SGC stimulators

1. A compound according to Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

ring B is a 5-membered heteroaryl ring selected from furan or thiophene;

n is an integer selected from 0 to 3;

each J B is independently selected from halogen, —CN, a C 1-6 aliphatic, —OR B or a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic group; wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic and each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 3 ;

each R B is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic or a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring; wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic and each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 3a ;

each R 3 is independently selected from halogen, —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl);

each R 3a is independently selected from halogen, —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl);

X is selected from N, C-J D or C—H;

o is an integer selected from 0 to 3;

each J D is independently selected from halogen, —NO 2 , —OR D , —SR D , —C(O)R D , —C(O)OR D , —C(O)N(R D ) 2 , —CN, —N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )C(O)R D , —N(R d )C(O)OR D , —SO 2 R D , —SO 2 N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )SO 2 R D , a C 1-6 aliphatic, —(C 1-6 aliphatic)-R D , a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, a 6 to 10-membered aryl ring, a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocylic ring and each said 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 6 to 10-membered aryl ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 5 ;

each R D is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, —(C 1-6 aliphatic)-R f , a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, phenyl or a 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocylic ring and each said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, each said phenyl and each said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 5a ;

each R d is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, —(C 1-6 aliphatic)-R f , a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, phenyl or a 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said heterocylic ring and each said heteroaryl ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, each said phenyl and each said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5b ;

each R f is independently selected from a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, phenyl or a 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said heterocylic ring and each said heteroaryl ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, each said phenyl and each said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5c ;

when J D is —C(O)N(R D ) 2 , —N(R D ) 2 or —SO 2 N(R D ) 2 , the two instances of R D together with the nitrogen atom attached to the R D , alternatively form a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S, and wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5 ; or

when J D is —N(R d )C(O)R D , the R D group together with the carbon atom attached to the R D group, with the nitrogen atom attached to the R d group and with the R d group alternatively form a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S, and wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5 ;

when J D is —N(R d )C(O)OR D , the R D group together with the oxygen atom attached to the R D group, with the carbon atom of the —C(O)— portion of the —N(R d )C(O)OR D group, with the nitrogen atom attached to the R d group, and with the R d group alternatively form a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S, and wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5 ;

when J D is —N(R d )SO 2 R D , the R D group together with the oxygen atom attached to the R D group, with the sulfur atom attached to said oxygen atom in the —SO 2 R D portion of the —N(R d )SO 2 R D group, with the nitrogen atom attached to the R d group, and with the R d group alternatively form a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S, and wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 5 ;

each R 5 is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, a C 7-12 aralkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 1-4 cyanoalkyl, —OR 6 , —SR 6 , —OCOR 6 , —COR 6 , —C(O)OR 6 , —C(O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )C(O)R 6 , —N(R 6 ) 2 , —SO 2 R 6 , —SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )SO 2 R 6 , phenyl or an oxo group; wherein each said phenyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —NO 2 , —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl); and wherein each said C 7-12 aralkyl and each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

each R 5a is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, a C 7-12 aralkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 1-4 cyanoalkyl, —OR 6 , —SR 6 , —OCOR 6 , —COR 6 , —C(O)OR 6 , —C(O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )C(O)R 6 , —N(R 6 ) 2 , —SO 2 R 6 , —SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )SO 2 R 6 , phenyl or an oxo group; wherein each said phenyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —NO 2 , —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl); and wherein each said C 7-12 aralkyl and each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

each R 5b is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, a C 7-12 aralkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 1-4 cyanoalkyl, —OR 6 , —SR 6 , —OCOR 6 , —COR 6 , —C(O)OR 6 , —C(O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )C(O)R 6 , —N(R 6 ) 2 , —SO 2 R 6 , —SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )SO 2 R 6 , phenyl or an oxo group; wherein each said phenyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —NO 2 , —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl); and wherein each said C 7-12 aralkyl and each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

each R 5c is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, a C 7-12 aralkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 1-4 cyanoalkyl, —OR 6 , —SR 6 , —OCOR 6 , —COR 6 , —C(O)OR 6 , —C(O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )C(O)R 6 , —N(R 6 ) 2 , —SO 2 R 6 , —SO 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )SO 2 R 6 , phenyl or an oxo group; wherein each said phenyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —NO 2 , —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl); and wherein each said C 7-12 aralkyl and each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

each R 6 is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-4 alkyl, a C 2-4 alkenyl, phenyl, a C 7-12 aralkyl or a C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring; wherein each said C 1-4 alkyl, each said C 2-4 alkenyl, each said phenyl, each said C 7-12 aralkyl and each said C 3-8 cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

alternatively, two instances of R 6 linked to the same nitrogen atom of R 5 , together with said nitrogen atom of R 5 , form a 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S; or

alternatively, one instance of R 6 linked to a nitrogen atom of R 5 and one instance of R 6 linked to a carbon or sulfur atom of the same R 5 , together with said nitrogen and said carbon or sulfur atom of the same R 5 , form a 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S;

or, alternatively, two J D groups attached to two vicinal ring D atoms, taken together with said two vicinal ring D atoms, form a 5 to 7-membered heterocycle resulting in a fused ring D wherein said 5 to 7-membered heterocycle contains from 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S; and wherein said 5 to 7-membered heterocycle is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl), —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl), oxo or phenyl; wherein said phenyl is optionally and independently substituted by up to three instances of halogen, —OH, —NH 2 , —NH(C 1-4 alkyl), —N(C 1-4 alkyl) 2 , —NO 2 , —CN, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, —O(C 1-4 alkyl) or —O(C 1-4 haloalkyl);

