Piperidin-1-yl and azepin-1-yl carboxylates as muscarinic M4 receptor agonists

1. A compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

wherein

m, p and q each independently represent 0 or 1;

n represents an integer 2;

R 1 is selected from hydrogen, fluorine, cyano, hydroxyl, amino, and a C 1 -C 9 non-aromatic hydrocarbon group which is optionally substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms and wherein one, two or three carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon group may optionally be replaced by one, two or three heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur;

R 2 is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 6 non-aromatic hydrocarbon group which is optionally substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms and wherein one, two or three carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon group may optionally be replaced by one, two or three heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur;

R 3 represents a 5-or 6-membered monocyclic aromatic heterocyclic group containing 1, 2, 3or 4 ring heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur, which heterocyclic group may be optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from halogen, cyano, oxo, —NR 4 R 5 , —C(O)NR 6 R 7 , C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxy, —R 8 , —OCH 2 R 8 , C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl and C 1 -C 6 alkyl, the alkyl substituent itself being optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from cyano, —C(O)NR 9 R 10 , C 1 -C 6 alkoxy and —NHC(O)R 11 , or

R 3 represents a group of formula (II)

in which X represents a bond, C(O), C(O)O, C(O)NR 13 or SO 2 , and R 12 represents a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group or a 3-to 10-membered saturated or unsaturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system, each of which may be optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, oxo, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkylthio, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulphinyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulphonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbonyloxy, C 1 -C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, —N(R 14 ) 2 , —CON(R 15 ) 2 , C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyloxy and C 3 -C 6 cycloalkylmethyl;

R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl or C 3 -C 6 cycloalkylmethyl;

R 8 represents a 5-or 6-membered monocyclic aromatic group optionally containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 ring heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur, the aromatic group being optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from halogen and C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

R 9 , R 10 and R 11 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, C 1 -C 6 alkyl or C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and

each R 13 , R 14 and R 15 independently represents a hydrogen atom or C 1 -C 6 alkyl group.

2. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein, in R 3 , the 5-or 6-membered monocyclic aromatic heterocyclic group contains from 1 to 3 ring heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur.

3. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein, in R 3 , the 5-or 6-membered monocyclic aromatic heterocyclic group contains 1 or 2 nitrogen ring atoms and optionally one further ring heteroatom selected from oxygen and sulphur.

4. A compound according to claim 3 , wherein the 5-or 6-membered monocyclic aromatic heterocyclic group is selected from pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl and pyrazinyl.

5. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein, in R 3 , the 5-or 6-membered monocyclic aromatic heterocyclic group is optionally substituted by one, two, three or four substituents independently selected from fluorine, chlorine, cyano, oxo, —NR 4 R 5 , —C(O)NR 6 R 7 , C 1 -C 2 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 2 haloalkoxy, —R 8 , —OCH 2 R 8 , C 1 -C 2 alkoxy, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl and C 1 -C 4 alkyl, the alkyl substituent itself being optionally substituted by one, two or three substituents independently selected from cyano, —C(O)NR 9 R 10 , C 1 -C 2 alkoxy and —NHC(O)R 11 .

6. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from hydrogen and methoxy.

7. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is ethyl.

8. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein p and q are each 1.

9. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein m is 0.

10. A compound of formula (I) as defined in claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:

Ethyl 4-(4-{1-[(cyclohexylcarbamoyl)methyl]-1H-imidazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)piperidin-1 yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)piperidin-1 yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)piperidin-1 yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1-ethyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1-prop yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-methoxy-4-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-(4-(5-isopropyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[3-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-(4-{1-[(cyclopropylcarbamoyl)methyl]-1H-imidazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(5-cyclopropyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[5-(dimethylcarbamoyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-(4-{5-[1-(propan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1H-pyrazol-1-yl}piperidin-1-yl)azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[5-(methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-(4-{5-[(cyclopropylmethyl)carbamoyl]-1H-pyrazol-1-yl}piperidin-1-yl)azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[5-(dimethyl-1,3-thiazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(5-cyano-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[5-(acetamidomethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(pyridin-4-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(3-methoxypyridin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(3-methoxypyrazin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(2-methylpyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(2-ethoxy-5-methylpyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-methoxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(3-methoxypyridin-4-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(5-methoxypyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(4-methoxypyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[3-(dimethylamino)pyrazin-2-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[6-(dimethylamino)pyrazin-2-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(4-methoxypyrimidin-5-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-(difluoromethoxy)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(2-ethoxypyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-(4-{2-[(3-methyl-1,2-oxazol-5-yl)methoxy]pyridin-3-yl}piperidin-1-yl)azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-(propan-2-yloxy)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[1-(cyanomethyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(1-ethyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(5-chloro-2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(3,6-dimethylpyrazin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[5-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-4-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-(4-{2-[1-(propan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]pyridin-3-yl}piperidin-1-yl)azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(5-methoxy-2-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(2-cyclopropylpyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-(4-{2-[(cyclopropylmethyl)amino]pyridin-3-yl}piperidin-1-yl)azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(2-ethylpyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(4-methoxypyridazin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(pyrimidin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-[4-(4-methylpyrimidin-5-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-(1,3-thiazol-4-ylmethoxy)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-(2-methylpropyl)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl 4-{4-[2-(1,3-oxazol-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl]piperidin-1-yl}azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl (4S)-4-[4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl (4R)-4-[4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl (4S)-4-[4-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl (4R)-4-[4-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl (4S)-4-[4-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

Ethyl (4R)-4-[4-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]azepane-1-carboxylate,

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

11. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as defined in claim 1 which comprises

(i) reacting a compound of formula (X),

wherein p, q, R 1 and R 3 are as defined in formula (I), with a compound of formula (XIa) or (XIb),

wherein n and R 2 are as defined in formula (I), under reductive amination conditions; or

(ii) when R 3 represents a 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-2-yl group, reacting a compound of formula (XII),

wherein m, n, p, q, R 1 and R 2 are as defined in formula (I), with a compound of formula (XIII), R—C(O)—NH—NH 2 , wherein R represents hydrogen or an R 3 substituent as defined in formula (I), in the presence of a base followed by reaction with a dehydrating agent; and optionally thereafter carrying out one or more of the following procedures:

converting a compound of formula (I) into another compound of formula (I)

removing any protecting groups and

forming a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as claimed in claim 1 , in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, diluent or carrier.