Class of histone deacetylase inhibitors

1. A compound of formula (I)

wherein:

Q is a bond, CH 2 , CH—NR 3 R 4 , NR 5 or oxygen;

X is CH or nitrogen;

Y is a bond, CH 2 , oxygen or NR 6 ;

Z is CH or nitrogen;

R 1 , R 2 are, independently, hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl:

R 3 , R 4 are, independently, hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CO)R 7 , SO 2 —C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;

R 6 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl or benzyl;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, OR 8 or NR 9 R 10 ;

R 8 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

R 9 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;

R 10 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl or benzyl;

R 11 , R 12 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;

with the proviso that when X is nitrogen, Y cannot be oxygen or NR 6 ;

and with the exclusion of the following compounds:

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-{4-[(E)-3-(4-morpholin-4-yl-phenyl)-3-oxo-propenyl]-phenyl}-acrylamide;

(E)-3-{3-Fluoro-4-[(E)-3-(4-morpholin-4-yl-phenyl)-3-oxo-propenyl]-phenyl}-N-hydroxy-acrylamide.

2. Compound according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the aforesaid alkyls is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group.

3. Compound according to claim 1 , wherein:

R 1 , R 2 are, independently, hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, C 1 -C 2 alkyl, or CF 3 ;

R 3 , R 4 are, independently, hydrogen, C 1 -C 2 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 2 alkyl, (CO)R 7 , SO 2 —C 1 -C 2 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;

R 6 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 2 alkyl or benzyl;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 2 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, OR 8 or NR 9 R 10 ;

R 8 is C 1 -C 2 alkyl;

R 9 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 2 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;

R 10 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 2 alkyl or benzyl;

R 11 , R 12 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl.

4. Compound according to claim 1 , having formula (Ia),

wherein:

Q is CH 2 , CH—NR 3 R 4 , or NR 5 ;

X is CH or nitrogen;

R 1 , R 2 are, independently, hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, or C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl;

R 3 , R 4 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, (CO)R 7 , phenyl or benzyl;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, OR 8 or NR 9 R 10 ;

R 8 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 9 , R 10 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 11 , R 12 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl.

5. Compound according to claim 4 , wherein:

Q is CH 2 , CH—NR 3 R 4 , or NR 5 ;

X is CH or nitrogen;

R 1 , R 2 are, independently, hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, or CF 3 ;

R 3 , R 4 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, (CO)R 7 , phenyl or benzyl;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, OR 8 or NR 9 R 10 ;

R 8 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 9 , R 10 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl;

R 11 , R 12 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl.

6. Compound according to claim 4 , wherein:

Q is NR 5 ;

X is nitrogen;

R 1 , R 2 are, independently, hydrogen, fluoro, chloro or CF 3 ;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, (CO)R 7 , phenyl or benzyl;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, OR 8 or NR 9 R 10 ;

R 8 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 9 , R 10 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl;

R 11 , R 12 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl.

7. Compound according to claim 4 , selected from:

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Dimethylamino-piperidin-1-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(1-methyl-piperidin-4-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-{4-[(E)-3-oxo-3-(4-piperazin-1-ylmethyl-phenyl)-propenyl]-phenyl}-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Benzyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-((3R,5S)-3,5-Dimethyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Acetyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-((3R,5S)-4-Acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Ethyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide.

8. Compound according to claim 1 , having formula (Ib)

wherein:

Q is CH 2 , CH—NR 3 R 4 , or NR 5 ;

X is CH or nitrogen;

R 1 , R 2 are, independently, hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl or C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl;

R 3 , R 4 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, (CO)R 7 , SO 2 —C 1 -C 4 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, OR 8 or NR 9 R 10 ;

R 8 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 9 , R 10 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 11 , R 12 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

with the exclusion of the following compound:

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide.

9. Compound according to claim 8 , wherein, within said formula (Ib), the group:

is in ortho or meta position with respect to the 3-oxo-propenyl moiety, and:

Q is CH 2 or NR 5 ;

X is CH or nitrogen;

R 1 , R 2 are, independently, hydrogen, fluoro, chloro or CF 3 ;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, (CO)R 7 , phenyl or benzyl;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, OR 8 or NR 9 R 10 ;

R 8 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 9 , R 10 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl;

R 11 , R 12 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl.

