Potassium channel inhibitors

1. A compound of formula I,

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, wherein:

A is

L is

1) an aryl ring,

2) a heteroaryl ring, wherein the point of attachment to the heteroaryl ring is a carbon atom, and the heteroaryl ring is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a 5-membered unsaturated monocyclic ring with 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatom ring atoms selected from the group consisting of N, O or S,

b) a 6-membered unsaturated monocyclic ring with 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatom ring atoms selected from the group consisting of N, O or S, and

c) an 8-, 9- or 10-membered saturated or unsaturated bicyclic ring with 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatom ring atoms selected from the group consisting of N, O or S;

3) C 1 -C 10 alkyl, wherein any stable atom is independently unsubstituted or substituted with a group selected from R 4 ,

4) a C 3 -C 10 cycloalkyl ring, wherein any stable ring atom is independently unsubstituted or substituted with a group selected from R 4 , and

5) a 4-6 membered saturated heterocyclic ring with 1,2 or 3 heteroatom ring atoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S,

said aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, and saturated heterocyclic ring is unsubstituted, mono-substituted with R 4 , disubstituted with groups independently selected from R 4 , trisubstituted with groups independently selected from R 4 , or tetrasubstituted with groups independently selected from R 4 , and wherein any stable S or N heteroaryl or heterocyclic ring atom is unsubstituted or substituted with oxo;

D is

E is

G, attached to a carbon atom of ring E, is selected from the group consisting of halogen,

—NH-L,

—N(SO 2 C 1-6 alkyl)-L,

—N(C 1-6 alkyl)-L,

—NHC(O)NH-L,

—NH(C(O)C 1-6 alkyl)-L,

—O-L,

—S-L,

—SO 2 -L,

—C(O)NH-L,

—C 1-6 alkylene-L, and

-L,

wherein C 1-6 alkyl and C 1-6 alkylene are unsubstituted or substituted with halogen;

J is selected from the group consisting of H, F, C 1-6 alkyl, CN, and CF 3 ;

R a , in each instance in which it appears, is independently selected from the group consisting of

1) hydrogen,

2) C 1 -C 6 alkyl,

3) halogen,

4) aryl,

5) heterocycle,

6) C 3 -C 10 cycloalkyl,

7) OR 5 , and

8) CH 2 OR 5 ,

said alkyl, aryl, heterocycle and cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with at least one substituent selected from R 6 ;

R 4 , in each instance in which it appears, is independently selected from the group consisting of

1) hydrogen,

2) halogen,

3) NO 2 ,

4) CN,

5) CR 4 ═C(R 5 ) 2 ,

6) C≡CR 5 ,

7) (CR a 2 ) n OR 5 ,

8) (CR a 2 ) n N(R 5 ) 2 ,

9) (CR a 2 ) n C(O)R 5 ,

10) (CR a 2 ) n C(O)OR 5 ,

11) (CR a 2 ) n R 5 ,

12) (CR a 2 ) n S(O) m R 5 ,

13) (CR a 2 ) n S(O) m N(R 5 ) 2 ,

14) OS(O) m R 5 ,

15) N(R 5 )C(O)R 5 ,

16) N(R 5 )S(O) m R 5 ,

17) (CR a 2 ) n N(R 6 )R 5 ,

18) (CR a 2 ) n N(R 5 )(CR a 2 ) n C(O)N(R 5 ) 2,

19) (CR a 2 ) n N(R 5 )(CR a 2 ) n C(O)OR 5 ,

20) N(R 5 )(CR a 2 ) n R 5 ,

21) N(R 5 )(CR a 2 ) n N(R 5 ) 2 ,

22) (CR a 2 ) n C(O)N(R 5 ) 2,

23) (CR a 2 ) n C(O)NH(CR a 2 ) n R 5 ,

24) (CR a 2 ) n C(O)NHC(R 5 ) 2 (CR a 2) n N(R 5 ) 2 and

25) C(O)NH(CR a 2 )(CR a 3 );

R 5 , in each instance in which it appears, is independently selected from the group consisting of

1) hydrogen,

2) unsubstituted or substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl,

3) unsubstituted or substituted C 3 -C 10 cycloalkyl,

4) unsubstituted or substituted aryl,

5) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,

6) CF 3,

7) unsubstituted or substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, and

8) unsubstituted or substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl,

or in the case where R 5 is attached to a nitrogen atom that is disubstituted with R 5 , each R 5 is independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and the nitrogen atom together with each R 5 form a ring;

R 6 , in each instance in which it appears, is independently selected from the group consisting of

