Abstract:
The invention relates to novel pyridine derivatives and related compounds and their use as active ingredients in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention also concerns related aspects including processes for the preparation of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of those compounds and especially their use as neurohormonal antagonists.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to novel 4-(piperidinyl- and pyrrolidinyl-alkyl-ureido)-pyridine derivatives of the General Formula 1 and their use as active ingredients in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention also concerns related aspects including processes for the preparation of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more compounds of the General Formula 1 and especially their use as neurohormonal antagonists.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Urotensin II is a cyclic 11-amino acid peptide neurohormone considered to be the most potent vasoconstrictor known, up to 28-fold more potent than endothelin-1. The effects of urotensin II are mediated through activation of a G-protein coupled receptor, the UT receptor, also known as GPR14 or SENR (Ames R S, et al, “Human urotensin-II is a potent vasoconstrictor and agonist for the orphan receptor GPR14” Nature (1999) 401, 282-6. Mori M, Sugo T, Abe M, Shimomura Y, Kurihara M, Kitada C, Kikuchi K, Shintani Y, Kurokawa T, Onda H, Nishimura O, Fujino M. “Urotensin II is the endogenous ligand of a G-protein-coupled orphan receptor, SENR (GPR14)” Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1999) 265,123-9. Liu Q, Pong S S, Zeng Z, et al, “Identification of urotensin II as the endogenous ligand for the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor GPR14” Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1999) 266, 174-178) Urotensin II and its receptor are conserved across evolutionarily distant species, suggesting an important physiological role for the system (Bern H A, Pearson D, Larson B A, Nishioka R S. “Neurohormones from fish tails: the caudal neurosecretory system. I. Urophysiology and the caudal neurosecretory system of fishes” Recent Prog. Horm. Res. (1985) 41, 533-552). In euryhaline fish, urotensin II has an osmoregulatory role, and in mammals urotensin II exerts potent and complex hemodynamic actions. The response to urotensin II is dependent on the anatomical source and species of the tissue being studied. (Douglas S A, Sulpizio A C, Piercy V, Sarau H M, Ames R S, Aiyar N V, Ohlstein E H, Willefte R N. “Differential vasoconstrictor activity of human urotensin-II in vascular tissue isolated from the rat, mouse, dog, pig, marmoset and cynomolgus monkey” Br. J. Pharmacol. (2000) 131, 1262-1274. Douglas, S A, Ashton D J, Sauermelch C F, Coatney R W, Ohlstein D H, Ruffolo M R, Ohlstein E H, Aiyar N V, Willette R “Human urotensin-II is a potent vasoactive peptide: pharmacological characterization in the rat, mouse, dog and primate” J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. (2000) 36, Suppl 1:S163-6).  
         [0003]     Like other neurohormones, urotensin II has growth stimulating and profibrotic actions in addition to its vasoactive properties. Urotensin II increases smooth muscle cell proliferation, and stimulates collagen synthesis (Tzandis A, et al, “Urotensin II stimulates collagen synthesis by cardiac fibroblasts and hypertrophic signaling in cardiomyocytes via G(alpha)q- and Ras-dependent pathways” J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. (2001) 37, 164A. Zou Y, Nagai R, and Yamazaki T, “Urotensin II induces hypertrophic responses in cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats” FEBS Lett (2001) 508, 57-60). Urotensin II regulates hormone release (Silvestre R A, et al, “Inhibition of insulin release by urotensin II-a study on the perfused rat pancreas” Horm Metab Res (2001) 33, 379-81). Urotensin II has direct actions on atrial and ventricular myocytes (Russell F D, Molenaar P, and O&#39;Brien D M “Cardiostimulant effects of urotensin-II in human heart in vitro” Br. J. Pharmacol. (2001) 132, 5-9). Urotensin II is produced by cancer cell lines and its receptor is also expressed in these cells. (Takahashi K, et al, “Expression of urotensin II and urotensin II receptor mRNAs in various human tumor cell lines and secretion of urotensin II-like immunoreactivity by SW-13 adrenocortical carcinoma cells” Peptides (2001) 22, 1175-9; Takahashi K, et al, “Expression of urotensin II and its receptor in adrenal tumors and stimulation of proliferation of cultured tumor cells by urotensin II” Peptides (2003) 24, 301-306; Shenouda S, et al, “Localization of urotensin-II immunoreactivity in normal human kidneys and renal carcinoma” J Histochem Cytochem (2002) 50, 885-889). Urotensin II and its receptor are found in spinal cord and brain tissue, and intracerebroventricular infusion of urotensin II into mice induces behavioral changes (Gartlon J, et al, “Central effects of urotensin-II following ICV administration in rats” Psychopharmacology (Berlin) (2001) 155, 426-33).  
         [0004]     Dysregulation of urotensin II is associated with human disease. Elevated circulating levels of urotensin II are detected in hypertensive patients, in heart failure patients, in diabetic patients, and in patients awaiting kidney transplantation (Cheung, B M, et al., “Plasma concentration of urotensin II is raised in hypertension” J. Hypertens. (2004) 22, 1341-1344; Totsune K, et al, “Role of urotensin II in patients on dialysis” Lancet (2001) 358, 810-1; Totsune K, et al, “Increased plasma urotensin II levels in patients with diabetes mellitus” Clin Sci (2003) 104, 1-5; Heller J, et al, “Increased urotensin II plasma levels in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension” J Hepatol (2002) 37, 767-772).  
         [0005]     Substances with the ability to block the actions of urotensin II are expected to prove useful in the treatment of various diseases. WO-2001/45694, WO-2002/78641, WO-2002/78707, WO-2002/79155, WO-2002/79188, WO-2002/89740, WO-2002/89785, WO-2002/89792, WO-2002/89793, WO-2002/90337, WO-2002/90348, WO-2002/90353, WO-2004/043366, WO-2004/043368, WO-2004/043369, WO-2004/043463, WO-2004/043917 and WO-2004/043948 disclose certain sulfonamides as urotensin II receptor antagonists, and their use to treat diseases associated with a urotensin II imbalance. WO-2001/45700 and WO-2001/45711 disclose certain pyrrolidines or piperidines as urotensin II receptor antagonists and their use to treat diseases associated with a urotensin II imbalance. These derivatives are different from the compounds of the present invention as they do not comprise urea derivatives bearing a 4-pyridinyl-like moiety. WO-2002/047456 and WO-2002/47687 disclose certain 2-amino-quinolones as urotensin II receptor antagonists and their use to treat diseases associated with a urotensin II imbalance. WO-2002/058702 discloses certain 2-amino-quinolines as urotensin II receptor antagonists and their use to treat diseases associated with a urotensin II imbalance. WO-2001/66143 discloses certain 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinolin-4-ylamine derivatives useful as urotensin II receptor antagonists, WO-2002/00606 discloses certain biphenyl compounds useful as urotensin II receptor antagonists, and WO-2002/02530 and WO-2004/073634 also disclose certain compounds useful as urotensin II receptor antagonists. WO-2002/076979 and WO-2003/048154 disclose certain quinoline derivatives as urotensin II receptor antagonists, and their use to treat diseases associated with a urotensin II imbalance.  
         [0006]     EP 428434 discloses certain alkylureidopyridines as neurokinin and substance P antagonists. WO-99/21835 discloses certain ureidoquinolines as H+-ATPase and bone resorption inhibitors. WO-2001/009088 discloses certain substituted heteroarylureas as inhibitors of the CCR-3 receptor. All of these ureidopyridine derivatives differ in their composition from compounds of the present invention. The present invention comprises N-(cyclic amino alkyl)-N′-pyridin-4-yl urea derivatives which are novel compositions of matter and which are useful as urotensin II receptor antagonists. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention relates to compounds of the General Formula 1.  
                         
 
 wherein: 
 
 Py represents pyridin-4-yl which is disubstituted in positions 2 and 6, whereby the substituent in position 2 is C 1-7 -alkyl, aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl, or (E)-2-aryl-ethen-1-yl, and the substituent in position 6 is hydrogen or C 1-7 -alkyl; 
 
 X represents aryl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl-; aryl-O—; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl-O—; R 1 —SO 2 NR 2 —; R 1 —CONR 2 —; aryl-R 8 —CONR 2 —; R 1 —NR 3 CONR 2 —; R 1 —NR 2 CO—; or X and Z represent together with the carbon atom to which they are attached an exocyclic double bond which bears an aryl substituent at the thus formed methylene group; 
 
 Z represents hydrogen; in case X represents aryl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl Z represents hydrogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl or R 4 —NR 5 CO—; in case X represents R 1 —NR 2 CO— Z represents hydrogen or C 1-7 -alkyl; or in case X represents aryl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl and n represents the number 0, Z represents hydrogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, R 4 —NR 5 CO—, aryl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; 
 
 Y represents —C(R 6 )(R 7 )(CH 2 ) m — or —(CH 2 ) m C(R 6 )(R 7 )—; 
 
 m represents the numbers 1 or 2; 
 
 n represents the numbers 0 or 1; 
 
 R 1  represents aryl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; 
 
 R 2  represents hydrogen; C 1-7 -alkyl; 2-hydroxyethyl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; or a saturated carbocyclic ring; 
 
 R 3  represents hydrogen or C 1-7 -alkyl; 
 
 R 4  represents hydrogen; C 1-7 -alkyl; aryl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; or forms together with R 5  a saturated 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring including the nitrogen atom to which R 4  and R 5  are attached as ring atom; 
 
 R 5  represents hydrogen; C 1-7 -alkyl; 2-hydroxyethyl; or forms together with R 4  a saturated 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring including the nitrogen atom to which R 4  and R 5  are attached as ring atom; 
 
 R 6  represents hydrogen; C 1-7 -alkyl; aryl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; or forms together with R 7  a saturated carbocyclic ring including the carbon atom to which R 6  and R 7  are attached as ring atom; 
 
 R 7  represents hydrogen; methyl; or forms together with R 6  a saturated carbocyclic ring including the carbon atom to which R 6  and R 7  are attached as ring atom. 
 
 R 8  represents a saturated carbocyclic ring. 
 
         [0008]     In a preferred embodiment also the following forms are encompassed: optically pure enantiomers or diastereomers, mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, and mixtures of diastereomeric racemates; as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvent complexes, and morphological forms.  
         [0009]     The term ‘aryl’ means a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system, consisting of a five- or six-membered aromatic ring, or of a fused five-six or six-six aromatic ring system. Preferred aryl groups are for example 2-furyl; 2-thienyl; phenyl; 2-methylphenyl; 3-methylphenyl; 4-methylphenyl; 2-biphenyl; 3-biphenyl; 4-biphenyl; 2-methoxyphenyl; 3-methoxyphenyl; 4-methoxyphenyl; 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl; 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl; 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl; 2-phenoxyphenyl; 3-phenoxyphenyl; 4-phenoxyphenyl; 2-cyanophenyl; 3-cyanophenyl; 4-cyanophenyl; 2-fluorophenyl; 3-fluorophenyl; 4-fluorophenyl; 2,4-difluorophenyl; 2,5-difluorophenyl; 2,6-difluorophenyl; 3,4-difluorophenyl; 2-chlorophenyl; 3-chlorophenyl; 4-chlorophenyl; 3,4-dichlorophenyl; 2-bromophenyl; 3-bromophenyl; 4-bromophenyl; 2-trifluoromethylphenyl; 3-trifluoromethylphenyl; 4-trifluoromethylphenyl; 3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenyl; 4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl; 4-ethylphenyl; 4-n-propylphenyl; 2-iso-propylphenyl; 4-iso-propylphenyl; 4-tert-butylphenyl; 4-n-pentylphenyl; 4-bromo-2-ethylphenyl; 2-methanesulfonylphenyl; 3-methanesulfonylphenyl; 4-methanesulfonylphenyl; 4-acetamidophenyl; 4-hydroxyphenyl; 4-iso-propyloxyphenyl; 4-n-butoxyphenyl; 2-methoxy-4-methylphenyl; 4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethylphenyl; 5-bromo-2-methoxy-phenyl; 2-pyridyl; 3-pyridyl; 4-pyridyl; 1-naphthyl; 2-naphthyl; 4-(pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl; 4-benzoylphenyl; 5-dimethylaminonaphth-1-yl; 5-chloro-3-methylthiophen-2-yl; 5-chloro-3-methyl-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl; 3-(phenylsulfonyl)-thiophen-2-yl; 2-chloro-thien-5-yl; 2,5-dichloro-thien-3-yl; 4,5-dichlorothien-2-yl; 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-1-2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-yl; 4-(3-chloro-2-cyanophenyloxy)phenyl; 2-(5-benzamidomethyl)thiophenyl; 5-quinolyl-; 6-quinolyl; 7-quinolyl; 8-quinolyl; (2-acetylamino-4-methyl)thiazol-5-yl; or 1-methylimidazol-4-yl. For the substituents X, R 4  and R 6  aryl means preferably phenyl or phenyl mono- or disubstituted independently with C 1-7 -alkyl, C 1-7 -alkyl-O—, trifluoromethyl or halogen. For the substituent x aryl means preferably phenyl or phenyl mono- or disubstituted independently with C 1-7 -alkyl, C 1-7 -alkyl-O—, trifluoromethyl or halogen.  
         [0010]     The term ‘C 1-7 -alkyl’ means straight or branched chain groups with one to seven carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 3-allyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, tert.-butyl, n-pentyl, iso-pentyl, n-hexyl and n-heptyl; preferably one to four carbon atoms. Preferred examples of C 1-7 -alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl and n-propyl. Most preferred examples of C 1-7 -alkyl groups are methyl and ethyl.  
         [0011]     The term ‘saturated carboxyclic ring’ means a saturated cyclic alkyl group with three to six carbon atoms. Preferred examples of saturated carbocyclic rings are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, and cyclohexyl. For the substituent R 8  ‘saturated carboxyclic ring’ means preferably 1,1-cyclopropane-diyl.  
         [0012]     The term ‘aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl’ means a C 1-7 -alkyl group as previously defined in which one hydrogen atom has been replaced by an aryl group as previously defined. Preferred examples of aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl groups are 3-phenylpropyl, phenethyl, benzyl, and benzyl substituted in the phenyl ring with C 1-7 -alkyl, C 1-7 -alkyl-O—, trifluoromethyl or halogen such as 4-methylbenzyl, 3-methylbenzyl, 2-methylbenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 2-methoxybenzyl, 4-trifluoromethylbenzyl, 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl, 2-trifluoromethylbenzyl, 4-chlorobenzyl, 3-chlorobenzyl, 2-chlorobenzyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, 3-fluorobenzyl, and 2-fluorobenzyl.  
         [0013]     The term ‘aryl-O—’ means an aryl group as previously defined that is attached to an oxygen atom. Preferred examples of aryl-O— groups are phenoxy and phenoxy substituted in the phenyl ring with C 1-7 -alkyl, C 1-7 -alkyl-O—, trifluoromethyl or halogen such as 4-methylphenoxy, 4-methoxyphenoxy, 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy, 4-chlorophenoxy, 4-fluorophenoxy, 3-methylphenoxy, 3-methoxyphenoxy, 3-trifluoromethylphenoxy, 3-chlorophenoxy, 3-fluorophenoxy, 2-methylphenoxy, 2-methoxyphenoxy, 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy, 2-chlorophenoxy and 2-fluorophenoxy.  
         [0014]     The term ‘aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl-O—’ means a C 1-7 -alkyl group as previously defined in which one hydrogen atom has been replaced by an oxygen atom and one additional hydrogen atom has been replaced by an aryl group as previously defined. Preferred examples of aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl-O— groups are 3-phenylpropyloxy, 2-phenethyloxy, benzyloxy and benzyloxy substituted in the phenyl ring with C 1-7 -alkyl, C 1-7 -alkyl-O—, trifluoromethyl or halogen such as 4-methylbenzyloxy, 3-methylbenzyloxy, 2-methylbenzyloxy, 4-methoxybenzyloxy, 3-methoxybenzyloxy, 2-methoxybenzyloxy, 4-trifluoromethylbenzyloxy, 3-trifluoromethylbenzyloxy, 2-trifluoromethylbenzyloxy, 4-chlorobenzyloxy, 3-chlorobenzyloxy, 2-chlorobenzyloxy, 4-fluorobenzyloxy, 3-fluorobenzyloxy and 2-fluorobenzyloxy.  
         [0015]     The term ‘C 1-7 -alkyl-O—’ means a C 1-7 -alkyl group as previously defined that is attached to an oxygen atom. Preferred examples of C 1-7 -alkyl-O— groups are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propyloxy and iso-propyloxy.  
         [0016]     The term ‘(E)-2-aryl-ethen-1-yl’ means groups such as (E)-2-phenylethen-1-yl, (E) -2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethen-1-yl and (E)-3-phenylpropen-1-yl. Preferred examples are (E)-2-phenylethen-1-yl and (E)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethen-1-yl.  
         [0017]     Preferred examples of groups wherein ‘X and Z represent together with the carbon atom to which they are attached an exocyclic double bond which bears an aryl substituent at the thus formed methylene group’ are benzylidene and benzylidene substituted in the phenyl ring with C 1-7 -alkyl, C 1-7 -alkyl-O— or halogen such as 4-methylbenzylidene, 3-methylbenzylidene, 2-methylbenzylidene, 4-methoxybenzylidene, 3-methoxybenzylidene, 2-methoxybenzylidene, 4-chlorobenzylidene, 3-chlorobenzylidene, 2-chlorobenzylidene, 4-fluorobenzylidene, 3-fluorobenzylidene, 2-fluorobenzylidene.  
         [0018]     Preferred examples of R 4  and R 5  representing a ‘saturated 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring including the nitrogen atom to which R 4  and R 5  are attached as ring atom’ are azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperidine and morpholine.  
         [0019]     Preferred examples of R 6  and R 7  representing ‘a saturated carbocyclic ring including the carbon atom to which R 6  and R 7  are attached as ring atom’ are 1,1-cyclopropane-diyl, 1,1-cyclobutane-diyl, 1,1-cyclopentane-diyl and 1,1-cyclohexane-diyl.  
         [0020]     The present invention encompasses pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of the General Formula 1. This encompasses either salts with inorganic acids or organic acids like hydrohalogenic acids, e.g. hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, methylsulfonic acid, p-tolylsulfonic acid and the like or in case the compound of formula 1 is acidic in nature with an inorganic base like an alkali or earth alkali base, e.g. sodium, potassium, or calcium salts, etc. The compounds of General Formula 1 can also be present in form of zwitterions.  
         [0021]     The present invention encompasses different salvation complexes of compounds of General Formula 1. The solvation can be effected in the course of the manufacturing process or can take place separately, e.g. as a consequence of hygroscopic properties of an initially anhydrous compound of General Formula 1.  
         [0022]     The present invention further encompasses different morphological forms, e.g. crystalline forms, of compounds of General Formula 1 and their salts and solvation complexes. Particular heteromorphs may exhibit different dissolution properties, stability profiles, and the like, and are all included in the scope of the present invention.  
         [0023]     The compounds of the General Formula 1 might have one or more asymmetric carbon atoms and may be prepared in form of configurational isomers, optically pure enantiomers or diastereomers, mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, and mixtures of diastereomeric racemates. The present invention encompasses all these forms. They are prepared by stereoselective synthesis, or by separation of mixtures in a manner known per se, i.e. by column chromatography, thin layer chromatography, HPLC, crystallization, etc.  
         [0024]     Preferred compounds of the invention are compounds of General Formula 2.  
                         
 
 wherein: 
 
 Py represents pyridin-4-yl which is disubstituted in positions 2 and 6, whereby the substituent in position 2 is C 1-7 -alkyl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl and the substituent in position 6 is methyl or ethyl; 
 
 X represents aryl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl-; aryl-O—; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl-O—; R 1 —SO 2 NR 2 —; R 1 —CONR 2 —; aryl-R 8 —CONR 2 —; R 1 —NR 3 CONR 2 —; or R 1 —NR 2 CO—; 
 
 Z represents hydrogen; in case X represents aryl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl and n represents the number 1 Z represents hydrogen, hydroxyl or R 4 —NR 5 CO—; 
 
 n represents the numbers 0 or 1; 
 
 R 1  represents aryl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; 
 
 R 2  represents hydrogen; C 1-7 -alkyl; 2-hydroxyethyl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; or a saturated carbocyclic ring; 
 
 R 3  represents hydrogen or C 1-7 -alkyl; 
 
 R 4  represents hydrogen; C 1-7 -alkyl; aryl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; or forms together with R 5  a saturated 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring including the nitrogen atom to which R 4  and R 5  are attached as ring atom; 
 
 R 5  represents hydrogen; C 1-7 -alkyl; 2-hydroxyethyl; or forms together with R 4  a saturated 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring including the nitrogen atom to which R 4  and R 5  are attached as ring atom. 
 
 R 8  represents a saturated carbocyclic ring. 
 
         [0025]     In a preferred embodiment also the following forms are encompassed: optically pure enantiomers or diastereomers, mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, and mixtures of diastereomeric racemates; as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvent complexes, and morphological forms.  
         [0026]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are the compounds of General Formula 3:  
                         
 
 wherein n, Y, Z and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 1. 
 
         [0027]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are the compounds of General Formula 4:  
                         
 
 wherein n, Y, Z and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 1. 
 
         [0028]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are the compounds of General Formula 5:  
                         
 
 wherein R 2 , Y, n and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 1. 
 
         [0029]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are the compounds of General Formula 6:  
                         
 
 wherein R 4 , R 5 , Y, n and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 1. 
 
         [0030]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are the compounds of General Formula 7:  
                         
 
 wherein R 1 , R 2 , Z, Y, n and Z have the meaning given in General Formula 1. 
 
         [0031]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are the compounds of General Formula 8:  
                         
 
 wherein R 1 , R 2 , n, Y and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 1. 
 
         [0032]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are the compounds of General Formula 9:  
                         
 
 wherein X, Y, Z, n and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 1. 
 
         [0033]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are the compounds of General Formula 10:  
                         
 
 wherein X, Y, Z, n and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 1. 
 
         [0034]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are the compounds of General Formula 11:  
                         
 
 wherein X, Y, Z, n and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 1. 
 
         [0035]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 12:  
                         
 
 wherein n, Z and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0036]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 13:  
                         
 
 wherein n, Z and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0037]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 14:  
                         
 
 wherein R 2 , n and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0038]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 15:  
                         
 
 wherein R 4 , R 5 , n and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0039]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 16:  
                         
 
 wherein R 1 , R 2 , Z, n and Z have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0040]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 17:  
                         
 
 wherein R 1 , R 2 , n and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0041]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 18:  
                         
 
 wherein X, Z and Py have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0042]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 19:  
                         
 
 wherein X, Z and n have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0043]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 20:  
                         
 
 wherein X, Z and n have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0044]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 21:  
                         
 
 wherein R 1  and R 2  have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0045]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 22:  
                         
 
 wherein R 2  and n have the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0046]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 23:  
                         
 
 wherein Z has the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0047]     Preferred compounds of General Formula 2 are the compounds of General Formula 24:  
                         
 
 wherein Z has the meaning given in General Formula 2. 
 
         [0048]     The present invention also relates to compounds of the General Formula 25:  
                         
 
 wherein: 
 
 Py represents pyridin-4-yl which is disubstituted in positions 2 and 6, whereby the substituent in position 2 is C 1-7 -alkyl, aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl, or (E)-2-aryl-ethen-1-yl, and the substituent in position 6 is hydrogen or C 1-7 -alkyl; 
 
 X represents aryl; aryl-O—; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl-; R 1 —SO 2 NR 2 —; R 1 —CONR 2 —; R 1 —NR 3 CONR 2 —; R 1 —NR 2 CO—; or X and Z represent together with the carbon atom to which they are attached an exocyclic double bond which bears an aryl substituent at the thus formed methylene group; 
 
 Y represents —C(R 4 )(R 5 )(CH 2 ) m — or —(CH 2 ) m C(R 4 )(R 5 )—; 
 
 Z represents hydrogen; in case X represents aryl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl Z represents hydrogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, R 1 —NR 2 CO—; or in case X represents aryl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl and n represents the number 0, Z represents hydrogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, R 1 —NR 2 CO—, aryl, aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; 
 
 n represents the numbers 0 or 1; 
 
 m represents the numbers 1 or 2; 
 
 R 1  represents aryl; C 1-7 -alkyl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; or a saturated carbocyclic ring; 
 
 R 2  and R 3  represent independently hydrogen; C 1-7 -alkyl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; or a saturated carbocyclic ring; 
 
 R 4  represents hydrogen; C 1-7 -alkyl; aryl; aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl; or forms together with R 5  a saturated carbocyclic ring including the carbon atom to which R 4  and R 5  are attached as ring atom; 
 
 R 5  represents hydrogen; methyl; or forms together with R 4  a saturated carbocyclic ring including the carbon atom to which R 4  and R 5  are attached as ring atom; 
 
 and optically pure enantiomers or diastereomers, mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, and mixtures of diastereomeric racemates; as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvent complexes, and morphological forms. 
 
         [0049]     In the definitions of the General Formula 25 the expression ‘aryl’ means a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system, consisting of a five- or six-membered aromatic ring, or of a fused five-six or six-six aromatic ring system. Preferred aryl groups are for example 2-furyl; 2-thienyl; phenyl; 2-methylphenyl; 2-biphenyl; 2-methoxyphenyl; 2-phenoxyphenyl; 2-chlorophenyl; 2-bromophenyl; 2-i-propylphenyl; 2-fluorophenyl; 2-methylsulfonylphenyl; 2-cyanophenyl; 2-trifluoromethylphenyl; 3-methylphenyl; 3-biphenyl; 3-phenoxyphenyl; 3-methoxyphenyl; 3-chlorophenyl; 3-bromophenyl; 3-fluorophenyl; 3-cyanophenyl; 3-trifluoromethylphenyl; 3-carboxyphenyl; 4-methylphenyl; 4-ethylphenyl; 4-i-propylphenyl; 4-phenyloxyphenyl; 4-trifluoromethylphenyl; 4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl; 4-phenoxyphenyl; 4-cyanophenyl; 4-hydroxyphenyl; 4-acetylaminophenyl; 4-methanesulfonylphenyl; 4-n-propylphenyl; 4-iso-propylphenyl; 4-tert-butylphenyl; 4-n-pentylphenyl; 4-biphenyl; 4-chlorophenyl; 4-bromophenyl; 4-bromo-2-ethylphenyl; 4-fluorophenyl; 2,4-difluorophenyl; 4-n-butoxyphenyl; 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl; 3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenyl; 2-pyridyl; 3-pyridyl; 4-pyridyl; 1-naphthyl; 2-naphthyl; 4-(pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl; 4-benzoylphenyl; 5-dimethylaminonaphth-1-yl; 5-chloro-3-methylthiophen-2-yl; 5-chloro-3-methyl-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl; 3-(phenylsulfonyl)-thiophen-2-yl; 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-1-2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-yl; 4-(3-chloro-2-cyanophenyloxy)phenyl; 2-(5-benzamidomethyl)thiophenyl; 4,5-dichlorothien-2-yl; 5-quinolyl-; 6-quinolyl; 7-quinolyl; 8-quinolyl; (2-acetylamino-4-methyl)thiazol-5-yl; or 1-methylimidazol-4-yl.  
         [0050]     In the definitions of the General Formula 25 the expression ‘C 1-7 -alkyl’ means straight or branched chain groups with one to seven carbon atoms, preferably one to four carbon atoms. Preferred examples of C 1-7 -alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, and n-heptyl.  
         [0051]     In the definitions of the General Formula 25 the expression ‘saturated carboxyclic ring’ means a saturated cyclic alkyl group with three to six carbon atoms. Preferred examples of saturated carbocyclic rings are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, and cyclohexyl.  
         [0052]     In the definitions of the General Formula 25 the expression ‘aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl’ means a C 1-7 -alkyl group as previously defined in which one hydrogen atom has been replaced by an aryl group as previously defined. Preferred examples of aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl groups are 3-phenylpropyl, phenethyl, benzyl and benzyl substituted in the phenyl ring with hydroxy, C 1-7 -alkyl, C 1-7 -alkyloxy, or halogen.  
                                                   Examples of particularly preferred compounds of General Formula 1 are selected       from the group consisting of:            Example           number                    1   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       2   1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-           carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide       3   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-           methoxy-N-propyl-benzenesulfonamide       4   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-           N-propyl-benzenesulfonamide       5   1-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-3-[2-(3,3-diphenyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-urea       6   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           urea       15   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           4-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide       16   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           4-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       17   1-(2-{3-[2-Methyl-6-((E)-styryl)-pyridin-4-yl]-ureido}-ethyl)-4-phenyl-           piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide       22   N-Ethyl-4-methoxy-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-methyl-6-phenethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-benzenesulfonamide       23   1-{2-[3-(2-Methyl-6-propyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-           carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide       24   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-6-propyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       25   N-Ethyl-4-methoxy-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-methyl-6-propyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-benzenesulfonamide       26   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       27   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-           yl)-4-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide       28   1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-           carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide       35   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-phenethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           urea       36   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-{2-[2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-           ethyl]-pyridin-4-yl}-urea       37   1-{2-[3-(2-Methyl-6-phenethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}4-phenyl           piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide       7   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-acetamide       8   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       11   1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-           carboxylic acid benzyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amide       12   1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-           carboxylic acid benzyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amide       30   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-           yl)-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       31   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-diethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       33   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Diethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-           methoxy-benzenesulfonamide       34   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Diethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-           fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       41   N-(1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-           fluoro-N-propyl-benzenesulfonamide       42   4-Bromo-N-ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-benzenesulfonamide       43   N-(1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-           methoxy-N-propyl-benzenesulfonamide       49   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-           methoxy-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       60   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-ethyl-           N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       61   N-{4-[(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           methyl-sulfamoyl]-phenyl}-acetamide       62   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-           isopropoxy-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       63   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4,N-           dimethyl-benzenesulfonamide       67   4-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       70   3,4-Dichloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-           4-yl)-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       71   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-           methyl-4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide       74   5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-amide       75   2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-amide       76   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       77   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           3-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       78   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       79   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2,4-difluoro-benzenesulfonamide       80   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           3,4-difluoro-benzenesulfonamide       81   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2,6-difluoro-benzenesulfonamide       82   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4,N-           diethyl-benzenesulfonamide       83   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           4-isopropoxy-benzenesulfonamide       84   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       85   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           3-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       86   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       87   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl-benzenesulfonamide       88   4-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           N-ethyl-benzenesulfonamide       89   3-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           N-ethyl-benzenesulfonamide       90   2-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           N-ethyl-benzenesulfonamide       91   3,4-Dichloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-           4-yl)-N-ethyl-benzenesulfonamide       92   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide       93   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide       94   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide       95   Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-amide       96   5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-amide       97   2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-amide       98   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2,5-dimethoxy-benzenesulfonamide       99   5-Bromo-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           N-ethyl-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide       100   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-methoxy-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       101   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           3,4-dimethoxy-benzenesulfonamide       102   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           3-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide       103   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-benzenesulfonamide       104   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-3-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       106   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-2,4-difluoro-benzenesulfonamide       108   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-2,6-difluoro-benzenesulfonamide       109   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-4-ethyl-benzenesulfonamide       111   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-4-isopropoxy-benzenesulfonamide       112   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       113   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-3-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       115   4-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-benzenesulfonamide       116   3-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-benzenesulfonamide       117   2-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-benzenesulfonamide       118   3,4-Dichloro-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-benzenesulfonamide       119   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide       120   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide       123   5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       124   2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       125   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-4-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide       126   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-3-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide       127   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-2,5-dimethoxy-benzenesulfonamide       128   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-2-methoxy-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       129   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-           yl)-2-methoxy-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       130   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-           yl)-3,4-dimethoxy-benzenesulfonamide       131   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-           yl)-3-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide       135   1-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-amide       144   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-isobutyramide       146   2-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-acetamide       148   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-isobutyramide       150   1-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-amide       163   1-Phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid ethyl-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       164   1-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid ethyl-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-           methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       167   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-acetamide       168   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-isobutyramide       170   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-acetamide       171   1-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       172   1-Phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       173   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide       9   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-acetamide       13   4-Ethyl-1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidine-4-           carboxylic acid benzyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amide       29   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-           4-yl)-urea       32   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-diethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           urea       48   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-           methyl-benzenesulfonamide       50   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3-           methoxy-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       52   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3,4-           dimethoxy-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       53   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-           methoxy-4,N-dimethyl-benzenesulfonamide       54   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-           N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       55   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3-fluoro-           N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       56   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-fluoro-           N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       57   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2,4-           difluoro-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       58   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3,4-           difluoro-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       59   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2,6-           difluoro-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       64   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3,N-           dimethyl-benzenesulfonamide       65   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2,N-           dimethyl-benzenesulfonamide       66   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-           methoxy-2,3,6,N-tetramethyl-benzenesulfonamide       68   3-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       69   2-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       72   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-           methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide       73   Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-amide       105   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-2-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       107   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-3,4-difluoro-benzenesulfonamide       114   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-2-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       121   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-2-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide       122   Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       132   2-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-acetamide       134   1-Phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-amide       136   1-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-amide       138   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-acetamide       139   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-(4-           fluoro-phenyl)-N-methyl-acetamide       140   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-           methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide       142   2-(3-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-acetamide       145   2-(2-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-acetamide       147   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-acetamide       149   1-Phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-amide       151   1-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-amide       152   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-phenyl-acetamide       153   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-acetamide       154   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           4-methoxy-benzamide       155   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           3,4-dimethoxy-benzamide       156   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           4-fluoro-benzamide       157   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-(3-methoxy-phenyl)-acetamide       158   2-(3,4-Dimethoxy-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-acetamide       160   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-thiophen-2-yl-acetamide       161   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-acetamide       162   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           benzamide       165   1-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid ethyl-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-           6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       166   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-           yl)-2-phenyl-acetamide       169   1-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-           (2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide                  
 
         [0053]     Because of their ability to inhibit the actions of urotensin II, the described compounds can be used for treatment of diseases which are associated with an increase in vasoconstriction, proliferation or other disease states associated with the actions of urotensin II. Examples of such diseases are hypertension, atherosclerosis, angina or myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure, cardiac insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, renal ischemia, chronic kidney disease, renal failure, stroke, cerebral vasospasm, cerebral ischemia, dementia, migraine, subarachnoidal hemorrhage, diabetes, diabetic arteriopathy, diabetic nephropathy, connective tissue diseases, cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high-altitude pulmonary edema, Raynaud&#39;s syndrome, portal hypertension, thyroid dysfunction, pulmonary edema, pulmonary hypertension, or pulmonary fibrosis. They can also be used for prevention of restenosis after balloon or stent angioplasty, for the treatment of cancer, prostatic hypertrophy, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, amaurosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, gram negative septicemia, shock, sickle cell anemia, sickle cell acute chest syndrome, glomerulonephritis, renal colic, glaucoma, therapy and prophylaxis of diabetic complications, complications of vascular or cardiac surgery or after organ transplantation, complications of cyclosporin treatment, pain, addiction, schizophrenia, Alzheimer&#39;s disease, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior, epileptic seizures, stress, depression, dementias, neuromuscular disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, as well as other diseases related to a dysregulation of urotensin II or urotensin II receptors.  
         [0054]     These compositions may be administered in enteral or oral form e.g. as tablets, dragees, gelatine capsules, emulsions, solutions or suspensions, in nasal form like sprays and aerosols, or rectally in form of suppositories. These compounds may also be administered in intramuscular, parenteral or intravenous form, e.g. in form of injectable solutions.  
         [0055]     These pharmaceutical compositions may contain the compounds of formula 1 as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts in combination with inorganic and/or organic excipients, which are usual in the pharmaceutical industry, like lactose, maize or derivatives thereof, talcum, stearic acid or salts of these materials.  
         [0056]     For gelatine capsules vegetable oils, waxes, fats, liquid or half-liquid polyols etc. may be used. For the preparation of solutions and syrups e.g. water, polyols, saccharose, glucose etc. are used. Injectables are prepared by using e.g. water, polyols, alcohols, glycerin, vegetable oils, lecithin, liposomes etc. Suppositories are prepared by using natural or hydrogenated oils, waxes, fatty acids (fats), liquid or half-liquid polyols etc.  
         [0057]     The compositions may contain in addition preservatives, stabilisation improving substances, viscosity improving or regulating substances, solubility improving substances, sweeteners, dyes, taste improving compounds, salts to change the osmotic pressure, buffer, anti-oxidants etc.  
         [0058]     The compounds of General Formula 1 may also be used in combination with one or more other therapeutically useful substances e.g. α- and β-blockers like phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine, atenolol, propranolol, timolol, metoprolol, carteolol, carvedilol, etc.; with vasodilators like hydralazine, minoxidil, diazoxide, flosequinan, etc.; with calcium-antagonists like diltiazem, nicardipine, nimodipine, verapamil, nifedipine, etc.; with angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitors like cilazapril, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril etc.; with potassium channel activators like pinacidil, chromakalim, etc.; with angiotensin receptor antagonists like losartan, valsartan, candesartan, irbesartan, eprosartan, telmisartan, and tasosartan, etc.; with diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide, acetolamide, bumetanide, furosemide, metolazone, chlortalidone, etc.; with sympatholytics like methyldopa, clonidine, guanabenz, reserpine, etc.; with endothelin receptor antagonists like bosentan, tezosentan, darusentan, atrasentan, enrasentan, or sitaxsentan, etc.; with anti-hyperlipidemic agents like lovastatin, pravistatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, cerivastatin, simvastatin, etc.; and other therapeutics which serve to treat high blood pressure, vascular disease or other disorders listed above.  
         [0059]     The dosage may vary within wide limits but should be adapted to the specific situation. In general the dosage given daily in oral form should be between about 3 mg and about 3 g, preferably between about 5 mg and about 1 g, especially preferred between 10 mg and 300 mg, per adult with a body weight of about 70 kg. The dosage should be administered preferably in 1 to 3 doses of equal weight per day. As usual children should receive lower doses which are adapted to body weight and age.  
       GENERAL PREPARATION OF COMPOUNDS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0060]     Compounds of the General Formula 1 can be prepared using methods generally known in the art, according to the general sequence of reactions outlined below. For simplicity and clarity reasons sometimes only a few of the possible synthetic routes that lead to compounds of General Formula 1 are described.  
         [0061]     For the synthesis of compounds of General Formula 1 general synthetic routes illustrated in schemes A through G can be employed. The generic groups Py, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , X, Y, Z, n, and m employed in schemes A through G have the definitions given in General Formula 1 above. Other abbreviations used are defined in the experimental section. Some instances of the generic groups X and Z might be incompatible with the assembly illustrated in schemes A through G and so will require the use of protecting groups (PG). The use of protecting groups is well known in the art (see for example “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis”, T. W. Greene, P. G. M. Wuts, Wiley-Interscience, 1999). For the purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that such protecting groups as are necessary are in place.  
         [0062]     Preparation of compounds of General Formula 1. These compounds are prepared according to scheme A.  
         [0063]     Achiral, racemic or enantiomerically pure amines of general structure I in scheme A are reacted with isocyanates of general structure II to provide compounds of General Formula 1. Alternatively, amines of general structure I are reacted with ureas of general structure III to provide compounds of General Formula 1. Alternatively, amines of general structure I are reacted with pentafluorophenyl-carbamates of general structure IV to provide compounds of General Formula 1. The preparation of isocyanates of general structure II, of ureas of general structure III and of pentafluorophenyl-carbamates of general structure IV is described in scheme E below. The preparation of amines of general structure I is described in scheme G below.  
                         
