optionally substituted by 1 to 5 independently selected R 5 moieties,

R 8 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, and heteroarylalkyl groups, each of which is optionally substituted with at least one of halo, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , and —SR 11 substituents;

R 9 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, —C(O)—R 10 , —C(O)—OR 10 , and —S(O) p —OR 10 and alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, nd heteroarylalkyl groups, each of which is optionally substituted with at least one of halo, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , and —SR 11 substituents; and

R 10 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, and heteroarylalkyl groups, each of which is optionally substituted with at least one of halo, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , and —SR 11 substituents;

R 11 is a moiety independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkenyloxy, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyclyl, and heterocyclylalkyl;

m is 1;

n is 1;

p is 0-2;

q is 0-6;

z is 0-3; and

w is 0-4.

2. The Compound of claim 1 wherein J 1 , J 2 , and J 4 are C—H, J 3 is —CR 1 and

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, —OH, halo, —CN, —NO 2 , —SR 7 —(CH 2 ) q YR 7 , —(CH 2 ) q NR 7 YR 7′ , —(CH 2 ) q OYR 7 , —(CH 2 ) q ON═CR 7 R 7′ , —P(═O)(OR 7 )(OR 7′ ), —P(═O)(NR 7 R 7′ ) 2 , —P(═O)R 8 2 , and alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkenyloxy, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyclyl, and heterocyclylalkyl groups optionally substituted with at least one R 5 .

3. The compound of claim 2 wherein R 4 is H.

4. The compound of claim 2 , wherein R 4 is H.

5. The compound of claim 2 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —(CH 2 ) q YR 7 , —(CH 2 ) q NR 7 YR 7′ , —(CH 2 ) q OYR 7 , and —(CH 2 ) q ON═CR 7 R 7′ .

6. A compound selected from:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant or vehicle.

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of claim 6 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant or vehicle.

9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 7 , wherein said additional therapeutic agents are selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatory steroids, PDE-4 inhibitors, anti-muscarinic agents, cromolyn sodium, H 1 receptor antagonists, 5-HT 1 agonists, NSAIDs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor agonists, β-blockers, β-agonists, leukotriene antagonists, diuretics, aldosterone antagonists, ionotropic agents, natriuretic peptides, pain management agents, anti-anxiety agents, anti-migraine agents, and therapeutic agents suitable for treating heart conditions, psychotic disorders, and glaucoma.

10. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 8 , wherein said additional therapeutic agents are selected from the group consisting of steroids, PDE-4 inhibitors, anti-muscarinic agents, cromolyn sodium, H 1 receptor antagonists, 5-HT 1 agonists, NSAIDs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor agonists, β-blockers, β-agonists, leukotriene antagonists, diuretics, aldosterone antagonists, ionotropic agents, natriuretic peptides, pain management agents, anti-anxiety agents, anti-migraine agents, and therapeutic agents suitable for treating heart conditions, psychotic disorders, and glaucoma.

11. A compound of claim 1 , in isolated and purified form.

12. A compound of claim 1 having the formula:

13. A compound of claim 1 having the formula:

14. A compound of claim 1 having the formula:

15. A compound of claim 1 having the formula: