Imidazopyridyl compounds as aldosterone synthase inhibitors

1. A compound of the structural formula

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

wherein:

Ring A is attached to Ring B via positions D and E and is:

D is C;

E is N;

R 1 is H or alkyl;

R 2 is H; halogen; —CN; —OR 7 ; —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 ; —NR 11 R 12 ; —C(O)R 7 ; —C(O)N(R 11 )(R 12 ); —C(O)OR 7 ; —S(O) m —R 7 ; alkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, —OR 7 , NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 , or —S(O) m —R 7 ; cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; aryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 , or —S(O) m —R 7 ; or heteroaryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 , —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ;

R 3 is cycloalkyl optionally substituted once or twice by alkyl or halogen;

R 4 is H; halogen; —CN; —OR 7 ; —NR 8 R 9 ; —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 ; —C(O)R 7 ; —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ); —C(O)OR 7 ; —N(R 10 )S(O) 2 —R 7 ; —S(O) n —R 7 ; alkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 , —N(R 10 )S(O) 2 —R 7 or —S(O) n R 7 ; cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; aryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; or heteroaryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 , —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ;

R 5 is H; halogen; —CN; —OR 7 ; —NR 8 R 9 ; —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 ; —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ); —C(O)R 7 ; —C(O)OR 7 ; —N(R 10 )S(O) 2 —R 7 ; —S(O) n —R 7 ; alkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 11 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 , —N(R 10 )S(O) 2 —R 7 , or —S(O) n —R 7 ; cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; aryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)(R 7 ), —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; or heteroaryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 , —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ;

or R 4 and R 5 are joined together to form a 5- to 7-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring that is fused to the pyridyl ring to which R 4 and R 5 are attached, wherein the ring formed by R 4 and R 5 is optionally substituted by 1 to 3 R 6 ;

R 6 is independently H; halogen; —CN; —OR 7 ; —NR 8 R 9 ; —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 ; —C(O)N(R 7 )(R 8 ); —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ); —C(O)OR 7 ; —S(O) m —R 7 ; alkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; aryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)(R 7 ), —C(O)N(R 7 )(R 8 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; or heteroaryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 , —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ;

R 7 is independently H; alkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, —OR 10 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 10 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 10 or —S(O) m —R 10 ; cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 10 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 10 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 10 or —S(O) m —R 10 ; aryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OH, —OR 10 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 10 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 10 or —S(O) m —R 10 ; or heteroaryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 10 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 9 )C(O)R 10 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 10 or —S(O) m —R 10 ;

R 8 is independently H or alkyl;

R 9 is independently H or alkyl;

or R 8 and R 9 are joined together with the nitrogen to which they are attached to form a saturated 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring;

R 10 is independently H or alkyl;

R 11 is independently H; alkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 8 or —S(O) m —R 8 ; aryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)(R 7 ), —C(O)N(R 7 )(R 8 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; or heteroaryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 , —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ;

R 12 is independently H; alkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; cycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —NR 8 R 9 , —CN, —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 8 or —S(O) m —R 8 ; aryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)(R 7 ), —C(O)N(R 7 )(R 8 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; heterocycloalkyl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ; or heteroaryl optionally substituted one or more times by halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, —OR 7 , —CN, —NR 8 R 9 , —N(R 10 )C(O)R 7 , —C(O)N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —C(O)OR 7 or —S(O) m —R 7 ;

a is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

n is 1 or 2; and

m is 0, 1 or 2.

2. The compound as defined in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has the structural formula Formula II

wherein:

R 2 is independently halogen, —CN, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, OR 7 or phenyl optionally substituted by halogen;

R 3 is cycloalkyl;

R 4 is H, halogen, —CN, alkyl or cycloalkyl;

R 5 is:

i.) H, halogen, —CN, alkyl, —OR 7 , haloalkyl or phenyl optionally substituted by halogen or haloalkyl;

ii.) —C(O)OR 7 ; or

iii.) a group of the formula:

where:

R a is H, OH, or —C 1 -C 3 -alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F;

R b is H, —OH, or —C 1 -C 3 -alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F;

R c is —C 1 -C 3 -alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F; —OC 1 -C 3 -alkyl; —N(H)S(O) 2 —C 1 -C 3 -alkyl; optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F; or —N(H)C(O)C 1 -C 3 -alkyl, optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F;

R 7 is H, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, or phenyl optionally substituted by halogen; and

a is 0, 1 or 2.

