Compounds useful as protein kinase inhibitors

The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing the compounds of the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The search for new therapeutic agents has been greatly aided in recent years by a better understanding of the structure of enzymes and other biomolecules associated with diseases. One important class of enzymes that has been the subject of intensive study is protein kinases.

Protein kinases constitute a large family of structurally related enzymes that are responsible for the control of a variety of signal transduction processes within the cell (see Hardie, G. and Hanks, S.The Protein Kinase Facts Book, I and II, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif.: 1995). Protein kinases are thought to have evolved from a common ancestral gene due to the conservation of their structure and catalytic function. Almost all kinases contain a similar 250-300 amino acid catalytic domain. The kinases may be categorized into families by the substrates they phosphorylate (eg protein-tyrosine, protein-serine/threonine, lipids etc). Sequence motifs have been identified that generally correspond to each of these kinase families (See, for example, Hanks, S. K., Hunter, T.,FASEB J.1995, 9, 576-596; Knighton et al.,Science1991, 253, 407-414; Hiles et al,Cell1992, 70, 419-429; Kunz et al,Cell1993, 73, 585-596; Garcia-Bustos et al,EMBO J.1994, 13, 2352-2361).

In general, protein kinases mediate intracellular signaling by effecting a phosphoryl transfer from a nucleoside triphosphate to a protein acceptor that is involved in a signaling pathway. These phosphorylation events act as molecular on/off switches that can modulate or regulate the target protein biological function. These phosphorylation events are ultimately triggered in response to a variety of extracellular and other stimuli. Examples of such stimuli include environmental and chemical stress signals (eg shock, heat shock, ultraviolet radiation, bacterial endotoxin, and H2O2), cytokines (eg interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), and growth factors (eg granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)). An extracellular stimulus may affect one or more cellular responses related to cell growth, migration, differentiation, secretion of hormones, activation of transcription factors, muscle contraction, glucose metabolism, control of protein synthesis, survival and regulation of the cell cycle.

Many diseases are associated with abnormal cellular responses triggered by protein kinase-mediated events as described above. These diseases include, but are not limited to, cancer, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, bone diseases, metabolic diseases, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, allergies and asthma, Alzheimer's disease and hormone related diseases. Accordingly, there has been a substantial effort in medicinal chemistry to find protein kinase inhibitors that are effective as therapeutic agents.

The Polo-like kinases (Plk) belong to a family of serine/threonine kinases that are highly conserved across the species, ranging from yeast to man (reviewed in Lowery D M et al.,Oncogene2005, 24; 248-259). The Plk kinases have multiple roles in cell cycle, including control of entry into and progression through mitosis.

Plk1 is the best characterized of the Plk family members. Plk1 is widely expressed and is most abundant in tissues with a high mitotic index. Protein levels of Plk1 rise and peak in mitosis (Hamanaka, R et al.,J Biol Chem1995, 270, 21086-21091). The reported substrates of Plk1 are all molecules that are known to regulate entry and progression through mitosis, and include CDC25C, cyclin B, p53, APC, BRCA2 and the proteasome. Plk1 is upregulated in multiple cancer types and the expression levels correlate with severity of disease (Macmillan, J C et al.,Ann Surg Oncol2001, 8, 729-740). Plk1 is an oncogene and can transform NIH-3T3 cells (Smith, M R et al.,Biochem Biophys Res Commun1997, 234, 397-405). Depletion or inhibition of Plk1 by siRNA, antisense, microinjection of antibodies, or transfection of a dominant negative construct of Plk1 into cells, reduces proliferation and viability of tumour cells in vitro (Guan, R et al.,Cancer Res2005, 65, 2698-2704; Liu, X et al.,Proc Natl Acad Sci USA2003, 100, 5789-5794, Fan, Y et al.,World J Gastroenterol2005, 11, 4596-4599; Lane, H A et al.,J Cell Biol1996, 135, 1701-1713). Tumour cells that have been depleted of Plk1 have activated spindle checkpoints and defects in spindle formation, chromosome alignment and separation and cytokinesis. Loss in viability has been reported to be the result of an induction of apoptosis. In contrast, normal cells have been reported to maintain viability on depletion of Plk1. In vivo knock down of Plk1 by siRNA or the use of dominant negative constructs leads to growth inhibition or regression of tumours in xenograft models.

Plk2 is mainly expressed during the G1 phase of the cell cycle and is localized to the centrosome in interphase cells. Plk2 knockout mice develop normally, are fertile and have normal survival rates, but are around 20% smaller than wild type mice. Cells from knockout animals progress through the cell cycle more slowly than in normal mice (Ma, S et al.,Mol Cell Biol2003, 23, 6936-6943). Depletion of Plk2 by siRNA or transfection of kinase inactive mutants into cells blocks centriole duplication. Downregulation of Plk2 also sensitizes tumour cells to taxol and promotes mitotic catastrophe, in part by suppression of the p53 response (Burns T F et al.,Mol Cell Biol2003, 23, 5556-5571).

Plk3 is expressed throughout the cell cycle and increases from G1 to mitosis. Expression is upregulated in highly proliferating ovarian tumours and breast cancer and is associated with a worse prognosis (Weichert, W et al.,Br J Cancer2004, 90, 815-821; Weichert, W et al.,Virchows Arch2005, 446, 442-450). In addition to regulation of mitosis, Plk3 is believed to be involved in Golgi fragmentation during the cell cycle and in the DNA-damage response. Inhibition of Plk3 by dominant negative expression is reported to promote p53-independent apoptosis after DNA damage and suppresses colony formation by tumour cells (Li, Z et al.,J Biol Chem2005, 280, 16843-16850.

