Aromatase inhibiting 4(5)-imidazoles

Abstract: Novel imidazole derivatives of the formula wherein R₁, R₂, R′₁ and R′₂, which can be the same or different, are H,CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CHF₂ or halogen; R′ is H or where R₃ is H, CH₃ or halogen; R₄ is H or OH and R₅ is H or OH or R₄ and R₅ together form a bond and n is 1 to 4, and their non-toxic salts exhibit aromatase and desmolase inhibiting properties. Selective aromatase inhibiting compounds are valuable in the treatment of estrogen dependent diseases, e.g. breast cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Description: The present invention relates to substituted imidazole derivatives and their non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts, and their preparation, to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same and their use. EP-A-0 194 984 discloses imidazole derivatives that have α₂-blocking and/or anti-convulsive activities which are said to be utilisable as therapeutic agents. EP-A-0 311 447 discloses imidazole derivatives which are said to exhibit pharmacological properties, especially aromatase inhibiting effects and are said to be useful in the treatment of estrogen dependent diseases, e.g. breast cancer. EP-A-0 165 779 discloses aromatase inhibiting 4(5)-substituted imidazole derivatives, a process for preparing them, their use to inhibit aromatase or to treat or prevent estrogen dependent disease, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising the derivatives as active ingredient. EP-A-0 390 558 which was published on 3 October 1990 discloses imidazole derivatives which are said to exhibit aromatase and desmolase inhibiting properties and it suggests that very selective aromatase inhibiting compounds are valuable in the treatment of estrogen dependent diseases, e.g. breast cancer. The imidazole derivatives of the present invention have the general formula (I): wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen; R' is H or where R₃ is H, CH₃ or halogen; R₄ is H or OH and R₅ is H or OH or R₄ and R₅ together form a bond and n is 1 to 4. The non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of these compounds are also within the scope of the invention. The compounds of formula (I) form acid addition salts with both organic and inorganic acids. They can thus form many pharmaceutically usable acid addition salts, as for instance, chlorides, bromides, sulfates, nitrates, phosphates, sulfonates, formates, tartrates, maleates, citrates, benzoates, salicylates, ascorbates and the like. Preferred values for R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are H, CN or halogen, especially H, CN or F. The phenyl groups may be substituted in the ortho, meta or para position. If a phenyl group is mono-substituted, it is preferably substituted in the para-position. Preferably R' is H; preferably R₄ and R₅ are each H. The invention includes within its scope pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one compound of formula (I) or a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a compatible pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor. The compounds of the present invention have been found, depending on the substituents R', R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, to possess varying degrees of aromatase and desmolase inhibiting properties. Among them there are very selective enzyme aromatase inhibiting compounds which are valuable in the treatment of estrogen dependent diseases, e.g. breast cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The present invention also provides compounds of formula (I) or non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof for use in a method of medical treatment. The present invention further provides the use of compound of formula (I) or non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for the inhibition of aromatase. Compounds of formula (I) can be prepared by McMurry reaction which comprises a reductive coupling of a diphenylketone (II) wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen and n is 1-4, and an 4(5)-imidazole aldehyde (III) wherein R' is as defined before, in an appropriate solvent, e.g. tetrahydrofuran or dimethoxyethane, in the presence of a low valent titanium reagent in an inert atmosphere, e.g. in nitrogen or argon, to give the compounds of formula (I) where R₄ and R₅ together form a bond (IV) The unsaturated compounds (IV) are isolated and after that hydrogenated. Alternatively they can be hydrogenated directly in an acidic medium without previous isolation. The hydrogenation is conveniently carried out at room temperature with good stirring in alcohol, e.g. ethanol, in the presence of a catalyst in a hydrogen atmosphere. Suitable catalysts are for example platinium oxide, palladium-on-carbon or Raney-nickel. The reaction scheme for this step can be illustrated as follows: If R' is