R C is a ring C; ring C is a phenyl ring, a monocyclic 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl ring, a bicyclic 8 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring, a monocyclic 3 to 10-membered cycloaliphatic ring, or a monocyclic 4 to 10-membered heterocycle; wherein said monocyclic 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl ring, said bicyclic 8 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring, or said monocyclic 4 to 10-membered heterocycle contain between 1 and 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O or S; wherein said monocyclic 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl ring is not a 1,3,5-triazinyl ring; and wherein said phenyl, monocyclic 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, bicyclic 8 to 10-membered heteroaryl ring, or monocyclic 4 to 10-membered heterocycle is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of J C ;

each J C is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , a C 1-6 aliphatic, —OR H , —SR H , —N(R H ) 2 , a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring or a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring; wherein said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring contains 1 or 2 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S; wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring and each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 7 ; or alternatively, two J C groups attached to two vicinal ring C atoms, taken together with said two vicinal ring C atoms, form a 5 to 7-membered heterocycle resulting in a fused ring C; wherein said 5 to 7-membered heterocycle contains from 1 to 2 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S;

each R H is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, a C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring or a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocylic ring contains between 1 and 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N or S; and wherein each said C 1-6 aliphatic, each said C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring, each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring, is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of R 7a ;

alternatively, two instances of R H linked to the same nitrogen atom of J C , together with said nitrogen atom of J C , form a 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S, and wherein each said 4 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of R 7b ; or

each R 7 is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring, —OR 8 , —SR 8 , —N(R 8 ) 2 , or an oxo group; wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

each R 7a is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring, —OR 8 , —SR 8 , —N(R 8 ) 2 , or an oxo group; wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

each R 7b is independently selected from halogen, —CN, —NO 2 , C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring, —OR 8 , —SR 8 , —N(R 8 ) 2 , or an oxo group; wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

each R 8 is independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl or a C 3-8 cycloalkyl ring; wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of halogen;

alternatively, two instances of R 8 linked to the same nitrogen atom of R 7 , together with said nitrogen atom of R 7 , form a 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring or a 5-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein each said 5 to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and each said 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally contains up to 2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S; and

R A is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C 1-4 alkyl or C 1-4 haloalkyl.

2. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring B is thiophene.

3. The compound of claim 2 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the thiophene ring B is unsubstituted and n is 0.

4. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein n is an integer selected from 1 to 3 and wherein each J B is independently selected from halogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic or —OR B .

5. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring B is a furan.

6. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein X in ring D is C-J D or C—H.

7. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein X in ring D is N.

8. The compound of claim 6 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein o is an integer selected between 1 and 3 and each J D is independently selected from halogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, —N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )C(O)R D , —N(R d )C(O)OR D , —N(R d )C(O)N(R D ) 2 , —SO 2 R D , —SO 2 N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )SO 2 R D , —SR D , —OR D or an optionally substituted C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring.

9. The compound of claim 8 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each J D is independently selected from methyl, chloro, fluoro, —N(R D ) 2 , or —OR D .

10. The compound of claim 9 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each R D is independently selected from hydrogen or C 1-4 alkyl.

11. The compound of claim 9 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein, o is 1 or 2 and each J D is independently selected from fluoro, hydroxyl or amino.

12. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is a phenyl, a monocyclic 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl ring, a monocyclic 3 to 6-membered cycloaliphatic ring or a monocyclic 4 to 6-membered heterocycle; each of them optionally and independently substituted with up to 3 instances of J C .

13. The compound of claim 12 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is a 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, optionally substituted by up to 3 instances of J C .

14. The compound of claim 13 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring is selected from thienyl, thiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyrrolyl, triazolyl, furanyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl or pyridazinyl.

15. The compound of claim 14 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is an oxazolyl or isoxazolyl and it is unsubstituted.

16. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having Formula IIA or IIB:

wherein J B is selected from hydrogen or halogen.

17. The compound of claim 16 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein o is an integer from 1 to 3, n is 2 and each J D is independently selected from a halogen atom or —NH 2 or —OH.

18. The compound of claim 16 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein o is an integer from 1 to 3, n is 1 and J D is —NH 2 .

19. The compound of claim 16 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is a 5-6 membered heteroaryl ring and it is optionally and independently substituted by up to 3 instances of J C .

20. The compound of claim 19 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein said 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring is unsubstituted.

21. The compound of claim 19 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is a 5-6 membered heteroaryl and it is substituted by 1 or 2 instances of J C ; wherein each J C is selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, methyl, —CN, —NH 2 or —OCH 3 .

22. The compound of claim 19 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein ring C is an isoxazole and it is unsubstituted.

23. The compound of claim 2 , wherein X is N, and R C is oxazolyl or isoxazolyl.

24. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

25. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein o is an integer selected between 1 and 3 and each J D is independently selected from halogen, a C 1-6 aliphatic, —N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )C(O)R D , —N(R d )C(O)OR D , —N(R d )C(O)N(R D ) 2 , —SO 2 R D , —SO 2 N(R D ) 2 , —N(R d )SO 2 R D , —SR D , —OR D or an optionally substituted C 3-8 cycloaliphatic ring.