Plk4 is structurally more diverse from the other Plk family members. Depletion of this kinase causes apoptosis in cancer cells (Li, J et al.,Neoplasia2005, 7, 312-323). Plk4 knockout mice arrest at E7.5 with a high fraction of cells in mitosis and partly segregated chromosomes (Hudson, J W et al.,Current Biology2001, 11, 441-446).

Molecules of the protein kinase family have been implicated in tumour cell growth, proliferation and survival. Accordingly, there is a great need to develop compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases. The evidence implicating the Plk kinases as essential for cell division is strong. Blockade of the cell cycle is a clinically validated approach to inhibiting tumour cell proliferation and viability. It would therefore be desirable to develop compounds that are useful as inhibitors of the Plk family of protein kinases (eg Plk1, Plk2, Plk3 and Plk4), that would inhibit proliferation and reduce viability of tumour cells, particularly as there is a strong medical need to develop new treatments for cancer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Compounds of this invention are useful as protein kinase inhibitors. In some embodiments, these compounds are effective as inhibitors of PLK protein kinases and in some embodiments, as inhibitors of PLK1 protein kinases. These compounds are as defined herein.

These compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for treating or preventing a variety of diseases, disorders or conditions, including, but not limited to, an autoimmune, inflammatory, proliferative, or hyperproliferative disease, a neurodegenerative disease, or an immunologically-mediated disease. The compounds provided by this invention (an appropriate salts thereof) are also useful for the study of kinases in biological and pathological phenomena; the study of intracellular signal transduction pathways mediated by such kinases; and the comparative evaluation of new kinase inhibitors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention describes compounds of Formula I, Formula II, and Formula III as defined herein.

As described herein, a specified number range of atoms includes any integer therein. For example, a group having from 1-4 atoms could have 1, 2, 3, or 4 atoms.

As described herein, compounds of the invention may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents, such as are illustrated generally above, or as exemplified by particular classes, subclasses, and species of the invention. It will be appreciated that the phrase “optionally substituted” is used interchangeably with the phrase “substituted or unsubstituted.” In general, the term “substituted”, whether preceded by the term “optionally” or not, refers to the replacement of hydrogen radicals in a given structure with the radical of a specified substituent. Unless otherwise indicated, an optionally substituted group may have a substituent at each substitutable position of the group, and when more than one position in any given structure may be substituted with more than one substituent selected from a specified group, the substituent may be either the same or different at every position. Combinations of substituents envisioned by this invention are preferably those that result in the formation of stable or chemically feasible compounds.

The term “stable”, as used herein, refers to compounds that are not substantially altered when subjected to conditions to allow for their production, detection, recovery, purification, and use for one or more of the purposes disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a stable compound or chemically feasible compound is one that is not substantially altered when kept at a temperature of 40° C. or less, in the absence of moisture or other chemically reactive conditions, for at least a week.

The term “aliphatic” or “aliphatic group”, as used herein, means a straight-chain (i.e., unbranched) or branched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chain that is completely saturated or that contains one or more units of unsaturation that has a single point of attachment to the rest of the molecule. Unless otherwise specified, aliphatic groups contain 1-20 aliphatic carbon atoms. In some embodiments, aliphatic groups contain 1-10 aliphatic carbon atoms. In other embodiments, aliphatic groups contain 1-8 aliphatic carbon atoms. In still other embodiments, aliphatic groups contain 1-6 aliphatic carbon atoms, and in yet other embodiments aliphatic groups contain 1-4 aliphatic carbon atoms. Suitable aliphatic groups include, but are not limited to, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups. Specific examples include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, sec-butyl, vinyl, n-butenyl, ethynyl, and tert-butyl.

The term “cycloaliphatic” refers to a monocyclic C3-C8hydrocarbon or bicyclic C8-C12hydrocarbon that is completely saturated or that contains one or more units of unsaturation, but which is not aromatic, that has a single point of attachment to the rest of the molecule wherein any individual ring in said bicyclic ring system has 3-7 members. Suitable cycloaliphatic groups include, but are not limited to, cycloalkyl and cycloalkenyl groups. Specific examples include, but are not limited to, cyclohexyl, cyclopropenyl, and cyclobutyl. The term “heteroaliphatic”, as used herein, means aliphatic groups wherein one or two carbon atoms are independently replaced by one or more of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, or silicon. Heteroaliphatic groups may be substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched, cyclic or acyclic, and include “heterocycle”, “heterocyclyl”, “heterocycloaliphatic”, or “heterocyclic” groups. The term “heterocycle”, “heterocyclyl”, or “heterocyclic” as used herein means non-aromatic, monocyclic, bicyclic, or tricyclic ring systems in which one or more ring members are an independently selected heteroatom. In some embodiments, the “heterocycle”, “heterocyclyl”, or “heterocyclic” group has three to fourteen ring members in which one or more ring members is a heteroatom independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or phosphorus, and each ring in the system contains 3 to 7 ring members.

The term “nonaromatic”, as used herein, describes rings that are either saturated or partially unsaturated.

The term “aromatic”, as used herein, describes rings that are fully unsaturated.