a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl, this group may be removed by hydrogenation as well. In this case the hydrogenation is performed in an acidic medium such as hydrochloric acid-ethanol mixture. The reaction scheme of this hydrogenation which leads to compounds of formula (I) wherein R', R₄ and R₅ each are hydrogen can be illustrated as follows: Another method to remove the benzylic R' group is a hydrogen transfer reaction in which the starting compound (V) is refluxed with ammonium formate and 10 % Pd/C in an appropriate lower alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol, or its aqueous solution. The compounds (VI) can also be prepared from the compounds (IV) by hydrogen transfer reaction with ammonium formate or by hydrogenating both the double bond and the protecting benzyl group at the same time. If one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ is CN, it must be protected during the hydrogen transfer reaction. The ketone of formula (II) can be prepared for example from an appropriately substituted acetophenone and benzaldehyde by condensation and hydrogenation. Another method of preparing compounds of formula (I) is a reaction which comprises reacting a ketone of formula (VII) wherein R' and n are as defined before and R₁ and R₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen, with an appropriate halide derivative of the formula (VIII) wherein R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen, in the presence of an alkyl lithium, such as n-butyl lithium, or magnesium in an appropriate solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran, to give compounds of formula (IX) wherein R', R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined for formulae (VII) and (VIII). Compounds of formula (IX) are further dehydrated to form compounds of formula (I) where R₄ and R₅ together form a bond (IV). Water is eliminated by usual methods, i.e. by heating with dry potassium hydrogen sulfate. The unsaturated compounds (IV) are hydrogenated by the methods described before. The benzylic R' can also be removed from the compounds of formula (IX) by a hydrogen transfer reaction to give compounds of formula (X) wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are as defined for formula (IX). Compounds of formula (VII) can be prepared e.g. from an 4(5)-imidazole acetaldehyde and an appropriate arylalkylhalide and then oxidizing. Compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the substituents are CN can also be prepared by the method described above but then the CN group(s) in the formulae (VII) and (VIII) must be protected by a tert-butylaminocarbonyl group or an oxazoline group and R' is a protecting benzyl group. NO₂ cannot be one of the substituents. Compounds of formula (IX) wherein one or more of the substituents are a tert-butylaminocarbonyl group or an oxazoline group (IX') are dehydrated and hydrogenated by the methods described before and further refluxed in SOCl₂ to give compounds of formula (VI) wherein one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are CN. Compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are CN can also be prepared by refluxing compounds of formula (IX) wherein one or more of the substituents are a tert-butylaminocarbonyl group or an oxazoline group (IX') with e.g. SOCl₂, POCl₃ or PCl₅ optionally in an appropriate solvent, such as acetonitrile, to give compounds of formula (I) wherein R' is a benzyl group, R₄ and R₅ form together a bond and one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are CN. The substituents that are not CN are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen. The unsaturated compounds are hydrogenated by the methods described before. Compounds of formula (X) wherein one or more of the substituents are a tert-butylaminocarbonyl or an oxazoline group (X') may be dehydrated by e.g. SOCl₂, POCl₃ or PCl₅ as described before to form compounds of formula (XI) wherein one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are CN and the substituents that are not CN are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen. Another method to give compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined for formula (XI) is refluxing compounds of formula (IX') or (X'), in an appropriate solvent, such as dichloromethane, in the presence of SOCl₂ to give compounds of formula (IV) wherein R' is H or a protecting group and the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are as defined for formula (X'). The unsaturated compounds are further reacted by a hydrogen transfer reaction or hydrogenated to give compounds of formula (VI) wherein the substituents are as defined for formula (X') which are further reacted with e.g. SOCl₂ to give compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined for formula (XI). Compounds of formula (VI) wherein the substituents are as defined for formula (X') can be prepared by a hydrogen transfer reaction from compounds of formula (IX'). The compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the substituents are CN can be prepared from the corresponding compounds where one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are NH₂ by diazotization. Compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are NH₂ can be prepared by hydrogenating the corresponding compounds where one or more of the substituents are NO₂. Compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the substituents are NO₂ can be prepared by nitration. Compounds of formula (I) where R' is a benzyl group can be prepared by benzylating the corresponding compounds where R' is hydrogen. The starting compound is first treated with a strong base such as sodium hydroxide in water or sodium hydride in an appropriate solvent, e.g. dimethyl formamide, to give the alkali metal salt of the imidazole and then in the second step adding to this benzyl halide. The reaction scheme can be illustrated as follows: The free NH₂ substituent must be protected during the benzylation reaction. Another method for the preparation of compounds of formula (IV) is the reaction of a diphenylhalogen compound (XIV) wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen, n is 1 to 4 and Hal is halogen, with an 4(5)-imidazole aldehyde (III) using n-butyllithium as a reagent to give compounds of formula (XV) The compounds of formula (XV) may be dehydrated to give the compounds of formula (IV) wherein the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen. The compounds of formula (IV) wherein one or more of the substituents are CN may be prepared by the same method when the CN-group(s) is(are) protected. Still another method for preparing of compounds of formula (I) is a process which comprises a Reformatskii reaction of the 4(5)-imidazole aldehyde (III) with an ester of α-bromophenylacetic acid (VXI) wherein R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen and R is a lower alkyl, to give an ester of β-hydroxy-α-phenylimidazolepropionic acid (XVII) The compounds of formula (XVII) can be dehydrated and hydrogenated to give the saturated α-phenylimidazolepropionic acid esters (XVIII) which can be reduced to aldehydes of formula (XIX) or converted to amides of formula (XX) wherein R₃ and R₄ are lower alkyl or N, R₃ and R₄ together form a ring. The reaction of the compounds of formula (XIX) or (XX) with an appropriate aryl- or arylalkyl halide (XXI) wherein R₁ and R₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen and n is 1 to 4, in the presence of alkyl lithium, e.g. n-butyl lithium, or magnesium give alcohols (XXII) or ketones (XXIII) respectively. The substituents R₁ and R₂ of the halide (XXI) must be protected if they are NH₂ or CN. The compounds of formulae (XXII) and (XXIII) can further be reduced, dehydrated and hydrogenated to give the compounds of formula (I) wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen. The compounds of formula (I), their non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts or mixtures thereof may be administered parenterally, intravenously or orally. Typically, an effective amount of the compound is combined with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. As used herein, the term "effective amount" encompasses those amounts which yield the desired activity without causing adverse side-effects. The precise amount employed in a particular situation is dependent upon numerous factors such as method of administration, type of mammal, condition for which the compound is administered, etc., and of course the structure of the compound. The pharmaceutical carriers which are typically employed with the compounds of the present invention may be solid or liquid and are generally selected with the planned manner of administration in mind. Thus, for example, solid carriers include lactose, sucrose, gelatin and agar, while liquid carriers include water, syrup, peanut oil and olive oil. Other suitable carriers are well known to those skilled in the art of pharmaceutical formulations. Other combination of the compound and the carrier may be fashioned into numerous acceptable forms, such as tablets, capsules, suppositories, solutions, emulsions and powders. The compounds of the invention are especially valuable as aromatase inhibiting agents and are therefore useful in the treatment of estrogen dependent diseases, e.g. breast cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Estrogens are essential steroids in the physiology and function of normal development of breast and sex organs in women. On the other hand estrogens are known to stimulate the growth of estrogen dependent cancers, especially breast and endometrial cancers, and they may increase the risk of development of breast cancer if given at pharmacological doses for a long time. Excessive production of estradiol may also cause other, benign disorders in hormone dependent organs. The importance of estrogens as cancer growth stimulators and/or regulators is clearly stressed by the fact that antiestrogens have reached a central position in the treatment of estrogen receptor rich breast cancers. Antiestrogens act by binding to estrogen receptors and thereby inhibiting the biological effect of estrogens. This has been achieved clinically by the unspecific steroid synthesis inhibitor aminoglutethimide. The estrogen synthesis could be blocked specifically by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase, which is the key enzyme in biochemical estrogen synthesis pathway. Aromatase inhibition is important because several breast tumors synthesize estradiol and estrone in situ and exhibit therefore continuous growth stimulation (Alan Lipton et al., Cancer 59:770-782, 1987). The ability of the compounds of the invention to inhibit the enzyme aromatase was shown by the in vitro assay method according to M. Pasanen (Biological Research in Pregnancy, vol. 6, No. 2, 1985, pp. 94-99). Human aromatase enzyme was used. The enzyme was prepared from human placenta, which is rich of the enzyme. Microsomal fraction (100000 x g precipitate) was prepared by centrifugation. The enzyme preparation was used without further purification. Test compounds listed in Table 1 were added together with 100000 dpm of 1,2[³H]-androstene-3,17-dione and NADPH generating system. The concentrations of the test compounds were 0,001; 0,01; 0,1 and 1,0 mM. The incubation was carried out at 37°C for 40 min. Aromatization of 1,2[³H]-androstene-3,17-dione results in the production of ³H₂O. The tritiated water and the tritiated substrate are easily separated by a Sep-Pak R minicolumn, which absorbs the steroid but allows free water elution. Radioactivity was counted by a liquid scintillation counter. Aromatase inhibition was evaluated by comparing the ³H₂O-radioactivity of inhibitor treated samples to controls containing no inhibitor. IC-50 values were calculated as concentrations which inhibited the enzyme activity 50 %. These concentrations are presented in Table 2. Cholesterol side chain cleavage (SCC) activity (desmolase) was measured according to the method of Pasanen and Pelkonen (Steroids 43:517-527, 1984). Incubations were carried out in 1,5 ml Eppendorf plastic tubes, and an Eppendorf shaker, centrifuge and incubator were used as a unit. In a 300 µl incubation volume, the substrate (5 µM) was prepared according to Hanukoglu and Jefcoate (J. Chromatogr. 190:256-262, 1980), and 100000 dpm of radioactive ³H-4-cholesterol (the purity of the compound was checked by TLC) in 0,5 % Tween 20, 10 mM MgCl₂, 5 µM cyanoketone and 2 mM NADPH was added. Controls contained all the above substances but the enzyme preparation was inactivated prior to the incubation by the addition of 900 µl of methanol. The mitochondrial fraction (1 mg protein) from human placenta or bovine adrenals was used as a source of enzyme. After 30 min incubation at 37°C, the reaction was terminated by the addition of 900 µl of methanol; 1500 dpm of marker ¹⁴C-4-pregnenolone was added to each incubate and the tubes were vigorously shaken. After 10 min equilibration, the methanol-precipitated proteins were separated by centrifugation (8000 x g for 2 min) and the supernatant was sucked into 1 ml plastic injection syringe and loaded onto the pre-equilibrated (75 % methanol) minicolumn. The column was washed with one ml of 75 % methanol and then with 3 ml of 80 % methanol. The 80 % methanol eluate was run into the counting vial and 10 ml of scintillation liquid was added. Radioactivity was counted using a double-label program on a liquid scintillation counter (LKB RackBeta). Typical activities for placental and bovine adrenal enzyme preparation were 0,5-3 and 50-100 pmol pregnenolone formed/mg protein/min, respectively. In inhibition experiments, the substance (final concentration range from 1 to 1000 µM) was added into incubation mixture in a volume of 10-20 µl, usually as methanol or ethanol solution. The same volume of the solute was added into control incubation vial. The IC-50 values (concentration causing a 50 % inhibition) were determined graphically and are presented in Table 2. Compounds tested No. Name 1. 4-(2,4-diphenylbutyl)-1H-imidazole 2. 4-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-phenylbutyl]-1H-imidazole 3. 4-[2,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1H-imidazole 4. 4-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1H-imidazole The daily dose for a patient varies from about 20 to about 200 mg, administered orally. Acute toxicity, LD₅₀, was determined by using young adult female mice of NMRI-strain. The administration was oral. The LD₅₀-value for 4-[2,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1H-imidazole was 400 mg/kg. The following examples illustrate the invention. ¹H NMR spectra were determined with a Bruker AC-P300 apparatus. The reference substance was tetramethylsilane. MS spectra were determined with Kratos MS80RF Autoconsole apparatus. Example 1 a) 1-benzyl-5-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-phenyl-1-butenyl]-1H-imidazole A flask is charged with Zn (41,7 g, 0,642 mol) and 200 ml of tetrahydrofuran. TiCl₄ (60,3 g, 0,321 mol) is added dropwise to the mixture at 0°C-10°C and then the mixture is refluxed for an hour. 12,2 g (0,054 mol) 4'-fluoropropiophenone and 14,9 g (0,080 mol) 1-benzyl-5-imidazolylaldehyde in 250 ml of THF is added to the mixture at room temperature. The mixture is heated to boiling and the refluxing is continued for three hours. After cooling to room temperature the mixture is poured to 10 % K₂CO₃-solution. Toluene is added and the mixture is filtered through siliceous earth. The toluene phase is separated and the water layer is extracted again with toluene. The toluene extracts are combined, washed with water, dried with MgSO₄ and evaporated to dryness. The crude product is purified by flash chromatography with methylene chloride and methanol (9,75:0,25) as eluent. MS: 382(14, M +· ), 291 (34), 200 (4), 91 (100) Using the same method for example the following compounds included in the invention were prepared: 1-benzyl-5-(2,4-diphenyl-1-butenyl)-1H-imidazole MS: 364 (30, M +· ), 273 (72), 182 (9), 91 (100), 65 (11) 1-benzyl-5-[2,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-1-butenyl]-1H-imidazole MS: 400 (31, M +· ), 291 (73), 200 (9), 109 (35), 91 (100) ¹H NMR (as HCl-salt, CDCl₃): 2.62 (broken t, 2H), 2.82 (broken t, 2H), 5.34 (s, 2H), 6.20 (s, 1H), 6.43 (s, 1H), 6.86-7.5 (m, 13H), 8.93 (s, 1H) b) 4-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-phenylbutyl]-1H-imidazole 1-benzyl-5-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-phenyl-1-butenyl]-1H-imidazole (4,58 g, 0,0012 mol) is dissolved in ethanol-water-solution (25:15). 0,46 g of 10 % Pd/C and 3,8 g (0,06 mol) of ammoniumformate in 15 ml of water is added to the mixture. After refluxing for 2 hours the mixture is filtered and the filtrate is evaporated to dryness. The residue is dissolved into methylene chloride and washed a few times with water. Methylene chloride is evaporated and the residue is dissolved into 2 M hydrogen chloride solution. The solution is extracted twice with diethyl ether. The water layer is made alkaline and extracted with methylene chloride. The methylene chloride phase is dried and evaporated to dryness. The product is then made to hydrochloride salt with dry hydrogen chloride gas in diethyl ether. MS: 294 (12, M +· ), 203 (36), 190 (28), 109 (28), 91 (100), 82 (42) Using the same method for example the following compounds included in the invention were prepared: 4-(2,4-diphenylbutyl)-1H-imidazole MS: 276 (14, M +· ), 185 (31), 172 (24), 91 (100), 82 (43) ¹H NMR (as base, CDCl₃): 1.9-2.1 (m, 2H), 2.4-2.5 (m, 2H), 2.8-3.0 (m, 3H), 6.53 (s, 1H), 7.0-7.4 (m, 11H) 4-[2,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1H-imidazole MS: 312 (4, M +· ), 203 (16), 190 (22), 109 (100), 91 (9), 81 (52) ¹H NMR (as HCl-salt, MeOH-d₄): 1.95-2.1 (m, 2H), 2.4-2.5 (m, 2H), 2.9-3.1 (m, 3H), 6.9-7.25 (m, 9H), 8.68 (s, 1H) Example 2 4-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1H-imidazole a) 1-benzyl-5-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-butenyl]-1H-imidazole 4,46 g of titanium tetrachloride is added dropwise to a stirred suspension of zinc powder (3,08 g) in tetrahydrofuran (50 ml) at -10 °C under dry nitrogen. The mixture is heated to reflux and refluxing is continued for one hour. The solution is cooled to room temperature and 1,0 g of 1-(4-cyanophenyl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propan-1-one in 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran and 0,73 g of 1-benzyl-5-imidazolecarbaldehyde in 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran are added into the mixture, respectively. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and refluxed for 6 hours. The dark mixture is poured into water (60 ml), rendered alkaline with 10 % potassium carbonate solution and extracted with toluene. The toluene solution is filtered through siliceous earth, the filtrate is evaporated and the residue is purified by flash chromatography. MS: 407 (M +· , 8), 298 (35), 109 (13), 91 (100) b) 4-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1H-imidizole 1-benzyl-5-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-butenyl]-1H-imidizole hydrochloride is dissolved in ethanol and a catalytic amount of 10 % Pd/C is added. The reaction mixture is agitated vigorously at room temperature in a hydrogen atmosphere until the reduction and the debenzylation are complete. The reaction mixture is filtered and evaporated to dryness. The product is purified by flash chromatography. ¹H NMR (as HCl-salt, MeOH-d₄): 2.0-2.15 (m, 2H), 2.46 (t, 2H), 3.0-3.16 (m, 3H), 6.96 (t, 2H), 7.0-7.11 (m, 3H), 7.38 (d, 2H), 7.68 (d, 2H), 8.70 (s, 1H)

