Hepatitis B antiviral agents

1. A compound represented by the formula below, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein R is

 m1 is 1, 2, or 3; m2 is 0, 1, or 2; m3 is 0, 1, 2, or 3; t at each occurrence is independently 0, 1, or 2; R 21 is halo, CN, —C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl or C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; R 22 is halo, CN, or methyl; R 23 is halo, hydroxy, protected hydroxy, —CN, amino, protected amino, optionally substituted —C 1 -C 6 alkyl, optionally substituted —C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted 3- to 8-membered heterocyclic, optionally substituted —C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, or —O-(hydroxy prodrug group); E at each occurrence is independently selected from —C(R 10 ) 2 —,—N(R 10 )—, O and S; R 10 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, —CN, —NO 2 , optionally substituted —C 1 -C 6 alkyl, optionally substituted —C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, optionally substituted —C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, optionally substituted —C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted 3- to 8-membered heterocyclic, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and -L 1 -R 1 ; L 1 is —O—, —S—,—NR 1 —, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—,—OC(O)—,—C(O)N(R 1 )—,—N(R 1 )C(O)—,—OC(O)N(R 1 )—,—N(R 1 )C(O)O—,—N(R 1 )C(O)N(R 1 )—,—S(O)—,—S(O) 2 —,—S(O) 2 N(R 1 )—, or —N(R 1 )S(O) 2 —; R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted —C 1 -C 6 alkyl, optionally substituted —C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, optionally substituted —C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, optionally substituted —C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted 3- to 8-membered heterocyclic, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl; alternatively, two adjacent R 10 groups are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form an olefinic double-bond; alternatively two geminal R 10 groups, taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form —C(O)—, —C(═CHCR′)—, optionally substituted spiro C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, or optionally substituted spiro 3- to 8-membered heterocyclic group, where R′ is hydrogen or alkyl; alternatively two remote R 10 groups are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached and any intervening atoms to form an additional ring;

wherein each substituted group is substituted by 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, C 1 -C 12 -alkyl; C 2 -C 12 -alkenyl, protected hydroxy, —NO 2 , —N 3 , —CN, —NH 2 , protected amino, oxo, thioxo, —NH—C 1 -C 12 -alkenyl, —NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —NH—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —NH-aryl, —NH-heteroaryl, —NH-heterocycloalkyl, -dialkylamino, -diarylamino, -diheteroarylamino, —O—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —O—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —O—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —O—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —O-aryl, —O-heteroaryl, —O-heterocycloalkyl, —C(O)—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —C(O)—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —C(O)—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —C(O)—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —C(O)-aryl, —C(O)-heteroaryl, —C(O)-heterocycloalkyl, —CONH 2 , —CONH—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —CONH—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —CONH—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —CONH—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —CONH-aryl, —CONH-heteroaryl, —CONH-heterocycloalkyl, —OCO 2 —C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —OCO 2 —C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —OCO 2 —C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —OCO 2 —C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —OCO 2 -aryl, —OCO 2 -heteroaryl, —OCO 2 -heterocycloalkyl, —CO 2 —C 1 -C 12 alkyl, —CO 2 —C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, —CO 2 —C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, CO 2 —C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —CO 2 -aryl, CO 2 -heteroaryl, CO 2 -heterocyloalkyl, —OCONH 2 , —OCONH—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —OCONH—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —OCONH—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —OCONH—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —OCONH-aryl, —OCONH-heteroaryl, -OCONH-heterocyclo-alkyl, —NHC(O)H, —NHC(O)—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —NHC(O)—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —NHC(O)—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —NHC(O)—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —NHC(O)-aryl, —NHC(O)-heteroaryl, —NHC(O)-heterocyclo-alkyl, —NHCO 2 —C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —NHCO 2 —C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —NHCO 2 —C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —NHCO 2 —C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —NHCO 2 -aryl, —NHCO 2 -heteroaryl, —NHCO 2 -heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(O)NH 2 , —NHC(O)NH—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —NHC(O)NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —NHC(O)NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —NHC(O)NH—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —NHC(O)NH-aryl, —NHC(O)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(O)NH-heterocycloalkyl, NHC(S)NH 2 , —NHC(S)NH—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —NHC(S)NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —NHC(S)NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —NHC(S)NH—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —NHC(S)NH-aryl, —NHC(S)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(S)NH-heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)NH 2 , —NHC(NH)NH—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)NH-aryl, —NHC(NH)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(NH)NH-heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —NHC(NH)—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —NHC(NH)—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —NHC(NH)—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)-aryl, —NHC(NH)-heteroaryl, —NHC(NH)-heterocycloalkyl, —C(NH)NH—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —C(NH)NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —C(NH)NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —C(NH)NH—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —C(NH)NH-aryl, —C(NH)NH-heteroaryl, —C(NH)NH-heterocycloalkyl, —S(O)—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —S(O)—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —S(O)—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —S(O)—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —S(O)-aryl, —S(O)-heteroaryl, —S(O)-heterocycloalkyl, —SO 2 NH 2 , —SO 2 NH—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —SO 2 NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —SO 2 NH—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —SO 2 NH—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —SO 2 NH-aryl, —SO 2 NH-heteroaryl, —SO 2 NH-heterocycloalkyl, —NHSO 2 —C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —NHSO 2 —C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —NHSO 2 —C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —NHSO 2 —C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —NHSO 2 -aryl, —NHSO 2 -heteroaryl, —NHSO 2 -heterocycloalkyl, —CH 2 NH 2 , —CH 2 SO 2 CH 3 , -aryl, -arylalkyl, -heteroaryl, -heteroarylalkyl, -heterocycloalkyl, —C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, polyalkoxyalkyl, polyalkoxy, -methoxymethoxy, -methoxyethoxy, —SH, —S—C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, —S—C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, —S—C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, —S—C 3 -C 12 -cycloalkyl, —S-aryl, —S-heteroaryl, —S-heterocycloalkyl, and methylthio-methyl.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein one R 23 is selected from hydroxy, protected hydroxy, amino, protected amino, optionally substituted —C 1- C 6 alkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and —O-(hydroxy prodrug group); and the hydroxy prodrug group is phosphate, sulfate, or an acyl group derived from an amino acid.