The term “alkoxy”, or “thioalkyl”, as used herein, refers to an alkyl group, as previously defined, attached to the principal carbon chain through an oxygen (“alkoxy”) or sulfur (“thioalkyl”) atom.

The terms “haloalkyl”, “haloalkenyl”, “haloaliphatic”, and “haloalkoxy” mean alkyl, alkenyl or alkoxy, as the case may be, substituted with one or more halogen atoms. The terms “halogen”, “halo”, and “hal” mean F, Cl, Br, or I.

The term “aryl” used alone or as part of a larger moiety as in “aralkyl”, “aralkoxy”, or “aryloxyalkyl”, refers to monocyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic ring systems having a total of five to fourteen ring members, wherein at least one ring in the system is aromatic and wherein each ring in the system contains 3 to 7 ring members. The term “aryl” may be used interchangeably with the term “aryl ring”. The term “aryl” also refers to heteroaryl ring systems as defined hereinbelow.

The term “protecting group” and “protective group” as used herein, are interchangeable and refer to an agent used to temporarily block one or more desired reactive sites in a multifunctional compound. In certain embodiments, a protecting group has one or more, or preferably all, of the following characteristics: a) is added selectively to a functional group in good yield to give a protected substrate that is b) stable to reactions occurring at one or more of the other reactive sites; and c) is selectively removable in good yield by reagents that do not attack the regenerated, deprotected functional group. Exemplary protecting groups are detailed in Greene, T. W., Wuts, P. G in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis”, Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York: 1999 (and other editions of the book), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The term “nitrogen protecting group”, as used herein, refers to an agents used to temporarily block one or more desired nitrogen reactive sites in a multifunctional compound. Preferred nitrogen protecting groups also possess the characteristics exemplified above, and certain exemplary nitrogen protecting groups are also detailed in Chapter 7 in Greene, T. W., Wuts, P. G in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis”, Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York: 1999, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, an alkyl or aliphatic chain can be optionally interrupted with another atom or group. This means that a methylene unit of the alkyl or aliphatic chain is optionally replaced with said other atom or group. Examples of such atoms or groups would include, but are not limited to, —NR—, —O—, —S—, —CO2—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)CO—, —C(O)—, —C(O)NR—, —C(═N—CN), —NRCO—, —NRC(O)O—, —SO2NR—, —NRSO2—, —NRC(O)NR—, —OC(O)NR—, —NRSO2NR—, —SO—, or —SO2—, wherein R is defined herein. Unless otherwise specified, the optional replacements form a chemically stable compound. Optional interruptions can occur both within the chain and at either end of the chain; i.e. both at the point of attachment and/or also at the terminal end. Two optional replacements can also be adjacent to each other within a chain so long as it results in a chemically stable compound. The optional interruptions or replacements can also completely replace all of the carbon atoms in a chain. For example, a C3aliphatic can be optionally interrupted or replaced by —NR—, —C(O)—, and —NR— to form —NRC(O)NR— (a urea).

Unless otherwise specified, if the replacement or interruption occurs at the terminal end, the replacement atom is bound to an H on the terminal end. For example, if —CH2CH2CH3were optionally interrupted with —O—, the resulting compound could be —OCH2CH3, —CH2OCH3, or —CH2CH2OH.

Unless otherwise stated, all tautomeric forms of the compounds of the invention are within the scope of the invention.

Unless otherwise stated, a substituent can freely rotate around any rotatable bonds. For example, a substituent drawn as

also represents

Additionally, unless otherwise stated, structures depicted herein are also meant to include compounds that differ only in the presence of one or more isotopically enriched atoms. For example, compounds having the present structures except for the replacement of hydrogen by deuterium or tritium, or the replacement of a carbon by a13C- or14C-enriched carbon are within the scope of this invention. Such compounds are useful, for example, as analytical tools or probes in biological assays.

The following abbreviations are used:

In one aspect, the invention provides compounds of formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
In formula I, Ring A is

in which each substitutable carbon atom on Ring A is optionally substituted with halo, C1-6alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, in which each of the C1-6alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl is optionally substituted with 1-3 of JA.

Z is S, —NQ-, or O.

R1is a 6 membered ring selected from

or the six membered ring is optionally fused with Ring B, or R1is

in which the 6 membered ring, the six membered ring fused with Ring B, or

are each optionally substituted with 1-5 R5.

Each Y is independently C or N.

Each Ring B is independently a 3-8-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic monocyclic ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.

Each T1is independently C1-6aliphatic wherein up to three methylene units of the C1-6aliphatic is optionally replaced with —NR—, —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —C(═NR)—, —C(═NOR)—, —SO—, or —SO2—; each T1is optionally substituted with 0-2 JT.

Each Q is independently H; C1-6aliphatic; a 3-8-membered aromatic or nonaromatic monocyclic ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N, and S; or an 8-12 membered aromatic or nonaromatic bicyclic ring system having 0-5 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N, and S; each Q is optionally substituted with 0-5 JQ.

Each R is independently H or unsubstituted C1-6alkyl.

Each J is independently halo, CN, NO2, C1-4aliphatic, cycloalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, or heteroaryl, in which each of C1-4aliphatic, cycloalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, or heteroaryl, is optionally substituted with 1-3 of RJ, or two J are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 3-8-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic monocyclic ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, in which the ring is optionally substituted with 1-3 of RJ; or one J and R2or R3are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 3-8-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic monocyclic ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, in which the ring is optionally substituted with 1-3 of RJ.