 
         [0064]     Preparation of compounds of General Formula 1 wherein Y is —(CH 2 ) m C(R 6 )(R 7 )—. Compounds of General Formula 1 wherein Y is —(CH 2 ) m C(R 6 )(R 7 )— are prepared according to scheme B.  
         [0065]     Achiral, racemic or optically active 4-substituted-piperidines and 3-substituted-pyrrolidines of general structure V in scheme B are either commercially available or prepared by methods well known in the art. Ureido acetic- and propionic acid derivatives of general structure VI in scheme B are prepared according to scheme F below. N-Acylation of piperidines and pyrrolidines of general structure V with ureido acetic- and propionic acid derivatives of general structure VI is accomplished in a polar solvent such as DMF in the presence of a small stoichiometric excess of a coupling reagent such as a EDC to provide amides of general structure VII. Selective reduction of the amide carbonyl group with a reagent such as LiAlH 4  in a aprotic solvent such as THF provides the target compounds of General Formula 1 wherein Y is —(CH 2 ) m C(R 6 )(R 7 )—.  
                         
 
         [0066]     Compounds of General Formula 1 wherein R 6  and R 7  are H. These compounds are alternatively prepared according to the method illustrated in scheme C.  
                         
 
         [0067]     Achiral, racemic or optically active 4-substituted-piperidines and 3-substituted-pyrrolidines of general structure V in scheme C are either commercially available or prepared by methods well known in the art. Haloalkyl ureas of general structure VIII in scheme C are prepared according to scheme E below. N-Alkylation of piperidines and pyrrolidines of general structure V with haloalkyl ureas of general structure VIII is accomplished in a polar solvent such as tetrahydrofuran in the presence of a sub-stoichiometric amount of an iodide salt such as NaI and a small stoichiometric excess of acid scavenger such as NaHCO 3  to provide the target compounds of General Formula 1.  
         [0068]     Compounds of General Formula 1 wherein X represents R 1 —SO 2 NR 2 —. R 1 —CONR 2 —, aryl-R 8 —CONR 2 — or R 1 —NR 2 CONR 3 — and Z, R 6  and R 7  represent H. These compounds are alternatively prepared according to the method illustrated in scheme D.  
         [0069]     Achiral, racemic or optically active carbamates of general structure IX in scheme D are either commercially available or readily prepared by methods well known in the art. Haloalkyl ureas of general structure VIII are prepared according to Scheme E below. Carbamates of general structure IX are reacted with haloalkyl ureas of general structure VIII in a polar solvent such as tetrahydrofuran in the presence of a substoichiometric amount of an iodide salt such as NaI and a small stoichiometric excess of an acid scavenger such as NaHCO 3 , followed by removal of the carbamate group under acidic conditions, such as reaction with HCl in dioxane or TFA in CH 2 Cl 2 .  
         [0070]     The resulting compounds of general structure X in scheme D are converted to compounds of General Formula 1 wherein X represents R 1 —SO 2 NR 2 —, R 1 —CONR 2 —, aryl-R 8 —CONR 2 — or R 1 —NR 2 CONR 3 — and Z, R 6  and R 7  represent H, by reaction with commercially available or well known sulfonylchlorides, isocyanates, or acid chlorides. Compounds of General Formula 1 wherein X represents R 1 —NR 3 CONR 2 —, R 3  represents C 1-7 -alkyl or aryl-C 1-7 -alkyl, and Z, R 6  and R 7  represent H, are prepared by reaction of compounds of general structure X with secondary amines that are commercially available or prepared by methods well known in the art in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of a coupling reagent such as carbonyldiimidazole (CDI).  
                         
 
         [0071]     Synthetic intermediates used in Schemes A, B, C, and D. Synthetic intermediates containing the group Py, as defined in the General Formula 1 above, are obtained by the methods illustrated in Schemes E and F.  
         [0072]     Carboxylic acids of general structure XI in scheme E are commercially available or are prepared by well known methods. Reaction with diphenylphosphorylazide provides the acyl azide, which undergoes Curtius rearrangement to provide the isocyanates of general structure II, which are used in situ. 4-Aminopyridines of general structure XII are commercially available or prepared by methods well known in the art (see for example “A Convenient Preparation of 4-Pyridinamine Derivatives, M. Malinowski, L. Kaczmarek, J. Prakt. Chem. (1988) 330, 154-158). Reaction of 4-aminopyridines of general structure XII with isocyanates of general structure II provides ureas of general structure II. Alternatively, ureas of general structure III are prepared by reaction of 4-aminopyridines of general structure XII and a coupling reagent such as CDI in a aprotic solvent such as THF at reflux. Alternatively, pentafluorophenyl-carbamates of general structure IV are prepared by reaction of 4-aminopyridines of general structure XII and di(pentafluorophenyl)carbonate in a aprotic solvent such as THF at room temperature. Isocyanates of general structure II, reacted with halopropylamine hydrochloride or haloethylamine hydrochloride in the presence of an acid scavenger such as DIPEA, provide ureas of general structure VIII. Alternatively, reaction of 4-aminopyridines of general structure XII with chloroethylisocyanate or chloropropylisocyanate in a polar aprotic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran provides the ureas of general structure VIII.  
                         
 
         [0073]     2- or 3-Isocyanato-carboxylic acid esters of general structure XIII in scheme F are commercially available or prepared by methods well known in the art. Amino acid esters of general structure XIV are commercially available or prepared by methods well known in the art. Reaction of amines of general structure XII with 2- or 3-isocyanato-carboxylic acid esters of general structure XII in a polar aprotic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, followed by hydrolysis of the ester in aqueous acid such as HCl, provides carboxylic acids of general structure VI. Alternatively, isocyanates of general structure II and ureas of general structure III react with amino acid esters of general structure XIV to provide, after hydrolysis of the ester in aqueous acid such as HCl, carboxylic acids of general structure VI.  
                         
 
         [0074]     Synthetic intermediates of general structure I are obtained by the methods illustrated in Scheme G.  
         [0075]     Achiral, racemic or optically active 4-substituted-piperidines and 3-substituted-pyrrolidines of general structure V in scheme G are either commercially available or prepared by methods well known in the art. Ketones and aldehydes of general structure XVI are commercially available or are prepared by methods well-known in the art. Reaction of ketones and aldehydes of general structure XVI with 4-substituted-piperidines and 3-substituted-pyrrolidines of general structure V in presence of a cyanide ion donor such as acetone cyanohydrine provides piperidine and pyrrolidine derivatives of general structure XVII.  
                         
 
         [0076]     Alternatively, in case R 6  and R 7  represent H, compounds of general structure XVII are obtained by alkylation of compounds of general structure V with commercially available haloacetonitrile or 3-halopropionitrile in presence of a small stoichiometric excess of acid scavenger such as DIPEA. Complete reduction of the cyano group with a reducing reagent such as LiAlH 4  in a polar aprotic solvent such as THF provides the intermediate primary amines of general structure 1, wherein Y is —C(R 6 )(R 7 )—CH 2 —. Partial reduction of the cyano group of compounds of general structure XVII with a reducing reagent such as DIBAL-H, followed by aqueous hydrolysis provides aldehydes of general structure XIX. Condensation with the nitromethane anion and subsequent reduction, for example by catalytic hydrogenation, provides the intermediate primary amines of general structure 1, wherein Y is —C(R 6 )(R 7 )(CH 2 ) 2 —. Haloalkyl carbamates of general structure XV in Scheme G are commercially available or are prepared by methods well-known in the art. N-Alkylation of piperidines and pyrrolidines of general structure V with haloalkyl carbamates of general structure XV is accomplished in a polar solvent such as THF in the presence of a small stoichiometric excess of acid scavenger such as DIPEA to provide compounds of general structure XX. Cleavage of the resulting carbamate with methods well known in the art, for example with TFA in a solvent such as CH 2 Cl 2 , provides the intermediate primary amine derivatives of general structure I wherein Y is —(CH 2 ) m C(R 6 )(R 7 )—. Protected amino acids of general structure XVIII are commercially available or are prepared by methods well-known in the art. N-Acylation of piperidines and pyrrolidines of general structure V with compounds of general structure XVIII is accomplished under well-known conditions, for example in a polar solvent such as DMF in the presence of a small stoichiometric excess of a coupling agent such as a carbodiimide, to provide compounds of general structure XXI. Reduction with a reagent such as LiAlH 4  and deprotection provides intermediate primary amines of general structure I wherein Y is —(CH 2 ) m C(R 6 )(R 7 )—.  
         [0077]     The foregoing general description of the invention will now be further illustrated with a number of non-limiting examples.  
       EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0000]     List of Abbreviations:  
         [0000]    
       
          AcOH acetic acid  
          aq. aqueous  
          9-BBN 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane  
          BSA bovine serum albumin  
          cat. catalytic  
          CDI carbonyldiimidazole  
          DIBAL-H diisobutylaluminiumhydride  
          DIPEA diisopropylethylamine  
          DMAP 4-dimethylaminopyridine  
          DMF dimethylformamide  
          DMSO dimethylsulfoxide  
          DPPA diphenylphosphorylazide  
          EDC N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethyl-carbodiimide  
          EDTA ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid  
          EtOAc ethyl acetate  
          Et 2 O diethyl ether  
          FC flash chromatography  
          Fe(acac) 3  iron(III)-acetylacetonate  
          Hex hexane  
          HOBt 1-hydroxybenzotriazole  
          HPLC high performance liquid chromatography  
          h-UII human Urotensin II  
          HV high vacuum conditions  
          LC-MS liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy  
          LiAlH 4  lithium aluminum hydride  
          MeOH methanol  
          min minutes  
          MHz megahertz  
          MPLC medium pressure liquid chromatography  
          NaBHAc 3  sodium triacetoxyborohydride  
          NMP N-methylpyrrolidone  
          NMR nuclear magnetic resonance  
          ppm part per million  
          PBS phosphate-buffered saline  
          Pd(dppf)Cl 2  1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene-palladium(II)dichloride dichloromethane complex  
          PG protecting group  
          r.t. room temperature  
          sat. saturated  
          SiO 2  silica gel  
          TEA triethylamine  
          TFA trifluoroacetic acid  
          THF tetrahydrofuran  
          TLC thin layer chromatography  
          t R  retention time  
       
     
         [0122]     Reactions are routinely performed under an inert atmosphere such as N 2  gas in air dried glassware. Solvents are used as received from the vendor. Evaporations are performed in a rotary evaporator at reduced pressure and a water bath temperature of 50° C. LC-MS characterizations are performed on a Finnigan HP1100 platform using ESI ionization mode, and positive ion detection with a Navigator AQA detector. Analytical liquid chromatographic separations are performed on a C18 column of 4.6×30 mm dimensions and a mobile phase consisting of a 6 minute gradient of 2-95% CH 3 CN in water containing 0.5% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.45 mL/min. Retention time (t R ) is given in min. TLC is performed on pre-coated silica gel 60 F 254  glass-backed plates (Merck). MPLC is performed on a Labomatic platform using either normal phase SiO 2 -columns and a mobile phase consisting of heptane-EtOAc, or reversed phase C18 columns and a mobile phase consisting of water-MeOH. Preparative HPLC is performed on a Varian/Gilson platform using a C18 column of 21×60 mm dimensions and a mobile phase consisting of a gradient of 2-95% CH 3 CN in water containing 0.5% formic acid.  
       Preparation of Intermediates  
     Example A  
       [0123]     The following materials are commercially available.  
                                                   Example No   Example                           A1.   4-Benzylpiperidine           A2.   4-Benzyl-piperidin-4-ol           A3.   4-Benzyloxy-piperidine                      
 
       A4. N-Ethyl-4-methoxy-N-piperdin-4-yl-benzenesulfonamide  
       [0124]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       A4.1. 4-[Ethyl-(4-methoxy-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester  
       [0125]     A mixture of commercially available 4-oxo-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (5.58 g, 28 mmol) and ethylamine (2 M in THF, 50 mL, 100 mmol) in THF (100 mL) is stirred at r.t. for 2 h. NaBHAc 3  (8.9 g, 42 mmol) is added and the mixture is stirred for 15 h. The mixture is quenched with 1 M aq. NaOH (100 mL) and stirred at r.t. for 6 h. The mixture is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (150 mL, then 4×50 mL) and the combined organic extracts are washed with 1 M aq. NaOH (30 mL). The organic phase is dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2  (100 mL) and TEA (3 g, 30 mmol) and, subsequently, a solution of 4-methoxy-benzenesulfonylchloride (6.38 g, 30.9 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2  (10 mL) are added at 0° C. The mixture is warmed to r.t. during 15 h and quenched with 1 M aq. NaOH (30 mL). The phases are separated and the organic phase is washed with 1 M aq. NaOH (30 mL), 1 M aq. KHSO 4  (2×30 mL) and sat. aq. NaCl (30 mL). The organic phase is dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by FC (SiO 2 , EtOAc-heptane) to provide the title compound.  
       A4.2. N-Ethyl-4-methoxy-N-piperidin-4-yl-benzenesulfonamide  
       [0126]     A solution of 4-[ethyl-(4-methoxy-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (11.1 g, 28 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2  (50 mL) is cooled at 0° C. and TFA (40 mL) is added. The mixture is stirred at 0° C. for 0.5 h and then evaporated. The residue is dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2  (50 mL) and 1 M aq. NaOH (50 mL) is added. The mixture is stirred for 15 h at r.t., then the phases are separated and the aq. phase is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (4×30 mL). The combined org. phases are washed with 1 M aq. NaOH (2×30 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
         [0127]     The following intermediates are prepared from 4-oxo-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester, ethylamine, cyclopropylamine or n-propylamine, and commercially available arylsulfonylchlorides or arylacetyl chlorides using the method described in Example A4.  
                                   Example           No   Example                   A4.   N-Ethyl-4-methoxy-N-piperidin-4-yl-benzenesulfonamide       A5.   N-Ethyl-4-fluoro-N-piperidin-4-yl-benzenesulfonamide       A6.   4-Bromo-N-ethyl-N-piperidin-4-yl-benzenesulfonamide       A7.   4-Methoxy-N-piperidin-4-yl-N-propyl-benzenesulfonamide       A8.   4-Fluoro-N-piperidin-4-yl-N-propyl-benzenesulfonamide       A9.   N-Cyclopropyl-4-fluoro-N-piperidin-4-yl-benzenesulfonamide       A10.   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-piperidin-4-yl-acetamide       A11.   N-Cyclopropyl-2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-N-           piperidin-4-yl-acetamide                  
 