10. Compound according to claim 8 , selected from:

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[5-Chloro-2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-methylamino-piperidin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Dimethylamino-piperidin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(1-methyl-piperidin-4-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-isobutyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Ethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Benzyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-{4-[(E)-3-(4-piperazin-1-yl-phenyl)-3-oxo-propenyl]-phenyl}-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Benzoyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Acetyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-[4-(4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

4-(4-{(E)-3-[4-((E)-2-Hydroxycarbamoyl-vinyl)-phenyl]-acryloyl}-phenyl)-piperazine-1-carboxylic acid dimethylamide;

4-(4-{(E)-3-[4-((E)-2-Hydroxycarbamoyl-vinyl)-phenyl]-acryloyl}-phenyl)-piperazine-1-carboxylic acid amide;

4-(4-{(E)-3-[4-((E)-2-Hydroxycarbamoyl-vinyl)-phenyl]-acryloyl}-phenyl)-piperazine carboxylic acid ethyl ester;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(4-{(E)-3-oxo-3-[4-((3R,5S)-3,4,5-trimethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-propenyl}-phenyl)-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[3-Chloro-5-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(4-{(E)-3-[2-Chloro-5-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide.

11. Compound according to claim 1 , having formula (Ic)

wherein:

Q is CH 2 , CH—NR 3 R 4 , NR 5 or oxygen;

X is CH or nitrogen;

Y is a bond, CH 2 , oxygen or NR 6 ;

R 1 , R 2 are, independently, hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, or C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl;

R 3 , R 4 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, (CO)R 7 , phenyl or benzyl;

R 6 is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, OR 8 or NR 9 R 10 ;

R 8 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 9 , R 10 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 11 , R 12 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

provided that when X is nitrogen, Y cannot be oxygen or NR 6 .

12. Compound according to claim 11 , wherein:

Q is CH 2 , NR 5 or oxygen;

X is CH or nitrogen;

Y is a bond or CH 2 ;

R 1 , R 2 are, independently, hydrogen, fluoro, chloro or CF 3 ;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 2 alkyl, (CO)R 7 , phenyl or benzyl;

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, OR 8 or NR 9 R 10 ;

R 8 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 9 , R 10 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl;

R 11 , R 12 are, independently, hydrogen or C 1 -C 2 alkyl.

13. Compound according to claim 11 , selected from:

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(5-{(E)-3-[4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(5-{(E)-3-[2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(5-{(E)-3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(5-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Benzyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(5-{(E)-3-oxo-3-[4-((3R,5S)-3,4,5-trimethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-{5-[(E)-3-(4-morpholin-4-ylmethyl-phenyl)-3-oxo-propenyl]-pyridin-2-yl}-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(5-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Ethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(5-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Acetyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(5-{(E)-3-oxo-3-[3-((3R,5S)-3,4,5-trimethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(5-{(E)-3-[4-(1-methyl-piperidin-4-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-{5-[(E)-3-oxo-3-(4-piperazin-1-yl-phenyl)-propenyl]-pyridin-2-yl}-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(5-{(E)-3-[2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-{5-[(E)-3-oxo-3-(4-piperazin-1-ylmethyl-phenyl)-propenyl]-pyridin-2-yl}-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(5-{(E)-3-[4-(4-Acetyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(5-{(E)-3-[4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-acrylamide;

(E)-3-(5-{(E)-3-[3-Chloro-5-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

(E)-N-Hydroxy-3-(5-{(E)-3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-propenyl}-pyridin-2-yl)-acrylamide.

14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more compounds of formula (I) as defined in claim 1 , in association with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

15. A composition according to claim 14 in the form of a tablet, capsule, pill, oral preparation, powder, granular preparation, injectable or infusible solution or suspension, suppository, aqueous or oily suspension, solution, emulsion, syrup, elixir, cream, ointment, paste, gel, solution, oil or lotion, membrane or medicated patch.