SGC stimulators

1. A compound according to Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

ring B is a phenyl or a 6-membered heteroaryl ring containing 1 or 2 nitrogen atoms in the ring;

n is an integer selected from 0 to 3;

each J B is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , a C 1-6 aliphatic, —OR B or a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic group; wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic and each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 3 ;

each R B is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic or a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic; wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic and each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 3 ;

each R 3 is independently selected from halogen, —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl);

X is C-J D or C—H;

o is an integer selected from 0 to 3;

each J D is independently selected from —NO 2 , —OR D , —SR D , —C(O)R D , —C(O)OR D , —C(O)N(R D ) 2 , —CN, —N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )C(O)R D , —N(R d )C(O)OR D , —SO 2 R D , —SO 2 N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )SO 2 R D , a C 1-6 aliphatic, —(C 1-6 aliphatic)-R D , a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, a 6 to 10-membered aryl ring, a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocylic ring and each said 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 6 to 10-membered aryl ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 5 ;

each R D is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, —(C 1-6 aliphatic)-R f , a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, phenyl or a 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocylic ring and each said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, each said phenyl and each said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 5 ;

each R d is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, —(C 1-6 aliphatic)-R f , a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, phenyl or a 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said heterocylic ring and each said heteroaryl ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, each said phenyl and each said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5 ;

each R f is independently selected from a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, phenyl or a 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said heterocylic ring and each said heteroaryl ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, each said phenyl and each said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5 ;

alternatively, two instances of R D linked to the same nitrogen atom of J D , together with said nitrogen atom of J D , form a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S, and wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5 ; or

alternatively, one instance of R D linked to a carbon, oxygen or sulfur atom of J D and one instance of R d linked to a nitrogen atom of the same J D , together with said carbon, oxygen or sulfur and said nitrogen atom of that same J D , form a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S, and wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5 ;

each R 5 is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, a C 7-12 aralkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 1-4 cyanoalkyl, —OR 6 , —SR 6 , —COR 6 , —OC(O)R 6 , —C(O)OR 6 , —C(O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )C(O)R 6 , —N(R 6 ) 2 , —SO 2 R 6 , —SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )SO 2 R 6 , phenyl or an oxo group; wherein each said phenyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —NO 2 , —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl); and wherein each said C 7-12 aralkyl and each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

each R 6 is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-4 alkyl, a C 2-4 alkenyl, phenyl, a C 7-12 aralkyl or a C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring; wherein each of said C 1-4 alkyl, each said C 2-4 alkenyl, each said phenyl, each said C 7-12 aralkyl and each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

alternatively, two instances of R 6 linked to the same nitrogen atom of R 5 , together with said nitrogen atom of R 5 , form a 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S; or

alternatively, one instance of R 6 linked to a nitrogen atom of R 5 and one instance of R 6 linked to a carbon or sulfur atom of the same R 5 , together with said nitrogen and said carbon or sulfur atom of the same R 5 , form a 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S;

or, alternatively, two J D groups attached to two vicinal ring D atoms, taken together with said two vicinal ring D atoms, form a 5 to 7-membered heterocycle resulting in a fused ring D wherein said 5 to 7-membered heterocycle contains from 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S; and wherein said 5 to 7-membered heterocycle is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl), —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl) oxo or phenyl; wherein said phenyl is optionally and independently substituted by up to three instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —NO 2 , —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl);

R C is selected from —CN or a ring C;

ring C is a phenyl ring, a monocyclic 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl ring, a bicyclic 8 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring, a monocyclic 3 to 10-membered cycloaliphatic ring, or a monocyclic 4 to 10-membered heterocycle ; wherein said monocyclic 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl ring, said bicyclic 8 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring, or said monocyclic 4 to 10-membered heterocycle contain between 1 and 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O or S; wherein said monocyclic 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl ring is not a 1,3,5-triazinyl ring; and wherein said phenyl, monocyclic 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, bicyclic 8 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring, or monocyclic 4 to 10-membered heterocycle is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of J C ;

each J C is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , a C 1-6 aliphatic, —OR H , —SR H , —N(R H ) 2 , a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring or a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring; wherein said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring contains 1 or 2 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S; wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring and each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 7 ; or alternatively, two J C groups attached to two vicinal ring C atoms, taken together with said two vicinal ring C atoms, form a 5 to 7-membered heterocycle resulting in a fused ring C; wherein said 5 to 7-membered heterocycle contains from 1 to 2 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S;

each R H is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring or a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocylic ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 7 ;

alternatively, two instances of R H linked to the same nitrogen atom of J C , together with said nitrogen atom of J C , form a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S, and wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 7 ; or

each R 7 is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring, —OR 8 , —SR 8 , —N(R 8 ) 2 , or an oxo group; wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

each R 8 is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl or a C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring; wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

alternatively, two instances of R 8 linked to the same nitrogen atom of R 7 , together with said nitrogen atom of R 7 , form a 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S;

R A is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C 1-4 alkyl or C 1-4 haloalkyl.

2. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring B is phenyl.

3. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein n is an integer selected from 1 to 3 and wherein each J B is independently selected from halogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic or —OR B .

4. The compound of claim 3 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each J B is independently selected from halogen atoms.

5. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring B is a 6-membered heteroaryl ring containing 1 or 2 nitrogen atoms in the ring.

6. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein o is 0.

7. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein o is an integer selected between 1 and 3 and each J D is independently selected from a C 1-6 aliphatic, —N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )C(O)R D , —N(R d )C(O)OR D , —SO 2 R D , —SO 2 N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )SO 2 R D , —SR D , —OR D or an optionally substituted C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring.

8. The compound of claim 7 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each R d is independently selected from a C 1-4 alkyl or hydrogen and each R D is independently selected from hydrogen or C 1-4 alkyl.

9. The compound of claim 7 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein o is 1, 2 or 3 and each J D is independently selected from methyl, —N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )C(O)R D , —N(R d )C(O)OR D , —SO 2 R D , —SO 2 N(R D ) 2 or —N(R d )SO 2 R D ;

wherein each R d and each R D is independently selected from hydrogen or methyl.

10. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R C is —CN.

11. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R C is a ring C.

12. The compound of claim 11 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is phenyl, optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of J C .

13. The compound of claim 12 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is phenyl and it is unsubstituted.

14. The compound of claim 12 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is substituted by 1 to 3 instances of J C and wherein each J C is independently selected from halogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, —NH 2 , —CN or —O(C 1-6 aliphatic).

15. The compound of claim 14 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each J C is independently selected from fluoro, methyl, —CN or —OCH 3 .

16. The compound of claim 11 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is a 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, optionally substituted by up to 3 instances of J C .

17. The compound of claim 16 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring is selected from thienyl, thiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyrrolyl, triazolyl, furanyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl or pyridazinyl.

18. The compound of claim 16 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each J C is independently selected from halogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, —CN, —NH 2 or —O(C 1-6 aliphatic).

19. The compound of claim_1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein J D is —N(R d )C(O)OR D or —N(R D ) 2 , or two J D groups attached to two vicinal ring D atoms, taken together with said two vicinal ring D atoms, form a 5-membered heterocycle containing from 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S resulting in a fused ring D wherein said 5-membered heterocycle is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl), —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl) or oxo, having Formula III:

20. The compound of claim 19 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R C is oxazolyl optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of J C .

21. The compound of claim 20 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein J D is selected from —N(R d )C(O)OR D or —N(R D ) 2 .

22. The compound of claim 1 , selected from

23. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.