3. The compound of claim 1 , represented by Formula (VIb), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein m1 is 1, 2, or 3; m2 is 0, 1, or 2; n1 at each occurrence is independently 0 or 1; n2 at each occurrence is independently 0, 1 or 2; R 21 is halo, CN, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl and C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; R 22 is halo, CN, —C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or —C 1 -C 6 alkoxy; and R 30 is hydrogen, a hydroxy protecting group or a hydroxy prodrug group.

4. The compound of claim 1 , represented by Formula (VII), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein m1 is 1, 2, or 3; m2 is 0, 1, or 2; n1 at each occurrence is independently 0 or 1; n2 at each occurrence is independently 0, 1 or 2; R 21 is halo, CN, optionally substituted —C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and optionally substituted C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; R 22 is halo, CN, optionally substituted —C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or optionally substituted —C 1 -C 6 alkoxy; R 31 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, —CN, —NO 2, optionally substituted —C 1 -C 6 alkyl, optionally substituted —C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, optionally substituted —C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, optionally substituted —C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted 3- to 8-membered heterocyclic, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and -L 1 -R 1 ; L 1 is —O—,—S—,—NR 1 —, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—,—OC(O)—,—C(O)N(R 1 )—,—N(R 1 )C(O)—,—OC(O)N(R 1 )—,—N(R 1 )C(O)N(R 1 )—,—S(O)—, —S(O) 2 —,—S(O) 2 N(R 1 )—, or —N(R 1 )S(O) 2 —; R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted —C 1 -C 6 alkyl, optionally substituted —C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, optionally substituted —C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, optionally substituted —C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted 3- to 8-membered heterocyclic, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl; alternatively, two R 31 groups are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form —C(O)—, optionally substituted spiro C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl or optionally substituted spiro 3- to 8-membered heterocyclic.

5. The compound of claim 1 , wherein each R 21 is independently selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, cyano, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl and cyclopropyl.

6. The compound of claim 5 , wherein

is selected from the groups below:

7. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R is selected from the groups below:

each of which is optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from R 10 and R 23 .

8. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R is selected from the groups below:

9. The compound of claim 1 , wherein m2 is 1 and R 22 is halogen.

10. The compound of claim 9 , wherein

is

11. A compound selected from the compounds set forth below or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

Compound

Structure

6

7

8

9

16

17

18

19

20

12. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising a compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

13. A method of treating or preventing an HBV infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or a combination of compounds of claim 1 or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising administering to the subject at least one additional therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of a HBV polymerase inhibitor, interferon, viral entry inhibitor, viral maturation inhibitor, literature-described capsid assembly modulator, reverse transcriptase inhibitor, TLR-agonist, inducer of cellular viral RNA sensor, therapeutic vaccine, RNA interference (RNAi) or small interfering RNA (siRNA), and agents of distinct or unknown mechanism, and a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the compound and the at least one additional therapeutic agent are co-formulated.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein administering the compound allows for administering of the at least one additional therapeutic agent at a lower dose or frequency as compared to the administering of the at least one additional therapeutic agent alone that is required to achieve similar results in prophylactically treating an HBV infection in an individual in need thereof.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the subject is refractory to a compound selected from the group consisting of a HBV polymerase inhibitor, interferon, viral entry inhibitor, viral maturation inhibitor, distinct capsid assembly modulator, inducer of cellular viral RNA sensor, therapeutic vaccine, RNA interference (RNAi) or small interfering RNA (siRNA), antiviral compounds of distinct or unknown mechanism, and combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the administering of the compound reduces viral load in the individual to a greater extent compared to the administering of a compound selected from the group consisting of a HBV polymerase inhibitor, interferon, viral entry inhibitor, viral maturation inhibitor, distinct capsid assembly modulator, inducer of cellular viral RNA sensor, therapeutic vaccine, RNA interence (RNAi) or small interfering RNA (siRNA), antiviral compounds of distinct or unknown mechanism, and combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the administering of the compound causes a lower incidence of viral mutation and or viral resistance than the administering of a compound selected from the group consisting of a HBV polymerase inhibitor, interferon, viral entry inhibitor, viral maturation inhibitor, distinct capsid assembly modulator, inducer of cellular viral RNA sensor, therapeutic vaccine, RNA interence (RNAi) or small interfering RNA (siRNA), antiviral compounds of distinct or unknown mechanism, and combination thereof.