SUBSTITUTED PYRROLES

Abstract: Disclosed are substituted pyrroles having formula (I), wherein R<1>, R<2>, R<1'> and R<2'> are as defined in the claims and in the description. These compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are useful in the treatment and/or control of cell proliferative disorders, in particular cancer. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the foregoing compounds.

Description: Substituted Pyrroles The invention relates to substituted pyrroles More particularly, the invention relates to substituted pyrroles of the formula wherein R and R are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl; R is hydrogen, nitro, cyano, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, or lower alkoxy; and R is a heteroaryl, heterocycle, ethyl substituted with a heteroan l, or ethoxy substituted with a heteroaryl or heterocycle, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof The compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment or control of cell proliferative disorders, in particular cancer, particularly the treatment or control of solid tumors. In particular, the compounds of the invention have antiproliferauve activity, specifically, they inhibit cell division in G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Detailed Description of the Invention The invention relates to substituted pyrroles More particularly, the invention relates to substituted pyrroles of the formula wherein R 1 and R 1 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl, R " is hydrogen, nitro, cyano, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, or lower alkoxy, and R " is a heteroaryl, heterocycle, ethyl substituted with a heteroaryl, or ethoxy substituted with a heteroaryl or heterocycle, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof As used herein, the term "lower alkyl", alone or in combination, means a straight or branched chain alkyl group containing a maximum of 3 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of hydroxy, lower alkoxy, amino, halogen, thio-lower alkyl or lower alkylsulphinyl Examples of lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogen includes chloromethyl and tπflourometh>l The term "lower alkoxj", alone or in combination, means a group wherein the lower alkyl residue is defined as above, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy The term "heteroaryl", alone or in combination, means a 5 or 6 membered aromatic πng containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms which may the same or different, and where the πng is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of halogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, carboxy, lower alkoxy, nitro, ammo or cyano The heteroatom(s) are selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen Examples of heteroaryl are furan, thiophene, pyrrole, oxazole, thiazole, imidazole, pyrazole, isoxazole, isothiazole, oxadiazole, tπazole, tetrazole, thiadiazole, pyπdine, pyπdazine, pyπmidine, pyrazine, and tπazine The term "heterocycle", alone or in combination, means a 4 to 7 membered non- aromatic πng containing one or more heteroatoms which may be the same or different, and where the πng is partially or completely saturated and where the πng is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of halogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, carboxy, lower alkoxy, nitro, ammo or cyano The heteroatom(s) are selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen Examples of unsubstituted heterocycle are pyπo ne, pyrrolidine, lmidazolme, lmidazohdine, pyrazohne, pyrazohdine, pyran, pipeπdine, dioxane, morpholine, dithiane, thiomorpholine, piperazine, and tπthiane The term "halogen" means flouπne, chloπne, bromine or iodine The term "amino" means an unsubstituted amme group or an amine substituted b> one or more substituents selected from alkyl, aryl, acyl, alkylsulfonyl or arylsulfonyl, The term "alkenyl" means a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group of 2 to 5 carbon atoms having at least one double bond The term "alkynyl" means a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group of 2 to 5 carbon atoms having at least one tπple bond In formula I above, preferably, R 1 and R 1 are independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, which are unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkox> , preferably methoxy or ethox> MMoosstt ppireferably, at least one of R 1 and R 1 is lower alkyl, most preferably unsubstituted methyl Preferably, when R 2 is lower alkoxy, it is methoxy or ethoxy, most preferably methoxy Preferably, when R 2 is lower alkyl, it is methyl or ethyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of lower alkoxy or halogen Most preferred when R 2 is lower alkyl it is methyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by methoxy R 2 may also preferably be haloalkyl such as tπfluoromethyl .-> When R " is heteroaryl, it is preferably thiophenyl, furanyl, lrmdazolyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl, pyπmdinyl, or isothiazolyl When R 2 is is heterocycle, it is preferably unsubstituted morpho ne, unsubstituted pyrro dme, unsubstituted pipeπdme, or piperazine which is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or carboxy When R 2 is ethyl substituted with heteroaryl, preferably the heteroaryl is imidazole In addition, R " may be methyl or propyl substituted with a heteroaryl In addition to ethoxy substituted with a heteroaryl or heterocycle, R " may also be methoxy or propoxy substituted with a heteroaryl or heterocycle In a preferred embodiment, when R 2 is thiophenyl, preferably R 1 and R 1 are both methyl and R 2 is hydrogen or nitro In another preferred embodiment, when R 2 is furanyl, preferably R 1 is hydrogen, 1 methyl, R is methyl, and R ~ is hydrogen or nitro In another preferred embodiment, when R " is lrmdazolyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl, preferably, methyl, preferably R 1 is methyl R 1 is methyl and R ~ is hydrogen, nitro, cyano, halogen or methoxy - ) ι ι In another preferred embodiment, when R " is thiazolyl, preferably R and R are both methyl and R" is hydrogen or nitro In another preferred embodiment, when R 2 is pyrazolyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl, preferably methyl, preferably R 1 and R 1 are both methyl and R" is hydrogen, nitro or halogen In another preferred embodiment, when R " is pyπmdinyl, preferably R 1 and R 1 is methyl and R" is hydrogen or nitro 1 1 1 In another preferred embodiment, when R " is isothiazole, preferably R and R is methyl and R " is hydrogen or nitro In another preferred embodiment, when R ~ is pyrrolidinyl, preferably, R 1 is hydrogen or methyl, R 1 is hydrogen, methyl or methoxymethyl, and R 2 is hydrogen, nitro, cyano, halogen, tπfluoromethyl, or methoxy In another preferred embodiment, when R " is pipeπdinyl, preferably R and R are both methyl and R 2 is hydrogen 1 In another prefeπed embodiment, when R is morpholinyl, preferably R is hydrogen, methyl, preferably R 1 is methyl, hydrogen or methoxymethyl, and R 2 is hydrogen, nitro, cyano, halogen, methyl, tπfluoromethyl, or methoxy In another preferred embodiment, when R" is ethoxy substituted by a heteroaryl or a heterocycle, preferably