Title of Invention

1H-PYRAZOLE 4-CARBOXYLAMIDES, THEIR PREPARATION AND THEIR USE AS 11 BETA-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE

Abstract This invention is concerned with 1H-Pyrazole 4-carboxylamides, their preparation and their use as 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors of the formula as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the substituents are as those disclosed in the specification. These compounds, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, are useful for the treatment of diseases such as, for example, type II diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.
Full Text The invention relates to 1H-Pyrazole 4-carboxylamides, their preparation and their use as 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors. These compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases such as type II diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. The compounds according to the present invention can be characterized by formula I:
(Formula Removed)
wherein:
one of R1 or R2 is hydrogen or unsubstituted alkyl and the other is unsubstituted lower alkyl or (CH2)PY, wherein Y is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, partially unsaturated, or unsaturated mono-, bi- or tri-cyclic 5-10 membered cycloalkyl ring and p is 0 or 1, and wherein substituents on Y are lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, hydroxy-alkyl, alkyl-phenyl, phenyl-alkyl, pyridine or halogen,
or R1 and R2, together with the N atom to which they are attached, form a substituted or unsubstituted ring Z, wherein Z is a 5- to 7-membered monocyclic or 7- to 10-membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring which contains the N atom to which R1 and R2 are attached, and optionally another hetero atom which is selected from N, O and S, wherein the substituted heterocyclic ring is mono- or di- substituted with lower alkyl, hydroxy, hydroxy-alkyl, alkyl-phenyl, phenyl-alkyl, pyridine or halogen;
R3, is an aromatic ring system selected from the group consisting of [2,2']bithiophenyl,
1 -methyl-indole, 2,3-dihydro-benzo[ 1,4]dioxin, benzo[ 1,3]dioxole,
benzo[b]thiophene, benzothiophene, dibenzofuran, furane, naphthalene, phenyl, bi-phenyl, quinoline, thianthrene and thiophene, wherein said aromatic ring may be un-substituted or substituted with one or more amino, cyano, formyl, halo, hydroxy, hy-droxymethyl, lower-acyl, lower-acyl-amino, lower-alkoxy, lower-alkoxy-carbonyl, 2-(lower-alkoxy-carbonyl)-ethenyl, lower-alkyl, lower-alkyl-thio, nitro, trifluorometh-oxy or trifluoromethyl, wherein said phenyl ring may additionally be substituted with phenoxy or benzyloxy,
or R} is:
(Formula Removed)
wherein Ar is a carbocyclic or heterocyclic aryl group which may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more groups selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano and nitro; and
R4 is lower alkyl;
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
All documents cited or relied upon below are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Diabetes mellitus is a serious illness that affects an increasing number of people across the world. Its incidence is increasing along with the increasing trend to obesity many countries. The serious consequences of the disease include increased risk of stroke, heart disease, kidney damage, blindness, and amputation. Diabetes is characterized by decreased insulin secretion and/or an impaired ability of peripheral tissues to respond to insulin, resulting in increased plasma glucose levels. There are two forms of diabetes: insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent, with the great majority of diabetics suffering from the non-insulin-dependent form of the disease, known

as type 2 diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Because of the serious consequences, there is an urgent need to control diabetes.
Treatment of NIDDM generally starts with weight loss, a healthy diet and an exercise program. These factors are especially important in addressing the increased cardiovascular risks associated with diabetes, but they are generally ineffective in controlling the disease itself. There are a number of drug treatments available, including insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, acarbose, and thiazolidinediones. However, each of these treatments has disadvantages, and there is an ongoing need for new drugs to treat diabetes.
Metformin is an effective agent that reduces fasting plasma glucose levels and enhances the insulin sensitivity of peripheral tissue. Metformin has a number of effects in vivo, including an increase in the synthesis of glycogen, the polymeric form in which glucose is stored [R. A. De Fronzo Drugs 1999, 55 Suppl. 1, 29]. Metformin also has beneficial effects on lipid profile, with favorable results on cardiovascular health—treatment with metformin leads to reductions in the levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides [S. E. Inzucchi JAMA 2002, 257, 360]. However, over a period of years, metformin loses its effectiveness [R. C. Turner et al. JAMA 1999, 281, 2005] and there is consequently a need for new treatments for diabetes.
Thiazolidinediones are activators of the nuclear receptor peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor-gamma. They are effective in reducing blood glucose levels, and their efficacy has been attributed primarily to decreasing insulin resistance in skeletal muscle [M. Tadayyon and S. A. Smith Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs 2003, 12, 307]. One disadvantage associated with the use of thiazolidinediones is weight gain.
Sulfonylureas bind to the sulfonylurea receptor on pancreatic beta cells, stimulate insulin secretion, and consequently reduce blood glucose levels. Weight gain is also associated with the use of sulfonylureas [S. E. Inzucchi JAMA 2002, 257, 360] and, like metformin, efficacy decreases over time [R. C. Turner et al. JAMA 1999, 281, 2005]. A further problem often encountered in patients treated with sulfonylureas is hypo-glycemia [M. Salas and J. J. CaroAdv. Drug React. Tax. Rev. 2002, 21, 205-217].

Acarbose is an inhibitor of the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which breaks down disac-charides and complex carbohydrates in the intestine. It has lower efficacy than met-formin or the sulfonylureas, and it causes intestinal discomfort and diarrhea which often lead to the discontinuation of its use [S. E. Inzucchi JAMA 2002, 257, 360]
The metabolic syndrome is a condition where patients exhibit more than two of the following symptoms: obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low levels of HDL-cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose levels. This syndrome is often a precursor of type 2 diabetes, and has high prevalence in the United States with an estimated prevalence of 24% (E. S. Ford et al. JAMA 2002, 287, 356). A therapeutic agent that ameliorates the metabolic syndrome would be useful in potentially slowing or stopping the progression to type 2 diabetes.
In the liver, glucose is produced by two different processes: gluconeogenesis, where new glucose is generated in a series of enzymatic reactions from pyruvate, and glyco-lysis, where glucose is generated by the breakdown of the polymer glycogen.
Two of the key enzymes in the process of gluconeogenesis are phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) which catalyzes the conversion of oxalacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate, and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) which catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate to give free glucose. The conversion of oxalacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate, catalyzed by PEPCK, is the rate-limiting step in gluconeogenesis. On fasting, both PEPCK and G6Pase are upregulated, allowing the rate of gluconeogenesis to increase. The levels of these enzymes are controlled in part by the corticosteroid hormones (cortisol in human and corticosterone in mouse). When the corticosteroid binds to the corticosteroid receptor, a signaling cascade is triggered which results in the upregulation of these enzymes.
The corticosteroid hormones are found in the body along with their oxidized 11-dehydro counterparts (cortisone and 11 -dehydrocorticosterone in human and mouse, respectively), which do not have activity at the glucocorticoid receptor. The actions of the hormone depend on the local concentration in the tissue where the corticosteroid receptors are expressed. This local concentration can differ from the circulating levels of the hormone in plasma, because of the actions of redox enzymes in the tissues. The


enzymes that modify the oxidation state of the hormones are 1 Ibeta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases forms I and II. Form I (11ß-HSD1) is responsible for the reduction of cortisone to cortisol in vivo, while form II (11ß-HSD2) is responsible for the oxidation of cortisol to cortisone. The enzymes have low homology and are expressed in different tissues. 11P-HSD1 is highly expressed in a number of tissues including liver, adipose tissue, and brain, while 11P-HSD2 is highly expressed in mineralocorticoid target tissues, such as kidney and colon. 11P-HSD2 prevents the binding of cortisol to the mineralocorticoid receptor, and defects in this enzyme have been found to be associated with the syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME).
Since the binding of the 11 ß-hydroxysteroids to the corticosteroid receptor leads to upregulation of PEPCK and therefore to increased blood glucose levels, inhibition of 11ß-HSD1 is a promising approach for the treatment of diabetes. In addition to the biochemical discussion above, there is evidence from transgenic mice, and also from small clinical studies in humans, that confirm the therapeutic potential of the inhibition of 11P-HSD1.
Experiments with transgenic mice indicate that modulation of the activity of 11 P-HSD1 could have beneficial therapeutic effects in diabetes and in the metabolic syndrome. For example, when the 11ß-HSD1 gene is knocked out in mice, fasting does not lead to the normal increase in levels of G6Pase and PEPCK, and the animals are not susceptible to stress- or obesity-related hyperglycemia. Moreover, knockout animals which are rendered obese on a high-fat diet have significantly lower fasting glucose levels than weight-matched controls (Y. Kotolevtsev et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1997, 94, 14924). 11P-HSD1 knockout mice have also been found to have improved lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and glucose tolerance (N. M. Morton et al. J. Biol. Chem. 2001, 276, 41293). The effect of overexpressing the llß-HSDl gene in mice has also been studied. These transgenic mice displayed increased 1 Ip-HSDl activity in adipose tissue and exhibited visceral obesity which is associated with the metabolic syndrome. Levels of the corticosterone were increased in adipose tissue, but not in serum, and the mice had increased levels of obesity, especially when on a high-fat diet. Mice fed on low-fat diets were hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic, and also showed glucose intolerance and insulin resistance (H. Masuzaki et al. Sci-ence, 2001,294,2166).


