Title of Invention	A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HETEROCYCLIC INHIBITORS OF P38
Abstract	The present invention relates to a process for preparing inhibitors of P38, a mammalian protein kinase involved in cell proliferation, cell death and response to extracellular stimuli. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders.

Title of Invention

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HETEROCYCLIC INHIBITORS OF P38

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for preparing inhibitors of P38, a mammalian protein kinase involved in cell proliferation, cell death and response to extracellular stimuli. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders.

Full Text	A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HETEROCYCLIC INHIBITORS OF P38 TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for producing heterocyclic inhibitors of p38, a mammalian protein, kinase involved in cell proliferation, ceil death and, response to extracellular stimuli. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors, The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders, BftCKGROUMD OP THE INVENT I OH Protein kinases are involved in various cellular responses to extracellular signals. Recently, a family of mitogen^activated protein kinases {MAPK) has been discovered. Members of this family are Ser/Thr kinases that activate their substrates by phosphorylation [B. Stein et al., Ann. Rep. Med. Chem.f 31, pp. 289-93 (1996)j . MAPKs are themselves activated by a variety of signals including growth f.iccors, cytokines, UV radiation, and stress-inducing agents. One particularly interesting MAPK is p38. p38, also known as cytokine suppressive anti-inflatnmatory drug binding protein (CS3P) and RK, was isolated from raurine pre-B ceils that were transfected with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor, CD14, end induced with LPS. p38 has since been isolated and sequenced, as has the cDNA encoding it in humans and mouse. Activation of p38 has been observed in cells stimulated by stress, such as treatment of 1ipopolysaccharides (LPS), UV, anisoraycin, or osmotic shock, and by cytokines, such as IL-1 and TNF. Inhibition of p38 kinase leads to a blockade on the production of both IL-1 and TNF, IL-1 and TNF stimulate the production.of other proinflairanatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 and have been implicated in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases and in post-raenopausal osteoporosis [R. B, Kimble et al., Endocrinol., 136, pp. 3054-61 (1995)}. Based upon this finding, it is believed that p38, along with other MAPKs, have a role in mediating cellular response to inflammatory stimuli, such as leukocyte accumulation, macrophage/iuonocyte activation, tissue resorption, fever, acute phase responses and neutrophilia. In addition, MAPKs, such as p38, have been implicated in cancer, thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, immunodeficiency disorders, autoimmune diseasesr ce?), deeth,. allergies, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative disorders. Inhibitors of p38 have also been implicated in the area of pain management through inhibition of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 induction. Other diseases associated with 11-1, IL-6, IL-8 or TNF overproduction are set forth in WO 96/21654. PCT publication WO 97/33883 describes amino-substituted pyrimidine compounds for use in treating cytokine mediated diseases. European Patent Applications EP 0 337 943 and EP 0 337 944 describe N-phenyl~N~ pyrimidin-2-yl ureas having herbicidal and plant growth-regulating activity. Others have already begun trying to develop drugs that specifically inhibit MAPKs .o For example, PCT publication WO 95/31451 describes pyrazole compounds that -2a- inhibit MAPKs, and, in particular, p38. However, the efficacy of these inhibitors in vivo is still being investigated. PCT publication WO 96/27098 also describes p38 inhibitors, which include substituted pyridine compounds, Accordingly^ there is still1 a great need to develop other potent inhibitors of p38, including p38™ specific inhibitors, that are useful in treating various conditions associated with p38 activation. ^nHMJ\RY_OF^TH£ INVENTION The present invention addresses this problem by providing compounds that demonstrate strong inhibition of p38. These compounds have the general formula: wherein each of Qi and Q2 are independently selected from a phenyi or 5-6 membered aromatic heterocyclic ring system, or a 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic carbocyclic ring and an aromatic heterocyclic ring. A heterocyclic ring system or a heterocyclic ring contains 1 to 4 heteroatorns, which are independently selected from N, O, s, SO and SO2. The rings that make up Gi are substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C:-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; Q~ (C1-C3) -alkyl -4- optionally substituted with NR'2/ OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; NR'2; OCF3; CF3; N02; CO2R'; CONR' ; SR'; S(O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN; N(R')C(O)R4; N (R' } C (0) OR4; N (R' ) C (O) C (0) R\" N(R' )S {O2)R4; N(R')R The rings that make up Q2 are optionally substituted with up to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1-C3 straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR',. CO2R' , S(O2)N(R')2, N=C-N(R')2, R3, or CONR'2; 0- C(O)N(R')R3; C(O)OR3; SR'; S(O2)N(R'}2; SCF3; N=C-N(R')2; or CN. Q2' is selected from phenyl or a 5-6 member aromatic heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halogen; C1-C3 aikyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R', CONR'2/ or O-P{O3)HZ; 0-(C2-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2/ OR', CO2R' , CONR'2, or OP{Oi)H2; OCF3; CF3; OR'; O-CO2R"; O-P(O3}H2; CO2Rr ; CONR'; SR' ; S{O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN;- N (R' ) C (0) R4; N (R' ) C (0) 0R\-N(R' )C(O)C[O)RA; N(R' )S tO2)R4; N(R')R4; N(R4)2; OR4 ; OC(O)R4; OP(O)3H2; or N=C-N(R')2; provided that Q2' is not phenyl optionally substituted 1 to '3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl. R' is selected from hydrogen; (C1-C3)-alkyl; (C2-C3}-alkenyl or alkynyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted with 1 to. 3 substxtuents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substxtuents independently selected from halo, raethoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl. R is selected from 5-8 membered aromatic or non-aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring systems each optionally substituted with R', R4, ^C(O)R', "C{O)R4, -C(O)OR4 or -J; or an 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic carbocyclic ring and .an aromatic heterocyclic ring each optionally substituted with R', R4, -C(O)R', -C(O)R4, -C(O)OR4 or -J. R4 is (Cx-Cj)-straight, or branched alkyl optional ly -substituted with HfR'),, OR'. CO?Rr f CON(R')?. or Sp2N(R2)2; or a 5-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with NCR'} 2, OR', C02R', CQN{R'}2, or SO2N{R2}2. R is selected from hydrogen; (C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with R3; {C2-C3}~al)cenyl or alkynyl each optionally substituted with R ; phenyl or phenyl substituted wi-th 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl. W is selected from H; N(R2) SO2-N(R2) 2; N(R2)SO2-N(R2)(R3); N(R2)C(O)-OR2; N (R2) C (O) -N{R2) 2; N(R2)C(0)- "~D~ N(R2} (R3);- N(R2)C(O)-R2; N(R2)2; C(O)-R2; CH (OH)-R2; C (0)-N(R2)2; C{G}-OR2; J; or (C1-C4) straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with NCR') 2, OR', CO2R', C0N(R')2/ R3, SO2N(R2}2/ 0C(0)R2, OC(O)R', OC£O)N{R2}2, -N!R4)!R5), -C(O)N(R5} (R2), ~C{Q)R5f -N(R2}C{O}N(R2) (R5), ~NC(G}ORS, -OC (0}N(R2) (RS), or ~J; a 5-6 membered 'carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(Rf), OR', CO2R', CON(R')2/ or SO2NJR232; or a 8-10 merabered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring., system optionally substituted with N(R')2f OR', CO2R', CONJR'Ja. or SO2N(R2)2/ provided that W is not an R3 substituted Ci alkyl. W is selected from H{K2)-SO2-Q2; N(R2}-CO2-Q2; N(R2)-C(O)~Q2; N(R2)EQ2); C Each R is independently selected from hydrogen, -R2, "N{R2)2, -OR2, SR2, "C(O)-N{R2}2/ -S (O2> -N(R2} 2t -C(05-OR2 or -CfOJR2 wherein two adjacent R are optionally bound to one another and, together with each Y to which they are respectively bound, form a 4-8 mexnhered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring. R is selected from hydrogen-, {C1-C3) -alkyl, or (C1-C3)-alkenyl; each optionally substituted with ~N(R?S2, -OR\ SR', .-C(O}.-N(R')2/ -S (02) -N (R } 2t ~C(O)-ORr, -NSO2R4, -NSO2R3f -C(O)N(R') (R3), -NC(0)R4, -N(R')(R3)/ -N(R')(R4), -C{O)R\ -CtO)N(R') (R4) , -N(R4}2, -C (0)N"C(NH)2 or R3. Y is K 'or C; wherein when Y is N, then R or U attached thereto is a lone pair of electrons. 2 is CH, N, C(0CH3), C (CH3) , C (NH2) , CjOH) or C(F). _ 7 - U is selected from R or W. V is selected from -C(O)NH2, -P(O)(NH2)2, OT -SO2NH2. A, B, and C are independently selected from -O-, -CHR'-, -CHR4-, -NR'-, -NR4- or -S-. J is a (C1-C4) straight chain or branched alkyl derivative substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from D, -T-C(O)R', or -OPO3H2. D is selected from the group T is either 0 or NH. G is either NH2 or OH. In another embodiment, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the p38 inhibitor; of this invention. These compositions may be.utilized ii methods for treating or preventing a variety of disorders, such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, destructive bone disorders, proliferative disorders, infectious diseases, viral diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. These compositions are also useful in methods for preventing cell death and hyperplasia and therefore may be used to treat or prevent reperfusion/ischemia in stroke, heart attacks, and organ hypoxia. The compositions are also useful in methods for preventing thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Each of these above-described methods is also part of the present invention. -8- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION These compounds have the general formula: wherein each of Qx and Q2 are independently selected from a phenyl or 5-6 membered aromatic heterocyclic ring system, or a 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic C2ii.iCcycj.ic ring a.n The rings that make-up Qi are substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO;>R' or CONR'2; O-(C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2/ OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; NR'2; OCF3; CF3; NO2; CO2R' ; CONR' ; SR' ; S (O2) N The rings that make up Q2 are optionally substituted with up to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1-C3 straight or _ Q_ branched alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2> OR', CO2R' , S(O2)N(R')2, N=C-N(R')2, R3/ orCONR'2; 0~{Ci-C3)~ alkyl; o-(C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2> OR', CO2R', SfQ2)H(R' }2, N=C-N(R')z, R3, or CONR'2; NR'2; 5 OCF3; CF3; N02; CO2R' ; CONR' ; R3; OR3; NR3; SR3; C(O)R3; C Q2' is selected from phenyl or a 5-6 member aromatic heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1- 10 3 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halogen; C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R' , CONR'2/ or 0-P(O3]H2; 0- (C2-C3) -alkyl optionally substituted with NRr2, OR', CO2R', CONR'2, or OP{O.)H2; OCF3; CF3; OR4; O-CO2R4; O-P(03)H2; CO2R' ; CONR'; 15 SR'; S(O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN; N(R')C(0)R4; N(R' ) C (O)OR4; N(R' )C(O)C(O)R'; NCR' )SIO2)RA; N^R')R4; N(R4}2; OR4; OC{O)R4; OP(O)3H2; or N=C-N(R')2; provided that Q2' is not phenyl optionally substituted 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyar.o, nitro, 20 air.ino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl. R' is selected from hydrogen; (C1-C3)-alkyl; {C2-C3)-alkenyl or alhynyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selectee from halo, methoxy, cyanoy r.itro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or 25 ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyar.o, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl. R is selected from 5-8 membered arorr.atic or 30 ncn-arorr.atic carbocyciic or heterocyclic ring systems ¦-11- membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(R')2, OR', CO2R' , COH(R'}2, or SO2NfR2)2' provided that W is not an R3 substituted d alkyl. 5 Wf is selected from N (R2) -SO2-Q2; M{R2)-CO2-Q2; N{R2)-C{O)-Q2; N(R2)(Q2); C(O)-Q2; CO2-Q2; C (O)N (R2HQ2) ; C(R2}2Q2. Each R is independently selected from hydrogen, -R2, -NCR2) Zl -OR2, SR2, ~C{O)-N(R2)2, -S (O2) -N {R25 2f 10 -C(0)~OR2 or -C{O)R2 wherein two adjacent R are optionally bound to one another and, together with each Y to which they are respectively bound, form a 4-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring. When the two R components form a ring together 15 with the Y components .to which they are respectively bound, it will obvious to those skilled in the art that a terminal hydrogen from each unfused R component will be lost. For example, if a ring structure is formed by binding those two R components 'together, one being -NH- 20 CH3 and the other being -CH2-CH3, one terminal hydrogen on each R component (indicated in bold) will be lost. Therefore, the resulting portion of the ring structure will have the formula -NH~CH2-CH2-CH2~. R is selected from hydrogen, {C1-C3) -alkyl, or 25 CCX-C3} -alkenyl; each optionally substituted with -N(Rr)2f -OR', SR', -C(O)-N(R')2, ~S(O2)-K(R')2/ -C (0)-OR', -NSO2R4, -NSO2R3, -C(O)N(R') (R3), -NC{O)R4, -N{R'), -C{O}R\ -C(O)N(R' ) (R4) , ~N(R4)2, -C(O)N=C{NH)2 or R3. -1 O - x c Y is N or C; wherein when Y is N, then R or U attached thereto is a lone pair of electrons. Z is CH, N, C(OCK3), CfCH3), C(NH2), C (OH) or C(F) . 5 u is selected from R or W. V is selected from -C{O)NH2> -P -SO2NH2. A,B, and C are independently selected from -0-, -CHR'-, -CHR4-, -NR'1-, -NR - or -S-. l0 J is a {C1-C4) straight chain or branched alkyl derivative substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from D, ~T-C{O}R', or ~OF03H2. D is selected from the group T is either 0 or NH. G is either NH2 or OH. According to a preferred embodiment, Ox 20 is selected from phenyl or pyridyl containing 1 to 3 substituents, wherein at least one of -said substituents is in the ortho position and said substituents are ¦ independently.selected from chloro, fluoro, bromo, ~CH3, -OCH3, ~OH, -CF3, -OCF3, -0{CH2)2CH3, NH2, 3,4- 25 methylenedioxy, -N (CH3) 2, -NH-S (0) 2-phenyl( -NH-C (0) 0-CH2-4-pyridine, -^-C 30 -O-(CH2)2~N(CH3)2. -13- Even more preferred are phenyl or pyridyl containing at least 2 cf the above-indicated substituents botn being in the orthc position. Some specific examples of preferred Qi are: -14- -15- >iost preferably, Ql is selected from 2-fluoro-6-trifluoromethylphenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, 2,6- WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 -16- dichlorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-chloro-4-aminophenyi, 2, 6-dichloro-4-aminophenyl, 2, 6-dichIoro-3-aminophenyl, 2, 6-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-3,5-dichloro-4-pyridyl, 2-chloro-4,5 methylenedioxy phenyl, or 2-chloro-4-(N-2-morpholino-acetamido)phenyl. According to a preferred embodiment, Q2 is phenyl, pyridyl or naphthyl containing 0 to 3 substituents, wherein each substituent is independently selected from chloro, fluoro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, -OCH3, -OH, -NH2, -CF3, -OCF3, -SCH3, -OCH3, -C(O)OH, -C(O)OCH3/ -CH;.NH2, -N(CH3)2/ -CH2-pvrrolidine and -CH2OH. Some specific examples of preferred Q2 are: WO 99/58502 -17- PCT/US99/I0291 -18- 19- unsubstituted 2~pyridyl or unsubstituted phenyi. Most preferred are compounds wherein Q2 is selected from phenyi, 2-isopropylphenyl, 3,4-dimethylphenyl, 2-ethylphenyl, 3~-f luorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl, 3~chloro-4-fluorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 2-carbomethoxylphenyl, 2-carboxyphenyl, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 2-pyridyl, 2-methylenehydroxyphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2-methyl-4-fluorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-fluorphenyl, 2, 4-difluorophenyl, 2-hydroxy-4-fluorphenyl, 2™methylenehydroxy~4~ fluorophenyl, 1-naphthyl, 3-chloro-2-methylenehydroxy, 3-chloro-2-methyl, or 4-fluoro-2-methyl. According to another preferred embodiment, each Y is C. According an even more preferred embodiment, each Y is C and the R and U attached to each Y component is selected from hydrogen or methyl. According to another preferred embodiment, W is a 0-4 atom chain terminating in an alcohol, amine, carboxylic acid, ester, amide, or heterocycle. Some specific examples of preferred W are: -20- -21- Most preferably, W is selected from: WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/1029I -22- U has the same preferred and most preferred embodiments as W. WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/1029I -23- According to an even more preferred embodiment, each Y is C, and W and/or U is not hydrogen. Some preferred embodiments are provided in Table 1 ~o 6 below: WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 Table 1. -24- WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/I0291 Table 2 -25 WO 99/58502 PCT/US9WI0291 o26- Table 3. WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/I029I Table A ¦27- ¦28- Table 5 Cmpd Humber Table 6 -29- WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 -30' Particularly preferred embodiments include Particularly preferred embodiments also include wherein X is NH2 or N(CH,}2; -31 wherein X is OH, NH2/ or N(CH3)2- Other particularly preferred embodiments include 5 10 Other particularly preferred embodiments include: WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/1029I -32- WO 99/5SS02 PCT/US99/I0291 -33' -34- According to another embodiment, the present invention provides methods of producing the above-identified inhibitors of p38 of the formulae (la),(Ib), (Ic), (Id) and (Ie). Representative synthesis schemes for formula (la) are depicted below. Schemes 1-3 illustrate the preparation of compounds in which W is either an amino, carboxyl or an aldehyde function. In each case the particular moiety may be modified through chemistry well known in the literature. For example the final amino compounds D and N (schemes 1 and 4 respectively) may be acylated, sulfonylated or alkylated to prepare compounds within the scope of W. In all schemes, the LI and L2 groups on the initial materials are meant to represent leaving groups WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 ~-35~ ortho to the nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring. For example, compound A may foe 2, 6™dichloro~3 nitro pyridine. Scheme 1 5 in Scheme 1, W is selected from amino™ derivatized compounds such as N (R2) SO2-N{R2) 2; N{R2)SO2~ N(R1(R3); N(R')C(O)-R2; or N(R2)2. In Scheme 1, the Q2 ring is introduced 10 utilizing one of many reactions know in the art which result in the production cf biaryl compounds. One example may be the reaction of an aryl lithium compound with the pyridine intermediate A. Alternatively, an arylmetalic compound such as an aryl stannane or an aryi 15 boronic acid may be reacted with the aryl halide portion (intermediate A) in the presence of a Pd° catalyst to form product B. In the next step, a Ql substituted derivative such as a phenyl acetonitrile derivative may be treated with a base such as sodium hydride/ sodium 20 amide, LDA, lithium hexamethyldisilazide or any number of -36- other non-nucleophilic bases to deprotonate the position alpha to the cyano group, which represents a masked amide moiety. This anion is then contacted with intermediate B ,tc form C- The nitrile or equivalent group of intermediate C is then hydrolyzed to form the amide and the nitro group is subjected to reducing conditions to form the amine intermediate D. Intermediate D is then used to introduce various functionality defined by W through chemistry such as acylation, sulfcnylation or alkylation reactions well known in the literature. Depending on the regiochemistry of the first two steps of this procedure, the first two steps may need to be reversed. 15 Scheme 2 In Scheme 2, W is selected from carboxyl-derivatized compounds, such as C(O)-R2; CH(OH)-R2; C(O)-N(R2)2; or C(0)-2 0 OR . Scheme 2 generally follows the procedures described for Scheme 1 except that a carboxyl -37- intemediate such as E is the starting material. The first two steps mirror Scheme 1, and, as mentioned for Scheme 1, may be reversed depending on the regiochemistry of specific examples. Intermediate G is formed from these first two steps and this material may be hydrolyzed as mention to for the carboxyl intermediate H. The carboxyl group may then be modified according to well-known procedures from the literature to prepare, analogs with defined W substituenrs such as acylations, amidazions and esterificanions. Scheme 3 In Scheme 3, W is selected from (C1-C4) straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with N(R')Z, OR', CO2R', CON(R')2, R3, or SO2N(R2)2; or a 5-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(R'}2, OR', CO2R' , CON(R')2, or SO2N (?/);.; provided that W is not an R3 substituted Ci alkyl. WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 -38- In scheme 3 a pyridine derivative is metalated and quenched with one of many known electrophiles which can generate an aldehyde, to form intermediate I. . The aldehyde can then be masked to form the dimethyl acetal 5 J. This intermediate is then carried on as described in scheme 1 and 2 to introduce the Ql and Q2 substituents, to produce intermediate L. As before, these two steps may be interchanged depending on specific regiochemistry. The masked aldehyde of L may then be deprotected and 10 utilized to form compounds with the defined W substitution using well know chemistry such as alkylations and reductive aminations. Schemes 4-6 are similar to schemes 1-3 with the exception that the targeted compounds are those in which 15 Z = Nitrogen. The steps for these schemes parallel 1-3 with the exception that the alkylation utilizing a phenyl acetonitrile is replaced with a reaction with a Ql amine derivative such as a substituted aniline derivative. The 20 acylation reaction with, for example/ chlorosulfonyl isocyanate. WO 99/58502 PCT7US99/10291 -39- In Scheme 4, W is selected from amino-derivati2ed groups such as N (R2) SO2-N(R2) 2; N(R2)SO2-5 N(R:'){R3); N{R2)C(O)-OR2; N (R2) C (0) -N (R2) 2; N(R2)C(O)-N(RZ)(R3); N(R2)C(O)-R2; or N(R2)2. In Scheme 4, intermediate B (from scheme 1) is treated with, for example, an aniline derivative in the presence of a base such as potassium carbonate. 10 Additionally, a palladium catalyst may be utilized to enhance the reactivity of this general type of reaction, if needed. The resulting amine derivative is then acylated to form intermediate M. The nitro group of M is then reduced to form N and the amino group may then be 15 derivatized as described for scheme I. As mentioned for schemes 1-3, the steps involved in the introduction of the Ql and Q2 substituents may be interchanged depending on the specific regiochemistry of specific compounds. WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 -40- In Scheme 5, W is selected from carboxyl-derivatized groups such as C(O)-R2; CH(OH)-R2; C(O)-N(R2)2; or C(O)-OR2. Scheme 6 -41- In Scheme 6, W is selected from (C1-C4) straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with N(R')z/ OR', CO2R', CON(R')2, R3/ or SO2N(R2}2; or a 5-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(R' ) 2, OR', CO2R', CON(R')2, or SO2N(R2)2; provided that W is not an R3 substituted Ci alkyl. Schemes 5 and 6 generally follow the procedures mentioned above. One having skill in the art will recognize schemes 1-6 may be used to synthesize compounds having the general formula of (Ib), (Ic), (Id) and (Ie). According to another embodiment of the invention, the activity of the p38 inhibitors of this invention may be assayed in vitro, in vivo or in a cell line. In vitro assays include assays that determine inhibition of either the'kinase activity or ATPase activity of activated p38. Alternate in vitro assays ~,.r,r.-i-^+.