       A12. 4-Phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide  
       [0128]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       A12.1. 4-Phenyl-piperidine-1,4-dicarboxylic acid monobenzyl ester  
       [0129]     A suspension of commercially available 4-phenyl-4-carboxypiperidine toluenesulfonate (7.55 g, 20 mmol), N-(benzyloxycarbonyloxy)succinimide (5.0 g, 20 mmol) and TEA (5 mL, 36 mmol) in CHCl 3  (100 mL) is stirred at r.t. for 48 h. The mixture is diluted with CH 2 Cl 2  (100 mL) and extracted with 1 M aq. NaOH (3×50 mL). The aq. phase is extracted with Et 2 O (2×50 mL), acidified (pH 2) with 6N aq. HCl and extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (4×50 mL). The combined CH 2 Cl 2  extracts are dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
       A12.2. 4-(Benzyl-methyl-carbamoyl)-4-phenyl-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester  
       [0130]     A mixture of 4-phenyl-piperidine-1,4-dicarboxylic acid monobenzyl ester (3.39 g, 10 mmol) and SOCl 2  (7 mL, 100 mmol) in CHCl 3  (150 mL) is heated at reflux for 3 h. The solvent and excess SOCl 2  are evaporated into a cold trap and the residue is redissolved in CHCl 3  (50 mL). The solution is added to a solution of methylbenzylamine (1.45 g, 12 mmol) and DIPEA (2 mL, 12 mmol) in cold (0° C.) CHCl 3  (100 mL). The mixture is stirred for 15 h at r.t. and then quenched with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3  (50 mL). The phases are separated and the aq. phase is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (2×50 mL). The combined organic extracts are washed with 1N aq. HCl (50 mL) and sat. aq. NaCl (50 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by FC (SiO 2 , heptane-EtOAc) to provide the title compound.  
       A12.3. 4-Phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide  
       [0131]     A mixture of 4-(benzyl-methyl-carbamoyl)-4-phenyl-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (4.4 g, 10 mmol) and Pd—C (10%, 400 mg) in MeOH (200 mL) is hydrogenated at r.t. and atmospheric pressure for 3 h. The mixture is filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by reversed phase MPLC to provide the title compound.  
         [0132]     The following intermediates are prepared from 4-phenyl-piperidine-1,4-dicarboxylic acid monobenzyl ester (Example A12.1) and commercially available amines using the method described in Example A12.  
                                   Example No   Example                   A12.   4-Phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide       A13.   4-Phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-(2-hydroxy-           ethyl)-amide                  
 
       A14. 4-Methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide  
       [0133]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       A14.1. 4-Methyl-piperidine-1,4-dicarboxylic acid 1-tert-butyl ester 4-ethyl ester  
       [0134]     A solution of NaHMDS (2M in THF, 148 mmol, 74 mL, diluted to 100 mL) is cooled at −78° C. and a solution of piperidine-1,4-dicarboxylic acid 1-tert-butyl ester 4-ethyl ester (25.74 g, 100 mmol) in THF (50 mL of solution) is added slowly. The mixture is stirred for 2 h at −78° C. Methyliodide (7.5 mL, 120 mmol) is dissolved in THF (60 mL) and the cold solution of enolate is added. The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 1 h and quenched with HCl (1M, 75 mL) and ether (200 mL). the phases are separated and the organic phase washed with HCl (1M, 2×50 mL) and NaOH (1M, 2×50 mL). The organic phase is dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the crude title compound.  
       A14.2. 4-Methyl-piperidine-1,4-dicarboxylic acid monobenzyl ester  
       [0135]     4-Methyl-piperidine-1,4-dicarboxylic acid 1-tert-butyl ester 4-ethyl ester (2.71 g, 10 mmol) is heated with 6M aq. HCl (20 mL) at 95° C. for 2 days. The mixture is cooled, basified with 33% aq. NaOH (ice bath cooling) and extracted with ether (2×50 mL). A spatula of NaH2PO4 is added, then the pH adjusted to 7 with conc. aq. HCl, CH 2 Cl 2  (50 Vol %) is added and the mixture cooled at 0° C. Carbonic acid benzyl ester 2,5-dioxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl ester (1.508 g, 5 mmol) is added to the strongly stirred biphasic system and the mixture is stirred for 2 h. The pH is adjusted to 14 with aq. NaOH (1M) and the phases are separated. The aq. phase is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (2×50 mL), the organic extracts are discarded. The pH is adjusted to 2 and the mixture is extracted with CHCl 3  (4×50 mL). The organic extracts are dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
       A14.3. 4-Methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide  
       [0136]     The compound is prepared from 4-methyl-piperidine-1,4-dicarboxylic acid monobenzyl ester and benzylmethylamine using the method described in Example A12.  
         [0137]     The following intermediates are prepared from piperidine-1,4-dicarboxylic acid 1-tert-butyl ester 4-ethyl ester, commercially available alkyliodides and commercially available amines using the method described in Example A14.  
                                   Example No   Example                   A14.   4-Methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide       A15.   4-Methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid (4-methoxy-benzyl)-           methyl-amide       A16.   4-Ethyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-(2-hydroxy-           ethyl)-amide       A17.   4-Ethyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide                  
 
       A18. 3,3-Diphenyl-pyrrolidine  
       [0138]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0139]     A suspension of LiAlH 4  (560 mg, 14.75 mmol) in THF (50 mL) is cooled at 0° C. and a solution of 4-bromo-2,2-diphenylbutyronitrile (1.50 g, 5 mmol) in THF (20 mL) is slowly added. The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 15 h, carefully quenched with MeOH and NaHCO 3  and filtered. The filtrate is evaporated, the residue taken up in CH 2 Cl 2  (100 mL) and washed with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3 . (50 mL). The aq. phase is re-extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (2×50 mL) and the combined organic extracts are dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by reversed phase MPLC to provide the title compound.  
       Preparation of Intermediates  
     Example B  
     B1. 2-(4-Benzylpiperidino)-1-ethanamine  
       [0140]     The material is commercially available.  
       B2. N-[1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-N-ethyl-4-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide  
       [0141]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       B2.1. (2-Bromo-ethyl)-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester.  
       [0142]     To 1 N aq. NaOH (200 mL) is added MeOH (400 mL) and the resulting solution is cooled at 20° C. 2-Bromoethylamine hydrobromide (25.0 g, 122 mmol) is added in a single portion, followed by di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (26.6 g, 122 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred for 2.5 h. The MeOH is removed on a rotary evaporator, and the aq. suspension is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (2×175 mL). The combined organic extracts are extracted with 5% aq. citric acid (300 mL), dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
       B2.2. (2-{4-[Ethyl-(4-methoxy-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-piperidin-1-yl}-ethyl)-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester  
       [0143]     A mixture of N-ethyl-4-methoxy-N-piperidin-4-yl-benzenesulfonamide (Example A4., 1.19 g, 4 mmol), (2-bromo-ethyl)-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (1.12 g, 5.0 mmol) and DIPEA (650 mg, 5 mmol) in THF (30 mL) is heated at reflux for 15 h. The solution is poured into Et 2 O (150 mL) and extracted with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3  (2×50 mL) and sat. aq. NaCl (30 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by reversed phase MPLC to provide the title compound.  
       B2.3. N-[1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-N-ethyl-4-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide  
       [0144]     The title compound is prepared from (2-{4-[ethyl-(4-methoxy-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-piperidin-1-yl}-ethyl)-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester using the method described in Example A4.2.  
         [0145]     The following intermediates are prepared from Examples A2. to A12. and (2-bromo-ethyl)-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (Example B2.1.) using the method described in Example B2.  
                                   Example No   Example                   B2.   N-[1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-N-ethyl-4-methoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       B3   N-[1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-N-ethyl-4-fluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       B4.   N-[1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-4-bromo-N-ethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       B5.   N-[1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-4-methoxy-N-propyl-           benzenesulfonamide       B6.   N-[1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-4-fluoro-N-propyl-           benzenesulfonamide       B7.   1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-4-benzyl-piperidin-4-ol       B8.   1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid           benzyl-methyl-amide                  
 
       B9. 2-(3,3-Diphenyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethylamine  
       [0146]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       B9.1. (2-Bromo-ethyl)-carbamic acid benzyl ester  
       [0147]     2-Bromoethylamine hydrobromide (15 g, 73 mmol) and N-(benzyloxycarbonyloxy)-succinimide (15.5 g, 62 mmol) are suspended in CH 2 Cl 2  (150 mL) at 0° C. TEA (9 mL, 65 mmol) is added slowly keeping the temperature at 0° C. After 1 h the mixture is washed with 0.5M aq. KHSO 4  (50 mL) and sat. aq. NaCl (50 mL), the organic phase is dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
       B9.2. [2-(3,3-Diphenyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-carbamic acid benzyl ester  
       [0148]     (2-Bromo-ethyl)-carbamic acid benzyl ester (1.10 g, 4.26 mmol), 3,3-diphenyl-pyrrolidine (Example A18, 836 mg, 3.75 mmol) and DIPEA (1.0 mL 5.7 mmol) are dissolved in THF (20 mL) and stirred for 15 h at reflux. The mixture is quenched with Na 2 CO 3  (50 mL) and extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (3×50 mL). The organic extracts are washed with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3  (30 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by FC (SiO 2 , EtOAc-heptane) to provide the title compound.  
       B9.3. 2-(3,3-Diphenyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethylamine  
       [0149]     [2-(3,3-Diphenyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-carbamic acid benzyl ester (1.44 g, 3.6 mmol) is dissolved in MeOH (50 mL) and Pd—C (10%, 150 mg) is added. The mixture is stirred under hydrogen atmosphere for 15 h. The mixture is filtered and the filtrate evaporated to provide the title compound.  
         [0150]     The following intermediates are prepared from Examples A14. to A18 and (2-bromo-ethyl)-carbamic acid benzyl ester (Example B9.1.) using the method described in Example B9.  
                                   Example No   Example                   B9.   2-(3,3-Diphenyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethylamine       B10.   1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-4-methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic           acid (4-methoxy-benzyl)-methyl-amide       B11.   1-(2-Amino-ethyl)-4-methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid           benzyl-methyl-amide                  
 