The effects of the non-selective 1 1ß-hy.'roxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor carbe-noxolone have been studied in a number of small trials in humans. In one study, car-benoxolone was found to lead to an increase in whole body insulin sensitivity, and this increase was attributed to a decrease in hepatic glucose production (B. R. Walker et al. /. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1995, 80, 3155). In another study, decreased glucose production and glycogenolysis in response to glucagon challenge were observed in diabetic but not healthy subjects (R. C. Andrews et al. J. Clin. Enocrinol. Metab. 2003, 88, 285). Finally, carbenoxolone was found to improve cognitive function in healthy elderly men and also in type 2 diabetics (T. C. Sandeep et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 2004, 101, 6734).
A number of non-specific inhibitors of 11ß-HSD1 and 11ß-HSD2 have been identified, including glycyrrhetinic acid, abietic acid, and carbenoxolone. In addition, a number of selective inhibitors of 11ß-HSD1 have been found, including chenodeoxy-cholic acid, flavanone and 2'-hydroxyflavanone (S. Diederich et al. Eur. J. Endocrinol. 2000, 142, 200 and R. A. S. Schweizer et al. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 2003, 272, 41).
WO 2004089470, WO 2004089416 and WO 2004089415 (Novo Nordisk A/S); and WO 0190090, WO 0190091, WO 0190092, WO 0190093, WO 03043999, WO 0190094, WO 03044000, WO 03044009, and WO 2004103980 (Biovitrum AB) disclose compounds as inhibitors of 1 Ip-HSDl. These compounds are different in structure from the compounds of the current invention. WO 2004112781 and WO 2004112782 disclose the method of use of some of these compounds for the promotion of wound healing.
WO 03065983, WO 03075660, WO 03104208, WO 03104207, US20040133011, WO 2004058741, WO2005016877 and WO 2004106294 (Merck & Co., Inc.) disclose compounds as inhibitors of llß-HSDl. These compounds are different in structure from the compounds of the current invention.
US2004122033 discloses the combination of an appetite suppressant with inhibitors of 1 Ip-HSDl for the treatment of obesity, and obesity-related disorders.

WO 2004065351 (Novartis) discloses compounds as inhibitors of llp-HSDl. These compounds are different in structure from the compounds of the current invention.
WO 2004089415 (Novo Nordisk A/S) discloses the use of an inhibitor of 1 Iß-HSDl in combination with an agonist of the glucocorticoid receptor for the treatment of diseases including cancer and diseases involving inflammation. Several different classes of 11 p-HSD 1 inhibitors are disclosed including amino-ketones, benzimidazoles, car-boxamides, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-7-carboxamides, indoles, methylenedioxyphenyl-carboxamides, oxazole-4-carboxamides, oxazole-5-carboxamides pyrazolo[l,5-a]pyrimidines, pyrazole-4-carboxamides, thiazole-4-carboxamides, thiazole-5-carboxamides, and 1,2,4-triazoles.
WO 2004089416 (Novo Nordisk A/S) discloses the use of an inhibitor of 1 lp-HSDl in combination with an antihypertensive agent for the treatment of diseases including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and obesity. WO 2004089470 (Novo Nordisk A/S) discloses substituted amides as inhibitors of 11 P-HSD 1.
WO 2004089471 (Novo Nordisk A/S) discloses pyrazolo[l,5-a]pyrimidines as inhibitors of 1 lp-HSDl. WO 2004089896 (Novo Nordisk A/S) discloses compounds as inhibitors of HP-HSDI. These compounds are different in structure from the compounds of the current invention.
WO 2004011410, WO 2004033427, and WO 2004041264 (AstraZeneca UK Limited) disclose compounds as inhibitors of llß-HSDl. These compounds are different in structure from the compounds of the current invention.
WO 02076435A2 (The University of Edinburgh) claims the use of an agent which lowers levels of 1 lß-HSDl in the manufacture of a composition for the promotion of an atheroprotective lipid profile. Agents mentioned as inhibitors of 1 lp-HSDl include carbenoxolone, 11-oxoprogesterone, 3a,17,21-trihydroxy-5p-pregnan-3-one, 21-hydroxy-pregn-4-ene-3,l 1,20-trione, androst-4-ene-3,l 1,20-trione and 3p~ hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one. None of these compounds is similar in structure to the compounds of the current invention.


WO 03059267 (Rhode Island Hospital) claims a method for treating a glucocorticoid-associated state by the administration of a llß-HSDl inhibitor such as 11-ketotestosterone, 11-keto-androsterone, 11-keto-pregnenolone, 11-keto-dehydro-epiandrostenedione, 3a,5a-reduced-l 1-ketoprogesterone, 3a,5a-reduced-l 1-ketotestosterone, 3α,5α-reduced-ll-keto-androstenedione, or 3a,5a-tetrahydro-l 1(3-dehydro-corticosterone. None of these compounds is similar in structure to the compounds of the current invention.
WO 2001070671 (E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co.) discloses compounds as insecticides. These compounds are different in structure from the compounds of the current invention.
EP 360701 (Rhone-Poulenc Agrochimie) discloses compounds as agrochemical fungicides. These compounds are different in structure from the compounds of the current invention.
DE 3713774 (Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc.) discloses compounds as an agrochemical fungicide. These compounds are different in structure from the compounds of the current invention.
A need exits in the art, however, for 1 Iß-HSDl inhibitors that have efficacy for the treatment of diseases such as type II diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Further, a need exists in the art for llß-HSDl inhibitors having IC50 values less than about 1 µ,M.
It is to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting. Further, although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices and materials are now described.
In this specification the term "aryl" is used to mean a mono- or polycyclic aromatic ring system, in which the rings may be carbocyclic or may contain one or more atoms selected from O, S, and N. Examples of aryl groups are phenyl, pyridyl, benzimida-


zolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothiophenyl, cinnolinyl, furyl, imidazo[4,5-cjpyridinyl, imidazolyl, indolyl, isoquinolinyl, isoxazolyl, naphthyl, [l,7]naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, phthalazinyl, purinyl, pyidazinyl, pyra-zolyl, pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrimido[3,2-c]pyrimidinyl, pyr-rolo[2,3-d]pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, quinazolinyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrazolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thiophenyl, triazolyl, and the like.
As used herein, the term "alky!" means, for example, a branched or unbranched, cyclic or acyclic, saturated or unsaturated (e.g. alkenyl or alkynyl) hydrocarbyl radical which may be substituted or unsubstituted. Where cyclic, the alkyl group is preferably C3 to €12, more preferably €5 to C10 more preferably €5 to €7. Where acyclic, the alkyl group is preferably C1 to C10, more preferably C1to C6 more preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl (n-propyl or isopropyl), butyl (n-butyl, isobutyl or tertiary-butyl) or pen-tyl (including n-pentyl and isopentyl), more preferably methyl. It will be appreciated therefore that the term "alkyl" as used herein includes alkyl (branched or unbranched), substituted alkyl (branched or unbranched), alkenyl (branched or unbranched), substituted alkenyl (branched or unbranched), alkynyl (branched or unbranched), substituted alkynyl (branched or unbranched), cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloal-kenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl and substituted cycloalkynyl. Saturated acyclic, branched or unbranches groups are preferred alkyl groups.
As used herein, the term "lower alkyl" means, for example, a branched or unbranched, cyclic or acyclic, saturated or unsaturated (e.g. alkenyl or alkynyl) hydrocarbyl radical wherein said cyclic lower alkyl group is Cs, C6or C7 and wherein said acyclic lower alkyl group is C1 C2, Q-3 or €4, and is preferably selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl (n-propyl or isopropyl) or butyl (n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl or tertiary-butyl). It will be appreciated therefore that the term "lower alkyl" as used herein includes lower alkyl (branched or unbranched), lower alkenyl (branched or unbranched), lower alkynyl (branched or unbranched), cycloloweralkyl, cycloloweralkenyl and cycloloweralkynyl. Saturated acyclic, branched or unbranches groups are preferred lower alkyl groups.
The alkyl and aryl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted. Where substituted, there will generally be, for example, 1 to 3 substituents present, preferably 1 substitu-ent. Substituents may include, for example: carbon-containing groups such as alkyl,


aryl, arylalkyl (e.g. substituted and unsubstituted phenyl, substituted and unsubstituted benzyl); halogen atoms and halogen-containing groups such as haloalkyl (e.g. trifluoromethyl); oxygen-containing groups such as alcohols (e.g. hydroxyl, hy-droxyalkyl, aryl(hydroxyl)alkyl), ethers (e.g. alkoxy, aryloxy, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyal-kyl), aldehydes (e.g. carboxaldehyde), ketones (e.g. alkylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonylalkyl, arylcarbonyl, arylalkylcarbonyl, arycarbonylalkyl), acids (e.g. carboxy, carboxyalkyl), acid derivatives such as esters(e.g. alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, alkylcar-bonyloxy, alkylcarbonyloxyalkyl), amides (e.g. aminocarbonyl, mono- or di-alkylaminocarbonyl, aminocarbonylalkyl, mono-or di-alkylaminocarbonylalkyl, arylaminocarbonyl), carbamates (e.g. alkoxycarbonylamino, arloxycarbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy, mono-or di-alkylaminocarbonyloxy, arylaminocarbonyloxy) and ureas (e.g. mono- or di- alkylaminocarbonylamino or arylaminocarbonylamino); nitrogen-containing groups such as amines (e.g. amino, mono- or di-alkylamino, ami-noalkyl, mono- or di-alkylaminoalkyl), azides, nitriles (e.g. cyano, cyanoalkyl), nitro; sulfur-containing groups such as thiols, thioethers, sulfoxides and sulfones (e.g. alkyl-thio, alkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkylthioalkyl, alkylsulfinylalkyl, alkylsulfonylalkyl, arylthio, arysulfinyl, arysulfonyl, arythioalkyl, arylsulfmylalkyl, arylsulfonylalkyl); and heterocyclic groups containing one or more, preferably one, heteroatom, (e.g. thienyl, furanyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, aziridinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolid-inyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, pyranyl, pyronyl, pyridyl, pyraz-inyl, pyridazinyl, piperidyl, hexahydroazepinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thi-anaphthyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, indolyl, oxyindolyl, isoindolyl, indazolyl, indolinyl, 7-azaindolyl, benzopyranyl, coumarinyl, isocoumarinyl, quinolinyl, isoqui-nolinyl, naphthridinyl, cinnolinyl, quinazolinyl, pyridopyridyl, benzoxazinyl, qui-noxalinyl, chromenyl, chromanyl, isochromanyl, phthalazinyl and carbolinyl).
The lower alkyl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted, preferably unsubstituted. Where substituted, there will generally be, for example, 1 to 3 substitutents present, preferably 1 substituent.
As used herein, the term "alkoxy" means, for example, alkyl-O- and "alkoyl" means, for example, alkyl-CO. Alkoxy substituent groups or alkoxy-containing substituent

groups may be substituted by, for example, one or more alkyl groups. The term "lower alkoxy" means, for example, lower alkyl-O-.
As used herein, the term "halogen" means, for example, a fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine radical, preferably a fluorine, chlorine or bromine radical, and more preferably a fluorine or chlorine radical.
As used herein, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable salt" means any pharmaceuti-cally acceptable salt of the compound of formula (I). Salts may be prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids and bases including inorganic and organic acids and bases. Such acids include, for example, acetic, benzenesulfonic, ben-zoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethenesulfonic, dichloroacetic, formic, fumaric, glu-conic, glutamic, hippuric, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic, nitric, oxalic, pamoic, pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, oxalic, p-toluenesulfonic and the like. Particularly preferred are fumaric, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric and methanesulfonic acids. Acceptable base salts include alkali metal (e.g. sodium, potassium), alkaline earth metal (e.g. calcium, magnesium) and aluminum salts.

In detail, the present invention relates to a compound of the formula I:
(Formula Removed)
wherein:
one of RI or R2 is hydrogen or alkyl and the other is lower alkyl or (CH2)PY, wherein Y is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, partially unsaturated, or unsaturated mono-, bi- or tri-cyclic 5-10 membered cycloalkyl ring and p is 0 or 1, and wherein substituents on Y are lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, hydroxy-alkyl, alkyl-phenyl, phenyl-alkyl, pyridine or halogen,
or R] and R2, together with the N atom to which they are attached, form a substituted or unsubstituted ring Z, wherein Z is a 5- to 7-membered monocyclic or 7- to 10-membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring which contains the N atom to which RI and Ra are attached, and optionally another hetero atom which is selected from N, O and S, wherein the substituted heterocyclic ring is mono- or di- substituted with lower alkyl, hydroxy, hydroxy-alkyl, alkyl-phenyl, phenyl-alkyl, pyridine or halogen;
RI is an aromatic ring system selected from the group consisting of [2,2']bithiophenyl, 1 -methyl-indole, 2,3-dihydro-benzo[l,4]dioxin, benzo[l,3]dioxole, benzothiophene, dibenzofuran, furane, naphthalene, phenyl, biphenyl, quinoline, thianthrene and thio-phene, wherein said aromatic ring may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more amino, cyano, formyl, halo, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, lower-acyl, lower-acyl-amino, lower-alkoxy, lower-alkoxy-carbonyl, 2-(lower-alkoxy-carbonyl)-ethenyl, lower-alkyl, lower-alkyl-thio, nitro, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl, wherein said phenyl ring may additionally be substituted with phenoxy or benzyloxy,

(Formula Removed)

wherein Ar is a carbocyclic or heterocyclic aryl group which may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more groups selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano and nitro; and
R4 is lower alkyl;
and pharmaceutical ly acceptable salts thereof.
Preferred compounds of formula I as defined above are those, wherein R\ is hydrogen and R2 is a substituted 6-8 membered cycloalkyl ring. Saturated monocyclic cycloal-kyl rings are preferred in this context. Other preferred compounds as defined above are those wherein R2 is l,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, 2,6,6-trimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-yl , 3-noradamantyl, adamantan-1-yl, adamantan-1-yl-methyl, adamantan-2-yl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, or cycoheptyl.
Further preferred compounds as defined above are those, wherein Z is a 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring substituted with lower alkyl, hydroxy, hydroxy-alkyl, alkyl-phenyl, phenyl-alkyl, pyridine or halogen. Preferably, Z is selected from the group consisting of 2-ethyl-piperidine, 3-phenyl-pyrrolidine, 3-(pyridin-3-yl)-pyrrolidine, 4-chloro-decahydro-quinoline, 4a-bromo-decahydro-isoquinoline, 6-bromo-octahydro-isoquinoline, 3-cyclohexyl-piperidine, 3-ben/yl-piperidine, decahydro-quinoline and decahydro-isoquinoline.
Preferably, R.3 is substituted or unsubstituted benzothiophene or phenyl. More preferably, R.3 is substituted with one or more halogen, lower-alkoxy or lower-alkyl.
Preferred compounds of formula I as defined above are those selected from the group consisting of


(3-Cyclohexyl-piperidin-1 -yl)-( 1 -methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone, (1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(trans-octahydro-isoquinolin-2-yl)-methanone, (3-Benzyl-piperidin-1 -yl)-( 1 -methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone, (1-Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(3-phenyl-pyrrolidin-l-yl)-methanone, (1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(3-pyridin-3-yl-pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-methanone, (1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone, (l-Methyl-5-m-tolyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone, (1 -Methyl-5-p-tolyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone, 3-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzonitrile, 4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzonitrile, [5-(4-Isopropyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Isopropyl-phenyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-tert-Butyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-( 1 -methyl-1 H-indol-5-yl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-Biphenyl-4-yl-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone, (5-Biphenyl-3-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone, (1 -Methyl-5-naphthalen-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone, (1 -Methyl-5-quinolin-5-yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone, (1 -Methyl-5-quinolin-3-yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone, 4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzaldehyde, 3-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzaldehyde, l-{4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenyl}-ethanone,
l-{3-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenyl}-ethanone,
[5-(3-Amino-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
N- {4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-1 -carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenyl} -acetamide,
(l-Methyl-5-thiophen-3-yI-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,


(5-[2,2']Bithiophenyl-5-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-Furan-3-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone, (5-Benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-Benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(1 -Methyl-5-thianthren-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone, [ 1 -Methyl-5-(3-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(4-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(2-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
{5-[(E)-2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-vinyl]-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl} -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(4-Chloro-octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-(l-methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone, [5-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-phenyl)-l-methyl-IH-pyr azol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(5-Chloro-2,4-difluoro-phenyl)-l -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1-yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Fluoro-biphenyl-4-yl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Amino-4-chloro-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(5-Chloro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-


methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Chloro-3-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Chloro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-l H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-rnethanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl- lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(4a-Bromo-octahydro-isoquinolin-2-yl)-(l-methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(3-nitro-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(4-nitro-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
3-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzoic acid
methyl ester,
4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzoic acid
methyl ester,
(E)-3-{4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenyl}-
acrylic acid methyl ester,
[5-(3-Hydroxy-phenyl)-l -methyl- lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-Dibenzofuran-4-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-


methanone,
[l-Methyl-5-(2-phenoxy-phenyl)-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
[5-(3,4-Dimethoxy-phenyl)-l -methyl- lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(2,3,4-trimethoxy-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Hydroxymethyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(6-Ethoxy-naphthalen-2-yl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(2,3-Dihydro-benzo[ 1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-1 -methyl-1 H-p yrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-Benzo[ 1,3]dioxol-5-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[l-Methyl-5-(4-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
[l-Methyl-5-(3-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
[l-Methyl-5-(2-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Chloro-2-methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Chloro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(5-Fluoro-2-methoxy-phenyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone, [5-(2-Fluoro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -

yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Benzyloxy-3-chloro-phenyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin--L-yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Chloro-2-ethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-propoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (adamantan-1 -ylmethyl)-amide,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-1 -ylamide,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid hexahydro-2,5-methanopentalen-3a(lH)-amide,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid cycloheptylamide,
1-Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((lR,2R,3R,5S)-2,6,6-trimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1 ]hept-3-yl)-amide,
1-Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((lR,2S,4R)-l,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide,
(1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(3-phenyl-pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-methanone, (1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone, (1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(4aR,8aS)-octahydro-isoquinolin-2-yl-methanone,
(6-Bromo-octahydro-isoquinolin-2-yl)-( 1 -methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone,
1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid cyclooctylamide,
1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-2-ylamide, 1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (adamantan-1 -ylmethyl)-amide,
1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-1 -ylamide, 1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((1 R,2R,3R,5S)-2,6,6-trimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-yl)-amide,
1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((1 R,4R)-1,7,7-trimethyl-


bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide,
l-Methyl-5-pyrrol-l-yl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((1 R,2S,4R)-l,7,7-trimethyl-
bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide,
1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((1 R,2R,4R)-1,7,7-trimethyl-
bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide,
1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-
naphthalen-1 -yl)-amide,
1 -Methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid cyclohexylamide,
(3-Benzyl-piperidin-1 -yl)-( 1 -methyl-5-pyrrol-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone,
(2-Ethyl-piperidin-1 -yl)-( 1 -methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl-(( 1 R,2S,4R)-1,7,7-
trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide, and
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-2-yl-isopropyl-amide,
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
The following compounds all constitute individual and separate preferred embodiments of the present invention:
(l-Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(trans-octahydro-isoquinolin-2-yl)-methanone, [5-(4-Isopropyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-Benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Chloro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-l -methyl- lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
1-Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (adamantan-l-ylmethyl)-amide, 1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-1 -ylamide, 1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((1 R,2R,3R,5S)-2,6,6-trimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-yl)-amide, and


1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((1 R,2S,4R)-1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide.
Compounds of formula (I) are individually preferred and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are individually preferred, with the compounds of formula (I) being particularly preferred.
The compounds of formula (I) can have one or more asymmetric C atoms and can therefore exist as an enantiomeric mixture, diastereomeric mixture or as optically pure compounds.
It will be appreciated that the compounds of general formula (I) in this invention may be derivatised at functional groups to provide derivatives which are capable of conversion back to the parent compound in vivo.
As described above, the novel compounds of the present invention have been found to inhibit 11 ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. They can therefore be used in the treatment and prophylaxis of diseases which are modulated by 11 ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors, preferably a metabolic disorder. Such diseases include type II diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome.
The invention therefore also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound as defined above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or adjuvant.
The invention likewise embraces compounds as described above for use as therapeutically active substances, especially as therapeutically active substances for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases which are modulated by 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors, particularly as therapeutically active substances for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of type II diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
In another preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a method for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of diseases which are modulated by 11 ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors, particularly for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of type II diabetesobesity or metabolic syndrome, which method comprises administering a compound as defined above to a human being or animal. Preferably, said therapeutically effective amount is about 10 to about 1000 mg per day.
The invention also embraces the use of compounds as defined above for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of diseases which are modulated by 11 (5-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors, particularly for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of type II diabetes, obesity or metabolic syndrome.
The invention also relates to the use of compounds as described above for the preparation of medicaments for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of diseases which are modulated by 1 1ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors, particularly for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of type II diabetes, obesity or metabolic syndrome. Such medicaments comprise a compound as described above.
Prevention and/or treatment of type II diabetes or metabolic syndrome is the preferred indication. Type II diabetes is particularly preferred.