a heteroaryl and more preferably imidazolyl, preferably R 1 and R 1 are both methyl and R" is nitro The compounds of formula I are prepared as follows The starting mateπal, a compound of formula 4 can be prepared according to Scheme 1 SCHEME I When R " is heterocycle or heteroaryl and R is lower alkyl, compound 4 can be prepared according to Scheme 1. A compound of formula 2, wherein X represents Br or I, is prepared by known methods (Moyer, M. P.; Shiurba, J.F.; Rapoport, H. J. Org. Chem. 1986, 51, 5106.), and is alkylated by known methods (NaH and alkyl iodide in N,N-dιmethylformamιde (DMF) or tetrahydrofuran at 0°C to about 25°C) to give a corresponding compound of formula 3 Alternatively, alkylation can be earned out using dimethyl carbonate and a base (such as K 2 C0 3 ) or a catalyst (such as TBAB) in DMF, by heating the reaction mixture to reflux (greater than 90°C). A compound of formula 3 is reacted with a heteroaryl substituted tπalkylstannane, in a solvent such as toluene or THF in the presence of a base, such as tπethylamme, catalyzed by a palladium catalyst, such as tetrakιs(tπphenylphosphιne) palladium (0) at a temperature of 50°C to reflux to afford a corresponding compound of formula 4 with R " being heteroaryl. Alternatively, a compound of formula 3 is reacted with imidazole or substituted imidazole, in the presence of cesium carbonate, 1,10-phenanthroline and dibenzylideneacetone, catalyzed by copper(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate benzene complex, in a solvent such as xylene, at a temperature of 110-125°C to afford a corresponding compound of formula 4 with R " being the imidazolyl with the nitrogen attached at the indole ring, as described in Kiyoori, A.; Marcoux, J-F.; Buchwald, S. L. Tetrahedron letters, 1999, 40, 2657. When R " is a heterocyclic amine such as pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl, a compound of formula 4 can be prepared from a compound of formula 3 using Buchwald reaction. [Wolfe, J. P.; Buchwald, S. L. J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 6066.] A compound of formula 3 is reacted with a heterocyclic amine, such as pyrrolidine, in the presence of sodium t-butoxide, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-l,l'-binaphthyl and 18-crown-6, catalyzed by tris(dibenzylideneacetone) dipalladium (0) in a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, at a temperature of 25°C to 65°C to afford a compound of formula 4. When R is pyrimidinyl, a compound of formula 4 is prepared by the following sequence: A compound of formula 3 is reacted with n-butyllithium at -78°C in tetrahydrofuran followed by trialkylborate. The resulting product is then treated with aqueous methanol to give a compound of formula 5. A compound of formula 5 is reacted with bromopyrimidine, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium (0) in the presence of a base such as sodium carbonate in dioxane at a temperature of 100°-110° C to give a compound of formula 4 with R" being pyrimidinyl. When R" is ethoxy substituted heterocycle or heteroaryl, such as 2-imidazol-l-yl- ethoxy, compound of formula 4 can be prepared by the following sequence: A compound of formula 5 is reacted with hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide to give compound 6 Treatment of compound 6 with l-(2- hydroxyethyl)ιmιdazol, tπphenylphosphine and diethyl azodicarboxylate results in a compound of formula 4 with R " being 2-ιmιdazol-l-yl-ethoxy SCHEME 2 A compound with formula 1 may be prepared according to Scheme 2, provided that when R " and R 1 are substituents which react w ith acid chloπdes, such as, for example, alkyl amine, such substituent is protected with a conventional protecting group A compound of formula 4 is reacted with oxalyl chloπde in a solvent such as diethyl ether or dichloromethane at a temperature of from 0°C to 25°C to form a corresponding compound of formula 7 A compound of formula 7 is reacted with a compound of formula 8, a known compound (U.S. Patent No. 5,057,614) or a compound prepared by known methods, in the presence of a base, such as tπethylamine in dichloromethane at a temperature between 0°C to 25°C The resultant product is then treated with an acid, such as p- toluenesulfonic acid or hydrochloπc acid in a solvent such as methylene chloπde, methanol or THF at a temperature of 25°C to 65°C to form a corresponding compound of formula 1. If a protecting group was utilized duπng the reaction of 7 and 8, it is removed at this point using methods known in the art SCHEME 3 As set forth in Scheme 3, a compound of formula 4 is reacted with methyl oxalyl chloride in a solvent, such as diethyl ether or dichloromethane or without a solvent, at a temperature of 0°C to 25°C to form a compound of formula 9. A compound of formula 9 is reacted with sodium hypophosphite hydrate, catalyzed by palladium on charcoal in a solvent such as dioxane at a temperature of 100°C to 110°C to afford a compound of formula 10. A compound of formula 10 is reacted with ammonium hydroxide to give a corresponding compound of formula 11. A compound of formula 12 is reacted with methyl oxalyl chloride in a solvent, such as diethyl ether or dichloromethane or without a solvent, at a temperature of 0°C to 25°C to form a compound of formula 13. A compound of formula 11 is reacted with a compound of formula 13 in the presence of a base, such as potassium t-butoxide, in a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran at a temperature of 0°C to 25°C. The resulting product is then treated with an acid, such as hydrochloric acid to give a compound of formula 1. SCHEME 4 As set forth in Scheme 4, a compound with formula 3 is reacted with oxalyl chloride in a solvent such as diethyl ether or methylene chloride, at a temperature of 0°C to 25°C to afford a compound of formula 14. A compound of formula 14 is reacted with a compound of formula 8 in the presence of a base, such as triethylamine in methylene chloride at a temperature between 0°C and 25°C. The resultant product is then treated with an acid, such as p- toluenesulfonic acid or hydrochloric acid in a solvent such as methylene chloride, methanol or THF at a temperature of 25°C to 65°C to form a compound of formula 15. A compound with a formula 15 is reacted with a heteroaryl substituted trialkylstannane or boronic acid such as 2-(tributylstannyl) thiophene, or 2- (tributylstannyl) thioazole, thiophene-3-boronic acid, in the presence of a base such as tπethylamine or sodium carbonate, catalyzed by a palladium catalyst such as tetrakιs(tπphenylphosphme) palladium (0), or tπ(dιbenzyhdeneacetone) dipalladium (0), in a solvent such as toluene, acetonitπle, tetrahydrofuran, or dioxane, at a temperature of 80°C to 110°C to afford a compound with formula 1 The conversion of an acidic compound of formula I into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt can be earned out by treatment with a suitable base in a known manner Suitable salts are those deπved not only from inorganic bases, for example, sodium, potassium or calcium salts, but also from organic bases such as ethylenediamme, monoethanolamine or diethanolamine The conversion of a basic compound of formula I into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt can be earned out by