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, FR, GB, IT, LI, LU, NL, SE A compound which is a substituted imidazole of the formula: or a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen; R' is H or where R₃ is H, CH₃ or halogen; R₄ is H or OH and R₅ is H or OH or R₄ and R₅ together form a bond and n is 1 to 4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R₄ and R₅ both are H. A compound according to claim 1 or 2 wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ each are H. A compound according to claim 1 or 2 wherein R₁ and R'₁ both are H and R₂ and R'₂, which are as defined in claim 1, both are in the para position of the phenyl group. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein R₂ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are CN or halogen. A compound according to claim 5 wherein halogen is F. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein R' is H. A compound according to claim 1, which is 4-(2,4-diphenylbutyl)-1H-imidazole or a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A compound according to claim 1, which is 4-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-phenylbutyl]-1H-imidazole or a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A compound according to claim 1, which is 4-[2,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1H-imidazole or a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A compound according to claim 1, which is 4-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1H-imidazole or a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A compound as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11 for use in a method of medical treatment of the human or animal body. A compound as defined in claim 13 for use as an aromatase inhibitor. Claims for the following Contracting States : ES, GR A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula or a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen; R' is H or where R₃ is H, CH₃ or halogen; R₄ is H or OH and R₅ is H or OH or R₄ and R₅ together form a bond and n is 1 to 4 which comprises reacting a diphenylketone of the formula wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen and n is 1-4, with an 4(5)-imidazole aldehyde of the formula wherein R' is as defined before, in the presence of a low valent titanium reagent to give a compound of formula (I) which is where R', R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined above and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises reacting a ketone of the formula wherein R' and n are as defined in Claim 1 and R₁ and R₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen, with a halide derivative of the formula wherein R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen, in the presence of an alkyl lithium or magnesium to give a compound of formula wherein R', R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 1 and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises dehydrating a compound of formula wherein R', R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in claim 2 to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R', R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 2 and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises reacting a compound of formula wherein R' is a protecting benzyl group and R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 2, by a hydrogen transfer reaction to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 2 and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises reacting a diphenylhalogen of formula wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 2 and Hal is halogen, with an 4(5)-imidazole aldehyde of formula wherein R' is as defined in Claim 2, in the presence of n-butyllithium to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R', R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 2 and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises dehydrating a compound of formula wherein R', R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 2 to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R', R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 2 and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises reacting an aldehyde of formula or an amide of formula wherein R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen, R' is as defined in Claim 2 and R₃ and R₄ are lower alkyl or N, R₃ and R₄ together form a ring, with an appropriate aryl- or arylalkyl halide wherein R₁ and R₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen and n is 1 to 4, in the presence of an alkyl lithium or magnesium to give a compound of formula or which is further reduced, dehydrated and hydrogenated to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R', and n are as defined above and R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises reacting a ketone of formula wherein R' is a protecting benzyl group, n is 1 to 4 with a halide derivative of the formula wherein Hal is halogen and one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are a tert-butylaminocarbonyl group or an oxazoline group and the substituents which are not a tert-butylaminocarbonyl or an oxazoline group are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen, in the presence of an alkyl lithium or magnesium to give a compound of formula which is further dehydrated, hydrogenated and reacted with SOCl₂ to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are CN and the substituents that are not CN are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises reacting a compound of formula wherein R' is a protecting benzyl group and one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are a tert-butylaminocarbonyl or an oxazole group and the substituents which are not a tert-butylaminocarbonyl or an oxazole group are as defined in Claim 8, with SOCl₂, POCl₃ or PCl₅ to give a compound of formula wherein R' is a protecting benzyl group, one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are CN and the substituents that are not CN are as defined in Claim 8 and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises: (a) diazotizing a compound of formula (I) wherein R', R₄, R₅ and n are as defined in Claim 1 and one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are NH₂ and the substituents which are not NH₂ are as defined in Claim 1 to give a compound of formula (I) wherein one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are CN and the substituents which are not CN are as defined in Claim 1; or (b) hydrogenating a compound of formula (I) wherein R', R₄, R₅ and n are as defined in Claim 1 and one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are NO₂ and the substituents which are not NO₂ are as defined in claim 1, to give a compound of formula (I) wherein R' is H, R₄, R₅ and n as defined above and one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are NH₂ and the substituents which are not NH₂ are as defined in Claim 1; or (c) nitration of a compound of formula (I) wherein R', R₄, R₅ and n are as defined before in Claim 1 and one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are H and the substituents which are not H are as defined in claim 1, to give a compound of formula (I) wherein one or more of the substituents R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are NO₂ and the substituents which are not NO₂ are as defined in Claim 1; and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises: (a) hydrogenating a compound of formula wherein R' and n are as defined in Claim 1 and R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, NH₂, CN, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen, to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R', R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ and n are as defined above; or (b) hydrogenating a compound of formula wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined above and R' is a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group, to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined above; and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises hydrogenating a compound of formula wherein R', R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 11 to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁, R'₂ and n are as defined in Claim 11 and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises reacting a compound of formula wherein R' is a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group, n is 1 to 4 and R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂, which can be the same or different, are H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, OCH₃, NO₂, NH₂, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F or halogen, by a hydrogen transfer reaction to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ and n are as defined above and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. A process for the preparation of a therapeutically active substituted imidazole of the formula (I) as defined in Claim 1 which process comprises reacting a compound of formula wherein R' and n are as defined in Claim 1 and R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are as defined in Claim 13, by a hydrogen transfer reaction to give a compound of formula (I) which is wherein R₁, R₂, R'₁ and R'₂ are as defined in claim 13 and if desired the resulting compound of formula (I) is transformed into a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.

Inventors: KALAPUDAS ARJA MARKETTA, KARJALAINEN ARTO JOHANNES, LAHDE MATTI ANTERO, LAMMINTAUSTA RISTO ARVO SAKARI, PELKONEN REINO OLAVI, SODERVALL MARJA-LIISA, KALAPUDAS, ARJA MARKETTA, KARJALAINEN, ARTO JOHANNES, LAHDE, MATTI ANTERO, LAMMINTAUSTA, RISTO ARVO SAKARI, PELKONEN, REINO OLAVI, SODERVALL, MARJA-LIISA
Applicants: ORION YHTYMAE OY, ORION-YHTYMAE OY
Application year: 1991
Main classification: C07D233
IPC codes: A61K31, A61P35, A61P43, C07D233