In another embodiment, the present invention refers to a process for the preparation of a compound as defined above, which process comprises reacting a compound of formula II

(Formula Removed)



with a compound HNR!R2, wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined above.
Another embodiment of the present invention refers to compounds as defined above, when prepared by a process as defined above.
The compounds according to the present invention can be prepared according to the following general synthetic methods given below, by the methods given in the specific examples, or in analogy thereto.

(Formula Removed)
Scheme 1
One general approach to the synthesis of compounds of the invention is shown in Scheme 1. According to this process, a p-keto-ester of formula 2 is converted to a compound of formula 3 where X represents dialkylamino (such as dimethylamino) or lower-alkoxy (such as ethoxy) and then the compound of formula 3 is reacted with a hydra/ine to give the compound of formula 4. The ester protective group in the compound of formula 2 is then cleaved and the resulting carboxylic acid is coupled with an amine of formula HNRiR2 to give the desired compound of formula 1. The reac-


tion of a compound of formula 2 to give a compound of formula 3 can be carried out using conditions that are well known in the art. For example, in the case where X represents dimethylamino, the compound of formula 3 can be prepared by treating a compound of formula 2 with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal in an inert solvent such as an aromatic hydrocarbon (for example, toluene) at a temperature between about 50 °C and about 100 °C. Examples of conditions for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example, in H. H. Wassermann et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 1984, 25, 3743-3746, in S. Gelin et al. Synthesis 1983, 566-568, and in J. Svete et al. Synthesis 1990, 70-72. In the case where X represents ethoxy, the compound of formula 3 can be prepared by treating a compound of formula 2 with triethylorthoformate in the presence of acetic anhydride at the reflux temperature. Examples of conditions for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example, in L. Claisen Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1897, 297, 1-18; in L. Crombie et al. J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 11979, 464-471; in M. S. S. Palanki et al. /. Med. Chem. 2000, 43, 3995-4004; and in M. T. Herrero et al. Tetrahedron 2002, 58, 8581-8589.
The reaction of the compound of formula 3 with a hydrazine can be carried out under a variety of conditions. For example, the compound of formula 3 can be reacted with a hydrazine or the acid addition salt of a hydrazine in an inert solvent such as an alcohol (for example, ethanol). In the case where an acid addition salt of the hydrazine is used, then the reaction is carried out in the additional presence of a base such as a tertiary alkylamine (for example, triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine). The reaction is conveniently carried out at a temperature between about -20 °C and about 80 °C. Examples of conditions for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example, in J. R. Beck et al. J. Heterocycl. Chem. 1987, 24, 739-740; in G. Menozzi et al. J. Heterocyd. Chem. 1987, 24, 1669-1676; in F. R. Busch et al. PCT Int. Appl. WO 2003051845; in J. F. Lambert et al. PCT Int. Appl. WO 2002044133; in H. Shimotori et al. US 4,792,565; and in H. Ohki et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2002, 72, 3191-3193.
The cleavage of a compound of formula 4 to the corresponding carboxylic acid is carried out using reaction conditions that are well known in the field of organic synthesis, many of which are outlined in "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis" [T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. 1991]. For exam-


pie, in the case where R4 represents methyl or ethyl, the reaction can be conveniently effected by treating the compound with one equivalent of an alkali metal hydroxide, such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or lithium hydroxide, preferably lithium hydroxide, in a suitable solvent, such as a mixture of tetrahydrofuran, methanol, and water. The reaction can be carried out at a temperature between about 0 °C and about room temperature, preferably at about room temperature. As another example, in the case where R} represents a group that can be cleaved under acidic conditions, such as a tert-butyl group, the ester may be treated with a strong inorganic acid, for example a hydrohalic acid such as hydrogen chloride or hydrogen bromide, or a strong organic acid, for example a halogenated alkane carboxylic acid such as trifluoroacetic acid and the like. The reaction is conveniently carried out in the presence of an inert organic solvent (such as dichloromethane) and at a temperature between about 0 °C and about room temperature, preferably at about room temperature. As a final (but not limiting) example, in the case where R4 represents a group that can be cleaved by catalytic hydrogenation, and with the further condition that the rest of the molecule is stable to such conditions, the reaction may be carried out by hydrogenation in the presence of a noble metal catalyst such as palladium-on-carbon in the presence of an inert solvent (for example, an alcohol such as ethanol) at about room temperature and under atmospheric pressure.
The coupling of a carboxylic acid of structure 4 where R4 represents hydrogen with an amine of structure HNRiR2, according to Scheme 1, can be achieved using methods well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the transformation can be carried out by reaction of a carboxylic acid of structure 4 where R4 represents hydrogen or of an appropriate derivative thereof such as an activated ester, with an amine of structure HNR]R2 or a corresponding acid addition salt (e.g., the hydrochloride salt) in the presence, if necessary, of a coupling agent, many examples of which are well known per se in peptide chemistry. The reaction is conveniently carried out by treating the carboxylic acid of structure 4 where RI represents hydrogen with the hydro-chloride of the amine of structure HNR|R2 in the presence of an appropriate base, such as diisopropylethylamine, a coupling agent such as O-(benzotriazol-l-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate, and in the optional additional presence of a substance that increases the rate of the reaction, such as 1-hydroxybenzotriazole or l-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole, in an inert solvent, such as a


chlorinated hydrocarbon (e.g., dichloromethane) or N,N-dimethylformamide or N-methylpyrrolidinone, at a temperature between about 0 °C and about room temperature, preferably at about room temperature. Alternatively, the reaction can be carried out by converting the carboxylic acid of formula 4 where R4 represents hydrogen to an activated ester derivative, such as the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, and subsequently reacting this with the amine of structure HNRjRi or a corresponding acid addition salt. This reaction sequence can be carried out by reacting the carboxylic acid of formula 4 where R4 represents hydrogen with N-hydroxysuccinimide in the presence of a coupling agent such as N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in an inert solvent such as tetrahydrofuran at a temperature between about 0 °C and about room temperature. The resulting N-hydroxysuccinimide ester is then treated with the amine of structure HNR1R2 or a corresponding acid addition salt, in the presence of a base, such as an organic base (e.g., triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine or the like) in a suitable inert solvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide at around room temperature.
The reaction sequence shown in Scheme 1 can also be carried out using solid-phase synthesis, in the case where X represents a polymer-bound amino group. Following this approach, the compound of formula 2 is treated with N-formylimidazole dimethyl acetal and a polymer-bound amine such as an aniline-functionalized cellulose derivative (for example, 4-amino-phenyl-sulfonyl-ethoxy-cellulose, which is available from lontosorb, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic) in the presence of an acid catalyst such as camphor-sulfonic acid in an inert solvent, such as N,N-dimethylformamide at a temperature around 80 °C, to give a compound of formula 3 where X represents a polymer-bound aniline. The compound of formula 3 is then converted into the compound of formula 4 by treatment with a hydrazine in an inert solvent such as an alcohol (for example, isopropanol) at a temperature around the boiling point of the solvent. Examples of conditions for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example, in L. De Luca et al. J. Comb. Chem. 2003, 5, 465-471.

(Formula Removed)
Scheme 2
A pyrazole-4-carboxamide of formula 1 can be prepared according to Scheme 2, where a (3-keto-amide of formula 5 is converted to a compound of formula 6 where X represents dialkylamino (such as dimethylamino) or lower-alkoxy (such as ethoxy) and then the compound of formula 6 reacts with a hydrazine to give the compound of formula 1. The reaction of a compound of formula 5 to give a compound of formula 6 can be carried out using conditions that are well known in the art. For example, in the case where X represents dimethylamino, the compound of formula 6 can be prepared by treating a compound of formula 5 with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal in an inert solvent such as an aromatic hydrocarbon (for example, toluene) at a temperature between about 50 °C and about 100 °C. Examples of conditions for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example, in R. Zupet et al. J. Heterocycl. Chem. 1991, 28, 1731-1740; in D. E. Seitz et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 1995, 36, 1413-1416; in A. V. Rama Rao et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 1990, 37, 1439-42; and in P. Kocienski et al. Tetrahedron Lett.1988, 29, 4481-4. In the case where X represents ethoxy, the compound of formula 6 can be prepared by treating a compound of formula 5 with triethy-lorthoformate in the presence of acetic anhydride at the reflux temperature. Examples of conditions for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example, in J. H. De-war etal.J. Chem. Soc. 1961, 3254-3260.
The reaction of the compound of formula 6 with a hydrazine can be carried out under a variety of conditions. For example, the compound of formula 6 can be reacted with a hydrazine or the acid addition salt of a hydrazine in an inert solvent such as an alcohol (for example, ethanol). In the case where an acid addition salt of the hydrazine is used, then the reaction is carried out in the additional presence of a base such as a tertiary alkylamine (for example, triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine). The reaction is conveniently carried out at a temperature between about -20 °C and about 80 °C. Examples of conditions for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example, in A. X. Wang et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1998, 8, 2787-2792; in T. A. Elmaati et al. Pol. J. Chem. 2002, 76, 945-952 Chemical Abstracts AN 2002:501464; and in G. Gi-acomelli et al. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 537-541


The reaction sequence shown in Scheme 2 can also be carried out in the case where X represents an aniline. Thus, a compound of formula 6 can be prepared from a compound of formula 5 by treatment with an N-(alkoxymethylene)-aniline, in the optional presence of an inert solvent such as kerosene, at elevated temperature such as between about 125 °C and about 140 °C. Examples of conditions for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example, in F. B. Dains Chem. Ber. 1902, 35, 2496-2500; in F. B. Dains et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1909, 31, 1148-1157; in F. B. Dains et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1918, 40, 562-569; and in O. S. Wolfbeis Chem. Ber. 1981, 114, 3471-3484. The compound of formula 6 can then be converted to the compound of formula 1 by treatment with a hydrazine in an inert solvent such as ethanol at a temperature around the reflux temperature of the solvent. Examples of conditions for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example, in F. B. Dains et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1909, 31, 1148-1157; in F. B. Dains et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1916,35, 1515; in F. B. Dains et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1918, 40, 562-569; and in A. N. Borisevich et al. Ukrainskii Khimicheskii Zhurnal 1986, 52, 641-7 Chemical Abstracts AN 1987:458919.


(Formula Removed)



Scheme 3
As shown in Scheme 3, a l-alkyl-5-pyrrolyl-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid derivative of formula 9 can be prepared starting from a 3-alkoxy-2-cyano-acrylic acid ester of formula 7 by reaction with a hydrazine of formula RNHNH2 to give an intermediate 5-amino-pyrazole of formula 8, which can then be reacted with 2,5-dimethoxy-tetrahydrofuran to give the 5-pyrrolyl-pyrazole of formula 9. This can be converted to a carboxamide of the invention by reactions analogous to those discussed above with reference to Scheme 1. The pyrazole-forming annulation reaction can be conveniently carried out by treating a 3-alkoxy-2-cyano-acrylic acid ester of formula 7 (such as 3-ethoxy-2-cyano-acrylic acid ethyl ester) with a hydrazine of formula RNHNH2 in an inert solvent such as ethanol at the reflux temperature. The subsequent annulation to


form the pyrrole ring is conveniently carried out by heating the intermediate 5-amino-pyrazole with 2,5-dimethoxy-tetrahydrofvan in an organic acid such as acetic acid at a temperature of around 100 °C. An example of conditions suitable for this process can be found in the literature, for example, in M. Kopp et al. J. Heterocyd. Chem. 2001, 38, 1045-1050. Further examples of procedures for the preparation of 5-amino-1 -aryl-pyrazole-4-carboxylate esters can be found in J. Svetlik Heterocydes 1984, 22, 2513-2516; in J. R. Beck et al. J. Heterocyd. Chem. 1987, 24, 267-270; and in T. Luebbers et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2000, 10, 821-826. The carboxylate ester of formula 9 can then be hydrolyzed to the corresponding carboxylic acid and coupled with an amine of formula HNR1R2 using procedures analogous to those described above for the conversion of a carboxylate ester of formula 4 to a compound of the invention of formula 1
(Formula Removed)



Scheme 4
As shown in Scheme 4, a l-alkyl-5-pyrrolyl-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid derivative of formula 13 can be prepared starting from a 5-amino-pyrazole-4-carboxylate ester of formula 10 by diazotization of the amino group in the presence of a brominating agent such as copper(Il) bromide. The reaction is conveniently carried out by treating the compound of formula 10 with an alkyl nitrite such as tert-butyl nitrite or isoamyl nitrite in an inert solvent such as a halogenated hydrocarbon (for example, carbon tetra-chloride) at a temperature around 50 °C, in the presence of a bromine source such as bromine, copper(II) bromide, dibromomethane, or bromoform. Conditions appropriate for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example in J. R. Beck and M. P. Lynch US 4,620,865 and in H. Mizukawa JP 2002003410. The conversion of the ester of formula 11 to an amide of formula 12 is analogous to the conversion of a compound of formula 4 to a compound of formula 1 as discussed above, and can be carried out using similar reactions. The conversion of a compound of formula 12 to a compound of the invention of formula 13 can be carried out using a Suzuki reaction


with an organoboron intermediate such as an aryl-boronic acid or an ester thereof, a reaction that is well known to one of average skill in the art. For example, the reaction can be conveniently carried out by reacting a compound of formula 12 with an aryl-boronic acid in a convenient inert solvent such as a polar aprotic solvent (e.g., N,N-dimethylformamide) or an ether (e.g., dioxane) or water, in the presence of a catalytic amount of a palladium(O) complex (e.g., tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0)) or a compound which can be reduced in situ to give palladium(O) (for example, palladium^!) acetate or bis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(II) chloride), in the optional additional presence of a catalytic amount of a phosphine ligand, for example tri-o-tolylphosphine or tri-tert-butylphosphine, or alternatively in the presence of a preformed complex of palladium(O) with a phosphine ligand such as bis(tri-cyclohexyl-phosphine)palladium, and also in the presence of an inorganic base, for example, an alkali metal carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide or phosphate (e.g., potassium phosphate or sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide) at a temperature between about room temperature and about 100 °C, and preferably at between about room temperature and about 50 °C. Conditions appropriate for this reaction can be seen in the literature, for example in X.-J. Wang and K. Grozinger Tetrahedron Lett. 2000, 41, 4713-4716. The starting material of formula 10 can be made from a 3-alkoxy-2-cyano-acrylic acid ester of formula 7 by reaction with an alkyl-hydrazine by reactions analogous to those described above for the preparation of a compound of formula 8. Conditions appropriate for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example in F. Bondavalli et al. J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 4875-4887; in S. Schenone et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2001, 77, 2529-2531; in M. Kopp et al. J. Heterocycl. Chem. 2001, 38, 1045-1050; and in P. Seneci et al. Synth. Commun. 1999, 29, 311-341.

(Formula Removed)
Scheme 5
As shown in Scheme 5, a compound of formula 1 in which R| represents lower alkyl can be prepared from a compound of formula 1 in which RI represents hydrogen, by reaction with a strong base (such as sodium hydride) in an inert solvent (such as di-


methylformamide) at room temperature to give the corresponding anion. This is then reacted without isolation with a lower-alkyl halide of formula R1X, again at room temperature, to give the desired compound of formula 1 in which R\ represents lower alkyl.
Methods suitable for the preparation of many P-keto-esters of formula 2 are known in the literature using a variety of synthetic methods. A listing of many of these methods can be found in "Comprehensive Organic Transformations: A Guide to Functional Group Preparations" [R. C. Larock, VCH Publishers, Inc. New York, 1989], for example on pages 685, 694-695, and 768. Additional examples of synthetic methods appropriate for the preparation of many P-keto-esters of formula 2 can be found in "Advanced Organic Chemistry" [J. March, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1985], on pages 437-439, and 823-824. In addition, more than 100 P-keto-esters of formula 2 are listed as commercially available in the Available Chemicals Directory which is well known to one of average skill in the art of organic synthesis.


(Formula Removed)
Scheme 6
One example of a method to prepare a p-keto-ester of formula 2 is outlined in Scheme 6. Meldrum's acid (14) is treated with an acyl chloride of formula R3COC1 in an anhydrous inert solvent such as a halogenated hydrocarbon (e.g. methylene chloride or ethylene chloride). The reaction is carried out in the presence of an anhydrous organic base, such as pyridine, triethylamine, or diisopropylethylamine, at around room temperature. Conditions suitable for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example in H. Emtenas et al. J. Org. Chem. 2001, 26, 6756 -6761. The resulting intermediate of formula 15 is then heated with an alcohol of formula HOR4, either using the alcohol as solvent (for example in the case where the alcohol is methanol or ethanol), or in an inert solvent such as benzene (for example in the case where the alcohol is benzyl alcohol or tert-butyl alcohol). The reaction is conveniently carried out at a temperature between about 60 °C and about 80 °C. Conditions suitable for this reac-


tion can be found in the literature, for example in Y. Oikawa et al. J. Org. Chem. 1978, 43, 2087-2088.
(Formula Removed)
Scheme 7
(3-Keto-amides of formula 5 can be prepared from the intermediate of formula 15 by treatment with a stoichiometric amount of an amine of formula HNRiR2 in a suitable inert solvent such as toluene at the refluxing temperature. Conditions suitable for this reaction can be found in the literature, for example in C. S Pak et al. Synthesis 1992, 1213-1214.
A variety of methods are known for the preparation of hydrazines and are reviewed in "The Chemistry of the Hydrazo, Azo, and Azoxy Groups. Part 1" [J. Timberlake and J. Stowell; S. Patai Ed.; John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. London 1975, 69-107]. Examples of processes useful for the preparation of alkyl-hydrazines include the reaction of an aldehyde or ketone with a hydrazide followed by reduction and hydrolysis (CH 307629, Chem. Abs. 51:25623; N. I. Ghali et al. J Org. Chem. 1981, 46, 5413-5414); Hof-mann reaction of a urea (J. Viret et al. Tetrahedron 1987, 43, 891-894); electrophilic amination of an alkyl-amine: (L. F. Audrieth and L. H. Diamond J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76, 4869-4871; A. Koziara et al. Synth. Commun. 1995, 25, 3805-3812); Mit-sunobu reaction of an alcohol with N-tert-butoxycarbonylaminophthalimide followed by hydrolysis (N. Brosse et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 2000, 41, 205-207); conversion of an alkyl-amine to the corresponding N-alkylsydnone followed by hydrolysis (J. Fugger et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1955, 77, 1843-1848); reaction of an alkyl bromide with N'-isopropylidene-phosphorohydrazidic acid diethyl ester or diphenylphosphinic hydrazide followed by deprotection (S. Zawadzki et al. Synthesis 1987, 485-487; B. Mlotkowska and Z. Zwierzak Tetrahedron Lett. 1978, 19, 4731-4734). In addition, more than a dozen substituted or unsubstituted alkyl-hydrazines are listed as commercially available in the Available Chemicals Directory.


