Quinoline derivatives as tachykinin NK3 receptor antagonists

Abstract: NK 3 receptor antagonists of formula (I): are useful in treating inter alia pulmonary disorders, CNS disorders and neurodegenerative disorders.

Description: The present invention relates to novel quinoline derivatives, processes for their preparation and their use in medicine. The mammalian peptide Neurokinin B (NKB) belongs to the Tachykinin (TK) peptide family which also include Substance P (SP) and Neurokinin A (NKA). Pharmacological and molecular biological evidence has shown the existence of three subtypes of TK receptor (NK 1 , NK 2 and NK 3 ) and NKB binds preferentially to the NK 3 receptor although it also recognises the other two receptors with lower affinity (Maggi et al, 1993 , J . Auton. Pharmacol ., 13, 23-93). Selective peptidic NK 3 receptor antagonists are known (Drapeau, 1990 Regul. Pept ., 31, 125-135), and findings with peptidic NK 3 receptor agonists suggest that NKB, by activating the NK 3 receptor, has a key role in the modulation of neural input in airways, skin, spinal cord and nigro-striatal pathways (Myers and Undem, 1993, J.Phisiol., 470, 665-679; Counture et al., 1993, Regul. Peptides, 46, 426-429; Mccarson and Krause, 1994, J. Neurosci., 14 (2), 712-720; Arenas et al. 1991, J.Neurosci., 11, 2332-8). However, the peptide-like nature of the known antagonists makes them likely to be too labile from a metabolic point of view to serve as practical therapeutic agents. We have now discovered a novel class of selective, non-peptide NK 3 antagonists which are far more stable from a metabolic point of view than the known peptidic NK 3 receptor antagonists and are of potential therapeutic utility in treating pulmonary disorders (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases -COPD-, airway hyperreactivity, cough), skin disorders and itch (for example, atopic dermatitis and cutaneous wheal and flare), neurogenic inflammation and CNS disorders (Parkinson's disease, movement disorders, anxiety and psychosis). These disorders are referred to hereinafter as the Primary Disorders. The novel NK 3 antagonists of the present invention are also of potential therapeutic utility in treating convulsive disorders (for example epilepsy), renal disorders, urinary incontinence, ocular inflammation, inflammatory pain, eating disorders (food intake inhibition), allergic rhinitis, neurodegenerative disorders (for example Alzheimer's disease), psoriasis, Huntington's disease, and depression (hereinafter referred to as the Secondary Disorders). According to the present invention there is provided a compound, or a solvate or salt thereof, of formula (I): Wherein, Ar is phenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-thienyl or cyclohexadienyl; R is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, -COOMe, -COMe; R 1 and R 2 are each hydrogen or methyl; R 3 is hydrogen, methoxy, or hydroxy; R 4 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, hydroxy, amino, chlorine, bromine, dimethylaminoethoxy, 2-(1-phthaloyl)ethoxy, aminoethoxy, 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethoxy, dimethylaminopropoxy, dimethylaminoacetylamino, acetylamino, and dimethylaminomethyl. R 5 is phenyl, 2-thienyl, 2-furyl, 2-pyrryl, 2-thiazolyl and 3-thienyl; and X is oxygen; With the priviso that said compound of formula(I) is not N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide. The compounds of formula (I) or their salts or solvates are preferably in pharmaceutically acceptable or substantially pure form. By pharmaceutically acceptable form is meant, inter alia, of a pharmaceutically acceptable level of purity excluding normal pharmaceutical additives such as diluents and carriers, and including no material considered toxic at normal dosage levels. A substantially pure form will generally contain at least 50% (excluding normal pharmaceutical additives), preferably 75%, more preferably 90% and still more preferably 95% of the compound of formula (I) or its salt or solvate. One preferred pharmaceutically acceptable form is the crystalline form, including such form in pharmaceutical composition. In the case of salts and solvates the additional ionic and solvent moieties must also be non-toxic. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of a compound of formula (I) include the acid addition salts with the conventional pharmaceutical acids, for example maleic, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, phosphoric, acetic, fumaric, salicylic, citric, lactic, mandelic, tartaric, succinic, benzoic, ascorbic, and methanesulphonic. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable solvates of a compound of formula (I) include hydrates. The compounds of formula (I) may have at least one asymmetric centre and therefore may exist in more than one stereoisomeric form. The invention extends to all such forms and to mixtures thereof, including racemates. The invention also provides a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) which comprises reacting a compound of formula (III) in which R', R' 1 , R' 2 and Ar' are R, R 1 , R 2 and Ar as defined for formula (I) or a group or atom convertible to R, R 1 , R 2 and Ar, with a compound of formula (II) or an active derivative thereof, in which R' 3 , R' 4 , R' 5 and X' are R 3 , R 4 , R 5 and X as defined for formula (I) or a group convertible to R 3 , R 4 , R 5 and X, to form a compound of formula (Ic) and optionally thereafter performing one or more of the following steps: (a) where R', R' 1 to R' 5 , Ar' and X' are other than R, R 1 to R 5 , Ar and X, converting any one of R', R' 1 to R' 5 , Ar' and X' to R, R 1 to R 5, Ar and X to obtain a compound of formula (I), (b) where R', R' 1 to R' 5 , Ar' and X' are R, R 1 to R 5 , Ar and X, converting any one of R, R 1 to R 5 , Ar and X to another R, R 1 to R 5 , Ar and X, to obtain a compound of formula (I), (c) forming a salt and/or solvate of the obtained compound of formula (Ic). Suitable active derivatives of the compounds of formula (II) are acid halides (preferably chlorides), acid azides or acid anhydrides. Another suitable derivative is a mixed anhydride formed between the acid and an alkyl chloroformate; another suitable derivative is an activated ester such as a cyanomethyl ester, thiophenyl ester, p-nitrophenyl ester, p-nitrothiophenyl ester, 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl ester, pentachlorophenyl ester, pentafluorophenyl ester, N-hydroxy-phtalimido ester, N-hydroxypiperidine ester, N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, N-hydroxy benzotriazole ester; or the carboxy group may be activated using a carbodiimide or N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole. For example, in standard methods well known to those skilled in the art, the compounds of formula (III) may be coupled: (a) with an acid chloride in the presence of an inorganic or organic base in a suitable aprotic solvent such as dimethylformamide (DMF) at a temperature in a range from -70 to 50°C (preferably in a range from -10 to 20°C), (b) with the acid in the presence of a suitable condensing agent, such as for example N,N'-carbonyl diimidazole (CDI) or a carbodiimide such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) or N-dimethylaminopropyl-N'-ethylcarbodiimide and N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) to maximise yields and avoid racemization processes ( Synthesis, 453 , 1972 ) in an aprotic solvent such as a mixture of acetonitrile (MeCN) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) in a ratio from 1 : 9 to 7 : 3, respectively, at a temperature in a range from -70 to 50°C (preferably in a range from -10 to 25°C) (see Scheme 1), (c) with a mixed anhydride generated in situ from the acid and an alkyl (for example isopropyl) chloroformate in a suitable aprotic solvent such as dichloromethane at a temperature in a range from -70 to 50°C (preferably in a range from -20 to 20°C). It will be appreciated that a compound of formula (Ic) may be converted to a compound of formula (I), or one compound of formula (I) may be converted to another compound of formula (I), by interconversion of suitable substituents. Thus, certain compounds of formula (I) and (Ic) are useful intermediates in forming other compounds of the present invention. For example R' 2 may be hydrogen and converted to R 2 alkyl group, for example methyl, by conventional amide alkylation procedures (Zabicky, The chemistry of amides ; Interscience, London, 1970, p. 749). When X' is oxygen, it may be converted to X sulphur by standard thioamide formation reagents, such as P 2 S 5 ( Chem. Rev., 61 , 45, 1961 or Angew . Chem ., 78, 517, 1966 ) or the Lawesson reagent ( Tetrahedron , 41 , 5061, 1985 ). When Ar' or R' 5 is a methoxy substituted phenyl, it may be converted to another Ar' or R' 5 hydroxy substituted phenyl by standard demethylation procedures via Lewis acids, such as boron tribromide ( Synthesi s, 249, 1983 ) or mineral acids, such as hydrobromic or hydroiodic acid. When R is an alkoxycarbonyl group, for example methoxycarbonyl, it may be converted to another R, such as ethoxycarbonyl by transesterification with an appropriate alcohol at a temperature in a range from 20 to 120°C, carboxy by hydrolysis in acidic or basic medium, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl by transamidation with ammonia, a primary amine or a secondary amine in methanol as solvent at a temperature in a range from 10 to 120°C, optionally in the presence of a catalytic amount of NaCN ( J. Org. Chem ., 52 , 2033, 1987 ) or by using trimethylaluminium (Me 3 Al) ( Tetrahedron Letters , 48 , 4171, 1977 ), hydroxymethyl by a selective metal hydride reduction, such as lithium borohydride reduction ( Tetrahedron, 35 , 567, 1979 ) or sodium borohydride reduction in THF + MeOH ( Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan , 57 , 1948, 1984 or Synth. Commun ., 12 , 463, 1982 ), alkylcarbonyl by acyl chloride formation and subsequent reaction with alkylmagnesium halides in THF as solvent at a temperature in a range from -78 to 30°C ( Tetrahedron Letters , 4303, 1979 ) or with alkylcadmium halides or dialkylcadmium in the presence of MgCl 2 or LiCl ( J. Org. Chem, 47 , 2590, 1982 ). Another group which R' as methoxycarbonyl can be converted into is a substituted heteroaromatic ring, such as an oxadiazole ( J. Med . Chem., 34 , 2726, 1991 ). Scheme 2 summarizes some of the above described procedures to convert a compound of formula (Ic) or (I) in which X' is oxygen, R' is COOMe, Ar' and R' 1 to R' 5 are as described for formula (I) to another compound of formula (I). The compounds of formula (I) may be converted into their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts by reaction with the appropriate organic or mineral acids. Solvates of the compounds of formula (I) may be formed by crystallization or recrystallization from the appropriate solvent. For example, hydrates may be formed by crystallization or recrystallization from aqueous solutions, or solutions in organic solvents containing water. Also salts or solvates of the compounds of formula (I) which are not pharmaceutically acceptable may be useful as intermediates in the production of pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates. Accordingly such salts or solvates also form part of this invention. As mentioned before, the compounds of formula (I) may exist in more than one stereoisomeric form and the process of the invention may produce racemates as well as enantiomerically pure forms. To obtain pure enantiomers, appropriate enantiomerically pure primary or secondary amines of formula (IIId) or (IIIe) are reacted with compounds of formula (II), to obtain compounds of formula (I'd) or (I'e). Compounds of formula (I'd) or (I'e) may subsequently be converted to compounds of formula (Id) or (Ie) by the methods of conversion mentioned before. Compounds of formula (II) are known compounds or can be prepared from known compounds by known methods. For example, the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 , R' 4 and R' 5 are hydrogen is described in