       Preparation of Intermediates  
     Example C  
     C1. 1,3-Bis-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0151]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       C1.1. 2,6-Dimethyl-4-nitro-pyridine 1-oxide  
       [0152]     Lutidine-N-oxide (19 g, 155 mmol) is cooled at 0° C. and a mixture of fuming HNO 3  (100%, 37.5 mL) and conc. H 2 SO 4  (95-97%, 52.5 mL), prepared by addition of H 2 SO 4  to HNO 3  at 0° C., is added slowly. The mixture is heated at 80° C. for 3 h. The cooled mixture is carefully poured into ice-water (500 mL). A white precipitate forms that is filtered. The precipitate is dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2  (100 mL) and the filtrate is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (4×75 mL). The organic extracts are combined with the dissolved precipitate and washed with sat. aq. NaCl (2×75 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
       C1.2. 2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-ylamine  
       [0153]     2,6-Dimethyl-4-nitro-pyridine 1-oxide (9.62 g, 57 mmol) is dissolved in AcOH (300 mL) and Fe (powder, 29 g) is added. The mixture is stirred for 1 h at 100° C. The mixture is cooled to r.t. and filtered. The filtercake is thoroughly washed with AcOH and then discarded. The filtrate is evaporated, diluted with water (100 mL), basified with NaOH (1 M, 100 mL), filtered from the formed precipitate and the filtrate is extracted with CHCl 3  (10×50 mL). The combined organic extracts are dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is crystallized from heptane-CHCl 3  to provide the title compound.  
       C1.3. 1,3-Bis-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0154]     2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-ylamine (1.22 g, 10 mmol) is dissolved in dry dioxane (30 mL) and CDI (891 mg, 5.5 mmol) is added. The mixture is heated at 80° C. for 1 h. Further CDI (160 mg) is added and stirring is continued for 15 h. The mixture is evaporated and purified by FC (SiO 2 , EtOAc-MeOH) to provide the title compound.  
       C2. 4-Isocyanato-2-methyl-6-(E)-styryl-pyridine  
       [0155]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       C2.1. 2-Methyl-6-(E)-styryl-isonicotinic acid  
       [0156]     A suspension of 2-chloro-6-methyl-isonicotinic acid (171.6 mg, 1 mmol), (E)-2-phenyl-etheneboronic acid (180.0 mg, 1.2 mmol), K 2 CO 3  (414 mg), Pd(dppf)Cl 2 -CH 2 Cl 2  (27 mg) in CH 3 CN—H 2 O (3:1, 10 mL) is stirred under argon at 90° C. for 15 h. The solution is cooled to r.t. and aq. hydrochloric acid (2 M, 1.5 mL) is added to adjust the pH at 3. The mixture is evaporated to dryness and purified by reversed phase MPLC to provide the title compound.  
       C2.2. 2-Methyl-6-(E)-styryl-isonicotinoyl azide  
       [0157]     To a solution of 2-methyl-6-(E)-styryl-isonicotinic acid (214 mg, 0.89 mmol) in DMF (5 mL) is added at 0° C. TEA (0.21 mL, 1.5 mmol) and slowly (30 min) DPPA (366 mg, 1.33 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred for 0.5 h at 0° C. and 0.5 h at r.t. The reaction is quenched with ice (20 g) and extracted with Et 2 O (6×30 mL). The combined organic extracts are washed successively with saturated NaHCO 3  (2×15 mL) and water (2×10 mL), and are evaporated in vacuo without heating. The residue is purified by FC (SiO 2 , EtOAc-heptane) to provide the title compound.  
       C2.3. 4-Isocyanato-2-methyl-6-(E)-styryl-pyridine  
       [0158]     2-Methyl-6-(E)-styryl-isonicotinoyl azide (79.9 mg, 0.3 mmol) is dissolved in dry toluene (4 mL) and heated at reflux for 2 h. The resulting solution of the title compound is carried forward without further isolation.  
         [0159]     The following intermediates are prepared from 2-chloro-6-methyl-isonicotinic acid or 2-chloro-isonicotinic acid and commercially available boronic acids using the method described in Example C2.  
                                   Example No   Example                   C2.   4-Isocyanato-2-methyl-6-(E)-styryl-pyridine       C3.   2-[(E)-2-(4-Fluoro-phenyl)-vinyl]-4-isocyanato-           6-methyl-pyridine       C4.   4-Isocyanato-2-(E)-styryl-pyridine       C5.   2-[(E)-2-(4-Fluoro-phenyl)-vinyl]-4-isocyanato-pyridine       C6.   2-[(E)-2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-vinyl]-4-isocyanato-pyridine                  
 
       C7. 2-Ethyl-4-isocyanato-6-methyl-pyridine  
       [0160]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       C7.1. 2-Chloro-6-methyl-isonicotinic acid tert-butyl ester  
       [0161]     N,N-dimethylformamide-di-tert.-butyl-acetal (19 mL, 80 mmol) is added during 40 min to a hot (65° C., flask temperature) suspension of 2-chloro-6-methyl-isonicotinic acid (3.40 g, 19.8 mmol) in dry toluene (100 mL). The clear orange solution is stirred at 80° C. for 48 h, cooled to r.t. and diluted with toluene (100 mL). The solution is washed with water (2×40 mL), sat. aq. NaHCO 3  (3×30 mL) and sat. aq. NaCl (25 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by FC (SiO 2 , CH 2 Cl 2 -MeOH) to provide the title compound.  
       C7.2. 2-Ethyl-6-methyl-isonicotinic acid  
       [0162]     A solution of ethylmagnesiumbromide (freshly prepared from ethylbromide (392 mg, 3.6 mmol) and magnesium (83 mg, 3.4 mmol)) in Et 2 O (10 mL) is added to a cooled (−40° C.) and mechanically stirred solution of 2-chloro-6-methyl-isonicotinic acid tert-butyl ester (0.76 g, 3.34 mmol), Fe(acac) 3  (21.2 mg, 0.06 mmol) and NMP (0.6 mL) in THF (60 mL). The mixture is warmed to r.t. during 0.5 h, diluted with Et 2 O (150 mL) and quenched with aq. KHSO 4  (1 M, 40 mL). The phases are separated and the aq. phase is extracted with Et 2 O (2×50 mL). The combined organic extracts are dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by reversed phase MPLC. The obtained 2-ethyl-6-methyl-isonicotinic acid tert-butyl ester is dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2  (10 mL). TFA (10 mL) is added and the mixture stirred at r.t. for 0.5 h. The mixture is evaporated and the residue dried in HV to provide the title compound.  
       C7.3. 2-Ethyl-6-methyl-isonicotinoyl azide  
       [0163]     The title compound is prepared from 2-ethyl-6-methyl-isonicotinic acid using the method described in Example C2.2.  
       C7.4. 2-Ethyl-4-isocyanato-6-methyl-pyridine  
       [0164]     The title compound is prepared from 2-ethyl-6-methyl-isonicotinoyl azide using the method described in Example C2.3.  
         [0165]     The following intermediates are prepared from 2-chloro-6-methyl-isonicotinic acid and commercially available alkylbromides using the method described in Example C7.  
                                                   Example No   Example                           C7.   2-Ethyl-4-isocyanato-6-methyl-pyridine           C8.   4-Isocyanato-2-methyl-6-phenethyl-pyridine           C9.   4-Isocyanato-2-methyl-6-propyl-pyridine                      
 
       C10. 4-Isocyanato-2,6-diethyl-pyridine  
       [0166]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0167]     The title compound is prepared from 2,6-dichloro-isonicotinic acid tert-butyl ester (prepared from 2,6-dichloro-isonicotinic acid according to the method of Example C7.1) and 2.2 equivalents of ethylbromide using the methods described in Example C7.  
       C11. 2-Chloro-4-isocyanatopyridine  
       [0168]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0169]     The title compound is prepared from commercially available 2-chloro-isonicotinic acid using the method described in Example C2.2. and C2.3.  
       C12. (2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-carbamic acid pentafluorophenyl ester  
       [0170]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0171]     A solution of 2,6-dimethyl-pyridin=4-ylamine (Example C1.2., 1.23 g, 10 mmol) in THF (30 mL) is slowly added to a cooled (−10° C.) solution of bis(pentafluorophenyl)carbonate (3.94 g, 10 mmol) in THF (10 mL). The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 48 h and the solution of title compound is used as stock solution for subsequent coupling reactions.  
       C13. (2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-carbamic acid pentafluorophenyl ester  
       [0172]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       C13.1. 2-Ethyl-6-methyl-4-nitro-pyridine 1-oxide  
       [0173]     2-Ethyl-6-methylpyridine (22.2 g, 183 mmol) is dissolved in CHCl 3  (250 mL) and 3-chloroperbenzoic acid (49.7 g, 201.6 mmol) is added portionwise. The mixture is stirred for 15 h, filtered and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in ether (250 mL) and washed with aq. NaOH (1M, 6×100 mL). The organic phase is dried (MgSO4), filtered and evaporated to provide the crude N-oxide.  
         [0174]     The N-oxide is slowly added to a cooled (0° C.) mixture of fuming HNO 3  (100%, 40.6 mL) and conc. H 2 SO 4  (95-97%, 55.4 mL), prepared by addition of H 2 SO 4  to HNO 3  at 0° C. The mixture is heated at 80° C. for 1 h. The cooled mixture is carefully poured into ice-water (400 mL). The mixture is diluted with CH 2 Cl 2  (100 mL), the phases separated and the aq. phase is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (4×75 mL). The organic extracts are washed with sat. aq. NaCl (2×75 mL), dried (Mg 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
       C13.2. 2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-ylamine  
       [0175]     2-Ethyl-6-methyl-4-nitro-pyridine 1-oxide (27.65 g, 151.8 mmol) is dissolved in AcOH (330 mL) and Fe (powder, 33.9 g) is added. The mixture is stirred for 1 h at 100° C. The mixture is cooled to r.t. and filtered. The filtercake is thoroughly washed with AcOH and then discarded. The filtrate is evaporated, diluted with water (100 mL), basified (pH&gt;10) with NaOH (1 M, 100 mL), filtered from the formed precipitate and the filtrate is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (10×75 mL). The combined organic extracts are dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
       C13.3. (2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-carbamic acid pentafluorophenyl ester  
       [0176]     A solution of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-ylamine (1.33 g, 9.8 mmol) in THF (25 mL) is slowly added to a solution of bis(pentafluorophenyl)carbonate (3.99 g, 10.1 mmol) in THF (10 mL). The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 48 h and the solution of title compound is used as stock solution for subsequent coupling reactions.  
       Preparation of Intermediates  
     Example D  
     D1. 1-(2-Chloro-ethyl)-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0177]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0178]     2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-ylamine (Example C1.2., 1.22 g, 10 mmol) is dissolved in dry THF (30 mL) and 1-chloro-2-isocyanato-ethane (1.06 g, 10 mmol) is added. The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 15 h. The mixture is evaporated and the residue purified by MPLC to provide the title compound.  
         [0179]     The following intermediates are prepared from 2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-ylamine or 2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-ylamine (Example C13.2.) and 1-chloro-2-isocyanato-ethane using the method described in Example D1.  
                                   Example No   Example                   D1.   1-(2-Chloro-ethyl)-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       D2.   1-(2-Chloro-ethyl)-3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea                  
 
       D3. [3-(2-Methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-acetic acid  
       [0180]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       D3.1. 2-Methyl-pyridin-4-ylamine.  
       [0181]     The material is prepared from commercially available 2-methyl-4-nitro-pyridine 1-oxide using the method described for Example C1.2.  
       D3.2. [3-(2-Methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-acetic acid  
       [0182]     2-Methyl-pyridin-4-ylamine (1.08 g, 10 mmol) is dissolved in dry THF (30 mL) and isocyanatoacetic acid ethyl ester (1.29 g, 10 mmol) is added. The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 15 h. The mixture is evaporated and 6N aq. HCl (20 mL) is added. The mixture is stirred at 50° C. for 6 h, evaporated and the residue purified by reversed phase MPLC to provide the title compound.  
       Preparation of Intermediates  
     Example E  
     E1. 1-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-3-[2-(4-methylamino-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-urea  
       [0183]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       Example E1.1  
     4-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl-methyl-amino)-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester  
       [0184]     A mixture of commercially available 4-oxo-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (4.67 g, 20 mmol) and methylamine (8 M in EtOH, 12.5 mL, 100 mmol) in dioxane (total volume of 100 mL) is stirred at r.t. for 15 min. NaBHAc 3  (6.4 g, 30 mmol) is added and the mixture is stirred for 15 h. The mixture is quenched with 1 M aq. NaOH (30 mL) and stirred at r.t. for 30 min. The mixture is diluted with water (50 mL) and extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (3×75 mL). The organic extracts are dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in ether (200 mL) and TEA (1.4 mL, 10 mmol) and, subsequently, a solution of di-tert.butyl-dicarbonat (3.82 g, 17.5 mmol) in ether (10 mL) are added. The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 15 h and quenched with 1 M aq. NaOH (30 mL). The phases are separated and the organic phase is washed with 1 M aq. NaOH (30 mL), 1 M aq. KHSO 4  (2×30 mL) and sat. aq. NaCl (30 mL). The organic phase is dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
       Example E1.2  
     Methyl-piperidin-4-yl-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester  
       [0185]     A mixture of 4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl-methyl-amino)-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (17.5 mmol) and Pd—C (10%, 500 mg) in MeOH (150 mL) hydrogenated at atm. pressure and r.t. for 15 h. The mixture is filtered and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2  (100 mL) and 1 M aq. NaOH (50 mL) is added. The mixture is stirred for 6 h at r.t., then the phases are separated and the aq. phase is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (3×50 mL). The combined organic extracts are dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the title compound.  
       Example E1.3  
     (1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester  
       [0186]     A suspension of methyl-piperidin-4-yl-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (3.57 g, 16.7 mmol), NaHCO 3  (6.7 g, 79 mmol), NaI (1.5 g, 10 mmol) and 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (Example D1, 2.14 g 9.4 mmol) in THF (30 mL) is stirred at 50° C. for 14 days. The mixture is quenched with Na 2 CO 3  (50 mL) and extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (5×50 mL). The organic extracts are washed with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3  (30 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by FC to provide the title compound.  
       Example E1.4  
     1-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-3-[2-(4-methylamino-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-urea  
       [0187]     The title compound is prepared from (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester using the method described in Example A4.2.  
         [0188]     The following intermediates are prepared using the method described in Example E1. Piperidines are obtained according to the method of Example E1.1 by reductive amination of 4-oxo-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester with ethylamine (2M in THF) or cyclopropylamine. Coupling of the protected piperidine, prepared by the method of Example E1.2., with 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (Example D1) or 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (Example D2) is achieved according to the method of Example E1.3. Deprotection according to the method of Example E1.4 provides the title compounds.  
                                   Example No   Example                   E1.   1-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-3-[2-(4-methylamino-           piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-urea       E2.   1-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-3-[2-(4-ethylamino-piperidin-           1-yl)-ethyl]-urea       E3.   1-[2-(4-Cyclopropylamino-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       E4.   1-[2-(4-Ethylamino-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-ethyl-6-           methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea                  
 