~i--. t-u-i sw¦; 2 ! "y -^ ti"c inhibitor to birvd. to p38 and may be measured either by radiolabelling the inhibitor prior to binding, isolating the inhibitor/p38 complex and determining the amount of radiolabel bound, or by running a competition experiment where new inhibitors are incubated with p38 bound to known radioligands. Cell culture assays of the inhibitory effect of the compounds of this invention may determine the amounts of TNF, IL-1, IL-6 or IL-8 produced in whole blood or cell fractions thereof in cells'treated with inhibitor as compared to cells treated with negative controls. Level of these cytokines may be determined through the use of commercially available ELISAs. -42- An in vivo assay useful for determining the inhibitory activity of the p38 inhibitors of this invention are the suppression of hind paw edema in rats with Mycobacterium butyricum-induced adjuvant arthritis. This is described in J.C. Boehm et al., J. Med. Chem., 39, pp. 3929-37 (1996), the disclosure of-which is herein incorporated by reference. The p38 inhibitors of this invention may also be assayed in animal models of ¦arthritis, bone resorption, endotoxin shock and immune function, as described in A. M. Badger et al., J. Pharmacol. Experimental Therapeutics, 279, pp. 1453-61 (1996), the disclosure cf which is herein incorporated by reference. The p38 inhibitors or pharmaceutical salts thereof may be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions for administration to animals or humans. These pharmaceutical compositions, which comprise an amount of p38 inhibitor effective to treat or prevent a p38-mediated cond.ition nd a pharmaceut? cally acceptable carrier, are another embodiment of the present invention. The term "p38-mediated condition", as used herein means any disease or other deleterious condition in which p38 is known to play a role. This includes conditions known to be caused by IL-1, TNF, IL-6 or IL-8 overproduction. Such conditions include, without limitation, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, destructive bone disorders, proliferative disorders, infectious diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, allergies, reperfusion/ischemia in stroke, heart attacks, angiogenic disorders, organ hypoxia., vascular hyperplasia, cardiac hypertrophy, thrombin-induced -43- platelet aggregation, and conditions associated with prostaglandin endoperoxidase synthase-2. Inflammatory diseases which may be treated or prevented by tne compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, asthma, allergies, and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Autoimmune diseases which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, chronic thyroiditis, Graves' disease, autoimmune gastritis, diabetes, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, autoimmune neuiropenia, thrombocytopenia, atopic dermatitis, chronic active hepatitis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, or graft vs. host disease. Destructive bon^ disorders vrhi,ch rciav be tr"?.?t(?d. or prevented by the compounds, of this invention include, but are not limited to, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and multiple myelcna-related bone disorder. Proiiferative diseases which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention -include, but are not limited to, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, metastatic melanoma/ Kaposi's sarcoma, and multiple myeloma. Angiogenic disorders which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention include solid tumors, ocular neovasculization, infantile haemangiomas. -44- Infectious diseases which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, sepsis, septic shock, and Shigellosis. Viral diseases which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, acute hepatitis infection {including hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C), HIV infection and CMV re-initis. Neurodegenerative diseases which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebral ischemias or neurodegenerative disease caused by traumatic injury. "p38-mediated conditions" also include ischemia/reperfusion in stroke, heart attacks, myocardial ischemia, organ hypoxia, vascular hyperplasia, cardiac hypertrophy, and thrombin-induc'ed platelet aggregation. In addition, p39 inhibitors cf the instont invention are also capable of inhibiting the expression of inducible pro-inflammatory proteins such as prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 (PGHS-2), also referred tc as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Therefore, other "p38-mediated conditions" which may be treated by the compounds of this invention include edema, analgesia, fever and pain, such as neuromuscular pain, headache, cancer pain, dental pain and arthritis pain. The diseases that may be treated or prevented by the p38 inhibitors of this invention may also be conveniently grouped by the cytokine (IL^l, TNF, IL-6, IL-8) that is believed to be responsible for the disease. -45- Thus, an IL-I-mediated disease or condition includes rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, stroke, endotoxemia and/or toxic shock syndrome, inflammatory reaction induced by endotoxin, inflammatory bowel disease, tuberculosis, atherosclerosis, muscle degeneration, cachexia, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, gout, traumatic arthritis, rubella arthritis, acute synovitis, diabetes, pancreatic fi-cell disease and Alzheimer's disease. TNF-mediated disease or condition includes, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and other arthritic conditions, sepsis, septic shock, endotoxic shock, gram negative sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, adult respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral malaria, chronic pulmonary inflammatory disease, silicosis, pulmonary sarcoisosis, bone resorption diseases, reperfusion injury, graft vs. host reaction, allograft rejections, fever and myalgias dve to infection, cachexia secondary to infection; AIPS,-ARC or malignancy, keloid formation, scar tissue formation, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or pyresis. TNF-mediated diseases also include viral infections, such as HIV, CMV, influenza and herpes; and veterinary viral infections, such as lentivirus infections, including, but not limited to equine infectious anemia virus, caprine arthritis virus, visna virus or maedi virus; or retrovirus infections, including feline immunodeficiency virus, bovine immunodeficiency virus, or canine immunodeficiency virus. IL-8 mediated disease or condition includes diseases characterized by massive neutrophil infiltration, such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel _46- disease/ asthma, cardiac and renal reperfusion injury, adult respiratory distress syndrome, thrombosis and glomerulonephritis. In addition, the compounds of this invention may be used topically to treat or prevent conditions caused or exacerbated by IL-1 or TNF. Such conditions include inflamed joints, eczema, psoriasis, inflammatory skin conditions such as sunburn, inflammatory eye conditions such as conjunctivitis, pyresis, pain and other conditions associated with inflammation. In addition to the compounds of this invention, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention may also be employed in compositions to treat or prevent the above-identified disorders. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic acids and bases. Examples of suitable acid salts include arai-phs, .^/-l-inst-o, alrrSriP+-c. a ena vfaf p hpn 7nafo . benzenesulfonate, bisulfate, butyrate, citrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, formate, fumarate, glucoheptanoate, glycerophosphate, glycolate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, lactate, maleate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2~ naphthalenesuifonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oxalate, palmoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, picrate, . pivalate, propionate, salicylate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, thiocyanate, tosylate and undecanoate. Other acids, such as oxalic, while not in themselves pharmaceutically acceptable, may be employed -47- in the preparation of salts useful as intermediates in obtaining the compounds of the invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. Salts derived from appropriate bases include alkali metal (e.g., sodium and'potassium), alkaline earth metal (e.g., magnesium)/ ammonium and N-(Cl-4 alkyl}4+ salts. This invention also envisions the quaternization of any basic nitrogen-containing groups of the compounds disclosed herein. Water or oil-soluble or dispersible products may be obtained by such quaternization, Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers that may be used in these pharmaceutical compositions include, but are not limited to, ion exchangers, alumina, aluminum stearate, lecithin, serum proteins, such as human serum albumin, buffer substances such as phosphates, glycine, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, partial glyceride mixtures of saturated vegetable fatty acids, water, salts or electrolytes, such as protamine sulfate, disodium hydrogen phosphate- potassium hydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, zinc salts, colloidal silica, magnesium trisiiicate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cellulose-based substances, polyethylene glycol, sodium . carboxvinethylcellulose, polyacrylates, waxes, polyethylene-polyoxypropylene-block polyners, polyethylene glycol and wool fat. The compositions of the present invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically,, rectal!y, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir. The term "parenteral" as used herein includes subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, intra-synovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intrahepatic, intralesional -48- and intracranial injection or infusion techniques. Preferably, the compositions are administered orally, intraperitoneally or intravenously. Sterile injectable forms of the compositions of this invention may be aqueous or oleaginous suspension. These suspensions may be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1, 3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono-or di-glyceri'des. Fatty acids, such as oleic acid and ¦j t-c fr.i veerid^1 "^??~d v9.tz.v5E srs useful in th^ prc^srcition of injectables, as are natural pharmaceutically-acceptable oils, such as olive oil or castor oil, especially in their polyoxyethylated versions. These oil solutions or suspensions may also contain a long-chain alcohol diluent or dispersant, such as carboxymethyl cellulose or similar dispersing agents which are commonly used in the formulation of pharmaceuticaliy acceptable dosage forms including emulsions and suspensions. Other commonly used surfactants, such as Tweens, Spans and other emulsifying agents or bioavailability enhancers which are commonly used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticaliy acceptable solid, liquid, or other -49- dosage forms may also be used for the purposes of formulation. The pharmaceutical compositions of this, invention may be orally administered in any orally acceptable dosage form including, but not limited to, capsules, tablets, aqueous suspensions or solutions. In the case of tablets for oral use, carriers commonly used include lactose and corn starch. Lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, are also typically added. For oral administration in a capsule form, useful diluents include lactose and dried cornstarch. When aqueous suspensions are required for oral use, the active ingredient is combined with emulsifying and suspending agents. If desired, certain sweetening, flavoring or coloring agents may also be added. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration.- These can be prepared by mi xing the agent with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at room temperature but liquid at reczal temperature and therefore will melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials include cocoa butter, beeswax and polyethylene glycols. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may also be administered topically, especially when the target of treatment includes areas or organs readily accessible by topical application, including ¦ diseases of the eye, the skin, or the lower intestinal tract. Suitable topical formulations are readily prepared for each of these areas or organs. Topical application for the lower intestinal tract can be effected in a rectal suppository formulation -50- (see above) or in a suitable enema formulation. Topically-transdermal patches may also be used. For topical applications, the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in a suitable ointment containing the active component suspended or dissolved in one or more carriers. Carriers for topical administration of the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, liquid petrolatum, white petrolatum, propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene compound, emulsifying wax and water. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated in a suitable lotion or cream containing the active components suspended or dissolved in one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Suitable carriers include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60, cetyl esters wax, cetearyl alcohol, 2-octyldodecanol, benzyl alcohol and water. For cpht.hslT.ic uss/ the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated as micronized suspensions in isoconic, pH adjusted sterile saline, or, preferably, as solutions in isotonic, pH adjusted sterile saline, either with or without a preservative such as benzylalkonium chloride. Alternatively, for ophthalmic uses, the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in an ointment such as petrolatum. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may also be administered by nasal aerosol or inhalation. Such compositions are prepared according to techniques well-known in the art of pharmaceutical formulation and may be prepared as solutions in saline, employing benzyl alcohol or other suitable preservatives, absorption promoters to enhance bioavailability, fluorocarbons, and/or other conventional solubilizing or dispersing agents. The amount of p38 inhibitor that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated, the particular mode of administration. Preferably, the compositions should be formulated so that a dosage of between 0.01 - 100 mg/kg body weight/day of the inhibitor can be administered to a patient receiving these compositions. It should also be understood that a specific dosage and treatment regimen for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specific compound employed* the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, and the judgment of. the treating physician and the severity of the particular disease being treated. The amount of inhibitor will also depend upon the particular compound in the composition. According to another embodiment, the invention provides methods for treating or preventing a p38-mediated condition comprising the step of administering to a patient one of the above-described pharmaceutical compositions. The term "patient", as used herein, means an anirval, preferably a human* Preferably, that method is used to treat or prevent a condition selected from inflammatory diseases, autoimnune diseases., destructive bone disorders, prolif^rative disorders,, infectious diseases, degenerative diseases, allergies, reperfusion/ischemia in -52- stroke, heart attacks, angiogenic disorders, organ hypoxia, vascular hyperplasia, cardiac hypertrophy, and thrortibin-induced platelet aggregation. According to another embodiment, the inhibitors of this invention are used to treat or prevent an IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 or TNF-mediated disease or condition. Such conditions are described above. Depending upon the particular p38-mediated condition to be treated or prevented, additional drugs, which are- normally administered to treat or prevent that condition, may be administered together with the inhibitors of this invention. For example/ chemotherapeutic agents or other anti-proliferative agents may be combined with the p38 inhibitors of this invention to treat proliferative diseases. Those additional agents may be administered separately, as part of a multiple dosage regimen, from the p38 inhibitor-containing composition. Alternatively, those agents may be part of a single dosage form, mixed together with the p38 inhibitor in a single composition. In order that the invention described herein may be more fully understood, the following examples are set forth. It should be understood that these examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting this invention in any manner. WO 99/58502 PCI7US99/10291 EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of p38 Inhibitor Compound 6 To a solution of LDA (60mmol, 40mLs) at -78° C, was added dropwise a solution of 2,6-Dibromopyridine 5 (40mmol, 9.48gms) in THF (30mLs, dried). The mixture was stirred at -78° C for 20 minutes. Ethyl formate (400mmol, 32.3mLs) was added and stirring was continued at -78° C for 2 hours. Saturated ammonium chloride (200mLs) was added and the mixture was warmed to room temperature. 10 The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacua. The resulting material was purified by flash chx'omatography on silica gel followed by eluting with 10% ethyl acetate 15 in n-hexane to afford 1 (32mmol, 8,41gms) as a white solid. A solution of 1 {13.08mmol, 3.1gms) and concentrated sulfuric acid (lmL) in methanoi (50mL) was 20 refluxed ovemiaht. The reaction mixture was cooled, WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/I0291 -54- neutralizeci with aqueous base and extracted into ethyl acetate. Drying and evaporation of the organic layer afforded 2 (11.77mmo.l/ 3.63gms) as an oil. 5 To a solution of t-Butoxide (2.2mmol, 2mLs) was added dropwise a solution of 2, 6-Dichloroaniline (l.Ommol, 162mgs) in THF (2mL, dried). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 minutes. A solution of 2 (l.Ommol, 309mgs) in THF (5mLs) was added and stirring L0 was continued for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting material was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel 15 followed by eluting with 5% acetone in n-hexane to afford 3 (O.SSmmol, 128mgs) as an orange solid. o-Tolylboronic acid (0.34mmol, 46mgs), and 3 (0.20mmol, 80mgs) were dissolved in a toluene/ethanol WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/1029I -55- (5/1) mixture. Thallium carbonate (0,5, 235mgs} and tetrakis itriphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (lOmgs) was added to the solution and the slurry was allowed to reflux for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting material was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel followed by eluting with 5% nethanol in methylene chloride to afford 4 (0.17mir\ol, olmgs) as a white solid. A solution of 4 f0.l7mmol, 6 lings) and chlorosuifonyl isocyanate {Iramol, 141.Srags) in methylene chloride (5mLs} was stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting material was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel followed by eluting with 5% acetone in n-hexane to afford 5 (0.12mmol, 46mgs) as a white solid. WO 99/58502 PCT7US99/10291 -56- rvcl° CfO^H ^^ H° ^^^ 5 6 Sodium borohydride (l.Ommol, 39.8 mgs) was added to a solution of 5 (0.12mmol, 46mgs) in methanol CLOmLs) and the solution was stirred for 15 minutes. The reaction was quenched with water. The reaction mixture was then diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting material was purified by flash chromatography to afford 6 (0.08mmol, 36mgs) as a white solid. The spectral data for compound 6 was: H NMR (500 MHz, CDC13) 5 7.90 (d, 1H) , 7.60 (d, 2H) , 7.5-7.3 (m, 5H), 6.30 (d, 2H), 4,5 (s, 2H), 2.3 (s, 2H) . Synthesis of p38 Inhibitor Compound 7 The amino-alcohol (500 rag, 1.43 mmol), which was prepared in the same manner as 4, was dissolved in -57- dichloromethane. Triethylamine (433 mg, 4.29 mmol) was added, followed by acetyl chloride (168 mg, 2.15 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour, poured into water, and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic extract was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in 10.0 mL of toluene. A 20% solution of phosgene in toluene (5.0 mL) was added and the solution was refluxed for two hours. The solution was cooled and 5.0 mL of concentrated ammonium hydroxide was added, precipitating a white solid. The mixture was poured into water and extracted with toluene. The organic extract was dried (MgSCM and evaporated in vacuo to afford 205 ing of the urea-acetate 7 as a white solid. The spectral data for compound 7 was; 'H NMR {500 MHZ, CDC13) 67,80 (d, 1H) , 7.62-7.50 cvr."h°r>is ~f ^3£ Inhibitor Compound S The urea-alcohol (548 mg, 1.4 mmol), which was prepared in the same manner as 6, was dissolved in 5.0 mL of toluene. A 20% solution of phosgene in toluene (5.0 mL) was added and the solution was refluxed for two -58- hours. The solution was cooled and 5.0 mL of concentrated ammonium hydroxide was added, precipitating a white solid. The mixture was poured into water and extracted with toluene. The organic extract was dried 5 {MgSG4) and evaporated in vacuo to afford 284 mg of the carbamate 8 as a white solid. The spectral data of compound 8 was: LH NMR (500MHz, CDC13)S7.77 (d, 1H), 7.55-7.45 (m, 2H) , 7.15-6.95 (m, 5H) , 6.50 (d, 1H), 5.40 (br s, 2H) , 5.00 10 (s, 2H) . HRMS showed MH+ 435.1 as the major peak. EXAMPLE 2 Synthesis of p38 Inhibitor Compound 16 One equivalent cf 2, 6-riichIorcpyr.idina- -1 carboxylic acid was dissolved in THF. The solution was cooled to 0°C and cne equivalent of borane dimethyl sulfide complex was added. The solution was stirred at room temperature icr twelve hours. The mixture was poured into water and extracted with diethyl ether. The ether extract was cried, and evaporated in vacuo to afford 9 in 93% yield. -59- One equivalent of 9 was dissolved in methylene chloride. One equivalent of methyl chloromethyl ether was added, followed by the addition of one equivalent of ethyl diisopropylamine. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for several hours, poured into water and extracted, with a water-immiscible solvent. The extract was dried and evaporated in vacuo to afford 10 in 86% yield. One equivalent of potassium t-butoxide was added to a solution of one equivalent of 2,6- dichlorophenyl acetonitrile in THF at room temperature. minutes, and a solution of the dichloropyridine 10 in THF was added. After stirring for 1.5 hours, the mixture was poured into aqueous ammonium chloride and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was dried anc evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography to afford 11 in 79% yield as a white powder. WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 -60- The acetal 11 was mixed with concentrated hydrochloric acid and stirred for several hours. The mixture was extracted with a water-immicible organic solvent. The extract was washed with saturated aqueous NaHCOw dried, and evaporated in vacuo to afford 12. 10 The nitrile 12 was mixed with concentrated sulfuric acid and heated to 100°C for several minutes. The mixture was cooled, poured onto ice, and filtered to afford 13. One equivalent of the chloropyridine 13 was dissolved in 1,2-dimethoxyethane. One equivalent of 3-chloro-2-methylphenylboronic acid was added. A solution of" one equivalent of sodium carbonate in water was added along with a catalytic amount of tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (0). The mixture was heated to 80°C for several hours. The mixture was poured into water and exzracred with.a water-immiscible organic -61- solvent. - The extract was dried, evaporated in vacuo and purified by flash chromatography to afford 14. One equivalent of the alcohol 14 was dissolved in THF. The solution was cooled to 0QC and one equivalent of methanesulfonyl chloride was added following by one equivalent of triethylamine. The solution was stirred'for several hours, poured into water, and extracted with a water-immiscible solvent. The extract was dried and evaporated in vacuo to afford the crude mesylate 15. One equivalent of the xnethanesuifonyi ester 15 was dissolved in THF. The solution was cooled to 0°C and one equivalent of N-ethyl piperazine was added following by one equivalent of triethylamine. The solution was stirred for several hours, poured into water, and extracted with a water-immiscible solvent. The extract was dried, evaporated, and purified by-flash chromatography to afford the pure amine 16, WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 -62- The spectral data for compound 16 is: lH NMR (500 MHz, CDC13) 5 9.85 (br s, 1H) , 7.47 (dd, 1H) , 7.42 (d, 1H), 7.27 (m, 5H) , 6.75 (s, 1H), 5.95 (s, 1H) , 5.7 (br s, 1H), 3.5 (ABq, 2H) , 2.5-2.3 (m, _ 10H)', 2.3 (s, 5 3H), 1.2 (t, 3H). EXAMPLE 2 Cloning of p38 Kinase in Insect Cells Two splice variants of human p38 kinase, CSBP1 and CSBP2, have been identified. Specific oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify the coding 10 region of CSBP2 cDNA using a HeLa cell library (Stratagene) as a template. The polymerase chain reaction product was cloned into the pET-15b vector (Novagen). The baculovirus transfer vector, pVL-(His)6-p38 was constructed by subcloning a Xbal-BainHI fragment 15 of pET15b-(His)6-p38 into the complementary sites in plasmid pVL1392 (Pharmingen)? The plasmid pVL- (His) 6-p36 directed the synthesis of a recoiabinant protein consisting of a 23-residue peptide ;MGSSHHHHHHSSGLVPRGSHMLE, where LVPRGS 20 represents a throtnbin cleavage site) fused in frame to the H-terminus of p38, as confirmed by DMA sequencing and by H-terminal sequencing of the expressed protein. Monolayer culture of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells (ATCC) was maintained in TNM-FK medium (Gibco BRL) 25 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum in a T-flask at 27GC. Sf9 cells in log phase were cc-transfected with linear viral DNA of Autographa califonica nuclear polyhedrosis virus {Pharmingen) and transfer vector pVL-(His)6-p3S using Lipofectin (Invitrogen). The individual WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/I0291 UJ recombinant baculovirus clones were purified by plaque assay using 1% low melting agarose. EXAMPLE 3 Expression and Purification of Recombinant p38 Kinase Trichoplusia hi (Tn-368) High-Five™ cells (Invitrogen) were grown in suspension in Excel-405 5 protein free medium (JRH Bioscience) in a shaker flask at 27°C. Cells at a density of 1.5 X 106 cells/ml were infected with the reccmbinant baculovirus described above at a multiplicity of infection of 5, The expression level of recombinant p38 was monitored by immunoblotting -10 using a rabbit anti-p38 antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) . The cell mass was harvested 72 hours after infection when the expression level of p38 reached its maximum. Frozen cell paste from cells expressing the 15 (His)6-tagged p38 was thawed in 5 volumes'of Buffer A (50 mM NT"g2po;, r>R s.f\ 700 n"M Nad, ?raM ft-Mercaptoethanol, 3 0% Glycerol and 0.2 mM PMSF). After mechanical disruption of the cells in a microfluidizer, the lysate was centrifuged'at 30,000 x g for 30 minutes. The 20 supernatant was incubated batchwise for 3-5 hours at 4°C with Talon™ (Clontech) metal affinity resin at a ratio of 1 mi of resin per 2-4 mgs of expected p38. The resin was settled by centrifugation at 500 x g for 5 minutes and gently washed batchwise with Buffer A. The resin was 25 slurried and poured into a column (approx. 2.6 x 5.0 cm) and washed with Buffer A + 5 mM imidazole. The (Kis)6-p38 was eluted with Buffer A + 100 mM imidazole and subsequently dialyzed overnight at 4 C against 2 liters of Buffer B, (50 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 25 mM WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 -64- fi~glycerophosphate, 5% glycerol, 2mM DTT) . The His6 tag was removed by addition of at 1.5 units thrombin (Calbiochem) per mg of p38 and incubation at 2G°C for 2-3 hours. The thrombin was quenched by addition of 0.2 mM 5 PMSF and then the entire sample was loaded onto a 2 ml benzamidine agarose (American International Chemical) column. The flow through fraction was directly loaded onto a 2.6 x 5.0 cm Q-Sepharose (Pharmacia) column 10 previously equilibrated in Buffer B + 0.2 mM PMSF. The p38 was eluted with a 20 column volume linear gradient to 0.6M NaCl in Buffer B. The eluted protein peak was pooled and dialyzed overnight at 4°C vs. Buffer C (50 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 5% glycerol, 50 mM NaCl, 2 mM DTT, 0.2 mM 15 PMSF) . The dialyzed protein was concentrated in a Centriprep (Amicon) to 3-4 ml and applied to a 2.6 x 100 cm Sephacryl S-100HR (Pharmacia) column. The protein was eluted at a flow rate of 35 ml/hr. The main peak was 20 pooled, adjusted to 20 mM DTT, concentrated to 10-80 ir.gs/ml and frozen in aliquots at -70°C or used immediately. EXAMPLE 4 Activation of p38 25 p38 was activated by combining 0.5 mg/ml p38 with 0.005 mg/ml DD-double mutant MKK6 in Buffer B + lOmM MgCl2, 2mM ATP, 0.2mM Na2VO4 for 30 minutes at 20°C. The activation mixture was then loaded onto a 1.0 x 10 cm MonoQ column (Pharmacia) and eluted with a linear 20 30 column volume gradient to 1.0 M NaCl in Buffer B. The WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 -65- . activated p38 eluted after the ADP and ATP. The activated p38 peak was pooled and dialyzed against buffer B + 0.2mM Na2VO4 to remove the NaCl. The dialyzed protein was adjusted to 1.1M potassium phosphate by addition of a 5 4.CM stock solution and loaded onto a 1.0 x 10 cm HIC (Rainin Hydropore) column previously equilibrated in Buffer D (10% glycerol, 20mM fl-glycerophosphate, 2.OmM DTT) + 1.1MK2HPO4. The protein was eluted with a 20 column volume linear gradient to Buffer D + 50mM K2HPO4. 10 The double phosphorylated p38 eluted as the main peak and was pooled for dialysis against Buffer B + 0.2mM Na^VO. The activated p38 was stored at -70°C. EXAMPLE 5 15 p38 Inhibition Assays A. Inhibition of Phosphorylation of EGF Receptor Peptide Or r^l. T~ ~ , .. . ... ~ _,._.. i^-i -,.,- ¦:-, -V ,. ^^^_m^, ^ j: c \j 1 iilo aiiijuj rtuo i^ci J. J. JL C.VJ ^J u. U -L-* !^ii>^; ^ o- ^^- _ 14.>_ t. \J -. 10 nM MgCl2, 25 mM fi-glycerophosphate, 10% glycerol and 100 mM HEPES buffer at pH 7.6. For a typical IC50 determination, a stock solution was prepared containing all of the above components and activated p38 {5 nM). 25 The stock solution was aliquotted into vials. A fixed volume of DMSO or inhibitor in DMSO (final concentration of DMSO in reaction was 5%} was introduced to each vial, mixed and incubated for 15 minutes at room temperature. EGF receptor peptide, KRELVEPLTPSGEAPNQALLR, a phosphoryl 30 acceptor in p38-catalyzed kinase reaction (1), was added to each vial to a final concentration of 209 uM. The kinase reaction was initiated with ATP (100 uM) and the vials were incubated at 30°C. After 30 minutes, the WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 -66- reactions were quenched with equal volume of 10% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The phosphorylated peptide was quantified by HPLC analysis. Separation of phosphorylated peptide from 5 the unphosphorylated peptide was achieved on a reverse phase column (Deltapak, 5 urn, CIS 100D, Part no. 011795) with a binary gradient of water and acteonitrile, each containing 0.1% TFA. IC50 {concentration of inhibitor yielding 50% inhibition} was determined by plotting the 10 percent. (?) activity remaining against inhibitor concentration. B. Inhibition of ATPase Activity This assay is carried out in the presence of 10 15 mM MgCl2f 25 mM ft~glycerophosphate, 10% glycerol and 100 mM HEPES buffer at; pH 7.6.- For a typical Ki determination, the Km for ATP in the ATPase activity of activated p38 reaction is determined in the absence of inhibitor and in the presence cf two concentrations of 20 inhibitor. A stock solution is prepared containing all of the above components and activated p38 {60 nM). The stock solution is aliquotted into vials. A fixed volume of DHSO or inhibitor in DMSO (final concentration of DMSO in reaction was 2.5%) is introduced to each vial, mixed 25 and incubated for 15 minutes at room temperature. The reaction is initiated by adding various concentrations of ATP and then incubated at 30°C. After 30 minutes, the reactions are quenched with 50 ul of EDTA {0.1 M, final concentration), pH 8.0. The product of p38 ATPase 30 activity, ADP, is quantified by HPLC analysis. Separation of ADP from ATP is achieved on a reversed phase column (Supelcosil, LC-18, 3 um, part no. WO 99/58S02 PCT/US99/10291 -67- 5-8985) using a binary solvent gradient of following composition: Solvent A - 0.1 M phosphate buffer containing 8 mM tetrabutylammoniurn hydrogen sulfate (Sigma Chemical Co., catalogue no. T-7158); Solvent B -5 Solvent A with 30% methanol. Ki is determined from the rate data as a function of inhibitor and ATP concentrations. p38 inhibitors of this invention will inhibit the ATPase activity of p38. 10 C. Inhibition of IL-1, TNF, IL-6 and IL-8 Production in LPS~Stimulated PBMCs Inhibitors were serially diluted in DMSO from a 20 mM stock. At least 6 serial dilutions were prepared. 15 Then 4x inhibitor stocks were prepared by adding 4 pi of an inhibitor dilution to 1 ml of RPMI1640 medium/10% fetal bovine serum. The 4x inhibitor stocks contained inhibitor at concentrations of 80 pM, 32 pM, 12.8 pM, 5,1? P.M.- 2,048 pM, 0.819 pMr 0.328 uM, 0,3 31 \M. 0.052 20 pM, 0.021 uM etc. The 4x inhibitor stocks were pre-warmed at 37°C until use. Fresh human blood buffy cells were separated from other cells in a Vacutainer CPT from Becton & Dickinson {containing A ml blood and enough DPBS without 25 Mg2+/Ca2+ to fill the tube) by centrifugation at 1500 x g for 15 min. Peripheral blood mononuclear ceils (PBMCs]f, located on top of the gradient in the Vacutainer, were removed and washed twice with RPMI1640 medium/10% fetal bovine serum. PBMCs were collected by centrifugation at 30 500 x g for 10 min. The total cell number was determined using a Neubauer Cell Chamber and the cells were adjusted to a concentration of 4.8 x 10 cells/ml in cell culture WO 99/5850?. PCT/US99/10291 -68- medium (RPMI1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum). Alternatively, whole blood containing an anticoagulant was used directly in the assay. 5 100 ul of cell suspension or whole blood were placed in each well of a 96-well ceil culture plate. Then 50 ul of the 4x inhibitor stock was added to the cells. Finally, 50 ul of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) working stock solution {16 ng/ml in cell culture medium) 10 was added to give a final concentration of 4 ng/ml LPS in the assay. The total assay volume of the vehicle control was also adjusted to 200 ul by adding 50 ul cell culture medium. The PBMC cells or whole blood were then incubated overnight (for 12-15 hours) at 37° C/5% CO2 in a 15 humidified atmosphere. The next day the cells were mixed on a shaker for 3-5 minutes before centrifugation at 500 x g for 5 minutes. Cell culture supernatants were harvested and 20 Quantikine kits, #DBL50), TNF-a (BioSource, #KHC3012), IL-6 (Endogen, SEH2-IL6) and IL-8 (Endogen, #EH2-IL8) according to the instructions of the manufacturer. The ELISA data were used to generate dose-response curves from which IC50 values were derived. 25 Results for the kinase assay ("kinase"; subsection A, above), IL-1 and TNF in LPS-stimulated PBMCs ("cell") and IL-1, TNF and IL-6 in whole blood ("WB") for various p38 inhibitors of this invention are shown in Table 7 below: WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/I029I -69- Table 7.- Compound M.W. Kinase fCSO (uM) Cell 1L-1 fCSO (uMj Celi TNF tC50 fuM) WB H.-1 fCSO fuM) WBTNF IC50 (uM) W8H.-6 tCSQ (uM) 17 402,28 0.056 0-021 0.14 0.42 0.064 0.25 18 436.32 0.002 0.02 0.05 0.118 0.055 0.18 19 387.36 0,027 0.027 0.01 0.057 0.09 0.075 Other p38 inhibitors of this invention will also inhibit phosphorylation of EGF receptor peptide, and will inhibit the production of IL-1, TNF and IL-6, as . 5 well as IL-8, in LPS-stimulated PBMCs or in v/hole blood. D. Inhibition of IL-6 and IL-8 Production in IL-1-Stimulated PBMCs -This assay is carried out on PBMCs exactly the same as above except that 50 pi of an IL-lb working stock 10 solution {2 ng/ml in cell culture medium) is added to the assay instead of the (LPS) working stock solution. Cell culture supernatants are harvested as described above and analyzed by ELISA for levels of IL-6 (Endogen, SEH2-IL6) and II.-8 (Endogen, #EH2-:L8) 15 according to the instructions of the manufacturer. The ELISA data are used to generate dose-response curves from which ICSO values were derived. WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 --0- E. Inhibition of LPS-Induced Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Synthase-2 (PGHS-2, or COX-2) Induction in PBMCs Human peripheral mcnonuclear cells (PBMCs) are 5 isolated' from fresh human blcod buffy coats by centrifugation in a Vacutainer CPT (Becton & Dickinson). 15 x 106 cells are seeded in a 6-well tissue culture dish containing RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 50U/ml penicillin, 50 ug/ml streptomycin, and 2 mM 10 L-glutamine. Compounds are added at 0.2, 2.0 and 20 uM final concentrations in DMSO. LPS is then added at a final concentration of 4 ng/rr.l to induce enzyme expression. The final culture volume is 10 ml/well. After overnight incubation at 37°C, 5% CO2, the 15 cells are harvested by scraping and subsequent centrifugation, the supernatant is removed, and the cells are washed twice in ice-cold DPBS (Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline, BioWhittaker). The cells are lysed on ¦LU.6 J.U1. X\J Ul.Lll lii J U \|JX COiU xyoli) UulJ-CX \t- J illl-1 ^ ¦>- - 20 HC1, pH 7.2, 150 mM NaCl, 1% Triton-X-100, 1% deoxycholic acid, 0.1% SDS, 1 mM EDTA, 2% aprotinin (Sigma), 10 ug/ml pepstatin, 10 ug/ml leupeptin, 2 mM PMSF, 1 mM benzamidine, I mM DTT) containing 1 ul Benzonase (DNAse from Merck). The protein concentration of each sample is 25 determined using trie BCA assay (Pierce) and bovine serum albumin as a standard. Then ~he protein concentration of each sample is adjusted to 1 ng/ml with cold lysis buffer. To 100 ul lysate an equal volume of 2xSD5 PAGE loading buffer is added and the sample is boiled for 5 30 min. Proteins (30 ug/lane) are size-fractionatec on 4-20?, SDS PAGE gradient gels (Novex) and subsequently transferred onto nitrocellulose membrane by WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291 - 71 - electrophoretic means for 2 hours at 100 mA in Towbin transfer buffer (25 mM Tris, 192 mM glycine) containing 20% methanol. After transfer, the membrane is pretreated for i hour at room tempera-ture. with blocking buffer (5% 5 non-fat dry milk in DPBS -supplemented with 0,1% Tween-20) and washed 3 times in DPBS/0.1% Tween~20. The membrane is incubated overnight at 4°C with a 1: 250 dilution of monoclonal anti-COX-2 antibody (Transduction Laboratories) in blocking buffer. After 3 washes in 1.0 DPBS/O.ls Tween-2.0, the membrane is incubated with a 1:1000 dilution of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated sheep antiserum to mouse Ig (Amersham) in blocking buffer for 1 h at room temperature. Then the membrane is washed again 3 times in DPBS/0.1% Tween-20. An ECL detection 15 system (SuperSignal1 CL-HRP Substrate System, Pierce) is used to determine the levels of expression of COX-2. While we have hereinbefore presented a number of embodiments of this invention, it is apparent that our 1 -^ - . ___.!_-. . . ,-, ~ ~ ,- " ..__ V--" -^1) 1"- .>H +¦-¦-o¦ v-'w^.tT'l'"}- ^-.4~V",~.. 20 erabodiments which utilize the methods of this invention. - 72 WE CLAIM i 1. A process for producing heterocyclic inhibitors of P38 comprising a compound of the formula: wherein each of Gi and Cb are independently selected from a phenyl or 5-6 membered aromatic heterocyclic ring system, or a 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic carbocyclic ring and an aromatic heterocyclic ring; the rings that make up Qi are substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1-C3.alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2/ OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; 0-{C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NRf2, OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; NR'2; OCF3; CF3; N02; CO2R' ; CONHR'; SR' ; S(O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN; N(R')C(O)R4; N(R')C(O)OR4; N (R' } C(O)C{O)R4; N{R' ) S (02) R4; N(R')R4; N(R4)2; OR4; 0C(0}R4; OP(O)3H2; N=CH-N(R')2; 3,4-methylenedioxy; -HH-C{O)O-CH2-4-pyridine;- -NH~C{O}CH2-morpholine; ~NH-"C(O)CH2-piperazine; or ~NH~C(O)CH2-pyrrolidine; - 73 - the rings that make up Q2 are optionally substituted with up to A substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1--C3 straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with MR'2/ OR', CO2R', S(O2)N(R')2, N=CH~N(R')2, R3, or CONR'2; O~(Ci~C3)-alkyl; O-(C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R', S{O2)N(R')2, N=CH-N(R')2, R3, or CONR'2; NR'2; OCF3; CF3; N02; CO2R'; CONHR'; R3; OR3; NHR3; SR3; C{O)R3; C£O)N{Rf }R3; C{O)OR3; SR' ; S(O2)N{R')2; SCF3; N=CH-N(R')2; CN; -NH-C(=HH}-HHZ; or ™CH2~NH-C (=NK)-NH2; Q2' is selected from phenyl or a 5-6 member aromatic heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halogen; C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R', CONR'a, or O-P{O3!H2; O- {C2-C35 -alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R', CONR'2f or OP(O3)H2; OCF3; CF3; OR4; O-CO2R4; O-P(O3}H2; CO2R' ; CONHR'; SR'; S(O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN; N(R'JC(O)R4; N CR') C (0)OR4; N(R')C(O)C(O)R%- NCR' )S(O2)R4; N(R')R4; N(R4)2; OR4; OC{O)R4; OP(O)3H2; or N=CH-N(R')2; provided that Q2' is not phenyl optionally substituted 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; R' is selected from hydrogen; (C1-C3)-.alkyl; (C2-C3)-alkenyl or alkynyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; - 74 - R3 is selected from 5-8 membered aromatic or non-aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring systems each optionally substituted with R' , R4, -C(O)R', ~C(O)R4, -C(O)OR4 or -J; or an 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic carbocyclic ring and an aromatic heterocyclic ring each optionally substituted with R' , R4, -C(O)R', -C(O)R4, -C(O)OR* or -J; R4 is (C1-G9)-straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with N{R'}2, OR', CO2R% CON(R')2, or SO2M(R2)2; or a 5-6 memfoered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(R')2, OR', CO2R', CON£R')2, or SO2N(R2)2; R5 is selected from hydrogen; {C1-C3} -alkyl optionally substituted with R3; (C2-C3)-alkenyl or alkynyl each optionally substituted with R3; phenyl or phenyl substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with Ito 3 substituents independently selected from halo; methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; W is selected from H; N(R2) SO2-K£R2}2; N(R2)SO2-N(R2MR3); N(R2)C(O)-OR2; N {R25 C (O) -N(R2) 2; N(R2)C(O)~ N(R2)(R3); N(R2)C(O)-R2; N(R2}2; C(O")-R2; CH{OH}-R2; C(O}-N(R2)2; C(O)~OR2; J; or (C1-C4) straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with N(R')2f OR' , CO2R', CON(R')2/ R3, SO2N(R2)2, OC(O)R2, OC(O)R', OC(O)N(R2)2, -N(R4)(R5), ™C(O)N{R5) (R2) , -C(0)R5, ~N(R2)C(O)N(R2) (R5), -NHC{O)0R5, -OC(O}N(R2) (R5), or -J; a 5-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with - 75 - N(R')2, OR', CO2R', CON{R')2, or SO2N£R2)2; or a 8-10 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with NfR'Js, OR', CO2R' , CON(R')2, or SO2N{R2)2? provided that, unless V is W, W is not an R3 substituted Ci alkyl; W is selected from N (R2)-SO2-Q2; N (R2)-CO2~Q2; N{R2}~C{O5-Q2; N(R2){Q2}; C(O)-Q2; CO2-Q2; C (O) N (R2) (Q2) ; C(RZ)2Q2; each R is independently selected from hydrogen, -R2, -N{R2)2, -OR2, SE2, -C{O)-N(R2)a, -S {02} -N (R2) ir or -C(O)-OR2 wherein two adjacent R are optionally bound to one another and, together with each Y to which they are respectively bound, form a 4-8 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R2 is selected from hydrogen, (C1-C3)-alkyl, or (C2-C3)-alkenyl; each optionally substituted with -N(R')2/ -OR', SR', ~C{O)~N{R' )2, -S(O2}~N(R' )2, -C(O)~OR', ~NHSO2R4, -NHSO2R3, -C(O)N(R') (R3) , ~NHC(O)R\ -NtR')(R3), ~N(R'){R4), -C(0)R3, -C(O)N(R') (R4) , ™N(R4)2r -C (0}N=C (NH2) 2 or R3; Y is N or C; wherein when Y is N, then R or 0 attached thereto is a lone pair of electrons; 2 is CH or N; D is selected from R or W; V is -C(O)NH2; A,B, and C are independently selected from -0-, -CHR'^, -CHR4-, -NR'-, -HR4" or -S-; J is a (C1-C4} straight chain or branched alkyl derivative substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from D, -T-C(O)R', or -OPO3H2; D is selected from the group - 76 - T is either 0 or NH; and G is either NH2 or OH; wherein, for compounds of formulae (la) or (Ib), when Q1 is phenyl, V is C(O)NH2, Z is N, and Y-R is N~H, then Ch and Q2' are not unsubstituted furanyl, unsubstituted thiophenyl or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl; and provided that in compounds of formula (la), when W is hydrogen, then U is not hydrogen; and in compounds of formula (la), when W is hydrogen and 0 is -R2, -N(R2)2, -OR2, -SR2, -C (0)-N (R2)2, -S(O2)-N(R2)2/ -C(0)-ORZ or ~C(O)R2; then each of these R2 is not hydrogen, (Ci-CsJ-alkyl, or (C2-C3} -alkenyl, or (Ci-C3)-alkyl or {C2-C3}-alkenyl substituted with -N(R')2 -OR', -SR', -C{O)~N{R'}2, -S(O2)-K{R?)2/ -C(O)"OR', or an unsubstituted 5-6 membered aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system; comprising the step of reacting a compound of the formula - 77 - wherein La and L2 are leaving groups and Rx is R3 or R4/ with a suitable alkylating compound, as herein described. 2. The process as claimed in claim l, wherein Qi is selected from phenyl or pyridyl containing 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from chloro, fluoro, bromo, ~CH3, -GCH3, -OH, ~CF3, -OCF3, -O(CH2}2CH3/ NH2, 3,4-methylenedioxy, -N(CH3)2, -NH-S (0) 2-phenyl, -NH-C (O)O~CH2-4-pyridine, -NH-C (0) CH^-morpholine, -NH-C(O)CH2-N(CH3)2, -NH-C (0)CH2-piperazine, -NH-C (0) CH2-pyrrolidine, -NH-C(0)C(O)-morpholine, -NH-C(0)C(0)-pipera^ine, -NH-C(0)C(0)-pyrrolidine, -O-C(0)CH2-N(CH3)%, or -O-(CH2)2-N(CH3)2 and wherein at least one of said substituents is in the ortho position. 3. The process as claimed in claim 2, wherein Qi contains at least two substituents, both of which are in the ortho position. 4. The process as claimed in claim 2, wherein Gi is selected from: - 78 - - 79 - 80 - 5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein Qi is selected from 2-fluoro-6-trifluoromethylphenyl, 2, 6-difluorophenyl, 2, 6-dichlorophenylf 2-chloro~4~ hydroxyphenyl, 2~chloro-4-aminophenyl, 2, 6-dichloro-4-aminophenyl, 2, G-dichloro-S-aminophenyl, 2, 6-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-3A 5-dichloro-4-pyridyl, 2-chloro-4,5 methylenedioxy phenyl, or 2~chloro-4-(K-2-morpholino-acetamidophenyl. 6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein Qz is selected from phenyl, pyridyl or naphthyl and wherein Qz optionally contains up to 3 substituents, each - 81 - of which is independently selected from chloro, fluoro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, -OCH3, -OH,/,-NH?, -CF3/ -OCF3, -SCH3, -C(O)OH, -C(O)OCH3/ -CH2NH2, -N(CH3)2, -CH2-pyrrolidine, -CH2OH, -CH2~N(CH3)2/ -CH2-piperazine, -NH- C{=NH)-NH2^-CH2-NH-CC^NH)-NH2, and -CH2-NH-imidazoline. 7. The process as claimed in claim 6, wherein Q2 is selected from: - 82 - - 83 - 8. The process as claimed in claim 1_, wherein Qz is selected from phenyl, 2~isopropylphenyl, 3,4™ dimethylphenyl, 2-ethylphenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl, 3-chloro~4-fluorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 2-carbomethoxylphenyl, 2-carboxyphenyl, 2-methyi-4- chlorophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 2-pyridylf 2™ methylenehydroxyphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2"methyl-4~ fluorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 2~hydroxy~4-fluorophenyl or 2-methylenehydroxy-4-fluorophenyl, 1-naphthyl, 3-chloro-2-methylenehydroxyphenyl, 3-chloro-2-methylphenyl, or 4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl. 9. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein each Y is C. 10. The process as claimed in claim 9, wherein each R and U attached to Y is independently selected from hydrogen or methyl. 11. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein U, W or both U and W are a 0-4 atom chain terminating in an alcohol, amine, carboxylic acid, ester, amide or heterocycle. 12.- The process as claimed in claim 11, wherein 0, w or both V and W are selected from: - 85 - - 86 - ~£7- 13. The process as claimed In claim 12, wherein U, W, or both U and w are selected from: 14. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is selected from any one of the following compounds: 89 - 90 - 91 - - 92 - 93 167 F H 15. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is 16. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is - 94 and X is selected from NH2 or H(CH3}2. 17. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is and X is selected from OH, NH2, or H{CH3)2 18. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is - 95 - and X is selected from OK, NH2, or N{CH3}2. 19. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is -20. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is 96 - 21. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is 22. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is - 97 23. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is selected from any one of - 98 - The present invention relates to a process for preparing inhibitors of P38, a mammalian protein kinase involved in cell proliferation, cell death and response to extracellular stimuli. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders.

Full Text

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HETEROCYCLIC INHIBITORS OF P38
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for producing heterocyclic inhibitors of
p38, a mammalian protein, kinase involved in cell proliferation, ceil death and, response to extracellular stimuli. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors, The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders,
BftCKGROUMD OP THE INVENT I OH
Protein kinases are involved in various
cellular responses to extracellular signals. Recently, a family of mitogen^activated protein kinases {MAPK) has been discovered. Members of this family are Ser/Thr kinases that activate their substrates by phosphorylation [B. Stein et al., Ann. Rep. Med. Chem.f 31, pp. 289-93 (1996)j . MAPKs are themselves activated by a variety of signals including growth f.iccors, cytokines, UV radiation, and stress-inducing agents.
One particularly interesting MAPK is p38. p38, also known as cytokine suppressive anti-inflatnmatory drug binding protein (CS3P) and RK, was isolated from raurine pre-B ceils that were transfected with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor, CD14, end induced with LPS. p38 has since been isolated and sequenced, as has the cDNA encoding it in humans and mouse. Activation of p38 has been observed in cells stimulated by stress, such as treatment of 1ipopolysaccharides (LPS), UV,

anisoraycin, or osmotic shock, and by cytokines, such as IL-1 and TNF.
Inhibition of p38 kinase leads to a blockade on the production of both IL-1 and TNF, IL-1 and TNF stimulate the production.of other proinflairanatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 and h*ave been implicated in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases and in post-raenopausal osteoporosis [R. B, Kimble et al., Endocrinol., 136, pp. 3054-61 (1995)}.
Based upon this finding, it is believed that p38, along with other MAPKs, have a role in mediating cellular response to inflammatory stimuli, such as leukocyte accumulation, macrophage/iuonocyte activation, tissue resorption, fever, acute phase responses and neutrophilia. In addition, MAPKs, such as p38, have been implicated in cancer, thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, immunodeficiency disorders, autoimmune diseasesr ce?), deeth,. allergies, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative disorders. Inhibitors of p38 have also been implicated in the area of pain management through inhibition of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 induction. Other diseases associated with 11-1, IL-6, IL-8 or TNF overproduction are set forth in WO 96/21654.
PCT publication WO 97/33883 describes amino-substituted pyrimidine compounds for use in treating cytokine mediated diseases. European Patent Applications EP 0 337 943 and EP 0 337 944 describe N-phenyl~N~ pyrimidin-2-yl ureas having herbicidal and plant growth-regulating activity.
Others have already begun trying to develop drugs that specifically inhibit MAPKs .o For example, PCT publication WO 95/31451 describes pyrazole compounds that

-2a-
inhibit MAPKs, and, in particular, p38. However, the efficacy of these inhibitors in vivo is still being
investigated. PCT publication WO 96/27098 also describes p38 inhibitors, which include substituted pyridine compounds,
Accordingly^ there is still1 a great need to develop other potent inhibitors of p38, including p38™

specific inhibitors, that are useful in treating various conditions associated with p38 activation.
^nHMJ\RY_OF^TH£ INVENTION
The present invention addresses this problem by providing compounds that demonstrate strong inhibition of
p38.
These compounds have the general formula:

wherein each of Qi and Q2 are independently selected from a phenyi or 5-6 membered aromatic heterocyclic ring system, or a 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic carbocyclic ring and an aromatic heterocyclic ring.
A heterocyclic ring system or a heterocyclic ring contains 1 to 4 heteroatorns, which are independently selected from N, O, s, SO and SO2.
The rings that make up Gi are substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C:-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; Q~ (C1-C3) -alkyl

-4-
optionally substituted with NR'2/ OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; NR'2; OCF3; CF3; N02; CO2R'; CONR' ; SR'; S(O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN; N(R')C(O)R4; N (R' } C (0) OR4; N (R' ) C (O) C (0) R\" N(R' )S {O2)R4; N(R')R The rings that make up Q2 are optionally substituted with up to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1-C3 straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR',. CO2R' , S(O2)N(R')2, N=C-N(R')2, R3, or CONR'2; 0- C(O)N(R')R3; C(O)OR3; SR'; S(O2)N(R'}2; SCF3; N=C-N(R')2; or CN.
Q2' is selected from phenyl or a 5-6 member aromatic heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halogen; C1-C3 aikyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R', CONR'2/ or O-P{O3)HZ; 0-(C2-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2/ OR', CO2R' , CONR'2, or OP{Oi)H2; OCF3; CF3; OR'; O-CO2R"; O-P(O3}H2; CO2Rr ; CONR'; SR' ; S{O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN;- N (R' ) C (0) R4; N (R' ) C (0) 0R\-N(R' )C(O)C[O)RA; N(R' )S tO2)R4; N(R')R4; N(R4)2; OR4 ; OC(O)R4; OP(O)3H2; or N=C-N(R')2; provided that Q2' is not phenyl optionally substituted 1 to '3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl.
R' is selected from hydrogen; (C1-C3)-alkyl; (C2-C3}-alkenyl or alkynyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted

with 1 to. 3 substxtuents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substxtuents independently selected from halo, raethoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl.
R is selected from 5-8 membered aromatic or non-aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring systems each optionally substituted with R', R4, ^C(O)R', "C{O)R4, -C(O)OR4 or -J; or an 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic carbocyclic ring and .an aromatic heterocyclic ring each optionally substituted with R', R4, -C(O)R', -C(O)R4, -C(O)OR4 or -J.
R4 is (Cx-Cj)-straight, or branched alkyl
optional ly -substituted with HfR'),, OR'. CO?Rr f CON(R')?. or Sp2N(R2)2; or a 5-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with NCR'} 2, OR', C02R', CQN{R'}2, or SO2N{R2}2.
R is selected from hydrogen; (C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with R3; {C2-C3}~al)cenyl or alkynyl each optionally substituted with R ; phenyl or phenyl substituted wi-th *1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl.
W is selected from H; N(R2) SO2-N(R2) 2; N(R2)SO2-N(R2)(R3); N(R2)C(O)-OR2; N (R2) C (O) -N{R2) 2; N(R2)C(0)-

"~D~
N(R2} (R3);- N(R2)C(O)-R2; N(R2)2; C(O)-R2; CH (OH)-R2; C (0)-N(R2)2; C{G}-OR2; J; or (C1-C4) straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with NCR') 2, OR', CO2R', C0N(R')2/ R3, SO2N(R2}2/ 0C(0)R2, OC(O)R', OC£O)N{R2}2, -N!R4)!R5), -C(O)N(R5} (R2), ~C{Q)R5f -N(R2}C{O}N(R2) (R5), ~NC(G}ORS, -OC (0}N(R2) (RS), or ~J; a 5-6 membered 'carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(Rf)*, OR', CO2R', CON(R')2/ or SO2NJR232; or a 8-10 merabered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring., system
optionally substituted with N(R')2f OR', CO2R', CONJR'Ja. or SO2N(R2)2/ provided that W is not an R3 substituted Ci alkyl.
W is selected from H{K2)-SO2-Q2; N(R2}-CO2-Q2; N(R2)-C(O)~Q2; N(R2)EQ2); C Each R is independently selected from hydrogen,
-R2, "N{R2)2, -OR2, SR2, "C(O)-N{R2}2/ -S (O2> -N(R2} 2t
-C(05-OR2 or -CfOJR2 wherein two adjacent R are optionally
bound to one another and, together with each Y to which they are respectively bound, form a 4-8 mexnhered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring.
R is selected from hydrogen-, {C1-C3) -alkyl, or (C1-C3)-alkenyl; each optionally substituted with ~N(R?S2, -OR\ SR', .-C(O}.-N(R')2/ -S (02) -N (R* } 2t ~C(O)-ORr, -NSO2R4, -NSO2R3f -C(O)N(R') (R3), -NC(0)R4, -N(R')(R3)/ -N(R')(R4), -C{O)R\ -CtO)N(R') (R4) , -N(R4}2, -C (0)N"C(NH)2 or R3.
Y is K 'or C; wherein when Y is N, then R or U attached thereto is a lone pair of electrons.
2 is CH, N, C(0CH3), C (CH3) , C (NH2) , CjOH) or C(F).

_ 7 -
U is selected from R or W.
V is selected from -C(O)NH2, -P(O)(NH2)2, OT
-SO2NH2.
A, B, and C are independently selected from -O-, -CHR'-, -CHR4-, -NR'-, -NR4- or -S-.
J is a (C1-C4) straight chain or branched alkyl derivative substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from D, -T-C(O)R', or -OPO3H2.
D is selected from the group

T is either 0 or NH.
G is either NH2 or OH.
In another embodiment, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the p38 inhibitor; of this invention. These compositions may be.utilized ii methods for treating or preventing a variety of disorders, such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, destructive bone disorders, proliferative disorders, infectious diseases, viral diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. These compositions are also useful in methods for preventing cell death and hyperplasia and therefore may be used to treat or prevent reperfusion/ischemia in stroke, heart attacks, and organ hypoxia. The compositions are also useful in methods for preventing thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Each of these above-described methods is also part of the present invention.

-8-
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION These compounds have the general formula:

wherein each of Qx and Q2 are independently selected from a phenyl or 5-6 membered aromatic heterocyclic ring system, or a 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic C2ii.iCcycj.ic ring a.n The rings that make-up Qi are substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO;>R' or CONR'2; O-(C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2/ OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; NR'2; OCF3; CF3; NO2; CO2R' ; CONR' ; SR' ; S (O2) N The rings that make up Q2 are optionally substituted with up to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1-C3 straight or

_ Q_
branched alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2> OR', CO2R' , S(O2)N(R')2, N=C-N(R')2, R3/ orCONR'2; 0~{Ci-C3)~ alkyl; o-(C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2> OR', CO2R', SfQ2)H(R' }2, N=C-N(R')z, R3, or CONR'2; NR'2; 5 OCF3; CF3; N02; CO2R' ; CONR' ; R3; OR3; NR3; SR3; C(O)R3;
C Q2' is selected from phenyl or a 5-6 member aromatic heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1-
10 3 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halogen; C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R' , CONR'2/ or 0-P(O3]H2; 0- (C2-C3) -alkyl optionally substituted with NRr2, OR', CO2R', CONR'2, or OP{O.*)H2; OCF3; CF3; OR4; O-CO2R4; O-P(03)H2; CO2R' ; CONR';
15 SR'; S(O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN; N(R')C(0)R4; N(R' ) C (O)OR4; N(R' )C(O)C(O)R'; NCR' )SIO2)RA; N^R')R4; N(R4}2; OR4; OC{O)R4; OP(O)3H2; or N=C-N(R')2; provided that Q2' is not phenyl optionally substituted 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyar.o, nitro,
20 air.ino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl.
R' is selected from hydrogen; (C1-C3)-alkyl; {C2-C3)-alkenyl or alhynyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selectee from halo, methoxy, cyanoy r.itro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or
25 ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyar.o, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl.
R is selected from 5-8 membered arorr.atic or
30 ncn-arorr.atic carbocyciic or heterocyclic ring systems

¦-11-
membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(R')2, OR', CO2R' , COH(R'}2, or SO2NfR2)2'* provided that W is not an R3 substituted d alkyl.
5 Wf is selected from N (R2) -SO2-Q2; M{R2)-CO2-Q2;
N{R2)-C{O)-Q2; N(R2)(Q2); C(O)-Q2; CO2-Q2; C (O)N (R2HQ2) ; C(R2}2Q2.
Each R is independently selected from hydrogen,
-R2, -NCR2) Zl -OR2, SR2, ~C{O)-N(R2)2, -S (O2) -N {R25 2f
10 -C(0)~OR2 or -C{O)R2 wherein two adjacent R are optionally bound to one another and, together with each Y to which they are respectively bound, form a 4-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring.
When the two R components form a ring together
15 with the Y components .to which they are respectively
bound, it will obvious to those skilled in the art that a terminal hydrogen from each unfused R component will be lost. For example, if a ring structure is formed by binding those two R components 'together, one being -NH-
20 CH3 and the other being -CH2-CH3, one terminal hydrogen on each R component (indicated in bold) will be lost. Therefore, the resulting portion of the ring structure will have the formula -NH~CH2-CH2-CH2~.
R is selected from hydrogen, {C1-C3) -alkyl, or
25 CCX-C3} -alkenyl; each optionally substituted with -N(Rr)2f -OR', SR', -C(O)-N(R')2, ~S(O2)-K(R')2/ -C (0)-OR', -NSO2R4, -NSO2R3, -C(O)N(R') (R3), -NC{O)R4, -N{R'), -C{O}R\ -C(O)N(R' ) (R4) , ~N(R4)2, -C(O)N=C{NH)2 or R3.

-1 O -
x c
Y is N or C; wherein when Y is N, then R or U
attached thereto is a lone pair of electrons.
Z is CH, N, C(OCK3), CfCH3), C(NH2), C (OH) or
C(F) .
5 u is selected from R or W.
V is selected from -C{O)NH2> -P -SO2NH2.
A,B, and C are independently selected from -0-,
-CHR'-, -CHR4-, -NR'1-, -NR - or -S-.
l0 J is a {C1-C4) straight chain or branched alkyl
derivative substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from D, ~T-C{O}R', or ~OF03H2.
D is selected from the group

T is either 0 or NH.
G is either NH2 or OH.
According to a preferred embodiment, Ox 20 is selected from phenyl or pyridyl containing 1 to 3
substituents, wherein at least one of -said substituents is in the ortho position and said substituents are ¦
independently.selected from chloro, fluoro, bromo, ~CH3, -OCH3, ~OH, -CF3, -OCF3, -0{CH2)2CH3, NH2, 3,4-
25 methylenedioxy, -N (CH3) 2, -NH-S (0) 2-phenyl( -NH-C (0) 0-CH2-4-pyridine, -^-C 30 -O-(CH2)2~N(CH3)2.

-13-
Even more preferred are phenyl or pyridyl
containing at least 2 cf the above-indicated substituents botn being in the orthc position.
Some specific examples of preferred Qi are:

-14-

-15-

>iost preferably, Ql is selected from 2-fluoro-6-trifluoromethylphenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, 2,6-

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-16-
dichlorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-chloro-4-aminophenyi, 2, 6-dichloro-4-aminophenyl, 2, 6-dichIoro-3-aminophenyl, 2, 6-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-3,5-dichloro-4-pyridyl, 2-chloro-4,5 methylenedioxy phenyl, or 2-chloro-4-(N-2-morpholino-acetamido)phenyl.
According to a preferred embodiment, Q2 is phenyl, pyridyl or naphthyl containing 0 to 3 substituents, wherein each substituent is independently selected from chloro, fluoro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, -OCH3, -OH, -NH2, -CF3, -OCF3, -SCH3, -OCH3, -C(O)OH, -C(O)OCH3/ -CH;.NH2, -N(CH3)2/ -CH2-pvrrolidine and -CH2OH.
Some specific examples of preferred Q2 are:

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PCT/US99/I0291

-18-

19-

unsubstituted 2~pyridyl or unsubstituted phenyi.
Most preferred are compounds wherein Q2 is selected from phenyi, 2-isopropylphenyl, 3,4-dimethylphenyl, 2-ethylphenyl, 3~-f luorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl, 3~chloro-4-fluorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 2-carbomethoxylphenyl, 2-carboxyphenyl, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 2-pyridyl, 2-methylenehydroxyphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2-methyl-4-fluorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-fluorphenyl, 2, 4-difluorophenyl, 2-hydroxy-4-fluorphenyl, 2™methylenehydroxy~4~ fluorophenyl, 1-naphthyl, 3-chloro-2-methylenehydroxy, 3-chloro-2-methyl, or 4-fluoro-2-methyl.
According to another preferred embodiment, each Y is C.
According an even more preferred embodiment, each Y is C and the R and U attached to each Y component is selected from hydrogen or methyl.
According to another preferred embodiment, W is a 0-4 atom chain terminating in an alcohol, amine, carboxylic acid, ester, amide, or heterocycle.
Some specific examples of preferred W are:

-20-

-21-

Most preferably, W is selected from:

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U has the same preferred and most preferred embodiments as W.

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According to an even more preferred embodiment, each Y is C, and W and/or U is not hydrogen.
Some preferred embodiments are provided in Table 1 ~o 6 below:

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Table 1.

-24-

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Table 2

-25

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o26-
Table 3.

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Table A

¦27-

¦28-

Table 5

Cmpd Humber

Table 6

-29-

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-30'
Particularly preferred embodiments include

Particularly preferred embodiments also include

wherein X is NH2 or N(CH,}2;

-31

wherein X is OH, NH2/ or N(CH3)2-
Other particularly preferred embodiments include

5

10 Other particularly preferred embodiments
include:

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-33'

-34-

According to another embodiment, the present invention provides methods of producing the above-identified inhibitors of p38 of the formulae (la),(Ib), (Ic), (Id) and (Ie). Representative synthesis schemes for formula (la) are depicted below.
Schemes 1-3 illustrate the preparation of compounds in which W is either an amino, carboxyl or an aldehyde function. In each case the particular moiety may be modified through chemistry well known in the literature. For example the final amino compounds D and N (schemes 1 and 4 respectively) may be acylated, sulfonylated or alkylated to prepare compounds within the scope of W. In all schemes, the LI and L2 groups on the initial materials are meant to represent leaving groups

WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291
~-35~
ortho to the nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring. For example, compound A may foe 2, 6™dichloro~3 nitro pyridine.
Scheme 1

5 in Scheme 1, W is selected from amino™
derivatized compounds such as N (R2) SO2-N{R2) 2; N{R2)SO2~
N(R1(R3); N(R')C(O)-R2; or N(R2)2.
In Scheme 1, the Q2 ring is introduced
10 utilizing one of many reactions know in the art which result in the production cf biaryl compounds. One example may be the reaction of an aryl lithium compound with the pyridine intermediate A. Alternatively, an arylmetalic compound such as an aryl stannane or an aryi
15 boronic acid may be reacted with the aryl halide portion
(intermediate A) in the presence of a Pd° catalyst to form product B. In the next step, a Ql substituted derivative such as a phenyl acetonitrile derivative may be treated with a base such as sodium hydride/ sodium 20 amide, LDA, lithium hexamethyldisilazide or any number of

-36-
other non-nucleophilic bases to deprotonate the position alpha to the cyano group, which represents a masked amide moiety. This anion is then contacted with intermediate B ,tc form C- The nitrile or equivalent group of intermediate C is then hydrolyzed to form the amide and the nitro group is subjected to reducing conditions to form the amine intermediate D. Intermediate D is then used to introduce various functionality defined by W through chemistry such as acylation, sulfcnylation or alkylation reactions well known in the literature. Depending on the regiochemistry of the first two steps of this procedure, the first two steps may need to be reversed.
15 Scheme 2

In Scheme 2, W is selected from carboxyl-derivatized compounds, such as C(O)-R2; CH(OH)-R2; C(O)-N(R2)2; or C(0)-2 0 OR .
Scheme 2 generally follows the procedures described for Scheme 1 except that a carboxyl

-37-
intemediate such as E is the starting material. The first two steps mirror Scheme 1, and, as mentioned for Scheme 1, may be reversed depending on the regiochemistry of specific examples. Intermediate G is formed from these first two steps and this material may be hydrolyzed as mention to for the carboxyl intermediate H. The carboxyl group may then be modified according to well-known procedures from the literature to prepare, analogs with defined W substituenrs such as acylations, amidazions and esterificanions.
Scheme 3

In Scheme 3, W is selected from (C1-C4) straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with N(R')Z, OR', CO2R', CON(R')2, R3, or SO2N(R2)2; or a 5-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(R'}2, OR', CO2R' , CON(R')2, or SO2N (?/);.; provided that W is not an R3 substituted Ci alkyl.

WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291
-38-
In scheme 3 a pyridine derivative is metalated and quenched with one of many known electrophiles which can generate an aldehyde, to form intermediate I. . The aldehyde can then be masked to form the dimethyl acetal 5 J. This intermediate is then carried on as described in scheme 1 and 2 to introduce the Ql and Q2 substituents, to produce intermediate L. As before, these two steps may be interchanged depending on specific regiochemistry. The masked aldehyde of L may then be deprotected and
10 utilized to form compounds with the defined W substitution using well know chemistry such as alkylations and reductive aminations.
Schemes 4-6 are similar to schemes 1-3 with the exception that the targeted compounds are those in which
15 Z = Nitrogen. The steps for these schemes parallel 1-3 with the exception that the alkylation utilizing a phenyl acetonitrile is replaced with a reaction with a Ql amine derivative such as a substituted aniline derivative. The
20 acylation reaction with, for example/ chlorosulfonyl isocyanate.

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-39-

In Scheme 4, W is selected from amino-derivati2ed groups such as N (R2) SO2-N(R2) 2; N(R2)SO2-5 N(R:'){R3); N{R2)C(O)-OR2; N (R2) C (0) -N (R2) 2; N(R2)C(O)-N(RZ)(R3); N(R2)C(O)-R2; or N(R2)2.
In Scheme 4, intermediate B (from scheme 1) is treated with, for example, an aniline derivative in the presence of a base such as potassium carbonate.
10 Additionally, a palladium catalyst may be utilized to
enhance the reactivity of this general type of reaction, if needed. The resulting amine derivative is then acylated to form intermediate M. The nitro group of M is then reduced to form N and the amino group may then be
15 derivatized as described for scheme I. As mentioned for schemes 1-3, the steps involved in the introduction of the Ql and Q2 substituents may be interchanged depending on the specific regiochemistry of specific compounds.

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-40-

In Scheme 5, W is selected from carboxyl-derivatized groups such as C(O)-R2; CH(OH)-R2; C(O)-N(R2)2; or C(O)-OR2.
Scheme 6

-41-
In Scheme 6, W is selected from (C1-C4) straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with N(R')z/ OR', CO2R', CON(R')2, R3/ or SO2N(R2}2; or a 5-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(R' ) 2, OR', CO2R', CON(R')2, or SO2N(R2)2; provided that W is not an R3 substituted Ci alkyl.
Schemes 5 and 6 generally follow the procedures mentioned above.
One having skill in the art will recognize schemes 1-6 may be used to synthesize compounds having the general formula of (Ib), (Ic), (Id) and (Ie).
According to another embodiment of the invention, the activity of the p38 inhibitors of this invention may be assayed in vitro, in vivo or in a cell line. In vitro assays include assays that determine inhibition of either the'kinase activity or ATPase activity of activated p38. Alternate in vitro assays ~,.r,r.-i-^+.~i--. t-u-i sw¦; 2 *! *"y -^ ti"c inhibitor to birvd. to p38
and may be measured either by radiolabelling the inhibitor prior to binding, isolating the inhibitor/p38 complex and determining the amount of radiolabel bound, or by running a competition experiment where new inhibitors are incubated with p38 bound to known radioligands.
Cell culture assays of the inhibitory effect of the compounds of this invention may determine the amounts of TNF, IL-1, IL-6 or IL-8 produced in whole blood or cell fractions thereof in cells'treated with inhibitor as compared to cells treated with negative controls. Level of these cytokines may be determined through the use of commercially available ELISAs.

-42-
An in vivo assay useful for determining the inhibitory activity of the p38 inhibitors of this invention are the suppression of hind paw edema in rats with Mycobacterium butyricum-induced adjuvant arthritis. This is described in J.C. Boehm et al., J. Med. Chem., 39, pp. 3929-37 (1996), the disclosure of-which is herein incorporated by reference. The p38 inhibitors of this invention may also be assayed in animal models of ¦arthritis, bone resorption, endotoxin shock and immune function, as described in A. M. Badger et al., J. Pharmacol. Experimental Therapeutics, 279, pp. 1453-61 (1996), the disclosure cf which is herein incorporated by reference.
The p38 inhibitors or pharmaceutical salts thereof may be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions for administration to animals or humans. These pharmaceutical compositions, which comprise an amount of p38 inhibitor effective to treat or prevent a p38-mediated cond.ition *nd a pharmaceut? cally acceptable carrier, are another embodiment of the present invention.
The term "p38-mediated condition", as used herein means any disease or other deleterious condition in which p38 is known to play a role. This includes conditions known to be caused by IL-1, TNF, IL-6 or IL-8 overproduction. Such conditions include, without limitation, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, destructive bone disorders, proliferative disorders, infectious diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, allergies, reperfusion/ischemia in stroke, heart attacks, angiogenic disorders, organ hypoxia., vascular hyperplasia, cardiac hypertrophy, thrombin-induced

-43-
platelet aggregation, and conditions associated with prostaglandin endoperoxidase synthase-2.
Inflammatory diseases which may be treated or prevented by tne compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, asthma, allergies, and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Autoimmune diseases which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, chronic thyroiditis, Graves' disease, autoimmune gastritis, diabetes, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, autoimmune neuiropenia, thrombocytopenia, atopic dermatitis, chronic active hepatitis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, or graft vs. host disease.
Destructive bon*^ disorders vrhi,ch rciav be tr"?.?t(?d. or prevented by the compounds, of this invention include, but are not limited to, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and multiple myelcna-related bone disorder.
Proiiferative diseases which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention -include, but are not limited to, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, metastatic melanoma/ Kaposi's sarcoma, and multiple myeloma.
Angiogenic disorders which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention include solid tumors, ocular neovasculization, infantile haemangiomas.

-44-
Infectious diseases which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, sepsis, septic shock, and Shigellosis.
Viral diseases which may be treated or
prevented by the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, acute hepatitis infection {including hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C), HIV infection and CMV re-initis.
Neurodegenerative diseases which may be treated or prevented by the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebral ischemias or neurodegenerative disease caused by traumatic injury.
"p38-mediated conditions" also include
ischemia/reperfusion in stroke, heart attacks, myocardial ischemia, organ hypoxia, vascular hyperplasia, cardiac hypertrophy, and thrombin-induc'ed platelet aggregation.
In addition, p39 inhibitors cf the instont invention are also capable of inhibiting the expression of inducible pro-inflammatory proteins such as prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 (PGHS-2), also referred tc as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Therefore, other "p38-mediated conditions" which may be treated by the compounds of this invention include edema, analgesia, fever and pain, such as neuromuscular pain, headache, cancer pain, dental pain and arthritis pain.
The diseases that may be treated or prevented by the p38 inhibitors of this invention may also be conveniently grouped by the cytokine (IL^l, TNF, IL-6, IL-8) that is believed to be responsible for the disease.

-45-
Thus, an IL-I-mediated disease or condition includes rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, stroke, endotoxemia and/or toxic shock syndrome, inflammatory reaction induced by endotoxin, inflammatory bowel disease, tuberculosis, atherosclerosis, muscle degeneration, cachexia, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, gout, traumatic arthritis, rubella arthritis, acute synovitis, diabetes, pancreatic fi-cell disease and Alzheimer's disease.
TNF-mediated disease or condition includes, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and other arthritic conditions, sepsis, septic shock, endotoxic shock, gram negative sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, adult respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral malaria, chronic pulmonary inflammatory disease, silicosis, pulmonary sarcoisosis, bone resorption diseases, reperfusion injury, graft vs. host reaction, allograft rejections, fever and myalgias dve to infection, cachexia secondary to infection; AIPS,-ARC or malignancy, keloid formation, scar tissue formation, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or pyresis. TNF-mediated diseases also include viral infections, such as HIV, CMV, influenza and herpes; and veterinary viral infections, such as lentivirus infections, including, but not limited to equine infectious anemia virus, caprine arthritis virus, visna virus or maedi virus; or retrovirus infections, including feline immunodeficiency virus, bovine immunodeficiency virus, or canine immunodeficiency virus.
IL-8 mediated disease or condition includes diseases characterized by massive neutrophil infiltration, such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel

_46-
disease/ asthma, cardiac and renal reperfusion injury, adult respiratory distress syndrome, thrombosis and glomerulonephritis.
In addition, the compounds of this invention may be used topically to treat or prevent conditions caused or exacerbated by IL-1 or TNF. Such conditions include inflamed joints, eczema, psoriasis, inflammatory skin conditions such as sunburn, inflammatory eye conditions such as conjunctivitis, pyresis, pain and other conditions associated with inflammation.
In addition to the compounds of this invention, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention may also be employed in compositions to treat or prevent the above-identified disorders.
Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic acids and bases. Examples of suitable acid salts include
arai-phs, .^/-l-inst-o, alrrSriP+-c. a ena vfaf p hpn 7nafo .
benzenesulfonate, bisulfate, butyrate, citrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, formate, fumarate, glucoheptanoate, glycerophosphate, glycolate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, lactate, maleate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2~ naphthalenesuifonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oxalate, palmoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, picrate, . pivalate, propionate, salicylate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, thiocyanate, tosylate and undecanoate. Other acids, such as oxalic, while not in themselves pharmaceutically acceptable, may be employed

-47-
in the preparation of salts useful as intermediates in obtaining the compounds of the invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. Salts derived from appropriate bases include alkali metal (e.g., sodium and'potassium), alkaline earth metal (e.g., magnesium)/ ammonium and N-(Cl-4 alkyl}4+ salts. This invention also envisions the quaternization of any basic nitrogen-containing groups of the compounds disclosed herein. Water or oil-soluble or dispersible products may be obtained by such quaternization,
Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers that may be used in these pharmaceutical compositions include, but are not limited to, ion exchangers, alumina, aluminum stearate, lecithin, serum proteins, such as human serum albumin, buffer substances such as phosphates, glycine, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, partial glyceride mixtures of saturated vegetable fatty acids, water, salts or electrolytes, such as protamine sulfate, disodium hydrogen phosphate- potassium hydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, zinc salts, colloidal silica, magnesium trisiiicate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cellulose-based substances, polyethylene glycol, sodium . carboxvinethylcellulose, polyacrylates, waxes, polyethylene-polyoxypropylene-block polyners, polyethylene glycol and wool fat.
The compositions of the present invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically,, rectal!y, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir. The term "parenteral" as used herein includes subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, intra-synovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intrahepatic, intralesional

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and intracranial injection or infusion techniques. Preferably, the compositions are administered orally, intraperitoneally or intravenously.
Sterile injectable forms of the compositions of this invention may be aqueous or oleaginous suspension. These suspensions may be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1, 3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono-or di-glyceri'des. Fatty acids, such as oleic acid and ¦j t-c fr.i veerid^1 "^??~d v9.tz.v5E srs useful in th^ prc^srcition of injectables, as are natural pharmaceutically-acceptable oils, such as olive oil or castor oil, especially in their polyoxyethylated versions. These oil solutions or suspensions may also contain a long-chain alcohol diluent or dispersant, such as carboxymethyl cellulose or similar dispersing agents which are commonly used in the formulation of pharmaceuticaliy acceptable dosage forms including emulsions and suspensions. Other commonly used surfactants, such as Tweens, Spans and other emulsifying agents or bioavailability enhancers which are commonly used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticaliy acceptable solid, liquid, or other

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dosage forms may also be used for the purposes of formulation.
The pharmaceutical compositions of this, invention may be orally administered in any orally acceptable dosage form including, but not limited to, capsules, tablets, aqueous suspensions or solutions. In the case of tablets for oral use, carriers commonly used include lactose and corn starch. Lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, are also typically added. For oral administration in a capsule form, useful diluents include lactose and dried cornstarch. When aqueous suspensions are required for oral use, the active ingredient is combined with emulsifying and suspending agents. If desired, certain sweetening, flavoring or coloring agents may also be added.
Alternatively, the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration.- These can be prepared by mi xing the agent with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at room temperature but liquid at reczal temperature and therefore will melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials include cocoa butter, beeswax and polyethylene glycols.
The pharmaceutical compositions of this
invention may also be administered topically, especially when the target of treatment includes areas or organs readily accessible by topical application, including ¦ diseases of the eye, the skin, or the lower intestinal tract. Suitable topical formulations are readily prepared for each of these areas or organs.
Topical application for the lower intestinal tract can be effected in a rectal suppository formulation

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(see above) or in a suitable enema formulation. Topically-transdermal patches may also be used.
For topical applications, the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in a suitable ointment containing the active component suspended or dissolved in one or more carriers. Carriers for topical administration of the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, liquid petrolatum, white petrolatum, propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene compound, emulsifying wax and water. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated in a suitable lotion or cream containing the active components suspended or dissolved in one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Suitable carriers include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60, cetyl esters wax, cetearyl alcohol, 2-octyldodecanol, benzyl alcohol and water.
For cpht.hslT.ic uss/ the pharmaceutical
compositions may be formulated as micronized suspensions in isoconic, pH adjusted sterile saline, or, preferably, as solutions in isotonic, pH adjusted sterile saline, either with or without a preservative such as benzylalkonium chloride. Alternatively, for ophthalmic uses, the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in an ointment such as petrolatum.
The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may also be administered by nasal aerosol or inhalation. Such compositions are prepared according to techniques well-known in the art of pharmaceutical formulation and may be prepared as solutions in saline, employing benzyl alcohol or other suitable preservatives,

absorption promoters to enhance bioavailability,
fluorocarbons, and/or other conventional solubilizing or dispersing agents.
The amount of p38 inhibitor that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated, the particular mode of administration. Preferably, the compositions should be formulated so that a dosage of between 0.01 - 100 mg/kg body weight/day of the inhibitor can be administered to a patient receiving these compositions.
It should also be understood that a specific dosage and treatment regimen for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specific compound employed* the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, and the judgment of. the treating physician and the severity of the particular disease being treated. The amount of inhibitor will also depend upon the particular compound in the composition.
According to another embodiment, the invention provides methods for treating or preventing a p38-mediated condition comprising the step of administering to a patient one of the above-described pharmaceutical compositions. The term "patient", as used herein, means an anirval, preferably a human*
Preferably, that method is used to treat or prevent a condition selected from inflammatory diseases, autoimnune diseases., destructive bone disorders, prolif^rative disorders,, infectious diseases, degenerative diseases, allergies, reperfusion/ischemia in

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stroke, heart attacks, angiogenic disorders, organ hypoxia, vascular hyperplasia, cardiac hypertrophy, and thrortibin-induced platelet aggregation.
According to another embodiment, the inhibitors of this invention are used to treat or prevent an IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 or TNF-mediated disease or condition. Such conditions are described above.
Depending upon the particular p38-mediated condition to be treated or prevented, additional drugs, which are- normally administered to treat or prevent that condition, may be administered together with the inhibitors of this invention. For example/ chemotherapeutic agents or other anti-proliferative agents may be combined with the p38 inhibitors of this invention to treat proliferative diseases.
Those additional agents may be administered separately, as part of a multiple dosage regimen, from the p38 inhibitor-containing composition. Alternatively, those agents may be part of a single dosage form, mixed together with the p38 inhibitor in a single composition.
In order that the invention described herein may be more fully understood, the following examples are set forth. It should be understood that these examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting this invention in any manner.

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EXAMPLE 1
Synthesis of p38 Inhibitor Compound 6

To a solution of LDA (60mmol, 40mLs) at -78° C, was added dropwise a solution of 2,6-Dibromopyridine 5 (40mmol, 9.48gms) in THF (30mLs, dried). The mixture was stirred at -78° C for 20 minutes. Ethyl formate (400mmol, 32.3mLs) was added and stirring was continued at -78° C for 2 hours. Saturated ammonium chloride (200mLs) was added and the mixture was warmed to room temperature.
10 The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacua. The resulting material was purified by flash chx'omatography on silica gel followed by eluting with 10% ethyl acetate
15 in n-hexane to afford 1 (32mmol, 8,41gms) as a white solid.

A solution of 1 {13.08mmol, 3.1gms) and concentrated sulfuric acid (lmL) in methanoi (50mL) was 20 refluxed ovemiaht. The reaction mixture was cooled,

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neutralizeci with aqueous base and extracted into ethyl acetate. Drying and evaporation of the organic layer afforded 2 (11.77mmo.l/ 3.63gms) as an oil.

