Compounds

Abstract

A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutical salt thereof:

1 . A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) H; 
 (ii) C 1-3  alkyl, optionally substituted by:
 hydroxy, 
 C 1-2  alkoxy, optionally substituted by one or more fluoro groups, 
 NH 2 , 
 phenyl, 
 C 5-6  heteroaryl, 
 C 1-4  alkyl carbamoyl, 
 acylamido, or 
 one or more fluoro groups; 
 
 (iii) C 1-3  alkoxy, optionally substituted by C 3-6  cycloalkyl or by one or more fluoro groups; 
 (iv) C 3-6  cycloalkyl; 
 (v) halo; 
 (vi) COR C , where R C  is selected from NR N1 R N2 , where R N1  and R N2  are independently selected from H and methyl; 
 (vii) cyano, NH 2 , or NO 2 ; and 
 (viii) phenyl or C 5-6  heteroaryl, optionally substituted by methyl, cyano, hydroxy or methoxy; 
 
         Ar is selected from the group consisting of: 
         (a) 5-ethyl-2-methoxyphenyl; 
         (b) 5-CF 3 -2-methoxyphenyl; and 
         (c) 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl. 
       
     
     
         2 . The compound or salt according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is C 1-3  alkyl, optionally substituted by:
 hydroxy,   C 1-2  alkoxy, optionally substituted by one or more fluoro groups,   NH 2 ,   phenyl,   C 5-6  heteroaryl,   C 1-4  alkyl carbamoyl,   acylamido, or   one or more fluoro groups.   
     
     
         3 . The compound or salt according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is C 1-3  alkoxy, optionally substituted by C 3-6  cycloalkyl or one of more fluoro groups. 
     
     
         4 . The compound or salt according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is C 3-6  cycloalkyl. 
     
     
         5 . The compound or salt according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is halo. 
     
     
         6 . The compound or salt according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is COR C , where R C  is selected from NR N1 R N2 , where R N1  and R N2  are independently selected from H and methyl. 
     
     
         7 . The compound or salt according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is cyano, NH 2  or NO 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The compound or salt according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is phenyl or C 5-6  heteroaryl, optionally substituted by methyl, cyano, hydroxy or methoxy. 
     
     
         9 . The compound or salt according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) R 4  is methoxy, R 2  is CH 2 OCH 3  or CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , and R 1  and R 3  are H;   (b) R 4  is methoxy, R 2  is phenyl, optionally substituted by methyl or methoxy, and R 1  and R 3  are H;   (c) R 4  is methoxy, R 2  is C 5-6  heteroaryl, optionally substituted by methyl;   (d) R 4  is methoxy and R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are H;   (e) R 4  is chloro, R 2  is C 1-3  alkyl or bromo, and R 1  and R 3  are H;   (f) R 4  is chloro and R 1 , R 2  and R 4  are H; or   (g) R 3  is C 1-3  alkyl and R 1 , R 2  and R 4  are H.   
     
     
         10 . The compound or salt according to  claim 1 , wherein Ar is 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating cancer comprising administering to a patient in need of treatment a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) H; 
 (ii) C 1-3  alkyl, optionally substituted by:
 hydroxy, 
 C 1-2  alkoxy, optionally substituted by one or more fluoro groups, 
 NH 2 , 
 phenyl, 
 C 5-6  heteroaryl, 
 C 1-4  alkyl carbamoyl, 
 acylamido, or 
 one or more fluoro groups; 
 
 (iii) C 1-3  alkoxy, optionally substituted by C 3-6  cycloalkyl or by one or more fluoro groups; 
 (iv) C 3-6  cycloalkyl; 
 (v) halo; 
 (vi) COR C , where R C  is selected from NR N1 R N2 , where R N1  and R N2  are independently selected from H and methyl; 
 (vii) cyano, NH 2 , or NO 2 ; and 
 (viii) phenyl or C 5-6  heteroaryl, optionally substituted by methyl, cyano, hydroxy or methoxy; 
 
         Ar is selected from the group consisting of: 
         (a) 5-ethyl-2-methoxyphenyl; 
         (b) 5-CF 3 -2-methoxyphenyl; and 
         (c) 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl. 
       
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is C 1-3  alkyl, optionally substituted by:
 hydroxy,   C 1-2  alkoxy, optionally substituted by one or more fluoro groups,   NH 2 ,   phenyl,   C 5-6  heteroaryl,   C 1-4  alkyl carbamoyl,   acylamido, or   one or more fluoro groups.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is C 1-3  alkoxy, optionally substituted by C 3-6  cycloalkyl or one of more fluoro groups. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is C 3-6  cycloalkyl. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is halo. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is COR C , where R C  is selected from NR N1 R N2 , where R N1  and R N2  are independently selected from H and methyl. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is cyano, NH 2  or NO 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  is phenyl or C 5-6  heteroaryl, optionally substituted by methyl, cyano, hydroxy or methoxy. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 (a) R 4  is methoxy, R 2  is CH 2 OCH 3  or CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , and R 1  and R 3  are H;   (b) R 4  is methoxy, R 2  is phenyl, optionally substituted by methyl or methoxy, and R 1  and R 3  are H;   (c) R 4  is methoxy, R 2  is C 5-6  heteroaryl, optionally substituted by methyl;   (d) R 4  is methoxy and R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are H;   (e) R 4  is chloro, R 2  is C 1-3  alkyl or bromo, and R 1  and R 3  are H;   (f) R 4  is chloro and R 1 , R 2  and R 4  are H; or   (g) R 3  is C 1-3  alkyl and R 1 , R 2  and R 4  are H.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein Ar is 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl.