Substituted benzimidazoles and imidazo-[4,5]-pyridines

1. A compound of formula (I):

wherein

W is —COOH, or —(CO)NH 2 ;

Q is CH;

R a and R b are independently selected from —H and halogen;

R c is absent or is independently selected from the group consisting of —OH, —CF 3 , —C 1-4 alkyl, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —NO 2 and halo;

Z is >CR d OR e ;

R d is —H;

R e is independently selected from the group consisting of —H and C 1-4 alkyl;

A is

phenyl, optionally mono-, di- or tri-substituted with R p ;

R p is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —C 1-6 alkyl, —OC 1-6 alkyl, —C 3-6 cycloalkyl, —OC 3-6 cycloalkyl, —CN, —NO 2 , —N(R y )R z (wherein R y and R z are independently selected from —H or —C 1-6 alkyl, or may be taken together with the nitrogen of attachment to form an otherwise aliphatic hydrocarbon ring, said ring having 5 to 7 members, optionally having one carbon replaced with >O, ═N—, >NH or >N(C 1-4 alkyl) and optionally having one or two unsaturated bonds in the ring), —(C═O)N(R y )R z , —(N—R t )COR t (wherein R t is independently —H or —C 1-6 alkyl), —(N—R t )SO 2 C 1-6 alkyl, —(C═O)C 1-6 alkyl, —(S═(O) n )—C 1-6 alkyl (wherein n is selected from 0, 1 or 2), —SO 2 N(R y )R z , —SCF 3 , halo, —CF 3 , —OCF 3 , —COOH, —C 1-6 alkylCOOH, —COOC 1-6 alkyl and —C 1-6 alkylCOOC 1-6 alkyl;

and enantiomers, diastereomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters or amides thereof.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein W is —(CO)NH 2 .

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein R a and R b are —H, —Cl or —F.

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein R a is —H and R b is —Cl or —F.

5. The compound of claim 1 wherein R a and R b are —H.

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein R c is absent or is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —CH 3 , —CH 2 CH 3 , —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CF 3 and —OCH 3 .

7. The compound of claim 1 wherein R c is selected from the group consisting of —F, —Cl, —CH 3 and —OCH 3 .

8. The compound of claim 1 wherein R c is absent.

9. The compound of claim 1 wherein R e is selected from the group consisting of —H, —CH 3 , —CH 2 CH 3 , —CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 .

10. The compound of claim 1 wherein R e is selected from the group consisting of —H, —CH 3 and —CH 2 CH 3 .

11. The compound of claim 1 wherein R e is —H or —CH 3 .

12. The compound of claim 1 wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of >CHOH and >CHOC 1-4 alkyl.

13. The compound of claim 1 wherein Z is

>CHOR e .

14. The compound of claim 1 wherein A, including the R p substituent, is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, 4-chloro phenyl, 4-methyl-3-chloro phenyl, 4-chloro-3-trifluoromethyl phenyl, 3,4-dichloro phenyl, 3-chloro-4-fluoro phenyl, 2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl, 4-chloro-3-fluoro phenyl, 3,4-dimethyl phenyl, 2-napthyl, 4-trifluoromethyl phenyl, 4-bromo phenyl, 4-fluoro-3-methyl phenyl, 3-chloro phenyl, 5-chloro-2-methyl phenyl, 3-trifluoromethyl phenyl, 4-methoxy phenyl, 4-methyl phenyl, 3,4-dimethyl phenyl, 2-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl phenyl, 2-chloro-4-methyl phenyl, 4-ethyl phenyl, 4-fluoro phenyl, 3,4-dimethoxy phenyl, 3,4-dimethoxy-5-bromo phenyl, 3-(dimethylamino) phenyl, 4-nitro phenyl, 4-cyano phenyl, 2-methoxy-4-methyl phenyl, 4-trifluoromethoxy phenyl, 2-chloro phenyl, 4-morpholino phenyl, 3-chloro phenyl, 2,3-dichloro phenyl, benzo[1,3]dioxolyl, benzo[1,4]dioxinyl, 4-amino phenyl, 4-hydroxy phenyl, 4-bromo-3-hydroxy phenyl, 4-chloro-2-hydroxy phenyl, 4-chloro-3-hydroxy phenyl, 2,4-dichloro phenyl, 4-bromo-3-methoxy phenyl and 4-iodo phenyl.

15. The compound of claim 1 wherein A, including the R p substituent, is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-chloro-3-trifluoromethylphenyl, 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, 3,4-dimethylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 2-methylphenyl, and 3-methylphenyl.