treatment with a suitable acid in a known manner Suitable salts are those deπved not only from inorganic acids, for example, hydrochloπdes, hydrobromides, phosphates or sulphates, but also from organic acids, for example, acetates, citrates, fumarates, tartrates, maleates, methansulphonates or p-toluenesulphonates The antiprohferatiave activity of the compounds of the invention is demonstrated below These effects indicate that the compounds of the present invention are useful in treating cancer, in particular solid tumors such as breast and colon tumors The epithelial breast carcinoma cell line (MDAMB-435) was purchased from ATCC (Ameπcan Type Cell Culture Collection) and was grown in culture medium as recommended by ATCC For analysis of the effect of vaπous compounds of formula I on the growth of these cells, the cells were plated at a concentration of 1500 cells/well in a 96 well tissue culture plate ("test plate") The day after the cells were plated, the compounds to be analyzed were dissolved in 100% DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) to yield at lOmM stock solution Each compound was diluted in H 2 O to ImM and was added to tπp cate wells in the first row of a 96 well master plate containing medium to yield a final concentration of 40μM The compounds were then seπally diluted in medium in the "master plate" The diluted compound(s) were then transferred to test plates containing cells A row of vehicle "control cells" received DMSO The final concentration of DMSO in each well was 0.1%. 5 days post drug addition, the plate was analyzed as descπbed below. MTT (3-(4-5 methyl thιazole-2-yl)-2,5-dιphenyl tetrazo um bromide; thiazolyl blue) was added to each well to yield a final concentration of lmg/ml The plate was then incubated at 37°C for 2 1/2 - 3 hours The MTT- containing medium was then removed and 50μl of 100% ethanol was added to each well to dissolve the formazan. The absorbences were then read using an automated plate reader (Bio-tek microplate reader). IC 50 S were calculated using the Reed and Munsch equation, see Am. J. Hygiene Vol. 27 pgs 493-497,1938 The results of the foregoing in vitro expenments are set forth m Table I below. TABLE I In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions compπsmg at least one compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These pharmaceutical compositions can be administered orally, for example, in the form of tablets, coated tablets, dragees, hard or soft gelatin capsules, solutions, emulsions or suspensions They can also be administered rec tally, for example, in the form of suppositoπes. In particular, however, the compounds of the present invention are suitable for parenteral administration, for example, in the form of injection solutions The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention compnsmg compounds of formula I, prodrugs of such compounds, or the salts thereof, may be manufactured in a manner that is known in the art, e g. by means of conventional mixing, encapsulating, dissolving, granulating, emulsifying, entrapping, dragee-making, or lyophi zing processes. These pharmaceutical preparations can be formulated with therapeutically inert, inorganic or organic earners Lactose, corn starch or denvatives thereof, talc, stenc acid or its salts can be used as such earners for tablets, coated tablets, dragees and hard gelatin capsules. Suitable earners for soft gelatin capsules include vegetable oils, waxes and fats. Depending on the nature of the active substance, no earners are generally required in the case of soft gelatin capsules. Suitable earners for the manufacture of solutions and syrups are water, polyols, saccharose, invert sugar and glucose. Suitable earners for injection are water, alcohols, polyols, glyceπne, vegetable oils, phospho pids and surfactants. Suitable earners for suppositoπes are natural or hardened oils, waxes, fats and semi-liquid polyols The pharmaceutical preparations can also contain preserving agents, solubihzing agents, stabilizing agents, wetting agents, emulsifying agents, sweetening agents, colonng agents, flavoπng agents, salts for varying the osmotic pressure, buffers, coating agents or antioxidants They can also contain other therapeutically valuable substances, including additional active ingredients other than those of formula I As mentioned above, the present invention concerns also a process for the preparation of compounds of Formula I compnsing a) reacting a compound of formula 7 (scheme 2) with a compound of formula 8 (scheme 2) wherein R 1 and R 1 are independently are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl; R 2 is hydrogen, nitro, cyano, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, or lower alkoxy; and R is a heteroaryl, heterocycle, ethyl substituted with a heteroaryl, or ethoxy substituted with a heteroaryl or heterocycle; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, b) reacting a compound of formula 11 (scheme 3) with a compound of formula 13 (scheme 3) wherein R 1 and R 1 are independently are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl; R" is hydrogen, nitro, cyano, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, or lower alkoxy; and R " is a heteroaryl, heterocycle, ethyl substituted with a heteroaryl, or ethoxy substituted with a heteroaryl or heterocycle; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or c) reacting a compound of formula 15 (scheme 4) wherein R 1 and R 1 are independently are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl, R ~ is hydrogen, nitro, cyano, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, or lower alkoxy, and R" is a heteroaryl, heterocycle, ethyl substituted with a heteroaryl, or ethoxy substituted with a heteroaryl or heterocycle, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with a heteroaryl substituted tnalkylstannane or boronic acid in the presence of a base catalyzed by a palladium catalyst As mentioned above, the compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment or control of cell proliferative disorders, in particular oncological disorders. These compounds and formulations containing said compounds are particularly useful in the treatment or control of solid tumors, such as, for example, breast and colon tumors. Accordingly, the present invention compnses the use of the above compounds for the preparation of medicaments, especially for the treatment or control of cell proliferative disorders, in particular oncological disorders, e g for the treatment or control of solid tumors, such as, for example, breast and colon tumors A therapeutically effective amount of a compound in accordance with this invention means an amount of compound that is effective to prevent, alleviate or ameliorate symptoms of disease or prolong the survival of the subject being treated Determination of a therapeutically effective amount is within the skill in the art The therapeutically effective amount or dosage of a compound according to this invention can vary within wide limits and will be adjusted to the individual requirements in each particular case In general, in the case of oral or parenteral administration to adult humans weighing approximately 70 Kg, a daily dosage of about 10 mg to about 10,000 mg, preferably from about 200 mg to about 1,000 mg, should be appropnate, although the upper limit may be exceeded when indicated The daily dosage can be administered as a single dose or in divided doses, or for parenteral administration, it may be given as continuous infusion Examples The compounds of the present invention may be synthesized according to known techniques, such as, for example, the general schemes provided above The following examples illustrate prefened methods for synthesizing the compounds a id formulations of the present invention. Example 1 3-[l-Methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-lH-indol-3-yI]-4-(l-methyI-6-nitro-lH- indol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dione a) 6-Bromomdole (10.4 g, 53.1 mmol) (prepared according to Moyer, M P , Shiurba, J.F.; Rapoport, H. J. Org Chem 1986, 51, 5106.) was added m small portions over 30 min to a stirced suspension of sodium hydnde (2.96 g, 61 7 mmol, 50% in mineral oil) in dry THF (120 mL) at 0°C. Stirnng was continued for another 30 min. Iodomethane (4.5 ml, 71.6 mmol) was added dropwise. After lh, the mixture was poured into ice-water and extracted with ether (3 x 200 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with bnne and dned (MgS0 ). Evaporation of the solvents and chromatography of the residue over silica gel using hexane gave 6-bromo-l-methyl-lH-ιndole (10.8 g, 97%). b) A solution of 6-bromo-l -methyl- lH-mdole (6 2 g, 29.5 mmol) in toluene was degassed by bubbling argon through the solution for 10-20 mm Et 3 N (8 2 mL. 59 mmol), tetrak s(tπphenylphosphme)palladιum (0) (681 mg, 0.59 mmol) and 1- methyl-5-(tπbutylstannyl)ιmιdazole (Gaare, K , Repstad, T.; Benneche, T.; Undheim, K. Acta Chem. Scan 1993, 47, 57.) (11.6 g, 31.2 mmol) in toluene (30 mL) were added and the mixture was heated to 120°C for 18 h until Pd black appeared. The mixture was cooled, filtered through a pad of silica gel and the pad was washed well with EtOAc The filtrate was evaporated and chromatography of the residue over silica gel using 0.5-1% methanol in EtOAc gave l-methyl-6- (3-methyl-3H-ιmιdazol-4-yl)-lH-ιndole (5.21 g, 84%) as an off white crystalline solid. c) l-Methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-lH-indole (5.0 g, 23.7 mmol) was dissolved in CH 2 C1 2 (25 mL) (dried under 3A° molecular sieves) at 0°C. A solution of oxalyl chloride in CH 2 C1 2 (2 M, 23.7 mL, 47.4 mmol) was added dropwise over 10 min. The mixture was stireed at 0°C for 2.5 h and evaporated. Ether (25 mL) was added to the solid residue and the mixture was stirced for 30 min. The resulting yellow solid was filtered off, washed with ether and dried under vacuum for 30 min. 2-(l-Methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (7.02 g, 22.5 mmol) and CH 2 C1 (200 mL) were added to the yellow solid at 0°C. Et 3 N (dried over 3A° molecular sieves) (16.5 mL, 118.6 mmol) was added dropwise over 10 min., and the orange-red mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was diluted with CHC1 3 and washed with aqueous Na 2 CO 3 . The aqueous layer was back extracted with CHC1 3 . The combined organic extracts were washed with brine, dried (K 2 CO 3 ) and evaporated. MeOH (150 mL) and concentrated HC1 (37%, 10 mL) were added. The mixture was heated at reflux for 2h, then cooled, diluted with CHC1 3 and washed with aqueous Na 2 CO 3 . The aqueous layer was back extracted with CHC1 3 . The combined organic extracts were washed with brine and dried (K 2 CO 3 ). The mixture was passed through a pad of silica gel (10 x 10 cm) and the pad was washed with 10% methanol EtOAc. Evaporation of the combined filtrates gave the crude product as an orange solid. Crystallization of the product from EtOH /CHC1 3 gave 3-[l-methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-lH-mdol- 3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (5.65 g, 49%) as an orange solid. Example 2 In a manner similar to that described in Example I, the following compounds were prepared. The starting materials were prepared in a manner analogous to that described in 1(a) and 1(b). a) 3-(l-Methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-lH- indol-3-yl]pyrrole-2,5-dione (391 mg, 45%) was prepared as an orange solid using l-methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-lH-indole (422 mg, 2 mmol) and 1 -methyl -3-indoleacetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (530 mg, 2 mmol). b) 3-(6-Methoxy-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4- yl)-lH-indol-3-yl]pyrrole-2,5-dione (78 mg, 11%) was prepared as a dark brown solid using l-methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-y])-lH-indole (316 mg, 1.5 mmol) and 2-(l-methyl-6-methoxy-lH-indol-3-yl)acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (445 mg, 1.5 mmol). c) 3-[l-Methyl-6-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-indol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro- lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (1.08 g, 34%) was prepared as an orange solid from 6-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-2-yl)-l-methyl-lH-indole and 2-(l-methyl-6- nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride. d) 3-[6-(l-Ethyl-lH-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-indol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (155 mg, 38%) was prepared using 6-(l-ethyl-lH-imidazol- 2-yl)-l-methyl-lH-indole (185 mg, 0.82 mmol) and 2-Q-methyl -6-nitro-lH- indol-3-yl)acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (256 mg, 0.82 mmol). e) 3-[6-(lH-Imidazol-2-yl)-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-lH-indol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (37 mg, 14%) was prepared as an orange solid using 1-methyl- 6-[l-(2-trimethylsilanyl-ethoxymethyl)-lH-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-indole (200 mg, 0.61 mmol) and l-methyl-3-indoleacetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (162 mg, 0.61 mmol) followed by deprotection using 20% HC1 in refluxing EtOH. f) 3-[6-(3H-Imidazol-4-yl)-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol- 3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione hydrochloride (45mg, 18%) was prepared from 1-methyl- 6-[3-(2-trimethylsilanyl-ethoxymethyl)-3H-imidazol-4-yl]-lH-indole (160 mg, 0.49 mmol) and 2-(l-methyl -6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (156 mg, 0.5 mmol) followed by deprotection using 20%HC1 in refluxing EtOH. g) 3-(6-Furan-2-yl- 1 -methyl- lH-indol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl- lH-indol-3-yl)pynole-2,5- dione (51 mg, 27%) was prepared as an orange solid using 6-furan-2-yl-l-methyl- lH-indole (100 mg, 0.5 mmol) and l-methyl-3-indoleacetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (120 m g, 0.45 mmol). h) 3J6-Furan-2-yl-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-mdol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (70 mg, 40%) was prepared using 6-furan-2-yl-l-methyl-lH- indole (100 mg, 0.5 mmol) and 2-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (117 mg, 0.38 mmol). i) 3-(6-Furan-2-yl-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione was prepared from 6-furan-2-yl-l -methyl- lH-indole and 2-[l-(2,2-dimethyl- propionyl)-lH-indol-3-yl]acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride followed by deprotection with NaOMe in methanol. j) 3-[l-Methyl-6-(2-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-lH-indol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro- lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione was prepared from l-methyl-6-(2-methyl-2H- pyrazol-3-yl)-lH-indole and 2-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride. k) 3-(l-Methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(2-methyl-2H-ρyrazol-3-yl)-lH-indol- 3-yl]pyrrole-2,5-dione was prepared from l-methyl-6-(2-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3- yl)-lH-indole and 2-(l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride. 1) 3-(6-Bromo-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(2-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)- lH-indol-3-yl]pyrrole-2,5-dione was prepared from l-methyl-6-(2-methyl-2H- pyrazol-3-yl)-lH-ιndole and 2-(6-bromo-l -methyl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde m) 3-(6-Isothιazol-5-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-mdol-3- yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone was prepared from 6-ιsothιazol-5-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndole and 2-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde n) 3-(6-Isothιazol-5-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-pyrrole- 2,5-dιone was prepared from 6-ιsothιazol-5-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndole and 2-(l-methyl- lH-mdol-3-yl)-acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde o) 3-[6-(lH-Imιdazol-2-yl)-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-mdol-3- yl)-pyrrole-2, 5-dιone was prepared from l-methyl-6-[l-(2-tπmethylsιlanyl- ethoxymethyl)-lH-ιmιdazol-2-yl]-lH-mdole and 2-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3- yl)-acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde followed by deprotection using aqueous hydrochlonc acid in ethanol Example 3 3-(l-Methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thiophen-2-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5 dione To a solution of 3-(6-bromo-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone as prepared in Example 2 (108 mg, 0 25 mmol) in dry THF(5 mL) was added tetrakιs(tnphenylphosphιne)palladιum (0) (6 mg, 0 005 mmol), 2- (tnbutylstannyl) thiophene (0 12 mL, 0 375 mmol) and tπethylamine (0 10 mL. 0.70 mmol) The mixture was heated under reflux for 3 days and cooled to room temperature Evaporation of the solvents and chromatography of the crude product over silica gel using 30% EtOAc in hexane gave 3-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thιophen-2-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dιone (72 mg, 66%) Example 4 In a manner similar to that described in Example 3, the following compounds were prepared. a) 3-(l-Methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thiazol-2-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole- 2,5-dione (25 mg, 23%) was prepared from 3-(6-bromo-l -methyl- lH-indol-3-yl)- 4-(l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dione (108 mg. 0.25 mmol) and 2- (tributylstannyl)thioazole (140 mg, 0.375 mmol). b) 3-(l-Methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-2-yl)-lH- indol-3-yl]-pynole-2,5-dione (46 mg, 38%) was prepared from 3-(6-bromo-l- methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (120 mg, 0.28 mmol) and l-methyl-2-(tributylstannyl)imidazole (0.8 mL, containing 50% 1-methyl-imidazole) (Molloy, K. C; Waterfield, P. C; Mahon, M. F. J. Organometallic. Chem. 1989, 365, 61.) c) 3-(l-Methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thiazol-2-yl-lH-indol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (21 mg, 23%) was prepared from 3-(6-iodo-l-methyl-lH- indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)pynole-2,5-dione (100 mg, 0.19 mmol) and 2-(tributylstannyl)thioazole (0.107 mL). d) 3-(l-Methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thiophen-2-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)- pyrrole-2,5-dione (180 mg, 37%) was prepared from 3-(6-iodo-l -methyl- 1H- indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (525 mg, 1 mmol) and 2-(tributylstannyl)thiophene (0.98 mL, 3.09 mmol). Example 5 3-(l-Methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thiophen-3-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5- dione Argon was bubbled through a solution of 3-(6-bromo-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4- (l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (160 mg, 0.37 mmol) in dioxane (15 mL) for 10 min. Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (8.5 mg, 0.007 mmol) and thiophene-3-boronic acid (52 mg, 0.41 mmol) and aqueous Na 2 CO 3 (0.37 mL, 2M) were added. The mixture was refluxed for 2 h and more tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (20 mg, 0.01 mmol) was added. Re fluxing was continued for 24 h. The mixture was cooled and evaporated. Chromatography of the residue over silica using 50% EtOAc in hexane gave 3-(l- methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thiophen-3-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyπ-ole-2,5- dione (117 mg, 72%). Example 6 In a manner similar to that described in Example 5, 3-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol- 3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thiophen-3-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (l lmg, 12%) was prepared from 3-(6-iodo-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH- indol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dione (100 mg, 0.19 mmol) and thiophene-3-boronic acid (49 mg, 0.38 mmol). Example 7 3-(6-Imidazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5- dione a) An oven-dried re-sealable Schlenk tube was flushed with argon and charged with copper(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate benzene complex (1.39 g, 2.76 mmol), 1 , 10- phenanthroline (5.69 g, 31.6 mmol), dibenzylideneacetone (740 mg, 3.16 mmol) and cesium carbonate (10 g, 30.7 mmol). Imidazole (3.23 g, 44.8 mmol), 6-iodo- 1-methyl-lH-indole (8.13g, 31.6 mmol) and xylene (16 mL) were added and the tube was purged with argon. The tube was sealed and heated with stirring at 160°C for 18 h. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and partitioned between CH C1 (35 mL) and saturated aqueous NH 4 CI (5mL). The organic layer was separated and washed with brine. Then the organic extract was dried over MgSO , filtered and concentrated. The crude concentrate was filtered though a pad of silica gel and evaporated. Puπfication by HPLC afforded 6-ιmιdazol-l-yl- 1-methyl-lH-mdole as a brown oil (3.1 g, 50%) [Ref: Kiyoon, A ; Marcoux, J-F., Buchwald, S. L Tetrahedron Lett , 1999, 40, 2657.] 