Many amines of formula HNR]R2 are commercially available and known to one skilled in the art. In addition, there are a variety of methods known to one of average skill in the art for the synthesis of amines of formula HNRiRi. Many of these methods are enumerated in "The Chemistry of the Amino Group" [M. S. Gibson; S. Patai Ed.; John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. London 1968, 37-77], in "Advanced Organic Chemistry" [J. March, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1985], on pages 1153-1154, and in "Comprehensive Organic Transformations: A Guide to Functional Group Preparations" [R. C. Larock, VCH Publishers, Inc. New York, 1989] on pages 1061-1063. As one example of the preparation of an amine of formula HNR]R2, a solution of the oxime derived from (1 R)-(+)-camphor in an alcohol such as amyl alcohol is treated with sodium added in small pieces over an extended period such as about four hours. The reaction is carried out at the reflux temperature of the solvent, and the product is (-)-endobomylamine hydrochloride, a compound of formula HR)R2 where RI represents hydrogen and R2 represents the bornyl moiety. Exact conditions for carrying out this reaction can be found in the literature, for example in L. A. Paquette and R. F. Doehner, Jr. J. Org. Chem. 1980, 45, 5105-5113. As another example of the preparation of an amine of formula HNR]R2, ?ra«s-decahydroquinoline can be prepared by the dissolving metal reduction of A1,9-octahydroquinoline which is in turn prepared in a multistep sequence from N-1 -cyclohexenylpyrrolidine and acrylonitrile. Conditions for these reactions can be found in F. W. Vierhapper and E. L. Eliel J. Org. Chem. 1975, 40, 2734-2742 and in L. A. Cohen and B. Witkop J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1955, 77, 6595-6600. As a further example of the synthesis of an amine of formula HNRiR2, l-hydroxyadamantan-4-one reacts with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in re-fluxing ethanol in the presence of aqueous sodium hydroxide to give 1-hydroxyadamantan-4-one oxime. This is then reduced with lithium aluminum hydride in an inert solvent such as tetrahydrofuran at the reflux temperature to give 4-aminoadamantan-1-ol, which is conveniently isolated and characterized as the hydro-chloride salt. Conditions for these reactions can be found in the literature, for example in H. W. Geluk and J. L. M. A. Schlatmann Tetrahedron 1968, 24, 5369-5377. As a final but not limiting example of the synthesis of an amine of formula HNR]R2, a secondary amine can be prepared by making use of a process called reductive amination, which is well known to one of average skill in the art of organic synthesis, whereby an amine is treated with a ketone to give an imine which is reduced by one of a number of reducing agents. Many examples of conditions that can be used for this reaction


are enumerated in "Comprehensive Organic Transformations: A Guide to Functional Group Preparations" [R. C. Larock, VCH Publishers, Inc. New York, 1989] or pages 421-423. For example, the amine and ketone can be treated with a reducing agent such as tetrabutylammonium cyanoborohydride in an inert solvent such as a halo-genated hydrocarbon (e.g., dichloromethane) in the presence of methanolic HC1 at about room temperature.
Starting materials of formula 7 are conveniently prepared by treating a cyanoacetate ester with a trialkyl orthoformate, in the presence of an acid anhydride catalyst such as acetic anhydride, at 80-160 °C. Conditions for such a reaction can be found in the literature, for example in R. G. Jones J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1952, 74, 4889-4891; in N. J. Cusack et al. J. Chem. Soc. C 1971, 1501-1507; and in O. Ackermann et al. US 4,277,418.

In the practice of the method of the present invention, an effective amount of any one of the compounds of this invention or a combination of any of the compounds of this invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is administered via any of the usual and acceptable methods known in the art, either singly or in combination. The compounds or compositions can thus be administered orally (e.g., buccal cavity), sub-lingually, parenterally (e.g., intramuscularly, intravenously, or subcutaneously), rec-tally (e.g., by suppositories or washings), transdermally (e.g., skin electroporation) or by inhalation (e.g., by aerosol), and in the form or solid, liquid or gaseous dosages, including tablets and suspensions. The administration can be conducted in a single unit dosage form with continuous therapy or in a single dose therapy ad libitum. The therapeutic composition can also be in the form of an oil emulsion or dispersion in conjunction with a lipophilic salt such as pamoic acid, or in the form of a biodegradable sustained-release composition for subcutaneous or intramuscular administration.
Useful pharmaceutical carriers for the preparation of the compositions hereof, can be solids, liquids or gases; thus, the compositions can take the form of tablets, pills, capsules, suppositories, powders, enterically coated or other protected formulations (e.g. binding on ion-exchange resins or packaging in lipid-protein vesicles), sustained release formulations, solutions, suspensions, elixirs, aerosols, and the like. The carrier can be selected from the various oils including those of petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, e.g., peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil, and the like. Water, saline, aqueous dextrose, and glycols are preferred liquid carriers, particularly (when isotonic with the blood) for injectable solutions. For example, formulations for intravenous administration comprise sterile aqueous solutions of the active ingredient^) which are prepared by dissolving solid active ingredient(s) in water to produce an aqueous solution, and rendering the solution sterile. Suitable pharmaceutical ex-cipients include starch, cellulose, talc, glucose, lactose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica, magnesium stearate, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene glycol, water, ethanol, and the like. The compositions may be subjected to conventional pharmaceutical additives such as preservatives, stabilizing agents, wetting or emulsifying agents, salts for adjusting osmotic pressure, buffers and the like. Suitable pharmaceutical carriers and their formulation are described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences by E. W. Martin. Such compositions will, in any event, contain an effective amount of the active compound to-


gether with a suitable carrier so as to prepare the proper dosage form for proper administration to the recipient.
The dose of a compound of the present invention depends on a number of factors, such as, for example, the manner of administration, the age and the body weight of the subject, and the condition of the subject to be treated, and ultimately will be decided by the attending physician or veterinarian. Such an amount of the active compound as determined by the attending physician or veterinarian is referred to herein, and in the claims, as an "effective amount". For example, the dose of a compound of the present invention is typically in the range of about 10 to about 1000 mg per day.
The invention will now be further described in the Examples below, which are intended as an illustration only and do not limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES
PART I: PREFERRED INTERMEDIATES
Reagents were purchased from Aldrich, Sigma, Maybridge, Advanced ChemTech, and Lancaster or other suppliers as indicated below and used without further purification. LC/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy) spectra were recorded using the following system. For measurement of mass spectra, the system consists of a Mi-cromass Platform II spectrometer: ES lonization in positive mode (mass range: 150 -1200 amu). The simultaneous chromatographic separation was achieved with the following HPLC system: ES Industries Chromegabond WR C-18 3u 120A (3.2 x 30mm) column cartridge; Mobile Phase A: Water (0.02% TFA) and Phase B: Acetonitrile (0.02% TFA); gradient 10% B to 90% B in 3 minutes; equilibration time of 1 minute; flow rate of 2 mL/minute.
Intermediate 1: (5-Bromo-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone
(FormulaRemoved)

Step 1. 5-Bromo-l -methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester To a mixture of t-butyl nitrite (29.5 mL, 221.5 mmol), cupric bromide (39.7 g, 177.5 mmol), and acetonitrile was added 5-amino-l-methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (25 g, 148 mmol) in portions over 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 h, then at 65 °C for 1 h. The mixture was then poured into 6N HC1 (400 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane. After concentration in vacua, the crude residue was purified by flash chromatography with a gradient of 0-20% ethyl acetate/hexanes to give 5-bromo-l-methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (28 g, 81%).

Step 2. (5-Bromo-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone To a solution of 5-bromo-l -methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (6.9 g, 29.6 mmol) in CHjOH (25 mL) and water (25 mL) was added LiOH (0.78 g, 32.6 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at reflux for 4 h, and then the solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to remove the methanol. The residue was diluted with water and the solution was acidified to pH 2 with concentrated HC1 (~3 mL). The resulting mixture was then extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were concentrated in vacua to give 5-bromo-l -methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid, which was used without further purification.
5-Bromo-l-methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (29.6 mmol), decahydroquinoline (Aldrich Chemical Company, Inc., Milwaukee, WI; 4.9 g, 35.5 mmol), diisopro-pylethylamine (11 mL, 59.2 mmol), and PyBrop (bromo-tris-pyrrolidino-phophoniurn hexafluorophosphate) (Chem-Impex International, Inc., Wood Dale, IL; 16.6 g, 35.5 mmol) were mixed together in dry dichloromethane (70 mL) and dry dimethylforma-mide (20 mL). The mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. At this time, the mixture was diluted with dichloromethane and extracted three times with water. The combined dichloromethane extracts were evaporated, and the residue was purified by flash chromatography, eluting with 0-10% ethyl acetate/hexanes to give 5-bromo-1 -methyl- lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone (7.9 g, 82% yield).
Intermediate 2: l-Methyl-5-pyrrol-l-yl-lH-pyrazole-4-carbonyl fluoride
(Formula Removed)


To a solution of I -methyl-5-pyrrol-l-yl-l H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (Maybridge pic, Cornwall, UK; 20 g, 91.2 mmol) in methanol (100 mL) and water (100 mL) was added LiOH (2.4 g, 100.3 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at


reflux for 4 hours and then concentrated under reduced pressure to remove the metha-nol. The residue was diluted with water, acidified to pH 2 with concentrated HCI (9 mL), and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were evaporated in vacua to give l-methyl-5-pyrrol-l-yl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid which was used without further purification.
To a stirred solution of l-methyl-5-pyrrol-l-yl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (7.65 g, 40 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (150 mL) and pyridine (3.2 mL, 40 mmol) under a nitrogen atmosphere was added cyanuric fluoride (5.4 g, 40 mmol) at 0 °C. The reaction mixture was stirred for two hours during which time the reaction temperature was allowed to rise to room temperature. Crushed ice was then added along with additional dichloromethane. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted twice with dichloromethane. Concentration of the combined organic layers under reduced pressure gave l-methyl-5-pyrrol-l-yl-lH-pyrazole-4-carbonyl fluoride which was used in the next step without further purification.
Intermediate 3: Adamantan-2-yl-isopropyl-amine

(Formula Removed)
Methanolic HCI (2.5 M; 13.3 mmol) is added to a solution of 2-adamantanone (1.00 g, 6.7 mmol) in dichloromethane (25 mL) and then isopropylamine (2.5 mL, 29.4 mmol) is added, followed by tetrabutylammonium cyanoborohydride (1.41 g, 5 mmol) and approximately 1 g of 4A molecular sieves. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature until the reaction is complete, as judged by TLC. Then the mixture is filtered and the filtrate is acidified to pH 1 with 1 M HCI, and the solvent is evaporated. The residue is taken up in water and extracted with ether. The aqueous layer is made basic to pH 10 with NaOH solution and the resulting mixture is extracted several times with ether. The combined ether layers are washed with water and brine, dried (magnesium sulfate), filtered, and evaporated to give adamantan-2-yl-isopropyl-amine.


