Ligands specific for cannabinoid receptor subtype 2

1. A compound of Formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable of the compound of Formula I, a stereoisomer of the compound of Formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the stereoisomer of the compound of Formula I:

wherein;

R 1 is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclyl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, or unsubstituted or substituted heteroaralkyl;

R 2 is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl; and

R 3 is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclyl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, or unsubstituted or substituted heteroaralkyl;

with the proviso that at least one of R 1 and R 3 is other than unsubstituted aralkyl, or R 2 is other than unsubstituted aryl.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein;

R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, bicyclo[2.1.1]hexyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl, bicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl, bicyclo[3.3.2]decanyl, adamantyl, noradamantyl, bornyl, or norbornyl; pyrrolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, piperidyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyranyl, quinuclidyl, indolyl, indolinyl, adeninyl, guaninyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinolizinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, —(C 1 -C 8 alkyl)phenyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, and benzothiophenyl;

R 2 is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 8 alkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, and pyridyl; and

R 3 is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 8 alkyl, —(C 1 -C 8 alkyl)phenyl, and —(C 1 -C 8 alkyl)pyridyl.

3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of phenyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, benzyl, and morpholinyl.

4. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of propyl, butyl, and phenyl.

5. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of propyl, butyl, and benzyl.

6. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of:

7. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is represented by Formula III:

wherein

R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 , R 20 , and R 21 are individually selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, SO 2 , NO 2 , OH, NH 2 , and substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 8 alkyl,

with the proviso that at least one of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 , R 20 , and R 21 is other than H.

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 1 , a stereoisomer thereof the compound of Formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the stereoisomer of the compound of Formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula I, a compound of Formula II, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula II, or a mixture of any two or more thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;

9. A method comprising inhibiting a cannabinoid receptor comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 8 to a subject.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cannabinoid receptor is cannabinoid receptor subtype-2.

11. A method comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 8 to a subject in need of an anti-inflammatory agent.

12. A method comprising using the compound of claim 1 , a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula I, a stereoisomer of the compound of Formula I, a compound of Formula II, or a mixture of any two or more thereof as an active fluorescence dye control for a fluorometric binding assay;

13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of Formula II, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula II, or a mixture thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;

14. A method comprising inhibiting a cannabinoid receptor comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 to a subject.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the cannabinoid receptor is cannabinoid receptor subtype-2.

16. A method comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 to a subject in need of an anti-inflammatory agent.

17. An active fluorescence dye control for a fluorometric binding assay, the active fluorescence dye control comprising a compound of Formula II, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula II, or a mixture thereof;