Pfitzinger, J. Prakt. Chem ., 38 , 582, 1882 and in Pfitzinger, J. Prakt. Chem., 56 , 293, 1897 ; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 and R' 4 are hydrogen and R' 5 is 2-pyridyl is described in Risaliti, Ric . Scient., 28 , 561, 1958 ; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 and R' 4 are hydrogen and R' 5 is o -, m- and p- chlorophenyl, o -fluorophenyl and 3,4-dichlorophenyl are described in Brown et al ., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 68 , 2705, 1946 ; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 and R' 4 are hydrogen and R' 5 is p- methoxyphenyl is described in Ciusa and Luzzatto, Gazz . Chim. Ital., 44 , 64, 1914 ; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 and R' 4 are hydrogen and R' 5 is m- trifluoromethylphenyl is described in Shargier and Lalezari, J. Chem. Eng. Data, 8 , 276, 1963 ; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 and R' 4 are hydrogen and R' 5 is p- fluorophenyl is described in Bu Hoi et al., Rec Trav. Chim., 68 , 781, 1949; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 and R' 4 are hydrogen and R' 5 is p -methylphenyl is described in Prevost et al ., Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci., 258 , 954, 1964 ; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 and R' 4 are hydrogen and R' 5 is p- bromophenyl is described in Nicolai et al, Eur. J . Med. Chem ., 27, 977, 1992 ; the compound of formula (II) in which X' is oxygen, R' 4 and R' 5 are hydrogen and R' 3 is 6-methyl is described in Buchmann and Howton, J . Am. Chem. Soc., 68 , 2718, 1946 ; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 4 and R' 5 are hydrogen and R' 3 is 8-nitro is described in Buchmann et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 69 , 380, 1947 ; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 4 is hydrogen, R' 3 is 6-chloro, R' 5 is p-chlorophenyl is described in Lutz et al., J . Am. Chem . Soc., 68 , 1813, 1946 ; the compound of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 and R' 4 are hydrogen and R' 5 is 2-thiazolyl is described in Eur. Pat. Appl. EP 112,776 ; compounds of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 is 8-trifluoromethyl, R' 4 is hydrogen and R' 5 are phenyl, o - and p -fluorophenyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, p -methoxyphenyl are described in Nicolai et al., Eur. J. Med . Chem ., 27 , 977, 1992 ; compounds of formula (II), in which X' is oxygen, R' 3 is 6-bromo, R' 4 is hydrogen and R' 5 are phenyl or p -fluorophenyl are described in Nicolai et al ., Eur . J. Med. Chem ., 27, 977, 1992 ; other compounds of formula (II) are described in Ger. Offen. DE 3,721,222 and in Eur. Pat. Appl. EP 384,313. Compounds of formula (III), (IIId) and (IIIe) are commercially available compounds or can be prepared from known compounds by known methods (for example, compounds of formula (III) in which R' is alkoxycarbonyl, R' 1 and R' 2 are hydrogen and Ar' is as defined for the compounds of formula (I), are described in Liebigs Ann. der Chemie, 523 , 199, 1936 ). The activity of the compounds of formula (I) as NK 3 receptor antagonists in standard tests indicates that they are of potential therapeutic utility in the treatment of both the Primary and Secondary Disorders herein before referred to. The discovery that NK 3 receptor antagonists have potential therapeutic utility in treating the Secondary Disorders is new, and in a further aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of an NK 3 receptor antagonist for the treatment of the Secondary Disorders. There is also provided the use of an NK 3 receptor antagonist in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of any of the Secondary Disorders. The present invention also provides a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for use as an active therapeutic substance. The present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also provides the use of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of the Primary and Secondary Disorders. Such a medicament, and a composition of this invention, may be prepared by admixture of a compound of the invention with an appropriate carrier. It may contain a diluent, binder, filler, disintegrant, flavouring agent, colouring agent, lubricant or preservative in conventional manner. These conventional excipients may be employed for example as in the preparation of compositions of known agents for treating the conditions. Preferably, a pharmaceutical composition of the invention is in unit dosage form and in a form adapted for use in the medical or veterinarial fields. For example, such preparations may be in a pack form accompanied by written or printed instructions for use as an agent in the treatment of the conditions. The suitable dosage range for the compounds of the invention depends on the compound to be employed and on the condition of the patient. It will also depend, inter alia, upon the relation of potency to absorbability and the frequency and route of administration. The compound or composition of the invention may be formulated for administration by any route, and is preferably in unit dosage form or in a form that a human patient may administer to himself in a single dosage. Advantageously, the composition is suitable for oral, rectal, topical, parenteral, intravenous or intramuscular administration. Preparations may be designed to give slow release of the active ingredient. Compositions may, for example, be in the form of tablets, capsules, sachets, vials, powders, granules, lozenges, reconstitutable powders, or liquid preparations, for example solutions or suspensions, or suppositories. The compositions, for example those suitable for oral administration, may contain conventional excipients such as binding agents, for example syrup, acacia, gelatin, sorbitol, tragacanth, or polyvinylpyrrolidone; fillers, for example lactose, sugar, maize-starch, calcium phosphate, sorbitol or glycine; tabletting lubricants, for example magnesium stearate; disintegrants, for example starch, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, sodium starch glycollate or microcrystalline cellulose; or pharmaceutically acceptable setting agents such as sodium lauryl sulphate. Solid compositions may be obtained by conventional methods of blending, filling, tabletting or the like. Repeated blending operations may be used to distribute the active agent throughout those compositions employing large quantities of fillers. When the composition is in the form of a tablet, powder, or lozenge, any carrier suitable for formulating solid pharmaceutical compositions may be used, examples being magnesium stearate, starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, rice flour and chalk. Tablets may be coated according to methods well known in normal pharmaceutical practice, in particular with an enteric coating. The composition may also be in the form of an ingestible capsule, for example of gelatin containing the compound, if desired with a carrier or other excipients. Compositions for oral administration as liquids may be in the form of, for example, emulsions, syrups, or elixirs, or may be presented as a dry product for reconstitution with water or other suitable vehicle before use. Such liquid compositions may contain conventional additives such as suspending agents, for example sorbitol, syrup, methyl cellulose, gelatin, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, aluminium stearate gel, hydrogenated edible fats; emulsifying agents, for example lecithin, sorbitan monooleate, or acacia; aqueous or non-aqueous vehicles, which include edible oils, for example almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, oily esters, for example esters of glycerine, or propylene glycol, or ethyl alcohol, glycerine, water or normal saline; preservatives, for example methyl or propyl p-hydroxybenzoate or sorbic acid; and if desired conventional flavouring or colouring agents. The compounds of this invention may also be administered by a non-oral route. In accordance with routine pharmaceutical procedure, the compositions may be formulated, for example for rectal administration as a suppository. They may also be formulated for presentation in an injectable form in an aqueous or non-aqueous solution, suspension or emulsion in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid, e.g. sterile pyrogen-free water or a parenterally acceptable oil or a mixture of liquids. The liquid may contain bacteriostatic agents, anti-oxidants or other preservatives, buffers or solutes to render the solution isotonic with the blood, thickening agents, suspending agents or other pharmaceutically acceptable additives. Such forms will be presented in unit dose form such as ampoules or disposable injection devices or in multi-dose forms such as a bottle from which the appropriate dose may be withdrawn or a solid form or concentrate which can be used to prepare an injectable formulation. The compounds of this invention may also be administered by inhalation, via the nasal or oral routes. Such administration can be carried out with a spray formulation comprising a compound of the invention and a suitable carrier, optionally suspended in, for example, a hydrocarbon propellant. Preferred spray formulations comprise micronised compound particles in combination with a surfactant, solvent or a dispersing agent to prevent the sedimentation of suspended particles. Preferably, the compound particle size is from about 2 to 10 microns. A further mode of administration of the compounds of the invention comprises transdermal delivery utilising a skin-patch formulation. A preferred formulation comprises a compound of the invention dispersed in a pressure sensitive adhesive which adheres to the skin, thereby permitting the compound to diffuse from the adhesive through the skin for delivery to the patient. For a constant rate of percutaneous absorption, pressure sensitive adhesives known in the art such as natural rubber or silicone can be used. As mentioned above, the effective dose of compound depends on the particular compound employed, the condition of the patient and on the frequency and route of administration. A unit dose will generally contain from 20 to 1000 mg and preferably will contain from 30 to 500 mg, in particular 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, or 500 mg. The composition may be administered once or more times a day for example 2, 3 or 4 times daily, and the total daily dose for a 70 kg adult will normally be in the range 100 to 3000 mg. Alternatively the unit dose will contain from 2 to 20 mg of active ingredient and be administered in multiples, if desired, to give the preceding daily dose. No unacceptable toxicological effects are expected with compounds of the invention when administered in accordance with the invention. The present invention also provides a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of the Primary and Secondary Conditions in mammals, particularly humans, which comprises administering to the mammal in need of such treatment and/or prophylaxis an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. The invention further provides a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of the Secondary Conditions in mammals, particularly humans, which comprises administering to the mammal in need of such treatment and/or prophylaxis an effective amount of an NK 3 receptor antagonist. The activity of the compounds of the present invention, as NK 3 ligands, is determined by their ability to inhibit the binding of the radiolabelled NK 3 ligands, [ 125 I]-[Me-Phe 7 ]-NKB or [ 3 H]-Senktide, to guinea-pig and human NK 3 receptors (Renzetti et al, 1991 , Neuropeptide, 18 , 104-114; Buell et al, 1992 , FEBS, 299(1) , 90-95; Chung et al, 1994 , Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun ., 198(3) , 967-972). The binding assays utilized allow the determination of the concentration of the individual compound required to reduce by 50% the [ 125 I]-[Me-Phe 7 ]-NKB and [ 3 H]-Senktide specific binding to NK 3 receptor in equilibrium conditions (IC50). Binding