Imidazole compounds, their preparation and use as calcium channel blockers

Abstract: The present invention discloses compounds of the formula wherein R' and R'' independently of each other are hydrogen or alkyl, or R' and R'' together form a 3 to 6 membered alkylene chain; n is 1 or 2; R¹ is phenyl which may be substituted one or more times with halogen, CF₃, alkoxy, alkyl, or amino; and R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of each other are hydrogen, halogen, amino, CF₃, alkyl or alkoxy; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof. The compounds are useful as pharmaceuticals, for example, in the treatment of ischemia, anoxia, migraine and psychosis.

Description: The present invention relates to therapeutical active compounds and their use as well as to pharmaceutical preparations comprising the compounds. The compounds of the invention possess valuable activity as calcium channel blockers which make them useful in the treatment of anoxia, ischemia, psychosis and migraine for example. It is well known that an accumulation of calcium (calcium overload) in the brain is seen after anoxia, ischemia, migraine and other hyperactivity periods of the brain, such as after epileptic convulsions. An uncontrolled high concentration of calcium in the cells of the Central Nervous System (CNS) is known to cause most of the degenerative changes connected with the above diseases. Therefore compounds which can block the calcium channels of brain cells will be useful in the treatment of anoxia, ischemia, migraine, epilepsia and in the prevention of the degenerative changes connected with the same. Compounds blocking the so called L-type calcium channels in the CNS will be useful for the treatment of the above disorders by directly blocking the calcium uptake in the CNS. Further, it is well known that the so called N- and P-types of calcium channels are involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release. Compounds blocking the N- and/or P-types of calcium channels will indirectly and very powerfully prevent calcium overload in the CNS after the hyperactivity periods of the brain as described above by inhibiting the enhanced neurotransmitter release seen after such hyperactivity periods of the CNS, and especially the neurotoxic enhanced neurotransmitter, glutamate, release after such hyperactivity periods of the CNS. Furthermore, blockers of the N- and/or P-types of calcium channels will as dependent upon the selectivity of the compound in question inhibit the release of various other neurotransmitters such as aspartate, GABA, glycine, dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. Therefore blockers of N- and/or P-types of calcium channels may be useful in the treatment of psychosis, Parkinsonism, depression, epilepsia and other convulsive disorders. Yale et al in U.S.Patent 4,004,016 discloses related compounds having claimed antiinflammatory activity. No biological details appear from this patent. In EP-A1-389765, certain 2-amino-benzimidazoles having calcium antagonistic activity are disclosed. The compounds described herein differ substantially from the compounds of the invention in the substitution in position 1 and 2 of the benzimidazole ring. It is an object of the present invention to provide compounds capable of blocking the L-type and/or the N-type and/or the P-type of calcium channels. The invention then, inter alia , comprises the following, alone or in combination. The use of a compound having the formula: wherein R' and R'' independently of each other are hydrogen or alkyl, or R' and R'' together form a 3 to 6 membered alkylene chain; n is 1 or 2; R¹ is phenyl which may be substituted one or more times with halogen, CF₃, alkoxy, alkyl, or amino; and R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of each other are hydrogen, halogen, amino, CF₃, alkyl or alkoxy; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a disorder which is responsive to the blockade, partly or completely, of calcium channels of the central nervous system of a mammal, including a human; and the use of compounds as above, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of anoxia, ischemia, migraine, epilepsia, and other convulsive disorders; and the use of compounds as above, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of psychosis, Parkinsonism or depression; further the use of compounds as above, for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention of the degenerative changes connected with anoxia, ischemia, migraine, and epilepsia; and the use as any above, wherein the compound employed is 2-Amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof; and the use as any above, wherein the compound employed is 2-Amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-benzimidazole, 2-Amino-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, 2-Amino-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, 2-Dimethylamino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, or 2-Amino-1-(4-dimethylaminobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof; further a compound having the formula wherein R⁵ is chloro, amino, CF₃, alkyl or alkoxy; and R¹³ is chloro, amino, alkyl, or alkoxy, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a compound as above which is 2-Amino-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, 2-Amino-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, 