Azetidinecarboxamide derivatives and their use in the treatment of cb1 receptor mediated disorders

1. A compound of formula (I):

wherein:

R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from aryl; and

R 3 is hydrogen or alkyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein at least one of R 1 and R 2 has a non-hydrogen substituent in the ortho-position(s) thereof relative to the point of attachment to the [—CH—O—] group.

2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from mono-cyclic aromatic groups.

3. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from phenyl.

4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from a group of formula:

wherein R 4 , R 5 and R 6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halo, alkyl, thioalkyl, alkoxy, alkylsulfonyl, amino, mono- and di-alkyl amino, mono- and di-aryl amino, alkylarylamino, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, NR 14 C(O)R 15 , NR 14 SO 2 R 16 , COOR 15 , OC(O)R 16 , CONR 7 R 8 and SO 2 NR 7 R 8 , wherein R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl or may form a 5 or 6 membered ring optionally containing 1 or 2 additional heteroatoms selected from N, O and S; and wherein R 14 is selected from H and lower alkyl, R 15 is selected from H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl and R 16 is selected from alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl.

5. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are different.

6. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R 4 , R 5 and R 6 are independently selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.

7. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R 4 , R 5 and R 6 are independently selected from alkyl, thioalkyl, alkoxy, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl and alkylsulfonyl wherein the alkyl group is selected from lower alkyl.

8. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R 4 , R 5 and R 6 are independently selected from trifluoromethyl and difluoromethoxy.

9. A compound according to claim 4 wherein one or two of R 4 , R 5 and R 6 are hydrogen.

10. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R 14 is selected from H.

11. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R 15 and R 16 are independently selected from alkyl.

12. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R 15 and R 16 are independently selected from lower alkyl.

13. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R 3 is selected from alkyl.

14. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R 3 is selected from tertiary butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl and isopropyl.

15. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R 3 is selected from

—(CHR 9 ) n (CH 2 ) m CR 10 R 11 R 12

wherein n is 0 or 1;

m is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

R 9 , R 10 , R 11 and R 12 are selected from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, thioalkyl, amino, mono- and di-alkyl amino, alkoxycarbonyl and R 13 ;

wherein R 13 is selected from aryl, heteroaryl and non-aromatic heterocyclic optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from alkyl, halogen, alkoxy, oxo, aryl, heteroaryl and non-aromatic heterocycle.

16. A compound according to claim 15 wherein m is 0 or 1.

17. A compound according to claim 15 wherein n is 0.

18. A compound according to claim 13 wherein R 3 is selected from cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, norbornanyl and adamantyl.

19. A compound according to claim 1 wherein the compound is selected from:

3-(2,4,4′-trichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2-thiophen-2-yl ethyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(cyclopropylmethyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl-methyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2,5-dimethylfuran-3-yl-methyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2,3-Dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-2-yl-methyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl-methyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-[(R)-sec-butyl]azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2-bromothiophen-3-yl-methyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-[(S)-sec-butyl]azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(thiophen-3-yl-methyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2-methoxyphenylmethyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2-furanylmethyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(3-ethoxypropyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2-tetrahydrofuranylmethyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(exo-2-norbornanyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(1-phenylpropyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-[(R)-a-methylbenzyl]azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-[(R)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-[(S)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(n-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(sec-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(ethyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-[(S)-a-methyl-benzyl]azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(2,2,4-trimethylpent-4-yl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(cyclopentyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2,2,4-trimethylpent-4-yl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-(2,4′-dichlorobenzhydryloxy)-N-(2-methylbut-2-yl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-2′-fluoro-4′-bromobenzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(methylthio)benzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(methylthio)benzhydryloxy]-N-(iso-propyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(methylthio)benzhydryloxy]-N-(sec-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(methylthio)benzhydryloxy]-N-(benzyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4-fluoro-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4-fluoro-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(iso-propyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4-fluoro-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(sec-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4-fluoro-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4-fluoro-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(benzyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)benzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)benzhydryloxy]-N-(iso-propyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)benzhydryloxy]-N-(sec-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)benzhydryloxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)benzhydryloxy]-N-(benzyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)benzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)benzhydryloxy]-N-(iso-propyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)benzhydryloxy]-N-(sec-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(trifluoromethoxy)benzhydryloxy]-N-(benzyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(1-adamantyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-amyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-methylbenzhydryloxy]-N-(1-adamantyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-methylbenzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-methylbenzhydryloxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-methoxybenzhydryloxy]-N-(1-adamantyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-methoxybenzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-fluorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(1-adamantyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-fluorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-fluorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(allyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(methylthio)benzhydryloxy]-N-(1-adamantyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(methylthio)benzhydryloxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(difluoromethoxy)benzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(difluoromethoxy)benzhydryloxy]-N-(sec-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(difluoromethoxy)benzhydryloxy]-N-(iso-propyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(difluoromethoxy)benzhydryloxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-(difluoromethoxy)benzhydryloxy]-N-(allyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-fluorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(sec-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-fluorobenzhydryloxy]-N-[(S)-a-methylbenzyl]azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-2′-fluoro-4′-(1-piperidinyloxomethyl)benzhydryloxy]-N-(tertbutyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide

3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-2′-fluorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide, and

3-[(S*)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide.

20. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 and a suitable excipient.

21. A method of treatment of a disorder selected from the group consisting of obesity, excessive food intake, nicotine withdrawal, and nicotine dependence comprising administration to a subject in need of such treatment an effective dose of a compound of formula (I) as defined in claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

22. 3-[(R)-2-(trifluormethyl)-4′-chlorobenzhydryloxy]-N-(tert-butyl)azetidine-1-carboxamide.