When R2and R3are both H or both methyl, X1is CH2, and Ring A is

then R1is not

Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following.

Z is S.

Ring A is

Ring A is

each optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is pyridine-4-yl optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is a six membered ring fused with Ring B in which the six membered ring is

and Ring B is a 3-8-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic monocyclic ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, in which the six membered ring and Ring B together are each optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is pyridine-4-yl fused with a 5-6 membered heteroaryl, in which the fused pyridine-heteroaryl is optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is pyridine-4-yl fused with a pyrrole ring, in which the fused pyridine-pyrrole is optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is dihydrobenzoxazine optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is

in which the 5 membered ring fused with Ring B is optionally substituted with 1-5 R5.

In another aspect, the invention features compounds of Formula II and III:

wherein R1, R2, R3, R5, and J are defined with respect to formula 1 and p is 0, 1, or 2.

Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following.

each optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is pyridine-4-yl optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is a six membered ring fused with Ring B in which the six membered ring is

and Ring B is a 3-8-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic monocyclic ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, in which the six membered ring and Ring B together are each optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is pyridine-4-yl fused with a 5-6 membered heteroaryl, in which the fused pyridine-heteroaryl is optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is pyridine-4-yl fused with a pyrrole ring, in which the fused pyridine-pyrrole is optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is dihydrobenzoxazine optionally substituted with 1-5 R5. R1is

in which the 5 membered ring fused with Ring B is optionally substituted with 1-5 R5.

R5is -T1-Q. T1is C1-4alkyl. Q is a 5-6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N, and S; or a 9-10 membered aromatic bicyclic ring having 0-5 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N, and S.

In still other aspects, the invention provides the following specific compounds of formula I.

In other aspects, the invention provides compositions including a compound of formulae I, II, or III, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or vehicle.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides methods of inhibiting protein kinase activity in a patient by administering to said patient of a compound of formulae I, II, or III.

In still a further aspect, the invention provides methods of inhibiting protein kinase activity in a biological sample by contacting said biological sample with a compound of formulae I, II, or III. The protein kinase is PLK1.

In still a further aspect, the invention provides methods of treating a proliferative disorder, a neurodegenerative disorder, an autoimmune disorder, an inflammatory disorder, or an immunologically mediated disorder in a patient, by administering to a patient a compound of formulae I, II, or III. This method can include administering to said patient an additional therapeutic agent selected from a chemotherapeutic or anti-proliferative agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive agent, a neurotrophic factor, an agent for treating cardiovascular disease, an agent for treating destructive bone disorders, an agent for treating liver disease, an anti-viral agent, an agent for treating blood disorders, an agent for treating diabetes, or an agent for treating immunodeficiency disorders, wherein: said additional therapeutic agent is appropriate for the disease being treated; and said additional therapeutic agent is administered together with said composition as a single dosage form or separately from said composition as part of a multiple dosage form.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of treating melanoma, myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, or a cancer selected from colon, breast, gastric, ovarian, cervical, lung, central nervous system (CNS), renal, prostate, bladder, or pancreatic, in a patient wherein said method includes administering to said patient a compound of formulae I, II, or III.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of treating cancer in a patient wherein said method includes administering to said patient a compound of formulae I, II, or III.

General Synthetic Methodology

The compounds of this invention may be prepared in general by methods such as those depicted in the general schemes below, and the preparative examples that follow. Unless otherwise indicated, all variables in the following schemes are as defined herein.

Scheme 1 above shows the synthetic route to give compounds I-a. Compound A was prepared according to Bogatskii, A. V., Physicochemical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Odessa 270080. A Sandmeyer reaction was performed on compound A giving rise to compound B. Compound B then underwent a coupling reaction (e.g., Suzuki (M=B(OR)2), Negishi (M=ZnX) or Stille (M=SnR3) to give compound I-a. An alternative synthesis was to insert M into compound B, giving intermediate compound C, which then underwent reaction with an aryl halide to give compound I-a. Compound I-b was synthesized using a palladium catalysed coupling reaction between compound B and a cyclic amine.

Scheme 2 above shows a general synthetic route for preparing compounds of this invention. Alkylation of compound D (prepared as in WO200064904) gave compound E. Substitution at position 2 with M (M=boronate ester or boronic acid (B(OR)2), zincate (M=ZnX), or stannane (M=SnR3), followed by reaction with an aryl halide R1X, gave compound G.

Accordingly, this invention also provides a process for preparing a compound of this invention. Specifically, the invention provides a process for preparing a compound of formula I:

wherein Ring A, X1, J, R2and R3are as defined above. The process includes reacting a compound of formula B

wherein Ring A, X1, J, R2and R3are as defined according to claim1and CP1is a suitable coupling partner; with R1—CP2, wherein R1is as defined according to claim1and CP2is the appropriate coupling partner to CP1; under suitable coupling conditions to form a compound of formula I. The process can further include reacting the compound of formula A:

under Sandmeyer conditions to form a compound of formula B.

The present invention provides compounds that are useful for the treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions including, but not limited to, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, proliferative and hyperproliferative diseases, immunologically-mediated diseases, bone diseases, metabolic diseases, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hormone related diseases, allergies, asthma, and Alzheimer's disease. Another aspect of this invention provides compounds that are inhibitors of protein kinases, and thus are useful for the treatment of the diseases, disorders, and conditions, along with other uses described herein. In another aspect of the present invention, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions are provided, wherein these compositions comprise any of the compounds as described herein, and optionally comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant or vehicle. In certain embodiments, these compositions optionally further comprise one or more additional therapeutic agents.

It will also be appreciated that certain of the compounds of present invention can exist in free form for treatment, or where appropriate, as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

As used herein, a “pharmaceutically acceptable derivative” is an adduct or derivative which, upon administration to a patient in need, is capable of providing, directly or indirectly, a compound as otherwise described herein, or a metabolite or residue thereof. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives include, but are not limited to, esters and salts of such esters.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to salts of a compound which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like, and are commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known in the art. For example, S. M. Berge et al., describe pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail inJ. Pharmaceutical Sciences,1977, 66, 1-19, incorporated herein by reference. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include those derived from suitable inorganic and organic acids and bases. These salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds. Acid addition salts can be prepared by 1) reacting the purified compound in its free-based form with a suitable organic or inorganic acid and 2) isolating the salt thus formed.

Base addition salts can be prepared by 1) reacting the purified compound in its acid form with a suitable organic or inorganic base and 2) isolating the salt thus formed. Base addition salts include alkali or alkaline earth metal salts. Representative alkali or alkaline earth metal salts include sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the like. Further pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, when appropriate, nontoxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations formed using counterions such as halide, hydroxide, carboxylate, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, loweralkyl sulfonate and aryl sulfonate. Other acids and bases, while not in themselves pharmaceutically acceptable, may be employed in the preparation of salts useful as intermediates in obtaining the compounds of the invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts.

As described herein, the pharmaceutically acceptable compositions of the present invention additionally comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or vehicle, which, as used herein, includes any and all solvents, diluents, or other liquid vehicle, dispersion or suspension aids, surface active agents, isotonic agents, thickening or emulsifying agents, preservatives, solid binders, lubricants and the like, as suited to the particular dosage form desired. Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sixteenth Edition, E. W. Martin (Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1980) discloses various carriers used in formulating pharmaceutically acceptable compositions and known techniques for the preparation thereof. Except insofar as any conventional carrier medium is incompatible with the compounds of the invention, such as by producing any undesirable biological effect or otherwise interacting in a deleterious manner with any other component(s) of the pharmaceutically acceptable composition, its use is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention.

One aspect of this invention provides a method for the treatment or lessening the severity of a disease selected from an autoimmune disease, an inflammatory disease, a proliferative or hyperproliferative disease, such as cancer, an immunologically-mediated disease, a bone disease, a metabolic disease, a neurological or neurodegenerative disease, a cardiovascular disease, allergies, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, or a hormone related disease, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising a compound, to a subject in need thereof. The term “cancer” includes, but is not limited to the following cancers: breast; ovary; cervix; prostate; testis, genitourinary tract; esophagus; larynx, glioblastoma; neuroblastoma; stomach; skin, keratoacanthoma; lung, epidermoid carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma; bone; colon, adenoma; pancreas, adenocarcinoma; thyroid, follicular carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, papillary carcinoma; seminoma; melanoma; sarcoma; bladder carcinoma; liver carcinoma and biliary passages; kidney carcinoma; myeloid disorders; lymphoid disorders, Hodgkin's, hairy cells; buccal cavity and pharynx (oral), lip, tongue, mouth, pharynx; small intestine; colon-rectum, large intestine, rectum; brain and central nervous system; and leukemia.

In certain embodiments, an “effective amount” of the compound or pharmaceutically acceptable composition is that amount effective in order to treat said disease. The compounds and compositions, according to the method of the present invention, may be administered using any amount and any route of administration effective for treating or lessening the severity of said disease. In some embodiments, said disease is selected from a proliferative disorder, a neurodegenerative disorder, an autoimmune disorder, and inflammatory disorder, and an immunologically-mediated disorder. In some embodiments, said disease is a proliferative disorder. In some embodiments, cancer.

In other embodiments of this invention, said disease is a protein-kinase mediated condition. In some embodiments, said protein kinase in PLK.

The term “protein kinase-mediated condition”, as used herein means any disease or other deleterious condition in which a protein kinase plays a role. Such conditions include, without limitation, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, proliferative and hyperproliferative diseases, immunologically-mediated diseases, bone diseases, metabolic diseases, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hormone related diseases, allergies, asthma, and Alzheimer's disease.

The term “PLK-mediated condition”, as used herein means any disease or other deleterious condition in which PLK plays a role. Such conditions include, without limitation, a proliferative disorder, such as cancer, a neurodegenerative disorder, an autoimmune disorder, and inflammatory disorder, and an immunologically-mediated disorder.

In some embodiments, the compounds and compositions of the invention are inhibitors of protein kinases. As inhibitors of protein kinases, the compounds and compositions of this invention are particularly useful for treating or lessening the severity of a disease, condition, or disorder where a protein kinase is implicated in the disease, condition, or disorder. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating or lessening the severity of a disease, condition, or disorder where a protein kinase is implicated in the disease state. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating or lessening the severity of a disease, condition, or disorder where inhibition of enzymatic activity is implicated in the treatment of the disease. In another aspect, this invention provides a method for treating or lessening the severity of a disease, condition, or disorder with compounds that inhibit enzymatic activity by binding to the protein kinase. In some embodiments, said protein kinase is PLK.