16. The compound of claim 1 wherein R p is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —CH 3 , —CH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 3 , —OCH(CH 3 ) 2 , cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, —Ocyclopentyl, —Ocyclohexyl, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(O)NH 2 , —C(O)N(CH 3 ) 2 , —C(O)NH(CH 3 ), —NHCOCH 3 , —NCH 3 COCH 3 , —NHSO 2 CH 3 , —NCH 3 SO 2 CH 3 , —C(O)CH 3 , —SOCH 3 , —SO 2 CH 3 , —SO 2 NH 2 , —SO 2 NHCH 3 , —SO 2 N(CH 3 ) 2 , —SCF 3 , —F, —Cl, —Br, I, —CF 3 , —OCF 3 , —COGH, —COOCH 3 , —COOCH 2 CH 3 , —NH 2 , —NHCH 3 , —N(CH 3 ) 2 , —N(CH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , —NCH 3 (CH(CH 3 ) 2 ), imidazolidin-1-yl, 2-imidazolin-1-yl, pyrazolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, 2- or 3-pyrrolin-1-yl, 2-pyrazolinyl, morpholin-4-yl, thiomorpholin-4-yl, piperazin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl, homopiperidin-1-yl.

17. The compound of claim 1 wherein R p is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —OCH 3 , OCF 3 , CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CF 3 , —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, NH 2 , N(CH 3 ) 2 , morpholin-4-yl, —NO 2 , —CN, —C(O)NH 2 , —COOH, —NHSO 2 CH 3 , —SO 2 NH 2 .

18. The compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:

2-[4-(Hydroxy-phenyl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[(4-Chloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-[4-(Hydroxy-p-tolyl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[Hydroxy-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-[4-(Hydroxy-naphthalen-2-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[(4-Chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide

2-{4-[(3-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[(4-Ethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-[4-(Benzo[1,3 ]dioxol-5-yl-hydroxy-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[(2,3-Dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide

2-[4-(Hydroxy-quinolin-3-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-[4-(Hydroxy-pyridin-4-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-[4-(Cyclohexyl-hydroxy-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-[4-(Methoxy-phenyl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; substituted phenyl;

2-{4-[Hydroxy-(tetrahydro-pyran-4-yl)-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-[4-(Hydroxy-thiophen-2-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[(6-Chloro-benzo[1,31 dioxol-5-yl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[(2-Chloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[(2,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-{4-[Hydroxy-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide;

2-[4-(Hydroxy-o-tolyl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide.

19. The compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of: 2-{4-[(2,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[Hydroxy-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(5-Chloro-thiophen-2-yl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-piperidin-4-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[Hydroxy-(tetrahydro-thiopyran-4-yl)-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide.

20. The compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of: 2-[4-(Hydroxy-phenyl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(4-Chloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-p-tolyl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[Hydroxy-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-naphthalen-2-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(4-Chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(4-Ethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Benzo[1,31 dioxol-5-yl-hydroxy-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-quinolin-3-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide.

21. The compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of 2-{4-[(4-Chloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-naphthalen-2-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(4-Chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-quinolin-3-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide.

22. The compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of: 2-[4-(Hydroxy-phenyl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(4-Chloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-p-tolyl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[Hydroxy-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-naphthalen-2-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(4-Chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(3-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(4-Ethyl-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Benzo[1,31 dioxol-5-yl-hydroxy-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(2,3-Dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-quinolin-3-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-pyridin-4-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Cyclohexyl-hydroxy-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[Hydroxy-(tetrahydro-pyran-4-yl)-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-thiophen-2-yl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(6-Chloro-benzo[1,31 dioxol-5-yl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(2-Chloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[(2,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-{4-[Hydroxy-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; 2-[4-(Hydroxy-o-tolyl-methyl)-phenyl]-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide; and 2-{4-[(2,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-hydroxy-methyl]-phenyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid amide.

23. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula:

wherein

W is —COOH, or —(CO)NH 2 ;

Q is CH;

R a and R b are independently selected from —H and halogen;

R c is absent or is independently selected from the group consisting of —OH, —CF 3 , —C 1-4 alkyl, —OC 1-4 alkyl, —NO 2 and halo;

Z is >CR d OR e ;

R d is —H;

R e is independently selected from the group consisting of —H and —C 1-4 alkyl;

A is

phenyl, optionally mono-, di- or tri-substituted with R p ;

R p is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —C 1-6 alkyl, —OC 1-6 alkyl, —C 3-6 cycloalkyl, —OC 3-6 cycloalkyl, —CN, —NO 2 , —N(R y )R z (wherein R y and R z are independently selected from —H or —C 1-6 alkyl, or may be taken together with the nitrogen of attachment to form an otherwise aliphatic hydrocarbon ring, said ring having 5 to 7 members, optionally having one carbon replaced with >O, ═N—, >NH or >N(C 1-4 alkyl) and optionally having one or two unsaturated bonds in the ring), —(C═O)N(R y )R z , —(N—R t )COR t (wherein R t is independently —H or —C 1-6 alkyl), —(N—R t )SO 2 C 1-6 alkyl, —(C═O)C 1-6 alkyl, —(S═(O) n )—C 1-6 alkyl (wherein n is selected from 0, 1 or 2), —SO 2 N(R y )R z , —SCF 3 , halo, —CF 3 , —OCF 3 , —COOH, —C 1-6 alkylCOOH, —COOC 1-6 alkyl and —C 1-6 alkylCOOC 1-6 alkyl;

and enantiomers, diastereomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters or amides thereof.