Heterocyclic receptor agonists for the treatment of diabetes and metabolic disorders

1. A compound of Formula II:

wherein,

D is selected from the group consisting of O, S, and NR 8 ,

X, Y, and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of O and N and one of X, Y, and Z is O and the other two of X, Y, and Z are N;

J, K, T, and U are each independently selected from the group consisting of C, CH and N;

the subscript p is an integer of from 1-3;

the subscript q is an integer of from 0 to 4;

R 1 is a member selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 substituted alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl, C 2-10 alkynyl, —X 1 —CO 2 R a , —X 1 —CONR a R b , SO 2 R a , a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclo group, aryl and a 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl group, wherein each of said cycloalkyl group, heterocyclo group, aryl group and heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from halo, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 substituted alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl, C 2-10 alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, CN, —NR a COR b , —NR a CONR a R b , —NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —COR a , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a S(O) 2 R b , and —SO 2 NR a R b , or optionally R a and R b are combined to form a 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring, and X 1 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, C 2-6 alkene, C 2-6 alkyne, —C(O)—, and —C(O)—(CH 2 ) 1-4 —, wherein the aliphatic portions of X 1 are optionally substituted with one to three members selected from halogen, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 substituted alkyl and C 1-4 haloalkyl;

each R 2 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1-5 alkyl, C 1-5 substituted alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, —COR a , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —OR a , —NR a R b , —NR a COR b , —SOR a R b , —SO 2 R a and —SO 2 NR a R b , and wherein when the subscript q is 2 and R 2 is alkyl or substituted alkyl, the two R 2 members can optionally cyclize to form a ring;

each R 7 is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 substituted alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl, C 2-10 alkynyl, CN, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —COR a , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —NR a COR b , —NR a CO 2 R b , —NR a CONR a R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a S(O) m R b , —SO 2 NR a R b , a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclo group, aryl and a 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl group, at least one of R 7 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 substituted alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl, C 2-10 alkynyl, CN, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —COR a , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —NR a COR b , —NR a CO 2 R b , —NR a CONR a R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a S(O) m R b , —SO 2 NR a R b , a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclo group, aryl and a 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl group, wherein each of said heterocyclo groups, said aryl and heteroaryl groups are optionally substituted with from one to four substituents independently selected from halo, oxo, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, CN, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —COR a , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —NR a COR b , —NR a CO 2 R b , —NR a CONR a R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a SO 2 R b , and —SO 2 NR a R b and wherein the subscript m is an integer of from 0 to 2, or optionally R a and R b are combined to form a 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring;

R 8 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and C 1-4 alkyl;

and each R a and R b is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 haloalkyl, C 3-10 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, C 2-10 alkenyl, C 2-10 alkynyl, aryl, 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl and arylC 1-4 alkyl; and wherein the aliphatic portions of each of said R a and R b is optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from the group consisting of halo, —OR n , —OCOR n , —OC(O)N(R n ) 2 , —SR n , —S(O)R n , —S(O) 2 R n , —S(O) 2 N(R n ) 2 , —NR n S(O) 2 R n , —C(O)N(R n ) 2 , —C(O)R n , —NR n C(O)R n , —NR n C(O)N(R n ) 2 , —CO 2 R n , —NR n CO 2 R n , —CN, —NO 2 , —N(R n ) 2 and —NR n S(O) 2 N(R n ) 2 , wherein each R n is independently hydrogen or an unsubstituted C 1-6 alkyl;

and wherein the aryl and heteroaryl portions are optionally substituted with from one to three members selected from halogen, —OR m , —OC(O)N(R m ) 2 , —SR m , —S(O)R m , —S(O) 2 R m , —S(O) 2 N(R m ) 2 , —NR m S(O) 2 R m , —C(O)N(R m ) 2 , —C(O)R m , —NR m C(O)R m , —NR m C(O)N(R m ) 2 , —CO 2 R m , —NR m CO 2 R m , —CN, —NO 2 , —N(R m ) 2 and —NR m S(O) 2 N(R m ) 2 , wherein each R m is independently hydrogen or an unsubstituted C 1-6 alkyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof;

wherein the molecular weight of said compound is less than 1200.

2. A compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —X 1 —COR a , —X 1 —CO 2 R a , —X 1 —CONR a R b , SO 2 R a , aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl and substituted heteroaryl.

3. A compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, substituted pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, substituted pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, substituted pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, substituted pyridazinyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, imidazolyl, substituted imidazolyl, triazolyl, substituted triazolyl, oxazolyl, substituted oxazolyl, thiazolyl, substituted thiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, substituted oxadiazolyl, tetrazolyl, and substituted tetrazolyl.