6-Imιdazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndole (7.0g, 35.5 mmol) was dissolved in CH 2 C1 2 (100 mL) (dned under 3A molecular sieves) at 0°C. A solution of oxalyl chloπde in CH 2 C1 2 (2 M, 35.5 mL, 71 mmol) was added dropwise over 10 min The mixture was stirred at 0°C for 1.5 h and evaporated. Ether (100 mL) was added to the solid residue and after the mixture was stirred for 30 min, the resulting yellow solid was filtered off, washed with ether and dπed under vacuum for 30 mm 1- Methyl-3-mdoleacetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (9.6 g, 36 mmol) and CH 2 C1 2 (200 mL) were added to the yellow solid at 0°C. Et 3 N (dned over 3A° molecular sieves) (30 mL) was added dropwise over 10 min The orange-red mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was diluted with CH 2 C1 2 (300 mL) and washed with aqueous Na 2 CO 3 (2 x 200 mL). The aqueous layer was back extracted with CH C1 (lOOmL). The combined organic extracts were washed with bnne, dned (K 2 C0 3 ) and evaporated. MeOH (100 mL) and concentrated HC1 (37%, 10 mL) were added and the mixture was heated at reflux for 2h The reaction mixture was cooled, diluted with water (200 mL) and EtOAc (200 mL). The mixture was made basic using solid K 2 CO 3 and extracted with EtOAc (4 x 200 mL) The combined organic extracts were washed with aqueous Na 2 CO 3 (2 x 200 mL) bnne and dπed (K 2 CO 3 ) The mixture was passed through a pad of silica gel (10 x 10 cm) and the pad was washed with 10% methanol in EtOAc. Evaporation of the combined eluates gave the crude product as an orange solid Recrystalhzation of the crude product using EtOAc, MeOH and CHC1 3 gave 3-(6-ιmιdazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)- pyrrole-2,5-dιone (5.0 g, 33%) as an orange solid. Example 8 In a manner similar to that descnbed in example 7, the following compounds were prepared The starting mateπals were prepared in a manner analogous to that descnbed in example 7 a) 3J6-Imιdazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-mtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)- pyrrole-2,5-dιone ( 5 60 g, 64%) was prepared from 6-ιmιdazol-l-yl-l -methyl - lH-indole (3 70 g, 18 7 mmol) and 2-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde (5 80 g, 18 7 mmol) b) 3-[l-Methyl-6-(2-methyl-ιmιdazol-l-yl)-lH-ιndol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH- ιndol-3-yl)-pynole-2,5-dιone (23 mg, 5 5%) was prepared from 2-(l-methyl-6-(2- methyl-ιmιdazol-l-yl)-lH-ιndole (260 mg, 0 87 mmol) and 2-(l-methyl-6-nιtro- lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde (271 mg, 0 87 mmol) c) 3-(l-Methyl-6-mtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyrazol-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone was prepared from l-methyl-6-pyrazol-l-yl-lH-ιndole and 2- (l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde d) 3-(l-Methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyrazol-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2, 5- dione was prepared from l-methyl-6-pyrazol-l-yl-lH-ιndole and 2-(l-methyl-lH- ιndol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde e) 3-(6-Bromo-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-meth>l-6-pyrazol-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pynole-2,5-dιone was prepared from l-methyl-6-pyrazol-l-yl-lH-ιndole and 2- (6-bromo-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde Example 9 3-(6-Imidazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-indoI-3-yl)-4-(6-methoxy-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)- pyrrole-2,5-dione a) 6-Imιdazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-mdole (0.90 g, 4.56 mmol ) was dissolved in CH 2 C1 2 (2 mL) and cooled at 0°C. Methyl chlorooxoacetate (1.3 mL, 14 mmol) was added. Stirπng was continued for 2 h at 0°C and more methyl chlorooxoacetate (0 4 mL, 4.3 mmol) was added. After an additional 2 h, the solvent was removed. The residual solid was taken up m ether, filtered and washed well with ether to give crude methyl (6-ιmιdazol-l-yl-l -methyl- lH-indol- 3-yl)glyoxylate (1.50 g). b) Crude methyl (6-ιmιdazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)glyoxylate (1.40 g) m dioxane (100 mL) in a 250 mL round bottom flask was fitted with a reflux condenser and a balloon on the top. The system was flushed with argon then Pd/C (140 mg, 10%) was added, followed by sodium hypophosphite hydrate (7.2 g) in water (lOmL) and the mixture was heated under reflux overnight. More sodium hypophosphite hydrate (3.0 g) in water (5 mL) and Pd/C (50 mg) were added. The mixture was refluxed for an additional 5 h, and cooled. The solvents were evaporated and the residue was diluted with EtOAc (100 mL). The solution was carefully washed with aqueous NaHCO 3 (2 x 100 mL) The combined aqueous layers were back extracted with EtOAc (2 x 200 mL). The combined organic extracts were filtered through a pad of silica gel and a layer of MgS0 on the top and the pad was washed with 10% methanol in CH 2 C1 . The combined filtrate were evaporated and chromatography of the residue over silica gel using 1-6 % methanol in CH 2 C1 2 gave (6-imιdazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndolyl-3-yl)acetιc acid methyl ester (230 mg, 17%). c) (6-Imidazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetιc acid methyl ester (230 mg, 0.85 mmol) was suspended in concentrated NFLOH (5 mL) in a 100 mL flask and stirred in a sealed flask for 24h. Lyophilization of the mixture gave a crude product, which was chromatographed on silica gel using 2-8% MeOH in CH C1 2 to give (6-imidazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)acetamide (145 mg, 67%). d) 6-Methoxy-l-methyl-lH-indole (1.0 g, 6.19 mmol) was dissolved in ether (lOmL) and cooled to 0°C. Methyl chlorooxoacetate (1.17 mL, 12.4 mmol) was added dropwise. Stirring was continued at 0°C for 6 h. The mixture was filtered and washed well with ether to give methyl (6-methoxy-l -methyl- lH-indol-3- yl)glyoxylate (621 mg, 41 %). f) A solution of t-BuOK in THF (1 M, 0.53 mL, 0.53 mmol) was added dropwise to a mixture of methyl (6-methoxy-l -methyl- lH-indolyl-3)glyoxylate (47 mg, 0.18 mmol) and (6-imidazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)acetamide (46 mg, 0.18 mmol) at 0°C. The cooling bath was removed after 15 min and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 h. Concentrated hydrochloric acid (lmL) was added and the mixture was stirred for 30 min. Then the mixture was made basic with aqueous NaHCO 3 and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 50 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with aqueous NaHCO 3 and dried (K 2 CO 3 ). The extracts were filtered through a pad of silica gel and the pad was washed with 5% MeOH in EtOAc. Evaporation of the solvents and chromatography of the residue over silica gel using 70% EtOAc in hexanes and then EtOAc gave 32 mg of an orange solid which was then dissolved in 1 : 1 MeOH/ CH 2 C1 2 (lmL) and diluted with ether (8 mL). The resulting precipitate was filtered and washed with 1 : 1 ether/hexane (8 mL) to give 3-(6-imidazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(6- methoxy-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone (29 mg, 36%). (RO 28-4240) Faul, M.M.; Winneroski, L.L.; Krumrich, CA. J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 6053. Example 10 In a manner similar to that described in Example 9 the following compounds were prepared. The starting materials were prepared in a manner analogous to that described in 9(c) and (d). a) 3-(6-Bromo-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(6-imidazol-l-yl-l-metHyl-lH-indol-3- yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dione (13 mg, 19%): prepared from methyl (6-bromo-l-methyl- lH-indol-3)glyoxylate (43 mg, 