PART II: PREPARATION OF PREFERRED COMPOUNDS
Method A
Preparation of compounds of the invention according to Method A

(Formula Removed)
In a Personal Chemistry microwave process tube (Biotage AB, Sweden), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (5 mg) was added to a nitrogen degassed mixture of the boronic acid (0.15 mmol), 2M aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2 mL), and (5-bromo-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone (of Intermediate 1; 49 mg, 0.15 mmol) in dry DME (1.5mL). The tube was sealed with a septum and was submitted to 150 W microwave irradiation using a Personal Chemistry Microwave Synthesis system (Biotage AB, Sweden) at 160 °C for 5 minutes. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and then filtered through celite and a silica plug. The eluant was then partitioned between ethyl acetate and water and the water layer was extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The organic layers were combined, concentrated in vacua and the desired product was obtained after purification by C-18 reversed phase HPLC with a gradient of 10-100% Acetonitrile/Water.
Method B
Preparation of compounds of the invention according to Method B

(Formula Removed)

Commercially available amines (0.2 mmol) were distributed to 10 mL screw top Py-rex tubes. To each tube was added l-methyl-5-pyrrol-l-yl-lH-pyrazole-4-carbonyl fluoride (of Intermediate 2; 39 mg, 0.2 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (2 mL) and di-isopropylethylamine (1 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred by agitation at room


temperature overnight. At this time, the reaction mixture was diluted with dichloro-methane (3 mL) and washed with water (2x2 mL). The organic layers were combined, and concentrated in vacua. The residue was purified by C-18 reversed phase HPLC with a gradient of 10-100% acetonitrile/water to obtain the desired product.
Method C
Preparation of compounds of the invention according to Method C



(Formula Removed)

A mixture of the amine (0.2 mmol), l-methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyra/ole-4-carboxylic acid (40 nig, 0.2 mmol, Maybridge pic, Cornwall, UK), DIPEA (0.14 mL, 0.8 mmol, Aldrich), PyBrop (Chem-Impex International, Inc., Wood Dale, IL; 102 mg, 0.8 mmol) and DMAP (0.5 mg, 0.004 mmol, Aldrich) in dry dichloromethane (2 mL) was stirred overnight at room temperature. Water was added and the mixture was extracted three times with dichloromethane. The combined organic extracts were concentrated under reduced pressure purified by C-18 reversed phase HPLC with a gradient of 10-100% acetonitrile/water containing 0.1% TFA as a modifier to give the product.
The compounds of the invention in Example numbers 1-107 below were prepared by one of the three methods described above.
(Table Removed)


Example 108: l-Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl-((lR,2S,4R)-l,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-amide




(Formula Removed)

Sodium hydride (60% dispersion in mineral oil; 15 mg, 0.375 mmol) is added to a cooled (~0 °C) solution of l-methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((lR,2S,4R)-l,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-amide (of Example 91; 100 mg, 0.3 mmol) in dry dimethylformamide (10 mL) and the mixture is allowed to stir for 30 min. Methyl iodide (30 uL, 0.49 mmol) is added and the solution is stirred at room temperature until the reaction is complete, as judged by TLC. Water is added and the solution is extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers are washed with water and brine, dried (magnesium sulfate), filtered, evaporated, and purified by C-18 reversed phase HPLC with a gradient of 10-100% acetonitrile/water containing 0.1% TFA as a modifier to give l-methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl-(( 1 R,2S,4R)-1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide.
Example 109: l-Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-2-yl-isopropyl-amide



(Formula Removed)

Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-2-yl-isopropyl-amide is prepared from adamantan-2-yl-isopropyl-amine (of intermediate 3) and l-methyl-5-


phenyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (Maybridge pic, Cornwall, UK) according to general procedure C.
Example 110: Testing of Compounds of the Invention in vitro
The in vitro inhibition of 11P-HSD1 by compounds of the present invention were demonstrated by means of the following test:
Purified human HSD1 was diluted in 50 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM NaCl, 0.1 mg/ml BSA, 0.02% Lubrol, 20 mM MgC12, 10 mM glucose 6-phosphate, 0.4 mM NADPH, 60 U/ml glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase to a concentration of 1.5 ug/ml (Enzyme Solution). Cortisone (100 uM) in DMSO was diluted to 1 uM with 50 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM NaCl (Substrate Solution). Testing compounds (40 uM) in DMSO were diluted 3 fold in series in DMSO and further diluted 20 fold in Substrate Solution. Enzyme Solution (10 ul/ well) was added into 384 well microtiter plates followed by diluted compound solutions (10 ul/well) and mixed well. Samples were then incubated at 37 °C for 30 min. EDTA/biotin-cortisol solution (10 ul/well) in 28 mM EDTA, 100 nM biotin-cortisol, 50 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM NaCl was then added followed by 5 ul/well of anti-cortisol antibody (3.2 ug/ml) in 50 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM NaCl, 0.1 mg/ml BSA and the solution was incubated at 37 °C for 30 min. Five ul per well of Eu-conjugated anti-mouse IgG (16 nM) and APC-conjugated streptavidin (160 nM) in 50 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM NaCl, 0.1 mg/ml BSA were added and the solution was incubated at room temperature for 2 hours. Signals were quantitated by reading time-resolved fluorescence on a Victor 5 reader (Wallac).
Percent inhibition of HSD1 activity by an agent at various concentrations was calculated by the formula % Inhibition = 100* [l-(Fs-Fb)/(Ft-Fb)J, where:
Fs is the fluorescence signal of the sample which included the agent, Fb is the fluorescence signal in the absence of HSD 1 and agent, Ft is the fluorescence signal in the presence of HSD 1, but no agent.
The inhibitory activities of test compounds were determined by the ICsos, or the concentration of compound that gave 50% inhibition. The compounds of the present in-


vention preferably exhibit IC50 values below 10 µ.M, preferably in the range between 10 µ.M and 1 nM, more preferably between 2µM and 5 nM.
The results of the in vitro inhibition of 11ß-HSD1 by representative compounds of the present invention are shown in the following Table:

.(Table Removed)
Example 111: Testing of Compounds of the Invention in vivo
The in vivo inhibition of 11 ß-HSD1 by compounds of the present invention can be demonstrated by means of the following test:
The compound of the invention is formulated in 7.5% Modified Gelatin in water and is administered IP at 100 mg/kg to mice (male C57B1/6J, age -97 Days). After 30 minutes, cortisone formulated in gelatin is administered by s.c. injection at 1 mg/kg. After a further 40 minutes, blood samples are taken from the mice and are analyzed using LC-MS for the concentrations of cortisone, cortisol, and drug.
Percent inhibition of HSD1 activity by the inhibitor is calculated by the following formula:

where:

% Inhibition = 100* [l-(Cinh/Cveh)]
Cveh is the conversion of cortisone to cortisol when the animal is dosed with vehicle, and
Cinh is the conversion of cortisone to cortisol when the animal is dosed with inhibitor, where the conversion C is given by the formula C = [Cortisol] / ([Cortisol] + [Cortisone]).

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments of the invention described above, as variations of the particular embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Example A
Film coated tablets containing the following ingredients can be manufactured
in a conventional manner:
Ingredients
Per tablet
Kernel:
Compound of formula (I) 10.0 mg 200.0 mg
Microcrystalline cellulose 23.5 mg 43.5 mg
Lactose hydrous 60.0 mg 70.0 mg
Povidone K30 12.5 mg 15.0 mg
Sodium starch glycolate 12.5 mg 17.0mg
Magnesium stearate 1.5mg 4.5 mg
(Kernel Weight) 120.0 mg 350.0 mg
Film Coat:
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose 3.5 mg 7.0 mg
Polyethylene glycol 6000 0.8 mg 1.6 mg
Talc 1.3mg 2.6 mg
Iron oxyde (yellow) 0.8 mg 1.6mg
Titan dioxide 0.8 mg 1.6mg
The active ingredient is sieved and mixed with microcristalline cellulose and the mixture is granulated with a solution of polyvinylpyrrolidon in water. The granulate is mixed with sodium starch glycolate and magesiumstearate and compressed to yield kernels of 120 or 350 mg respectively. The kernels are lacquered with an aqueous solution / suspension of the above mentioned film coat.
Example B
Capsules containing the following ingredients can be manufactured in a conventional manner:
Ingredients Per capsule
Compound of formula (I) 25.0 mg
Lactose 150.0 mg
Maize starch 20.0 mg
Talc 5.0 mg
The components are sieved and mixed and filled into capsules of size 2.
Example C
Injection solutions can have the following composition:
Compound of formula (I) 3.0mg
Polyethylene Glycol 400 150.0 mg
Acetic Acid q.s. ad pH 5.0
Water for injection solutions ad 1.0 ml
The active ingredient is dissolved in a mixture of Polyethylene Glycol 400 and water for injection (part). The pH is adjusted to 5.0 by Acetic Acid. The volume is adjusted to 1.0 ml by addition of the residual amount of water. The solution is filtered, filled into vials using an appropriate overage and sterilized.


Example D
Soft gelatin capsules containing the following ingredients can be manufactured in a conventional manner:
Capsule contents
Compound of formula (I) 5.0mg
Yellow wax 8.0 mg
Hydrogenated Soya bean oil 8.0 mg
Partially hydrogenated plant oils 34.0 mg
Soya bean oil 110.0 mg
Weight of capsule contents 165.0 mg
Gelatin capsule
Gelatin 75.0 mg
Glycerol 85 % 32.0 mg
Karion 83 8.0 mg (dry matter)
Titan dioxide 0.4 mg
Iron oxide yellow 1.1 mg
The active ingredient is dissolved in a warm melting of the other ingredients
and the mixture is filled into soft gelatin capsules of appropriate size. The filled soft
gelatin capsules are treated according to the usual procedures.
Example E
Sachets containing the following ingredients can be manufactured in a conventional manner:
Compound of formula (I) 50.0 mg
Lactose, fine powder 1015.0 mg
Microcristalline cellulose (AVICEL PR 102) 1400.0 mg
Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 14.0 mg
Polyvinylpyrrolidon K 30 10.0 mg
Magnesiumstearate lO.Omg
Flavoring additives 1.0 mg
The active ingredient is mixed with lactose, microcristalline cellulose and
sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and granulated with a mixture of
polyvinylpyrrolidon in water. The granulate is mixed with magnesiumstearate and the
flavouring additives and filled into sachets.







