Hydroxy-substituted orexin receptor antagonists

1. A compound of the formula I:

wherein:

A is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and thiophenyl;

X is ═N—, or ═C(R 2 )—, wherein R 2 is selected from hydrogen, halogen, —CN, and —C 1-6 alkyl;

R 1a , R 1b and R 1c are independently selected from the group consisting of:

(1) hydrogen,

(2) halogen,

(3) hydroxyl,

(4) —(C═O) m —O n —C 1-6 alkyl, where m is 0 or 1, n is 0 or 1 (wherein if m is 0 or n is 0, a bond is present) and where the alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R 4 ,

(5) —(C═O) m —O n —C 3-6 cycloalkyl, where the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R 4 ,

(6) —(C═O) m —C 2-4 alkenyl, where the alkenyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R 4 ,

(7) —(C═O) m —C 2-4 alkynyl, where the alkynyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R 4 ,

(8) —(C═O) m —O n -phenyl or —(C═O) m —O n -naphthyl, where the phenyl or naphthyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R 4 ,

(9) —(C═O) m —O n -heterocycle, where the heterocycle is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R 4 ,

(10) —(C═O) m —NR 10 R 11 , wherein R 10 and R 11 are independently selected from the group consisting of:

(a) hydrogen,

(b) C 1-6 alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with R 4 ,

(c) C 3-6 alkenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with R 4 ,

(d) C 3-6 alkynyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with R 4 ,

(e) C 3-6 cycloalkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with R 4 ,

(f) phenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with R 4 , and

(g) heterocycle, which is unsubstituted or substituted with R 4 ,

(11) —S(O) 2 —NR 10 R 11 ,

(12) —S(O) q —R 12 , where q is 0, 1 or 2 and where R 12 is selected from the definitions of R 10 and R 11 ,

(13) —CO 2 H,

(14) —CN, and

(15) —NO 2 ;

R 3 is selected from C 1-6 alkyl and C 3-6 cycloalkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R 4 ;

R 4 is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) hydroxyl,

(2) halogen,

(3) C 1-6 alkyl,

(4) —C 3-6 cycloalkyl,

(5) —O—C 1-6 alkyl,

(6) —O(C═O)—C 1-6 alkyl,

(7) —NH 2 ,

(7) —NH—C 1-6 alkyl,

(8) —NO 2 ,

(9) phenyl,

(10) heterocycle,

(11) —CO 2 H, and

(12) —CN;

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) hydrogen,

(2) halogen, and

(3) C 1-6 alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen or phenyl;

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) C 1-6 alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, C 3-6 cycloalkyl, or phenyl,

(2) C 3-6 cycloalkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with C 1-6 alkyl, halogen or phenyl, and

or R 5 and R 6 may be joined together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 5-membered or a 6-membered carbocyclic ring;

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) hydrogen,

(2) C 1-6 alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen or phenyl,

or R 6 and R 7 may be joined together to form a cyclobutyl, a cyclopentyl or a cyclohexyl ring;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The compound of claim 1 of the formula Ia:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

3. The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 1a , R 1b and R 1c are independently selected from the group consisting of:

(1) hydrogen,

(2) halogen,

(3) hydroxyl,

(4) C 1-6 alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, hydroxyl or phenyl,

(5) —O—C 1-6 alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, hydroxyl or phenyl,

(6) —CN, and

(7) heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is selected from imidazolyl, indolyl, oxazolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrimidinyl, tetrazolyl, and triazolyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, hydroxyl, C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 alkyl or —NO 2 .

4. The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 3 is methyl.

5. The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 5 is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) hydrogen,

(2) chloro,

(3) fluoro, and

(4) methyl.

6. The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 5 and R 6 are joined together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 5-membered carbocyclic ring.

7. The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 5 and R 6 are joined together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 6-membered carbocyclic ring.

8. The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 6 is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) C 1-6 alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with fluoro or cyclopropyl,

(2) cyclopropyl, and

(3) cyclopentyl.

9. The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 7 is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) hydrogen, and

(2) methyl.

10. A compound which is selected from the group consisting of:

1-(3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)ethanol;

1-(3-{[(3R,6R)-1-{[6-methoxy-2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl]carbonyl}-6-methylpiperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)ethanol;

1-[3-({(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-[(2-pyrimidin-2-ylphenyl)carbonyl]piperidin-3-yl}oxy)phenyl]ethanol;

2-(2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)propan-2-ol;

1,1,1-yrifluoro-2-(3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)propan-2-ol;

2-(3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)propan-2-ol;

(2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)methanol;

1-(2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)cyclobutanol;

2-(2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)butan-2-ol;

1-cyclopropyl-1-(2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)ethanol;

(1R)-1-cyclopropyl-1-(2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)ethanol;

(1S)-1-cyclopropyl-1-(2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)ethanol;

1,1-difluoro-2-(2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)propan-2-ol;

2-(3-methyl-2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)propan-2-ol;

1-cyclopropyl-1-(3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}-piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)ethanol;

1-cyclopentyl-1-(3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}-piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)ethanol;

1-cyclobutyl-1-(3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)ethanol;

2-(3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)butan-2-ol;

4-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}benzonitrile;

2-(4-fluoro-3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)propan-2-ol;

2-(3-fluoro-2-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}pyridin-4-yl)propan-2-ol;

5-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ol;

6-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

(1R)-4-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

(1S)-4-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

(1R)-6-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

(1S)-6-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

(1R)-1-methyl-5-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ol;

(1S)-1-methyl-5-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ol;

(1R)-1-methyl-4-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

(1S)-1-methyl-4-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

1-methyl-6-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

(1R)-1-Methyl-6-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

(1S)-1-methyl-6-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ol;

2-(3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)butan-2-ol; and

2-(3-{[(3R,6R)-6-methyl-1-{[2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)thiophen-3-yl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl]oxy}phenyl)propan-2-ol;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

11. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises an inert carrier and a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

12. A method for treating insomnia in a mammalian patient in need thereof which comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.