Rho-kinase inhibitors and method of preparation

1. A process for the preparation of a compound having the formula II:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof, wherein:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —O—(CH 2 ) y —CO 2 R 12 , —O—(CH 2 ) y —C(═O)NR 13 R 14 , —O—(CH 2 ) y -heteroaryl, —O—(CH 2 ) y -cycloalkyl, —O—C(═O)—(CH 2 ) y —NR 13 R 14 , —O—(CH 2 ) z —NR 13 R 14 , —NH—C(═O)—(CH 2 ) y —NR 13 R 14 , —NH—C(═O)—X—R 15 , —NH—(CH 2 ) y —NR 13 R 14 , and

—NH—(CH 2 )—C(═O)—NR 13 R 14 ;

R 12 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-NR 16 R 17 , —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-C(═O)NR 16 R 17 , —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, a three to twelve membered heterocyclic ring containing up to 3 heteroatoms, each of which may be optionally substituted at one or more carbon atoms by from 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, cyano and C 1 -C 3 perfluoro alkyl;

R 13 and R 14 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 2 —C 8 alkenyl, C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, —C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-NR 16 R 17 , —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-C(═O)NR 16 R 17 , aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, a three to twelve membered heterocyclic ring containing up to 3 heteroatoms, each of which may be optionally substituted by from 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 , alkenyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, cyano and C 1 -C 3 perfluoro alkyl;

or R 13 and R 14 may be taken together form a three to twelve membered heterocyclic ring having up to 3 heteroatoms which is optionally substituted by from 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 , alkenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, oxo, hydroxy, amino, cyano and C 1 -C 3 perfluoro alkyl;

X is selected from a covalent bond, O, NH, and C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

R 15 is selected from the group consisting of H, aryl, heteroaryl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, a three to twelve membered heterocyclic ring containing up to 3 heteroatoms, each of which may be optionally substituted by from 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 , alkenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, cyano and C 1 -C 3 perfluoro alkyl,

or R 15 is selected from —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-NR 16 R 17 , —CO 2 R 18 , —O—(CH 2 ) x —CO 2 R 18 , and —C(═O)NR 16 R 17 ;

R 16 and R 17 independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, a three to twelve membered heterocyclic ring containing up to 3 heteroatoms, each of which may be optionally substituted by from 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 , alkenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, cyano and C 1 -C 3 perfluoro alkyl;

or R 16 and R 17 may be taken together form a three to twelve membered heterocyclic ring having up to 3 heteroatoms which is optionally substituted by from 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 , alkenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, oxo, hydroxy, amino, cyano and C 1 -C 3 perfluoro alkyl;

R 18 is selected from the group consisting of H, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-NR 16 R 17 , —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-O—(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), each of which may be optionally substituted by from 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, cyano and C 1 -C 3 perfluoroalkyl;

x is selected from 0 to 6;

y is selected from 0 to 6;

z is selected from 2 to 6;

each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, CN, halo, hydroxy, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, amino, and perfluoro C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

each R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, CN, halo, hydroxy, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, amino, and perfluoro C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

n is selected from 0 to 4;

m is selected from 0 to 3;

wherein the process comprises the steps of:

1) treating a compound of the formula:

wherein X is OH or an OH protecting group, with SOCl 2 , POCl 3 , or oxalyl chloride to provide a compound having the formula

(2) treating the product of step (3) with an 5-amino indazole having the formula

wherein PG is a protecting group to provide a compound having the formula

(3) optionally removing the protecting group at substituent X; and

(4) treating the compound having the formula

with an electrophile followed by removing the protecting group PG.

2. The process according to claim 1 , which further process comprises the steps of:

treating a compound of the formula:

with either (a) an acid chloride having the formula

in the presence of a base and in a aprotic solvent; or

(b) a benzoic acid having the formula

in the presence of a coupling agent;

to provide a compound having the formula

wherein X is OH or an OH protecting group; and treating the compound of formula

with an aqueous base to provide a compound having the formula: