Imidazoazepinone compounds

1. A method of treating an autoimmune disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject a compound in a treatment effective amount;

wherein said autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, and atherosclerosis;

wherein said compound is a compound of formula I:

wherein:

Q is —C(R 1 )(R 2 )— or CH═CH— (cis or trans);

R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from H, C 1-3 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl, or taken together are C 1-6 alkylidene or C 2-6 alkenylenidene;

each of R 3 , R 4 , R 6 , and R 7 is independently selected from hydrogen and methyl;

X is methylene, ethylene, or propenylene;

R 5 is phenyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, indolyl, furyl, thienyl, pyrazolyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyl, or pyrrolyl, and substituted with between 0 and 5 substituents independently selected from C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, hydroxyl, C 1-3 alkylthio, cyclopropyl, cyclopropylmethyl, and halo;

R 8 is H, methyl, ethyl, propenyl, (C 1-3 alkoxy)C 1-3 alkyl, (C 1-3 alkylthio)C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 hydroxyalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, isothiazolyl, isooxazolyl, pyridyl, and thienyl;

wherein R 8 is substituted with between 0 and 3 substituents independently selected from methyl, ethyl, halo, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 alkylthio, (C 1-3 alkoxy)C 1-3 alkyl, (C 1-3 alkylthio)C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 hydroxyalkyl, (C 1-3 mercaptoalkyl)phenyl, benzyl, furyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrrolyl, isothiazolyl, isooxazolyl, pyridyl, thienyl, pyranyl, dihydropyranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, and cyclopropyl; and

each of R a , R b , and R c is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, methoxy, benzyloxy, fluoro, chloro, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, and phenoxy;

or one pair selected from R a and R b , and R b and R c , taken together, is —O— (CH 2 )—O— or —O—CH 2 —CH 2 —O—;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a C 1-6 alkyl ester or amide, or a C 2-6 alkenyl ester or amide thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

Q is —C(R 1 )(R 2 )— or —CH═CH— (cis or trans);

R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl or propyl, or taken together are CH 2 ═, allylidene, propylidene, propenylidene, or ethylidene;

each of R 3 , R 4 , R 6 , and R 7 is hydrogen;

X is methylene, ethylene, or propenylene;

R 5 is phenyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, indolyl, furyl, thienyl, pyrazolyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyl, or pyrrolyl, and substituted with between 0 and 3 substituents independently selected from methyl, methoxy, ethyl, hydroxyl, bromo, fluoro, and chloro;

R 8 is H, methyl, ethyl, propenyl, methoxyethyl, hydroxyethyl, or benzyl,

wherein R 8 is substituted with between 0 and 3 substituents independently selected from methyl, ethyl, halo, C 1-3 alkoxy, 1, C 1-3 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, furyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrrolyl, isothiazolyl, isooxazolyl, pyridyl, thienyl, pyranyl, dihydropyranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, and cyclopropyl;

or R a and R b taken together is —O—(CH 2 )—O—;

each of R a , R b , and R c is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, methoxy, benzyloxy, fluoro, and chloro;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from H and methyl, or taken together are CH 2 ═;

X is methylene, ethylene, or propenylene;

R 5 is phenyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, indolyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyl, or pyrrolyl, and substituted with between 0 and 3 substituents independently selected from, fluoro, methyl, methoxy, hydroxyl, and bromo;

R 8 is H, methyl, ethyl, hydroxyethyl, or benzyl; wherein benzyl is optionally substituted with pyrrolyl or pyrazolyl; and

each of R a , R b , and R c is independently selected from hydrogen, methoxy, and fluoro;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, or taken together are propylidene, allylidene, or CH 2 ═;

X is methylene or ethylene;

R 5 is phenyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, indolyl, furyl, thienyl, pyrazolyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyl, or pyrrolyl, and substituted with between 0 and 3 substituents independently selected from methyl, methoxy, fluoro, and bromo; and

R 8 is H, methyl, ethyl, hydroxyethyl, or benzyl; wherein benzyl is optionally substituted with pyrrolyl or pyrazolyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said compound is a compound of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said compound is a compound of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said autoimmune disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said autoimmune disease is type 1 diabetes mellitus.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said autoimmune disease is psoriasis.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said autoimmune disease is atherosclerosis.