Compounds, pharmaceutical composition and methods relating thereto

1. A compound of the formula (I):

wherein:

Ar is aryl or heteroaryl, wherein said aryl and heteroaryl are optionally substituted with 1-5 R 4 ;

R 1 at each occurrence is independently C 1-4 alkyl, F, hydroxy, C 1-4 alkyl -O—, —CO 2 R 7 , or —C(═O)N(R 6 ) 2 ;

R 2 at each occurrence is independently C 1-4 alkyl, F, hydroxy, or C 1-4 alkyl-O—;

R 3 is R Alk , aryl-C 1-4 alkyl, heterocycle-C 1-4 alkyl, —C(═O)R 6 , —CO 2 R 5 , —SO 2 R 5 , —C(═X)N(R 6 ) 2 , aryl, or heterocycle, wherein each alkyl, R Alk , aryl, and heterocycle group is optionally substituted with 1-4 substituents independently of each other selected from R 8 ;

R 4 at each occurrence is independently halogen, cyano, hydroxy, R Alk , —NO 2 , —C(═O)H, —C(═O)R 5 , —C 1-3 -alkyl-C(═O)R 5 , —CO 2 H, —CO 2 R 5 , —C(═O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —C 1-3 -alkyl-C(═O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , —S(═O)R 5 , —S(═O) 2 R 5 , —S(═O) 2 —O—R 5 , R Alk —O—, R Alk —S—, —N(R 6 ) 2 , aryl, aryl-C 1-6 alkyl, heterocycle, heterocycle-C 1-6 alkyl, —NR 6 C(═O)R 5 , —NR 6 S(═O) 2 R 5 , —NR 6 C(═O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —NR 6 C(═O)OR 7 , —NR 6 C(═NR 6 )N(R 6 ) 2 , or —NR 6 S(═O) 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , wherein each alkyl, R Alk , aryl and heterocycle is optionally substituted with 1-5 substituents independently of each other selected from R 8 ;

R 5 is R Alk , heterocycle, aryl, heterocycle-C 1-3 -alkyl or aryl-C 1-3 -alkyl, wherein each alkyl, R Alk , heterocycle and aryl group is optionally substituted with 1-4 substituents independently of each other selected from R 8 ;

R 6 at each occurrence is independently H, R Alk , heterocycle, heterocycle-C 1-6 -alkyl, aryl or aryl-C 1-3 -alkyl, wherein each R Alk , heterocycle, aryl and alkyl are optionally substituted with 1-4 halogen, hydroxy, —N(R 7 ) 2 , C 1-4 alkyl-O—, and —CO 2 R 7 ;

R 7 at each occurrence is independently H or C 1-4 alkyl;

R 8 at each occurrence is independently cyano, hydroxy, R Alk , aryl, aryl-C 1 -6 alkyl, heterocycle, heterocycle-C 1-6 alkyl, halogen, oxo, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —NO 2 , —C(═O)H, —CO 2 R 7 , —OC(═O)R Alk , —C(═O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , —S(═O)R Alk , —S(═O) 2 R Alk , C 1-6 alkyl-O—, haloC 1-4 alkyl-O—, —N(R 6 ) 2 , —SR 6 , —NR 6 C(═O)R Alk , —NR 6 S(═O) 2 R Alk , —NR 6 C(═O)OR Alk , —NR 6 C(═O)N(R 6 ) 2 , or —NR 6 S(═O) 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , wherein each R Alk , alkyl, aryl and heterocycle are optionally substituted with 1-4 substituents independently of each other selected from halogen, hydroxy, —N(R 7 ) 2 , C 1-4 alkyl-O—, —NR 6 CO 2 R 6 , —NR 6 SO 2 R 6 , and —CO 2 R 7 ;

R Alk at each occurrence is independently C 1-6 -alkyl, C 2-6 -alkenyl, C 2-6 -alkynyl, C 3-8 -cycloalkyl, C 3-8 -cycloalkyl-C 1-3 -alkyl, C 4-8 -cycloalkenyl or C 4-8 -cycloalkenyl-C 1-3 -alkyl;

X denotes O or S;

n at each occurrence is 0, 1, or 2;

p at each occurrence is 0 or 1; and

q is 0, 1, or 2,

including any tautomers and stereoisomers thereof, or a salt thereof.

