Compounds that are ERK inhibitors

1. A compound of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of: —OR 4 and —S(O) t R 5 ;

t is 0, 1 or 2;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of: R 2 is selected from the group consisting of: H, (C 6 -C 10 )aryl-(C 1 -C 3 alkyl)-heterocycloalkyl-, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-heterocycloalkyl-(C 6 -C 10 aryl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(C 6 -C 10 )aryl, —(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)heteroaryl, —(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl)-(C 6 -C 10 aryl), -heterocycloalkyl-(C 6 -C 10 aryl), -fused (heterocycloalkyl)(C 6 -C 10 )aryl wherein said heterocycloalkyl is a 5 to 8 membered ring (including the two atoms common with said aryl) comprising 1-3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of: O, S and N, and wherein the remaining atoms are carbon, -fused ((C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl))(C 6 -C 10 )aryl, -heterocycloalkyl-C(O)O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-(C 6 -C 10 )aryl, -heterocycloalkyl-(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-heteroaryl, heterocycloalkyl, (C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl)-(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)- and —(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl);

and wherein said aryl (including the aryl moiety of said fused heterocycloalkylaryl, and fused cycloalkylaryl groups), heterocycloalkyl (including the heterocycloalkyl moiety of said fused heterocycloalkylaryl group), heteroaryl, and cycloalkyl (including the cycloalkyl moiety of said fused cycloalkylaryl group) moieties of said R 2 groups are optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of: halo, —O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —OH, —CF 3 , —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —S(O) r (C 1 -C 6 alkyl) wherein r is 0, 1 or 2, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl), —C(O)—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-OH, (hydroxyl substituted —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(C 6 -C 10 )aryl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(halo substituted (C 6 -C 10 )aryl), —C(O)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —C(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), (halo substituted —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)), —O-(halo substituted (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)), —C(O)N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) 2 wherein each alkyl is selected independently, —C(O)NH(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) 2 wherein each alkyl is independently selected, and —NH(C 1 -C 6 alkyl);

and wherein said alkyl moieties of said R 2 groups are optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of: halo, —O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —OH and —CF 3 , —S(O), (C 1 -C 6 alkyl) wherein r is 0, 1 or 2, —(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl), (hydroxy substituted —(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl)), heteroaryl, -heteroaryl-(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), heterocycloalkyl, —S(O) t (C 1 -C 6 alkyl) (wherein t is 0, 1, or 2), —C(O)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —O-(halo substituted —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)), —O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) 2 wherein each alkyl is independently selected, and —NH(C 1 -C 6 alkyl);

R 4 is selected from the group consisting of: —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(C 6 -C 10 aryl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-heteroaryl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-C(O)—N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) 2 (wherein each alkyl moiety is independently selected), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) 2 wherein each alkyl is independently selected, -(hydroxy substituted (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)), -heteroaryl and —(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl);

and wherein said aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, and heterocycloalkyl moieties of said R 4 groups are optionally substituted with 1-3 substitutents independently selected from the group consisting of: halo (e.g., F, Br, and Cl, and in one example F), ═O, —CN, —O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) and —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl);

and wherein the alkyl moieties of said R 4 groups are optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of: —OH, halo (e.g., F, Br, and Cl, and in one example F), and —O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl);

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of: —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), and —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl); and wherein said alkyl moieties of said R 5 groups are optionally substituted with 1-3 substitutents independently selected from the group consisting of: halo, and —O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl); and

R 10 and R 11 are each independently selected from the group consisting of: H, halo, —(C 1 to C 6 alkyl), —(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl), hydroxy substituted —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) 2 wherein each alkyl is independently selected, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-heterocycloalkyl, —NH 2 , —N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) 2 wherein each alkyl is independently selected, —NH(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)NH(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)NH 2 , —NHC(O)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —NH—(C 6 -C 10 aryl)-O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —C(O)OH, —CN, heteroaryl, -(heteroaryl-((C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-OH), —((C 1 -C 6 alkyl)heteroaryl), —C(O)-heterocycloalkyl, -oxoheteroaryl, —C(O)NH 2 , —C(O)N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) 2 wherein each alkyl is independently selected, —C(O)NH(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl), (hydroxy substituted —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl)), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—C(O)—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —C(O)—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—C(O)—NH(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—C(O)—N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl) 2 wherein each alkyl is independently selected, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-(oxoheterocycloalkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O-heterocyloalkyl, halo substituted (C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)heteroaryl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-((C 1 -C 6 )alkoxy) substituted heteroaryl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-OH, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl)-OH, and —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-OH.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 is —OR 4 .

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 is —S(O) t R 5 .