 Preparation of Final Products 
 
       Example 1  
     1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0189]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0190]     A suspension of 2-(4-benzylpiperidino)-1-ethanamine (Example B1, 54.6 mg, 0.25 mmol), TEA (35 μL, 0.25 mmol) and 1,3-bis-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (Example B1, 67.6 mg 0.25 mmol) in dioxane (2 mL) is heated at reflux for 24 h. The solvent is evaporated and the residue purified by HPLC to provide the title compound.  
         [0191]     The following examples are prepared from intermediates Example B1.-B9. and Example C1. using the method described for Example 1.  
                                           Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                     1   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.63   367.42           pyridin-4-yl)-urea       2   1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-   0.70   500.47           phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide       3   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.68   504.27           piperidin-4-yl)-4-methoxy-N-propyl-           benzenesulfonamide       4   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.68   492.23           piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-N-propyl-           benzenesulfonamide       5   1-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-3-[2-(3,3-diphenyl-   0.68   415.20           pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-urea                  
 
       Example 6  
     1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0192]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0193]     A suspension of commercially available 4-benzyl-piperidin-4-ol (383 mg, 2.0 mmol). NaHCO 3  (672 mg, 8.0 mmol) and 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (Example D1., 227.7 mg 1.0 mmol) in THF (4 mL) is stirred at 50° C. for 4 days. The mixture is quenched with Na 2 CO 3  (10 mL) and extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (3×10 mL). The organic extracts are washed with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3  (10 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by HPLC to provide the title compound.  
                                           Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                     6   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-   0.55   383.37           ethyl]-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea                  
 
       Example 7  
     2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-acetamide  
       [0194]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0195]     A suspension of 2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-piperidin-4-yl-acetamide (Example A10., 3.37 g, 12.0 mmol), NaHCO 3  (5.4 g, 64 mmol), NaI (1.2 g, 8 mmol) and 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (Example D1, 1.82 g 8 mmol) in THF (40 mL) is stirred at 50° C. for 27 days. The mixture is quenched with Na 2 CO 3  (150 mL) and extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (3×100 mL). The organic extracts are washed with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3  (70 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by MPLC to provide the title compound.  
         [0196]     The following examples are prepared from intermediates Example A3.-A17. and intermediates Example D1. or D2. using the method described for Example 7.  
                                                             Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                                  7   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-   0.67   472.41           4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-acetamide       8   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.67   490.27           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       9   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   480.5           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-           acetamide       10   1-[2-(4-Benzyloxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-   0.63   383.28           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       11   1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-   0.67   530.38           phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-(2-           hydroxy-ethyl)-amide       12   1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.69   544.3           4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-(2-           hydroxy-ethyl)-amide       13   4-Ethyl-1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.63   496.42           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-(2-           hydroxy-ethyl)-amide       14   4-Ethyl-1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.67   466.36           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-           methyl-amide                  
 
       Example 15  
     N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide  
       [0197]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0198]     A suspension of N-ethyl-4-methoxy-N-piperidin-4-yl-benzenesulfonamide (Example A4., 2.09 g, 7.0 mmol), NaHCO 3  (3.4 g, 40 mmol), NaI (0.75 g, 5 mmol) and 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (Example D1, 1.14 g 5 mmol) in THF (30 mL) is stirred at 50° C. for 27 days. The mixture is quenched with Na 2 CO 3  (150 mL) and extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (3×100 mL). The organic extracts are washed with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3  (70 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by MPLC to provide the title compound.  
                                           Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                     15   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   490.32           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           4-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide                  
 
       Example 16  
       [0199]     N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide)  
                         
 
         [0200]     A suspension of N-ethyl-4-fluoro-N-piperidin-4-yl-benzenesulfonamide (Example A5., 3.09 g, 10.8 mmol), NaHCO 3  (5.4 g, 64 mmol), NaI (1.2 g, 8 mmol) and 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (Example D1, 1.82 g 8 mmol) in THF (40 mL) is stirred at 50° C. for 27 days. The mixture is quenched with Na 2 CO 3  (150 mL) and extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (3×100 mL). The organic extracts are washed with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3  (70 mL), dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by MPLC to provide the title compound.  
                                           Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                     16   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   478.40           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-           ethyl-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide                  
 
       Example 17  
     1-(2-{3-[2-Methyl-6-((E)-styryl)-pyridin-4-yl]-ureido}-ethyl)-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide  
       [0201]     To a solution of 1-(2-amino-ethyl)-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-amide (Example B8., 0.25 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2  is added a freshly prepared solution of 4-isocyanato-2-methyl-6-(E)-styryl-pyridine (Example C2., 0.3 mmol) in toluene (2 mL). The mixture is stirred for 15 h at 20° C. Evaporation of the solvent and purification by HPLC provides the title compound.  
         [0202]     The following examples are prepared from Examples B1.-B8. and Examples C2.-C10. using the method described for Example 17.  
                                                             Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                                  17   1-(2-{3-[2-Methyl-6-((E)-styryl)-pyridin-4-yl]-ureido}-   0.79   588.46           ethyl)-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-           methyl-amide       18   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-{2-[(E)-2-(4-   0.76   473.42           fluoro-phenyl)-vinyl]-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl}-urea       19   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-[2-   0.67   457.40           ((E)-styryl)-pyridin-4-yl]-urea       20   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-{2-   0.69   475.40           [(E)-2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-vinyl]-pyridin-4-yl}-urea       21   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-{2-   0.71   491.38           [(E)-2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-vinyl]-pyridin-4-yl}-urea       22   N-Ethyl-4-methoxy-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-methyl-6-   0.74   580.45           phenethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           benzenesulfonamide       23   1-{2-[3-(2-Methyl-6-propyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-   0.74   528.5           ethyl}-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-           methyl-amide       24   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-6-   0.70   395.55           propyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       25   N-Ethyl-4-methoxy-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-methyl-6-propyl-   0.69   518.29           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           benzenesulfonamide       26   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-ethyl-6-   0.66   381.27           methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       27   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.67   504.25           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-methoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       28   1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.72   514.34           4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-           amide       29   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-   0.58   397.21           ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       30   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   492.20           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       31   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2,6-diethyl-   0.66   395.24           pyridin-4-yl)-urea       32   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-   0.60   411.21           (2,6-diethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       33   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Diethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.67   518.26           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-methoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       34   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Diethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.67   506.24           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide                  
 
       Example 35  
     1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-phenethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0203]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0204]     A suspension of 1-[2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-[2-((E)-styryl)-pyridin-4-yl]-urea (Example 19., 47.0 mg, 0.1 mmol) and Pd—C (10%, 10 mg) in MeOH (10 mL) is stirred under hydrogen atmosphere for 15 h. The catalyst is filtered off and the reaction mixture evaporated to provide the title compound.  
         [0205]     The following compounds are prepared from Examples 17.-20. using the method described for Example 35.  
                                           Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                     35   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-   0.67   459.41           phenethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea       36   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-{2-   0.68   477.44           [2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-pyridin-4-yl}-urea       37   1-{2-[3-(2-Methyl-6-phenethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-   0.79   590.53           ethyl}-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-           methyl-amide       38   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-{2-[2-(4-fluoro-   0.75   475.49           phenyl)-ethyl]-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl}-urea                  
 
       Example 39  
     1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0206]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       Example 39.1  
     1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0207]     To a cooled (0° C.) mixture of [3-(2-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-acetic acid (Example D3., 105 mg, 0.5 mmol), 4-benzylpiperidine (Example A1., 105 mg, 0.6 mmol), HOBt (81 mg, 0.6 mmol), TEA (0.14 mL, 1 mmol) and a cat. amount of DMAP in CH 2 Cl 2  (20 mL) are added, followed by EDC (115 mg, 0.6 mmol). The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 15 h. The mixture is quenched with sat. aq. Na 2 CO 3  (25 mL), the phases are separated, and the aq. phase is extracted with CH 2 Cl 2  (3×30 mL). The combined organic extracts are dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated to provide the crude title compound.  
       Example 39.2  
     1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0208]     The crude 1-[2-(4-benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (Example 39.1., 0.5 mmol) is dissolved in THF (5 mL) and added to a cooled (0° C.) suspension of LiAlH 4  (100 mg, 2.5 mmol) in THF (20 mL). The mixture is warmed during 15 h to r.t. The reaction mixture is carefully added to EtOAc (100 mL) and MeOH (5 mL), and, subsequently, sat. aq. NaHCO 3  (2 mL) are added. The mixture is filtered, the filtercake washed with MeOH (2×50 mL), and the filtrate is evaporated. The residue is taken up in a minimal amount of MeOH, diluted with CH 2 Cl 2 , dried (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtered and evaporated. The residue is purified by HPLC to provide the title compound.  
                                           Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                     39   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-   0.62   353.12           methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea                  
 
       Example 40  
     1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-benzyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0209]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       Example 40.1  
     1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-chloro-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0210]     The title compound is prepared from 2-(4-benzylpiperidino)-1-ethanamine (Example B1.) and 2-chloro-4-isocyanatopyridine (Example C11.) using the method described in Example 17.  
       Example 40.2  
     1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-benzyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea  
       [0211]     A mixture of 1-[2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-chloro-pyridin-4-yl)-urea (98 mg, 0.3 mmol), B-benzyl-9-BBN (0.5 M in THF, 4 mL, 2 mmol), triphenylphosphine (29 mg, 0.11 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (11 mg, 0.01 mmol), 2 M aq. K 2 CO 3  (0.5 mL) and dimethoxyethane (1 mL) is degassed and heated under argon at 90° C. for 7 days. The mixture is evaporated and the residue purified by preparative HPLC to provide the title compound.  
                                           Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                     40   1-[2-(4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-   0.65   445.4           ethyl]-3-(2-benzyl-pyridin-4-yl)-urea                  
 
       Example 41  
     N-(1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-N-propyl-benzenesulfonamide  
       [0212]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0213]     To a solution of (2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-carbamic acid pentafluorophenyl ester (Example C13., 0.2M, 3 mL, 0.6 mmol) is added a solution of N-[1-(2-amino-ethyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-4-fluoro-N-propyl-benzenesulfonamide (Example B6., 182 mg, 0.53 mmol). The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 15 h. The mixture is evaporated and the residue purified by HPLC to provide the title compound.  
         [0214]     The following compounds are prepared from Examples B4.-B6. or B10.-B11. and Examples C13. or C14. using the method described for Example 41.  
                                                             Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                                  41   N-(1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-   0.69   506.27           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-N-propyl-           benzenesulfonamide       42   4-Bromo-N-ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-   0.7   554.2           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           benzenesulfonamide       43   N-(1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-   0.69   518.23           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-methoxy-N-propyl-           benzenesulfonamide       44   1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.65   452.35           4-methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-           amide       45   1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.65   482.32           4-methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid (4-methoxy-           benzyl)-methyl-amide       46   1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-   0.63   438.22           methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-           amide       47   1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-   0.64   468.27           methyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid (4-methoxy-           benzyl)-methyl-amide                  
 
