Cyclohexyl amide derivatives as CRF receptor antagonists

1. A compound of formula I;

in which R 1 is a group:

wherein X 1 is haloalkyl C1 to 10;

X 2 is halogen;

R 4 together with R 5 and the nitrogen to which they are attached forms a group of formula III;

R 5 together with R 4 and the nitrogen to which they are attached forms a group of formula III;

X 5 is O or —CH 2 —;

X 6 is O or —CH 2 —;

R 12 is hydrogen, alkyl C1 to 6, alkoxy C1 to 6, hydroxyalkyl C1 to 6, —CO 2 R 11 or phenyl optionally substituted by fluoro;

R11 is alkyl C1 to 6;

R 13 is hydrogen, alkyl C1 to 6 or chloro;

R 14 is hydrogen, alkyl C1 to 6, methoxy, hydroxyalkyl C1 to 6, ethoxycarbonyl, pyridyl, benzo[1,3]dioxo-5-yl or phenyl, optionally substituted by fluoro, alkoxy C1 to 6;

R 15 is hydrogen or methyl;

R 16 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 , R 20 , which may be the same or different, are each hydrogen or alkyl C1 to 6;

and stereoisomers thereof;

in free form or in salt form;

provided that the compound of formula I is not:

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3,5-di-(d3)-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(5-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-{4-[3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl]-cyclohexyl}-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-N-[4-(3,4,5-trimethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-benzamide;

2-chloro-N-[4-(3-phenyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide.

2. A compound according to claim 1 which is selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula VI;

in which R 4 , R 5 , X 1 and X 2 are each as defined in claim 1 ;

and stereoisomers thereof;

in free form or in salt form.

3. A compound according to claim 1 which is selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula VIII;

in which R 1 , R 12 , R 13 and R 14 are each as defined in claim 1 ;

and stereoisomers thereof;

in free form or in salt form.

4. A compound according to claim 1 which is selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula IX or X;

in which R 1 , R 17 and R 18 are each as defined in claim 1 ;

and stereoisomers thereof;

in free form or in salt form.

5. A compound according to claim 1 which is selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula XI;

in which R 1 is as defined in claim 1 ;

R XIa is hydrogen, alkyl C1 to 6, alkoxy C1 to 6, hydroxyalkyl C1 to 6, —CO 2 R 11 or phenyl optionally substituted by fluoro;

R 11 is alkyl C1 to 6;

R XIb is hydrogen, deuterium, alkyl C1 to 6 or chloro;

R XIc is hydrogen, alkyl C1 to 6, methoxy, hydroxyalkyl C1 to 6, ethoxycarbonyl, pyridyl, benzo[1,3]dioxo-5-yl or phenyl, optionally substituted by fluoro, alkoxy C1 to 6;

provided that at least one of R XIa , R XIb and R XIc comprises one or more deuterium moieties;

and stereoisomers thereof;

in free form or in salt form.

6. A compound according to claim 1 which is selected from the group consisting of:

trans-2-chloro-N-{4-[3-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-5-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl]-cyclohexyl}-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-5-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chloro-5-methoxy-3-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3,4-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopentapyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopentapyrazol-2-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-N-[4-(3-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-5-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-{4-[3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-5-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl]-cyclohexyl}-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-(4-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-ylmethyl-cyclohexyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-(4-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-ylmethyl-cyclohexyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3,5-diethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chloro-3,5-diethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-methyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-pyridin-4-yl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-methoxy-5-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-methyl-5-phenyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(5-methyl-3-phenyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(5-methoxy-3-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-methyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopentapyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-methyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopentapyrazol-2-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chloro-3,5-d6-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-(4-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl-cyclohexyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-2-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chloro-3-hydroxymethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-4-chloro-1-[4-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzoylamino)-cyclohexylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester;

trans-1-[4-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzoylamino)-cyclohexylmethyl]-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester;

trans-4-chloro-2-[4-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzoylamino)-cyclohexylmethyl]-2H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester;

trans-2-[4-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzoylamino)-cyclohexylmethyl]-4-methyl-2H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(5-ethyl-3-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-ethyl-5-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chloro-5-ethyl-3-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chloro-3-ethyl-5-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chloro-5-hydroxymethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-1-[4-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzoylamino)-cyclohexylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester;

trans-2-[4-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzoylamino)-cyclohexylmethyl]-2H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester;

trans-N-[4-(3,5-Bis-hydroxymethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-hydroxymethyl-5-isopropyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3,5-diisopropyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-methyl-6,7-dihydro-4H-pyrano[4,3-c]pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-methyl-6,7-dihydro-4H-pyrano[4,3-c]pyrazol-2-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-ethyl-4-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(5-ethyl-4-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(5-isopropyl-4-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-2-chloro-N-[4-(3-isopropyl-4-methyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

trans-N-[4-(3-tert-Butyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-cyclohexyl]-2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzamide;

and stereoisomers thereof;

in free or in salt form.

7. A method of treatment or alleviation of any state with increased endogenous level of CRF or in which the HPA (hypothalamic pituitary axis) is disregulated, or of various diseases induced or facilitated by CRF which comprises administering to a mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I according to claim 1 .

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I according to claim 1 in free form or in pharmaceutically acceptable salt form, in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, diluent or carrier.

9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I according to claim 1 in free form or in pharmaceutically acceptable salt form, in combination with another therapeutically active ingredient, optionally in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, diluent or carrier.