COMT inhibiting methods and compositions

1. A COMT-inhibiting compound in accordance with formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein:

X is selected from halogen, C≡N, CF 3 , and C 3 -C 4 alkyl;

Z is selected from SO 2 R 1 and SO 2 NR 2 R 3 ;

R 1 is selected from C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 3 -C 10 cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl and heteroarylalkyl, any of which may be substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen, C≡N, CF 3 , OH, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, alkoxy, nitro, amino, C 1 -C 4 alkylamino, oxo, C 3 -C 10 cycloalkyl, acyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, CON(R) 2 , SO 2 R, and SO 2 N(R) 2 , where each R is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl or where (R) 2 forms a carbocyclic ring;

R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from-hydrogen C 3 -C 10 alkyl, C 3 -C 10 cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl and heteroarylalkyl, any of which may be substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen, C≡N, CF 3 , OH, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, alkoxy, nitro, amino, C 1 -C 4 alkylamino, oxo, C 3 -C 10 cycloalkyl, acyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, CON(R) 2 , SO 2 R, and SO 2 N(R) 2 , where each R is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl or where (R) 2 forms a carbocyclic ring, with the proviso that at least one of R 2 or R 3 is different from hydrogen; or R 2 and R 3 may together form a 3-10 membered monocyclic, bicyclic or spirocyclic nitrogen-containing ring system that contains 0-3 additional heteroatoms selected from oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S), and which may be further substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen, C≡N, CF 3 , OH, C 1 -C 4 alkyl or C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, alkoxy, nitro, amino, C 1 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, C 1 -C 4 alkylamino, oxo, SO 2 CH 3 , aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl and heteroarylalkyl;

and with the provisos that:

when X is Cl and Z is SO 2 R 1 , R 1 is not C 3 alkyl, C 4 alkyl, C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, thiazolyl, pyridyl, pyridyl-N-oxide, and phenyl substituted with one or two groups selected from fluoro, chloro, methyl, trifluoromethyl, phenyl and tert-butyl; or

when X is Cl and Z is SO 2 NR 2 R 3 , R 2 and R 3 do not together form an unsubstituted, 1-pyrrolidinyl ring; or

when X is F and Z is SO 2 R 1 , R 1 is not pyridyl, cyclopentyl and phenyl substituted with fluoro, or trifluoromethyl.

2. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

5-(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(3-phenylphenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(m-tolylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(4-chlorophenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(3-chlorophenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(2-pyridylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-(4-pyridylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-(3-pyridylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-(4-fluoro-2-methyl-phenyl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[3-(4-pyridyl)phenyl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[3-(3-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)phenyl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[3-(5-quinolyl)phenyl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[3-(1H-indazol-4-yl)phenyl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[(3-methyl-4-pyridyl)sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

5-[1-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]benzimidazol-4-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[2-(p-tolyl)ethylsulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

5-cyclohexylsulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-cyclopentylsulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(p-tolylmethylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-ethylsulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(4-piperidylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-[[1-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-4-piperidyl]sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

5-[[1-[(2,3-dichlorophenyl)methyl]-4-piperidyl]sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

5-[[1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-piperidyl]sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

5-(3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-ylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol ;

8-hydroxy-N-[(3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-N-methyl-quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

5-(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol ;

8-hydroxy-N-(4-methylbenzyl)quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

N-benzyl-8-hydroxy-N-methylquinoline-5-sulfonamide;

8-hydroxy-N-(4-methylphenyl)-N-methylquinoline-5-sulfonamide;

5-isoindolin-2-ylsulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-phenethyl-quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

N-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-8-hydroxy-N-methyl-quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-[(1S)-1-phenylethyl]quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

N-[(2-fluorophenyl)methyl]-8-hydroxy-N-methyl-quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

N-[(3-chlorophenyl)methyl]-8-hydroxy-N-methyl-quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-(3-pyridylmethyl)quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-(2-naphthylmethyl)quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

N-benzyl-N-ethyl-8-hydroxy-quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

N-benzyl-N-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-8-hydroxy-quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

5-(2-phenylpyrrolidin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[(2-phenyl-1-piperidyl)sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

5-(3-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

N-[(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)methyl]-8-hydroxy-N-methyl-quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

N-ethyl-8-hydroxy-N-(4-pyridylmethyl)quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

5-(6,8-dihydro-5H-1,7-naphthyridin-7-ylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[(3R,4R)-3,4-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[2-(o-tolyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[2-(3-pyridyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[(4-phenyl-1-piperidyl)sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

5-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(2-benzylpyrrolidin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(2-cyclohexylpyrrolidin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol ;

5-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(2-isopropylpyrrolidin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[2-(4-pyridyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[2-(2-pyridyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[2-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-(2-isobutylpyrrolidin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-1-piperidyl)sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

5-[(4-benzyl-1-piperidyl)sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

[1-[(8-hydroxy-5-quinolyl)sulfonyl]-4-piperidyl]-phenyl-methanone;

1-[1-[(8-hydroxy-5-quinolyl)sulfonyl]-4-phenyl-4-piperidyl]ethanone;

8-[(8-hydroxy-5-quinolyl)sulfonyl]-1-phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one;

methyl 4-[(8-hydroxy-5-quinolyl)sulfonyl]piperazine-1-carboxylate;