The activity of the compounds as protein kinase inhibitors may be assayed in vitro, in vivo or in a cell line. In vitro assays include assays that determine inhibition of either the kinase activity or ATPase activity of the activated kinase. Alternate in vitro assays quantitate the ability of the inhibitor to bind to the protein kinase and may be measured either by radiolabelling the inhibitor prior to binding, isolating the inhibitor/kinase complex and determining the amount of radiolabel bound, or by running a competition experiment where new inhibitors are incubated with the kinase bound to known radioligands.

The protein kinase inhibitors or pharmaceutical salts thereof may be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions for administration to animals or humans. These pharmaceutical compositions, which comprise an amount of the protein inhibitor effective to treat or prevent a protein kinase-mediated condition and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, are another embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, said protein kinase-mediated condition is a PLK-mediated condition. In some embodiments, a PLK1-mediated condition.

In addition to the compounds of this invention, pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives or prodrugs of the compounds of this invention may also be employed in compositions to treat or prevent the above-identified disorders.

A “pharmaceutically acceptable derivative or prodrug” means any pharmaceutically acceptable ester, salt of an ester or other derivative of a compound of this invention which, upon administration to a recipient, is capable of providing, either directly or indirectly, a compound of this invention or an inhibitorily active metabolite or residue thereof. Particularly favoured derivatives or prodrugs are those that increase the bioavailability of the compounds of this invention when such compounds are administered to a patient (e.g., by allowing an orally administered compound to be more readily absorbed into the blood) or which enhance delivery of the parent compound to a biological compartment (e.g., the brain or lymphatic system) relative to the parent species.

Pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs of the compounds of this invention include, without limitation, esters, amino acid esters, phosphate esters, metal salts and sulfonate esters.

The amount of protein kinase inhibitor that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated, the particular mode of administration. Preferably, the compositions should be formulated so that a dosage of between 0.01-100 mg/kg body weight/day of the inhibitor can be administered to a patient receiving these compositions.

According to another embodiment, the invention provides methods for treating or preventing a protein kinase-mediated condition (in some embodiments, a PLK-mediated condition) comprising the step of administering to a patient one of the above-described pharmaceutical compositions. The term “patient”, as used herein, means an animal, preferably a human.

Preferably, that method is used to treat or prevent a condition selected from cancers such as cancers of the breast, colon, prostate, skin, pancreas, brain, genitourinary tract, lymphatic system, stomach, larynx and lung, including lung adenocarcinoma and small cell lung cancer; stroke, diabetes, myeloma, hepatomegaly, cardiomegaly, Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, and viral disease, or any specific disease described above.

Another aspect of the invention relates to inhibiting protein kinase activity in a patient, which method comprises administering to the patient a compound of this invention or a composition comprising said compound.

Depending upon the particular protein kinase-mediated conditions to be treated or prevented, additional drugs, which are normally administered to treat or prevent that condition, may be administered together with the inhibitors of this invention. For example, chemotherapeutic agents or other anti-proliferative agents may be combined with the protein kinase inhibitors of this invention to treat proliferative diseases.

Those additional agents may be administered separately, as part of a multiple dosage regimen, from the protein kinase inhibitor-containing compound or composition. Alternatively, those agents may be part of a single dosage form, mixed together with the protein kinase inhibitor in a single composition.

In some embodiments, said protein kinase inhibitor is a PLK kinase inhibitor. In other embodiments, said protein kinase inhibitor is a PLK1 kinase inhibitor.

This invention may also be used in methods other than those involving administration to a patient.

One aspect of the invention relates to inhibiting protein kinase activity in a biological sample or a patient, which method comprises contacting said biological sample with a compound of this invention or a composition comprising said compound. The term “biological sample”, as used herein, means an in vitro or an ex vivo sample, including, without limitation, cell cultures or extracts thereof; biopsied material obtained from a mammal or extracts thereof; and blood, saliva, urine, feces, semen, tears, or other body fluids or extracts thereof.

Inhibition of protein kinase activity in a biological sample is useful for a variety of purposes that are known to one of skill in the art. Examples of such purposes include, but are not limited to, blood transfusion, organ-transplantation, and biological specimen storage.

Another aspect of this invention relates to the study of protein kinases in biological and pathological phenomena; the study of intracellular signal transduction pathways mediated by such protein kinases; and the comparative evaluation of new protein kinase inhibitors. Examples of such uses include, but are not limited to, biological assays such as enzyme assays and cell-based assays.

The compounds of this invention may be prepared in general by methods known to those skilled in the art. Those compounds may be analyzed by known methods, including but not limited to LCMS (liquid chromatography mass spectrometry) and NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). Compounds of this invention may be also tested according to these examples. It should be understood that the specific conditions shown below are only examples, and are not meant to limit the scope of the conditions that can be used for making, analyzing, or testing the compounds of this invention. Instead, this invention also includes conditions known to those skilled in that art for making, analyzing, and testing the compounds of this invention.

EXAMPLES

As used herein, the term “Rt(min)” refers to the HPLC retention time, in minutes, associated with the compound. Unless otherwise indicated, the HPLC method utilized to obtain the reported retention time is as follows:Column: ACE C8 column, 4.6×150 mmGradient: 0-100% acetonitrile+methanol 60:40 (20 mM Tris phosphate)Flow rate: 1.5 mL/minuteDetection: 225 nm.