We Claim;
1. A compound of the formula I:
(Formula Removed)
Wherein:
one of R1 or R2 is hydrogen or unsubstituted alkyl and the other is unsubstituted lower alkyl or (CH2)PY, wherein Y is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, partially unsaturated, or unsaturated mono-, bi- or tri-cyclic 5-10 membered cycloalkyl ring and p is 0 or 1, and wherein substituents on Y are lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, hydroxy-alkyl, alkyl-phenyl, phenyl-alkyl, pyridine or halogen,
or R1 and R2, together with the N atom to which they are attached, form a substituted or unsubstituted ring Z, wherein Z is a 5- to 7-membered monocyclic or 7- to 10-membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or unsaturated substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring which contains the N atom to which R1 and R2 are attached, and optionally another hetero atom which is selected from N, O and S, wherein the substituted heterocyclic ring is mono- or di- substituted with lower alkyl, hydroxy, hydroxy-alkyl, alkyl-phenyl, phenyl-alkyl, pyridine or halogen;
R3 is an aromatic ring system selected from the group consisting of [2,2']bithiophenyl, 1-methyl-indole, 2,3-dihydro-benzo[l,4]dioxin, benzo[l,3]dioxole, benzothiophene, dibenzofuran, furane, naphthalene, phenyl, biphenyl, quinoline, thianthrene and thiophene, wherein said aromatic ring may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more amino, cyano, formyl, halo, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, lower-acyl, lower-acyl-
amino, lower-alkoxy, lower-alkoxy-carbonyl, 2-(lower-alkoxy-carbonyl)-ethenyl, lower-alkyl, lower-alkyl-thio, nitro, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl, wherein said phenyl ring may additionally be substituted with phenoxy or benzyloxy,
R4 is unsubstituted lower alkyl;
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,
wherein "lower alkyl" is a branched or unbranched acyclic saturated hydrocarbyl C1-C4 radical; and wherein "alkyl" is a branched or unbranched acyclic saturated hydrocarbyl C1-C10 radical.
2. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 is hydrogen and R2 is a substituted 6-8 membered cycloalkyl ring.
3. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein R2 is 1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl, 2,6,6-trimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1 ]hept-3-yl, 3-noradamantyl, adamantan-1-yl, adamantan-1-yl-methyl, adamantan-2-yl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, or cycoheptyl.
4. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein Z is a 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring substituted with lower alkyl, hydroxy, hydroxy-alkyl, alkyl-phenyl, phenyl-alkyl, pyridine or halogen.
5. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of 2-ethyl-piperidine, 3-(pyridin-3-yl)-pyrrolidine, 4-chloro-decahydro-quinoline, 4a-bromo-decahydro-isoquinoline, 6-bromo-octahydro-isoquinoline, 3-benzyl-piperidine, decahydro-quinoline and decahydro-isoquinoline.
6. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein R3 is substituted or unsubstituted benzothiophene or phenyl.
7. The compound as claimed in claim 6, wherein R3 is substituted with one or more halogen, lower-alkoxy or lower-alkyl.
8. The compound as claimed in claim 1, selected from the group consisting of (l-Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(trans-octahydro-isoquinolin-2-yl)-methanone, (3-Benzyl-piperidin-1 -yl)-( 1 -methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone, (l-Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(3-pyridin-3-yl-pyrrolidin-l-yl)-methanone,
(1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(l-Methyl-5-m-tolyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
(l-Methyl-5-p-tolyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-methanone,
3-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzonitrile,
4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzonitrile,
[5-(4-Isopropyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(3-Isopropyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(4-tert-Butyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-( 1 -methyl-1 H-indol-5-yl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
(5-Biphenyl-4-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-Biphenyl-3 -yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(1 -Methyl-5-naphthalen-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(1 -Methyl-5-quinolin-5-yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(1 -Methyl-5-quinolin-3-yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzaldehyde,
3-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzaldehyde,
1 - {4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-1 -carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenyl}-
ethanone,
l-{3-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenyl}-
ethanone,
[5-(3 -Amino-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
N-{4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenyl}-
acetamide,
(1 -Methyl-5-thiophen-3 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-[2,2']Bithiophenyl-5-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
(5-Furan-3 -yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-Benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
(5-Benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
(1 -Methyl-5-thianthren-1 -yl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(3 -methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(4-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(2-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
(4-Chloro-octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-( 1 -methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(5-Chloro-2,4-difluoro-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -
yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Fluoro-biphenyl-4-yl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(3-Amino-4-chloro-phenyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-
methanone,
[5-(2-Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(5-Chloro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(3 -Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(3 -Chloro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(4-Chloro-3 -methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(4-Chloro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(2-Fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-
quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-
quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(4a-Bromo-octahydro-isoquinolin-2-yl)-( 1 -methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-
methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(3-nitro-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(4-nitro-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
3-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-benzoicacid
methyl ester,
4- [2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-1 -carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3 -yl] -benzoic acid
methyl ester,
(E)-3-{4-[2-Methyl-4-(octahydro-quinoline-l-carbonyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-phenyl}-acrylic acid methyl ester,
[5-(3-Hydroxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
(5-Dibenzofuran-4-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(2-phenoxy-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3,4-Dimethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(2,3,4-trimethoxy-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Hydroxymethyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(3 -Benzyloxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(6-Ethoxy-naphthalen-2-yl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone,
[5-(2,3-Dihydro-benzo[ 1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin- 1 -yl)-methanone, (5-Benzo[l,3]dioxol-5-yl-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-l-yl)-
methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(4-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(3-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[ 1 -Methyl-5-(2-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(4-Chloro-2-methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -
yl)-methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-l-
yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Chloro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -
yl)-methanone,
[5-(5-Fluoro-2-methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -
yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Fluoro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-l -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -
yl)-methanone,
[5-(4-Benzyloxy-3 -chloro-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -
yl)-methanone,
[5-(2-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(3 -Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(4-Chloro-2-ethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl]-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-
methanone,
[5-(3-Chloro-4-propoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -
yl)-methanone,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (adamantan-1 -ylmethyl)-amide,
l-Methyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-1-ylamide,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid hexahydro-2,5-methanopentalen-
3a(lH)-amide,
l-Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid cycloheptylamide,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((1 R,2R,3R,5S)-2,6,6-trimethyl-
bicyclo[3.1.1 ]hept-3-yl)-amide,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((1 R,2S,4R)-1,7,7-trimethyl-
bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide,
(2-Ethyl-piperidin-1 -yl)-(1-methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-methanone,
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl-(( 1 R,2S,4R)-1,7,7-
trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide, and
1 -Methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-2-yl-isopropyl-amide,
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
9. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is (1-Methyl-5-
phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(trans-octahydro-isoquinolin-2-yl)-methanone.
10. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is [5-(4-Isopropyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone.
11. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is (5-Benzo [b] thiophen-2-yl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone.
12. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is [5-(2-Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone.
13. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is [5-(2-Chloro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone.
14. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is [5-(2-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone.
15. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is [5-(3-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-1 -methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl] -(octahydro-quinolin-1 -yl)-methanone.
16. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is l-Methyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (adamantan-l-ylmethyl)-amide.
17. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is l-Methyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid adamantan-1-ylamide.
18. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is l-Methyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((lR,2R,3R,5S)-2,6,6-trimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1 ]hept-3-yl)-amide.
19. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is l-Methyl-5-phenyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid ((lR,2S,4R)-l,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl)-amide.
20. A process for the preparation of a compound as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19, which process comprises reacting a compound of formula II
(Formula Removed)
with a compound HNR'R2, wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in any of claims 1 to 19.
21. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound as claimed in any of claims
1 to 19 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or adjuvant.
22. The compound as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19 for use as therapeutic active substance for the preparation of medicaments for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of type II diabetes, obesity or metabolic syndrome.

Documents:

7775-DELNP-2007-Abstract-(17-02-2012).pdf

7775-delnp-2007-abstract.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-assignments.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-Claims-(05-09-2012).pdf

7775-DELNP-2007-Claims-(17-02-2012).pdf

7775-delnp-2007-claims.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-Correspondence Others-(05-09-2012).pdf

7775-DELNP-2007-Correspondence Others-(17-02-2012).pdf

7775-delnp-2007-correspondence-others-1.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-correspondesce-others.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-Description (Complete)-(05-09-2012).pdf

7775-DELNP-2007-Description (Complete)-(17-02-2012).pdf

7775-delnp-2007-description (complete).pdf

7775-delnp-2007-form-1.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-form-18.pdf

7775-DELNP-2007-Form-2-(17-02-2012).pdf

7775-delnp-2007-form-2.pdf

7775-DELNP-2007-Form-3-(17-02-2012).pdf

7775-delnp-2007-form-3.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-form-5.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-GPA-(05-09-2012).pdf

7775-DELNP-2007-GPA-(17-02-2012).pdf

7775-delnp-2007-pct-210.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-pct-304.pdf

7775-delnp-2007-pct-409.pdf

abstract.jpg


Patent Number 260345
Indian Patent Application Number 7775/DELNP/2007
PG Journal Number 17/2014
Publication Date 25-Apr-2014
Grant Date 24-Apr-2014
Date of Filing 10-Oct-2007
Name of Patentee F.HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE AG
Applicant Address GRENZACHERSTRASSE 124, CH-4070 BASEL (CH)
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 GOODNOW, JR.,ROBERT ALAN 799 LONG HILL ROAD, GILLETTE, NEW JERSEY 07933 USA
2 ZHANG, QIANG 130 NEW ROAD, APT. H4, PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY 07054 USA
3 GILLESPIE, PAUL 739 TAMAQUES WAY, WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY 07090 USA
PCT International Classification Number C07D 231/44
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2006/061057
PCT International Filing date 2006-03-27
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 PCT/EP2006/061057 2006-03-27 EPO
2 60/668,367 2005-04-05 EPO