COMPOUNDS FOR STEM CELL DIFFERENTIATION

1 . A compound of Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein:

R 1 is independently hydrogen, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl or a moiety forming a salt;

R 2 is independently hydrogen, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, CF 3 or C 2 F 5 ;

R 3 is independently OR S or NR 8 R 8 ;

R 4 is independently substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted pyridine, wherein phenyl or pyridine is optionally independently substituted with 1 to 3 R 9 substituents;

R 5 , R 5′ , R 6 , R 6′ , R 7 , and R 7′ are each independently hydrogen or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl;

R 8 and R 8′ are each independently hydrogen, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl, substituted

or unsubstituted heterocyclyl, aryl, (C 1 -C 6 )alkylaryl, or (C 1 -C 6 )alkylNR 10 R 10′ ;

each R 9 is independently hydrogen, halogen, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 6 )alkoxy, cyclo(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted pyridine, substituted or unsubstituted indolyl; substituted or unsubstituted pyrrolidinyl, or substituted or unsubstituted piperidinyl, wherein phenyl, pyridine, indolyl, pyrrolidinyl and piperidinyl are each optionally independently substituted with hydrogen, halogen, or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; and

R 10 and R 10′ are each independently hydrogen, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, aryl, or (C 1 -C 6 )alkylaryl.

2 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is hydrogen; R 2 is hydrogen, CH 3 or CH 2 CH 3 ; R 3 is OR 8 ; R 4 is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl; R 8 is hydrogen, CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 ,

and each R 9 is independently hydrogen, F, Cl, Br, or I.

3 . The compound of claim 2 , wherein R 8 is CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 ,

4 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I has Formula IC:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein X is CH or N; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, halogen, or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl.

5 . The compound of claim 4 , wherein X is CH; R 1 is hydrogen; R 2 is hydrogen, CH 3 or CH 2 CH 3 ; R 3 is OR B ; R 8 is CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 ,

and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, F, Cl, Br, I, CH 3 or CH 2 CH 3 .

6 . The compound of claim 5 , wherein R 8 is CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 ,

7 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I has Formula ID:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein X is CH or N; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, halogen, or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl.

8 . The compound of claim 7 , wherein R 1 is hydrogen; R 2 is hydrogen, CH 3 or CH 2 CH 3 ; R 3 is OR 8 ; R 8 is CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 ,

and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, F, Cl, Br, I, CH 3 or CH 2 CH 3 .

9 . The compound of claim 8 , wherein R 8 is CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 ,

10 . The compound of Formula I of claim 1 , having formula:

11 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is the salt of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, 2,2-dichloroacetic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, 2-oxoglutaric acid, 4-acetamidobenzoic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, acetic acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid (L), aspartic acid (L), benzenesulfonic acid, benzoic acid, camphoric acid (+), camphor-10-sulfonic acid (+), capric acid (decanoic acid), caproic acid (hexanoic acid), caprylic acid (octanoic acid), carbonic acid, cinnamic acid, citric acid, cyclamic acid, dodecylsulfuric acid, ethane-1,2-disulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, galactaric acid, gentisic acid, glucoheptonic acid (D), gluconic acid (D), glucuronic acid (D), glutamic acid, glutaric acid, glycerophosphoric acid, glycolic acid, hippuric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrochloric acid, isobutyric acid, lactic acid (DL), lactobionic acid, lauric acid, maleic acid, malic acid (−L), malonic acid, mandelic acid (DL), methanesulfonic acid, naphthalene-1,5-disulfonic acid, naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, nicotinic acid, nitric acid, oleic acid, oxalic acid, palmitic acid, pamoic acid, phosphoric acid, proprionic acid, pyroglutamic acid (−L), salicylic acid, sebacic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, sulfuric acid, tartaric acid (+L), thiocyanic acid, toluenesulfonic acid (p), or undecylenic acid.

12 . A method for producing differentiated cells from stem cells, comprising contacting the stem cells with a compound of claim 1 of Formula I.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein contacting is from about 24 hours to about 192 hours.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein contacting is from about 48 hours to about 144 hours.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the differentiated cells are cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, or islet cells.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising contacting the cells with Activin A.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cells differentiate to mesoderm.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising contacting the cells with a Wnt protein.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the Wnt protein is Wnt3a, 5a or 7.

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the stem cells are embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells or adult stem cells.