5-[4-(3-methoxypropyl)piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

2-[4-[(8-hydroxy-5-quinolyl)sulfonyl]piperazin-1-yl]benzonitrile;

5-(3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonan-3-ylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-(2-phenylphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-(2, 5-dimethylphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-(1,2-benzothiazol-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[3-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy]azetidin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

5-[(3-phenyl-1-piperidyl)sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol;

tert-butyl 4-[(8-hydroxy-5-quinolyl)sulfonyl]piperazine-1-carboxylate;

5-piperazin-1-ylsulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

tert-butyl 4-[(8-hydroxy-5-quinolyl)sulfonyl]-3-methyl-piperazine-1-carboxylate;

5-(2-methylpiperazin-1-yl)sulfonylquinolin-8-ol;

7-iodo-5-(p-tolylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

7-bromo-5-(p-tolylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

7-chloro-5-(p-tolylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

7-fluoro-5-(p-tolylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

7-methyl-5-pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol;

7-chloro-5-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]sulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol;

7-fluoro-5-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]sulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol;

5[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]sulfonyl-7-methyl-quinolin-8-ol;

8-hydroxy-N,7-dimethyl-N-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

5-[(3R,4R)-3,4-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonyl-7-methyl-quinolin-8-ol;

7-chloro-8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

7-chloro-5-[(2S)-2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol;

7-chloro-5-[(2R)-2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl]sulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol;

7-bromo-8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

7-bromo-5-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]sulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol;

7-fluoro-5-pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol;

7-fluoro-8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]quinoline-5-sulfonamide;

5-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-7-(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-cyclopentylsulfonyl-7-(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-8-ol;

5-[[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-piperidyl]sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol; and

5-[(2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl)sulfonyl]quinolin-8-ol.

3. The pharmaceutical composition comprising a catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme-inhibiting compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

4. The pharmaceutical composition comprising a catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme-inhibiting compound of claim 2 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

5. A COMT-inhibiting compound in accordance with formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein:

X is halogen or CF 3 ;

Z is SO 2 NR 2 R 3 ; and

R 2 and R 3 together form a 3-10 membered monocyclic nitrogen-containing ring system that may be optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen, C≡N, CF 3 , OH, C 1 -C 4 alkyl or C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, alkoxy, nitro, amino, C 1 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, C 1 -C 4 alkylamino, oxo, SO 2 CH 3 , aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl and heteroarylalkyl.

6. The COMT-inhibiting compound of claim 5 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R 2 and R 3 together form a pyrrolidine ring system that may be optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen, C≡N, CF 3 , OH, and C 1 -C 4 alkyl.

7. The COMT inhibiting compound in accordance with claim 1 ,

wherein:

R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from any of the groups as defined for R 1 ; or R 2 and R 3 may together form a 3-10 membered monocyclic, bicyclic or spirocyclic nitrogen-containing ring system that contains 0-3 additional heteroatoms selected from oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S), and which may be further substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen, C≡N, CF 3 , OH, C 1 -C 4 alkyl or C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, alkoxy, nitro, amino, C 1 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, C 1 -C 4 alkylamino, oxo, SO 2 CH 3 , aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl and heteroarylalkyl.

8. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of ethyl, 2-propanyl, 2-methylpropyl, octyl, 3-cyclopropylpropyl, 4-methylbenzyl, 2-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 3-methylphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 3,4-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 2-trifluoromethylphenyl, 3-trifluoromethylphenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 3,5-dichlorophenyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, 4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl, 3-(quinolin-5-yl)phenyl, biphenyl-3-yl, 3′-chloro-4′-fluorobiphenyl-3-yl, 3-(1H-indazol-4-yl)phenyl, 3-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl, 2-naphthyl, 2-pyridinyl, 3-pyridinyl, 4-pyridinyl, 3-methylpyridin-4-yl, 1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)pyridin-4-yl, 4-piperidinyl, 1-(2,3-dichlorobenzoyl)piperidin-4-yl, (4-fluorobenzyl)piperidin-4-yl, 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-piperidin-4-yl, 1-(2,3-dichlorobenzyl)piperidin-4-yl, 1-(2-chlorobenzyl)-1H-benzimidazol-4-yl, and tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl.

9. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the halogen is fluorine.

10. The COMT-inhibiting compound of claim 5 selected from the group consisting of:

7-fluoro-5-(p-tolylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol;

7-fluoro-5-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]sulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol;

7-fluoro-5-pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol; and

7-fluoro-8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]quinoline-5-sulfonamide.

11. The COMT-inhibiting compound of claim 10 wherein the compound is:

7-fluoro-5-(p-tolylsulfonyl)quinolin-8-ol.

12. The COMT-inhibiting compound of claim 10 wherein the compound is:

7-fluoro-5-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]sulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol.

13. The COMT-inhibiting compound of claim 10 wherein the compound is:

7-fluoro-5-pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonyl-quinolin-8-ol.

14. The COMT-inhibiting compound of claim 10 wherein the compound is:

7-fluoro-8-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]quinoline-5-sulfonamide.

15. The COMT-inhibiting compound of claim 5 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein X is a halogen.