IP Library Granted Patent US 12,497,362
Granted Patent B2
US 12,497,362 · App. 18/040,861 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Cyclopentapyrrole orexin receptor agonists

Inventors: Stephane L. Bogen (Somerset, NJ); Dane James Clausen (Rahway, NJ); Michael T. Rudd (Collegeville, PA); Dong Xiao (Warren, NJ); Dexi Yang (Livingston, NJ)
Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
C07D209/52A61K31/403A61K31/407A61K31/506A61P25/00C07D401/14C07D491/02C07D491/048
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,497,362
App. No.
18/040,861
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is directed to cyclopentapyrrole, furopyrrole and azabicycloheptane compounds which are agonists of orexin receptors. The present invention is also directed to uses of the compounds described herein in the potential treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which orexin receptors are involved. The present invention is also directed to compositions comprising these compounds. The present invention is also directed to uses of these compositions in the potential prevention or treatment of such diseases in which orexin receptors are involved.

Claims (93)

1 . A compound of the formula I:

wherein:

X is —O— or —NH—, or X may be a direct bond to R 1 ;

Y is N or CH;

Z is —O— or CH;

W is CH, or if Z is CH, W may be a direct bond to Z;

R 1 is selected from:

(1) —C 1-6 alkyl, where the alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to six substituents independently selected from R 4 , and

(2) —C 3-6 cycloalkyl, where the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to six substituents independently selected from R 4 ;

R 2 is selected from:

(1) hydrogen,

(2) —C 1-6 alkyl, where the alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to six substituents independently selected from R 4 ,

(3) —C 3-6 cycloalkyl, where the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to six substituents independently selected from R 4 ,

(4) -phenyl, where the phenyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from R 4 , and

(5) -heteroaryl, where the heteroaryl is selected from: pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, and pyrazinyl, and the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from R 4 ;

R 2a and R 2b are independently selected from:

(1) hydrogen,

(2) hydroxyl,

(3) halogen, and

(4) —C 1-6 alkyl, where the alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to six substituents independently selected from halogen;

R 3 is selected from:

(1) —C 1-6 alkyl, where the alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to six substituents independently selected from R 4 ,

(2) —C 3-6 cycloalkyl, where the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to six substituents independently selected from R 4 ,

(3) -phenyl, where the phenyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from R 4 ,

(4) —NR 10 R 11 , wherein R 10 and R 11 are independently selected from:

(a) hydrogen, and

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

R 4 is selected from:

(1) hydroxyl,

(2) halogen,

(3) C 1-6 alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with one to six fluoro,

(4) C 2-4 alkenyl,

(5) C 2-4 alkynyl,

(6) —C 3-6 cycloalkyl,

(7) —O—C 1-6 alkyl,

(8) —O(C═O)—C 1-6 alkyl,

(9) —NH 2 ,

(10) —NH—C 1-6 alkyl,

(11) —NO 2 ,

(12) phenyl,

(13) —CO 2 H,

(14) —SO 2 —C 1-6 alkyl,

(15) —C 3-5 cycloalkyl(SO 2 ), and

(16) —CN;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2 . The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein X is —O—.

3 . The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein Z is CH and W is CH.

4 . The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein Z is —O— and W is CH.

5 . The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein Z is CH and W is a direct bond to Z.

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

(1) methyl,

(2) ethyl,

(3) —CH 2 OH,

(4) —CH 2 CF 3 ,

(5) —CH 2 CHF 2 ,

(6) —CH(CH 3 ) 2 ,

(7) —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 F,

(8) cyclopropyl,

(9) —CH 2 -cyclopropyl,

(10) —CH 2 -cyclobutyl, and

(11) —CH 2 O(C═O)CH 3 .

7 . The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 2 is selected from:

(1) hydrogen,

(2) —CH 2 (CH 3 ) 2 ,

(3) —CF 3 ,

(4) —CH 2 CHF 2 ,

(5) —CH 2 CF 3 ,

(6) phenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with —CF 3 , —CH 2 CF 3 , or one to three fluoro, and

(7) pyrimidinyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with —CF 3 , —CH 2 CF 3 , or one to three fluoro.

8 . The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 2a is hydrogen and R 2b is hydrogen.

9 . The compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R 3 is selected from:

(1) —C 1-6 alkyl, where the alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to three fluoro,

(2) —C 3-6 cycloalkyl,

(3) —NH 2 ,

(4) —NH(C 1-6 alkyl),

(5) —N(C 1-6 alkyl)(C 1-6 alkyl), and

(6) -phenyl.

10 . A compound which is selected from:

methyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aR)-2-((((1s,4S)-4-(3-fluorophenyl)cyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)-3-(methylsulfonamido)hexahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole-1(2H)-carboxylate;

methyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aR)-3-((N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl)amino)-2-((((1s,4S)-4-(3-fluorophenyl)cyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)hexahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole-1(2H)-carboxylate;

methyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aR)-2-((((1s,4S)-4-(3-fluorophenyl)cyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)-3-((N-methylsulfamoyl)amino)hexahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole-1(2H)-carboxylate;

methyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aS)-2-((((1s,4S)-4-(3-fluorophenyl)cyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)-3-(methylsulfonamido)hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-b]pyrrole-1-carboxylate;

methyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aS)-3-((N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl)amino)-2-((((1s,4S)-4-(3-fluorophenyl)cyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-b]pyrrole-1-carboxylate;

methyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aS)-3-((fluoromethyl)sulfonamido)-2-((((1s,4S)-4-(3-fluorophenyl)cyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-b]pyrrole-1-carboxylate;

methyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aR)-3-(methylsulfonamido)-2-((((1s,4S)-4-phenylcyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)hexahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole-1(2H)-carboxylate;

methyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aR)-2-(((1-(5-fluoropyrimidin-2-yl)piperidin-4-yl)oxy)methyl)-3-(methylsulfonamido)hexahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole-1(2H)-carboxylate;

methyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aR)-3-((N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl)amino)-2-((((1s,4S)-4-phenylcyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)hexahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole-1(2H)-carboxylate;

isopropyl (2R,3S,3aS,6aR)-2-(((1-(5-fluoropyrimidin-2-yl)piperidin-4-yl)oxy)methyl)-3-(methylsulfonamido)hexahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole-1(2H)-carboxylate;

methyl (1R,3R,4S,5S)-4-(methylsulfonamido)-3-((((1s,4S)-4-phenylcyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylate;

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 narcolepsy in a mammalian subject which comprises administering to the patient an effective amount of the compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

13 . A method for treating hypersomnia in a mammalian subject which comprises administering to the patient an effective amount of the compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: BOGEN, STEPHANE L.; CLAUSEN, DANE JAMES; RUDD, MICHAEL T.; XIAO, DONG; YANG, DEXI
To: MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORP.
Reel/Frame 062616/0106 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORP.
To: MERCK SHARP & DOHME LLC
Reel/Frame 062616/0186 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63066913 · Aug 18, 2020
Related Publication 20230257348A1 · Aug 17, 2023
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