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of:

—O—CH 2 CH 2 —OCH 3 , —O—CH 2 -phenyl, —O—CH 3 , —O—CD 3 , —OCH(F) 2 , —OCH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CHF 2 , —O(CH 2 ) 3 CF 3 , —OCH 2 C(CH 3 ) 2 OCH 3 , —O(CH 2 )NCH 3 ) 2 , —OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OH, —OCH 2 CH(CH 3 )CH 2 OH, —OCH 2 CH(CH 3 )OH, —OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 F, —OCH 2 CH(OH)CF 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCHF 2 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCF 3 , —O(CH 2 ) 2 OH, —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 3 , —OCH(CH 3 )CH 2 OCH 3 , —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 3 , —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , —O—CH 2 -pyridyl, —O—CH 2 —C(O)—N(CH 3 ) 2 , —O—CH 2 -oxetanyl, —O—CH 2 -tetrahydrofuranyl, —O—CH 2 -tetrahydropyranyl, —O—CH 2 -azetidinyl, —O—CH 2 -pyrrolidinyl, —O—CH 2 -piperidinyl, —O—CH 2 -piperazinyl, —O—CH 2 -morpholinyl, —O—CH 2 -thietanyl, —O—CH 2 -tetrahydrothiophenyl (O—CH 2 -tetrahydrothienyl), —O—CH 2 -tetrahydrothiopyranyl, —O—CH 2 -thiazolyl, —O—CH 2 -methylisoxazolyl, —O—(CH 2 ) 2 -pyrazolyl, —O—(CH 2 ) 2 -methylimidazolyl, —OCH 2 oxopyrrolidinyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 oxopyrrolidinyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 piperidinyl, —O-phenyl, —Otetrahydrofuranyl, —Opiperidinyl, —Omethyltetrahydro-pyranyl, —Ocyanocyclohexyl, —Omethoxymethylcyclohexyl, —Odimethyltetrahydropyranyl, —O-oxetanyl, —O-tetrahydrofuranyl, —O-tetrahydropyranyl, —O-azetidinyl, —O-pyrrolidinyl, —O-piperidinyl, —O-piperazinyl, —O-morpholinyl, —O-thietanyl, —O-tetrahydrothiophenyl (—O-tetrahydrothienyl), —O-tetrahydrothiopyranyl, —CH 2 -cyclopropyl, —CH 2 -cyclobutyl, —CH 2 -cyclopentyl, —CH 2 -cyclohexyl, and —O—CH 2 CH 2 —OH.

5. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of:

—SCH 3 , —SCH 2 CH 3 , —SCH 2 CH 2 —O—CH 3 , and —S(O) 2 CH 3 .

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of:

7. The compound of claim 1 wherein (1) R 1 is selected from the group consisting of: —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 3 , —O(CH 2 ) 2 OH, —OCH 2 CHF 2 , —OCH 2 CH 3 , —O(CH 2 ) 3 CF 3 , —OCH 2 CH(OH)—CH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH(CH 2 OH)OH, —OCH 2 tetrahydropyranyl, —OCH 2 CH(CH 3 )CH 2 OH, R 1 is —OCH 2 tetrahydrofuranyl, —OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 F, —Othiazolyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 pyrazolyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 methylimidazolyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 oxopyrrolidinyl, —Otetrahydrofuranyl, —OCH 2 CH—(OH)CF 3 , —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCHF 2 , —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 2 C(CF 3 )OH, —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCF 3 , —Otetra-hydropyranyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , —SCF 3 , —OCH(CH 3 )CH 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 2 pyridyly, —Otetra-hydropyranyl, —Ocyanocyclohexyl, —Omethyltetrahydropyranyl, —Odimethyltetrahydropyranyl, —OCH 2 CH(CH 3 )OH, —OCH 2 pyridyl and —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 2 CH 3 ; (2) R 2 is selected from the group consisting of:

(3) R 10 is selected from the group consisting of H and F; and (4) R 11 is selected from the group consisting of: —CH 2 OH, —CH(OH)CH 3 , —CH(OH)CH 3 , —CH(OH)CH 2 CH 3 , -pyridyl-CH 2 OH, —CH(OH)cyclopropyl, —CH 2 OC(O)CH 3 , -methyloxadiazolyl, -methyl-thiadiazolyl, —NH 2 , —NHCH 3 , —NHCH 2 CH 3 , methylpyridyl, —NHC(O)CH 3 , pyrazolyl, oxazolyl, R 11 is methylpyrimidinyl, —CH 2 OC(O)NHCH 3 , —CH 2 imidazolyl, —CH 3 , —CHF 2 , —CH 2 OCH 3 , —CH 2 oxooxazolidinyl, —CH 2 O(CH 2 ) 2 OH, —CH 2 triazolyl and —CH(CH 3 )OH.

8. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 10 is selected from the group consisting of: H, F, Cl, Br, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, —CH(OH)CH 3 , —CH 2 OCH 3 , —CH 2 —N(CH 3 ) 2 , and —CH 2 -morpholinyl.

9. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 11 is selected from the group consisting of: H, F, Cl, Br, —CF 3 , —CHF 2 , —CN, —NH 2 , —NH(CH 3 ), —NH(CH 3 ) 2 , —NHC(O)CH 3 , —NH-phenyl-O—CH 3 , methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, —CH 2 OC(O)OCH 3 , —CH 2 OH, —CH(OH)CH 3 , —CH(OH)CH 2 CH 3 , —CH 2 OCH 3 , —CH 2 —N(CH 3 ) 2 , —CH(OH)cyclopropyl, —C(O)CH 3 , —CH 2 -morpholinyl, methyloxadiazolyl-, methylpyridyl-, methylthiadiazolyl-, pyrazolyl, oxodihydrooxadiazolyl-, C(O)NHCH 3 , —C(O)N(CH 3 ) 2 , —NH 2 , —CH 2 OC(O)NHCH 3 , —CH 2 O(CH 2 ) 2 OH, —CH 2 oxo-oxazolidinyl, —CH 2 oxopyrrolidinyl, —CH 2 —O-oxetanyl, —CH 2 pyrazolyl, —CH 2 NHCH 3 , —CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , methylpyrimidinyl-, methylpyrazolyl-, —CH 2 (methoxypyrazolyl), —CH 2 triazolyl, —CH 2 imidazolyl, —CH 2 O(hydroxycyclopentyl), —CH 2 OCH 2 CH(CH 3 )OH, —CH(CH 3 )OH.

10. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of Group I; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of: B1, B2, B3, B5, B8, B10, and B25; R 10 is selected from the group consisting of: H and F; and R 11 is selected from the group consisting of: H and —CH 3 ; and wherein Group I represents —OCH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OH,

11. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of Group I; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of: B11, B31, B32, B38, B39, B44, B46, B50, B51, B53, B54, and B62; R 10 is selected from the group consisting of: H and F; and R 11 is selected from the group consisting of: H and —CH 3 ; and wherein Group I is as defined above.

12. The compound of claim 1 wherein (1) R 1 is selected from the group consisting of: —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 3 , —O(CH 2 ) 2 OH, —OCH 2 CHF 2 , —OCH 2 CH 3 , —O(CH 2 ) 3 CF 3 , —OCH 2 CH(OH)—CH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH(CH 2 OH)OH, —OCH 2 tetrahydropyranyl, —OCH 2 CH(CH 3 )CH 2 OH, —OCH 2 tetra-hydrofuranyl, —OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 F, —Othiazolyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 pyrazolyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 methyl-imidazolyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 oxopyrrolidinyl, —Otetrahydro-furanyl, —OCH 2 CH—(OH)CF 3 , —O(CH 2 ) 2 O—CHF 2 , —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 2 C(CF 3 )OH, —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCF 3 , —Otetra-hydropyranyl, —O(CH 2 ) 2 —OCH 2 CH 3 , —SCF 3 , —OCH(CH 3 )CH 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 2 pyridyly, —Otetra-hydropyranyl, —Ocyanocyclohexyl, —Omethyltetrahydropyranyl, —Odimethyltetrahydropyranyl, —OCH 2 CH(CH 3 )OH, —OCH 2 pyridyl and —O(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 2 CH 3 ; (2) R 2 is selected from the group consisting of:

(3) R 10 is H; and (4) R 11 is selected from the group consisting of: —CH 2 OH, —CH(OH)CH 3 , —CH(OH)CH 3 , —CH(OH)CH 2 CH 3 , -pyridyl-CH 2 OH, —CH(OH)cyclopropyl, —CH 2 OC(O)CH 3 , -methyloxadiazolyl, -methyl-thiadiazolyl, —NH 2 , —NHCH 3 , —NHCH 2 CH 3 , methylpyridyl, —NHC(O)CH 3 , pyrazolyl, oxazolyl, R 11 is methylpyrimidinyl, —CH 2 OC(O)NHCH 3 , —CH 2 imidazolyl, —CH 3 , —CHF 2 , —CH 2 OCH 3 , —CH 2 oxooxazolidinyl, —CH 2 O(CH 2 ) 2 OH, —CH 2 triazolyl and —CH(CH 3 )OH.

13. The compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of

14. The compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of

15. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.