Mass spec. samples were analyzed on a MicroMass Quattro Micro mass spectrometer operated in single MS mode with electrospray ionization. Samples were introduced into the mass spectrometer using chromatography.

1H-NMR spectra were recorded at 400 MHz using a Bruker DPX 400 instrument. The following compounds of formula I were prepared and analyzed as follows.

Prepared according to Bogatskii A. V., Physicochemical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Odessa 270080. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No 2, p 277, 1989.

Method C

4-bromo-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine (1 g, 1 Eq.) was dissolved in dry THF and cooled in an ice-bath. NaH (60% dispersion in mineral oil, 305 mg, 1.2 Eq.) was added portionwise. The resultant mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 45 minutes and benzene sulfonyl chloride (1.076 g, 1.2 Eq.) was added slowly dropwise. The resultant mixture was stirred at 0° C. for a further 75 minutes and then the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was partitioned in EtOAc/sat. NH4Cl and extracted with EtOAc (3×50 mL). The combined organics were washed with sat. aq. Na2CO3(1×20 mL), brine (1×20 mL), dried over Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification was achieved using column chromatography (20% EtOAc/80% hexanes), followed by recrystallization from EtOAc/hexanes. The product was filtered and then washed with pentane obtaining the title compound as a white powder (1.24 g, 73% yield);1H NMR (DMSO D6) 6.8 (1H, d), 7.6-7.66 (3H, m), 7.72-7.76 (1H, m), 8.0 (1H, d), 8.1 (2H, m), 8.24-8.26 (1H, m); LC/MS M+1; (obs.) 339.1; LC/MS M−1 (obs.) 337.1.

The synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-thieno[3,2-e][1,4]diazepin-5-one is reported in WO200064904.

The compounds of the present invention are evaluated as inhibitors of human PLK kinase using the following assays.

Compounds were screened for their ability to inhibit Plk1 using a radioactive-phosphate incorporation assay. Assays were carried out in a mixture of 25 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 10 mM MgCl2, and 1 mM DTT. Final substrate concentrations were 50 μM [γ-33P]ATP (136mCi 33P ATP/mmol ATP, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech/Sigma Chemicals) and 10 μM peptide (SAM68 protein A332-443). Assays were carried out at 25° C. in the presence of 15 nM Plk1 (A20-K338). An assay stock buffer solution was prepared containing all of the reagents listed above, with the exception of ATP and the test compound of interest. 30 μL of the stock solution was placed in a 96 well plate followed by addition of 2 μL of DMSO stock containing serial dilutions of the test compound (typically starting from a final concentration of 10 μM with 2-fold serial dilutions) in duplicate (final DMSO concentration 5%). The plate was pre-incubated for 10 minutes at 25° C. and the reaction initiated by addition of 8 μL [γ-33P]ATP (final concentration 50 μM).

The reaction was stopped after 60 minutes by the addition of 100 μL 0.14M phosphoric acid. A multiscreen phosphocellulose filter 96-well plate (Millipore, Cat no. MAPHN0B50) was pretreated with 100 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid prior to the addition of 125 μL of the stopped assay mixture. The plate was washed with 4×200 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid. After drying, 100 μL Optiphase ‘SuperMix’ liquid scintillation cocktail (Perkin Elmer) was added to the well prior to scintillation counting (1450 Microbeta Liquid Scintillation Counter, Wallac).

After removing mean background values for all of the data points, Ki(app) data were calculated from non-linear regression analysis of the initial rate data using the Prism software package (GraphPad Prism version 3.0cx for Macintosh, GraphPad Software, San Diego Calif., USA).

Compounds were screened for their ability to inhibit Plk1 using a radioactive-phosphate incorporation assay. Assays were carried out in a mixture of 25 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 10 mM MgCl2, 0.1% BSA, and 2 mM DTT. Final substrate concentrations were 100 μM [γ-33P]ATP (115mCi 33P ATP/mmol ATP, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech/Sigma Chemicals) and 300 μM peptide (KKKISDELMDATFADQEAK). Assays were carried out at 25° C. in the presence of 25 nM Plk1. An assay stock buffer solution was prepared containing all of the reagents listed above, with the exception of ATP and the test compound of interest. 30 μL of the stock solution was placed in a 96 well plate followed by addition of 2 μL of DMSO stock containing serial dilutions of the test compound (typically starting from a final concentration of 10 μM with 2-fold serial dilutions) in duplicate (final DMSO concentration 5%). The plate was pre-incubated for 10 minutes at 25° C. and the reaction initiated by addition of 8 μL [γ-33P]ATP (final concentration 100 μM).

The reaction was stopped after 90 minutes by the addition of 100 μL 0.14M phosphoric acid. A multiscreen phosphocellulose filter 96-well plate (Millipore, Cat no. MAPHNOB50) was pretreated with 100 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid prior to the addition of 125 μL of the stopped assay mixture. The plate was washed with 4×200 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid. After drying, 100 μL Optiphase ‘SuperMix’ liquid scintillation cocktail (Perkin Elmer) was added to the well prior to scintillation counting (1450 Microbeta Liquid Scintillation Counter, Wallac).

After removing mean background values for all of the data points, Ki(app) data were calculated from non-linear regression analysis of the initial rate data using the Prism software package (GraphPad Prism version 3.0cx for Macintosh, GraphPad Software, San Diego Calif., USA).