assays provide for each compound tested a mean IC 50 value of 2-5 separate experiments performed in duplicate or triplicate. The most potent compounds of the present invention show IC 50 values in the range 1-1000 nM; in particular, in guinea-pig cortex membranes by displacement of [ 3 H]-Senktide, the compounds of the Examples 22, 47, 48, and 85 display K i s (nM) of 5.6, 8.8, 12.0 and 4.8 respectively (n=3). The NK 3 -antagonist activity of the compounds of the present invention is determined by their ability to inhibit senktide-induced contraction of the guinea-pig ileum (Maggi et al, 1990 , Br. J. Pharmacol. , 101 , 996-1000) and rabbit isolated iris sphincter muscle (Hall et al., 1991 , Eur. J. Pharmacol., 199 , 9-14) and human NK 3 receptors-mediated Ca ++ mobilization (Mochizuki et al, 1994 , J. Biol. Chem., 269, 9651-9658). Guinea-pig and rabbit in-vitro functional assays provide for each compound tested a mean K B value of 3-8 separate experiments, where K B is the concentration of the individual compound required to produce a 2-fold rightward shift in the concentration-response curve of senktide. Human receptor functional assay allows the determination of the concentration of the individual compound required to reduce by 50% (IC 50 values) the Ca ++ mobilization induced by the agonist NKB. In this assay, the compounds of the present invention behave as antagonists. The therapeutic potential of the compounds of the present invention in treating the conditions can be assessed using rodent disease models. The following Descriptions illustrate the preparation of the intermediates, whereas the Examples illustrate the preparation of the compounds of the present invention. The compounds of the Examples are summarised in the Tables 1 to 6. DESCRIPTION 1 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid chloride 11.7 ml (136.3 mmol) of oxalyl chloride were dissolved in 150 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 . The solution was cooled at -10°C and 20 g (80.2 mmol) of commercially available 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were added portionwise. The reaction mixture was left overnight at room temperature and then evaporated to dryness to yield 22 g of the title compound, used without further purification. C 16 H 10 ClNO M.W. = 267.76 DESCRIPTION 2 7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid 5 g (28.2 mmol) of 6-methoxyisatin, 4 ml (33.8 mmol) of acetophenone and 5.2 g (92.6 mmol) of potassium hydroxide were dissolved in 22.9 ml of abs. EtOH and the slurry heated at 80°C for 42 hours. After cooling of the reaction mixture, 50 ml of water were added and the solution extracted with 50 ml of Et 2 O. The ice-cooled aqueous phase was acidified to pH 1 with 37% HCl and the precipitate collected by filtration and washed with water. The solid obtained was dried in-vacuo at 40°C to yield 7.0 g of the title compound. C 17 H 13 NO 3 M.P. = 226-228°C M.W. = 279.30 Elemental analysis Calcd. C,73.11; H,4.69; N,5.01; Found C,72.07; H,4.59; N,4.90. LR. (KBr): 3420; 1630 cm -1 . DESCRIPTION 3 7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid chloride 2.8 ml (32.3 mmol) of oxalyl chloride were dissolved in 60 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 . The solution was cooled at -10°C and 6 g (19.0 mmol) of 7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were added portionwise. The reaction mixture was left overnight at room temperature and then evaporated to dryness to yield 7 g of the title compound, used without further purification. C 17 H 12 ClNO 2 M.W. = 297.74 DESCRIPTION 4 7-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid hydroiodide 1.5 g (5.4 mmol) of 7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were added portionwise to 50 ml of 57% aqueous HI. The reaction mixture was refluxed and vigourously stirred for 5 hours; then it was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to yield 2.1 g of the title compound. C 16 H 11 NO 3 . HI M.W. = 393.17 I.R. (KBr): 3120; 1650; 1620 cm -1 . DESCRIPTION 5 2-(2-thienyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid 5 g (34.0 mmol) of isatin, 4.4 ml (40.8 mmol) of 2-acetylthiophene and 6.3 g (112.2 mmol) of potassium hydroxide were dissolved in 40 ml of abs. EtOH and the slurry heated at 80°C for 16 hours. After cooling of the reaction mixture, 50 ml of water were added and the solution extracted with 50 ml of Et 2 O. The ice-cooled aqueous phase was acidified to pH 1 with 37% HCl and the precipitate collected by filtration and washed with water. The crude product obtained was dried in-vacuo at 40°C and triturated with EtOAc to yield 4.8 g of the title compound. C 14 H 9 NO 2 S M.P. = 181-183°C M.W. = 255.29 I.R. (KBr): 1620 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 8.60 (d, 1H); 8.45 (s, 1H); 8.10 (m, 2H); 7.78 (m, 2H); 7.68 (t, 1H); 7.22 (m, 1H). DESCRIPTION 6 2-(2-furyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid 5 g (34.0 mmol) of isatin, 4 ml (40.8 mmol) of 2-acetylfuran and 6.3 g (112.2 mmol) of potassium hydroxide were dissolved in 40.9 ml of abs. EtOH and the slurry heated at 80°C for 12 hours. After cooling of the reaction mixture, 50 ml of water were added and the solution extracted with 50 ml of Et 2 O. The ice-cooled aqueous phase was acidified to pH 1 with 37% HCl and the precipitate collected by filtration and washed with water. The crude product obtained was dried in-vacuo at 40°C to yield 8.5 g of the title compound. C 14 H 9 NO 3 M.W. = 239.23 DESCRIPTION 7 2-(2-furyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid chloride 5.2 ml (60.4 mmol) of oxalyl chloride were dissolved in 70 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 . The solution was cooled at -10°C and 8.5 g (35.5 mmol) of 2-(2-furyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid were added portionwise. The reaction mixture was left overnight at room temperature and then evaporated to dryness to yield 9.2 g of the title compound, used without further purification. C 14 H 8 ClNO 2 M.W. = 257.78 DESCRIPTION 8 2-(4-pyridyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid hydrochloride 5 g (34.0 mmol) of isatin, 4.5 ml (40.8 mmol) of 4-acetylpyridine and 6.3 g (112.2 mmol) of potassium hydroxide were dissolved in 40 ml of abs. EtOH and the slurry heated at 80°C for 12 hours. After cooling of the reaction mixture, 50 ml of water were added and the solution extracted with 50 ml of Et 2 O. The ice-cooled aqueous phase was acidified to pH 1 with 37% HCl and the precipitate collected by filtration and washed with water. The aqueous solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, the residue triturated with EtOH and filtered off. Evaporation of the solvent afforded 6.0 g of the crude title compound. This product was combined with the previously obtained precipitate and recrystallized from toluene containing traces of MeOH to yield 4.5 g of the title compound. C 15 H 10 N 2 O 2 .HCl M.P. = 297-301°C M.W. = 286.72 I.R. (KBr): 1705; 1635; 1610 cm-1. 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 8.90 (d, 2H); 8.70 (m, 2H); 8.50 (s, 2H); 8.28 (d, 1H); 7.89 (dt, 2H). DESCRIPTION 9 2-(4-pyridyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid chloride hydrochloride 1.3 ml (10.4 mmol) of oxalyl chloride were dissolved in 60 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 . The solution was cooled at -10°C and 3.0 g (14.4 mmol) of 2-(4-pyridyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid hydrochloride were added portionwise. The reaction mixture was left 72 hours at room temperature and then evaporated to dryness to yield 4.0 g of the title compound, used without further purification. C 15 H 9 ClN 2 O · HCl M.W. = 305.22 EXAMPLE 1 (R,S)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 1.2 ml (9.4 mmol) of (R,S) α-methylbenzylamine and 1.6 ml (11.7 mmol) of triethylamine (TEA) were dissolved, under nitrogen athmosphere, in 50 ml of a 1:1 mixture of dry CH 2 Cl 2 and CH 3 CN. 2.0 g (7.8 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carbonylchloride, dissolved in 50 ml of a 1:4 mixture of dry CH 2 Cl 2 and DMF, were added dropwise to the ice-cooled solution of the amines and the reaction was kept at 0°- 5°C for 1 hour and left at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, the residue was dissolved in EtOAc and washed twice with a sat. sol. of NaHCO 3 . The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 , filtered and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residual oil was crystallized from EtOAc to yield 1.1 g of the title compound as a white solid. C 24 H 20 N 2 O M.P. = 156-157°C M.W. = 352.43 Elemental analysis Calcd. C,81.79; H,5.72; N,7.95; Found C,81.99; H,5.69; N,7.89. I.R. (KBr): 3240;1645 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.29 (d, 1H); 8.32 (d, 2H); 8.13 (d, 1H); 8.13 (s, 1H); 8.06 (d, 1H); 7.81 (ddd, 1H); 7.68-7.52 (m, 4H); 7.47 (d, 2H); 7.39 (dd, 2H); 7.27 (dd, 1H); 5.30 (dq, 1H); 1.52 (d, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 352 (M+.); 337; 232; 204; 77. EXAMPLE 2 S-(+)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as Ex. 1 from 1.2 ml (9.4 mmol) of S-(-)-α-methylbenzylamine, 1.6 ml (11.7 mmol) of TEA, 2.0 g (7.8 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carbonylchloride in 100 ml of a mixture of CH 2 Cl 2 , CH 3 CN and DMF. The work-up of the reaction mixture was carried out in the same manner as described in Ex. 1. The residual oil was crystallized from EtOAc to yield 1.1 g of the title compound. C 24 H 20 N 2 O M.P. = 161-162°C M.W. = 352.43 [α] D 20 = + 25 (C = 0.5, DMF) I.R. (KBr): 3240; 1645 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.29 (d, 1H); 8.32 (d, 2H); 8.13 (d, 1H); 8.13 (s, 1H); 8.06 (d, 1H); 7.81 (ddd, 1H); 7.68-7.52 (m, 4H); 7.47 (d, 2H); 7.39 (dd, 2H); 7.27 (dd, 1H); 5.30 (dq, 1H); 1.52 (d, 3H). MS spactra was identical to that of the Ex. 1. EXAMPLE 3 R-(-)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as Ex. 1 from 1.2 ml (9.4 mmol) of R-(+)-α-methylbenzylamine, 1.6 ml (11.7 mmol) of TEA and 2.0 g (7.8 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carbonylchloride in 100 ml of a mixture of CH 2 Cl 2 , CH 3 CN and DMF. The work-up of the reaction mixture was carried out in the same manner as described in Ex. 1. The residual oil was crystallized from EtOAc to yield 1.1 g of the title compound. C 24 H 20 N 2 O M.P. = 158-160°C M.W. = 352.43 [α] D 20 = - 25 (C = 0.5, DMF) I.R. (KBr): 3240; 1645 cm -1 . The 1 H-NMR and MS spectra were identical to those of the Ex. 1 and Ex. 2. EXAMPLE 4 (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 2.0 g (8.0 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were dissolved, under nitrogen athmosphere, in 130 ml of dry THF and 100 ml of CH 3 CN. 2.0 g (9.9 mmol) of (D,L) methyl phenylglicinate hydrochloride and 1.5 ml (10.7 mmol) of TEA were added and the reaction mixture was cooled at 5°C. 2.5 g (12.1 mmol) of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), dissolved in 10 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise and the solution was allowed to reach room temperature, stirred for 5 hours and left overnight. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and then washed with H 2 O. The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 6.0 g of a crude product which was dissolved in 20 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and left overnight. Some more dicyclohexylurea precipitated and was filtered off. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness and the residue flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with a mixture of hexane/ethyl acetate 3:2 containing 0.5% NH 4 OH. The crude solid obtained was triturated with warm i -Pr 2 O, filtered, washed and dried to yield 1.1 g of the title compound. C 25 H 20 N 2 O 3 M.P. = 170-172°C M. W. = 396.45 Elemental analysis Calcd. C,75.74; H,5.09; N,7.07; Found C,75.88; H,5.12; N,7.06. I.R. (nujol): 3240; 1750; 1670 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.72 (d, 1H); 8.28 (dd, 2H); 8.20 (dd, 1H); 8.13 (dd, 1H); 8.11 (s, 1H); 7.83 (ddd, 1H); 7.66 (ddd, 1H); 7.60-7.50 (m, 5H); 7.47-7.37 (m, 3H); 5.78 (d, 1H); 3.72 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 396 (M+.); 337; 232; 204. EXAMPLE 5 (+)-(S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 2.0 g (8.0 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were dissolved, under nitrogen athmosphere, in 70 ml of dry THF and 30 ml of CH 3 CN. 1.7 g (8.4 mmol) of (L) methyl phenylglicinate hydrochloride, 1.1 ml (9.9 mmol) of N-methylmorpholine and 2.1 g (15.5 mmol) of N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) were added and the reaction mixture was cooled at 0°C. 1.85 g (9.0 mmol) of DCC, dissolved in 10 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise and the solution was kept at 0°- 5°C for 1 hour and then at room temperature for 2 hours. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the solution evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with H 2 O, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 , 5% citric acid, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 and sat. sol. NaCl. The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness; the residue was dissolved in 20 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and left overnight. Some more dicyclohexylurea precipitated and was filtered off. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 2.6 g of a crude product which was triturated with petroleum ether, filtered, washed with i- Pr 2 O and then recrystallized from 70 ml of i- PrOH to yield 1.7 g of the title compound. C 25 H 20 N 2 O 3 M.P. = 180-181°C M.W. = 396.45 I.R. (nujol): 3300; 1750; 1640 cm -1 . [α] D 20 = +42.0 (C = 0.5, MeOH). The 1 H-NMR and MS spectra were identical to those of Ex. 4. EXAMPLE 6 (-)-(R)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as Ex. 5 from 2.0 g (8.0 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid, 1.7 g (8.4 mmol) of (D) methyl phenylglicinate hydrochloride, 1.1 ml (9.9 mmol) of N-methylmorpholine, 2.1 g (15.5 mmol) of HOBT and 1.85g (9.0 mmol) of DCC in 70 ml of dry THF and 30 ml of CH 3 CN. The work-up of the reaction mixture was carried out in the same manner as described in Ex. 5. The crude product obtained (3.5 g) was triturated twice with warm i- Pr 2 O, filtered, washed and then recrystallized from 80 ml of i- PrOH to yield 2.3 g of the title compound. C 25 H 20 N 2 O 3 M.P. = 180-181°C M.W. = 396.45 I.R. (nujol): 3300; 1750; 1640 cm -1 . [α] D 20 = -42.0 (C = 0.5, MeOH). The 1 H-NMR and MS spectra were identical to those of Exs. 4 and 5. EXAMPLE 7 (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 1.0 g (5.0 mmol) of (D,L) methyl phenylglicinate hydrochloride were dissolved, under nitrogen athmosphere, in 30 ml of dry DMF. 2.5 g (18.1 mmol) of anhydrous potassium carbonate were added and the solution cooled at 0°C. 0.7 g (2.3 mmol) of the compound of Description 3, dissolved in 25 ml of dry DMF, were added dropwise and the solution was kept at 0°- 5°C for 1 hour and at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness and the residue was dissolved in EtOAc and washed twice with H 2 O. The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 , filtered and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residual oil was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with a mixture of hexane/ethyl acetate 3:2 containing 0.5% NH 4 OH to afford 0.1 g of the crude product which was triturated with i- Pr 2 O to yield 0.08 g of the title compound. C 26 H 22 N 2 O 4 M.P. = 187-190°C M.W. = 426.48 I.R. (KBr): 3220; 1750; 1660; 1620 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ: 8.13-8.08 (m, 3H); 7.80 (s, 1H); 7.55-7.38 (m, 9H); 7.21 (dd, 1H); 7.02 (d broad, H); 5.88 (d, 1H); 3.97 (s,3H); 3.80 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 426 (M+.); 367 ; 262 ; 234; 191;77. EXAMPLE 8 (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-7-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as Ex. 5 from 2.1 g (5.3 mmol) of the compound of Description 4, 1.08 g (5.3 mmol) of (D,L) methyl phenylglicinate hydrochloride, 1.5 ml (10.7 mmol) of TEA, 1.7 g (12.5 mmol) of HOBT and 1.2 g (5.8 mmol) of DCC in 70 ml of dry THF and 30 ml of CH 3 CN. The work-up of the reaction mixture was carried out in the same manner as described in Ex. 5. The crude product obtained was triturated with i- Pr 2 O and then recrystallized twice from i- PrOH to yield 0.06 g of the title compound. C 25 H 20 N 2 O 4 M.P. = 256-257°C M.W. = 412.45 I.R. (KBr): 3270; 1750; 1650; 1620 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 10.30 (s broad, 1H); 9.64 (d, 1H); 8.22 (d, 2H); 8.04 (d, 1H); 7.85 (s, 1H); 7.60-7.34 (m, 9H); 7.21 (dd, 1H); 5.74 (d, 1H); 3.71 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 412 (M+.); 353; 248; 220; 77. EXAMPLE 9 (R,S)-N-[α-(carboxy)benzyl]-7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride 0.18 g (0.4 mmol) of the product of Ex. 7 were dissolved in 10 ml of 10% HCl and 5 ml of dioxane. The reaction mixture was refluxed and stirred for 3 hours, then evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The crude product was triturated with warm EtOAc (containing a few drops of EtOH) to yield 0.16 g of the title compound. C 25 H 20 N 2 O 4 .HCl M.P. = 228-230°C M.W. = 448.91 I.R. (KBr): 3180; 1735; 1655; 1630 cm -1 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.6 (d, 1H); 8.26 (dd, 2H); 8.14 (d, 1H); 7.98 (s, 1H); 7.63-7.52 (m, 6H); 7.46-7.36 (m, 3H); 7.33 (dd, 1H); 5.66 (d, 1H); 3.98 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 412 (M+.); 368 ; 262; 234; 191; 77. EXAMPLE 10 (R,S)-N-[α-(methylaminocarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 0.45 g (1.1 mmol) of the product of Ex. 4 were dissolved in 40 ml of 33% MeNH 2 /EtOH; a catalitic amount of NaCN was added and the reaction mixture was heated at 70°C for 1 hour in a parr apparatus. The internal pressure rised to 40 psi. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness and the residue was triturated with water, filtered, dried and recrystallized from a mixture of i- PrOH (50 ml) and EtOH (30 ml) to yield 0.2 g of the title compound. C 25 H 21 N 3 O 2 M.P. = 261-263°C M.W. = 395.47 Elemental analysis Calcd. C,75.93; H.5.35; N,10.63; Found C,75.65; H,5.34; N,10.55. I.R. (KBr): 3300; 3270; 1660; 1635 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.48 (d, 1H); 8.33-8.25 (m, 3H); 8.18-8.10 (m, 3H); 7.80 (ddd, 1H); 7.68-7.50 (m, 6H); 7.40-7.28 (m, 3H); 5.75 (d, 1H); 2.63 (d,3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 395 (M+.); 337; 232; 204; 77. EXAMPLE 11 (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-thienyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as Ex. 5 from 2.0 g (7.3 mmol) of 2-(2-thienyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid, 1.7 g (8.4 mmol) of (D,L) methyl phenylglicinate hydrochloride, 1.1 ml (10 mmol) of N-methylmorpholine, 2.1 g (15.5 mmol) of HOBT and 1.85 g (9.0 mmol) of DCC in 70 ml of dry THF, 30 ml of CH 3 CN and 10 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 . The work-up of the reaction mixture was carried out in the same manner as described in Ex. 5. The crude product obtained was crystallized from EtOAc and then recrystallized from abs. EtOH to yield 0.9 g of the title compound. C 23 H 18 N 2 O 3 S M.P. = 178-180°C M.W. = 402.47 Elemental analysis Calcd. C,68.64; H,4.51; N,6.96; Found C,67.50; H,4.99; N,7.43. I.R. (KBr): 3300; 1745; 1645 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.70 (d, 1H); 8.12 (d, 1H); 8.08 (s, 1H); 8.04 (d, 1H); 8.02 (d, 1H); 7.19 (t, 1H); 7.76 (d, 1H); 7.62 (t, 1H); 7.53 (d, 2H); 7.46-7.37 (m, 3H); 7.3 (dd, 1H); 5.68 (d, 1H); 3.68 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 402 (M+.); 343; 238; 210; 77. EXAMPLE 12 (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-furyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as Ex. 1 from 7.2 g (35.5 mmol) of (D,L) methyl phenylglicinate hydrochloride, 12.4 ml (88.8 mmol) of TEA and 9.1 g (35.5 mmol) of crude 2-(2-furyl)quinoline-4-carbonylchloride in 350 ml of a mixture of CH 2 Cl 2 , CH 3 CN and DMF. The work-up of the reaction mixture was carried out in the same manner as described in Ex. 1. The crude product obtained was triturated with MeOH to yield 3.3 g of the title compound. C 23 H 18 N 2 O 4 M.P. = 178-180°C M.W. = 386.405 Elemental analysis Calcd. C,71.49; H,4.70; N,7.25; Found C,71.67; H,4.74; N,7.17. I.R. (KBr): 3300; 1750; 1650 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.72 (d, 1H); 8,12 (d, 1H); 8.06 (d, 1H); 7.96 (dd, 1H); 7.92 (s, 1H); 7.80 (ddd, 1H); 7.62 (ddd, 1H); 7.52 (dd, 2H); 7.45-7.35 (m, 4H); 6.73 (dd, 1H); 5.77 (d, 1H); 3.74 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 386 (M+.); 327; 222; 194; 77. EXAMPLE 13 (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(4-pyridyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as Ex. 1 from 3.4 g (16.7 mmol) of (D,L) methyl phenylglicinate hydrochloride, 3.9 ml (27.8 mmol) of TEA and 3.0 g (11.1 mmol) of 2-(4-pyridyl)quinoline-4-carbonylchloride in 100 ml of a mixture of CH 2 Cl 2 , CH 3 CN and DMF. The work-up of the reaction mixture was carried out in the same manner as described in Ex. 1. The crude product obtained was recrystallized three times from EtOAc to yield 1.9 g of the title compound. C 24 H 19 N 3 O 3 M.P. = 172-174°C M.W. = 397.43 Elemental analysis Calcd. C,72.53; H,4.82; N,10.57; Found C,71.87; H,4.87; N,10.44. I.R. (KBr): 3240; 1750; 1670 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.74 (d, 1H); 8.79 (dd, 2H); 8.27-8.17 (m, 5H); 7.89 (ddd, 1H); 7.74 (ddd, 1H); 7.54 (dd, 2H); 7.47-7.38 (m, 3H); 5.8 (d, 1H); 3.75 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 397 (M+.); 338; 233; 205; 77. EXAMPLE 14 (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-thienylmethyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as Ex. 1 from 1.94 g (9.4 mmol) of (D,L) methyl thienylglicinate hydrochloride, 2.7 ml (19.5 mmol) of TEA and 2.0 g (7.8 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carbonylchloride in 100 ml of a mixture of CH 2 Cl 2 , CH 3 CN and DMF. The work-up of the reaction mixture was carried out in the same manner as described in Ex. 1. The crude product obtained was recrystallized three times from EtOAc to yield 0.66 g of the title compound. C 23 H 18 N 2 O 3 S M.P. = 144-145°C M.W. = 402.47 Elemental analysis Calcd. C,68.64; H,4.51; N,6.96; Found C,68.81; H,4.46; N,6.96. I.R. (KBr): 3295; 1745; 1640 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 8.25 (dd, 1H); 8.22 (dd, 1H); 8.17 (dd, 2H); 7.95 (s, 1H); 7.78 (ddd, 1H); 7.60 (ddd, 1H); 7.56-7.45 (m, 3H); 7.35 (dd,1H) ; 7.20 (d, 1H); 7.05 (dd, 1H); 7.05 (s broad, 1H); 6.22 (d, 1H); 3.9 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 402 (M+.); 343; 232; 204. EXAMPLE 15 (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as Ex. 5 from 1.39 g (5.60 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid, 1.2 g (5.60 mmol) of (R,S) methyl 3-amino-3-phenylpropionate hydrochloride, 0.78 ml (5.60 mmol ) of TEA, 1.51 g (11.2 mmol) of HOBT and 2.31 g (11.2 mmol) of DCC in 10 ml of dry THF, 4 ml of CH 3 CN and 7 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 . The work-up of the reaction mixture was carried out in the same manner as described in Ex. 5. The crude product obtained was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and left at 0°C overnight. Some more dicyclohexylurea precipitated and was filtered off. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 1.4 g of a crude product which was triturated with a mixture of i- Pr 2 O/acetone 99:1 to yield 1.2 g of the title compound as a white solid. C 26 H 22 N 2 O 3 M.P. = 156-158°C M.W. = 410.47 Elemental analysis Calcd. C,76.07; H,5.40; N,6.82; Found C,75.77; H,5.38; N,6.94. I.R. (KBr): 3295; 1755; 1645; 1590; 1530 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.40 (d, 1H); 8.29 (dd, 2H); 8.14 (d, 1H); 8.07 (d, 1H); 8.04 (s, 1H); 7.83 (ddd, 1H); 7.66-7.52 (m, 4H); 7.50 (d, 2H); 7.40 (dd, 2H); 7.31 (ddd, 1H); 5.60 (dt, 1H); 3.65 (s, 3H); 3.04-2.89 (m, 2H). MS (EI; source 200 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 410 (M+.); 337; 233; 205. EXAMPLE 92 (R,S)-N-[α-(Methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(p-chlorophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide 2 g (7.0 mmol) of 2-(p-chlorophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid and 1.7 ml (15.4 mmol) of N-methylmorpholine were dissolved, under nitrogen athmosphere, in 50 ml of dry THF. The solution was cooled to -20°C and 0.91 ml (7.0 mmol) of isobutyl chloroformate were added. After 20 minutes, 2.12 g (10.5 mmol) of methyl (R,S) phenylglycinate hydrochloride and 1.3 ml (11.9 mmol) of N-methylmorpholine, dissolved in 30 ml of dry THF, were added and the reation mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. 