Indazole compounds useful as protein kinase inhibitors

1. A compound of formula IIa:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

R 1 is selected from halogen, CN, N(R 4 ) 2 , or T-R;

T is selected from a valence bond or a C 1-6 alkylidene chain, wherein up to two methylene units of T are optionally, and independently, replaced by —O—, —N(R)—, —S—, —N(R)C(O)—, —C(O)N(R)—, —C(O)—, or —SO 2 —;

each R is independently selected from hydrogen or an optionally substituted C 1-6 aliphatic group, or:

two R groups on the same nitrogen, taken together with the nitrogen atom attached thereto, form a 5–7 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic ring having 1–3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 2 is selected from Q-C(R)(Q-Ar)R 3 , wherein:

R and R 3 optionally form a 5–7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

each Q is independently selected from a valence bond or a C 1-4 alkylidene chain;

each Ar is independently an optionally substituted ring selected from a 5–7 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated monocyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8–10 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated bicyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 3 is selected from R′, Ar 1 , Q-OR 5 , Q-OC(O)R 5 , Q-CONHR 5 , Q-OC(O)NHR 5 , Q-SR 5 , Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , N(R)(Q-Ar), N(R)C(O)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , or N(R)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 ;

R′ is an optionally substituted C 1-6 aliphatic group;

each R 4 is independently selected from R, COR, CO 2 R, CON(R) 2 , SO 2 R, SO 2 N(R) 2 , or Ar 1 ;

each R 5 is independently selected from R or Ar;

V 1 , V 2 and V 3 are each independently C(R 6 );

each R 6 is independently selected from R, Ar 1 , halogen, CN, NO 2 , OR, SR, N(R 4 ) 2 , N(R)COR, N(R)CON(R 4 ) 2 , N(R)C(O)OR, CON(R 4 ) 2 , OC(O)N(R 4 ) 2 , CO 2 R, OC(O)R, N(R)SO 2 R, N(R)SO 2 N(R 4 ) 2 , SO 2 R, or SO 2 N(R 4 ) 2 ; and

each Ar 1 is independently selected from an optionally substituted 5–7 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated monocyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

provided that when V 1 , V 2 , and V 3 are each CH and R 1 is hydrogen then R 3 is other than R′, Q-OC(O)R 5 , or OCH 2 phenyl.

2. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein:

R 1 is selected from halogen, N(R 4 ) 2 , or optionally substituted C 1-6 aliphatic; and

R 2 is Q-C(R)(Q-Ar)R3, wherein:

R and R 3 optionally form a 5–7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 3 is selected from R′, Q-OR 5 , Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , Ar 1 , N(R)C(O)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , or N(R)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 ; and

Ar is an optionally substituted 5–6 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated monocyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or all optionally substituted 9–10 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated bicyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.

3. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein:

R 1 is selected from chloro, bromo, fluoro, NH 2 , NHMe, NHEt, NH-cyclohexyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, acetylenyl, or d t-butyl; and

R 3 is selected from CH 2 OH, OH, NH 2 , CH 2 NH 2 , CH 2 NHMe, CH 2 N(Me) 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NHMe, CH 2 CH 2 N(Me) 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , NHCO 2 t-butyl, phenyl, cyclopentyl, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, NH(CH 2 ) 3 NH 2 , NH(CH 2 ) 2 NH 2 , CH 2 C(Me) 2 NH 2 , CH 2 C(Me) 2 CHMe, NH(CH 2 ) 2 NHEt, NHCH 2 pyridyl, NHSO 2 phenyl, NHC(O)CH 2 C(O)Ot-butyl, NHC(O)CH 2 NH 3 , or NHCH 2 -imidazol-4-yl.

4. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein:

R 1 is hydrogen; and

R 2 is Q-C(R)(Q-Ar)R 3 , wherein:

R and R 3 optionally form a 5–7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 3 is selected from Q-OR 5 , Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , Ar 1 , N(R)C(O)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , or N(R)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 ; and

Ar is an optionally substituted 5–6 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated monocyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an optionally substituted 9–10 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated bicyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.

5. The compound according to claim 4 , wherein:

R 3 is selected from OH, NH 2 , CH 2 NH 2 , CH 2 NHMe, CH 2 N(Me) 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NHMe, CH 2 CH 2 N(Me) 2 , NHCO 2 t-butyl, phenyl, NH(CH 2 ) 3 NH 2 , CH 2 C(Me) 2 NH 2 , CH 2 C(Me) 2 CHMe, NH(CH 2 ) 2 NH 2 , NH(CH 2 ) 2 NHEt, NHCH 2 pyridyl, NHSO 2 phenyl, NHC(O)CH 2 C(O)Ot-butyl, NHC(O)CH 2 NH 3 , or NHCH 2 -imidazol-4-yl.

6. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of:

7. A compound of formula IIb:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

R 1 is T-Ar;

T is selected from a valence bond or a C 1-6 alkylidene chain, wherein up to two methylene units of T are optionally, and independently, replaced by —O—, —N(R)—, —S—, —N(R)C(O)—, —C(O)N(R)—, —C(O)—, or —SO 2 —;

each R is independently selected from hydrogen or an optionally substituted C 1-6 aliphatic group, or:

two R groups on the same nitrogen, taken together with the nitrogen atom attached thereto, form a 5–7 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic ring having 1–3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 2 is Q-C(R)(Q-Ar)R 3 , wherein:

R and R 3 optionally form a 5–7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

each Q is independently selected from a valence bond or a C 1-4 alkylidene chain;

each Ar is independently an optionally substituted ring selected from a 5–7 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated monocyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8–10 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated bicyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 3 is selected from R′, Ar 1 , Q-OR 5 , Q-OC(O)R 5 , Q-CONHR 5 , Q-OC(O)NHR 5 , Q-SR 5 , Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , N(R)(Q-Ar), N(R)C(O)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , or N(R)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 ;

R′ is an optionally substituted C 1-6 aliphatic group;

each R 4 is independently selected from R, COR 5 , CO 2 R 5 , CON(R 5 ) 2 , SO 2 R 5 , SO 2 N(R 5 ) 2 , or Ar 1 ;

each R 5 is independently selected from R or Ar;

V 1 , V 2 and V 3 are each independently C(R 6 );

each R 6 is independently selected from R, Ar 1 , halogen, CN, NO 2 , OR, SR, N(R 4 ) 2 , N(R)COR, N(R)CON(R 4 ) 2 , N(R)C(O)OR, CON(R 4 ) 2 , OC(O)N(R 4 ) 2 , CO 2 R, OC(O)R, N(R)SO 2 R, N(R)SO 2 N(R 4 ) 2 , SO 2 R, or SO 2 N(R 4 ) 2 ; and

each Ar 1 is independently selected from an optionally substituted 5–7 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated monocyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

provided that when V 1 , V 2 , and V 3 are each CH, T is a valence bond, and R 2 is Q-C(R)(Q-Ar)R 3 , wherein Ar is an optionally substituted phenyl ring, then R 3 is other than Q-OR 5 or C(O)NH 2 .

8. The compound according to claim 7 , wherein:

R 1 is T-Ar, wherein:

T is selected from —NHC(O)—, —NH—, —NHCH 2 —, NHSO 2 —, —CH 2 NH—, —C≡—, —CH 2 — or —CH 2 CH 2 —; and

Ar is an optionally substituted 5–6 membered aryl ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an optionally substituted 9–10 membered aryl ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; and

R 2 is Q-C(R)(Q-Ar)R 3 , wherein:

R 3 is R′, Q-OR 5 , Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , Ar 1 , N(R)C(O)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , or N(R)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 ;

each Q is independently selected from a valence bond, —CH 2 —, or —CH 2 CH 2 —; and

Ar is an optionally substituted 5–6 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated monocyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an optionally substituted 9–10 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated bicyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.

9. The compound according to claim 8 , wherein:

R 3 is CH 2 OH, OH, NH 2 , CH 2 NH 2 , CH 2 NHMe, CH 2 N(Me) 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NHMe, CH 2 CH 2 N(Me) 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , NHCO 2 t-butyl, phenyl, cyclopentyl, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, NH(CH 2 ) 3 NH 2 , NH(CH 2 ) 2 NH 2 , CH 2 C(Me) 2 NH 2 , CH 2 C(Me) 2 CHMe, NH(CH 2 ) 2 NHEt, NHCH 2 pyridyl, NHSO 2 phenyl, NHC(O)CH 2 C(O)Ot-butyl, NHC(O)CH 2 NH 3 , and NHCH 2 -imidazol-4-yl.

10. The compound according to claim 7 , wherein:

T is a valence bond; and

R 2 is Q-C(R)(Q-Ar)R 3 , wherein:

R and R 3 optionally form a 5–7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 3 is Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , Ar 1 , N(R)C(O)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 , or N(R)Q-N(R 4 ) 2 ; and

Ar is an optionally substituted 5–6 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated monocyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an optionally substituted 9–10 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated bicyclic ring having 0–4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.

11. The compound according to claim 10 , wherein:

R 3 is CH 2 NHMe, CH 2 N(Me) 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 NHMe, CH 2 CH 2 N(Me) 2 , CH 2 C(Me) 2 NH 2 , CH 2 C(Me) 2 CHMe, NHCO 2 (t butyl), phenyl, NH(CH 2 ) 3 NH 2 , NH(CH 2 ) 2 NH 2 , NH(CH 2 ) 2 NHEt, NHCH 2 pyridyl, NHSO 2 phenyl, NHC(O)CH 2 C(O)Ot-butyl, NHC(O)CH 2 NH 3 , and NHCH 2 -imidazol-4-yl.

12. The compound according to claim 7 , wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of:

13. The compound according to claim 7 , wherein said compound has the formula V:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

14. A composition comprising a compound according to either of claim 1 or 7 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or vehicle.

15. The composition according to claim 13 , additionally comprising a therapeutic agent selected from an anti-proliferative agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an immunomodulatory agent, a neurotrophic factor, an agent for treating cardiovascular disease, an agent for treating liver disease, an anti-viral agent, an agent for treating blood disorders, an agent for treating diabetes, or an agent for treating immunodeficiency disorders.

16. A method of inhibiting AKT, PKA, PDK1, p70S6K, or ROCK kinase activity comprising the step of contacting the kinase with a compound according to acyone of claims 1 through 13 .