Collagen stimulators and their use in the treatment of skin

1. A method for treating wrinkles and/or fine lines on human skin comprising topically applying to an area of the skin in need thereof a composition comprising an effective amount of a compound according to formula I(a):

wherein,

L is a bond or a divalent radical selected from —(C═O)—, —O—(C═O)—, —N(R*)—(C═O)—, —(CH 2 ) k —, —O—(CH 2 ) k —, —N(R*)—(CH 2 ) k —, —(CH 2 ) k —(C═O)—, —(CH 2 ) k —O—(C═O)—, —(CH 2 ) k —N(R*)—(C═O)—, where K is an integer from 1-3;

Q represents a five-membered heterocyclic ring selected from the following:

wherein ε 1 , ε 2 , and ε 3 , are independently selected from N, NH, NR*, S, and O; with the proviso that where the point of attachment is ε 1 , ε 2 , or ε 3 , then that position represents N; and wherein carbon atoms which are not the point of attachment may be optionally substituted with a group R; and wherein the dashed circles indicate that each ring may comprise zero, one, or two double bonds;

R 1 -R 5 are independently selected, at each occurrence, from a group R; wherein R is selected from hydrogen, —F; —Cl; —Br; —I; —OH, —OR*; —NH 2 ; —NHR*; —N(R*) 2 ; —N(R*) 3 + ; —N(R*)—OH; —N(→O)(R*) 2 ; —O—N(R*) 2 ; —N(R*)—O—R*; —N(R*)—N(R*) 2 ; —C═N—R*; —N═C(R*) 2 ; —C═N—N(R*) 2 ; —C(═NR*)—N(R*) 2 ; —SH; —SR*; —CN; —NC; —(C═O)—R*; —CHO; —CO 2 H; —CO 2 —; —CO 2 R*; —(C═O)—S—R*; —O—(C═O)—H; —O—(C═O)—R*; —S—(C═O)—R*; —(C═O)—NH 2 ; —(C═O)—N(R*) 2 ; —(C═O)—NHNH 2 ; —O—(C═O)—NHNH 2 ; —(C═S)—NH 2 ; —(C═S)—N(R*) 2 ; —N(R*)—CHO; —N(R*)—(C═O)—R*; —(C═NR)—O—R*; —O—(C═NR*)—R*, —SCN; —NCS; —NSO; —SSR*; —N(R*)—C(═O)—N(R*) 2 ; —N(R*)—C(═S)—N(R*) 2 ; —SO 2 —R*; —O—S(═O) 2 —R*; —S(═O) 2 —OR*; —N(R*)—SO 2 —R*; —SO 2 —N(R*) 2 ; —O—SO 3 − ; —O—S(═O) 2 —OR*; —O—S(═O)—OR*; —O—S(═O)—R*; —S(═O)—OR*; —S(═O)—R*; —NO; —NO 2 ; —NO 3 ; —O—NO; —O—NO 2 ; —N 3 ; —N 2 —R*; —N(C 2 H 4 ); —Si(R*) 3 ; —CF 3 ; —O—CF 3 ; —PR* 2 ; —O—P(═O)(OR*) 2 ; —P(═O)(OR*) 2 ; perfluoroalkyl; an aliphatic C 1 -C 12 hydrocarbon radical; a C 1 -C 12 aromatic hydrocarbon radical; or a C 1 -C 12 heteroaryl radical; where R* is independently at each occurrence hydrogen or a branched, cyclic, or straight chained C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbon radical that is saturated, partially saturated, or aromatic, optionally substituted with 1-6 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or halogen;

R N is hydrogen or a saturated, partially saturated, or aromatic C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbon radical, optionally substituted with 1-6 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or halogen;

and salts thereof,

for a time sufficient to improve the appearance of wrinkles and/or fine lines on said human skin.

2. The method of treatment according to claim 1 , wherein L is —CH 2 —, and Q is selected from:

where X is either an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or NR*, and R 6 and R 7 are independently selected from groups R as defined above.

3. The method of treatment according to claim 2 , where Q is a group:

4. The method of treatment according to claim 1 , wherein R N is hydrogen or methyl.

5. The method of treatment according to claim 1 , wherein the compound according to formula I(a) has the structure:

and salts thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said method comprises topically applying the composition to affected skin of an individual in need thereof, at least once daily for a period of at least four weeks.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said method comprises topically applying the composition to affected skin of an individual in need thereof, at least once daily for a period of at least eight weeks.

8. A method for treating wrinkles and/or fine lines on human skin comprising topically applying to an area of the skin in need thereof a topical composition comprising a cosmetically acceptable vehicle and an effective amount of a compound having the structure:

and cosmetically acceptable salts thereof, for a time sufficient to improve the aesthetic appearance of said human skin.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said method comprises topically applying the composition to affected skin of an individual in need thereof, at least once daily for a period of at least four weeks.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said composition is topically applied to affected skin of an individual in need thereof at least once daily for a period of at least eight weeks.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said composition further comprises a retinoid.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said composition further comprises an alpha-hydroxy acid and/or a beta-hydroxy acid.

13. A method for enhancing the production of collagen in human skin comprising topically applying to an area of the skin in need thereof a topical composition comprising a cosmetically acceptable vehicle, and an effective amount of a compound having the structure:

and cosmetically acceptable salts thereof.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said composition further comprises a retinoid.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said composition further comprises glycolic acid and/or salicylic acid.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said composition is applied to said skin at least once daily for a period of at least four weeks.