5 ml of H 2 O were added and the reaction mixture was evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in Et 2 O, washed with a saturated solution of NaHCO 3 , separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residual oil was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with a mixture of hexane/isopropyl ether 7 : 3 to afford 0.9 g of crude product, which was recrystallized three times with iPrO 2 /toluene to yield 0.5 g of the title compound. C 25 H 19 ClN 2 O 3 M.P. = 170-172 °C M.W. = 430.90 Elemental analysis Calcd. C, 69.72; H, 4.45; N, 6.50 Found C, 69.82; H, 4.47; N, 6.48 I.R. (KBr): 3280; 1740; 1670; 1635; 1590; 1530 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): 9.71 (d, 1H); 8.32 (d, 2H); 8.21 (d, 1H); 8.13 (d, 1H); 8.13 (s, 1H); 7.85 (dd, 1H); 7.67 (dd, 1H); 7.63 (d, 2H); 7.53 (dd, 2H); 7.46-7.38 (m, 3H); 5.79 (d, 1H); 3.74 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C;70 eV; 200 µA): 430 (M+.); 371; 266; 238; 203. EXAMPLE 93 (R)-N-[α-(Methoxycarbonyl)-4-methoxybenzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 0.62 g (1.5 mmol) of (R)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxybenzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 83) were dissolved in 30 ml of dry acetone and 2 ml of dry DMF; 0.14 g (0.75 mmol) of K 2 CO 3 were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. 0.093 ml (1.5 mmol) of methyl iodide were added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was heated at 40 °C for 4 hours. 0.104 g (0.75 mmol) of K 2 CO 3 and 0.093 ml (1.5 mmol) of methyl iodide were added again, and the mixture refluxed for additional 6 hours. The mixture was evaporated in vacuo to dryness, dissolved in EtOAc and washed with H 2 O. The organic layer, dried over Na 2 SO 4 , was evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was recrystallized from Et 2 O to yield 0.45 g of the title compound. C 26 H 22 N 2 O 4 M.P. = 160-162 °C M.W. = 426.48 Elemental analysis Calcd. C, 73.22; H, 5.20; N, 6.57 Found C, 73.01; H, 5.20; N, 6.48 I.R. (KBr): 3210; 1750; 1635; 1625; 1590; 1530; 1515 cm -1 300 MHz 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): 9.65 (d, 1H); 8.28 (d, 2H); 8.21 (d, 1H); 8.14 (d, 1H); 8.10 (s, 1H); 7.84 (dd, 1H); 7.67 (dd, 1H); 7.61-7.49 (m, 3H); 7.44 (d, 2H); 6.98 (d, 2H); 4.70 (d, 1H); 3.79 (s, 3H); 3.76 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C;70 eV; 200 µA): 426 (M+.); 367; 232; 204. EXAMPLE 94 (R,S)-N-[α-(Methoxycarbonyl)-α-(methyl)benzyl]-N-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride 0.50 g (1.3 mmol) of (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 4) were dissolved, under nitrogen athmosphere, in 10 ml of dry DMF. The solution was cooled to 0 °C and 0.052 g (1.3 mmol) of NaH (60%) were added; after 20 minutes at 0 °C the temperature was raised to r.t. and 0.09 ml (1.4 mmol) of MeI were added. The reation mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight, then the procedure was repeated by adding additional 0.052 g (1.3 mmol) of NaH (60%) and 0.1 ml (1.6 mmol) of MeI. After 6 hours at room temperature, 10 ml of saturated solution of NH 4 Cl were added and the reaction mixture was evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with water; the organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residual oil was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with a mixture of hexane/ethyl acetate 3 : 2 containing 0.5% of conc. NH 4 OH to afford 0.18 g of a crude product which was dissolved in Et 2 O and treated with HCl/Et 2 O to yield 0.15 g of the title compound. C 27 H 24 N 2 O 3 .HCl M.W. = 460.96 I.R. (KBr): 1745; 1640; 1610 cm -1 . MS (EI; source 200 °C;70 eV; 200 µA): 424 (M+.); 365; 232; 204. EXAMPLE 95 (R,S)-N-[α-(Methylcarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 0.27 ml (3.1 mmol) of oxalyl chloride were dissolved, under nitrogen athmosphere, in 2.3 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 . The solution was cooled to -55 °C and 0.22 ml (3.1 mmol) of DMSO, dissolved in 0.7 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise maintaining the temperature below -50 °C. The reaction was stirred at -55°C for 7 minutes then 0.97 g (2.5 mmol) of (R,S)-N-[α-(1-hydroxyethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 17), dissolved in 25 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 , were added keeping the temperature between -50 and -55 °C. After 30 minutes at -55 °C, 1.9 ml (13.6 mmol) of TEA were added without exceeding -40 °C, then the reaction mixture was allowed to reach room temperature and stirred for additional 15 minutes. The reaction was quenched with 5 ml of H 2 O and extracted with CH 2 Cl 2 ; the organic layer was washed with H 2 O, 20% citric acid, saturated solution of NaHCO 3 and brine; the organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residual oil was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with a mixture of hexane/ethyl acetate 70 : 30 containing 0.5% of conc. NH 4 OH to afford 0.64 g of a crude product which was triturated with warm i- Pr 2 O/ i- PrOH 2 : 1, filtered, washed and dried to yield 0.5 g of the title compound. C 25 H 20 N 2 O 2 M.P. = 160-161 °C M.W. = 380.45 Elemental analysis Calcd. C, 78.93; H, 5.30; N, 7.36; Found C, 79.01; H, 5.31; N, 7.27. I.R. (KBr): 3400; 3265; 1725; 1660; 1640; 1592 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): 9.60 (d, 1H); 8.29 (d, 2H); 8.17 (d, 1H); 8.14 (d, 1H); 8.12 (s, 1H); 7.82 (dd, 1H); 7.65 (dd, 1H); 7.61-7.51 (m, 5H); 7.48-7.36 (m, 3H); 2.19 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C;70 eV; 200 µA): 380 (M+.); 337; 232; 204. EXAMPLE 96 (R,S)-N-[α-(2-Hydroxyethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 0.7 g (1.7 mmol) of (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 15) were dissolved, under nitrogen athmosphere, in 50 ml of t -BuOH and 2 ml of MeOH. 60 mg (1.6 mmol) of NaBH 4 were added in 15 minutes to the boiling solution. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 6 hours, quenched with 5 ml of saturated solution of NH 4 Cl and then evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with brine; the organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The crude product was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with Et 2 O containing 0.5% of conc. NH 4 OH and then crystallized from i- PrOH to yield 0.19 g of the title compound. C 25 H 22 N 2 O 2 M.P. = 167-169 °C M.W. = 382.47 Elemental analysis Calcd. C, 78.52; H, 5.80; N, 7.32; Found C, 78.49; H, 5.79; N, 7.29. I.R. (KBr): 3360; 1650; 1592 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): 9.30 (d, 1H); 8.31 (d, 2H); 8.13 (d, 1H); 8.10 (s, 1H); 8.03 (d, 1H); 7.81 (dd, 1H); 7.64-7.51 (m, 4H); 7.46 (d, 2H); 7.39 (dd, 2H); 7.29 (dd, 1H); 5.30 (dt, 1H); 4.61 (t, 1H); 3.61-3.41 (m, 2H); 2.11-1.86 (m, 2H). MS (EI; source 200 °C;70 eV; 200 µA): 382 (M+.); 337; 232; 204. EXAMPLE 97 (S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride 0.62 g (1.6 mmol) of (S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 85) were dissolved in 30 ml of dry DMF. 0.58 g (4.0 mmol) of dimethylaminoethylchloride hydrochloride and 0.56 g (4.0 mmol) of K 2 CO 3 were added and the reaction mixture was refluxed for 20 hours. The K 2 CO 3 was filtered off and the mixture was evaporated in vacuo to dryness, dissolved in AcOEt and washed with H 2 O and with 20% citric acid. The aqueous layer was made alkaline with 2 N NaOH and extracted with EtOAc; the organic layer was washed with brine, separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with CH 2 Cl 2 /MeOH 98 : 2 containing 0.4% of conc. NH 4 OH and then with CH 2 Cl 2 /MeOH 86 : 10 containing 0.6% of conc. NH 4 OH to yield 85 mg of a crude product which was dissolved in EtOAc and treated with HCl/Et 2 O to obtain 75 mg of the title compound. C 29 H 31 N 3 O 2 .HCl M.P. = 70 °C dec. M.W. = 490.05 I.R. (nujol): 3600; 3100; 1650; 1550 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): 10.28 (s br, 1H); 9.50 (d, 1H); 8.10 (d, 1H); 7.96 (dd, 2H); 7.78 (m, 1H); 7.67-7.61 (m, 2H); 7.61-7.51 (m, 3H); 7.49-7.39 (m, 4H); 7.33 (dd, 1H); 5.08 (dt, 1H); 3.90 (t, 2H); 2.96 (dt, 2H); 2.49 (s, 6H); 1.85 (m, 2H); 0.97 (t, 3H). MS (FAB POS, thioglycerol matrix, Xe gas, 8 KeV, source 50 °C): 454 (MH+) EXAMPLE 98 (S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-acetylamino-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 0.40 g (1.05 mmol) of (S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-amino-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 69) were heated in 25 ml of acetic anhydride at 70 °C for 1 hour and then at 100 °C for additional 3 hours. The reaction mixture was then evaporated in vacuo to dryness and the residue dissolved in EtOAc; the solution was washed with water, saturated solution of NaHCO 3 , brine, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The crude product (0.39 g) was purified by silica gel flash column chromatography, eluting with a mixture of hexane/EtOAc/conc. NH 4 OH, 70 : 30 : 0.5, respectively, to afford 0.2 g of a pure compound which was recrystallized from acetone to yield 0.14 g of the title compound. C 27 H 25 N 3 O 2 M.P. = 268-269 °C M. W. = 423.52 Elemental analysis Calcd. C, 76.57; H, 5.95; N, 9.92; Found C, 76.38; H, 5.98; N, 9.90. I.R. (KBr): 3230; 1670; 1640; 1555; 1525 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): 9.65 (s, 1H); 9.05 (d, 1H); 8.10 (d, 1H); 7.80 (t, 1H); 7.70-7.50 (m, 4H); 7.45-7.20 (m, 8H); 5.08 (dt, 1H); 1.85 (m, 2H); 1.60 (s, 3H); 0.97 (t, 3H). MS (EI; source 200 °C;70 eV; 200 µA): 423 (M+.); 381; 334; 289; 261; 247; 218. EXAMPLE 99 (-)-(S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-(3-dimethylaminopropoxy)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride 1.2 g (3.1 mmol) of (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 85) were dissolved in 15 ml of dry THF. 1.0 g (8.2 mmol) of 3-dimethylaminopropylchloride, dissolved in 10 ml of Et 2 O, 1.3 g (9.4 mmol) of K 2 CO 3 and 0.16 g of KI were added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and then refluxed for 2 hours. Further 0.77 g (6.3 mmol), 1.0 g (8.2 mmol), 0.6 g (4.9 mmol) and additional 0.6 g (4.9 mmol) of 3-dimethylaminopropylchloride, dissolved each time in 10 ml of Et 2 O, and some KI were added every 12 hours and the reaction refluxed. The K 2 CO 3 was filtered off and the mixture was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, dissolved in EtOAc and washed with H 2 O and with 20% citric acid. The aqueous layer was made alkaline with 2 N NaOH and extracted with EtOAc; the organic layer was washed with brine, separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with CH 2 Cl 2 /MeOH 95: 5 containing 0.5% of conc. NH 4 OH to yield 0.9 g of a crude product which was dissolved in EtOAc and treated with HCl/Et 2 O to obtain 0.62 g of the title compound. C 30 H 33 N 3 O 2 .HCl M.P. = 108°C dec. M.W. = 504.08 [α] D 20 = - 16.0 (c = 0.5, MeOH) I.R. (KBr): 3400; 3080; 1655; 1545 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 10.55 (s br, 1H); 9.35 (d, 1H); 8.09 (d, 1H); 7.92 (dd, 2H); 7.76 (ddd, 1H); 7.65-7.51 (m, 5H); 7.48-7.40 (m, 4H); 7.31 (dd, 1H); 5.10 (dt, 1H); 3.72-3.62 (m, 2H); 2.75-2.60 (m, 2H); 2.58 (d, 3H); 2.56 (d, 3H); 1.90-1.67 (m, 4H); 1.00 (t, 3H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 467 (M+.); 466; 395; 58. EXAMPLE 100 (-)-(S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-[2-(1-phthaloyl)ethoxy]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride 1.9 g (5.0 mmol) of (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 85) were dissolved in 20 ml of dry THF. 3.8 g (14.9 mmol) of 2-phthalimidoethylbromide, dissolved in 15 ml of THF, 2.0 g (14.5 mmol) of K 2 CO 3 and 0.25 g of KI were added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2.5 hours and then refluxed for 2 hours. 