Substituted carboxylic acids

1. A compound of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein

n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

R 1 is H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, or C 3 -C 6 alkenyl;

R 2 is phenyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-C(O)NH 2 , —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-C(O)NH(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-C(O)N(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-S(O) b —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl, (C 1 -C 4 ) hydroxyalkyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-phthalimidyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-piperidinyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-pyrrolidinyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-morpholinyl, wherein the phthalimidyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, or morpholinyl groups are optionally fused to a phenyl ring and wherein said phthalimidyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, or morpholinyl groups are, the phenyl portion, or both are optionally substituted with a total of 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, —SO 2 —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl (C 1 -C 4 ) haloalkyl, or (C 1 -C 4 ) haloalkoxy;

wherein b is 0, 1, or 2;

R 20 , R 21 , R 22 , and R 23 are independently H, arylalkoxy, arylalkyl, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, OH, alkoxy, NO 2 , NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), NH-aryl, NHC(O)—(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)-aryl, N(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)C(O)—(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-aryl, N(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-aryl, —NHSO 2 -aryl, or —N(C 1 -C 4 alkyl) SO 2 aryl, wherein each of the above aryl groups are optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, halogen, OH, NO 2 , haloalkyl, haloalkoxy;

L is O;

L 3 is a bond, —(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-O—, —O-(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-, —C(O)—, —C(O)NH—, or —NHC(O)—;

the A-ring is aryl selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl and fluorenyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 groups that are independently, halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, NO 2 , NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, N(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl;

Q is pyrido [1,2-a]indolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolizinyl, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, -phenyl-C(O)-phenyl, -phenyl-(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-phenyl, -pyridyl-phenyl, fluorenyl, oxofluorenyl, -fluorenyl-pyridyl, -fluorenyl-phenyl, -benzimidazolyl-(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-phenyl, benzoxazolyl-(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-phenyl, indolizinyl, -indolyl-(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-phenyl, -phenyl-benzoxazolyl, dibenzo[b,d]furanyl, or dibenzothienyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, halogen, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, NR 6 R 7 , or phenyl; wherein

R 6 and R 7 are independently H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, alkanoyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 )alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 )alkoxycarbonyl, pyridylcarbonyl, pyridyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinylcarbonyl, —C(O)NH 2 , —C(O)NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, —C(O)N(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, or —SO 2 -phenyl, wherein the cyclic groups are optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, NO 2 , OH, NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, N(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, CF 3 or OCF 3 .

2. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein

the A-ring is selected from phenyl, or naphthyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 groups that are independently, halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, NO 2 , NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, or N(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; and

R 20 , R 21 , R 22 , and R 23 are independently H, phenylalkoxy, phenylalkyl, halogen, alkyl, CF 3 , OH, alkoxy, NO 2 , NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, N(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, NH-phenyl, NHC(O)—(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-phenyl, N(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)C(O)-(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-phenyl, N(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-phenyl, —NHSO 2 -phenyl, or —N(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)SO 2 phenyl, wherein the phenyl groups are optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, halogen, OH, NO 2 , C 1 -C 2 haloalkyl, or C 1 -C 2 haloalkoxy.

3. A compound according to claim 2 , of the formula

wherein

R 1 is H or C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

R 2 is phenyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-C(O)NH 2 , —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-S(O) b -(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl, or (C 1 -C 4 ) hydroxyalkyl, wherein the phenyl groups are optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, —SO 2 —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl, (C 1 -C 4 )haloalkyl, or (C 1 C 4 )haloalkoxy;

v is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

R 10 at each occurrence is independently halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, NO 2 , NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, or N(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; and

L 3 is a bond, —O—(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-, or —C(O)—.

4. A compound according to claim 3 , wherein

Q is pyrido[1,2-a]indolyl, indolyl, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, -phenyl-C(O)-phenyl, -phenyl-(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-phenyl, fluorenyl, indolizinyl, -indolyl-(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-phenyl, -phenyl-benzoxazolyl, dibenzo[b,d]furanyl, or dibenzothienyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, halogen, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, NR 6 R 7 , or phenyl; wherein

R 6 and R 7 are independently H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, alkanoyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 )alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 )alkoxycarbonyl, pyridylcarbonyl, pyridyl, pyrrolidinylcarbonyl, or —SO 2 -phenyl, wherein the cyclic groups are optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, NO 2 , OH, NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, N(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, CF 3 or OCF 3 .

5. A compound according to claim 4 , wherein

R 2 is phenyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl, or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, wherein the phenyl groups are optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, or —SO 2 —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl, CF 3 or OCF 3 ; and

R 20 , R 21 , R 22 , and R 23 are independently selected from H, halogen, alkyl, OH, alkoxy, NO 2 , NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, or N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(C 1 -C 6 alkyl).