5 To a solution of t-Butoxide (2.2mmol, 2mLs) was
added dropwise a solution of 2, 6-Dichloroaniline (l.Ommol, 162mgs) in THF (2mL, dried). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 minutes. A solution of
2 (l.Ommol, 309mgs) in THF (5mLs) was added and stirring
L0 was continued for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was
diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting material was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel 15 followed by eluting with 5% acetone in n-hexane to afford
3 (O.SSmmol, 128mgs) as an orange solid.

o-Tolylboronic acid (0.34mmol, 46mgs), and 3 (0.20mmol, 80mgs) were dissolved in a toluene/ethanol

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(5/1) mixture. Thallium carbonate (0,5, 235mgs} and tetrakis itriphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (lOmgs) was added to the solution and the slurry was allowed to reflux for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting material was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel followed by eluting with 5% nethanol in methylene chloride to afford 4 (0.17mir\ol, olmgs) as a white solid.

A solution of 4 f0.l7mmol, 6 lings) and
chlorosuifonyl isocyanate {Iramol, 141.Srags) in methylene chloride (5mLs} was stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting material was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel followed by eluting with 5% acetone in n-hexane to afford 5 (0.12mmol, 46mgs) as a white solid.

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rvcl° C*fO^H ^^ H° ^^^
5 6
Sodium borohydride (l.Ommol, 39.8 mgs) was added to a solution of 5 (0.12mmol, 46mgs) in methanol
CLOmLs) and the solution was stirred for 15 minutes. The reaction was quenched with water. The reaction mixture was then diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with aqueous acid and base. The organic layer was dried and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting material was purified by flash chromatography to afford 6
(0.08mmol, 36mgs) as a white solid.
The spectral data for compound 6 was:
H NMR (500 MHz, CDC13) 5 7.90 (d, 1H) , 7.60 (d, 2H) , 7.5-7.3 (m, 5H), 6.30 (d, 2H), 4,5 (s, 2H), 2.3 (s, 2H) .
Synthesis of p38 Inhibitor Compound 7

The amino-alcohol (500 rag, 1.43 mmol), which was prepared in the same manner as 4, was dissolved in

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dichloromethane. Triethylamine (433 mg, 4.29 mmol) was added, followed by acetyl chloride (168 mg, 2.15 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour, poured into water, and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic extract was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in 10.0 mL of toluene. A 20% solution of phosgene in toluene (5.0 mL) was added and the solution was refluxed for two hours. The solution was cooled and 5.0 mL of concentrated ammonium hydroxide was added, precipitating a white solid. The mixture was poured into water and extracted with toluene. The organic extract was dried (MgSCM and evaporated in vacuo to afford 205 ing of the urea-acetate 7 as a white solid.
The spectral data for compound 7 was;
'H NMR {500 MHZ, CDC13) 67,80 (d, 1H) , 7.62-7.50 cvr.*"h°r>is ~f ^3£ Inhibitor Compound S

The urea-alcohol (548 mg, 1.4 mmol), which was prepared in the same manner as 6, was dissolved in 5.0 mL of toluene. A 20% solution of phosgene in toluene (5.0 mL) was added and the solution was refluxed for two

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hours. The solution was cooled and 5.0 mL of concentrated ammonium hydroxide was added, precipitating a white solid. The mixture was poured into water and extracted with toluene. The organic extract was dried 5 {MgSG4) and evaporated in vacuo to afford 284 mg of the carbamate 8 as a white solid.
The spectral data of compound 8 was:
LH NMR (500MHz, CDC13)S7.77 (d, 1H), 7.55-7.45 (m, 2H) , 7.15-6.95 (m, 5H) , 6.50 (d, 1H), 5.40 (br s, 2H) , 5.00 10 (s, 2H) . HRMS showed MH+ 435.1 as the major peak.
EXAMPLE 2 Synthesis of p38 Inhibitor Compound 16

One equivalent cf 2, 6-riichIorcpyr.idina- -1
carboxylic acid was dissolved in THF. The solution was cooled to 0°C and cne equivalent of borane dimethyl sulfide complex was added. The solution was stirred at room temperature icr twelve hours. The mixture was poured into water and extracted with diethyl ether. The ether extract was cried, and evaporated in vacuo to afford 9 in 93% yield.

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One equivalent of 9 was dissolved in methylene
chloride. One equivalent of methyl chloromethyl ether was added, followed by the addition of one equivalent of ethyl diisopropylamine. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for several hours, poured into water and extracted, with a water-immiscible solvent. The extract was dried and evaporated in vacuo to afford 10 in 86% yield.

One equivalent of potassium t-butoxide was added to a solution of one equivalent of 2,6-
dichlorophenyl acetonitrile in THF at room temperature.
minutes, and a solution of the dichloropyridine 10 in THF was added. After stirring for 1.5 hours, the mixture was poured into aqueous ammonium chloride and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was dried anc evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography to afford 11 in 79% yield as a white powder.

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The acetal 11 was mixed with concentrated hydrochloric acid and stirred for several hours. The mixture was extracted with a water-immicible organic solvent. The extract was washed with saturated aqueous NaHCOw dried, and evaporated in vacuo to afford 12.

10

The nitrile 12 was mixed with concentrated sulfuric acid and heated to 100°C for several minutes. The mixture was cooled, poured onto ice, and filtered to afford 13.

One equivalent of the chloropyridine 13 was dissolved in 1,2-dimethoxyethane. One equivalent of 3-chloro-2-methylphenylboronic acid was added. A solution of" one equivalent of sodium carbonate in water was added along with a catalytic amount of tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (0). The mixture was heated to 80°C for several hours. The mixture was poured into water and exzracred with.a water-immiscible organic

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solvent. - The extract was dried, evaporated in vacuo and
purified by flash chromatography to afford 14.

One equivalent of the alcohol 14 was dissolved in THF. The solution was cooled to 0QC and one equivalent of methanesulfonyl chloride was added following by one equivalent of triethylamine. The solution was stirred'for several hours, poured into water, and extracted with a water-immiscible solvent. The extract was dried and evaporated in vacuo to afford the crude mesylate 15.

One equivalent of the xnethanesuifonyi ester 15 was dissolved in THF. The solution was cooled to 0°C and one equivalent of N-ethyl piperazine was added following by one equivalent of triethylamine. The solution was stirred for several hours, poured into water, and extracted with a water-immiscible solvent. The extract was dried, evaporated, and purified by-flash chromatography to afford the pure amine 16,

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The spectral data for compound 16 is:
lH NMR (500 MHz, CDC13) 5 9.85 (br s, 1H) , 7.47 (dd, 1H) , 7.42 (d, 1H), 7.27 (m, 5H) , 6.75 (s, 1H), 5.95 (s, 1H) , 5.7 (br s, 1H), 3.5 (ABq, 2H) , 2.5-2.3 (m, _ 10H)', 2.3 (s, 5 3H), 1.2 (t, 3H).
EXAMPLE 2
Cloning of p38 Kinase in Insect Cells Two splice variants of human p38 kinase, CSBP1 and CSBP2, have been identified. Specific oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify the coding
10 region of CSBP2 cDNA using a HeLa cell library
(Stratagene) as a template. The polymerase chain reaction product was cloned into the pET-15b vector (Novagen). The baculovirus transfer vector, pVL-(His)6-p38 was constructed by subcloning a Xbal-BainHI fragment
15 of pET15b-(His)6-p38 into the complementary sites in plasmid pVL1392 (Pharmingen)?
The plasmid pVL- (His) 6-p36 directed the synthesis of a recoiabinant protein consisting of a 23-residue peptide ;MGSSHHHHHHSSGLVPRGSHMLE, where LVPRGS
20 represents a throtnbin cleavage site) fused in frame to
the H-terminus of p38, as confirmed by DMA sequencing and by H-terminal sequencing of the expressed protein. Monolayer culture of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells (ATCC) was maintained in TNM-FK medium (Gibco BRL)
25 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum in a T-flask at
27GC. Sf9 cells in log phase were cc-transfected with linear viral DNA of Autographa califonica nuclear polyhedrosis virus {Pharmingen) and transfer vector pVL-(His)6-p3S using Lipofectin (Invitrogen). The individual

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recombinant baculovirus clones were purified by plaque assay using 1% low melting agarose.
EXAMPLE 3 Expression and Purification of Recombinant p38 Kinase
Trichoplusia hi (Tn-368) High-Five™ cells (Invitrogen) were grown in suspension in Excel-405 5 protein free medium (JRH Bioscience) in a shaker flask at
27°C. Cells at a density of 1.5 X 106 cells/ml were infected with the reccmbinant baculovirus described above at a multiplicity of infection of 5, The expression level of recombinant p38 was monitored by immunoblotting
-10 using a rabbit anti-p38 antibody (Santa Cruz
Biotechnology) . The cell mass was harvested 72 hours after infection when the expression level of p38 reached its maximum.
Frozen cell paste from cells expressing the
15 (His)6-tagged p38 was thawed in 5 volumes'of Buffer A (50 mM NT"g2po;, r>R s.f\ 700 n"M Nad, ?raM ft-Mercaptoethanol, 3 0% Glycerol and 0.2 mM PMSF). After mechanical disruption of the cells in a microfluidizer, the lysate was centrifuged'at 30,000 x g for 30 minutes. The
20 supernatant was incubated batchwise for 3-5 hours at 4°C with Talon™ (Clontech) metal affinity resin at a ratio of 1 mi of resin per 2-4 mgs of expected p38. The resin was settled by centrifugation at 500 x g for 5 minutes and gently washed batchwise with Buffer A. The resin was
25 slurried and poured into a column (approx. 2.6 x 5.0 cm) and washed with Buffer A + 5 mM imidazole.
The (Kis)6-p38 was eluted with Buffer A + 100 mM imidazole and subsequently dialyzed overnight at 4 C against 2 liters of Buffer B, (50 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 25 mM

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fi~glycerophosphate, 5% glycerol, 2mM DTT) . The His6 tag was removed by addition of at 1.5 units thrombin (Calbiochem) per mg of p38 and incubation at 2G°C for 2-3 hours. The thrombin was quenched by addition of 0.2 mM 5 PMSF and then the entire sample was loaded onto a 2 ml benzamidine agarose (American International Chemical) column.
The flow through fraction was directly loaded onto a 2.6 x 5.0 cm Q-Sepharose (Pharmacia) column
10 previously equilibrated in Buffer B + 0.2 mM PMSF. The
p38 was eluted with a 20 column volume linear gradient to 0.6M NaCl in Buffer B. The eluted protein peak was pooled and dialyzed overnight at 4°C vs. Buffer C (50 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 5% glycerol, 50 mM NaCl, 2 mM DTT, 0.2 mM
15 PMSF) .
The dialyzed protein was concentrated in a Centriprep (Amicon) to 3-4 ml and applied to a 2.6 x 100 cm Sephacryl S-100HR (Pharmacia) column. The protein was eluted at a flow rate of 35 ml/hr. The main peak was
20 pooled, adjusted to 20 mM DTT, concentrated to 10-80
ir.gs/ml and frozen in aliquots at -70°C or used immediately.
EXAMPLE 4
Activation of p38
25 p38 was activated by combining 0.5 mg/ml p38
with 0.005 mg/ml DD-double mutant MKK6 in Buffer B + lOmM MgCl2, 2mM ATP, 0.2mM Na2VO4 for 30 minutes at 20°C. The activation mixture was then loaded onto a 1.0 x 10 cm MonoQ column (Pharmacia) and eluted with a linear 20 30 column volume gradient to 1.0 M NaCl in Buffer B. The

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activated p38 eluted after the ADP and ATP. The activated p38 peak was pooled and dialyzed against buffer B + 0.2mM Na2VO4 to remove the NaCl. The dialyzed protein was adjusted to 1.1M potassium phosphate by addition of a 5 4.CM stock solution and loaded onto a 1.0 x 10 cm HIC (Rainin Hydropore) column previously equilibrated in Buffer D (10% glycerol, 20mM fl-glycerophosphate, 2.OmM DTT) + 1.1MK2HPO4. The protein was eluted with a 20 column volume linear gradient to Buffer D + 50mM K2HPO4. 10 The double phosphorylated p38 eluted as the main peak and was pooled for dialysis against Buffer B + 0.2mM Na^VO*. The activated p38 was stored at -70°C.
EXAMPLE 5
15 p38 Inhibition Assays
A. Inhibition of Phosphorylation of EGF Receptor Peptide
Or* r^l. T~ ~ , .. . ... ~ _,._.. i^-i -,.,*- ¦:-, *-V ,. ^^^_m^, ^ j:
c \j 1 iilo aiiijuj rtuo i^ci J. J. JL C.VJ ^J u. U -L-* !^ii>^; ^ o- ^^- *_ 14.>_ t. \J -.
10 nM MgCl2, 25 mM fi-glycerophosphate, 10% glycerol and 100 mM HEPES buffer at pH 7.6. For a typical IC50 determination, a stock solution was prepared containing all of the above components and activated p38 {5 nM).
25 The stock solution was aliquotted into vials. A fixed
volume of DMSO or inhibitor in DMSO (final concentration of DMSO in reaction was 5%} was introduced to each vial, mixed and incubated for 15 minutes at room temperature. EGF receptor peptide, KRELVEPLTPSGEAPNQALLR, a phosphoryl
30 acceptor in p38-catalyzed kinase reaction (1), was added to each vial to a final concentration of 209 uM. The kinase reaction was initiated with ATP (100 uM) and the
vials were incubated at 30°C. After 30 minutes, the

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reactions were quenched with equal volume of 10% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA).
The phosphorylated peptide was quantified by HPLC analysis. Separation of phosphorylated peptide from 5 the unphosphorylated peptide was achieved on a reverse phase column (Deltapak, 5 urn, CIS 100D, Part no. 011795) with a binary gradient of water and acteonitrile, each containing 0.1% TFA. IC50 {concentration of inhibitor yielding 50% inhibition} was determined by plotting the 10 percent. (?) activity remaining against inhibitor concentration.
B. Inhibition of ATPase Activity
This assay is carried out in the presence of 10
15 mM MgCl2f 25 mM ft~glycerophosphate, 10% glycerol and 100 mM HEPES buffer at; pH 7.6.- For a typical Ki determination, the Km for ATP in the ATPase activity of activated p38 reaction is determined in the absence of inhibitor and in the presence cf two concentrations of
20 inhibitor. A stock solution is prepared containing all of the above components and activated p38 {60 nM). The stock solution is aliquotted into vials. A fixed volume of DHSO or inhibitor in DMSO (final concentration of DMSO in reaction was 2.5%) is introduced to each vial, mixed
25 and incubated for 15 minutes at room temperature. The
reaction is initiated by adding various concentrations of
ATP and then incubated at 30°C. After 30 minutes, the reactions are quenched with 50 ul of EDTA {0.1 M, final concentration), pH 8.0. The product of p38 ATPase 30 activity, ADP, is quantified by HPLC analysis.
Separation of ADP from ATP is achieved on a reversed phase column (Supelcosil, LC-18, 3 um, part no.

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5-8985) using a binary solvent gradient of following composition: Solvent A - 0.1 M phosphate buffer containing 8 mM tetrabutylammoniurn hydrogen sulfate (Sigma Chemical Co., catalogue no. T-7158); Solvent B -5 Solvent A with 30% methanol.
Ki is determined from the rate data as a function of inhibitor and ATP concentrations.
p38 inhibitors of this invention will inhibit the ATPase activity of p38. 10
C. Inhibition of IL-1, TNF, IL-6 and IL-8
Production in LPS~Stimulated PBMCs
Inhibitors were serially diluted in DMSO from a 20 mM stock. At least 6 serial dilutions were prepared.
15 Then 4x inhibitor stocks were prepared by adding 4 pi of an inhibitor dilution to 1 ml of RPMI1640 medium/10% fetal bovine serum. The 4x inhibitor stocks contained inhibitor at concentrations of 80 pM, 32 pM, 12.8 pM, 5,1? P.M.- 2,048 pM, 0.819 pMr 0.328 uM, 0,3 31 \M. 0.052
20 pM, 0.021 uM etc. The 4x inhibitor stocks were pre-warmed at 37°C until use.
Fresh human blood buffy cells were separated from other cells in a Vacutainer CPT from Becton & Dickinson {containing A ml blood and enough DPBS without
25 Mg2+/Ca2+ to fill the tube) by centrifugation at 1500 x g for 15 min. Peripheral blood mononuclear ceils (PBMCs]f, located on top of the gradient in the Vacutainer, were removed and washed twice with RPMI1640 medium/10% fetal bovine serum. PBMCs were collected by centrifugation at
30 500 x g for 10 min. The total cell number was determined using a Neubauer Cell Chamber and the cells were adjusted to a concentration of 4.8 x 10 cells/ml in cell culture

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medium (RPMI1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum).
Alternatively, whole blood containing an anticoagulant was used directly in the assay.
5 100 ul of cell suspension or whole blood were
placed in each well of a 96-well ceil culture plate. Then 50 ul of the 4x inhibitor stock was added to the cells. Finally, 50 ul of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) working stock solution {16 ng/ml in cell culture medium) 10 was added to give a final concentration of 4 ng/ml LPS in the assay. The total assay volume of the vehicle control was also adjusted to 200 ul by adding 50 ul cell culture medium. The PBMC cells or whole blood were then
incubated overnight (for 12-15 hours) at 37° C/5% CO2 in a 15 humidified atmosphere.
The next day the cells were mixed on a shaker for 3-5 minutes before centrifugation at 500 x g for 5 minutes. Cell culture supernatants were harvested and
20 Quantikine kits, #DBL50), TNF-a (BioSource, #KHC3012), IL-6 (Endogen, SEH2-IL6) and IL-8 (Endogen, #EH2-IL8) according to the instructions of the manufacturer. The ELISA data were used to generate dose-response curves from which IC50 values were derived.
25 Results for the kinase assay ("kinase";
subsection A, above), IL-1 and TNF in LPS-stimulated PBMCs ("cell") and IL-1, TNF and IL-6 in whole blood ("WB") for various p38 inhibitors of this invention are shown in Table 7 below:

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Table 7.-

Compound M.W. Kinase fCSO (uM) Cell 1L-1 fCSO (uMj Celi TNF tC50 fuM) WB H.-1 fCSO fuM) WBTNF IC50 (uM) W8H.-6
tCSQ (uM)
17 402,28 0.056 0-021 0.14 0.42 0.064 0.25
18 436.32 0.002 0.02 0.05 0.118 0.055 0.18
19 387.36 0,027 0.027 0.01 0.057 0.09 0.075
Other p38 inhibitors of this invention will also inhibit phosphorylation of EGF receptor peptide, and will inhibit the production of IL-1, TNF and IL-6, as . 5 well as IL-8, in LPS-stimulated PBMCs or in v/hole blood.
D. Inhibition of IL-6 and IL-8
Production in IL-1-Stimulated PBMCs
-This assay is carried out on PBMCs exactly the same as above except that 50 pi of an IL-lb working stock
10 solution {2 ng/ml in cell culture medium) is added to the assay instead of the (LPS) working stock solution.
Cell culture supernatants are harvested as described above and analyzed by ELISA for levels of IL-6 (Endogen, SEH2-IL6) and II.-8 (Endogen, #EH2-:L8)
15 according to the instructions of the manufacturer. The
ELISA data are used to generate dose-response curves from which ICSO values were derived.

