Pyridine and pyrimidine based compounds as Wnt signaling pathway inhibitors for the treatment of cancer

The present invention relates to pyridine and pyrimidine based compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and their potential use as therapeutic agents for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to compounds and their use in therapy, in particular in the treatment, prevention or delay of progression of cancer.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Oncogenic deregulation of the Wnt signalling pathway is a causal factor in the initiation of cancer in a diverse range of tissues including the colon, breast and liver (see, for example, Barker et al, “Mining the Wnt pathway for cancer therapeutics”, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, December 2006 Vol. 5, 997). There remains a need for effective anti-cancer agents, in particular inhibitors of the Wnt signalling pathway.

WO 01/27107 discloses heterocyclic sodium/proton exchange inhibitors which are useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. Included are pyrimidine compounds which are substituted by an imidazolylpiperidinyl group.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a compound of the formula (I):

whereinW, X and Y are each independently CH, C(R4) or N;Z is C(R6) or N;R1and R2are each independently hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; or R1and R2taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 5- or 6-membered carbocycle or heterocycle, either of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;R3and R4are each independently halo or a group selected from C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, carbocyclyl and heterocyclyl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;when Z is N, R5is R7, —C(O)R7, —C(O)OR7—, —S(O)lR7, —C(O)N(R7)R8, —C(S)N(R7)R8—, —S(O)lN(R7)R8or heterocyclyl optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;when Z is C(R6), R5is H, CN, C(O)OH, —C(O)R7, —C(O)OR7—, —S(O)lR7, —N(R6)R7, —C(O)N(R7)R8, —C(S)N(R7)R8—, —S(O)lN(R7)R8, —N(R7)C(O)R8, —N(R7)S(O)lR8or an C1-6alkyl or heterocyclyl group which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;R6is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, —OH, R5, (CH2)mR5or —N(R7)R8;or R5and R6taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;R7and R8are each independently hydrogen or a group selected from C1-6alkyl optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, carbocyclyl and heterocyclyl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;or R7and R8may be linked so that, together with the atoms to which they are attached, they form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;each Rais independently selected from halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano, oxo, nitro, —ORb, —C(O)Rb, —C(O)ORb, —OC(O)Rb, —S(O)lRb, —N(Rb)Rc, —N(Rb)C(O)Rc, —C(O)N(Rb)Rc, —S(O)lN(Rb)Rcand Rd;Rband Rcare each independently hydrogen or Rd;Rdis selected from hydrocarbyl (e.g. C1-6alkyl), carbocyclyl, carbocyclyl-C1-6alkyl, and heterocyclyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 substituents independently selected from halogen, cyano, amino, hydroxy, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy;l is 0, 1 or 2; andm and n are each independently 1, 2 or 3;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, N-oxide or prodrug thereof.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a compound of the formula (I):

whereinW, X and Y are each independently ═CH—, ═C(R4)— or ═N—;Z is C(R6) or N;R1and R2are each independently hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; or R1and R2taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 5- or 6-membered carbocycle or heterocycle, either of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;R3and R4are each independently halo or a group selected from C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, carbocyclyl and heterocyclyl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;when Z is N, R5is R7, —C(O)R7, —S(O)lR7, —C(O)N(R7)R8, —S(O)lN(R7)R8or heterocyclyl optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;when Z is C(R6), R5is H, —CN, C(O)OH, —C(O)R7, —S(O)lR7, —N(R6)R7, —C(O)N(R7)R8, —S(O)lN(R7)R8, —N(R7)C(O)R8, —N(R7)S(O)lR8or heterocyclyl optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;R6is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, —OH, R5or —(CH2)mR5;or R5and R6taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;R7and R8are each independently hydrogen or a group selected from C1-6alkyl optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, carbocyclyl and heterocyclyl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;each Rais independently selected from halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano, oxo, nitro, —ORb, —C(O)Rb, —C(O)ORb, —OC(O)Rb, —S(O)lRb, —N(Rb)Rc, —N(Rb)C(O)Rc, —C(O)N(Rb)Rc, —S(O)lN(Rb)Rcand Rd;Rband Rcare each independently hydrogen or Rd;Rdis selected from hydrocarbyl and heterocyclyl, either of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 substituents independently selected from halogen, cyano, amino, hydroxy, C1-6alkyl and C1-6alkoxy;l is 0, 1 or 2; andm and n are each independently 1, 2 or 3;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, N-oxide or prodrug thereof; for use in the treatment, prevention or delay of progression of cancer.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment, prevention or delay of progression of cancer. A method of treating, preventing or delaying progression of cancer is also provided, which involves administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention to a subject.

Compounds of the invention can exist in different forms, such as free acids, free bases, esters, N-oxides and other prodrugs, salts and tautomers, for example, and the disclosure includes all variant forms of the compounds.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Definitions

Alkyl

The terms “alkyl” and “C1-6alkyl” as used herein include reference to a straight or branched chain alkyl moiety having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms. This term includes reference to groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl (n-propyl or isopropyl), butyl (n-butyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl), pentyl, hexyl and the like. In particular, alkyl may have 1, 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms.

The terms “alkenyl” and “C2-6alkenyl” as used herein include reference to a straight or branched chain alkyl moiety having 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms and having, in addition, at least one double bond, of either E or Z stereochemistry where applicable. This term includes reference to groups such as ethenyl, 2-propenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2-hexenyl and 3-hexenyl and the like.

The terms “alkynyl” and “C2-6alkynyl” as used herein include reference to a straight or branched chain alkyl moiety having 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms and having, in addition, at least one triple bond. This term includes reference to groups such as ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl, 1-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 3-butynyl, 1-pentynyl, 2-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl, 1-hexynyl, 2-hexynyl and 3-hexynyl and the like.

The terms “alkoxy” and “C1-6alkoxy” as used herein include reference to —O-alkyl, wherein alkyl is straight or branched chain and comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms. In one class of embodiments, alkoxy has 1, 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms. This term includes reference to groups such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, tert-butoxy, pentoxy, hexoxy and the like.

The term “cycloalkyl” as used herein includes reference to an alicyclic moiety having 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 carbon atoms. The group may be a bridged or polycyclic ring system. More often cycloalkyl groups are monocyclic. This term includes reference to groups such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, norbornyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl and the like.

The term “aryl” as used herein includes reference to an aromatic ring system comprising 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 ring carbon atoms. Aryl is often phenyl but may be a polycyclic ring system, having two or more rings, at least one of which is aromatic. This term includes reference to groups such as phenyl, naphthyl and the like.

The term “carbocyclyl” as used herein includes reference to a saturated (e.g. cycloalkyl) or unsaturated (e.g. aryl) ring moiety having 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 ring carbon atoms. In particular, carbocyclyl includes a 3- to 10-membered ring or ring system and, in particular, a 5- or 6-membered ring, which may be saturated or unsaturated. A carbocyclic moiety is, for example, selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, norbornyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, phenyl, naphthyl, and the like.

The term “heterocyclyl” as used herein includes reference to a saturated (e.g. heterocycloalkyl) or unsaturated (e.g. heteroaryl) heterocyclic ring moiety having from 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 ring atoms, at least one of which is selected from nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, silicon and sulphur. In particular, heterocyclyl includes a 3- to 10-membered ring or ring system and more particularly a 5- or 6-membered ring, which may be saturated or unsaturated.

The term “heterocycloalkyl” as used herein includes reference to a saturated heterocyclic moiety having 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 ring carbon atoms and 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 ring heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulphur. The group may be a polycyclic ring system but more often is monocyclic. This term includes reference to groups such as azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, piperidinyl, oxiranyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolyl, indolizidinyl, piperazinyl, thiazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, quinolizidinyl and the like.

The term “heteroaryl” as used herein includes reference to an aromatic heterocyclic ring system having 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 ring atoms, at least one of which is selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur. The group may be a polycyclic ring system, having two or more rings, at least one of which is aromatic, but is more often monocyclic. This term includes reference to groups such as pyrimidinyl, furanyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, thiophenyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, benzo[b]furanyl, pyrazinyl, purinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolinyl, phenothiazinyl, triazinyl, phthalazinyl, 2H-chromenyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoindolyl, indazolyl, purinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinazolinyl, pteridinyl and the like.

Halogen

The term “halogen” as used herein includes reference to F, Cl, Br or I. In a particular, halogen may be F or Cl, of which F is more common.

Substituted

The term “substituted” as used herein in reference to a moiety means that one or more, especially up to 5, more especially 1, 2 or 3, of the hydrogen atoms in said moiety are replaced independently of each other by the corresponding number of the described substituents. The term “optionally substituted” as used herein means substituted or unsubstituted.

It will, of course, be understood that substituents are only at positions where they are chemically possible, the person skilled in the art being able to decide (either experimentally or theoretically) without inappropriate effort whether a particular substitution is possible. For example, amino or hydroxy groups with free hydrogen may be unstable if bound to carbon atoms with unsaturated (e.g. olefinic) bonds. Additionally, it will of course be understood that the substituents described herein may themselves be substituted by any substituent, subject to the aforementioned restriction to appropriate substitutions as recognised by the skilled man.

Pharmaceutically Acceptable

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” as used herein includes reference to those compounds, materials, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings or animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. This term includes acceptability for both human and veterinary purposes.

Independently

Where two or more moieties are described as being “each independently” selected from a list of atoms or groups, this means that the moieties may be the same or different. The identity of each moiety is therefore independent of the identities of the one or more other moieties.

Compounds

The present invention provides compounds of the formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, N-oxides and prodrugs thereof:

Various embodiments of the invention are described below. It will be appreciated that the features specified in each embodiment may be combined with other specified features, to provide yet further embodiments.

In an embodiment, m and n are each independently selected from 1 or 2.

In an embodiment, m and n are 1.

In an embodiment, one of m and n is 1, and the other is 2.

In an embodiment, m and n are each 2.

In an embodiment, R1and R2are each independently hydrogen or methyl; or R1and R2taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing a ring heteroatom selected from O and N.

In an embodiment, R1and R2are each independently hydrogen or methyl.

In an embodiment, X and Y are each independently selected from CH and C(R4), and W is selected from CH, C(R4) and N.

In an embodiment, X and Y are each CH; and W is CH, C(R4) or N.

In an embodiment, W is CH, C(R4), or N. In a particular embodiment, W is C(R4) or N.

In a further embodiment, W is C(R4). Of particular mention are compounds in which R4is halo, e.g. chloro or bromo.

In an embodiment, the heteroaryl ring shown in Formula (I) contains at least one ring nitrogen atom in the form of an N-oxide. Suitably, in such embodiments, it is the nitrogen atom disposed between atoms X and Y that is in the form of an N-oxide.

In an embodiment, R3is halo (e.g. chloro or bromo) or a group selected from C1-6alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra. By way of example, each Ramay be independently selected from halogen, cyano, amino, hydroxy, C1-6alkyl and C1-6alkoxy.

In a further embodiment, R3is halo (e.g. chloro or bromo) or a group selected from C1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, phenyl, and a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 Ra. By way of example, each Ramay be independently selected from halogen, cyano, amino, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, C1-4alkyl, NH(C1-4alkyl), N(C1-4alkyl)2, —S(O)lC1-4alkyl (where l is 0, 1 or 2) and C1-4alkoxy.

In an embodiment, R3is halo. In an embodiment, R3is C1-6alkoxy. In an embodiment, R3is chloro, bromo or phenyl. In a particular embodiment, R3is chloro or bromo.

In an embodiment, R4is halo (e.g. chloro or bromo) or a group selected from C1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, phenyl, and a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 Ra. In a further embodiment, R4is halo (e.g. chloro or bromo) or a group selected from C1-6alkyl (e.g. methyl or ethyl), C3-6cycloalkyl (e.g. cyclopropyl), phenyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl. and thiophenyl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 Ra. By way of example, each Ramay be independently selected from halogen, cyano, amino, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, C1-4alkyl, NH(C1-4alkyl), N(C1-4alkyl)2, —S(O)lC1-4alkyl (where l is 0, 1 or 2) and C1-4alkoxy.

In an embodiment, Z is C(R6). Of particular mention are compounds in which R6is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy or methoxymethyl. In an embodiment, R6is selected from hydrogen, methyl or —N(R7)R8. In a particular embodiment, R6is selected from hydrogen, methyl or —NH-phenyl. In a particular embodiment, R6is selected from hydrogen or methyl. In a further embodiment, R6is hydrogen.

In an embodiment, R5and R6taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a heterocycle optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra. In a particular embodiment, R5and R6taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a heterocycle comprising a ring amide group, e.g. oxazolidone or 2-oxopyrrolidine, wherein the heterocycle is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra. By way of example, each Ramay be independently selected from halogen, cyano, amino, hydroxy, C1-6alkyl and C1-6alkoxy.

In an embodiment, R5is not an optionally substituted imidazolyl group.

In a further embodiment, when Z is N, R5is R7, —C(O)R7, —C(O)OR7—, —C(O)N(R7)R8or a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclyl optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra. In a further embodiment, when Z is N, R5is C1-6alkyl optionally substituted with one or more Ra, —C(O)R7or —C(O)N(R7)R8.

In an embodiment, R5and R6are linked so that, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, they form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 Ra. In an embodiment, R5and R6together form a group —C(O)—N(R7)—(CH2)q—, where q is 2 or 3.

In an embodiment, R7and R8are each independently hydrogen or a group selected from C1-6alkyl, carbocyclyl and heterocyclyl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra.

In a further embodiment, R7and R8are each independently hydrogen or a group selected from C1-6alkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heterocyclyl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 Ra. In a further embodiment, at least one of R7and R8is hydrogen.

In an embodiment, R7and R8are connected to a common nitrogen atom and are linked so that, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, they form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra. In a particular embodiment, R7and R8are linked so that, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, they form a pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine, or morpholine ring which is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 Ra.

In an embodiment, Rdis selected from C1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, phenyl and a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 substituents independently selected from halogen, cyano, amino, hydroxy, C1-6alkyl and C1-6alkoxy.

In a further embodiment, Rdis selected from C1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, phenyl and a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents independently selected from halogen, cyano, amino, hydroxy, C1-4alkyl and C1-4alkoxy.

In an embodiment, the compound is of the following formula:

wherein T is a bond or —CH2—.

In an embodiment, the compound is of the following formula:

In an embodiment, the compound is of the following formula:

In an embodiment, the compound is of the following formula:

In an embodiment, the compound is of the following formula:

In an embodiment, the compound is of the following formula:

In an embodiment, the compound is of the following formula:

whereinW is ═C(R4)— or ═N—;Z is C(R6);R1and R2are each hydrogen;R3and R4are each independently halo or a group selected from C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, carbocyclyl and heterocyclyl, any of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;R5is H, CN, —C(O)OH, —C(O)N(R7)R8, or heterocyclyl;R6is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, —OH, R5; or (CH2)mR5;or R5and R6taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Ra;R7and R8are each independently hydrogen or a group selected from C1-6alkyl optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N and O, carbocyclyl and heterocyclyl;each Rais independently selected from halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano, oxo, nitro, —ORb, —C(O)Rb, —C(O)ORb, —OC(O)Rb, —S(O)lRb, —N(Rb)Rc, —N(Rb)C(O)Rc, —C(O)N(Rb)Rc, —S(O)lN(Rb)Rcand Rd;Rband Rcare each independently hydrogen or Rd;Rdis selected from hydrocarbyl and heterocyclyl, either of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 substituents independently selected from halogen, cyano, amino, hydroxy, C1-6alkyl and C1-6alkoxy;l is 0, 1 or 2; andm and n are each independently 1 or 2;or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, N-oxide or prodrug thereof.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides any one of the compounds listed in the accompanying examples.

Compounds of the invention may be in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the present disclosure can be synthesized from the parent compound which contains a basic or acidic moiety by conventional chemical methods. Generally, such salts can be prepared by reacting the free acid or base forms of these compounds with a stoichiometric amount of the appropriate base or acid in water or in an organic solvent, or in a mixture of the two; generally, nonaqueous media like ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, isopropanol, or acetonitrile are preferred. Lists of suitable salts may be found inRemington's Pharmaceutical Sciences,17thed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., US, 1985, p. 1418, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference; see also Stahl et al, Eds, “Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts Properties Selection and Use”, Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta and Wiley-VCH, 2002.

The invention thus includes pharmaceutically-acceptable salts of the disclosed compounds wherein the parent compound is modified by making acid or base salts thereof, for example the conventional non-toxic salts or the quaternary ammonium salts which are formed, e.g. from inorganic or organic acids or bases. Examples of such acid addition salts include acetate, adipate, alginate, aspartate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate, bisulfate, butyrate, citrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, fumarate, glucoheptanoate, glycerophosphate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, lactate, maleate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, oxalate, pamoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, succinate, tartrate, thiocyanate, tosylate, and undecanoate. Base salts include ammonium salts, alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium salts, alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium and magnesium salts, salts with organic bases such as dicyclohexylamine salts, N-methyl-D-glucamine, and salts with amino acids such as arginine, lysine, and so forth. Also, the basic nitrogen-containing groups may be quaternized with such agents as lower alkyl halides, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl chloride, bromides and iodides; dialkyl sulfates like dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl; and diamyl sulfates, long chain halides such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl chlorides, bromides and iodides, aralkyl halides like benzyl and phenethyl bromides and others.

The invention includes prodrugs for the active pharmaceutical species of the invention, for example in which one or more functional groups are protected or derivatised but can be converted in vivo to the functional group, as in the case of esters of carboxylic acids convertible in vivo to the free acid, or in the case of protected amines, to the free amino group. The term “prodrug,” as used herein, represents in particular compounds which are rapidly transformed in vivo to the parent compound, for example, by hydrolysis in blood. A thorough discussion is provided in T. Higuchi and V. Stella, Pro-drugs as Novel Delivery Systems, Vol. 14 of the A.C.S. Symposium Series, Edward B. Roche, ed., Bioreversible Carriers in Drug Design, American Pharmaceutical Association and Pergamon Press, 1987; H Bundgaard, ed, Design of Prodrugs, Elsevier, 1985; and Judkins, et al. Synthetic Communications, 26(23), 4351-4367 (1996), each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Prodrugs therefore include drugs having a functional group which has been transformed into a reversible derivative thereof. Typically, such prodrugs are transformed to the active drug by hydrolysis. Examples of such groups include carboxylic groups (reversible derivatives including esters, e.g. acyloxyalkyl esters and amides), alcohol groups (reversible derivatives including sulfates, phosphates and carboxylic acid esters), amine groups (reversible derivatives including amides, carbamates, imines and enamines) and carbonyl groups, e.g. aldehyde and ketone groups (reversible derivatives including imines, oximes, acetals/ketals, enol esters, oxazolidines and thiazoxolidines).

Prodrugs also include compounds convertible to the active drug by an oxidative or reductive reaction. As examples of oxidative activation may be mentioned N- and O-dealkylation, oxidative deamination, N-oxidation and epoxidation. As examples of reductive activation may be mentioned azo reduction, sulfoxide reduction, disulfide reduction, bioreductive alkylation and nitro reduction.

Also to be mentioned as metabolic activations of prodrugs are nucleotide activation, phosphorylation activation and decarboxylation activation. For additional information, see “The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action”, R B Silverman (particularly Chapter 8, pages 497 to 546), incorporated herein by reference.

The use of protecting groups is fully described in ‘Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry’, edited by J W F McOmie, Plenum Press (1973), and ‘Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis’, 2ndedition, T W Greene & P G M Wutz, Wiley-Interscience (1991).

Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, although protected derivatives of compounds of the disclosure may not possess pharmacological activity as such, they may be administered, for example parenterally or orally, and thereafter metabolised in the body to form compounds of the invention which are pharmacologically active. Such derivatives are therefore examples of “prodrugs”. All prodrugs of the described compounds are included within the scope of the disclosure.

Some groups mentioned herein (especially those containing heteroatoms and conjugated bonds) may exist in tautomeric forms and all these tautomers are included in the scope of the disclosure. More generally, many species may exist in equilibrium, as for example in the case of organic acids and their counterpart anions; a reference herein to a species accordingly includes reference to all equilibrium forms thereof.

The compounds of the disclosure may also contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms and may therefore exhibit optical and/or diastereoisomerism. All diastereoisomers may be separated using conventional techniques, e.g. chromatography or fractional crystallisation. The various stereoisomers may be isolated by separation of a racemic or other mixture of the compounds using conventional, e.g. fractional crystallisation or HPLC, techniques. Alternatively the desired optical isomers may be made by reaction of the appropriate optically active starting materials under conditions which will not cause racemisation or epimerisation, or by derivatisation, for example with a homochiral acid followed by separation of the diastereomeric derivatives by conventional means (e.g. HPLC, chromatography over silica). All stereoisomers are included within the scope of the disclosure. Where a single enantiomer or diasteromer is disclosed, the disclosure also covers the other enantiomers or diastereomers, and also racemates; in this regard, particular reference is made to the specific compounds listed herein.

Geometric isomers may also exist in the compounds of the present disclosure. The present disclosure contemplates the various geometric isomers and mixtures thereof resulting from the arrangement of substituents around a carbon-carbon double bond and designates such isomers as of the Z or E configuration, wherein the term “Z” represents substituents on the same side of the carbon-carbon double bond and the term “E” represents substituents on opposite sides of the carbon-carbon double bond.

The disclosure therefore includes all variant forms of the defined compounds, for example any tautomer or any pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, acid or other variant of the defined compounds and their tautomers as well as substances which, upon administration, are capable of providing directly or indirectly a compound as defined above or providing a species which is capable of existing in equilibrium with such a compound.

Synthesis

A compound of the invention may be prepared according to the processes described herein. It will be understood that these processes are solely for the purpose of illustrating the invention and should not be construed as limiting. A process utilising similar or analogous reagents and/or conditions known to one skilled in the art may also be used to obtain a compound of the invention.

Any mixtures of final products or intermediates obtained can be separated on the basis of the physico-chemical differences of the constituents, in a known manner, into the pure final products or intermediates, for example by chromatography, distillation, fractional crystallisation, or by the formation of a salt if appropriate or possible under the circumstances.

Administration & Pharmaceutical Formulations

The compounds of the invention will normally be administered orally, intravenously, subcutaneously, buccally, rectally, dermally, nasally, tracheally, bronchially, by any other parenteral route, as an oral or nasal spray or via inhalation, The compounds may be administered in the form of pharmaceutical preparations comprising prodrug or active compound either as a free compound or, for example, a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic organic or inorganic acid or base addition salt, in a pharmaceutically acceptable dosage form. Depending upon the disorder and patient to be treated and the route of administration, the compositions may be administered at varying doses.

Typically, therefore, the pharmaceutical compounds of the invention may be administered orally or parenterally (“parenterally” as used herein, refers to modes of administration which include intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrasternal, subcutaneous and intraarticular injection and infusion) to a host. In the case of larger animals, such as humans, the compounds may be administered alone or as compositions in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, excipients or carriers.

Actual dosage levels of active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active compound(s) that is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, compositions, and mode of administration. The selected dosage level will depend upon the activity of the particular compound, the route of administration, the severity of the condition being treated and the condition and prior medical history of the patient being treated. However, it is within the skill of the art to start doses of the compound at levels lower than required for to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and to gradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved.

In certain embodiments, an appropriate dosage level will generally be about 0.01 to 500 mg per kg patient body weight per day which can be administered in single or multiple doses. In a particular embodiment, the dosage level is about 0.1 to about 250 mg/kg per day; more preferably about 0.5 to about 100 mg/kg per day. A suitable dosage level may be about 0.01 to 250 mg/kg per day, about 0.05 to 100 mg/kg per day, or about 0.1 to 50 mg/kg per day. Within this range the dosage may be 0.05 to 0.5, 0.5 to 5 or 5 to 50 mg/kg per day. For oral administration, the compositions may be provided in the form of tablets containing 1.0 to 1000 milligrams of the active ingredient, particularly 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 25.0, 50.0, 75.0, 100.0, 150.0, 200.0, 250.0, 300.0, 400.0, 500.0, 600.0, 750.0, 800.0, 900.0 and 1000.0 milligrams of the active ingredient for the symptomatic adjustment of the dosage to the patient to be treated. The compounds may be administered on a regimen of 1 to 4 times per day, e.g. once or twice per day. The dosage regimen may be adjusted to provide the optimal therapeutic response.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is thus provided a pharmaceutical composition including a compound of the invention, in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, diluent or carrier.

These compositions may also contain adjuvants such as preservative, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersing agents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms may be ensured by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, paraben, chlorobutanol or phenol sorbic acid. It may also be desirable to include isotonic agents such as sugars or sodium chloride, for example. Prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form may be brought about by the inclusion of agents (for example aluminum monostearate and gelatin) which delay absorption.

Injectable depot forms are suitably made by forming microencapsule matrices of the drug in biodegradable polymers, for example polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending upon the ratio of drug to polymer and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations may also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions which are compatible with body tissues. The injectable formulations can be sterilized, for example, by filtration through a bacterial-retaining filter or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or other sterile injectable media just prior to use.

The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, and granules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and may also be of a composition such that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, and/or in delayed fashion. Examples of embedding compositions include polymeric substances and waxes.

The active compounds may also be in micro-encapsulated form, if appropriate, with one or more of the above-mentioned excipients.

The active compounds may be in finely divided form, for example they may be micronised.

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethyl formamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor, and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan and mixtures thereof. Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions may also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents. Suspensions, in addition to the active compounds, may contain suspending agents such as ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols, polyoxyethylene sorbitol and sorbitan esters, microcrystalline cellulose, aluminum metahydroxide, bentonite, agar-agar, and tragacanth and mixtures thereof.

Dosage forms for topical administration of a compound of this invention include powders, sprays, ointments and inhalants. The active compound is mixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and any needed preservatives, buffers or propellants which may be required. Ophthalmic formulations, eye ointments, powders and solutions are also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention.

Compounds of the invention may be useful in the therapy of a variety of diseases and conditions. The subject of said therapy may be a human or an animal. Compounds of the invention may exhibit desirable potency, selectivity and microsomal stability.

In particular, compounds of the invention may be useful in the treatment or prevention of cancer, such as cancer of the colon, breast or liver.

The following Examples illustrate the invention.

General Synthesis

Example compounds were prepared according to the following reaction schemes.

A 3-step procedure consisting of coupling of N-Boc-isonipecotic acid with a series of amines utilising HATU as the coupling reagent. Deprotection of the resultant piperidine under acidic conditions, followed by microwave mediated SNAr coupling furnished amide analogues A in good yield.

Both 4-chloropyridine and 3,4-dichloropyridine were commercially available as their hydrochloride salts. The reaction was carried out in water using an excess of isonipecotamide, leading to excellent conversion into the desired products B & C. The products were found to crystallise upon cooling the reaction mixture to 0° C.

Amides of the piperidine were first synthesised then coupled to the pyridine fragment. Thus, 1-Boc-4-aminopiperidine was coupled with carboxylic acids to furnish amides. N-deprotection generated free piperidines, which underwent SNAr coupling with 3,4,5-trichloropyridine to give analogues D.

The intermediate 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylpyridine was synthesised by the selective chlorination of 3,5-lutidine as reported by Wurster et al (J. Med. Chem.2006, 49, 6351):

The intermediate 4-chloro-3-methylpyridine was commercially available as its hydrochloride salt.

The pyridines were then coupled to isonipecotamide under aqueous conditions proceeded to furnish analogues E and F in good yield.

Oxidation of the pyridine ring may be achieved using the conditions developed by Caron et al (Tetrahedron Lett.2000, 41, 2299) for the oxidation of electron deficient pyridines. The highly reactive oxidising agent pertrifluoroacetic acid is generated in-situ from hydrogen peroxide-urea complex and trifluoroacetic anhydride.

N-Boc-piperazine was coupled to benzoic acid to furnish the amide which was subsequently deprotected and coupled to 3,4,5-trichloropyridine to give H. Similarly 3,4,5-trichloropyridine has been coupled to commercially available N-acetyl, N-methyl and N-ethyl piperazines to furnish compounds I, J, K respectively.

This scheme was used to synthesise amide analogues derived from ethylenediamine. The tert-butoxycarbonyl protecting group was thermally removed during the coupling reaction, leading to bis-coupled product L.

Carboxybenzyl derivative M was synthesised according to the scheme below, however attempts at deprotection via hydrogenation led to hydrogenation of the chloride groups, to furnish N.

To this end, the Lewis acid mediated cleavage conditions as reported by Stammer et al (J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Comm.1979, 495) were used to selectively cleave the protecting group using trimethylsilyl iodide to furnish 0 in good yield.

Compound O was then subjected to reductive amination utilising a diverse set of aldehydes to furnish further analogues P where stoichiometric amounts of aldehyde were employed or Q when an excess of aldehyde was used.

A series of analogues of the primary amide functionality were synthesised by conventional methods. Thus, treatment of the primary amide with Lawesson's reagent furnished the thioamide R, whilst treatment with vinylene carbonate furished oxazolone S. Thioamide R could be further converted into thiazole T upon treatment with chloroacetaldehyde.

Coupling of 3,4,5-trichloropyridine with 4-cyanopiperidine furnished nitrile analogue U which underwent hydrolysis under acidic conditions to yield carboxylic acid V.

3,4,5-trichloropyridine and 3,5-dibromo-4-chloropyridine were coupled with 3-cyanopyrrolidine to furnish the nitrile intermediates which could be hydrolysed to yield the amide analogues W. The two enantiomeric forms of W could be separated by chiral hplc.

Similarly the ethylene diamine based amide analogues Y could be synthesised by coupling of the intermediate pyrrolidine with 3,4,5-trihalo-pyridines.

5-Halopyrimidine analogues Z were synthesised by halogenation of 4-pyrimidone followed by coupling with the required cyclic amine.

A more robust route was also established in which the 2-chloro pyrimidine intermediate was first synthesised and then subjected to hydrogenolysis. The intermediate 5-bromopyrimidine also underwent Suzuki reaction to furnish aryl analogues AA.

Similarly, Suzuki reaction with aryl and heteroaryl boronic acids and 5-bromopyridine analogue furnished aryl analogues BB in excellent yield.

In the same way, 3-halo-5-aryl pyridine analogues CC were prepared from the dichloro- and dibromo-pyridines taking care to avoid double coupling. By using an excess of the boronic acids the double Suzuki reaction to furnish only the bis-aryl analogues DD could also be performed successfully.

General Procedure A

To a solution of N-Boc-isonipecotic acid (0.20 g, 0.86 mmol) and HATU (0.43 g, 1.1 mmol) in DMF (4 mL) was added DIPEA (0.76 mL, 4.4 mmol). After stirring the solution for 5 min, methylamine hydrochloride (76 mg, 1.1 mmol) was added. After allowing the solution to stir for a further 16 h, it was poured into a 1 M solution of sodium hydroxide (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×50 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (50 mL), 1 M hydrochloric acid (50 mL), water (50 mL) and brine (50 mL). The organic phase was dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to yield the title compound as a pale yellow oil (69 mg, 33%), umax(CHCl3)/cm−13009, 2932, 1677, 1522, 1429, 1279, 1166; m/z (ESI) C12H22N2NaO3requires 265.1523, found [M+Na]+265.1525.

General Procedure B

To a solution of tert-butyl-4-(methylcarbamoyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate 1 (68 mg, 0.28 mmol) in MeOH (2 mL), cooled to 0° C., was added a 4 M solution of hydrogen chloride in 1,4-dioxane (2 mL). After stirring for 15 min, the solution was allowed to warm to room temperature and after stirring for a further period of further 3 h, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by chromatography on a SCX-2 cartridge (MeOH followed by 0.5 M NH3in MeOH) to furnish the title compound as a colourless oil (41 mg, 99%), umax(CHCl3)/cm−13008, 2948, 1663, 1525, 1227, 1199; m/z (ESI) C7H15N2O requires 143.1179, found [M+H]+143.1178.

i) To a solution of (R,S)—N-Boc-3-cyanopyrrolidine (0.25 g, 1.3 mmol) in MeOH (5 mL) was added hydrogen chloride (5 mL of a 4 M solution in dioxane) and the mixture was stirred for 3 hours, after which time the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on an SCX-2 cartridge (MeOH followed by 0.5 M NH3in MeOH) to furnish (R,S)-3-cyanopyrrolidine as a colourless oil (136 mg, 100%).

ii) To a solution of (R,S)-3-cyanopyrrolidine (0.12 g, 1.3 mmol) and 3,4,5-trichloropyridine (0.23 g, 1.3 mmol), in NMP (8 mL) was added triethylamine (0.36 mL, 2.6 mmol). The mixture was heated at 220° C. for 60 min in a microwave reactor, poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×100 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (50 mL), brine (50 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 99:1) to furnish the title compound as a colourless oil (155 mg, 50%), umax(CHCl3)/cm−13053, 2245, 1558, 1468, 1402; m/z (ESI) C10H10Cl2N3requires 242.0246 found [M+H]+242.0249.

To a solution of (R,S)-1-Boc-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid (0.22 g, 2.2 mmol), N—Z-ethylenediamine hydrochloride (0.50 g, 2.2 mmol) and HATU (0.82 g, 2.2 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) was added DIPEA (1.9 mL, 11 mmol) and the solution was stirred at r.t. for 16 h. The mixture was poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×40 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (50 mL), a saturated solution of citric acid (50 mL), water (50 mL) and brine (50 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure to furnish the title compound 15 as a colourless oil (0.43 g, 100%). This compound was used directly, without further purification.

To a solution of (R,S)-3-(2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-ethylcarbamoyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester 15 (430 mg, 1.10 mmol) in MeOH (5 mL) was added a 4 M solution of hydrogen chloride in 1,4-dioxane (5 mL). After stirring for 2 h, the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and the crude product was purified on an SCX-2 cartridge (MeOH followed by 0.5 M NH3in MeOH) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (260 mg, 81%), m.p. 129-131° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−13451, 3014, 1714, 1663, 1517, 1227; m/z (ESI) C15H22N3O3requires 292.1656, found [M+H]+292.1654.

To a solution of 4-(1H)-pyridone (0.95 g, 10 mmol) and potassium hydroxide (1.1 g, 20 mmol) in water (20 mL) cooled to 0° C. was added bromine (3.2 g, 20 mmol). After stirring at this temperature for 75 min, the mixture was filtered and the cake was washed with washed with cold water (3×50 mL) and hexane (3×20 mL) to furnish 3,5-dibromo-4-(1H)-pyridone as a white solid (2.09 g, 83%).

To 3,5-dibromo-4-(1H)-pyridone (0.25 g, 1.0 mmol) was added POCl3(2 mL) and the mixture was heated at 100° C. for 2 h. The mixture was poured into ice/water (25 g) and basified by the addition of a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate. The mixture was extracted with CH2Cl2(2×20 mL), the combined organic extracts were washed with brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure to furnish the title compound as a white solid (275 mg, 100%), m.p. 101-103° C.; m/z 272 (100%, [M+H]+);

Chlorine was bubbled through a solution of 4-pyrimidone (1.9 g, 20 mmol) in glacial acetic acid (20 mL) for 1 h and the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 2 h. Chlorine was bubbled through the solution for a further 15 min and the mixture stirred for a further 90 min. The mixture was filtered and the cake was washed with hexane (3×25 mL) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (2.28 g).

A suspension of 5-chloropyrimidone hydrochloride (1.0 g, 6.0 mmol) in phosphorous oxychloride (4 mL) was heated at 90° C. for 90 min then cooled to room temperature and filtered. The crude product was purified by sublimation under reduced pressure to furnish the title compound 20 as a crystalline white solid (273 mg). This compound was unstable to air and was used immediately in the next step.

A solution of bromine (1.0 mL, 20 mmol) in glacial acetic acid (10 mL) was added over 15 min via cannula to a solution of 4-pyrimidone (1.9 g, 20 mmol) in glacial acetic acid (20 mL). After stirring for 5 h, the mixture was filtered and the cake was washed with hexane (2×20 mL) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (1.52 g).

A suspension of 5-bromopyrimidone hydrobromide (1.0 g, 3.9 mmol) in phosphorous oxychloride (4 mL) was heated at 90° C. for 1 h then cooled 0° C. The mixture was filtered, washed with POCl3(2×2 mL) to furnish the title compound as a cream solid (388 mg). This compound was unstable to air and was used immediately in the next step.

To a suspension of 4-hydroxy-2-mercapto-5-methylpyrimidine (1.0 g, 7.0 mmol) in water (50 mL) and ammonia (3 mL) was added a suspension of Raney Nickel in water (20 mL).

The mixture was heated at reflux for 16 h, then hot filtered through celite (10 g) and washed with water (3×25 mL). The filtrate was evaporated and the resultant solid was azeotroped with toluene (2×50 mL) to furnish a white solid (0.75 g, 97%).

A mixture of 5-methyl-3H-pyrimidin-4-one (0.60 g, 3.6 mmol) and phosphorous oxychloride (2.0 mL) was heated at 90° C. for 2.5 h. The mixture was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure and the resultant solid was purified by sublimation under reduced pressure to furnish the title compound as a white solid. This compound was unstable to air and was used immediately in the next step.

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide 23 (40 mg, 0.15 mmol) in THF (2 mL) was added Lawesson's reagent (71 mg, 0.18 mmol) and the mixture was heated at reflux for 2.5 h. After cooling to r.t. the mixture was poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (20 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×20 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (20 mL), brine (20 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 99:1) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (21 mg, 40%), m/z (ESI) C11H14Cl2N2S requires 290.0280 found [M+H]+290.0280.

General Procedure C

To a solution of N-methylpiperidine-4-carboxamide 5 (26 mg, 0.18 mmol) and 3,4,5-trichloropyridine (33 mg, 0.18 mmol) in NMP (1.5 mL) was added triethylamine (76 μL, 0.54 mmol). The mixture was heated in a microwave reactor at 220° C. for 60 min, cooled to r.t. and then poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (50 mL). The solution was extracted with EtOAc (2×25 mL), the combined organic extracts were washed with water (50 mL), brine (50 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (hexane/EtOAc, 1:1) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (46 mg, 88%), m.p. 175-177° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−13462, 3006, 2853, 1665, 1558, 1385, 1146, 1096; m/z (ESI) C12H16Cl2N3O requires 288.0665, found [M+H]+288.0664.

General Procedure D

A solution of 4-chloro-3-methylpyridine hydrochloride (50 mg, 30 mmol) and isonipecotamide (0.12 g, 0.91 mmol) in water (1 mL) was heated at 100° C. for 45 min in a microwave reactor. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0° C. and the mixture was filtered and washed with Et2O (2×10 mL) to furnish the title compound as a colourless, crystalline solid (33 mg, 49%), m.p. 175-177° C.; m/z (ESI) C12H18CN3O requires 220.1444, found [M+H]+220.1445.

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide 23 (100 mg, 0.36 mmol) and hydrogen peroxide.urea complex (72 mg, 0.77 mmol) in CH2Cl2(2 mL) cooled to 0° C. was added trifluoroacetic anhydride (0.10 mL, 0.73 mmol). After 30 min the solution was warmed to r.t., after a further 16 hours a saturated solution of Na2S2O5(10 mL) was added. The mixture was extracted with CH2Cl2(2×20 mL), the combined organic extracts were washed with a saturated solution of NaHCO3(20 mL), brine (20 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2/MeOH, 98:2) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (20 mg, 19%), m.p. 130-133° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−13026. 2855, 1724, 1452, 1273, 1107.

To a solution of benzyl-2-(1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamido) ethylcarbamate 11 (0.45 g, 1.0 mmol) in acetonitrile and dichloromethane (1:1 mixture, 40 mL), cooled to 0° C. was added trimethylsilyl iodide (0.57 mL, 4.0 mmol). After stirring for 60 min, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2/MeOH, 98:2) to furnish the title compound as a colourless oil (193 mg, 61%), umax(CHCl3)/cm−13002, 2853, 1663, 1559, 1512, 1457, 1264, 1146; m/z (ESI) C13H19Cl2N4O requires 317.0930, found [M+H]+317.0928.

To a solution of N-(2-aminoethyl)-1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E13 (50 mg, 0.16 mmol) in MeOH (5 mL) was added benzaldehyde (16 μL, 0.16 mmol). After stirring for 2 h, sodium cyanoborohydride (20 mg, 0.32 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for a further 20 h. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (20 mL), washed with a saturated solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by preparative tlc on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 9:1) to furnish the title compound as a colourless oil (19 mg, 30%), umax(CHCl3)/cm−13015, 2850, 1659, 1558, 1512, 1236, 1146, 1036, 934; m/z (ESI) C20H25Cl2N4O requires 407.1400, found [M+H]+407.1401.

To a solution of N-(2-aminoethyl)-1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E13 (50 mg, 0.16 mmol) in MeOH (5 mL) was added anisaldehyde (19 μL, 0.16 mmol). After stirring for 2 h, sodium cyanoborohydride (20 mg, 0.32 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for a further 20 h. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (20 mL), washed with a saturated solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by preparative tlc on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 9:1) to furnish the title compound as a colourless oil (13 mg, 19%), umax(CHCl3)/cm−13008, 2839, 1660, 1513, 1249, 1174, 1036; m/z (ESI) C21H27Cl2N4O2requires 437.1506, found [M+H]+437.1508.

To a solution of N-(2-aminoethyl)-1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E13 (50 mg, 0.16 mmol) in MeOH (5 mL) was added cyclohexanecarbaldehyde (19 μL, 0.16 mmol). After stirring for 2 h, sodium cyanoborohydride (20 mg, 0.32 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for a further 16 h. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (20 mL), washed with a saturated solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by preparative tlc on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 9:1) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (15 mg, 23%), m.p. 174-177° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−12932, 2856, 1665, 1558, 1457, 1236, 1146, 1037; m/z (ESI) C20H31Cl22N4O requires 413.1869, found [M+H]+413.1875.

To a solution of N-(2-aminoethyl)-1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E13 (20 mg, 0.060 mmol) in MeOH (2 mL) was added benzaldehyde (19 μL, 0.19 mmol). After stirring for 45 min, sodium cyanoborohydride (12 mg, 0.19 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for a further 16 h. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (20 mL), washed with a saturated solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by preparative tlc on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 9:1) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (14 mg, 54%), m.p. 147-149° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−13007, 2837, 1658, 1558, 1509, 1457, 1146; m/z (ESI) C27H31Cl2N4O requires 497.1869, found [M+H]+497.1872.

To a solution of N-(2-aminoethyl)-1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E13 (20 mg, 0.060 mmol) in MeOH (2 mL) was added cyclohexanecarbaldehyde (23 μL, 0.19 mmol). After stirring for 30 min, sodium cyanoborohydride (12 mg, 0.19 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for a further 16 h. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (20 mL), washed with a saturated solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by preparative tlc on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 9:1) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (28 mg, 87%), m.p. 236-238° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−12926, 2852, 1656, 1510, 1384, 1099; m/z (ESI) C27H42Cl2N4O requires 509.2808, found [M+H]+509.2808.

To a solution of benzyl-4-(1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carbonyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate 13 (40 mg, 0.080 mmol) in DCM (1 mL), cooled to 0° C. was added trimethylsilyliodide (24 μL, 0.16 mmol) and the solution was stirred at this temperature for 90 min, after which time trimethylsilyl iodide (48 μL, 0.32 mmol) was added and the mixture warmed to room temperature. After stirring for a further 45 min, the solution was concentrated under reduced pressure and the crude product was purified on an SCX-2 cartridge (MeOH followed by 0.5 M NH3in MeOH) to furnish the title compound as a yellow solid (27 mg, 94%), m.p. 256-258° C.; m/z (ESI) C15H20C12N4NaO requires 365.0906, found [M+Na]+365.0909.

A solution of 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)pyrrolidine-3-carbonitrile 14 (83 mg, 0.34 mmol) in sulphuric acid (3 mL) was stirred for 90 min and then poured onto ice/water (100 g). The mixture was made basic by the addition of a 2 M solution of sodium hydroxide and extracted with EtOAc (2×50 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (50 mL), brine (50 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure, to furnish the title compound as a white solid (65 mg, 73%), m.p. 161-163° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−13053, 2985, 1689, 1558, 1465; m/z (ESI) C10H12Cl2N3O requires 260.0352 found [M+H]+260.0355.

To a solution of (R,S)-(2-{[1-(3,5-dichloro-pyridin-4-yl)-pyrrolidine-3-carbonyl]-amino}-ethyl)-carbamic acid benzyl ester 17 (50 mg, 0.11 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL), cooled to 0° C., was added iodotrimethylsilane (66 μL, 0.46 mmol). After stirring at this temperature for 2 h, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the crude product was purified on an SCX-2 cartridge (MeOH followed by 0.5 M NH3in MeOH) to furnish the title compound as a colourless oil (16 mg, 46%), umax(CHCl3)/cm−13014, 1731, 1664, 1559, 1519, 1465, 1248, 1046; m/z (ESI) C12H16Cl2N4NaO requires 325.0593, found [M+Na]+325.0595.

To a solution of benzyl-2-(1-(3,5-dibromopyridin-4-yl)pyrrolidine-3-carboxamido) ethylcarbamate 19 (65 mg, 0.12 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL), cooled to 0° C., was added iodotrimethylsilane (70 μL, 0.49 mmol). After stirring at this temperature for 2 h, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the crude product was purified on an SCX-2 cartridge (MeOH followed by 0.5 M NH3in MeOH) to furnish the title compound as a colourless oil (40 mg, 83%), umax(CHCl3)/cm−13022, 2871, 1664, 1556, 1450, 1399; m/z (ESI) C12H16Br2N4NaO requires 412.9583, found [M+H]+412.9582.

A solution of 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylpyridine hydrochloride (0.10 g, 0.56 mmol) and isonipecotamide (0.22 mg, 1.7 mmol) in water (1.5 mL) was heated at 175° C. for 60 min, in a microwave reactor. The mixture was poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (20 mL), extracted with EtOAc (2×20 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 95:5) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (5 mg, 4%), m/z 234 (100%, [M+H]+); m/z (ESI) C13H20N3O requires 234.1601 found [M+H]+234.1600.

To a solution of 4,5-dichloropyrimidne hydrochloride 20 (0.20 g, 1.1 mmol) in DMF (4 mL) was added triethylamine (1.5 mL, 10 mmol). After stirring for 30 min, a solution of isonipecotamide (0.42 mg, 3.3 mmol) in DMF (4 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred at r.t. for a further 16 h. The mixture was poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×25 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, gradient 98:2-96:4) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (51 mg, 20%), m.p. 201-202° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−13023, 3014, 1724, 1682, 1448, 1360, 1219, 1037; m/z (ESI) C10H14CN4O requires 241.0851, found [M+H]+241.0851.

To a solution of 5-bromo-4-chloropyrimidine hydrochloride 21 (0.10 g, 0.36 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was added triethylamine (0.51 mL, 3.6 mmol). After stirring for 30 min, a solution of isonipecotamide (0.14 g, 1.1 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred at r.t. for a further 16 h. The mixture was poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×25 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 98:2) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (60 mg, 58%), m.p. 188-190° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−13012, 2853, 1682, 1566, 1447, 1359, 1144, 1017, 950; m/z (ESI) C10H14BrN4O requires 285.0346, found [M+H]+285.0344.

To a solution of 5-methyl-4-chloropyrimidne hydrochloride 22 (75 mg, 0.45 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was added triethylamine (0.63 mL, 4.5 mmol). After stirring for 15 min, a solution of isonipecotamide (64 mg, 0.50 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred at r.t. for a further 20 h. The mixture was poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×25 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, gradient 98:2 to 9:1) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (25 mg, 25%), m.p. 182-184° C.; umax(CHCl3)/cm−13024, 1678, 1581, 1439, 1359, 1147, 948; m/z (ESI) C11H17N4O requires 221.1397, found [M+H]+221.1394.

To a solution of 5-bromo-2,4-dichloropyrimidine (0.11 g, 0.50 mmol) and isonipecotamide (77 mg, 0.60 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was added triethylamine (77 μL, 0.55 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at r.t. for 4.5 h. The mixture was poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (10 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×10 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (10 mL), brine (10 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 98:2) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (174 mg, 95%), m/z (ESI) C10H12BrClN4NaO requires 340.9775 found [M+Na]+340.9776.

To a solution of 1-(5-bromo-2-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E31 (0.10 g, 0.31 mmol), benzene boronic acid (46 mg, 0.38 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (20 mg, 5 mol %) in DME (8 mL) was added a 0.5 M solution of sodium carbonate. The mixture was heated at relfux for 22 h, then cooled to r.t. and purified on an SCX-2 cartridge (MeOH, followed by 0.5 M NH3in MeOH). The crude product was purified by chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 98:2) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (58 mg, 59%), m/z 317 (100%, MH+); m/z (ESI) C16H18BrClN4O requires 317.1165 found [M+H]+317.1161.

A mixture of 1-(2-chloro-5-phenylpyrimidin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E32 (35 mg, 0.11 mmol), potassium acetate (22 mg, 0.22 mmol) and 10% wt palladium on carbon (3.5 mg) in acetic acid (2 mL) was stirred under an atmosphere of hydrogen (1 atm) for 18 h. The mixture was filtered through celite, washed with AcOH (2×10 mL) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by preparative tlc on silica gel (CH2Cl2/MeOH, 10:1) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (9 mg, 29%) m/z 283 (100%, [M+H]+); m/z (ESI) C16H19N4O requires 283.1553 found [M+H]+283.1549.

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carbothioamide 24 (23 mg, 0.079 mmol) in ethanol (2 mL) was added chloroacetaldehyde (50% wt in H2O) (0.26 mL, 0.16 mmol) and the mixture was heated at reflux for 17 h. The mixture was concentrated and chloroform (10 mL) was added to the residue. The solution was washed with water (10 mL) and extracted with chloroform (10 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine (10 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure to furnish a brown oil (40 mg). The crude product was purified by preparative tlc on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 10:1, then hexane, EtOAc, 1:1) to furnish the title compound as a pale brown solid (5 mg, 20%), LC-MS (ESI) Rt2.79 min, m/z 314 (100%, M+).

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide 23 (0.10 g, 0.36 mmol) in polyphosphoric acid (5 mL) at 80° C. was added vinylene carbonate (35 mg, 0.40 mmol). The mixture was heated at 170° C. for 4 hours, cooled to r.t. and poured into water (200 mL). The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×50 mL) and the combined organic extracts were washed with water (100 mL), a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (50 mL), water (50 mL), brine (50 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure to furnish a colourless oil (12 mg). The crude product was purified by preparative tlc on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 10:1 then hexane, EtOAc, 1:1) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (13 mg, 12%), LC-MS (ESI) Rt2.66 min, m/z 298 (100%, W); m/z (ESI) C13H14Cl2N3O requires 298.0508 found [M+H]+298.0507.

Examples 39 and 40

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dibromopyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E27 (50 mg, 0.14 mmol), benzene boronic acid (70 mg, 0.58 mmol) and potassium phosphate (0.20 g, 0.96 mmol) in toluene (1.5 mL) was added tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (18 mg, 0.014 mmol). The mixture was heated at 170° C. in a microwave reactor for 45 min, then poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (25 mL). The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (2×25 mL) and the combined organic extracts were washed with water (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 98:2) to furnish a 2:3 mixture of mono- and bis-coupled products. Analytical samples were further purified by preparative HPLC (MeCN, H2O 5:95):

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dibromopyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E27 (50 mg, 0.14 mmol), 4-trifluoromethylbenzene boronic acid (0.11 g, 0.56 mmol) and potassium phosphate (0.20 g, 0.96 mmol) in toluene (4 mL) was added tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (18 mg, 10 mol %). The mixture was heated at 170° C. in a microwave reactor for 60 min, then poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate (25 mL). The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (2×20 mL) and the combined organic extracts were washed with water (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 98:2) and further purified preparative hplc (H2O, MeCN, gradient 90:10 to 10:90 over 30 min) (11 mg, 9%), m/z (ESI) C18H18BrF3N3O requires 428.0580 found [M+H]+428.0574.

General Procedure E

To a suspension of 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide 23 (75 mg, 0.27 mmol), 1,5-dimethyl-4-pyrazole boronic acid pinacol ester (76 mg, 0.34 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (16 mg, 5 mol %) in acetonitrile (3 mL) was added 0.5 M solution of sodium carbonate (0.77 mL, 0.38 mmol). The mixture was heated to in a microwave reactor at 150° C. for 45 min. Once cooled the reaction was concentrated in vacuo and dry loaded onto silica. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, EtOH, 97:3-80:20, biotage 25+S) to furnish the title compound as a clear colourless oil (24 mg, 26%), LC-MS (ESI, 4 min) Rt1.49 min, m/z 334 (100%, [M+H]+); m/z (ESI) C16H20N5OCl requires 333.1356, found [M+H]+333.1354.

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carbonitrile E48 (90 mg, 0.35 mmol) in THF (1.5 mL), at −78° C., was added a 1M solution of LDA in THF (0.38 mL, 0.38 mmol). The mixture was stirred for 30 min at −78° C. before warming to r.t. After 60 min, methyl iodide (31 μL, 0.5 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred for a further 60 min at r.t. for 1 h, before addition of water (5 mL). The mixture was extracted with CH2Cl2(3×5 mL) and the combined organic extracts were dried over MgSO4and concentrated under reduced pressure to dryness. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (hexane, EtOAc, 100:0-80:20, biotage 25+M) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (34 mg, 36%), along with recovered 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carbonitrile (23 mg, 25%), LC-MS (ESI, 4 min) Rt3.09 min, m/z 270 (100%, W); m/z (ESI) C12H13Cl2N3requires 269.0487 found [M+H]+289.0488.

Examples 54 and 55

General procedure D was followed using 3,4,5-trichloropyridine (120 mg, 0.66 mmol), 1-phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4,5]decan-4-one (150 mg, 0.66 mmol), NMP (3.6 ml) and triethylamine (0.19 ml, 1.3 mmol) to give a crude orange/white oily solid (105 mg). The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (hexane, EtOAc, 80:20-10:90, biotage 25+S) to furnish impure title compound E54 as an off white solid (39 mg) and impure title compound E55 as an off white solid (97 mg). Both products where further purified by recrystallisation in EtOAc/Et2O to furnish title compound E54 as an off white solid (13 mg, 5%) and title compound E55 as an off white solid (46 mg, 19%).

To a solution of ethyl N-Boc-4-methylpiperidine-4-carboxylate (130 mg, 0.47 mmol) in CH2Cl2(8 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (0.86 mL, 11 mmol) and the reaction stirred at r.t. for 2 hr before evaporation and aziotrope with toluene (2×25 ml). The crude was dissolved in NMP (4.3 ml) and 3,4,5-trichloropyridine (135 mg, 0.74 mmol) was added followed by triethylamine (0.42 mL, 3.0 mmol) and the mixture was heated in a microwave reactor at 220° C. for 60 min. The mixture was poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×100 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (2×50 mL), brine (50 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a crude pale brown/orange oil (175 mg). The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (cyclohexane, EtOAc, 99:1-88:12, biotage 25+S) to furnish the title compound as a clear colourless oil (85 mg, 56%), LC-MS (ESI, 4 min) Rt3.36 min, m/z 317 (100%, [M+H]+); m/z (ESI) C14H18N2O2Cl2requires 316.0745, found [M+H]+316.0745.

To a mixture of 1-(3-bromopyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E36 (20 mg, 0.070 mmol), phenylboronic acid (17 mg, 0.14 mmol) and tetrakis (triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (8 mg, 10 mol %) in toluene (1.5 mL) was added a 0 potassium phosphate (45 mg, 0.21 mmol). The mixture was heated at 170° C. in a microwave reactor for 45 min, then poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (25 mL). The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (2×20 mL) and the combined organic extracts were washed with brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 95:5) to furnish the title compound as a white solid (5 mg, 25%), LC-MS (ESI, 3.5 min) Rt1.28 min, m/z 282 (100%, [M+H]+), m/z (ESI) C17H20N3O requires 282.1601 found [M+H]+282.1597.

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide 23 (30 mg, 0.11 mmol) in THF (2 mL), at 0° C., was added a 1M solution of borane THF complex in THF (11.1 mL, 1.1 mmol). The reaction was stirred for 1 hour before warming to r.t. and stirring for a further 18 hr. To the reaction was added 2M HCl (2 ml), the mixture diluted with water (20 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (2×20 mL) and the combined organic extracts were washed with brine (25 mL). The combined aqueous extracts were basified with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate and then extracted with EtOAc (2×20 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine (20 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a crude colourless oil (8 mg). The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 97:3 to CH2Cl2, 1 M methanolic NH3, 9:1) to furnish the title compound, LC-MS (ESI, 3.5 min) Rt1.45 min, m/z 260 (91%, [M+H]+).

To a solution of 1-(3-bromopyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E36 (100 mg, 0.35 mmol) in DMF (7.00 mL) was added N-chlorosuccinimide (94 mg, 0.70 mmol). The reaction was heated to 80° C. and stirred for 8 hours before partitioning between EtOAc and water (100 ml each), the separated organic layer was washed with water (2×75 ml), brine (20 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a crude clear pale yellow oil (82 mg). The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, EtOH, 98:2-84:16, biotage 25+S) followed by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, EtOH, 96:4-82:18, biotage 14+M) to give a mixture of title compound and 1-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide by-product as a white solid (20 mg). The mixture was further purified by preparative hplc (MeOH, H2O, 9:20, 25 min) to furnish the title compound as a white solid, LC-MS (ESI, 4 min) Rt2.46 min, m/z 320 (100%, [M+H]+); m/z (ESI) C11H13N3OClBr requires 316.9931, found [M+H]+318.0003.

Examples 82 and 83

To a solution of 1-(3,5-dibromopyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E27 (50 mg, 0.14 mmol), o-tolylboronic acid (77 mg, 0.56 mmol) and potassium phosphate (0.20 g, 0.96 mmol) in toluene (4 mL) was added tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (18 mg, 10 mol %). The mixture was heated at 170° C. in a microwave reactor for 45 min, then poured into a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (25 mL). The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (2×25 mL) and the combined organic extracts were washed with water (25 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 98:2) to yield impure title compound as a white solid (23 mg). Further purification by preparative hplc furnished both title compounds as white solids. 1-(3-bromo-5-o-tolylpyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide E82: (13 mg, 24%), LC-MS (ESI, 3.5 min) Rt1.85 min, m/z 376 (100%, [M+H]+); m/z (ESI) C25H28N3O requires 374.0863 found [M+H]+374.0860.

A solution of 1-(3-chloro-5-phenylpyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carbonitrile E86 (16 mg, 0.054 mmol) was heated in 6M hydrochloric acid (1 mL) for 2 hours at 100° C. The reaction was concentrated under reduced pressure and purified on an SCX-2 cartridge (MeOH, followed by 0.5 M NH3in MeOH). The crude product was purified by preparative tlc on silica gel (CH2Cl2, MeOH, 10:1) to furnish the title compound (5 mg, 30%), LC-MS (ESI, 4 min) Rt2.13 min, m/z 317 (100%, M+H]+).

Activity Assay

Inhibitory activity of the Wnt pathway was assessed using a luciferase reporter cell based assay. A luciferase reporter cell line was developed in HEK293 cells, which contained an estrogen receptor-DSH (ER-DSH) construct and a TCF-luciferase-IRES-GFP construct.

A high-throughput assay was performed by inducing TCF-dependent transcription in the ER-DSH HEK293 cell line by the addition of estrogen (2 μM) resulting in at least a 14-fold increase in reporter activity measured at 24 hours.

Subsequent primary and secondary deconvolution assays were used to evaluate the compounds. Firstly, compounds were tested for inhibitory activity in HEK293 cells transiently transfected with a TCF-luciferase reporter plasmid alone or in combination with an ER-inducible DSH plasmid. Induction of the pathway was brought about with either estradiol or BIO. A TK-Renillaluciferase plasmid was used as a co-transfected control to identify compounds with specificity for Wnt signalling compared to general transcription.

Particular compounds of the invention possess and IC50 in the above-mentioned luciferase assay of less than 10 μM. Preferred compounds have an IC50 of less than 1 μM and most preferred compounds have an IC50 of less than 0.5 μM.

Illustrative activity values for particular compounds of the invention in the Luciferase reporter assay described above are shown in Table A below:

Compounds were then further tested in similar assays in which the pathway was induced by constitutive expression of DN-LRP (a component of the Wnt receptor), Ax-2 (a dominant negative form of axin), DN-β-catenin (a stabilised form of (β-catenin) and VP16-TCF (a TCF transcription factor active in the absence of (β-catenin).

The growth inhibitory activity of compounds was also determined against a small panel of human colorectal cell lines (HCT116, HT29, and SW480).

Certain compounds were found to have a GI50against the HT29 cell line of less than 100 μM and an IC50against the Luciferase reporter vector of less than 100 μM.