Thiophenecarboxamide derivatives as EP4 receptor ligands

1. A compound of Formula I or Formula II

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of Formula I or Formula II, wherein:

X and Y are C(R11), wherein each R11 is independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, halo and C1-4alkyl;

B is selected from the group consisting of: —C(R5)(R6)-, and —C(R5)(R6)-C(R7)(R8)-;

C is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, or a fused analog of aryl or heteroaryl, wherein the aryl and heteroaryl or fused analogs thereof are selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, indanyl, indenyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzopyranyl, 1,4-benzodioxyl, pyrrolyl, isozazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, triazinyl, thienyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, furo(2,3-b)pyridyl, quinolyl, indolyl, and isoquinolyl, each optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from R10;

E is selected from the group consisting of: —C(O)OH, —C(O)OC1-4alkyl, tetrazolyl and

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: C1-4alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl, or a fused analog of aryl or heteroaryl, wherein the aryl and heteroaryl or fused analogs thereof are selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, indanyl, indenyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzopyranyl, 1,4-benzodioxyl, pyrrolyl, isozazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, triazinyl, thienyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, furo(2,3-b)pyridyl, quinolyl, indolyl, and isoquinolyl,

wherein aryl and heterorayl or the fused analogs thereof are optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from R10;

R1 to R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of: H, halo, —O—R12, C1-6alkyl and C3-6cycloalkyl, and one or more pairs of R1 and R2, R5 and R6, and R7 and R8 may be joined together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 3- to 5-membered monocyclic cycloalkyl ring, and R5 and R6 or R7 and R8 may be joined together to form carbonyl;

R9 is selected from the group consisting of: halo, hydroxy and C1-4alkyl;

R10 is selected from the group consisting of: halo, cyano, C1-4alkyl, C1-4-fluoroalkyl, C1-4-alkoxy, C1-4-thioalkoxy and C1-4-fluoroalkoxy; and

each R12 is selected from the group consisting of: H, C1-4alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl and heterocyclyl.

2. The compound according to claim 1 of Formula II.

3. The compound according to claim 2 wherein:

B is —CH2-;

C is phenyl, optionally substituted with R10;

E is selected from the group consisting of: —C(O)OH, —C(O)OC1-4alkyl and tetrazolyl;

R1 is H or methyl;

R3 is halo;

R2 and R4 are H;

R9 is not present; and

R10 is selected from the group consisting of: chloro and CF3.

4. The compound according to claim 1 of Formula I.

5. The compound according to claim 4 , wherein:

B is —CH2-;

C is phenyl, optionally substituted with R10;

E is selected from the group consisting of: —C(O)OH, —C(O)OC1-4alkyl and tetrazolyl;

R1 is H or methyl and R2 is H, or R1 and R2 are joined together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a cyclopropyl ring;

R9 is not present; and

R10 is selected from the group consisting of: chloro and CF3.

6. The compound according to claim 4 wherein each R11 is chloro.

7. The compound according to claim 6 , wherein:

B is —CH2-;

C is phenyl, optionally substituted with R10;

E is selected from the group consisting of: —C(O)OH, —C(O)OC1-4alkyl and tetrazolyl;

R1 is H or methyl and R2 is H, or R1 and R2 are joined together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a cyclopropyl ring;

R9 is not present; and

R10 is selected from the group consisting of: chloro and CF3.

8. The compound according to claim 7 , wherein R10 is substituted on the phenyl group in the meta- or para-position relative to the attachment of B.

9. The compound according to claim 4 wherein each R11 is methyl.

10. The compound according to claim 9 , wherein:

B is —CH2-;

C is phenyl, optionally substituted with R10;

E is selected from the group consisting of: —C(O)OH and tetrazolyl;

R1 is H or methyl and R2 is H, or R1 and R2 are joined together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a cyclopropyl ring;

R9 is not present; and

R10 is selected from the group consisting of: chloro and CF3.

11. The compound according to claim 10 , wherein R10 is substituted on the phenyl group in the meta- or para-position relative to the attachment of B.

12. The compound according to claim 11 , wherein R10 is CF3 and is substituted on the phenyl group in the para-position relative to the attachment of B.

13. A compound according to claim 1 selected from the following table:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of any of the above compounds.

14. A compound according to claim 13 wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is the sodium salt.

15. A compound according to claim 14 selected from the following table:

16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 in admixture with one or more physiologically acceptable carriers or excipients.

17. The compound of claim 13 , which is

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

18. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 17 in admixture with one or more physiologically acceptable carriers or excipients.