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E. Inhibition of LPS-Induced
Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Synthase-2 (PGHS-2, or COX-2) Induction in PBMCs
Human peripheral mcnonuclear cells (PBMCs) are 5 isolated' from fresh human blcod buffy coats by
centrifugation in a Vacutainer CPT (Becton & Dickinson).
15 x 106 cells are seeded in a 6-well tissue culture dish containing RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 50U/ml penicillin, 50 ug/ml streptomycin, and 2 mM
10 L-glutamine. Compounds are added at 0.2, 2.0 and 20 uM final concentrations in DMSO. LPS is then added at a final concentration of 4 ng/rr.l to induce enzyme expression. The final culture volume is 10 ml/well.
After overnight incubation at 37°C, 5% CO2, the
15 cells are harvested by scraping and subsequent
centrifugation, the supernatant is removed, and the cells are washed twice in ice-cold DPBS (Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline, BioWhittaker). The cells are lysed on
¦LU.6 J.U1. X\J Ul.Lll lii *J U |JX COiU xyoli) UulJ-CX \t- J illl-1 ^ ¦>- -
20 HC1, pH 7.2, 150 mM NaCl, 1% Triton-X-100, 1% deoxycholic acid, 0.1% SDS, 1 mM EDTA, 2% aprotinin (Sigma), 10 ug/ml pepstatin, 10 ug/ml leupeptin, 2 mM PMSF, 1 mM benzamidine, I mM DTT) containing 1 ul Benzonase (DNAse from Merck). The protein concentration of each sample is
25 determined using trie BCA assay (Pierce) and bovine serum albumin as a standard. Then ~he protein concentration of each sample is adjusted to 1 ng/ml with cold lysis buffer. To 100 ul lysate an equal volume of 2xSD5 PAGE loading buffer is added and the sample is boiled for 5
30 min. Proteins (30 ug/lane) are size-fractionatec on 4-20?, SDS PAGE gradient gels (Novex) and subsequently transferred onto nitrocellulose membrane by

WO 99/58502 PCT/US99/10291
- 71 -
electrophoretic means for 2 hours at 100 mA in Towbin transfer buffer (25 mM Tris, 192 mM glycine) containing 20% methanol. After transfer, the membrane is pretreated for i hour at room tempera-ture. with blocking buffer (5% 5 non-fat dry milk in DPBS -supplemented with 0,1% Tween-20) and washed 3 times in DPBS/0.1% Tween~20. The membrane is incubated overnight at 4°C with a 1: 250 dilution of monoclonal anti-COX-2 antibody (Transduction Laboratories) in blocking buffer. After 3 washes in
1.0 DPBS/O.ls Tween-2.0, the membrane is incubated with a 1:1000 dilution of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated sheep antiserum to mouse Ig (Amersham) in blocking buffer for 1 h at room temperature. Then the membrane is washed again 3 times in DPBS/0.1% Tween-20. An ECL detection
15 system (SuperSignal*1 CL-HRP Substrate System, Pierce) is used to determine the levels of expression of COX-2.
While we have hereinbefore presented a number of embodiments of this invention, it is apparent that our
1 -^ - . ___.!_-. . . ,-, *~ ~ ,- " ..__ V--" -^1) 1"- .*>H +¦-¦-o¦ v-'w^.tT'l'"}- ^-.4~V",~..
20 erabodiments which utilize the methods of this invention.

- 72
WE CLAIM i
1. A process for producing heterocyclic inhibitors of P38 comprising a compound of the formula:

wherein each of Gi and Cb are independently selected from a phenyl or 5-6 membered aromatic heterocyclic ring system, or a 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic carbocyclic ring and an aromatic heterocyclic ring;
the rings that make up Qi are substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1-C3.alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2/ OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; 0-{C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NRf2, OR', CO2R' or CONR'2; NR'2; OCF3; CF3; N02; CO2R' ; CONHR'; SR' ; S(O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN; N(R')C(O)R4; N(R')C(O)OR4; N (R' } C(O)C{O)R4; N{R' ) S (02) R4; N(R')R4; N(R4)2; OR4; 0C(0}R4; OP(O)3H2; N=CH-N(R')2; 3,4-methylenedioxy; -HH-C{O)O-CH2-4-pyridine;- -NH~C{O}CH2-morpholine; ~NH-"C(O)CH2-piperazine; or ~NH~C(O)CH2-pyrrolidine;

- 73 -
the rings that make up Q2 are optionally substituted with up to A substituents, each of which is independently selected from halo; C1--C3 straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with MR'2/ OR', CO2R', S(O2)N(R')2, N*=CH~N(R')2, R3, or CONR'2; O~(Ci~C3)-alkyl; O-(C1-C3)-alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R', S{O2)N(R')2, N=CH-N(R')2, R3, or CONR'2; NR'2; OCF3; CF3; N02; CO2R'; CONHR'; R3; OR3; NHR3; SR3; C{O)R3; C£O)N{Rf }R3; C{O)OR3; SR' ; S(O2)N{R')2; SCF3; N=CH-N(R')2; CN; -NH-C(=HH}-HHZ; or ™CH2~NH-C (=NK)-NH2;
Q2' is selected from phenyl or a 5-6 member aromatic heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents, each of which is independently selected from halogen; C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R', CONR'a, or O-P{O3!H2; O- {C2-C35 -alkyl optionally substituted with NR'2, OR', CO2R', CONR'2f or OP(O3)H2; OCF3; CF3; OR4; O-CO2R4; O-P(O3}H2; CO2R' ; CONHR'; SR'; S(O2)N(R')2; SCF3; CN; N(R'JC(O)R4; N CR') C (0)OR4; N(R')C(O)C(O)R%- NCR' )S(O2)R4; N(R')R4; N(R4)2; OR4; OC{O)R4; OP(O)3H2; or N=CH-N(R')2; provided that Q2' is not phenyl optionally substituted 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl;
R' is selected from hydrogen; (C1-C3)-.alkyl; (C2-C3)-alkenyl or alkynyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl;

- 74 -
R3 is selected from 5-8 membered aromatic or non-aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring systems each optionally substituted with R' , R4, -C(O)R', ~C(O)R4, -C(O)OR4 or -J; or an 8-10 membered bicyclic ring system comprising aromatic carbocyclic rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings or a combination of an aromatic carbocyclic ring and an aromatic heterocyclic ring each optionally substituted with R' , R4, -C(O)R', -C(O)R4, -C(O)OR* or -J;
R4 is (C1-G9)-straight or branched alkyl
optionally substituted with N{R'}2, OR', CO2R% CON(R')2, or SO2M(R2)2; or a 5-6 memfoered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with N(R')2, OR', CO2R', CON£R')2, or SO2N(R2)2;
R5 is selected from hydrogen; {C1-C3} -alkyl optionally substituted with R3; (C2-C3)-alkenyl or alkynyl each optionally substituted with R3; phenyl or phenyl substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo, methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl; or a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with Ito 3 substituents independently selected from halo; methoxy, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxy, methyl or ethyl;
W is selected from H; N(R2) SO2-K£R2}2; N(R2)SO2-N(R2MR3); N(R2)C(O)-OR2; N {R25 C (O) -N*(R2) 2; N(R2)C(O)~ N(R2)(R3); N(R2)C(O)-R2; N(R2}2; C(O")-R2; CH{OH}-R2; C(O}-N(R2)2; C(O)~OR2; J; or (C1-C4) straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with N(R')2f OR' , CO2R', CON(R')2/ R3, SO2N(R2)2, OC(O)R2, OC(O)R', OC(O)N(R2)2, -N(R4)(R5), ™C(O)N{R5) (R2) , -C(0)R5, ~N(R2)C(O)N(R2) (R5), -NHC{O)0R5, -OC(O}N(R2) (R5), or -J; a 5-6 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with

- 75 -
N(R')2, OR', CO2R', CON{R')2, or SO2N£R2)2; or a 8-10 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted with NfR'Js, OR', CO2R' , CON(R')2, or SO2N{R2)2? provided that, unless V is W, W is not an R3 substituted Ci alkyl;
W is selected from N (R2)-SO2-Q2; N (R2)-CO2~Q2; N{R2}~C{O5-Q2; N(R2){Q2}; C(O)-Q2; CO2-Q2; C (O) N (R2) (Q2) ; C(RZ)2Q2;
each R is independently selected from hydrogen, -R2, -N{R2)2, -OR2, SE2, -C{O)-N(R2)a, -S {02} -N (R2) ir or -C(O)-OR2 wherein two adjacent R are optionally bound to one another and, together with each Y to which they are respectively bound, form a 4-8 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring;
R2 is selected from hydrogen, (C1-C3)-alkyl, or (C2-C3)-alkenyl; each optionally substituted with -N(R')2/ -OR', SR', ~C{O)~N{R' )2, -S(O2}~N(R' )2, -C(O)~OR', ~NHSO2R4, -NHSO2R3, -C(O)N(R') (R3) , ~NHC(O)R\ -NtR')(R3), ~N(R'){R4), -C(0)R3, -C(O)N(R') (R4) , ™N(R4)2r -C (0}N=C (NH2) 2 or R3;
Y is N or C; wherein when Y is N, then R or 0
attached thereto is a lone pair of electrons;
2 is CH or N;
D is selected from R or W;
V is -C(O)NH2;
A,B, and C are independently selected from -0-, -CHR'^, -CHR4-, -NR'-, -HR4" or -S-;
J is a (C1-C4} straight chain or branched alkyl derivative substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from D, -T-C(O)R', or -OPO3H2;
D is selected from the group

- 76 -

T is either 0 or NH; and
G is either NH2 or OH;
wherein, for compounds of formulae (la) or (Ib), when Q1 is phenyl, V is C(O)NH2, Z is N, and Y-R is N~H, then Ch and Q2' are not unsubstituted furanyl, unsubstituted thiophenyl or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl; and
provided that in compounds of formula (la), when W is hydrogen, then U is not hydrogen; and
in compounds of formula (la), when W is
hydrogen and 0 is -R2, -N(R2)2, -OR2, -SR2, -C (0)-N (R2)2, -S(O2)-N(R2)2/ -C(0)-ORZ or ~C(O)R2; then each of these R2 is not hydrogen, (Ci-CsJ-alkyl, or (C2-C3} -alkenyl, or (Ci-C3)-alkyl or {C2-C3}-alkenyl substituted with -N(R')2* -OR', -SR', -C{O)~N{R'}2, -S(O2)-K{R?)2/ -C(O)"OR', or an unsubstituted 5-6 membered aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system;
comprising the step of reacting a compound of the formula

- 77 -
wherein La and L2 are leaving groups and Rx is R3 or R4/ with a suitable alkylating compound, as herein described.
2. The process as claimed in claim l, wherein Qi is selected from phenyl or pyridyl containing 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from chloro, fluoro, bromo, ~CH3, -GCH3, -OH, ~CF3, -OCF3, -O(CH2}2CH3/ NH2, 3,4-methylenedioxy, -N(CH3)2, -NH-S (0) 2-phenyl, -NH-C (O)O~CH2-4-pyridine, -NH-C (0) CH^-morpholine, -NH-C(O)CH2-N(CH3)2, -NH-C (0)CH2-piperazine, -NH-C (0) CH2-pyrrolidine, -NH-C(0)C(O)-morpholine, -NH-C(0)C(0)-pipera^ine, -NH-C(0)C(0)-pyrrolidine, -O-C(0)CH2-N(CH3)%, or -O-(CH2)2-N(CH3)2 and wherein at least one of said substituents is in the ortho position.
3. The process as claimed in claim 2, wherein Qi contains at least two substituents, both of which are in the ortho position.
4. The process as claimed in claim 2, wherein
Gi is selected from:

- 78 -

- 79 -

80 -

5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein Qi is selected from 2-fluoro-6-trifluoromethylphenyl, 2, 6-difluorophenyl, 2, 6-dichlorophenylf 2-chloro~4~ hydroxyphenyl, 2~chloro-4-aminophenyl, 2, 6-dichloro-4-aminophenyl, 2, G-dichloro-S-aminophenyl, 2, 6-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-3A 5-dichloro-4-pyridyl, 2-chloro-4,5 methylenedioxy phenyl, or 2~chloro-4-(K-2-morpholino-acetamidophenyl.
6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein Qz is selected from phenyl, pyridyl or naphthyl and wherein Qz optionally contains up to 3 substituents, each

- 81 -
of which is independently selected from chloro, fluoro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, -OCH3, -OH,/,-NH?, -CF3/ -OCF3, -SCH3, -C(O)OH, -C(O)OCH3/ -CH2NH2, -N(CH3)2, -CH2-pyrrolidine, -CH2OH, -CH2~N(CH3)2/ -CH2-piperazine, -NH-
C{=NH)-NH2^-CH2-NH-CC^NH)-NH2, and -CH2-NH-imidazoline.
7. The process as claimed in claim 6, wherein Q2 is selected from:

- 82 -

- 83 -

8. The process as claimed in claim 1_, wherein
Qz is selected from phenyl, 2~isopropylphenyl, 3,4™ dimethylphenyl, 2-ethylphenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl, 3-chloro~4-fluorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 2-carbomethoxylphenyl, 2-carboxyphenyl, 2-methyi-4-
chlorophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 2-pyridylf 2™ methylenehydroxyphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2"methyl-4~ fluorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 2~hydroxy~4-fluorophenyl or 2-methylenehydroxy-4-fluorophenyl, 1-naphthyl, 3-chloro-2-methylenehydroxyphenyl, 3-chloro-2-methylphenyl, or 4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl.
9. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each Y is C.
10. The process as claimed in claim 9, wherein
each R and U attached to Y is independently selected from
hydrogen or methyl.
11. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein
U, W or both U and W are a 0-4 atom chain terminating in
an alcohol, amine, carboxylic acid, ester, amide or
heterocycle.
12.- The process as claimed in claim 11, wherein 0, w or both V and W are selected from:

- 85 -

- 86 -

~£7-
13. The process as claimed In claim 12, wherein U, W, or both U and w are selected from:

14. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is selected from any one of the following compounds:

89 -

90 -

91 -

- 92

- 93

167
F

H
15. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is

16. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is

- 94

and X is selected from NH2 or H(CH3}2.
17. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is

and X is selected from OH, NH2, or H{CH3)2
18. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is

- 95 -

and X is selected from OK, NH2, or N{CH3}2.

19. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is
-20. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is

96 -

21. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is

22. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound is

- 97
23. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is selected from any one of

- 98 -

The present invention relates to a process for preparing inhibitors of P38, a mammalian protein kinase involved in cell proliferation, cell death and response to extracellular stimuli. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders.

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Patent Number

210825

Indian Patent Application Number

IN/PCT/2000/00615/KOL

PG Journal Number

41/2007

Publication Date

12-Oct-2007

Grant Date

10-Oct-2007

Date of Filing

11-Dec-2000

Name of Patentee

VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

Applicant Address

130 WAVERLY STREET,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-4242,UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	SALITURO FRANCESCO	25,BAKER DRIVE,MARLBOROUGH,MA01752,UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
2	GALULLO VINCENT	18A AYER ROAD.HARVARD MA01451,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
3	BELLON STEVEN	3 HUNDREDS ROAD,WELLESLEY MA 02181,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
4	BEMIS GUY	256,APPLETON STREET.ARLINGTON MA 02476,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
5	COCHRAN JOHN	700 PRINCETON BOULEVARD,#18,LOWELL,MA 01851,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

PCT International Classification Number

CO 7D 43/56

PCT International Application Number

PCT/US99/10291

PCT International Filing date

1999-05-11

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	60/085,053	1998-05-11	U.S.A.