Inhibitors of glutaminyl cyclase

1. A compound of formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or polymorph thereof, including all tautomers and stereoisomers thereof wherein:

R 1 represents;

Y represents a 5-membered heteroaryl group selected from triazolyl, a thiadiazolyl, a thiazolyl, a triazol-one or a triazol-thione;

X represents a linker selected from —(CH 2 ) m —R 2 , —(CH 2 ) n —S—R 2 , —(CH 2 ) p —S—R 2 , —(CH 2 ) p —O—R 2 , or —(CH 2 ) p —SO 2 —R 2 ;

m represents an integer selected from 1 to 4;

n represents an integer selected from 1 or 2;

p represents an integer selected from 0 to 2;

R 2 is selected from phenyl, phenyl substituted by phenyl, phenyl substituted by phenoxy, phenyl fused to heterocyclyl, phenyl fused to substituted heterocyclyl, and phenyl substituted by one or more of C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, C 1-6 thioalkyl, haloC 1-6 alkyl, haloC 1-6 alkoxy, or halogen;

in which the substituted heterocyclyl is substituted by one or more groups selected from methyl, phenyl, oxo, halogen and C 1-4 alkoxy;

with the proviso that the compound of formula (I) is a compound other than:

6-(5-(2,3-dimethoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

6-(5-(4-(methylthio)phenethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine; or

6-(5-(2-chloro-3-methoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine.

2. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein Y represents triazolyl or thiadiazolyl.

3. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein m represents an integer selected from 1 to 3.

4. A compound according to claim 3 , wherein m represents an integer selected from 1 or 2.

5. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein n represents 1.

6. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein p represents 1.

7. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 represents phenyl, phenyl substituted by phenoxy, or phenyl fused to heterocyclyl or substituted heterocyclyl.

8. A compound according to claim 7 , wherein R 2 represents phenyl substituted by phenoxy.

9. A compound according to claim 7 , wherein R 2 represents phenyl substituted by one or more groups selected from C 1-6 -alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, —C 1-6 thioalkyl, haloC 1-6 -alkyl, haloC 1-6 -alkoxy, or halogen.

10. A compound according to claim 7 , wherein R 2 represents phenyl substituted by one or more groups selected from methyl, methoxy, ethoxy, methylthio, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, chlorine, or fluorine.

11. A compound according to claim 7 , wherein R 2 represents phenyl fused to heterocyclyl or substituted heterocyclyl.

12. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is phenyl substituted by 4-phenoxy.

13. A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or polymorph thereof, including all tautomers and stereoisomers of any one of the following:

Structure

Name

5-(4-benzyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol- 3-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)- 4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2-fluorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(4-fluorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(4-chlorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(3,4-difluorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(4-methylbenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(4-methoxybenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2-chlorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(4-phenoxybenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(3-chlorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2-chloro-6- fluorobenzyl)-4H-1,2,4- triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(3,5-dichlorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(3-chloro-4- fluorobenzyl)-4H-1,2,4- triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2,5-dichlorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2-methoxybenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2,6-dichlorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(4- (trifluoromethoxy)benzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2,3-difluorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2,3-dichlorobenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(2-chloro-5- (trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(3-chloro-4- methoxybenzyl)-4H-1,2,4- triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(4-(4-ethoxybenzyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-phenethyl-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(3,4- dimethoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2,4- dimethoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2,3- dimethoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(4- (methylthio)phenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2,4-dichlorophenethyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(3-chloro-4- methoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(4- (trifluoromethyl)phenethyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol- 5-yl)ethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2- yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(3,4,5- trimethoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenethyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2,4-difluorophenethyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(3,4-difluorophenethyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(3-fluorophenethyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(3-methoxyphenethyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2-methoxyphenethyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2,5- dimethoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2-chloro-3- methoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(phenoxymethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-((phenylthio)methyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5- ((phenylsulfonyl)methyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-((3,4- dimethoxyphenylthio)methyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-((3,4- dimethoxyphenylsulfonyl)meth- yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

7-(5-(2,3- dimethoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)H-imidazo[1,2- a]pyridine;

7-(5-(2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol- 5-yl)ethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2- yl)H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;

7-(5-(2-chloro-3- methoxyphenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)H-imidazo[1,2- a]pyridine;

