N-[(2,6-disubstituted)phenyl]-urea and carbamate inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyl-transferase

Abstract: Substituted urea, thiourea, carbamate, and thiocarbamate derivatives of formula I are potent inhibitors of the enzyme acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase and are thus useful agents for inhibiting the intestinal absorption of cholesterol.

Description: This invention relates to chemical compounds having pharmacological activity, to pharmaceutical compositions which include these compounds, and to a process for manufacturing such pharmaceutical compositions. More particularly, this invention concerns certain substituted urea and carbamate compounds which inhibit the enzyme acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and a process for manufacturing pharmaceutical compositions useful in inhibiting intestinal absorption of cholesterol or regulating cholesterol. In recent years the role which elevated blood plasma levels of cholesterol plays in pathological conditions in man has received much attention. Deposits of cholesterol in the vascular system have been indicated as causative of a variety of pathological conditions including coronary heart disease. Initially, studies of this problem were directed toward finding therapeutic agents which would be effective in lowering total serum cholesterol levels. It is now known that cholesterol is transported in the blood in the form of complex particles consisting of a core of cholesteryl esters plus triglycerides and an exterior consisting primarily of phospholipids and a variety of types of protein which are recognized by specific receptors. For example, cholesterol is carried to the sites of deposit in blood vessels in the form of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and away from such sites of deposit by high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol). Following these discoveries, the search for therapeutic agents which control serum cholesterol turned to finding compounds which are more selective in their action; that is, agents which are effective in elevating the blood serum levels of HDL cholesterol and/or lowering the levels of LDL cholesterol. While such agents are effective in moderating the levels of serum cholesterol, they have little or no effect on controlling the initial absorption of dietary cholesterol in the body through the intestinal wall. In intestinal mucosal cells, dietary cholesterol is absorbed as free cholesterol which must be esterified by the action of the enzyme acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) before it can be packaged into the chylomicrons which are then released into the blood stream. Thus, therapeutic agents which effectively inhibit the action of ACAT prevent the intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol into the blood stream or the reabsorption of cholesterol which has been previously released into the intestine through the body's own regulatory action. The present invention provides a class of compounds with ACAT inhibitory activity having the structure of formula I wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently selected from alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms; fluorine; chlorine; bromine; _OR₃ where R₃ is alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, or _CH₂-phenyl. The atom X is oxygen or sulfur, and Y is oxygen or _NH_. The substituent groups R₄ and R₅ are independently hydrogen; alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms; or, taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form a saturated carbocyclic ring of from three to eight carbon atoms, optionally substituted with alkyl of from one to four carbon atoms. The group A is a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain of from six to seventeen carbon atoms optionally containing one or two double bonds. The compounds of the present invention form a class of substituted ureas, thioureas, carbamates, and thiocarbamates having potent activity as inhibitors of the enzyme acyl CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT). Preferred compounds of the present invention are the urea and thiourea compounds. In the urea compounds of the present invention, the first nitrogen atom is monosubstituted by a (2,6-disubstituted)phenyl ring, in which the substituents are selected from alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms; fluorine; chlorine; bromine; or _OR3 where R₃ is alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, phenylmethyl, or phenylethyl. It has been found, in accordance with this invention that compounds in which the substitution pattern is 2,6-disubstitution, are more potent inhibitors of ACAT than when the phenyl ring is monosubstituted, or disubstituted with a different substitution pattern. The carbon atom immediately adjacent to A and to the nitrogen atom of the urea or thiourea compounds or immediately adjacent to A and to the oxygen atom of the carbamate or thiocarbamate compounds may be unsubstituted (i.e., bear two hydrogen atoms), monosubstituted (i.e., bear one hydrogen atom) or may be disubstituted by two groups R₄and R₅ which may be the same or different, selected from alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms. Alternatively, the groups R₄ and R₅ may form a saturated carbocyclic ring, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, of from three to eight carbon atoms. US 4 473 579 describes compounds which are very potent inhibitors of the ACAT enzyme. These compounds however are N-tetrasubstituted urea and thiourea compounds which do not show the typical 2,6-substitution pattern of formula I in the aniline moiety. The compounds, therefore, are less active than the compounds of the present invention. Examples of compounds contemplated as falling within the scope of the invention are the following: N -[2-Ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-tetradecylurea. (Z)- N -[2-Ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-9-octadecenylurea. (Z)- N -(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)- N ′-9-octadecenylthiourea. (Z)- N -(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)- N ′-9-octadecenyl-urea. (Z)- N -(2-Chloro-6-methylphenyl)- N ′-9-octadecenylurea. (Z)- N -(2,6-Dichlorophenyl)- N ′-9-octadecenylurea. N -(2-Chloro-6-methylphenyl)- N ′-tetradecylurea. N -(2,6-Diethylphenyl)- N ′-tetradecylurea. (Z)- N -(2,6-Diethylphenyl)- N ′-9-octadecenylurea. N -(2-Chloro-6-methylphenyl)- N ′-octadecylurea. N -[2,6-bis(1-Methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-octadecylurea. N -(2,6-Diethylphenyl)- N ′-tetradecylthiourea. N -[2,6-bis(1-Methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-tetradecylthiourea. N -Decyl- N ′-(2,6-diethylphenyl)urea. N -[2,6-bis(1-Methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-decylurea. N -Decyl- N ′-[2-ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-phenyl]urea. N -Decyl- N ′-[2-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]urea. N -Decyl- N ′-[2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-methylphenyl]urea. N -(2,6-Diethylphenyl)- N ′-(1,1-dimethylundecyl)urea. N -[2,6-bis(1-Methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-(1,1-dimethylundecyl)urea. N -(1-Decylcyclopentyl)- N ′-(2,6-diethylphenyl)urea. N -[2,6-bis(1-Methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-(1-decylcyclopentyl)urea. By the term "alkyl" as used throughout this specification and the appended claims is meant a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon grouping derived from a saturated hydrocarbon by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Examples of alkyl groups contemplated as falling within the scope of this invention include methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl pentyl, hexyl, and the like. By the term "alkoxy" is meant an alkyl group, as defined above, attached to the parent molecular moiety through an oxygen atom. The term "saturated carbocyclic ring" encompasses cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl, as well as lower alkyl substituted carbocyclic rings such as methylcyclopropyl, methyl- or ethylcyclobutyl, etc. The compounds of this invention may exist in unsolvated as well as solvated forms with pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water, ethanol and the like. In general, the solvated forms are considered equivalent to the unsolvated forms for the purposes of this invention. The compounds of the present invention are prepared by the general method outline in Reaction Scheme 1. The appropriately substituted isocyanate, 2a (where X = O), or thioisocyanate compounds, 2b (where X = S), are reacted with the desired amine, 3 , to obtain the substituted urea compounds of the present invention, 1a-1b , or with the desired alcohol, 4 , to obtain the substituted carbamate compounds of the present invention, 1c-1d . The reaction is generally carried out in a polar aprotic organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, at any temperature between room temperature and the boiling point of the solvent, with room temperature being preferred. The reaction is allowed to proceed until analysis of the mixture by a means such as chromatography indicates that the reaction is substantially complete. Reaction times may vary between about two hours to about 24 hours, depending upon the particular reagents and reaction temperature employed. The starting isocyanate, thioisocyanate, amine, and alcohol compounds for making the compounds of this invention are known or commercially available or, if not previously known, are prepared by methods well known in the art. The urea compounds of the present invention where the substituent R₄ and R₅ form a saturated ring as defined are prepared according to the method described in Scheme 2. Reaction of cyclic carboxylic acid 5 with LDA and appropriate electrophile Br-A at low temperature gave the acid compound 6 which was converted to isocyanante derivative (7) in a standard manner. The isocyanante compound 7 was treated with an appropriately substituted amine compound (8) to yield the title urea compound 1 . As shown by the data presented below in Table 1, the compounds of the present invention are potent inhibitors of the enzyme acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), and are thus effective in inhibiting the esterification and transport of cholesterol across the intestinal cell wall. The compounds of the present invention are thus useful in pharmaceutical formulations for the inhibition of intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol or the reabsorption of cholesterol released into the intestine by normal body action. In Vitro Tests The ability of representative compounds of the present invention to inhibit ACAT was measured using an in vitro test more fully described in Field, F. J. and Salone, R. G., Biochemica et Biophysica 712 : 557-570 (1982). The test assesses the ability of a test compound to inhibit the acylation of cholesterol by oleic acid by measuring the amount of radiolabeled cholesterol oleate formed from radiolabeled oleic acid in a tissue preparation containing rabbit intestinal microsomes. The data appear in Table 1 where they are expressed as IC₅₀ values; i.e. the concentration of test compound required to inhibit 50% expression of the enzyme. In Vivo Tests In an in vivo screen, designated PCC, male Sprague-Dawley rats (approximately 200 g body weight) are randomly divided into groups and provided ad libidum a regular chow diet (Purina No. 5002, Ralston Purina Co., 711 West Fuesser Road, Mascoutah, Illinois, 62224, USA), supplemented with 5.5% peanut oil, 1.5% choles-terol, and 0.3%-0.5% cholic acid, together with 0.05% of the test drug which is admixed into the diet. After one week the animals are etherized and a blood sample is taken from the heart and mixed with 0.14% ethylene-diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) to measure the total cholesterol. The results of this trial for representative compounds of the present invention appear in Table 2. In therapeutic use as agents for the inhibition of intestinal absorption of cholesterol, or as hypolipidemic or hypocholesterolemic agents, the compounds utilized in the pharmaceutical method of this invention are administered to the patient at dosage levels of from 250 to 1000 mg per day. For a normal human adult of approximately 70 kg of body weight, this translates into a dosage of from 5 to 20 mg/kg of body weight per day. The specific dosages employed, however, may be varied depending upon the requirements of the patient, the severity of the condition being treated, and the activity of the compound being employed. The determination of optimum dosages for a particular situation is within the skill of the art. For preparing pharmaceutical compositions from the compounds of this invention, inert, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers can be either solid or liquid. Solid form preparations include powders, tablets, dispersible granules, capsules, and cachets. A solid carrier can be one or more substances which may also act as diluents, flavoring agents, solubilizers, lubricants, suspending agents, binders, or tablet disintegrating agents; it can also be an encapsulating material. In powders, the carrier is a finely divided solid which is in a mixture with the finely divided active component. In tablets, the active compound is mixed with the carrier having the necessary binding properties in suitable proportions and compacted in the shape and size desired. Powders and tablets preferably contain between about 5 to about 70% by weight of the active ingredient. Suitable carriers are magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate, talc, lactose, sugar, pectin, dextrin, starch, tragacanth, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, a low-melting wax, cocoa butter, and the like. The term "preparation" is intended to include the formulation of the active compound with encapsulating material as a carrier providing a capsule in which the active component (with or without other carriers) is surrounded by a carrier, which is thus in association with it. In a similar manner, cachets are also included. Tablets, powders, cachets, and capsules can be used as solid dosage forms suitable for oral administration. Liquid form preparations include solutions suitable for oral administration, or suspensions and emulsions suitable for oral administration. Aqueous solutions for oral administration can be prepared by dissolving the active compound in water and adding suitable flavorants, coloring agents, stabilizers, and thickening agents as desired. Aqueous suspensions for oral use can be made by dispersing the finely divided active component in water together with a viscous material such as natural or synthetic gums, resins, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and other suspending agents known to the pharmaceutical formulation art. Preferably, the pharmaceutical preparation is in unit dosage form. In such form, the preparation is divided into unit doses containing appropriate quantities of the active component. The unit dosage form can be a packaged preparation, the package containing discrete quantities of the preparation, for example, packeted tablets, capsules, and powders in vials or ampoules. The unit dosage form can also be a capsule, cachet, or tablet itself, or it can be the appropriate number of any of these packaged forms. The following preparative examples are provided to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention, and are illustrative thereof. EXAMPLE 1 N-[2-Ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-phenyl]-N′-tetradecylurea 2-Ethyl-6-isopropyl-phenylisocyanate (1.89 g, 0.01 mole) was added to a solution of 1-tetradecylamine (2.13 g, 0.01 mole) in 60 ml ethyl acetate at room temperature. The flask was gently agitated and the product precipitated immediately. The reaction mixture was warmed to 50°C for a few minutes and then cooled to room temperature. The white solid was collected by filtration and air dried. In this way 3.40 g of product was obtained. Analysis calculated for C₂₆H₄₆N₂O C = 77.56; H = 11.51; N = 6.96 Found C = 78.12; H = 11.84; N = 7.09 EXAMPLE 2 (Z)-N-[2-Ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-phenyl]-N′-9-octadecenylurea 2-Ethyl-6-isopropyl-phenylisocyanate (1.89 g, 0.01 mole) was added to (3.16 g, 0.012 mole) technical oleylamine in 50 ml ethyl acetate at room temperature. The solution was heated to 50°C, then the solvent removed on the rotary evaporator. The residue was redissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with dilute aqueous HCl, aqueous NaCl solution, the layers separated and the organic layer dried over MgSO₄. The solution was filtered and concentrated yielding an oil, which was purified by flash chromatography on SiO₂ using 50/50 hexane/ethyl acetate as eluant. In this way 4.13 g of product was obtained as an oil. Analysis calculated for C₃₀H₅₂N₂O C = 78.89; H = 11.47; N = 6.13 Found C = 78.50; H = 11.74; N = 5.89 EXAMPLE 3 (Z)-N-(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)-N′-9-octadecenylthiourea The title compound was prepared according to Example 2. Analysis calculated for C₂₇H₄₆N₂S C = 75.29; H = 10.76; N = 6.50 Found C = 75.17; H = 10.67; N = 6.22 EXAMPLE 4 (Z)-N-(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)-N′-9-octadecenylurea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. C = 78.21; H = 11.18; N = 6.76 Found C = 78.58; H = 10.98; N = 6.89 EXAMPLE 5 (Z)-N-(2-Chloro-6-methylphenyl)-N′-9-octadecenylurea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₆H₄₃ClN₂O C = 71.77; H = 9.96; N = 6.44 Found C = 71.63; H = 9.55; N = 6.59 EXAMPLE 6 (Z)-N-(2,6-Dichlorophenyl)-N′-9-octadecenylurea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₅H₄₀Cl₂N₂O C = 65.92; H = 8.85; N = 6.15 Found C= 65.96; H = 9.14; N = 6.21 EXAMPLE 7 N-(2-Chloro-6-methylphenyl)-N′-tetradecylurea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₂H₃₇ClN₂O C = 69.35; H = 9.79; N = 7.35 Found C = 69.58; H = 9.89; N = 7.27 EXAMPLE 8 N-(2,6-Diethylphenyl)-N′-tetra-decylurea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₅H₄₄N₂O C = 77.26; H = 11.41; N = 7.21 Found C = 77.57; H = 11.51; N = 7.29 EXAMPLE 9 (Z)-N-(2,6-Diethylphenyl)-N′-9-octadecenylurea The title compound was prepared according to Example 2. Analysis calculated for C₂₉H₅₀N₂O C = 78.68; H = 11.38; N = 6.33 Found C = 79.43; H = 11.78; N = 6.47 EXAMPLE 10 N-(2-Chloro-6-methylphenyl)-N′-octadecylurea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1 Analysis calculated for C₂₆H₄₅CIN₂O C = 71.44; H = 10.38; N = 6.41 Found C = 71.99; H = 10.65; N = 6.28 EXAMPLE 11 N-[2,6-bis(1-Methylethyl)phenyl]-N′-octadecylurea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₃₁H₅₆N₂O C = 78.75; H = 11.94; N = 5.93 Found C = 78.86; H = 12.13; N = 5.93 EXAMPLE 12 N-(2,6-Diethylphenyl)-N′-tetradecylthiourea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₅H₄₄N₂S C = 74.20; H = 10.96; N = 6.92 Found C = 74.32; H = 11.25; N = 6.96 EXAMPLE 13 N-[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-N′-tetradecylthiourea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₇H₄₈N₂S C = 74.94; H = 11.18; N = 6.47 Found C = 75.00; H = 11.33; N = 6.45 EXAMPLE 14 N-Decyl-N′-(2,6-diethylphenyl)urea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₁H₃₆N₂O C = 75.85; H = 10.91; N = 8.42 Found C = 75.94; H = 10.91; N = 8.31 EXAMPLE 15 N-[2,6-bis(1-Methylethyl)phenyl]-N′-decylurea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₃H₄₀N₂O C = 76.61; H = 11.18; N = 7.77 Found C = 76.32; H = 11.25; N = 7.56 EXAMPLE 16 N-Decyl-N′-[2-ethyl-6-(1-methyl-ethyl)phenyl]urea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₂H₃₈N₂O C = 76.25; H = 11.05; N = 8.08 Found C = 76.38; H = 11.13; N = 8.01 EXAMPLE 17 N-Decyl-N′-[2-methyl-6-(l-methylethyl)-phenyl]urea. The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₁H₃₆N₂O C = 75.85; H = 10.91; N = 8.42 Found C = 75.95; H = 11.15; N = 8.31 EXAMPLE 18 N-Decyl-N′-[2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-methylphenyl]urea The title compound was prepared according to Example 1. Analysis calculated for C₂₂H₃₈N₂O C = 76.25; H = 11.05; N = 8.08 Found C = 76.31; H = 11.30; N = 7.90 EXAMPLE 19 N-(2,6-Diethylphenyl)-N′-(1.1-dimethylundecyl)urea Step A: Preparation of 2-isocyanato-2-methyl dodecane. 2,2-Dimethyl dodecanoic acid (99.6 g, 0.44 M) was dissolved in 500 ml of thionyl chloride. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The mixture was then heated at reflux for two hours. The cooled reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. Diethyl ether was added to the residue and this solution was concentrated in vacuo. The resulting oil was distilled to yield 97.0 g, (BP 85-87° at 0.15 mm) of 2,2-dimethyl dodecanoyl chloride. 2,2-dimethyl dodecanoyl chloride (73.95 g, 0.3 M) was dissolved in 100 ml dry acetone. This solution was added dropwise with vigorous stirring to a solution of sodium azide (29.25 g, 0.45 M) dissolved in 100 ml water. The temperature was maintained between 13° and 16°C by use of an ice-bath. The reaction mixture was stirred for 20 minutes. The layers were separated and the aqueous layer washed once with hexane. The hexane solution was combined with the organic layer. The combined organic solution was washed once with a saturated brine solution, dried over MgSO₄, and concentrated in vacuo to yield 75.9 g of a clear oil. This oil was taken up in 100 ml benzene. The resulting solution was added dropwise, with vigorous stirring, to 500 ml of benzene heated to 60°. Stir at 70° for an additional two hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the product distilled to yield 58.0 g, (BP 77-80 at 0.05 mm) of 2-isocyanate-2-methyl dodecane. Step B: Preparation of N -(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N′-(1,1-dimethyl undecyl)urea. 2-Isocyanato-2-methyl dodecane (2.25 g, 0.01 M) and 2,6-diethyl aniline (1.5 g, 0.01 M) were mixed together and heated on a steam bath for 16 hours. The cooled reaction mixture was taken up in ether. The ether solution was washed with 2N HCl; saturated sodium bicarbonate, brine, and dried over MgSO₄. The ether solution was concentrated in vacuo to yield 3.2 g of the crude compound. This was purified by chromatography on silica, eluting with 80% hexane: 20% ethyl acetate (volume/volume) to yield 1.4 g of the title compound as an oil that quickly solidified, mp 60-62°. Analysis for C₂₄H₄₂N₂O C = 76.95; H = 11.30; N = 7.48 Found C = 76.87; H = 11.49; N = 7.38 EXAMPLE 20 N-[2.6-bis(1-Methylethyl)phenyl]-N′-(1,1-dimethylundecyl)urea Using the general method of Example 19, but starting with 4.5 g (0.02 M) of 2-isocyanato-2-methyl dodecane and 3.54 g (0.02 M) 2,6-diisopropyl aniline there was prepared 2.3 g of an oil which was purified by chromatography on silica, eluting with 80% hexane:20% ethyl acetate (volume/volume). Analysis for C₂₆H₄₆N₂O C = 77.55; H = 11.52; N = 6.96 Found C = 77.92; H = 11.79; N = 6.67 EXAMPLE 21 N-(1-Decylcyclopentyl)-N′-(2.6-diethylphenyl)urea Using the general method of Example 19 but starting with 92.3 g (0.32 mm) 1-decyl cyclopentane carboxylic acid and 300 ml of thionyl chloride. There was prepared 74.8 g of 1-decylcyclopentane carboxyl chloride. Starting with 12.7 g (0.046 M) of 1-decyl cyclopentane carboxyl chloride and 4.9 g (0.075 M) sodium azide. There was prepared 12.2 g of 1-decyl-1-isocyanotocyclopentane. Starting with 6.1 g (0.024 M) of 1-decyl-1-isocyanatocyclopentane and 3.58 g (0.024 M) 2,6-diethyl aniline, there was prepared 4.5 g of N-(1-decylcyclopentyl)-N′-(2,6-diethylphenyl)urea, mp 82-85° recrystallized from ethyl acetate. Analysis for C₂₆H₄₄N₂O C = 77.94; H = 11.07; N = 6.99 Found C = 77.80; H = 11.23; N = 6.73 EXAMPLE 22 N-[2-6-bis(1-Methylethyl)-pheny1]-N′-(1-decylcyclopentyl)urea Using the general method of Example 19, but starting with 5.9 g (0.024 M) of 1-decyl-1-isocyanatocyclopentane and 4.2 g (0.024 M) of 2,6-diisopropylaniline, there was prepared 2.3 g of N-[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-N′-(1-decylcyclopentyl)urea, after purification by chromatography on silica, eluting with 80% hexane: 20% ethyl acetate (volume/volume), mp 105-107°C. Analysis for C₂₈H₄₈N₂O C = 78.44; H = 11.29; N = 6.54 Found C = 78.47; H = 11.43; N = 6.48

Claims: Claims for the Contracting States AT, BE, CH, DE, FR, GB, IT, LI, LU, NE, SE 1. A compound having the formula I wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently selected from alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms; fluorine; chlorine; bromine; OR₃ where R₃ is selected from alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms; or phenylmethyl; X is oxygen or sulfur; Y is oxygen or _NH_; R₄ and R₅ are independently selected from hydrogen; alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms; or when taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, R₄ and R₅ form a saturated carbocyclic ring of from three to eight carbon atoms optionally substituted with alkyl of from one to four carbon atoms; and A is straight or branched alkyl of from six to seventeen carbon atoms, optionally containing one or two carbon-carbon double bonds. 2. A compound as defined by Claim 1 wherein X is oxygen. 3. A compound as defined by Claim 1 wherein X is sulfur. 4. A compound as defined by Claim 1 wherein Y is _NH_ 5. A compound as defined by Claim 1 selected from the group consisting of N -[2-ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-N′-tetradecyl-urea, (Z)- N -[2-ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-N′-9-octadecenylurea, (Z)- N -(2,6-dimethylphenyl)- N ′-9-octa-decenylthiourea, (Z)- N -(2,6-dimethylphenyl)- N ′-9-octa-decenylurea, (Z)- N -(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl)- N ′-9-octadecenylurea, (Z)- N -(2,6-dichlorophenyl)- N ′-9-octa-decenylurea, N -(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl)- N ′-tetra-decylurea, N -(2,6-diethylphenyl)- N ′-tetradecylurea, (Z)- N -(2,6-diethylphenyl)- N ′-9-octa-decenylurea, N -(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl)- N ′-octa-decylurea, N -[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-octadecylurea, N -(2,6-diethylphenyl)- N ′-tetradecylthiourea, N -(2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-tetradecylthiourea, N -decyl- N ′-(2,6-diethylphenyl)urea, N -[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-decylurea, N-decyl- N ′-[2-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-phenyl]urea, N -decyl- N ′-[2-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-phenyl]urea, N -decyl- N ′-[2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-methylphenyl]urea, N -(2,6-diethylphenyl)- N ′-(1,1-dimethyl-undecyl)urea, N -[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-(1,1-dimethyl-undecyl)urea, N -(1-decylcyclopentyl)- N ′-(2,6-diethylphenyl)urea, N -[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-(1-decylcyclopentyl)urea. 6. A pharmaceutical composition containing a compound as defined by Claim 1 in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 7. A process for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition according to Claim 6 for regulating cholesterol. 8. A process of preparing a compound having the formula I comprising the steps of: a) reacting a compound of the formula II wherein R₁ and R₂ and X are as defined above with a compound having the formula III wherein Y, R₄, and R₅ are as defined above in a polar aprotic organic solvent at ambient temperature; and b) thereafter isolating and purifying the product of said reaction step. Claims for the Contracting States GR, ES 1. A process of preparing a compound having the formula I wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently selected from alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms; fluorine; chlorine; bromine; OR₃ where R₃ is selected from alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms; or phenylmethyl; X is oxygen or sulfur; Y is oxygen or _NH_; R₄ and R₅ are independently selected from hydrogen; alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms; or when taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, R₄ and R₅ form a saturated carbocyclic ring of from three to eight carbon atoms optionally substituted with alkyl of from one to four carbon atoms; and A is straight or branched alkyl of from six to seventeen carbon atoms, optionally containing one or two carbon-carbon double bonds, comprising the steps of: a) reacting a compound of the formula II wherein R₁ and R₂ and X are as defined above with a compound having the formula III wherein Y, R₄, and R₅ are as defined above in a polar aprotic organic solvent at ambient temperature; and b) thereafter isolating and purifying the product of said reaction step. 2. A process of preparing a compound as defined by Claim 1 wherein X is oxygen. 3. A process of preparing a compound as defined by Claim 1 wherein X is sulfur. 4. A process of preparing a compound as defined by Claim 1 wherein Y is _NH_. 5. A process of preparing a compound as defined by Claim 1 selected from the group consisting of N -[2-ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-tetradecyl-urea, (Z)- N -[2-ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-9-octadecenylurea, (Z)- N -(2,6-dimethylphenyl)- N ′-9-octa-decenylthiourea, (Z)- N -(2,6-dimethylphenyl)- N ′,-9-octa-decenylurea, (Z)- N -(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl)- N ′-9-octadecenylurea, (Z)- N -(2,6-dichlorophenyl)- N ′-9-octa-decenylurea, N -(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl)- N ′-tetra-decylurea, N -(2,6-diethylphenyl)- N ′-tetradecylurea, (Z)- N -(2,6-diethylphenyl)- N ′-9-octa-decenylurea, N -(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl)- N ′-octa-decylurea, N -[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-octadecylurea, N -(2,6-diethylphenyl)- N ′-tetradecylthiourea, N -[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-tetradecylthiourea, N -decyl- N ′-(2,6-diethylphenyl)urea, N -[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-decylurea, N -decyl- N ′-[2-ethyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-phenyl]urea. N -decyl- N ′-[2-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-phenyl]urea, N -decyl- N ′-[2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-methylphenyl]urea, N -(2,6-diethylphenyl)- N ′-(1,1-dimethyl-undecyl)urea, N -[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-(1,1-dimethyl-undecyl)urea, N -(1-decylcyclopentyl)- N ′-(2,6-diethylphenyl)urea, N -[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]- N ′-(1-decylcyclopentyl)urea. 6. A method of use of a compound prepared according to claim 1 for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for regulating cholesterol.

Inventors: ROARK, WILLIAM HOWARD, ROTH, BRUCE DAVID, TRIVEDI, BHARAT KALIDAS
Applicants: WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY
Application year: 1988
Main classification: C07C275
IPC codes: A61K31, C07C335, A61P43, C07C67, C07C333, C07C275, A61P3, C07C325, C12N9, C07C271, C07C239