2-Amino-1-(4-dimethylaminobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof; and a compound as above which is 2-Amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof, and furthermore a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disorder of a mammal, including a human, which disorder is responsive to the blockade, partly or completely, of the calcium channels of the central nervous system, comprising an effective amount of a compound in claim 5, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof, together with at least one pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier or diluent. Preferred compounds according to the present invention are those which are substituted at R⁵ and R¹³ as described above, wherein both of R⁵ and R¹³ are different from hydrogen. More preferred compound are those wherein R⁵ is chloro, amino, CF₃, alkyl or alkoxy and, simultaneously, R¹³ is chloro, amino, alkoxy or alkyl. The most preferred compound according to the present invention is 2-amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole. Examples of pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salts include inorganic and organic acid addition salts such as the hydrochloride, hydrobromide, phosphate, sulphate, citrate, lactate, tartrate, maleate, fumarate, mandelate, oxalate, benzoate, ascorbate, cinnamate and the acetate. Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine; chlorine and bromine are preferred groups. Alkyl means a straight chained or branched chain of from one to six carbon atoms or cyclic alkyl of from three to seven carbon atoms, including but not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl; methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl are preferred groups. Alkoxy is O-alkyl, wherein alkyl is as defined above. Amino is NH₂ or NH-alkyl or N-(alkyl)₂, wherein alkyl is as defined above. The compounds can be prepared by conventional methods well known in the art. Such methods include the step of reacting a compound having the formula wherein n, R¹, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ have the meanings set forth above, with BrCN to form a compound of the invention, and if the 2-amino group of the end product is intended to be alkyl substituted, then by a following alkylation with the relevant alkylhalogenide or another suitable alkylating reagent. The starting compounds are well known compounds, either as commercial available compounds, or easily available according published litterature. Biology A high influx of calcium from extracelluar compartments into neurons is seen after opening of voltage operated calcium channels. Such opening of calcium channels may be induced by depolarization of neuronal membranes. A crude synaptosome preparation contains small vesicles surrounded by neuronal membranes, and it is possible to study an opening of the voltage operated calcium channels in such a preparation. In the below described test influx of ⁴⁵Ca into rat synaptosomes is studied under depolarized conditions. The effect of test substances on the depolarization induced calcium uptake can thus be studied. The calcium influx measured in this test is believed to represent the P- and L-type of calcium channels and compounds believed to block both the P- and the L-type of calcium channels will often exhibit a bifasic dose/response curve. The compounds of the present invention which potently block the calcium influx of up to 20 to 40% in this test are believed to be blockers of predominantly the P-type of calcium channels and the compounds of the present invention, which at somewhat higher concentrations block the calcium influx more completely or totally, are believed to be both P- and L-type calcium channel blockers, or predominantly L-type of calcium channel blockers. Test Procedure The cerebral cortex from a male Wistar rat is homogenized in 20 ml ice cold 0.32M saccharose. In the following steps the temperature is kept at 0°C to 4°C. The homogenate is centrifuged at 1,000 x g for 10 minutes and the supernatant recentrifuged for 20 minutes at 18,000 x g. The obtained pellet is resuspended in 0.32M saccharose (10 ml per g of original tissue). Aliquots of 0.05 ml of the hereby obtained synaptosome suspension are added to glass tubes containing 0.625 ml of a NaCl buffer (136 mM NaCl, 4 mM KCl, 0.35 mM CaCl₂, 1.2 mM MgCl₂, 20 mM Tris HCl, 12 mM glucose, pH 7.4) as well as 0.025 ml of different test substances in 48% ethanol. These tubes are pre-incubated for 30 minutes on ice and thereafter for 6 minutes at 37°C. ⁴⁵Ca uptake is initiated by addition to above glass-tubes of 0.4 ml ⁴⁵CaCl₂ (specific activity: 29-39 Ci/g; 0.5 Ci per tube). For depolarized samples the 0.4 ml ⁴⁵CaCl₂ contain KCl (145 mM) and for non-depolarized NaCl (145 mM). The samples are incubated for 15 seconds. The ⁴⁵Ca uptake is stopped by filtering through glass fibre filters, which are subsequently washed 3 times with an ice cold solution of 145 mM KCl, 7 mM EGTA and 20 mM Tris HCl, pH 7.4 (5.0 ml). The radioactivity on the filters are measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Experiments are performed in duplicate. Sample preparation Above test substances are dissolved in, for example, 10 ml 48% ethanol at a concentration of 0.44 mg/ml. Dilutions are made in ethanol. Test substances are tested at concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 .... µg/ml. Results Generally the compounds of the present invention in a low micromolar range (0.5 to 2µM) block 20 to 40% of the calcium influx measured in the above described test. Examples of such compounds are compounds 1F, 1M and 1O, as described herein. Other compounds of the present invention also show the characteristics of L-type calcium channel blocking properties at somewhat higher concentrations. It has been found (electrophysiological studies using the patch-clamp technique as described by Hamill et al., Pflügers Arch. 391 , 85-100 (1981)), that compounds of the invention block the N-type of calcium channels in a low micromolar range (1 to 20µM). Some compounds of the invention also block the L-type calcium channels. Therefore the compounds are useful in the treatment of anoxia, ischemia and migraine (see also WO 91/07980). Further it has been found that the compounds of the invention, for example 1-(4-chlorobenzyll)-5-trifluoromethyl-2-amino-benzimidazole potently (3mg/kg) antagonize hypermotility in mice as induced by amphetamine. This is in full accordance with the influence of N- and P-type calcium channel blockers on transmitter release in the central nervous system. Therefore the compounds of the invention are useful as anti-psychotics for example. Pharmaceutical Compositions The compounds of the invention, together with a conventional adjuvant, carrier, or diluent, may be placed into the form of pharmaceutical compositions and unit dosages thereof, and in such form may be employed as solids, such as tablets or filled capsules, or liquids such as solutions, suspensions, emulsions, elixirs, or capsules filled with the same, all for oral use, in the form of suppositories for rectal administration; or in the form of sterile injectable solutions for parenteral (including subcutaneous) use. Such pharmaceutical compositions and unit dosage forms thereof may comprise conventional ingredients in conventional proportions, with or without additional active compounds or principles, and such unit dosage forms may contain any suitable effective amount of the active ingredient commensurate with the intended daily dosage range to be employed. Tablets containing ten (10) milligrams of active ingredient or, more broadly, one (1) to one hundred (100) milligrams, per tablet, are accordingly suitable representative unit dosage forms. Method of Treating Due to the high degree of activity, the compounds of the invention may be administered to a subject, e.g., a living animal body, in need of alleviation, treatment, or amelioration of a disorder which is responsive to the activity or influence of the compounds of the present invention including responsive to the Ca overload blocking properties of the compounds of the invention. The compounds of the invention are preferably administered in the form of an acid addition salt thereof, concurrently, simultaneously, or together with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier or diluent, especially and preferably in the form of a pharmaceutical composition thereof, whether oral, rectal, or parenteral (including subcutaneous) route, in an effective amount. Suitable dosage ranges are 1-500 milligrams daily, preferably 1-100 milligrams daily, and especially 1-30 milligrams daily, depending as usual upon the exact mode of administration, form in which administered, the indication toward which the administration is directed, the subject involved and the body weight of the subject involved, and the preferences and experience of the physician or veterinarian in charge. The following examples will illustrate the invention further, however they are not to be construed as limiting. EXAMPLE 1. 2-Amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole. To an ice cooled solution of 2-(4-chlorobenzylamino)-5-trifluoromethylaniline hydrochloride (6.74 g, 20 mmol) in DMF (100 ml) and triethylamine (2.8 ml) was added cyanogen bromide (2.75 g, 26 mmol). The ice bath was removed after two hours and the mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and neutralized with an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate (5%). The product was filtered off and purified with activated charcoal and crystallization from ethanol. Yield 2.93 g (45%). EXAMPLE 2. 2-(4-Chlorobenzylamino)-5-trifluoromethylaniline hydrochloride. A solution of 2-(4-chlorobenzylamino)-5-trifluoromethylnitrobenzene (70 g, 0.21 mmol) in ethanol (500 ml) was hydrogenated at a pressure of 4 bar. When the reaction was finished the product was filtered through a plug of celite into a flask containing 25 ml conc. HCl. After evaporation the product was suspended in petrol ether and filtered off. Yield 57 g. EXAMPLE 3. 2-(4-Chlorobenzylamino)-5-trifluoromethylnitrobenzene. A mixture of 4-chloro-3-nitrobensotriflouride (159 g,0.7 mol), 4-chlorobenzylamine (100 g, 0.7 mol) and potassium carbonate (110 g, 0.8 mol) in DMF (500 ml) was slowly heated to 80°C and kept at that temperature for 3 h. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool and diluted with water to a volume of 4 l. The product was filtered off, rinsed with water and sucked dry. The crystals were then suspended in petrol ether (400 ml) and stirred for 1 h. Filtration and drying gave the product in a yield of 209 g (90 %). EXAMPLE 4. 2-Amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-benzimidazole. A mixture of 2-amino benzimidazole (6.66 g, 50 mmol), 4-chlorobenzylchloride (8.86 g, 55 mmol), and potassium carbonate (13.8 g, 100 mmol) in DMF (150 ml) was heated to 50°C overnight. After dilution with water the product was filtered off. Recrystallization from water/ethanol 1:2 gave pure product. Yield 5.6 g (46%) mp 196-197°C. EXAMPLE 5. 1 Benzyl-2-(1-piperidyl)-benzimidazole. A mixture of 1-benzylbenzimidazol-2-one (1.0 g, 4.4 mmol) and POCl₃ (10 ml) was refluxed for two hours. Dilution with ice/water was followed by extraction with ethyl acetate, drying (MgSO4) and evaporation left a yellow oil to which was added piperidine (10 ml) and toluene (15 ml). This mixture was refluxed for 5 days. Water and more toluene was added and the phases were separated. The organic phase was washed twice with water and the product was transferred to 4 M HCl, washed with ethyl acetate, made basic by the addition of 4M aqueous NaOH, taken up in methylene chloride, dried and evaporated. The product was then purified by chromatography on silica gel with methylene chloride + 4% ethanol as the eluent. Yield 150 mg. Mp. 84-87°C. EXAMPLE 6. 1-(4-Chlorobenzyl)-2-dimethylamino-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole. A mixture of 2-amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole (1.0 g, 3.07 mmol), methyl iodide (4.35 g, 30.7 mmol), and potassium carbonate (0.93 g, 6.75 mmol) in methanol (20 ml) was refluxed for one week. The methanol was removed in vacuum and the product was taken up in ethyl acetate. Washing with water was followed by drying and evaporation and the product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel with methylene chloride/methanol 9:1 as the eluent. Mp 103-107°C.

Claims: The use of a compound having the formula wherein R' and R'' independently of each other are hydrogen or alkyl, or R' and R'' together form a 3 to 6 membered alkylene chain; n is 1 or 2; R¹ is phenyl which may be substituted one or more times with halogen, CF₃, alkoxy, alkyl, or amino; and R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of each other are hydrogen, halogen, amino, CF₃, alkyl or alkoxy; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a disorder, which is responsive to the blockade, partly or completely, of calcium channels of the central nervous system of a mammal, including a human. The use of a compound having the formula, wherein R' and R'' independently of each other are hydrogen or alkyl, or R' and R'' together form a 3 to 6 membered alkylene chain; n is 1 or 2; R¹ is phenyl which may be substituted one or more times with halogen, CF₃, alkoxy, alkyl, or amino; and R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of each other are hydrogen, halogen, amino, CF₃, alkyl or alkoxy; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof, for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of anoxia, ischemia, migraine, epilepsia and other convulsive disorders, psychosis, Parkinsonism, depression, and for the prevention of the degenerative changes connected with anoxia, ischemia, migraine and epilepsia. The use as in claim 1, wherein the compound employed is 2-Amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof. The use as in claim 1, wherein the compound employed is 2-Amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-benzimidazole, 2-Amino-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, 2-Amino-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, 2-Dimethylamino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, or 2-Amino-1-(4-dimethylaminobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof. A compound having the formula wherein R⁵ is chloro, amino, CF₃, alkyl or alkoxy; and R¹³ is chloro, amino, alkyl, or alkoxy, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A compound of claim 5 which is 2-Amino-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, 2-Amino-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, or 2-Amino-1-(4-dimethylaminobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof. A compound of claim 5 which is 2-Amino-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disorder of a mammal, including a human, which disorder is responsive to the the blockade, partly or completely, of the calcium channels of the central nervous system, comprising an effective amount of a compound of claim 5, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salt thereof, together with at least one pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier or diluent. A method of preparing a pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of a disorder, which is responsive to the blockade, partly or completely, of calcium channels of the central nervous system, comprising mixing as active ingredient an effective amount of a compound of claim 5 with at least one pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier and/or diluent. A method of preparing a compound having the formula wherein R⁵ is chloro, amino, CF₃, alkyl or alkoxy; and R¹³ is chloro, amino, alkyl, or alkoxy, comprising the step of reacting a compound having the formula wherin R⁵ and R¹³ have the meanings set forth above, with BrCN to form a compound of the invention.

Inventors: AXELSSON OSKAR, MOLDT PETER, THANING MIKKEL, AXELSSON, OSKAR, MOLDT, PETER, THANING
Applicants: NEUROSEARCH AS, NEUROSEARCH A/S
Application year: 1992
Main classification: C07D235
IPC codes: A61P3, A61K31, A61P9, C07D235, A61P25