Benzimidazole derivatives, preparation method therefor, and applications thereof

1. A benzimidazole derivative having the structure of Formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, wherein:

R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, linear or branched C 1-6 alkyl and linear or branched C 1-6 alkoxy;

R 4 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, substituted phenyl, naphthyl and substituted naphthyl, wherein the substituent in said substituted phenyl and substituted naphthyl is selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, alkyl, alkoxy, ester, N-acyl derivatives, N-acyloxy derivatives and amino acid conjugates; and

M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, and pharmaceutically acceptable cations.

2. The benzimidazole derivative of claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable salt is selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Li, Ca and Mg salts.

3. The benzimidazole derivative of claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug is selected from the group consisting of esters, carbonates, thiocarbonates, N-acyl derivatives, N-acyloxy derivatives and amino acid conjugates.

4. The benzimidazole derivative of claim 1 , wherein said benzimidazole derivative is selected from the group consisting of:

2-methyl-2-[[5-methoxy-1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoic acid (I1);

2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoic acid (I2);

2-methyl-2-[[5-bromo-1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoic acid (I3);

2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyanophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoic acid (I4);

2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyclopropylnaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoic acid (I5);

2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-nitro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoic acid (I7);

2-methyl-2-[(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)thio]propanoic acid (I8);

2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-acetamino-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)thio]propanoic acid (I10);

2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoic acid (I11);

2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoic acid (I12);

2-methyl-2-[[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoic acid (I13):

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[5-methoxy-1-(4-cyclopropylnaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I14);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-acetamino-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I15);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I16);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-nitro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I17);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyanophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I18);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I19);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyclopropylnaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I20);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I22);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I23);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[[5-bromo-1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I24);

Sodium 2-methyl-2-[(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)thio]propanoate (I25);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[5-methoxy-1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I27);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-acetamino-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I28);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I29);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-nitro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I30);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyanophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I31);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyano-1-naphth-1)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I32);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyclopropylnaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I33);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I35);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I36);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-[[5-bromo-1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I37);

Potassium 2-methyl-2-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)thio]propanoate (I38);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[[5-methoxy-1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I40);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-acetamino-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I41);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I42);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-nitro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I43);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyanophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I44);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I45);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyclopropylnaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I46);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I48);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I49);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I50);

Methyl 2-methyl-2-[(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)thio]propanoate (I51);

Methyl 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[[1-4-cyclopropylnaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]acetate (I52);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[5-methoxy-1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I53);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[l-(4-acetamino-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I5);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I55);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-nitro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I56);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyanophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I57);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I58);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-cyclopropylnaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I59);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I61);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[1-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I62);

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[[5-bromo-1-(4-cyanonaphth-1-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]thio]propanoate (I63); and

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-[(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)thio]propanoate (I64).

5. A method of preparing the benzimidazole derivative of claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of:

(1) Reacting a compound of Formula (II) with a compound of Formula (I in the presence of a base to form a compound of Formula (IV);

(2) Reacting said compound of Formula (IV) with a reducing agent to form a compound of Formula (V);

(3) Reacting said compound of Formula compound (V) with thiophosgene to form a compound of Formula (VI);

(4) Reacting said compound of Formula (VI) with a compound of Formula (VII) under basic condition to form a compound of Formula (VIII);

(5) Hydrolyzing said compound of Formula (VIII) under basic condition to form a compound of Formula (IX);

(6) Reacting said compound of Formula (IX) with a base to form a compound of Formula (I), wherein M is a pharmaceutically acceptable cation; or reacting said compound of Formula (IX) with a chlorinating reagent, followed by an alcohol to form a compound of Formula (I), wherein M is C 1-6 alkyl.

6. The method of claim 5 , whereon said chlorinating reagent is selected from the group consisting of oxalyl chloride, thionyl chloride, phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus pentachloride and triphosgene.

7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the benzimidazole derivative of claim 1 .

8. A method for modulating uric acid levels and/or treating gout in a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 7 to said subject.

9. A method for modulating uric acid levels and/or treating gout in a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the benzimidazole derivative of claim 1 to said subject.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said subject suffers from hyperuricemia, gout, gouty arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, nephropathy, nephrolithiasis, joint inflammation, deposition of urate crystals within joints, urolithiasis, deposition of urate crystals in renal parenchyma, gout attack, tophaceous gout or any combinations thereof.

11. A method for modulating uric acid levels and/or treating gout in a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of administering to said subject the benzimidazole derivative of claim 1 in combination with a drug.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said drug is selected from the group consisting of URAT1 inhibitor, xanthine oxidase inhibitor, xanthine dehydrogenase, xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor, purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor, uric acid transporter inhibitor, glucose transporter inhibitor, organic anion transporter (OAT) inhibitor, OAT-4 inhibitor and any combinations thereof.