1) hydrogen,

2) unsubstituted or substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl,

3) halogen,

4) oxo,

5) OR 5 ,

6) CF 3 ,

7) unsubstituted or substituted aryl,

8) unsubstituted or substituted C 3 -C 10 cycloalkyl,

9) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,

10) S(O) m N(R 5 ) 2 ,

11) C(O)0R 5 ,

12) C(O)R 5 ,

13) CN,

14) C(O)N(R 5 ) 2 ,

15) N(R 5 )C(O)R 5 ,

16) N(R 5 )C(O)OR 5 ,

17) N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5) 2 ,

18) OC(O)N(R 5) 2 ,

19) S(O) m R 5 ,

20) OS(O) m R 5 ,

21) NO 2 ,

22) N(R 5 ) 2 ;

23) SC(O)R 5,

24) N(R 5 )S(O) m R 5 ,

m is independently 0, 1or 2; and

n, in each instance in which it occurs, is independently selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

2. A compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein

E-G is

G is

halogen,

—NH-L,

—N(CH3)-L, or

-L.

3. A compound of claim 2 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein

G is

J is hydrogen or C 1-6 alkyl.

4. A compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is:

N-{2-[(dipyridin-3-ylamino)methyl]phenyl}-N-methylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[2-(2,3-dihydro-4H-1,4-benzothiazin-4-yl)benzyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[2-(1,1-dioxido-2,3-dihydro-4H-1,4-benzothiazin-4-yl)benzyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

tert-butyl[2-({3-[(dipyridin-3-ylamino)methyl]pyridin-2-yl}amino)phenyl]carbamate,

N-(2-{[2-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]amino}benzyl)-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(4-methylbiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(3-methylbiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-4-yl}acetamide,

N-{1-[2-(1H-indol-5-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-2-yl}acetamide,

N-pyridin-3-yl-N-[1-(2-pyridin-3-ylphenyl)ethyl]pyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[2-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{2-[1(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-3-yl}acetamide,

N-{1-[2-(1-benzyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-pyridin-3-yl-N-[1-(2-pyridin-4-ylpheny)ethyl]pyridin-3-amine,

2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-4-carbonitrile,

2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-3-carbonitrile,

N-[1-(2-fluorobiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(4-chlorobiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(2-benzylphenyl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[2-(6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-pyridin-3-yl-N-{1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]ethyl}pyridin-3-amine,

N-{2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-4-yl}methanesulfonamide,

N-[1-(4-fluorobiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(3-chlorobiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-3-yl}methanesulfonamide,

N-{1-[2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[2-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[2-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-6-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[2-(1-methyl-1H-indol-5-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(2-cyclohex-1-en-1-ylphenyl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(2-chlorobiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-2-carbonitrile,

N-(1-{3-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]biphenyl-2-yl}ethyl)-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(2-cyclopropylphenyl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[2-(2,6-dimethoxypyridin-3-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(4-morpholin-4-ylbiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-(1-{2-[6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)pyridin-3-yl]phenyl}ethyl)-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-pyridin-3-yl-N-{1-[2-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-2-yl]ethyl}pyridin-3-amine,

N-pyridin-3-yl-N-{1-[3-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenyl-2-yl]ethyl}pyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[2-(1-isobutyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[4-(methylsulfonyl)biphenyl-2-yl]ethy}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-pyridin-3-yl-N-{1-[4-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]ethyl}pyridin-3-amine,

2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]-N,N-dimethylbiphenyl-3-carboxamide,

N-[1-(4-fluoro-2-methylbiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(3-fluoro-4-methoxybiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

2′-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]-N,N-dimethylbiphenyl-4-carboxamide,

2′-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]-4-fluorobiphenyl-3-carbonitrile,

N-[1-(3,5-dichlorobiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(3-methoxybiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(2-methoxybiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(3,4-dimethoxybiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[2-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)phenyl]ethy}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-cyclopropyl-2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-3-carboxamide,

N-pyridin-3-yl-N-{1-[4-(pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonyl)biphenyl-2-yl]ethyl}pyridin-3-amine,

2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]-N,N-diethylbiphenyl-3-carboxamide,

N-{1-[2-(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-[1-(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylbiphenyl-2-yl)ethyl]-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

N-pyridin-3-yl-N-{1-[2-(1,3,5-trimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl]ethyl}pyridin-3-amine,

N-{1-[2′-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-4-carboxamide,

2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]-N-methylbiphenyl-4-carboxamide,

N-cyclopropyl-2′-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-4-carboxamide,

N-{1-[4-(morpholin-4-ylcarbonyl)biphenyl-2-yl]ethyl}-N-pyridin-3-ylpyridin-3-amine,

2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]biphenyl-3-carboxamide, or

5-{2-[1-(dipyridin-3-ylamino)ethyl]phenyl}pyridin-2-amine.

5. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the compound claim 1 .