3. The compound as defined in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has the structural formula

wherein:

R 1 is independently H or alkyl;

R 2 is independently halogen, —CN, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, OR 7 or phenyl optionally substituted by halogen;

R 3 is cycloalkyl;

R 4 is H, halogen, —CN, alkyl or cycloalkyl;

R 5 is:

i.) H, halogen, —CN, alkyl, —OR 7 , —C(O)OR 7 , haloalkyl or phenyl optionally substituted by halogen or haloalkyl; or

ii.) a group of the formula:

where:

R a is H, OH, or —C 1 -C 3 -alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F;

R b is H, —OH, or —C 1 -C 3 -alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F;

R c is —C 1 -C 3 -alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F; —OC 1 -C 3 -alkyl; —N(H)S(O) 2 —C 1 -C 3 -alkyl, optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F; or —N(H)C(O)C 1 -C 3 -alkyl, optionally substituted with 1 to 3 —F;

R 7 is H, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, or phenyl optionally substituted by halogen; and

a is 0, 1 or 2.

4. The compound as defined in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has the structural formula

wherein:

R 2 is independently halogen, —CN, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, OR 7 or phenyl optionally substituted by halogen;

R 3 is cycloalkyl;

R 6 is alkyl or halo;

a is 0, 1 or 2; and

b is 0, 1 or 2.

5. The compound as defined in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has the structural formula

wherein:

R 2 is independently halogen, —CN, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, OR 7 or phenyl optionally substituted by halogen;

R 3 is cycloalkyl;

R 6 is alkyl or halo;

a is 0, 1 or 2; and

b is 0, 1 or 2.

6. The compound as defined in claim 1 which is

3-cyclopropyl-6-methyl-2-(4-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-2-(pyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-2-(5-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-2-(6-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-2-(5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-2-(5-fluoro-4-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

3-cyclopropyl-2-(4-ethyl-5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-6-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-2-(5-methoxypyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-2-(5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

5-(3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)nicotinonitrile;

2-(5-(3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)propan-2-ol;

2-(5-(3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-ol;

3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-2-(5-phenylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

methyl 5-(3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)nicotinate;

4-(3-cyclopropyl-6-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)isoquinoline;

6-chloro-3-cyclopropyl-2-(5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-chloro-3-cyclopropyl-7-fluoro-2-(5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

4-(3-cyclopropyl-8-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)isoquinoline;

2-{5-[3-cyclopropyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl]pyridin-3-yl}-1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-ol; or

3-cyclopropyl-2-[5-(1,1,1-trifluoro-2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-6-carbonitrile;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

7. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

6-Fluoro-2-(pyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

2-(5-(3-Chloro-6-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)propan-2-ol;

2-(5-(6-Fluoro-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)propan-2-ol;

6-fluoro-2-(5-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carbonitrile;

6-fluoro-2-(pyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-fluoro-2-(4-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-fluoro-2-(5-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

2-(5-(6-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)propan-2-ol;

1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(5-(6-fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)propan-2-ol;

8-fluoro-2-(5-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-chloro-2-(5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-chloro-7-fluoro-2-(5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

2-(isoquinolin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-7-carbonitrile;

6-methyl-2-(6-methylpyridin-3-yl)-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

8-methyl-2-(6-methylpyridin-3-yl)-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

7-methyl-2-(6-methylpyridin-3-yl)-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-fluoro-3-methyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-fluoro-3-methyl-2-(5-methoxypyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-fluoro-3-methyl-2-(5-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-fluoro-3-methyl-2-(4-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

5-(6-fluoro-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)nicotinonitrile;

3-methyl-6-fluoro-2-(5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

2-(5-(6-fluoro-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)propan-2-ol;

1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(5-(6-fluoro-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)propan-2-ol;

4-(6-fluoro-3-ethylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)isoquinoline; and

7-fluoro-2-(5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of any one of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of at least one additional therapeutic agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

10. A compound of any one claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in therapy.

11. A compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment, amelioration or prevention of one or more conditions selected from hypertension, heart failure such as congestive heart failure, diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, diastolic heart failure, systolic dysfunction, hypokalemia, renal failure, restenosis, syndrome X, nephropathy, post-myocardial infarction, coronary heart diseases, increased formation of collagen, fibrosis and remodeling following hypertension and endothelial dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, renal dysfunction, liver diseases, vascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, retinopathy, neuropathy, insulinopathy, endothelial dysfunction, ischemia, myocardial and vascular fibrosis, myocardial necrotic lesions, vascular damage, myocardial necrotic lesions, vascular damage, myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac lesions, vascular wall hypertrophy, endothelial thickening and fibrinoid necrosis of coronary arteries.

12. A combination comprising a compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and one or more additional pharmacologically active agents.