4. A compound of claim 3 , wherein said pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, phenyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, or tetrazolyl is further substituted with from one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 haloalkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a S(O) 2 R b , and —SO 2 NR a R b .

5. A compound of claim 1 , wherein D is O.

6. A compound of claim 1 , which is of formula (III):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 7 , X, Y, Z, p and q are as defined in claim 1 .

7. A compound of claim 6 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —X 1 —COR a , —X 1 CO 2 R a , —X 1 —CONR a R b , SO 2 R a , aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl and substituted heteroaryl.

8. The compound of claim 6 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, substituted pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, substituted pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, substituted pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, substituted pyridazinyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, imidazolyl, substituted imidazolyl, triazolyl, substituted triazolyl, oxazolyl, substituted oxazolyl, thiazolyl, substituted thiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, substituted oxadiazolyl, tetrazolyl, and substituted tetrazolyl.

9. The compound of claim 8 , wherein said pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, phenyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, or tetrazolyl is further substituted with from one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 haloalkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a S(O) 2 R b , and —SO 2 NR a R b .

10. The compound of claim 9 , wherein the subscript p is an integer of from 1 to 3 and each R 7 is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 haloalkyl, CN, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —COR a , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —NR a COR b , —NR a CO 2 R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a S(O) m R b , —SO 2 NR a R b , a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclo group, aryl and a 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl group, wherein each of said heterocyclo group, said aryl and heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with from one to four substituents independently selected from halo, oxo, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, CN, NO 2 , —NR a R b , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —NR a COR b , —NR a CO 2 R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a SO 2 R b , and —SO 2 NR a R b and wherein the subscript m is an integer of from 0 to 2.

11. The compound of claim 1 , wherein at least one of J, K, T, and U is N.

12. The compound of claim 11 , wherein D is O.

13. The compound of claim 12 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —X 1 —COR a , —X 1 CO 2 R a , —X 1 —CONR a R b , SO 2 R a , aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl and substituted heteroaryl.

14. The compound of claim 12 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, substituted pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, substituted pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, substituted pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, substituted pyridazinyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, substituted triazolyl, substituted imidazolyl, thiazolyl, substituted thiazolyl, oxazolyl, substituted oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, substituted oxadiazolyl, tetrazolyl, and substituted tetrazolyl.

15. The compound of claim 14 , wherein said pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, phenyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, or tetrazolyl is further substituted with from one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 haloalkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a S(O) 2 R b , and —SO 2 NR a R b .

16. The compound of claim 15 , wherein the subscript p is an integer of from 1 to 3 and each R 7 is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 haloalkyl, CN, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —COR a , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —NR a COR b , —NR a CO 2 R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a S(O) m R b , —SO 2 NR a R b , a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclo group, aryl and a 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl group, wherein each of said heterocyclo group, said aryl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with from one to four substituents independently selected from halo, oxo, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, CN, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —NR a COR b , —NR a CO 2 R b , —S(O) m R a , —NR a SO 2 R b , and —SO 2 NR a R b and wherein the subscript m is an integer of from 0 to 2.

17. The compound of claim 1 , wherein J, T, and U are all C; and D is O.

18. The compound of claim 17 , wherein each R 7 is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-10 alkyl, C 1-10 haloalkyl, CN, NO 2 , —OR a , —NR a R b , —COR a , —CO 2 R a , —CONR a R b , —NR a COR b , —NR a CO 2 R b , —NR a S(O) m R b , —SO 2 NR a R b , a 4- to 5-membered heterocyclo group, and a 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl group and wherein the subscript m is an integer of from 0 to 2; each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-5 alkyl, C 1-5 haloalkyl; and the subscript q is an integer of from 0 to 2.

19. The compound of claim 18 , wherein each R 7 is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, C 1-5 alkyl, C 1-5 haloalkyl, —SOR a , —SO 2 R a , and 5-membered heteroaryl group.

20. The compound of claim 19 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —X 1 —COR a , —X 1 CO 2 R a , —X 1 —CONR a R b , SO 2 R a , aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl and substituted heteroaryl.

21. A compound selected from the group consisting of

4-[3-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenoxymethyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl]-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester;

4-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenoxymethyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl]-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester;

4-(5-benzyloxymethyl-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester; and

5-ethyl-2-{4-[3-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenoxymethyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl]-piperidin-1-yl}-pyrimidine;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

22. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient a compound of claim 1 .