Compounds were screened for their ability to inhibit Plk2 using a radioactive-phosphate incorporation assay. Assays were carried out in a mixture of 25 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 10 mM MgCl2, 0.1% BSA, and 2 mM DTT. Final substrate concentrations were 200 μM [γ-33P]ATP (57mCi 33P ATP/mmol ATP, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech/Sigma Chemicals) and 300 μM peptide (KKKISDELMDATFADQEAK). Assays were carried out at 25° C. in the presence of 25 nM Plk2. An assay stock buffer solution was prepared containing all of the reagents listed above, with the exception of ATP and the test compound of interest. 30 μL of the stock solution was placed in a 96 well plate followed by addition of 2 μL of DMSO stock containing serial dilutions of the test compound (typically starting from a final concentration of 10 μM with 2-fold serial dilutions) in duplicate (final DMSO concentration 5%). The plate was pre-incubated for 10 minutes at 25° C. and the reaction initiated by addition of 8 μL [γ-33P]ATP (final concentration 200 μM).

The reaction was stopped after 90 minutes by the addition of 100 μL 0.14M phosphoric acid. A multiscreen phosphocellulose filter 96-well plate (Millipore, Cat no. MAPHNOB50) was pretreated with 100 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid prior to the addition of 125 μL of the stopped assay mixture. The plate was washed with 4×200 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid. After drying, 100 μL Optiphase ‘SuperMix’ liquid scintillation cocktail (Perkin Elmer) was added to the well prior to scintillation counting (1450 Microbeta Liquid Scintillation Counter, Wallac).

After removing mean background values for all of the data points, Ki(app) data were calculated from non-linear regression analysis of the initial rate data using the Prism software package (GraphPad Prism version 3.0cx for Macintosh, GraphPad Software, San Diego Calif., USA).

Compounds were screened for their ability to inhibit Plk3 using a radioactive-phosphate incorporation assay. Assays were carried out in a mixture of 25 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 10 mM MgCl2, and 1 mM DTT. Final substrate concentrations were 75 μM [γ-33P]ATP (60mCi 33P ATP/mmol ATP, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech/Sigma Chemicals) and 10 μM peptide (SAM68 protein A332-443). Assays were carried out at 25° C. in the presence of 5 nM Plk3 (S38-A340). An assay stock buffer solution was prepared containing all of the reagents listed above, with the exception of ATP and the test compound of interest. 30 μL of the stock solution was placed in a 96 well plate followed by addition of 2 μL of DMSO stock containing serial dilutions of the test compound (typically starting from a final concentration of 10 μM with 2-fold serial dilutions) in duplicate (final DMSO concentration 5%). The plate was pre-incubated for 10 minutes at 25° C. and the reaction initiated by addition of 8 μL [γ-33P]ATP (final concentration 75 μM).

The reaction was stopped after 60 minutes by the addition of 100 μL 0.14M phosphoric acid. A multiscreen phosphocellulose filter 96-well plate (Millipore, Cat no. MAPHNOB50) was pretreated with 100 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid prior to the addition of 125 μL of the stopped assay mixture. The plate was washed with 4×200 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid. After drying, 100 μL Optiphase ‘SuperMix’ liquid scintillation cocktail (Perkin Elmer) was added to the well prior to scintillation counting (1450 Microbeta Liquid Scintillation Counter, Wallac).

After removing mean background values for all of the data points, Ki(app) data were calculated from non-linear regression analysis of the initial rate data using the Prism software package (GraphPad Prism version 3.0cx for Macintosh, GraphPad Software, San Diego Calif., USA).

Compounds are screened for their ability to inhibit Plk4 using a radioactive-phosphate incorporation assay. Assays are carried out in a mixture of 8 mM MOPS (pH 7.5), 10 mM MgCl2, 0.1% BSA and 2 mM DTT. Final substrate concentrations are 15 μM [γ-33P]ATP (227mCi 33P ATP/mmol ATP, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech/Sigma Chemicals) and 300 μM peptide (KKKMDATFADQ). Assays are carried out at 25° C. in the presence of 25 nM Plk4. An assay stock buffer solution is prepared containing all of the reagents listed above, with the exception of ATP and the test compound of interest. 30 μL of the stock solution is placed in a 96 well plate followed by addition of 2 μL of DMSO stock containing serial dilutions of the test compound (typically starting from a final concentration of 10 μM with 2-fold serial dilutions) in duplicate (final DMSO concentration 5%). The plate is pre-incubated for 10 minutes at 25° C. and the reaction initiated by addition of 8 μL [γ-33P]ATP (final concentration 15 μM).

The reaction is stopped after 180 minutes by the addition of 100 μL 0.14M phosphoric acid. A multiscreen phosphocellulose filter 96-well plate (Millipore, Cat no. MAPHNOB50) is pretreated with 100 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid prior to the addition of 125 μL of the stopped assay mixture. The plate is washed with 4×200 μL 0.2M phosphoric acid. After drying, 100 μL Optiphase ‘SuperMix’ liquid scintillation cocktail (Perkin Elmer) is added to the well prior to scintillation counting (1450 Microbeta Liquid Scintillation Counter, Wallac).

After removing mean background values for all of the data points, Ki(app) data are calculated from non-linear regression analysis of the initial rate data using the Prism software package (GraphPad Prism version 3.0cx for Macintosh, GraphPad Software, San Diego Calif., USA).