Anticancer indenes, indanes, azaindenes, azaindanes, pharmaceutical compositions and uses

1. A method of treating a patient whose cancer has been assayed and found to contain a hyperactive Ras protein or a mutant ras gene encoding for a hyperactive Ras protein, the method comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound, (Z)- or (E)-isomer, epimer, diastereomer, rotamer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the compound is of formula IIa,

wherein:

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are independently selected from hydrogen, halo, alkyl, hydroxyl, haloalkyl, alkylmercapto, cyano, alkyloxy and haloalkyloxy;

R 21 is —(CH 2 ) n NR 22 C(O)X;

each of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , and R 22 is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, halo and hydroxyl; or R 5 and R 6 together is a carbon-carbon bond; R 9 and R 20 together is a carbon-carbon bond; or R 6 and R 7 together with the atom to which they are attached form a ring; or R 5 and R 6 together with the atoms to which they are attached, form a ring;

n is 1 or 2;

X is a 7-membered, 6-membered or 5-membered heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with one or more of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyl, alkyloxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, mercapto, alkylmercapto, carboxamido, aldehydo, cyano, oxo, alkylcarbonyloxy and sulfonamido;

each of R 12 , R 13 , R 15 and R 16 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, alkyloxy, haloalkyloxy, hydroxyl, carboxyl, formyloxy, hydroxyalkyl, aldehydo, amino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, dialkylamino, mercapto, alkylmercapto, cyano, cyanoalkyl, nitro and azido;

R 14 is hydroxyl, or is a cleavable alcohol prodrug moiety, or is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of alkylsulfinyloxy, alkylsulfonyloxy, carbamate, alkyloxy, alkylcarbonyloxy, alkylcarbonyloxyalkyloxy, aminocarbonyloxyalkyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, arylalkylcarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, heterocyclylcarbonyloxy, heterocyclylalkylcarbonyloxy, phosphonooxy, phosphonoalkyloxy, phosphonooxyalkyloxy, aminosulfonyloxy, polyethyleneglycoxy, borono, boronoalkyl, boronoalkyloxy, arylalkyloxy, aminocarbonylalkyloxy, carboxyalkyloxy, aminoalkyloxy, hydroxyalkyloxy, alkylaminoalkyloxy, dialkylaminoalkyloxy and alkyloxyaminocarbonyloxy;

wherein the alkyl, and the alkyl of the alkylmercapto, alkyloxy haloalkyloxy, heterocyclylalkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, dialkylamino, cyanoalkyl, alkylsulfinyloxy, alkylsulfonyloxy, alkylcarbonyloxy, alkylcarbonyloxyalkyloxy, aminocarbonyloxyalkyloxy, arylalkylcarbonyloxy, heterocyclylalkylcarbonyloxy, phosphonoalkyloxy, phosphonooxyalkyloxy, boronoalkyl, boronoalkyloxy, arylalkyloxy, aminocarbonylalkyloxy, carboxyalkyloxy, aminoalkyloxy, hydroxyalkyloxy, alkylaminoalkyloxy, dialkylaminoalkyloxy and alkyloxyaminocarbonyloxy, each comprises 1-6 carbon atoms; and,

wherein the aryl, and the aryl of the arylalkyl, arylcarbonyloxy, arylalkylcarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy and arylalkyloxy, each comprises an aromatic carbocyclic ring of 6-10 carbon atoms.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein X is a heterocyclic ring selected from piperidinyl, oxanyl, thianyl, pyridinyl, pyranyl, thiopyranyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridizinyl, oxazinyl, thiazinyl, dioxinyl, dithiinyl, trioxanyl, trithianyl, triazinyl, tetrazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothiaphenyl, pyrrolyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, dioxolanyl, dithiolanyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, triazolyl, furazanyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, dithiazolyl and tetrazolyl, wherein the ring is optionally substituted with one or more of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyl, alkyloxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, mercapto, alkylmercapto, carboxamido, aldehydo, cyano, oxo, alkylcarbonyloxy and sulfonamide.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein X is selected from furanyl, pyrrolyl, thiophenyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, dioxolanyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl and imidazolyl, wherein the ring is optionally substituted with one or more of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxy, alkyloxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, mercapto, alkylmercapto, and carboxamido.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein X is selected from furanyl, pyrrolyl, pyridinyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, dioxolanyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl and thiophenyl, wherein the ring is optionally substituted with one or more of halo, alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, and methoxy.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein X is selected from 2-furanyl, 3-furanyl, 2-oxazolyl, 4-oxazolyl, 5-oxazolyl, 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl, 5-imidazolyl, 3-pyrazolyl, 4-pyrazolyl, 5-pyrazolyl, 2-dixolanyl, 4-dioxolanyl, 2-pyridinyl, and 3-pyridinyl.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein X is selected from 2-furanyl, 2-oxazolyl, 2-thiazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-pyrazolyl, and 2-dioxolanyl.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein X is 2-furanyl.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyloxy and alkyl; n is 1; each of R 12 , R 13 , R 15 and R 16 is independently selected from hydrogen, halo, alkyl, alkyloxy and haloalkyloxy; R 14 is selected from alkyloxy, hydroxyl, and a cleavable alcohol prodrug moiety.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein R 2 is selected from halo and alkyloxy; R 1 , R 3 and R 4 are hydrogen; and two of R 12 , R 13 , R 15 and R 16 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyloxy and haloalkyloxy.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein R 2 is selected from fluoro and methoxy; and R 12 and R 16 are hydrogens.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of R 13 and R 15 is independently selected from methoxy and trifluoromethoxy; and R 14 is selected from hydroxyl and methoxy.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of R 13 and R 15 is methoxy; R 7 is hydrogen; R 8 is alkyl; R 14 is hydroxyl; and X is 2-furanyl.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 5 and R 6 together is a carbon-carbon bond.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide (2085);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide (2086);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamide (2087);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamide (2088);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)furan-3-carboxamide (2089);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)furan-2-carboxamide (2090);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide (2093);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)nicotinamide (2100);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)benzamide (2102);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)oxazole-4-carboxamide (2107);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)oxazole-5-carboxamide (2108);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)oxazole-2-carboxamide (2109);

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)isoxazole-5-carboxamide (2113);

(Z)-(4-((3-((1H-imidazole-4-carboxamido)methyl)-5-fluoro-2-methyl-1H-inden-1-ylidene)methyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)boronic acid (2115);

(Z)-4-((3-((1H-imidazole-2-carboxamido)methyl)-5-fluoro-2-methyl-1H-inden-1-ylidene)methyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl dimethylcarbamate (2116);

(Z)-4-((5-fluoro-2-methyl-3-((oxazole-4-carboxamido)methyl)-1H-inden-1-ylidene)methyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl ethylcarbamate (2120);

(Z)-4-((5-fluoro-2-methyl-3-((oxazole-2-carboxamido)methyl)-1H-inden-1-ylidene)methyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl dimethylcarbamate (2122);

(Z)-(4-((5-fluoro-3-((furan-2-carboxamido)methyl)-2-methyl-1H-inden-1-ylidene)methyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)boronic acid (2134); and

(Z)—N-((5-fluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide (2183);

or (E)-isomer thereof, epimer, diastereomer or rotamer thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the patient's cancer is pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, renal cancer, prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, endocrine cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, sarcoma cancer, gastric cancer, hepatic cancer, esophageal cancer, central nervous system cancer, brain cancer, hepatic cancer, germline cancer, lymphoma, or leukemia.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the patient's cancer is pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, or lung cancer.