Phenyl derivatives as cannabinoid receptor 2 agonists

Abstract

wherein R1 to R3 are defined as in the description and in the claims. The compound of formula (I) can be used as a medicament.

1 . A compound of formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein
 R 1  is cyclopropyl, alkyl or haloazetidinyl; 
 R 2  is cyclopropylmethoxy, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, halopyridinyl, alkylpyrazolyl or halopyrrolidinyl; 
 provided that at least one of R 1  and R 2  is cyclopropyl or cyclopropylmethoxy; 
 R 3  is —C(O)—NH—C(R 4 R 5 )—R 6 , —C(O)—R 7  or R 1 ; 
 R 4  and R 5  are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkylsulfonylalkyl and alkyloxetanyl; 
 or R 4  and R 5  together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form oxetanyl or dioxothiethanyl; 
 R 6  is aminocarbonyl, 5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, hydroxyalkyl, thiazolyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxy, difluoroazetidinylcarbonyl, 5-amino-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, alkylaminocarbonyl or aminocarbonylalkyl; 
 R 7  is (aminocarbonyl)(difluoro)pyrrolidinyl or (aminocarbonyl)azaspiro[2.4]heptyl; and 
 R 8  is 3-alkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl or 5-alkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl; 
 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof. 
 
     
     
         2 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 1  is cyclopropyl. 
     
     
         3 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 2  is cyclopropylmethoxy, alkoxy, haloalkoxy or halopyrrolidinyl. 
     
     
         4 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 2  is cyclopropylmethoxy, propyloxy, fluoroethoxy, trifluoroethoxy or difluoropyrrolidinyl. 
     
     
         5 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 4  and R 5  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl and cycloalkylalkyl. 
     
     
         6 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 4  and R 5  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, butyl, cyclopropyl and cyclopropylmethyl. 
     
     
         7 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 6  is aminocarbonyl, 5-methyl-1-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, hydroxyalkyl or alkylaminocarbonyl. 
     
     
         8 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 6  is aminocarbonyl, 5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, hydroxymethyl or methylaminocarbonyl. 
     
     
         9 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 7  is (aminocarbonyl)(difluoro)pyrrolidinyl. 
     
     
         10 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 8  is 3-tert.butyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl, 5-tert.butyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl or 5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl. 
     