       Example 48  
     N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide  
       [0215]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0216]     To a cooled (0° C.) mixture of 1-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-3-[2-(4-methylamino-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-urea (Example E1., 0.3 mmol) and TEA (0.5 mL, 0.35 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2  (2 mL) is added a solution of benzenesulfonyl chloride (53.0 mg, 0.3 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2  (1 mL). The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 15 h and evaporated. the residue is purified by HPLC to provide the title compound.  
         [0217]     The following compounds are prepared from Examples E1.-E4. using the method described for Example 48.  
                                                             Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                                  48   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.61   446.11           piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide       49   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.63   476.12           piperidin-4-yl)-4-methoxy-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       50   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.64   476.13           piperidin-4-yl)-3-methoxy-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       51   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.64   506.15           piperidin-4-yl)-2,5-dimethoxy-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       52   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.62   506.13           piperidin-4-yl)-3,4-dimethoxy-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       53   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.64   490.12           piperidin-4-yl)-2-methoxy-4,N-dimethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       54   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.63   464.09           piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       55   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.63   464.08           piperidin-4-yl)-3-fluoro-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       56   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.62   464.08           piperidin-4-yl)-2-fluoro-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       57   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.64   482.08           piperidin-4-yl)-2,4-difluoro-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       58   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.66   482.07           piperidin-4-yl)-3,4-difluoro-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       59   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.63   482.07           piperidin-4-yl)-2,6-difluoro-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       60   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.68   474.13           piperidin-4-yl)-4-ethyl-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       61   N-{4-[(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-   0.6   503.13           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-sulfamoyl]-phenyl}-           acetamide       62   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.69   504.16           piperidin-4-yl)-4-isopropoxy-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       63   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.64   460.1           piperidin-4-yl)-4,N-dimethyl-benzenesulfonamide       64   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.65   460.11           piperidin-4-yl)-3,N-dimethyl-benzenesulfonamide       65   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.64   460.11           piperidin-4-yl)-2,N-dimethyl-benzenesulfonamide       66   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.71   518.16           piperidin-4-yl)-4-methoxy-2,3,6,N-tetramethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       67   4-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   480.06           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       68   3-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   480.05           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       69   2-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.64   480.05           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       70   3,4-Dichloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.70   514.03           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       71   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.70   514.11           piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-4-trifluoromethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       72   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.70   514.1           piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       73   Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.61   452.05           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-           amide       74   5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.66   486           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           methyl-amide       75   2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.68   519.99           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           methyl-amide       76   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.64   460.29           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-benzenesulfonamide       77   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.66   478.11           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       78   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.65   478.12           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide       79   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.67   496.14           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2,4-difluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       80   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.68   496.12           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3,4-difluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       81   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.65   496.13           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2,6-difluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       82   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.7   488.15           piperidin-4-yl)-4,N-diethyl-benzenesulfonamide       83   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.71   518.19           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-isopropoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       84   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.67   474.14           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       85   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.67   474.13           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       86   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.66   474.14           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       87   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.72   532.19           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       88   4-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.68   494.11           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       89   3-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.69   494.1           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       90   2-Chloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   494.09           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       91   3,4-Dichloro-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.72   528.03           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       92   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.71   528.1           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       93   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.71   528.12           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3-trifluoromethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       94   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.69   528.11           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-trifluoromethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       95   Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.63   466.08           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-           amide       96   5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.69   500.07           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           ethyl-amide       97   2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.71   533.98           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           ethyl-amide       98   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.65   520.28           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2,5-dimethoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       99   5-Bromo-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.69   568.2           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-methoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       100   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.67   504.28           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-methoxy-4-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       101   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.65   520.29           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3,4-dimethoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       102   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.67   490.27           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3-methoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       103   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.65   472.16           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-benzenesulfonamide       104   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.67   490.15           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3-fluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       105   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.65   490.11           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-fluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       106   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.67   508.12           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2,4-difluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       107   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.69   508.11           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3,4-difluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       108   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   508.13           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2,6-difluoro-           benzenesulfonamide       109   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.71   500.17           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-ethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       110   N-(4-[Cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-   0.63   529.05           yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-sulfamoyl]-phenyl}-           acetamide       111   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.71   530.15           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-isopropoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       112   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.68   486.1           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       113   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.68   486.13           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       114   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.67   486.09           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       115   4-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.69   506.11           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           benzenesulfonamide       116   3-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.69   506.08           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           benzenesulfonamide       117   2-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.67   506.1           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           benzenesulfonamide       118   3,4-Dichloro-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.73   540.03           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           benzenesulfonamide       119   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.72   540.12           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       120   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.72   540.04           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3-trifluoromethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       121   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.7   540.07           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-trifluoromethyl-           benzenesulfonamide       122   Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.64   478.06           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           amide       123   5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid cyclopropyl-(1-   0.7   512.05           {2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-amide       124   2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid cyclopropyl-   0.71   545.94           (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-amide       125   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   502.29           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-methoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       126   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.67   502.27           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3-methoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       127   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.67   532.25           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2,5-dimethoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       128   N-Cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.67   516.3           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-methoxy-4-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       129   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.68   518.27           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-methoxy-4-methyl-           benzenesulfonamide       130   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.66   534.25           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3,4-dimethoxy-           benzenesulfonamide       131   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.68   504.27           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-3-methoxy-           benzenesulfonamide                  
 
       Example 132  
     2-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-acetamide  
       [0218]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0219]     To a cooled (0° C.) mixture of 1-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-3-[2-(4-methylamino-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-urea (Example E1., 0.3 mmol) and TEA (0.5 mL, 0.35 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2  (2 mL) is added a solution of (3,4-dichloro-phenyl)-acetyl chloride (67.0 mg, 0.3 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2  (1 mL). The mixture is stirred at r.t. for 15 h and evaporated. the residue is purified by HPLC to provide the title compound.  
         [0220]     The following compounds are prepared from Examples E1.-E4. using the method described for Example 132.  
                                                             Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                                  132   2-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.69   495.24           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-           acetamide       133   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.63   454.26           piperidin-4-yl)-2-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-N-methyl-acetamide       134   1-Phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.63   450.23           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           methyl-amide       135   1-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-   0.68   484.26           {2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-amide       136   1-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid   0.64   480.31           (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-methyl-amide       137   2-(3,4-Dimethoxy-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.6   484.36           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-           acetamide       138   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-   0.66   458.23           4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-           acetamide       139   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.63   442.22           piperidin-4-yl)-2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-N-methyl-           acetamide       140   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.61   424.26           piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide       141   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.47   425.23           piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-2-pyridin-2-yl-acetamide       142   2-(3-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-   0.66   458.24           4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-           acetamide       143   2-(2-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-   0.64   458.21           4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-methyl-           acetamide       144   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-   0.69   514.36           methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           isobutyramide       145   2-(2-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-   0.67   472.31           4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-acetamide       146   2-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.71   506.2           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           acetamide       147   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.65   468.31           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-           acetamide       148   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-   0.7   500.31           4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           isobutyramide       149   1-Phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.64   464.31           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           ethyl-amide       150   1-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-   0.68   498.3           {2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-amide       151   1-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid   0.65   494.34           (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-amide       152   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.62   438.27           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-phenyl-acetamide       153   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.62   468.31           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-           acetamide       154   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.6   454.26           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-methoxy-benzamide       155   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.59   454.26           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3,4-dimethoxy-benzamide       156   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.6   442.24           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-4-fluoro-benzamide       157   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.62   468.34           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-(3-methoxy-phenyl)-           acetamide       158   2-(3,4-Dimethoxy-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.61   498.38           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           acetamide       159   2-(2,5-Dimethoxy-phenyl)-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-   0.64   498.32           pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-           acetamide       160   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.6   444.23           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-thiophen-2-yl-acetamide       161   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.63   456.3           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-acetamide       162   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-   0.58   424.23           piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-benzamide       163   1-Phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid ethyl-(1-{2-[3-   0.66   478.36           (2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-amide       164   1-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid   0.7   512.27           ethyl-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       165   1-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid   0.67   508.32           ethyl-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       166   N-Ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.64   452.3           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-2-phenyl-acetamide       167   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2-ethyl-6-   0.69   486.31           methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           acetamide       168   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.69   512.4           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           isobutyramide       169   1-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid   0.67   506.35           cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       170   2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-N-cyclopropyl-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.69   484.32           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           acetamide       171   1-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid   0.7   510.31           cyclopropyl-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-amide       172   1-Phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid cyclopropyl-   0.66   476.41           (1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-amide                  
 
       Example 173  
     N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide  
       [0221]     A suspension of 5-bromo-N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide (Example 99, 30 mg, 0.05 mmol) and Pd—C (10%, 20 mg) in MeOH (10 mL) is stirred under hydrogen atmosphere for 15 h. The catalyst is filtered off and the reaction mixture evaporated to provide the title compound.  
                                           Example                   No   Example   t R     [M + H] +                     173   N-(1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-   0.64   490.13           ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-N-ethyl-2-           methoxy-benzenesulfonamide                  
 
       Example 174  
     In Vitro Biological Characterization  
       [0222]     The inhibitory activity of the compounds of General Formula 1 on the actions of urotensin II can be demonstrated using the test procedures described hereinafter:  
         [0000]     1) Inhibition of Human [ 125 I]-Urotensin II Binding to a Rhabdomyosarcoma Cell Line  
         [0223]     Whole cell binding of human [ 125 I]-urotensin II is performed using human-derived TE-671 rhabdomyosarcoma cells (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, cell line #ACC-263), by methods adapted from a whole cell endothelin binding assay (Breu V et al, In vitro characterization of Ro-46-2005, a novel synthetic non-peptide antagonist of ET A  and ET B  receptors. FEBS Lett. 1993, 334, 210-214).  
         [0224]     The assay is performed in 250 μL Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium, pH 7.4 (GIBCO BRL, Cat No 31885-023), including 25 mM HEPES (Fluka, Cat No 05473), 1.0% DMSO (Fluka, Cat No 41644) and 0.5% (w/v) BSA Fraction V (Fluka, Cat No 05473) in polypropylene microtiter plates (Nunc, Cat No 442587). 300&#39;000 suspended cells are incubated with gentle shaking for 4 h at 20° C. with 20 pM human [ 125 I]Urotensin II (Anawa Trading SA, Wangen, Switzerland, 2130 Ci/mmol) and increasing concentrations of unlabeled antagonist. Minimum and maximum binding are derived from samples with and without 100 nM unlabelled U-II, respectively. After the 4 h incubation period, the cells are filtered onto GF/C filterplates (Packard, Cat No 6005174). The filter plates are dried, and then 50 μL scintillation cocktail (Packard, MicroScint 20, Cat No 6013621) is added to each well. The filterplates are counted in a microplate counter (Packard Bioscience, TopCount NXT).  
         [0225]     All test compounds are dissolved and diluted in 100% DMSO. A ten-fold dilution into assay buffer is performed prior to addition to the assay. The final concentration of DMSO in the assay is 1.0%, which is found not to interfere with the binding. IC50 values are defined as the concentration of antagonist inhibiting 50% of the specific binding of [ 125 I]human U-II. Specific binding is the difference between maximum binding and minimum binding, as described above. An IC 50  value of 0.206 nM is found for unlabeled human U-II. The compounds of the invention are found to have IC 50  values ranging from 0.1 to 1000 nM in this assay.  
         [0000]     2) Inhibition of Human [ 125 I]-Urotensin II Binding to Membranes from Recombinant Cells Carrying the Urotensin II-Receptor  
         [0226]     Membranes from CHO cells expressing human Urotensin II receptor were prepared as described before (Breu V. et al, FEBS Lett 1993; 334:210-214; Martine Clozel et. al., “Pharmacology of the Urotensin-II Receptor Antagonist ACT-058362: First Demonstration of a Pathophysiological Role of the Urotensin System”, J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2004; DOI: 10.1124/jpet.104.068320; WO-1999/40192). The binding assay was performed in 200 μl of PBS 1×pH 7.4 including 1 mM EDTA, 2.5% DMSO and 0.5% (w/v) BSA in polypropylene microtiter plates. Membranes containing 2-5 μg protein were incubated for 4 hours at room temperature with 20 pM (12000 cpm) [ 125 I]-Urotensin II and increasing concentrations of unlabeled antagonists. Minimum and maximum binding were derived from samples with and without 1 μM of unlabeled Urotensin II, respectively. After 4 hours of incubation, the membranes were filtered onto filterplates and washed 3 times with PBS 1×, 0.1% (w/v) BSA. 25 μl of scintillation cocktail was added to each well after drying the plates and the radioactivity on the filterplates was determined in a microplate counter.  
         [0227]     The compounds of General Formula 1 are found to have IC 50  values ranging from 0.1 to 1000 nM in this assay. Preferred compounds of General Formula 1 have IC 50  values ranging from 0.1 to 100 nM. Most preferred compounds of General Formula 1 have IC 50  values ranging from 0.1 to 10 nM.  
         [0228]     In the following table IC 50  values of compounds of General Formula 1 are summarized.  
                                                     Example       IC 50         No   Example   [nM]                                2   1-{2-[3-(2,6-Dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-4-   0.7           phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid benzyl-methyl-           amide       41   N-(1-{2-[3-(2-Ethyl-6-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-   0.4           ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-4-fluoro-N-propyl-           benzenesulfonamide       74   5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.5           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           methyl-amide       96   5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (1-{2-[3-(2,6-   0.2           dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-piperidin-4-yl)-           ethyl-amide       150   1-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (1-   0.7           {2-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-ureido]-ethyl}-           piperidin-4-yl)-ethyl-amide                  
 
 3) Inhibition of Human Urotensin II-Induced Contractions on Isolated Rat Thoracic Aorta: 
 
         [0229]     Adult male rats (Wistar or Sprague-Dawley) are euthanized by CO 2 . An aortic segment (12 mm) is isolated immediately distal to the left sub-clavian arterial branch, and vessel rings (3 mm wide) are prepared. The endothelium is removed by inserting the tip of a watchmaker&#39;s forceps inside the lumen and gently rolling the tissue on a moist filter paper. Aortic rings are suspended in tissue baths (10 mL) containing Krebs-Henseleit buffer of the following composition (mM): NaCl 115; KCl 4.7; MgSO 4  1.2; KH 2 PO 4  1.5; CaCl 2  2.5; NaHCO 3  25; glucose 10. Bathing solution is maintained at 37° C. and aerated with 95% O 2 /5% CO 2  (pH 7.4). A resting force of 2 g (19.6 mN) is applied to the vessel, and changes in force generation are recorded using an EMKA automated system (EMKA Technologies SA, Paris, France). The viability of each aortic ring is determined by contraction to a depolarising concentration of KCl (60 mM). After washout, the successful removal of endothelium is tested by the failure of acetylcholine (10 μM) to relax vessels constricted with phenylephrine (1 μM). Following further washout, tissues are exposed to either drug vehicle (control) or test compound for 20 minutes. A cumulative concentration-response curve to h-UII (30 pM-0.3 μM) is then obtained. Contraction of vessels to h-UII is expressed as a percentage of the initial contraction to KCl (60 mM). If the test compound displays competitive antagonism (causes parallel right-ward displacement of concentration-effect curve without diminishing the maximum response), then the inhibitory potency is quantified by calculation of the pA 2  value for the test compound (pA 2  value is the negative logarithm of the theoretical antagonist concentration which induces a two-fold shift in the EC 50  value for h-U-II).