1.9 g (7.4 mmol) of 2-phthalimidoethylbromide and some KI were added and the reaction was refluxed for additional 3.5 hours. 0.5 g (2.0 mmol) of 2-phthalimidoethylbromide and some KI were added again and the mixture was refluxed for 5 hours. The K 2 CO 3 was filtered off and the mixture was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with H 2 O. The organic layer was dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with hexane/EtOAc 80 : 20 containing 0.5% of conc. NH 4 OH and then hexane/EtOAc 60 : 40 containing 0.5% of conc. NH 4 OH to afford 2.6 g of a purified product which was triturated with iPr 2 O to yield 2.5 g of the title compound. C 35 H 29 N 3 O 4 M.P. = 172-175°C M.W. = 555.64 [α] D 20 = - 16.3 (c = 0.5, MeOH) I.R. (KBr): 3280; 3060; 2960; 1780; 1715; 1660; 1530 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.27 (d, 1H); 8.03 (d, 1H); 7.92-7.84 (m, 4H); 7.78-7.69 (m, 3H); 7.60-7.53 (m, 2H); 7.46-7.38 (m, 4H); 7.27 (dd, 1H); 7.13-7.04 (m, 3H); 4.96 (dt, 1H); 3.92-3.78 (m, 2H); 3.72-3.55 (m, 2H); 1.78 (dq, 2H); 0.93 (t, 3H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 555 (M+.), 526, 421, 174. EXAMPLE 101 (-)-(S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-(2-aminoethoxy)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride 2.2 g (3.9 mmol) of (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-[2-(1-phthaloyl)ethoxy]-2-phenyl quinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride (compound of Ex. 101) were dissolved in 150 ml of 96% EtOH and 0.38 ml (7.8 mmol) of hydrazine hydrate were added to the boiling solution, which was then refluxed for 4 hours. Further 0.4 ml (8.2 mmol), 0.2 ml (4.1 mmol), 0.2 ml (4.1 mmol), 0.4 ml (8.2 mmol) and 0.4 ml (8.2 mmol) of hydrazine hydrate were added every 12 hours and the reaction mixture was maintained refluxed. The reaction mixture was then evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, dissolved in 20 ml H 2 O, cooled and acidified with 10 ml conc. HCl. The mixture was boiled for 1 hour and cooled; the phthalydrazide was filtered off. The aqueous layer was washed with EtOAc and then made alkaline with 2 N NaOH and extracted with EtOAc; the organic layer was washed with brine, separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with EtOAc/MeOH 96: 4 containing 1.2% of conc. NH 4 OH to afford a purified product which was dissolved in EtOAc and treated with HCl/Et 2 O to yield 1.2 g of the title compound. C 27 H 27 N 3 O 2 .HCl M.P. = 119°C dec. M.W. = 462.00 [α] D 20 = - 19.4 (c = 0.5, MeOH) I.R. (KBr): 3400; 3080; 1640; 1545 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.45 (d, 1H); 8.09 (d, 1H); 8.00 (dd, 1H); 7.94 (s br, 3H); 7.76 (ddd, 1H); 7.65-7.51 (m, 4H); 7.48-7.40 (m, 3H); 7.31 (dd, 1H); 5.09 (dt, 1H); 3.83 (t, 2H); 2.72 (m, 2H); 1.93-1.80 (m, 2H); 0.99 (t, 3H). MS (FAB POS, thioglycerol matrix; Xe gas, 8 keV; source 50 °C): 426 (MH+). EXAMPLE 102 (+)-(S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethoxy]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride 2.0 g (5.2 mmol) of (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 85) were dissolved in 25 ml of dry THF. 1.0 g (7.5 mmol) of 2-pyrrolidinoethylchloride and 2.2 g (15.9 mmol) of K 2 CO 3 were added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and then refluxed; 1.1 g (8.2 mmol) of 2-pyrrolidinoethylchloride were added to the boiling solution which was refluxed overnight. The K 2 CO 3 was filtered off and the mixture was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, dissolved in EtOAc and washed with H 2 O and 20% citric acid. The aqueous layer was made alkaline with 2 N NaOH and extracted with EtOAc; the organic layer was washed with brine, separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with CH 2 Cl 2 /MeOH 97: 3 containing 0.5% of conc. NH 4 OH to yield 1.8 g of a purified product which was dissolved in EtOAc and treated with HCl/Et 2 O to yield 2.0 g of the title compound. C 31 H 33 N 3 O 2 .HCl M.P. = 110-115 °C (dec.) M.W. = 516.08 [α] D 20 = + 4.5 (c = 0.5, MeOH) I.R. (KBr): 3400; 3080; 1655; 1545 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 10.50 (s br, 1H); 9.50 (d, 1H); 8.10 (d, 1H); 7.96 (dd, 2H); 7.78 (ddd, 1H); 7.68-7.30 (m, 10H); 5.10 (dt, 1H); 3.90 (m, 2H); 3.20 (m, 2H); 3.00 (m, 2H); 2.65 (m, 2H); 1.95-1.65 (m, 6H); 1.94 (t, 3H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 479 (M+.); 478; 383; 97; 84. EXAMPLE 103 (-)-(S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-(dimethylaminoacetylamino)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 1.1 g (2.8 mmol) of (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-amino-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 69) were dissolved, under nitrogen atmosphere, in 10 ml of warm toluene. 0.96 g (5.6 mmol) of chloroacetic anhydride, dissolved in 5 ml of toluene, were dropped and the solution was refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, suspended in 10 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and dropped in 5 ml of ice-cooled 28% Me 2 NH/EtOH. The solution was stirred at room temperature overnight, then 15 ml of 28% Me 2 NH/EtOH were added and the reaction mixture was heated at 60 °C in a parr apparatus. The mixture was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, dissolved in 20% citric acid and washed with EtOAc. The aqueous layer was basified with 2 N NaOH and extracted with EtOAc; the organic layer was washed with brine, separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to afford 1.4 g of the crude product. This product was triturated with warm i- Pr 2 O to yield 0.86 g of the title compound. C 29 H 30 N 4 O 2 M.P. = 189-191 °C M.W. = 466.59 [α] D 20 = - 63.1 (c = 0.5, MeOH) I.R. (KBr): 3230; 3180; 1670; 1630; 1540 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.41 (s, 1H); 8.97 (d, 1H), 8.08 (d, 1H); 7.81 (dd, 1H); 7.70-7.59 (m, 4H); 7.49-7.26 (m, 8H); 5.00 (dt, 1H); 2.55 (s, 2H); 1.97 (s, 3H); 1.90-1.65 (m, 2H); 0.93 (t, 3H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 466 (M+.); 331; 58. EXAMPLE 104 N-(α,α-Dimethylbenzyl)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 2.0 g (7.5 mmol) of 3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were dissolved, under nitrogen atmosphere, in 70 ml of dry THF and 30 ml of CH 3 CN. 1.02 g (7.5 mmol) of cumylamine and 1.12 g (8.3 mmol) of N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) were added and the reaction mixture was cooled at -10°C. 1.71 g (8.3 mmol) of DCC, dissolved in 20 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise and the solution was kept at -5°- 0°C for 2 hours and then at room temperature overnight. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the solution evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with H 2 O, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 , 5% citric acid, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 and brine. The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness; the residue was dissolved in 20 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and left overnight. Some more dicyclohexylurea precipitated and was filtered off. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 1.4 g of a crude product which was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting initially with hexane/EtOAc 9/1 and then hexane/EtOAc 8/2 to afford 0.4 g of the purified product which was recrystallized twice from i- PrOH to yield 0.15 g of the title compound. C 25 H 22 N 2 O 2 M.P. = 166-169°C dec. M.W. = 382.47 I.R. (nujol): 3200; 1650; 1580; 1535 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.56 (s, 1H); 8.92 (s br, 1H); 8.00-7.94 (m, 3H); 7.76 (d br, 1H); 7.63-7.45 (m, 7H); 7.36 (dd; 2H); 7:24 (dd, 1H); 1.72 (s, 6H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 382 (M+.); 264; 247; 219; 119. EXAMPLE 105 N-(α,α-Dimethylbenzyl)-3-amino-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 2.0 g (7.6 mmol) of 3-amino-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were dissolved, under nitrogen atmosphere, in 70 ml of dry THF and 30 ml of CH 3 CN. 1.02 g (7.6 mmol) of cumylamine and 1.12 g (8.3 mmol) of N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) were added and the reaction mixture was cooled at -10°C. 1.72 g (8.3 mmol) of DCC, dissolved in 20 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise and the solution was kept at -5°- 0°C for 2 hours and then at room temperature overnight. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the solution evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with H 2 O, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 , 5% citric acid, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 and brine. The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness; the residue was dissolved in 20 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and left overnight. Some more dicyclohexylurea precipitated and was filtered off. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 2.0 g of a crude product which was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with hexane/EtOAc 6/4 containing 1% of conc. NH 4 OH to afford 0.9 g of the purified product which was recrystallized from hexane/EtOAc 1/1 and then from i- PrOH to yield 0.45 g of the title compound. C 25 H 23 N 3 O M.P. = 166-168°C M.W. = 381.48 I.R. (nujol): 3460; 3360; 3220; 1667; 1605; 1527 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.05 (s, 1H); 7.87 (dd, 1H); 7.74-7.68 (m, 3H); 7.60-7.42 (m, 7H); 7.37 (dd, 2H); 7.24 (dd, 1H); 4.74 (s, 2H); 1.71 (s,6H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 381 (M+.); 263; 218; 119. EXAMPLE 106 (-)-(S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-5-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 0.80 g (3.04 mmol) of 5-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were dissolved, under nitrogen atmosphere, in 30 ml of dry THF and 12 ml of CH 3 CN. 0.43 g (3.20 mmol) of (S)-(-)-α-ethylbenzylamine and 0.78 g (5.78 mmol) of N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) were added and the reaction mixture was cooled at -10°C. 0.69 g (3.34 mmol) of DCC, dissolved in 5 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise and the solution was kept at -5°- 0°C for 2 hours and then at room temperature overnight. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the solution evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with H 2 O, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 , 5% citric acid, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 and brine. The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness; the residue was dissolved in 10 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and left overnight. Some more dicyclohexylurea precipitated and was filtered off. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 1.15 g of a crude product which was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with hexane/EtOAc 6/2 containing 0.5% of conc. NH 4 OH to afford 0.47 g of the purified product which was recrystallized from i- Pr 2 O containing some drops of EtOAc to yield 0.36 g of the title compound as a white powder. C 26 H 24 N 2 O M.P. = 189-192 °C M.W. = 380.49 [α] D 20 = - 3.8 (c = 0.5, MeOH) I.R. (KBr): 3280; 3070; 3020; 1635; 1545 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.20 (d, 1H); 8.23 (d, 2H); 7.93 (d, 1H); 7.78 (s, 1H); 7.20-7.70 (m, 10H); 5.00 (dt, 1H); 2.38 (s broad, 3H); 1.70-1.90 (m, 2H); 0.95 (t, 3H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 380 (M+.); 246; 218. EXAMPLE 107 (R,S)-N-[α-(1-Hydroxyethyl)benzyl]-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as described in Ex. 1, starting from 11.08 g ( 39.33 mmol) of crude 3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carbonylchloride, 4.87 g (32.20 mmol) of 1-phenyl-2-hydroxypropylamine and 10.33 ml (74.14 mmol) of TEA in 150 ml of a 1:1 mixture of dry CH 2 Cl 2 and CH 3 CN. The precipitated TEA hydrochloride was filtered off and the filtrate concentrated in-vacuo to dryness; the residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 (100 ml) and washed with a sat. sol. of NaHCO 3 , 20 % citric acid and brine. The organic solution was dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 13.23 g of an oil, which was crystallized from i- PrO 2 (100 ml) containing 6 ml of i- PrOH to yield 9.14 g of the title compound as an off-white solid. C 26 H 24 N 2 O 2 M.P. = 163-165 °C M.W. = 396.49 I.R. (nujol): 3400; 3260; 1635; 1580 cm -1 . EXAMPLE 108 (R,S)-N-[α-(Methylcarbonyl)benzyl]-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as described in Example 96, starting from 3.25 g (25.60 mmol) of oxalyl chloride, 3.88 g (49.66 mmol) of DMSO, 8.2 g (20.68 mmol) of (R,S)-N-[α-(1-hydroxyethyl)benzyl]-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide (compound of Ex. 108) and 15.72 ml (112.76 mmol) of TEA in 230 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 . The reaction was quenched with 40 ml of H 2 O and the organic layer separated and washed with 20% citric acid, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 and brine. The organic solution was dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to afford 9.4 g of the crude title compound as an oil. This residual oil was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with a mixture of hexane/ethyl acetate 70 : 30 containing 1% of conc. NH 4 OH to afford 7.7 g of the purified product which was crystallized from a mixture of EtOAc/hexane 1 : 3 respectively, to yield 6.0 g of the pure title compound. C 26 H 22 N 2 O 2 M.P. = 156-158 °C M.W. = 394.48 I.R. (nujol): 3270; 3180; 1735; 1725; 1660; 1630; 1527; 1460 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.53 (d, 1H); 8.01 (d, 1H); 7.73 (dd, 1H); 7.62-7.35 (m, 12H); 5.97 (d, 1H); 2.30 (s br, 3H); 2.18 (s, 3H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 394 (M+.); 352; 351; 246; 218; 217. EXAMPLE 109 (R,S)-N-[α-(Ethyl)-4-pyridylmethyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 4.12 g (16.52 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were dissolved, under nitrogen atmosphere, in 40 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 and 30 ml of THF. 1.50 g (11.01 mmol) of 1-(4-pyridyl) -n -propyl amine and 2.23 g (16.52 mmol) of N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) were added and the reaction mixture was cooled at 0°C. 3.41 g (16.52 mmol) of DCC, dissolved in 26 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise and the solution was kept at 0°C for 2 hours and then stirred at room temperature for 36 hours. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the solution evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in 100 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with H 2 O, 10% K 2 CO 3 , 5% citric acid and brine. The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness; the residue was dissolved in 30 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and left overnight. Some more dicyclohexylurea precipitated and was filtered off. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 3.5 g of a crude product which was recrystallized three times from i- PrOH to yield 0.91 g of the title compound. C 24 H 21 N 3 O M.P. = 218-219 °C M.W. = 367.45 I.R. (KBr): 3260; 3060; 1648; 1595; 1545; 1350 cm -1 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.33 (d, 1H); 8.58 (d, 2H); 8.33 (dd, 2H); 8.15 (d, 1H); 8.14 (s, 1H); 8.03 (d, 1H); 7.82 (dd, 1H); 7.66-7.52 (m, 4H); 7.47 (d, 2H); 5.05 (dt, 1H); 1.85 (dq, 2H); 1.00 (t, 3H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 367 (M+.); 338; 232; 204. EXAMPLE 110 (R,S)-N-[α-(Ethyl)-2-thienylmethyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 1.40 g (8.00 mmol) of 1-(2-thienyl) -n -propyl amine hydrochloride and 2.45 ml (17.60 mmol) of TEA were dissolved, under nitrogen atmosphere, in 50 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 and 30 ml of CH 3 CN. 2.0 g (8.00 mmol) of 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid and 1.30 g (9.60 mmol) of N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) were added. 2.48 g (12.00 mmol) of DCC, dissolved in 30 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 36 hours. 50 ml of 10% HCl were added and the solution stirred for aditional 2 hours. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the organic layer washed with 10% citric acid and 10% K 2 CO 3 . The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The crude product was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with a mixture of hexane/EtOAc/CH 2 Cl 2 80 : 15 : 0.5 to afford 2.0 g of a yellow oil which was crystallized from a mixture of toluene/hexane to yield 0.9 g of the pure title compound as white crystals. C 23 H 20 N 2 OS M.P. = 134-137 °C M.W. = 372.49 I.R. (KBr): 3230; 3060; 1630; 1590; 1545 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 9.33 (d, 1H); 8.30 (dd, 2H); 8.15 (d, 1H); 8.13 (d, 1H); 8.08 (s, 1H); 7.84 (ddd, 1H); 7.68-7.51 (m, 4H); 7.44 (dd, 1H); 7.11 (d, 1H); 7.02 (dd, 1H); 5.33 (dt, 1H); 2.10-1.88 (m, 2H); 1.05 (t, 3H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 372 (M+.); 343; 232; 204. EXAMPLE 111 (+)-(S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-dimethylaminomethyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride 5.60 g (21.27 mmol) of 3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were dissolved in 100 ml of dichloroethane. 7.60 g (42.50 mmol) of N-bromosuccinimide and 0.52 g (2.00 mmol) of dibenzoyl peroxide were added and the solution refluxed for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, suspended in 100 ml of 33% Me 2 NH/EtOH and stirred overnight at room temperature. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness, dissolved in 50 ml of 20% K 2 CO 3 and evaporated again in-vacuo to dryness. 50 ml of water were added to the residue and the solution, acidified with 37% HCl, was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The crude residue and 10.8 ml (77.20 mmol) of TEA were dissolved in 50 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 , 50 ml of THF and 100 ml of CH 3 CN. 3.00 g (22.20 mmol) of (S)-(-)-α-ethylbenzylamine, 0.78 g (5.78 mmol) of N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) and 11.9 g (57.90 mmol) of DCC were added and the solution was stirred at room temperature overnight. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the organic layer evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The brown oily residue was dissolved in 100 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and the precipitate was filtered off. The filtrate was extracted three times with 40% citric acid. The acqueous layer, basified with solid K 2 CO 3 , was extracted with CH 2 Cl 2 ; the organic solution dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness afforded 10 g of a brown oil. The crude product was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with a mixture of i- Pr 2 O/CH 2 Cl 2 9 : 1 to afford 2.5 g of a white solid which was dissolved in toluene and left overnight. The DCU precipitated was filtered and the solution, treated with ethanolic HCl, was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The crude product was recrystallized from a mixture of toluene/EtOH to yield 0.7 g of the pure title compound as colourless crystals. C 28 H 29 N 3 O·HCl M.P. = 164-167 °C M.W. = 460.02 [α] D 20 = + 25.3 (c = 1, MeOH) I.R. (KBr): 3440; 3150; 3020; 2560; 2460; 1650; 1540 cm -1 . 300 MHz 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 353 K): δ 9.70 (s br, 1H); 8.10 (d, 1H); 7.85 (dd, 1H); 7.80 (s br, 1H); 7.70-7.10 (m, 12H); 5.15 (dt, 1H); 4.38-4.20 (m, 2H); 2.30 (s, 3H); 2.22 (s, 6H); 2.10-1.82 (m, 2H); 1.00 (t, 3H). MS (EI; source 180 °C; 70 V; 200 mA): 423 (M+.), 380, 288. EXAMPLE 113 (S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-methyl-7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide Prepared as described in Ex. 1, starting from 1.27 g ( 4.09 mmol) of crude 3-methyl-7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carbonylchloride, 0.55 g (4.09 mmol) of (S)-(-)-α-ethylbenzylamine and 1.71 ml (12.27 mmol) of TEA in 24 ml of dry CH 2 Cl 2 and 1 ml of DMF to help solubility. The reaction mixture was stirred 12 hours at room temperture. After being concentrated in-vacuo to dryness, the residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 (30 ml) and washed with 10% NaHCO 3 , 5% citric acid and brine. The organic solution was dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 1.87 g of a crude product, which was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with a mixture of hexane/EtOAc 70 : 30 to afford 0.350 g of a yellow oil. C 27 H 26 N 2 O 2 M.W. = 410.51 I.R. (KBr): 3240; 2965; 2930; 1635; 1535; 1220 cm -1 . EXAMPLE 113 (S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-amino-5-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 0.75 g (2.64 mmol) of 3-amino-5-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were dissolved, under nitrogen atmosphere, in 30 ml of dry THF and 10 ml of CH 3 CN. 0.38 g (2.83 mmol) of (S)-(-)-α-ethylbenzylamine and 0.69 g (5.18 mmol) of N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) were added and the reaction mixture was cooled at -10°C. 0.61 g (2.97 mmol) of DCC, dissolved in 5 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise and the solution was kept at -5°- 0°C for 2 hours, heated at 50 °C for 4 hours and then left at room temperature overnight. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the solution evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with H 2 O, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 , 5% citric acid, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 and brine. The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness; the residue was dissolved in 10 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and left overnight. Some more dicyclohexylurea precipitated and was filtered off. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 0.86 g of a crude product which was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with CH 2 Cl 2 /MeOH/conc. NH 4 OH, 90 : 10 : 0.5 respectively, to afford 0.41 g of the title compound as an oil. C 26 H 25 N 3 O M.W. = 395.50 I.R. (KBr): 3480; 3390; 3230; 3020; 1635; 1615; 1545 cm -1 . EXAMPLE 114 (S)-N-(α-Ethylbenzyl)-3-methoxy-5-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide 1.29 g (4.40 mmol) of 3-methoxy-5-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid were dissolved, under nitrogen atmosphere, in 40 ml of dry THF and 20 ml of CH 3 CN. 0.63 g (4.62 mmol) of (S)-(-)-α-ethylbenzylamine and 1.13 g (8.36 mmol) of N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) were added and the reaction mixture was cooled at -10°C. 1.0 g (4.84 mmol) of DCC, dissolved in 5 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 , were added dropwise and the solution was kept at -5°- 0°C for 2 hours, heated at 50 °C for 4 hours and then left at room temperature overnight. The precipitated dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the solution evaporated in-vacuo to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH 2 Cl 2 and washed with H 2 O, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 , 5% citric acid, sat. sol. NaHCO 3 and brine. The organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated in-vacuo to dryness; the residue was dissolved in 20 ml of CH 2 Cl 2 and left overnight. Some more dicyclohexylurea precipitated and was filtered off. The solution was evaporated in-vacuo to dryness to obtain 2.45 g of a crude product which was flash chromatographed on 230-400 mesh silica gel, eluting with hexane/EtOAc 7 : 2 containing 0.5% of conc. NH 4 OH, to afford 0.28 g of the title compound as an oil. C 27 H 26 N 2 O 2 M.W. = 410.52 I.R. (KBr): 3270; 3020; 1635; 1535 cm -1 .