7-(5-(4- (methylthio)phenethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)H-imidazo[1,2- a]pyridine;

5-(5-phenethyl-4H-1,2,4- triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(3,4- dimethoxyphenethyl)-4H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(5-(2-chloro-3- methoxyphenethyl)-4H-1,2,4- triazol-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(2-(3,4- dimethoxyphenethyl)thiazol- 5-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(2-(2-chloro-3- methoxyphenethyl)thiazol-5- yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(2-(2,3- dimethoxyphenethyl)thiazol- 5-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(2-(2,5- dimethoxyphenethyl)thiazol- 5-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(2-phenethylthiazol-5-yl)- 1H-benzo[d]imidazole;

2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)- 5-phenethylthiazole;

2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)- 5-(2,3- dimethoxyphenethyl)thiazole;

5-(1-phenethyl-1H-1,2,3- triazol-4-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(1-((phenylthio)methyl)-1H- 1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(1-(3,4- dimethoxyphenethyl)-1H- 1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(1-(4-methoxyphenethyl)- 1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(1-(3-methoxyphenethyl)- 1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole;

5-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)- 4-benzyl-2H-1,2,4-triazol- 3(4H)-one; or

5-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)- 4-benzyl-2H-1,2,4-triazole- 3(4H)-thione.

14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 optionally in combination with one or more therapeutically acceptable diluents or carriers.

15. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 14 , which comprises additionally at least one compound, selected from the group consisting of neuroprotectants, antiparkinsonian drugs, amyloid protein deposition inhibitors, beta amyloid synthesis inhibitors, antidepressants, anxiolytic drugs, antipsychotic drugs and anti-multiple sclerosis drugs.

16. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 14 , which comprises additionally at least one compound, selected from the group consisting of PEP-inhibitors, LiCl, inhibitors of inhibitors of DP IV or DP IV-like enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (ACE) inhibitors, PIMT enhancers, inhibitors of beta secretases, inhibitors of gamma secretases, inhibitors of neutral endopeptidase, inhibitors of Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4), TNFalpha inhibitors, muscarinic M1 receptor antagonists, NMDA receptor antagonists, sigma-1 receptor inhibitors, histamine H3 antagonists, immunomodulatory agents, immunosuppressive agents or an agent selected from the group consisting of natalizumab, fampridine-SR, alemtuzumab, IR 208, NBI 5788/MSP 771 (tiplimotide), paclitaxel, AG 284, SH636, CD 271, adapalene, BAY 361677 (interleukin-4), matrix-metalloproteinase-inhibitors, interferon-tau (trophoblastin) and SAIK-MS.

17. A process for preparation of a compound of formula (I) according to claim 1 , which comprises:

(a) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein R 1 represents 1H-benzo[d]imidazolyl from a compound of formula (II):

wherein X and Y are as defined in claim 1 ;

(b) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein Y represents 1,2,4-triazolyl by reacting a compound of formula (III):

wherein R 1 is as defined in claim 1 , with a compound of formula X—NH 2 , wherein X is as defined in claim 1 ;

(c) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein Y represents 1,2,4-triazolyl by reacting a compound of formula (IV):

wherein R 1 is as defined in claim 1 , with a compound of formula X—NH 2 , wherein X is as defined in claim 1 ;

(d) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein Y represents 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl from a compound of formula (VI):

wherein R 1 and X are as defined in claim 1 ;

(e) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein Y represents 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl by reacting a compound of formula (VII):

wherein R 1 is as defined in claim 1 , with a compound of formula X—COOH, wherein X is as defined in claim 1 ;

(f) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein Y represents 4H-1,2,4-triazolyl by reacting a compound of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 is as defined in claim 1 , with a compound of formula X—COOH, wherein X is as defined in claim 1 ;

(g) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein Y represents thiazolyl by reacting a compound of formula R 1 —COOH with a compound of formula X—CO—CH 2 —NH 2 , wherein R 1 and X are as defined in claim 1 ;

(h) preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein Y represents 1,2,4-triazol-one or 1,2,4-triazol-thione from a compound of formula (IX):

wherein R 1 and X are as defined in claim 1 ;

(i) interconversion of compounds of formula (I); or

(j) deprotecting a compound of formula (I) which is protected.