N-biarylamides

1. A method for treating cognitive impairment in a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising:

i) a compound represented by Formula (I):

 in a pharmaceutically effective amount,

in which

R 1 is a group of the formula —NR 2 —CO—NR 3 R 4 , —NR 2 —CO—CO—OR 5 , —NH—SO 2 R 6 , —SO 2 NHR 7 or —NH—CO—R 8 , where

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

R 3 and R 4 are independently of one another hydrogen, C a -C 6 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl or phenyl, which is optionally substituted by up to 3 radicals independently of one another selected from the group of halogen, cyano, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy, or

R 3 and R 4 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclyl,

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl or aryl, where C 1 -C 6 -alkyl is optionally substituted by aryl,

R 6 is C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, 5- to 6-membered heterocyclyl, aryl or 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl, where C 1 -C 6 -alkyl is optionally substituted by aryl,

R 7 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, 5- to 6-membered heterocyclyl, aryl or 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl, where C 1 -C 6 -alkyl is optionally substituted by aryl,

R 8 is C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl or phenyl, where C 1 -C 6 -alkyl is substituted by C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy and phenyl by 1 to 3 radicals independently of one another selected from the group of halogen, cyano, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy,

or a salt thereof; and

ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising co-administering a second active ingredient for the treatment of the cognitive impairment.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering is by an oral, transdermal, parenteral or inhalation route.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cognitive impairment is Alzheimer's disease.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the amount of the compound represented by Formula (I) is effective to stimulate an alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR).

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising co-administering a second active ingredient for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the administering is by an oral, transdermal, parenteral or inhalation route.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cognitive impairment is schizophrenia.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the amount of the compound represented by Formula (I) is effective to stimulate an alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR).

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising co-administering a second active ingredient for the treatment of schizophrenia.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the administration is by an oral, transdermal, parenteral or inhalation route.

12. A compound, or a salt thereof, selected from the group consisting of:

[(4′-{[(3R)-1-Azabicyclo [2.2.2]oct-3-ylcarbonyl]amino}biphenyl-4-yl)amino]-(oxo)acetic acid hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-{4′-[(Methylsulfonyl)amino]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine -3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-{3′-[(Methylsulfonyl)amino]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine -3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-{4′-[(Ethylsulfonyl)amino]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine -3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-{4′-[(Phenylsulfonyl)amino]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine -3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-{4′-[(Benzylsulfonyl)amino]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine -3-carboxamide;

(3R)-N-[4′-(Aminosulfonyl)biphenyl-4-yl]quinuclidine-3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-(4′-[(Isopropylamino)sulfonyl]biphenyl-4-yl)quinuclidine-3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-{4′-[(Benzylamino)sulfonyl]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine -3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-(4′-{[(Methylamino)carbonyl]amino}biphenyl-4-yl)quinuclidine-3-carboxamide;

(3R)-N-(4′-{([(Cyclopentylamino)carbonyl]amino}biphenyl-4-yl)quinuclidine-3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-(4′-{([(Ethylamino)carbonyl]amino}biphenyl-4-yl)quinuclidine-3-carboxamide;

(3R)-N-[4′-({[(3-Methoxyphenyl)amino]carbonyl}amino)biphenyl-4-yl]quinuclidine-3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-{4′-[(3-Chlorobenzoyl)amino]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine-3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-{4′-[(3-Fluorobenzoyl)amino]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine-3-carboxamide hydrochloride;

(3R)-N-{4′-[(2-Methoxyacetyl)amino]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine-3-carboxamide hydrochloride; and

(3R)-N-{4′-[(Cyclopentylcarbonyl)amino]biphenyl-4-yl}quinuclidine-3-carboxamide hydrochloride.

13. A method of treating a cognitive impairment in a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia, comprising administering to the patient a compound according to claim 12 .

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cognitive impairment is Alzheimer's disease.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cognitive impairment is schizophrenia.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising co-administering a second active ingredient for the treatment of the cognitive impairment.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the administering is by an oral, transdermal, parenteral or inhalation route.

18. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 12 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

19. A method of treating a cognitive impairment in a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia, comprising administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 18 .

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the cognitive impairment is Alzheimer's disease.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the cognitive impairment is schizophrenia.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising co-administering a second active ingredient for the treatment of the cognitive impairment.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the administering is by an oral, transdermal, parenteral or inhalation route.