Claims: A compound, or solvate or salt thereof, of formula (I): wherein, Ar is phenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-thienyl or cyclohexadienyl; R is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, -COOMe, or -COMe; R 1 and R 2 are each hydrogen or methyl; R 3 is hydrogen, methoxy, or hydroxy; R 4 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, hydroxy, amino, chlorine, bromine, dimethylaminoethoxy, 2-(1-phthaloyl)ethoxy, aminoethoxy, 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethoxy, dimethylaminopropoxy, dimethylaminoacetylamino, acetylamino, or dimethylaminomethyl; R 5 is phenyl, 2-thienyl, 2-furyl, 2-pyrryl, 2-thiazolyl or 3-thienyl; and X is oxygen; with the proviso that said compound of formula (I) is not N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide or a salt or solvate therof. A compound of formula (I) as defined in claim 1, selected from the group consisting of: (R,S)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (+)-(S)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(R)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4 carboxamide; (+)-(S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(R)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-7-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-thienyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-furyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(R)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)-1,4-cyclohexadienylmethyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (+)-(R)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-3-ethyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-n-propylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-ethyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-6-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-ethyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-(ethyl)-4-chlorobenzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-N-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(3-thienyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-pyrryl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-thiazolyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-amino-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-chloro-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-bromo-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (+)-(R)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-8-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(R)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methylcarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-acetylamino-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-(3-dimethylaminopropoxy)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-[2-(1-phthaloyl)ethoxy]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-(2-aminoethoxy)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; (+)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethoxy]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-(dimethylaminoacetylamino)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; N-(α,α-dimethylbenzyl)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; N-(α,α-dimethylbenzyl)-3-amino-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methylcarbonyl)benzyl]-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(ethyl)-2-thienylmethyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (+)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-dimethylaminomethyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; and (S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-methyl-7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide. An NK 3 receptor antagonist selected from the group consisting of: (R,S)-N-[α-(carboxy)benzyl]-7-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; (R,S)-N-[α-(methylaminocarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(4-pyridyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-thienylmethyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(1-hydroxyethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide single diast; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-n-butyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]benzo-1,3-cycloheptadieno[1,2-b]quinoline-8-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-hexyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-methoxyphenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-phenyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-fluorophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(ethyl)-3,4-dichlorobenzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(hydroxymethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-7-chloro-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-6-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxymethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-6-chloro-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-ethyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-phthalimido-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-n-propyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-6-bromo-3-methyl-2-(4-bromophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-6-bromo-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-benzofuryl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[(1,2-diphenyl)ethyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-trifluoromethylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-5,6-dihydrobenzo[a]acridine-7-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(1-indanyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-n-butylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(4-methylphenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α-heptylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-methylphenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; N-(1-phenylcyclopentyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(3,4-methylendioxyphenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(ethyl)-4-methylbenzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(3-pyrryl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(R)-N-[α-(aminomethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-(α- iso -propylbenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-6-fluoro-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-cyclohexylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(3-chlorophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2-chlorophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-8-acetyloxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-8-hydroxy-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(R)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxybenzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; N-diphenylmethyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(R)-N-[α-(dimethylaminomethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(dimethylaminocarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(aminocarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(1-pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(R)-N-[α-(carboxy)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]-2-(4-chlorophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxamide; (R)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(methoxycarbonyl)-α-(methyl)benzyl]-N-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide hydrochloride; (R,S)-N-[α-(2-hydroxyethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (-)-(S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-5-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(1-hydroxyethyl)benzyl]-3-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (R,S)-N-[α-(ethyl)-4-pyridylmethyl]-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; (S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-amino-5-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide; and (S)-N-(α-ethylbenzyl)-3-methoxy-5-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxamide. A process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, a compound as claimed in claim 3, or a solvate or salt thereof, which comprises reacting a compound of formula (III) in which R', R' 1 , R' 2 and Ar' are R, R 1 , R 2 and Ar as defined for formula (I) or a group or atom convertible to R, R 1 , R 2 and Ar, with a compound of formula (II) or an active derivative thereof, in which R' 3 , R' 4 , R' 5 and X' are R 3 , R 4 , R 5 and X as defined for formula (I) or a group convertible to R 3 , R 4 , R 5 and X, to form a compound of formula (Ic) and optionally thereafter performing one or more of the following steps: (a) where R', R' 1 to R' 5 , Ar' and X' are other than R, R 1 to R 5 , Ar and X, converting any one of R', R' 1 to R' 5 , Ar' and X' to R, R 1 to R 5 , Ar and X to obtain a compound of formula (I) or a compound as defined in claim 3, (b) where R', R' 1 to R' 5 , Ar' and X' are R, R 1 to R 5 , Ar and X, converting any one of R, R 1 to R 5 , Ar and X to another R, R 1 to R 5 , Ar and X, to obtain a compound of formula (I) or a compound as defined in claim 3, (c) forming a salt and/or solvate of the obtained compound of formula (Ic) or a compound as defined in claim 3. A process according to claim 4 in which the active derivative of the compound of formula (II) is an acid halide. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I) or salt or solvate thereof, as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as defined in claim 3 or salt or solvate thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A compound of formula (I), or a solvate or salt thereof, as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, for use as an active therapeutic substance. A compound as defined in claim 3, or a solvate or salt thereof, for use as an active therapeutic substance. A compound of formula (I), or a solvate or salt thereof, as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, for use in treating pulmonary disorders (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases -COPD-, airway hyperreactivity, cough), skin disorders and itch (for example, atopic dermatitis and cutaneous wheal and flare), neurogenic inflammation and CNS disorders (Parkinson's disease, movement disorders, anxiety and psychosis), convulsive disorders, epilepsy, renal disorders, urinary incontinence, ocular inflammation, inflammatory pain, eating disorders (food intake inhibition), allergic rhinitis, neurodegenerative disorders (for example Alzheimer's disease), psoriasis, Huntington's disease, and depression. A compound as defined in claim 3, or a solvate or salt thereof, for use in treating pulmonary disorders (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases -COPD-, airway hyperreactivity, cough), skin disorders and itch (for example, atopic dermatitis and cutaneous wheal and flare), neurogenic inflammation and CNS disorders (Parkinson's disease, movement disorders, anxiety and psychosis), convulsive disorders, epilepsy, renal disorders, urinary incontinence, ocular inflammation, inflammatory pain, eating disorders (food intake inhibition), allergic rhinitis, neurodegenerative disorders (for example Alzheimer's disease), psoriasis, Huntington's disease, and depression. Use of a compound of formula (I), or a solvate or salt thereof, as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of pulmonary disorders (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases -COPD-, airway hyperreactivity, cough), skin disorders and itch (for example, atopic dermatitis and cutaneous wheal and flare), neurogenic inflammation and CNS disorders (Parkinson's disease, movement disorders, anxiety and psychosis), convulsive disorders, epilepsy, renal disorders, urinary incontinence, ocular inflammation, inflammatory pain, eating disorders (food intake inhibition), allergic rhinitis, neurodegenerative disorders (for example Alzheimer's disease), psoriasis, Huntington's disease, and depression. Use of a compound as defined in claim 3, or a solvate or salt thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of pulmonary disorders (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases -COPD-, airway hyperreactivity, cough), skin disorders and itch (for example, atopic dermatitis and cutaneous wheal and flare), neurogenic inflammation and CNS disorders (Parkinson's disease, movement disorders, anxiety and psychosis), convulsive disorders, epilepsy, renal disorders, urinary incontinence, ocular inflammation, inflammatory pain, eating disorders (food intake inhibition), allergic rhinitis, neurodegenerative disorders (for example Alzheimer's disease), psoriasis, Huntington's disease, and depression.

Inventors: FARINA CARLO, GIARDINA GIUSEPPE ARNALDO MARI, GRUGNI MARIO, RAVEGLIA LUCA FRANCESCO, FARINA, CARLO, GIARDINA, GIUSEPPE ARNALDO MARIA, GRUGNI, MARIO, RAVEGLIA, LUCA FRANCESCO
Applicants: GLAXOSMITHKLINE SPA, GLAXOSMITHKLINE S.P.A.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: C07D215
IPC codes: C07D405, C07D409, C07D401, C07D215, C07D221, A61K31, C07D417