2. The compound according to claim 1 having the following structure (I.1):

wherein

Q, U, V, W denote CH which may be substituted with Hal and/or R 4 as defined in the formula (I.1), wherein one or two of the groups Q, U, V and W may denote N;

r is 0, 1 or 2;

s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein r+s≦5:

Hal is F or Cl;

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , n, p, q are defined as in claim 1 , or a salt thereof.

3. The compound according to claim 1 having the following structure (I.2) or (I.23):

wherein Ar, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , n are defined as in claim 1 , or a salt thereof.

4. The compound according to claim 1 having the following structure (I.3) or (I.24):

wherein

Q, U, V, W denote CH which may be substituted with Hal and/or R 4 as defined in the formula (I.3) and (I.24), wherein one or two of the groups Q, U, V and W may denote N;

r is 0, 1 or 2;

s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein r+s≦5:

Hal is F or Cl;

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , n are defined as in claim 1 , or a salt thereof.

5. The compound according to claim 1 wherein Ar denotes aryl or heteroaryl, wherein aryl denotes phenyl or naphthyl, and heteroaryl denotes a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring, which comprises 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, or a 8-, 9- or 10-membered aromatic bicyclic ring, which comprises 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, wherein in each monocyclic aryl or heteroaryl group two adjacent C and/or N atoms may be linked via a C 3-5 -alkylene or C 3-5 -alkenylene bridging group in which one or two CH 2 -groups may be replaced by a group selected from O, S, NH, N(C 1-3 -alkyl), —C(═O)—, —S(═O)— and —S(═O) 2 —, and wherein one or two CH-groups may be replaced by N, wherein said aryl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with 1-5 substituents independently of each other selected from R 4 and wherein R 4 is defined as in claim 1 , or a salt thereof.

6. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R 3 is selected from the group consisting of R Alk , R Alk —C(═O)—, aryl-C(═O)—, aryl-C 1-3 -alkyl-C(═O)—, heterocycle-C(═O)—, heterocycle-C 1-3 -alkyl-C(═O)—, R Alk —O—C(═O)-L-, aryl-O—C(═O) -L-, aryl-C 1-3 -alkyl-O—C(═O)-L-, heterocycle-O—C(═O)-L-, heterocycle-C 1-3 -alkyl-O—C(═O)-L-, R Alk —NR N —C(═X)-L-, heterocycle-NR N —C(═X)-L-, heterocycle-C 1-3 -alkyl-NR N —C(═X)-L-, aryl-NR N —C(═X)-L-, aryl-C 1-3 -alkyl-NR N —C(═OX)-L-, R Alk —S(═O) 2 -L-, aryl-S(═O) 2 -L-, aryl-C 1-3 -alkyl-S(═O) 2 -L-, heterocycle-S(═O) 2 —, heterocycle-C 1-3 -alkyl-S(═O) 2 -L-, aryl-L- and heteroaryl-L-,

wherein L is a single bond or C 1-3 -alkyl; and

wherein each R Alk , aryl, heteroaryl and heterocycle group is optionally substituted with 1-5 substituents independently of each other selected from R 8 ; and

wherein R Alk denotes C 1-6 -alkyl, C 2-6 -alkenyl, C 2-6 -alkynyl, C 3-8 -cycloalkyl, C 3-8 -cycloalkyl-C 1-3 -alkyl, C 4-8 -cycloalkenyl or C 4-8 -cycloalkenyl-C 1-3 -alkyl and

wherein X denotes O or S; and

wherein R N denotes H or C 1-4 -alkyl; and

wherein R 8 is defined as in claim 1 , or a salt thereof.

7. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R 4 is selected from F, Cl, CN, —NO 2 , R Alk , R Alk —O—, HCO, R Alk —C(═O)—, HO—C(═O)—, R Alk —O—C(═O)—, R Alk —S(═O)—, R Alk —S(═O) 2 —, R Alk —O—S(═O) 2 —, (R 6 ) 2 N—C(═O)—, (R 6 ) 2 N—C(═O)—C 1-3 -alkyl, heterocycle, heterocycle-C 1-3 -alkyl, heterocycle-C(═O)—, heterocycle-C(═O)—C 1-3 -alkyl, heterocycle -N(R 6 )—C(═O)—, heterocycle-N(R 6 )—C(═O)—C 1-3 -alkyl, heterocycle-C 1-3 alkyl-N(R 6 )—C(═O)—, heterocycle-C 1-3 alkyl-N(R 6 )—C(═O)—C 1-3 -alkyl, (R 6 ) 2 N—S(═O) 2 —, R Alk — C(═O)—O—C 1-3 -alkyl, R Alk —O—C(═O)—N(R 6 )—C 1-3 -alkyl-C(═O)—O—C 1-3 -alkyl, R Alk —S(═O) 2 —C 1-3 -alkyl, (R 6 ) 2 N—C 1-3 -alkyl, heterocycle-C 1-3 -alkyl-N(R 6 )—C 1-3 -alkyl, R Alk —C(═O)—N(R 6 )—, R Alk —C(═O)—N(R 6 )—C 1-3 -alkyl, R Alk —O—C(═O)—N(R 6 )—, R Alk —O—C(═O)—N(R 6 )—C 1-3 -alkyl, R Alk -alkyl-S(═O) 2 —N(R 6 )—, R Alk —S(═O) 2 —N(R 6 )—C 1-3 -alkyl, (R 6 ) 2 N—C(═O)—N(R 6 )—, (R 6 ) 2 N—C(═O)—N(R 6 )—C 1-3 -alkyl, (R 6 ) 2 N—S(═O) 2 —N(R 6 )—, (R 6 ) 2 N—S(═O) 2 —N(R 6 )—C 1-3 -alkyl,

wherein each R Alk , alkyl and heterocycle group is optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents independently of each other selected from R 8 ;

wherein R Alk denotes C 1-6 -alkyl, C 2-6 -alkenyl, C 2-6 -alkynyl, C 3-8 -cycloalkyl, C 3-8 -cycloalkyl-C 1-3 -alkyl, C 4-8 -cycloalkenyl or C 4-8 -cycloalkenyl-C 1-3 -alkyl; and

wherein R 6 and R 8 are defined as in claim 1 , or a salt thereof.

8. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R 6 is selected from H, C 1-6 -alkyl, C 3-8 -cycloalkyl and C 3-7 -cycloalkyl-C 1-3 -alkyl, wherein each alkyl group is optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents independently of each other selected from HO—, C 1-4 -alkyl-O—, H 2 N—, C 1-3 -alkyl-NH—, (C 1-3 -alkyl) 2 N—, HOOC— and C 1-4 -alkyl-O—C(═O)—, or a salt thereof.

9. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R 8 is selected from cyano, hydroxy, C 1-6 -alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-C 1-3 alkyl, heterocycle, heterocycle-C 1-3 -alkyl, halogen, oxo, NO 2 , H—C(═O)—, R 7 O—C(═O)—, R 7 —C(═O)—O—, (R 6 ) 2 N—C(═O)—, (R 6 ) 2 N—S(═O) 2 —, R 7 —S(═O)—, R 7 —S(═O) 2 —, C 1-6 alkyl-O—, (R 6 ) 2 N—, R 6 S—, R 7 —C(═O)—R 6 N—, R 7 O—C(═O)—R 6 N— or (R 6 ) 2 N—C(═O)—R 6 N—, wherein each alkyl, aryl and heterocycle are optionally substituted with 1-4 substituents independently of each other selected from halogen, hydroxy, (R 7 ) 2 N—, C 1-4 alkyl-O—, R 6 O—C(═O)—R 6 N—, R 6 —S(═O) 2 —R 6 N— and R 7 —O—C(═O)—,

wherein R 7 denotes H or C 1-4 alkyl, and

wherein R 6 is defined as in claim 1 , or a salt thereof.

10. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R 5 is selected from C 1-6 -alkyl optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents independently of each other selected from R 8 ,

wherein R 8 is defined as in claim 1 , or a salt thereof.

11. The compound of claim 1 wherein each n is 0, p is 1 and q is 1, or a salt thereof.

12. The pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound according to claim 1 .

13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents.

14. A method for treating type I diabetes mellitus, type II diabetes mellitus, or obesity characterized in that a compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is administered to a patient in need thereof.

15. A method for treating type I diabetes mellitus, type II diabetes mellitus, or obesity comprising the step of administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of one or more additional therapeutic agents.

16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more additional therapeutic agents, optionally together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents.

17. The method according to claim 14 for the treatment of type I diabetes mellitus.

18. The method according to claim 14 for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.

19. The method according to claim 15 for the treatment of type I diabetes mellitus.

20. The method according to claim 15 for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.