     
         11 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:
 (R)—N-(1-amino-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl)-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-4-methylbenzamide;   3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-4-methyl-N-[2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-N-[2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]benzamide;   N2-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzoyl]-L-leucinamide;   4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-N-(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-yl)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-N-[2-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)propan-2-yl]benzamide;   ethyl 2-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzamido]-2-ethylbutanoate;   2-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzamido]-2-ethylbutanoic acid;   4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-N-[3-(3,3-difluoroazetidine-1-carbonyl)pentan-3-yl]benzamide;   3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-4-(3,3-difluoroazetidin-1-yl)-N-[2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]benzamide;   N-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-4-(3,3-difluoroazetidin-1-yl)benzamide;   N2-[3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-4-(3,3-difluoroazetidin-1-yl)benzoyl]-N-methyl-L-leucinamide;   3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-4-(3,3-difluoroazetidin-1-yl)-N-[(2S)-1-hydroxy-4-methylpentan-2-yl]benzamide;   3-tert-butyl-5-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole;   N-[3-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)oxetan-3-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzamide;   N-[3-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1,1-dioxothietan-3-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzamide;   1-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzoyl]-4,4-difluoro-L-prolinamide;   N-(3-carbamoylpentan-3-yl)-4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzamide;   N2-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzoyl]-N-methyl-L-leucinamide;   4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-N-[(2S)-1-(methanesulfonyl)-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-N-[(2R)-1-(methanesulfonyl)-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]benzamide;   5-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzoyl]-5-azaspiro[2.4]heptane-6-carb oxamide;   5-tert-butyl-3-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole;   5-tert-butyl-3-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(2,2-difluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2R)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   N-[3-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1,1-dioxo-thietan-3-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2R)-1-(methanesulfonyl)-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-1-(methanesulfonyl)-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   5-tert-butyl-3-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(2-fluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2R)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(2,2-difluoroethoxy)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(2,2-difluoroethoxy)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2R)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(2-fluoroethoxy)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(2-fluoroethoxy)benzamide;   N-[(2S)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   N-[(2R)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(methylamino)-1-oxobutan-2-yl]-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(methylamino)-1-oxobutan-2-yl]-3-(2-fluoroethoxy)benzamide;   1-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(2-fluoroethoxy)benzoyl]-4,4-difluoro-L-prolinamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(methylamino)-1-oxobutan-2-yl]-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   1-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzoyl]-4,4-difluoro-L-prolinamide;   N-[(2S)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzamide;   N-[(2R)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzamide;   N-[(2R)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(2-fluoroethoxy)benzamide;   3-tert-butyl-5-{4-cyclopropyl-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]phenyl}-1,2,4-oxadiazole;   3-tert-butyl-5-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole;   1-{4-cyclopropyl-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzoyl}-4,4-difluoro-L-prolinamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2R)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2R)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(6-fluoropyridin-3-yl)benzamide;   N-[(2S)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   N-[(2R)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(6-fluoropyridin-3-yl)benzamide;   N-[(2S)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(6-fluoropyridin-3-yl)benzamide;   N-[(2S)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(2-fluoroethoxy)benzamide;   1-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzoyl]-4,4-difluoro-L-prolinamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(methylamino)-1-oxobutan-2-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide;   1-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(6-fluoropyridin-3-yl)benzoyl]-4,4-difluoro-L-prolinamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(methylamino)-1-oxobutan-2-yl]-3-(6-fluoropyridin-3-yl)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(6-fluoropyridin-3-yl)benzamide;   N-[(2R)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamide;   N-[(2S)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2R)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-(3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamide;   1-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)benzoyl]-4,4-difluoro-L-prolinamide;   4-cyclopropyl-3-(3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)-N-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(methylamino)-1-oxobutan-2-yl]benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)(3-methyloxetan-3-yl)methyl]-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)(3-methyloxetan-3-yl)methyl]-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzamide;   N-[3-amino-1-(3-methyloxetan-3-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide; and   4-cyclopropyl-3-(2-fluoroethoxy)-N-[(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)(3-methyloxetan-3-yl)methyl]benzamide;   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The compound according to  claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:
 N2-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzoyl]-L-leucinamide;   4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-N-(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-yl)benzamide;   3-tert-butyl-5-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole;   N-[3-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)oxetan-3-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzamide;   N-[3-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1,1-dioxothietan-3-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzamide;   1-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(cyclopropylmethoxy)benzoyl]-4,4-difluoro-L-prolinamide;   5-tert-butyl-3-[4-cyclopropyl-3-(2-fluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole;   N-[(2S)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(methylamino)-1-oxobutan-2-yl]-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzamide;   4-cyclopropyl-N-[(2S)-1-cyclopropyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl]-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzamide; and   N-[(2R)-4-amino-2-cyclopropyl-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-4-cyclopropyl-3-[(propan-2-yl)oxy]benzamide;   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   
     
     
         13 . A process for the preparation of a compound according to  claim 1 , comprising one of the following steps:
 (a) reacting a compound of formula (A)   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         in the presence of H 2 N—C(R 4 R 5 )—R 6 , a coupling agent and a base, wherein R 2  is cyclopropylmethoxy, alkoxy or haloalkoxy; 
         (b) reacting a compound of formula (A) as defined above in the presence of H—R 7 , a coupling agent and a base, wherein R 2  is cyclopropylmethoxy, alkoxy or haloalkoxy; 
         (c) reacting a compound of formula (A) as defined above in the presence of a compound of formula (B) 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and carbonydiimidazole, wherein R 8′  is methyl or tert-butyl; or 
         (d) reacting a compound of formula (C) 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         in the presence of R 2′ —X, wherein R 2′  is cyclopropylmethyl, alkyl or haloalkyl, R 8′  is methyl or tert-butyl and X is a leaving group. 
       
     
     
         14 . A compound according to  claim 1 , when manufactured according to a process of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound in accordance with  claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, and a therapeutically inert carrier. 
     
     
         17 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for the treatment or prophylaxis of pain, atherosclerosis, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemia-reperfusion injury, acute liver failure, liver fibrosis, lung fibrosis, kidney fibrosis, systemic fibrosis, acute allograft rejection, chronic allograft nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephropathy, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, systemic sclerosis, thermal injury, burning, hypertrophic scars, keloids, gingivitis pyrexia, liver cirrhosis or tumors, regulation of bone mass, neurodegeneration, stroke, transient ischemic attack or uveitis, which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of  claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)