6. A compound according to claim 5 , wherein

L 3 is a bond, —O—(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-, or —C(O)—;

Q is indolyl, -phenyl-C(O)-phenyl, indolizinyl, -indolyl-(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-phenyl, dibenzo[b,d]furanyl, or dibenzothienyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, halogen, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, NR 6 R 7 , or phenyl; wherein

R 6 and R 7 are independently H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, alkanoyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 )alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, pyridylcarbonyl, pyridyl, pyrrolidinylcarbonyl, or —SO 2 -phenyl, wherein the cyclic groups are optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, NO 2 , OH, NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, N(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, CF 3 or OCF 3 .

7. A compound according to claim 6 of the formula:

8. A compound according to claim 7 , wherein

R 1 is H;

R 21 is H, NO 2 , C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or halogen; and

R 2 is phenyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, wherein each phenyl group is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, or —SO 2 —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl, CF 3 or OCF 3 .

9. A compound according to claim 8 , wherein

L 3 is a bond, —O—(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, or —(C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl-;

Q is indolyl, -phenyl-C(O)-phenyl, indolizinyl, or -indolyl-(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-phenyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, halogen, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, NR 6 R 7 , or phenyl; wherein

R 6 and R 7 are independently H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, alkanoyl, phenyl(C 1 -C 4 )alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, pyridylcarbonyl, pyrrolidinylcarbonyl, or —SO 2 -phenyl, wherein the cyclic groups are optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups that are independently halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, NO 2 , OH, NH 2 , NH(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, N(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, CF 3 or OCF 3 .

10. A compound according to claim 1 selected from the group consisting of

({4′-[3-(benzylamino)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetic acid;

{[4′-(5-methyl-1H-indol-1-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetic acid;

({4′-[3-(butylamino)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetic acid;

methyl ({4-[(2-benzoylphenoxy)methyl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetate;

methyl ({4′-[(2-benzylphenoxy)methyl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetate;

methyl ({4′-[(9H-fluoren-2-yloxy)methyl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetate;

methyl ({4′-[(3-benzoylphenoxy)methyl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetate;

({4′-[(3-benzoylphenoxy)methyl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetic acid;

({4′-[(2-benzoylphenoxy)methyl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetic acid;

{[4′-(1-butylindolizin-2-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetic acid;

({4′-[10-(ethoxycarbonyl)pyrido[1,2-a]indol-3-yl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetic acid;

{[4′-(1H-indol-1-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetic acid;

methyl {[4′-(1-benzyl-1H-indol-6-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetate;

{[4′-(1-benzyl-1H-indol-6-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetic acid;

({[4′-(1-benzyl-1H-indol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetic acid;

2-{[4′-(1-butylindolizin-2-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}propanoic acid;

(2R)-2-{[4-(1-butylindolizin-2-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}-3-phenylpropanoic acid;

(2S)-2-{[4-(1-butylindolizin-2-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}-4-phenylbutanoic acid;

{[2″-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-1,1′:4′,1″-terphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetic acid;

[(4′-dibenzo[b,d]furan-4-ylbiphenyl-4-yl)oxy](phenyl)acetic acid;

[(4′-{[(9-oxo-9H-fluoren-1-yl)oxy]methyl}biphenyl-4-yl)oxy](phenyl) acetic acid;

methyl {[4′-(1-benzyl-1H-indol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetate;

[(4′-dibenzo[b,d]thien-4-ylbiphenyl-4-yl)oxy](phenyl)acetic acid;

[4′-(5-Chloro-indol-1-yl)-biphenyl-4-yloxy]-phenyl-acetic acid;

(3-Chloro-4′-dibenzofuran-4-yl-biphenyl-4-yloxy)-phenyl-acetic acid;

(4′-Dibenzofuran-4-yl-2-methyl-biphenyl-4-yloxy)-phenyl-acetic acid;

(4′-Dibenzofuran-4-yl-3-fluoro-biphenyl-4-yloxy)-phenyl-acetic acid;

(2-Chloro-4′-dibenzofuran-4-yl-biphenyl-4-yloxy)-phenyl-acetic acid; and

(4′-Dibenzofuran-4-yl-2-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yloxy)-phenyl-acetic acid.

11. A compound selected from the group consisting of

{[4′-(1-benzofuran-2-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetic acid;

({4′-[(2-butyl-1-benzofuran-3-yl)carbonyl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetic acid;

{[4′-(1-benzothien-2-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetic acid;

[(4″-butyl-1,1′:4′,1″-terphenyl-4-yl)oxy](phenyl)acetic acid;

({4′-[(2-benzyl-7-fluoro-1-benzofuran-3-yl)carbonyl]biphenyl-4-yl}oxy)(phenyl)acetic acid; and

methyl {[4′-(1-benzofuran-2-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]oxy}(phenyl)acetate.