0.14 mmol) and (6-imidazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH- indol-3-yl)acetamide (50 mg, 0.20 mmol). b) 3-[4-(6-Imidazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-lH-pyrrol- 3-yl]-l-methyl-lH-indole-6-carbonitrile (14 mg, 16%): prepared from methyl (6- cyano-l-methyl-lH-indol-3)glyoxylate (44 mg, 0.18 mmol) and (6-imidazol-l-yl- l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-acetamide (46 mg, 0.18 mmol). Example 11 3-(l-Methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-morpholin-4-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)pyrrole 2,5- dione a) An oven dried flask was flushed with argon and charged with 18-crown-6 (15 g, 56.7 mmol), 6-iodo-l-methyl-lH-indole (10.4 g, 40.46 mmol), morpholine (4.3 mL, 48.6 mmol), sodium t-butoxide (5.42 g, 54.7 mmol), tris(dibenzylidene acetone)dipalladium (0) (186 mg, 0.20 mmol) and 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)- 1,1-binaphthyl) (380 mg, 0.61 mmol). The flask was flushed with argon for 10 min and dry THF (80 mL) was added. The mixture was stirced at room temperature for 5 h, then diluted with ether and washed with brine. The organic layer was dried (MgSO 4 ), evaporated and the crude product was purified by chromatography on silica gel using 5-30% ether / hexanes to give l-methyl-6- morpholin-4-yl-lH-indole (8.17 g, 94%). [Ref: Wolfe, J. P.; Buchwald, S. L. J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 6066.] 5 6-Iodo-l-methyl-lH-mdole was prepared in a similar manner as descnbed in example 1(a) b) A solution of l-methyl-6-morpholιn-4-yl-lH-ιndole (0.50 g, 2.31 mmol) in CH 2 C1 (5 mL) (dπed over 3A° molecular sieves) was cooled to 0°C Oxalyl 10 chloπde (0 4 mL, 4.62 mmol), was added dropwise over 5 mm The mixture was stirred at 0°C for 4 h and evaporated The residual solid was tπturated with ether, filtered, washed with ether and dπed under vacuum for 30 min. 1 -Methyl -3- mdoleacetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde (0.58 g, 2.20 mmol) and CH 2 C1 2 (9 mL) were added to the yellow solid at 0°C. Et 3 N (dned over 3A° 15 molecular sieve) (1.8 mL) was added dropwise over 10 min. and then the orange- red mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc, washed with 1 N NaOH and the aqueous layer was back-extracted with EtOAc The combined organic extracts were washed with bnne, dned (K CO 3 ) and evaporated The residue was dissolved in MeOH (100 mL) 20 containing TsOH.H O (3.30 g, 17.3 mmol ) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 h. After the solvents were removed under reduced pressure the residue was diluted with EtOAc (500 mL) and made basic using aqueous NaHCO 3 The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer was back extracted with EtOAc The combined organic extracts were washed with bnne, 25 dπed (MgSO 4 ), and evaporated. Chromatography of the residue over silica gel using 30-70% EtOAc / hexanes gave 3-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6- morphohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pynole 2,5-dione (0.30 g, 30%) as an orange solid Example 12 J 0 In a manner similar to that descnbed in Example 11 the following compounds were prepared The starting matenals were prepared in a manner analogous to that descnbed in 11 (a). a) 3-( 1 -Methyl-6-morphohn-4-yl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-nιtro- lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone (315 mg, 25%): prepared from l-methyl-6-morpholιn-4-yl- lH-indole (0.56g, 2.56 mmol) and 2-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-mdol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde (0.81 g, 2.56 mmol) b) 3-(l,6-Dιmethyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-mo holm-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2. 5-dιone prepared froml,6-dιmethyl-lH-ιndole and 2-(l-methyl-6- morphohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde c) 3-(lH-Indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφholm-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2, 5- dione: prepared from l-methyl-6-morpholιn-4-yl-lH-ιndole and 2-[l-(2,2- dιmethyl-propιonyl)-lH-ιndol-3-yl]acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde followed by deprotection using sodium methoxide m methanol. d) 3-(l-Methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrohdιn-l-yl-lH-mdol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone (0.96g, 28%): prepared as a dark brown solid using 1- methyl-6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndole (1.60 g, 8 mmol), and 2-(l-methyl-6-nιtro- lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde (2.24 g, 7.2 mmol) e) 3-(6-Fluoro-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone was prepared from 6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndole and 2-(6-fluoro-l-methyl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde. 6-Pynohdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndole was prepared as follow s a) A mixture of l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-mdole (5.0 g, 28 4 mmol) and 10% Pd/CQ.O g) in ethanol (200 ml) and tetrahydrofuran (100 ml) was hydrogenated at atmosphenc pressure for 14 hours The reaction mixture was filtered and concentrated to give 1- methyl-6-amιno-lH-ιndole after crystallization from ether/hexane (3.8 g, 80%) b) A mixture of l-methyl-6-amιno-lH-ιndole (11 g, 83 mmol) and succmic anhydnde (8.3 g, 83 mmol) in toluene (150 ml) was heated to reflux for 1 hour The reaction mixture was cooled and evaporated to give a solid (18.0). A mixture of resulting solid (10 1 g) and sodium acetate (3.45 g, 42 mmol) in acetic anhydnde (36 mL) was heated at reflux for 15 minutes The reaction mixture ws cooled to room temperature and ice-water was added slowly to it The mixture was stined for 15 minutes and extracted with ethyl acetate-tetrahydrofuran The combined organic extracts were washed with bnne and dned over magnesium sulfate Evaporation of the solvent gave a crude product, which was further punfied by recrystal zing in ethyl acetate-hexanes to give (1 -methyl- lH-ιndol-6-yl)-pyrrolιdme-2, 5-dιone (6 0 g) c) l-(l-Methyl-lH-ιndol-6-yl)-pyrrohdιne-2,5-dιone (3.8 g, 17.7 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (75 ml) was treated with lithium aluminum ydπde in tetrahydrofuran (88 ml, 1.0 M, 88 mmol) for 2 hours at room temperature The mixture was cooled and treated with aqueous sodium sulfate The mixture was extracted with ether and the organic layer was concentrated. Chromatography of the crude product over silica gel with 70% hexane/ethyl acetate gave 6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl- lH-mdole as a white solid f) 3-(6-Chloro-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(6-pyrrohdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pynole-2, 5-dιone (1.2%) was prepared from 6-pynohdm-l-yl-lH-mdole and 2-(6-chloro-l- methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde g) 3-( 1 -Methoxymethyl-6-pynolιdιn- 1 -yl- 1 H-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-nι tro- 1 H- mdol-3-yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone was prepared from l-methoxymethyl-6-pyrrohdm-l- yl-lH-mdole and 2-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-mdol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde l-Methoxymethyl-6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndole was prepared from 6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl- lH-mdole ( example 12 e) in the same manner as example 1(a) using chloromethyl methylether as the alkylating agent h) 3-(l-Methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(6-pynohdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2, 5- dione: prepared by refluxing 3-(l-methoxymethyl-6-pyrrolιdm-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)- 4-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2, 5-dιone (above) in a mixture of acetic acid and aqueous HCl. After an aqueous work-up, the crude product was puπfied by silica gel chromatography l) 3-(lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-d-methyl-6-pynohdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-pynole-2,5- dione: prepared using l-methyl-6-pynohdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndole and 2-[l-(2,2- dιmethylpropιonyl)-lH-mdol-3-yl]acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde followed by deprotection using sodium methoxide in methanol j) 3-(l-Methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole- 2,5-dιone (41mg, 13%) was prepared using l-methyl-6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndole (150mg, 0.75 mmol) and l-methyl-3-ιndoleacetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde (200mg, 0.75 mmol) k) 3-(l-Methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(4-methyl-pιperazιn-l-yl)-lH-ιndol-3- yl]pyrrole-2,5-dιone (256 mg, 677c) prepared from l-methyl-6-(4-methyl- pιperazιn-l-yl)-lH-ιndole (192 mg, 0.84 mmol), prepared as descnbed m Example 11(a), and l-methyl-3-ιndoleacetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde (224 mg, 0.84 mmol) 1) 3-(l-Methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pιpeπdm-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole- 2,5-dιone (56 mg, 28%): prepared from l-methyl-6-pιpeπdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndole (96 mg, 0.45 mmol) and l-methyl-3-ιndoleacetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (120 mg, 0.45 mmol) m) 3-(6-Fluoro- 1 -methyl- 1 H-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methoxymethyl-6-morpholιn-4-yl- 1 H- ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone: prepared from l-methoxymethyl-6-morpholιn-4-yl- lH-indole and 2-(6-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde. n) 3-(6-Fluoro-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(6-morpholιn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)- pyrrole-2,5-dιone: prepared from 3-(6-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l- methoxymethyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone by deprotection using hydrochloπc acid in refluxmg THF followed by refluxing in aqueous acetic acid. o) 3-(l-Methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(6-morpholm-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5- dione: prepared from l-(4-methoxybenzyl)-6-morphohn-4-yl-lH-ιndole and 1- methyl -3-ιndoleacetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde followed by deprotection using sulfuπc acid in tnfluoroacetic acid. Example 13 l-Methyl-3-[4-(l-methyl-6-morpholin-4-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)-2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-lH- pyrrol-3-yl]-lH-indole-6-carbonitrile a) l-Methyl-6-morphohn-4-yl-lH-ιndole (3.89 g, 18 mmol) was dissolved in CH 2 C1 2 (18 mL) and cooled at 0°C Methyl chlorooxoacetate (2.4 mL, 26 mmol) was added to give a dark solution. Stirπng was continued for 2 h at 0°C and more methyl chlorooxoacetate (0.40 mL, 4.3 mmol) was added After a further 2 h, the solvent was evaporated. The resulting solid was taken up in ether, filtered and washed well with ether to give crude methyl (l-methyl-6-rnorphohn-4-\l-lH- mdol-3-yl)glyoxylate (6 g). b) Crude methyl (l-methyl-6-morpholιn-4-yl-lH-ιndolyl-3)glyoxylate (6 g) in dioxane (300 mL) in a 500 mL round bottom flask was fitted with a reflux condenser and a balloon on the top. The system was flushed with argon then Pd/C (2 g, 10%) was added followed by sodium hypophosphite hydrate (20 g) in water (50mL) The mixture was heated under reflux for 5 h and more sodium hypophosphite hydrate (10 g) in water (lOmL) was added The mixture was refluxed for additional 3 h and cooled The solids were filtered off and washed well with EtOAc The filtrate was washed with bnne and dned (MgSO ) Evaporation of the solvents and chromatography of the residue over silica gel using 20% EtOAc in hexanes gave (l-methyl-6-morpholιn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)acetιc acid methyl ester (2 79 g, 54%) c) (l-Methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-acetιc acid methyl ester (2 67 g, 9 26 mmol) was suspended in concentrated NH 4 OH (20 mL) in a 100 mL flask, sealed and stirred for 24h The mixture was transfened into a 500 mL flask and more NH 4 OH (80 mL) was added The flask was again sealed and stirπng was continued for another 24 h The volatiles were removed under reduced pressure (l-methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetamιde (2 39g, 94%) was obtained after lyophi zation d) A solution of t-BuOK in THF (1 M, 18 9 mL, 18 9 mmol) was added dropwise to a mixture of methyl (6-cyano-l -methyl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)glyoxylate (1 85 g, 7 64 mmol) and (l-methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-acetamιde (1 74 g, 6 36 mmol) at 0°C The cooling bath was removed after 15 mm and the mixture as stirred at room temperature for 3 h Concentrated hydrochlonc acid (37%, 10 mL) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 30 mm The mixture was made basic with aqueous NaHC0 3 and extracted with CHC1 3 (3 x 500 mL) The combined organic extracts were washed with aqueous Na C0 3 and dπed (K 2 CO 3 ) The extracts were filtered through a pad of silica gel, then evaporation of the solvents and crystallization of the crude product from acetone / EtOAc gave l-methyl-3-[4-(l-methyl-6-moφholm-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-2,5- dιoxo-2,5-dιhydro-lH-pyrrol-3-yl]-lH-mdole-6-carbonιtnle (2 05 g, 69%) Ref Faul, M M , Winneroski, L L , Krumπch, C A J Org Chem 1998, 63, 6053 Example 14 In a manner similar to that descnbed in Example 13, the following compounds were prepared The starting matenals were prepared in a manner analogous to that descnbed in 13a), b), and c) a) 3-(6-Methoxy-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol- 3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone (103 mg, 23%) prepared from methyl (6-methoxy-l- methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)glyoxylate (257 mg 1 04 mmol) and (l-methyl-6- moφhohn-4-yl-lH-mdol-3-yl)acetamιde (259 mg, 0 95 mmol) b) 3-(6-Fluoro-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone (72 mg, 42%) prepared from methyl (6-fluoro-l -methyl- 1H- ιndol-3-yl)glyoxylate (95 mg, 0 40 mmol) and (l-methyl-6-moφholm-4-yl-lH- ιndol-3-yl)acetamιde (100 mg, 0 37mmol) c) 3-(6-Chloro-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφholιn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone (96 mg, 83%) prepared from methyl(6-chloro-l-methyl-4- lH-ιndol-3-yl)glyoxylate (74 mg, 0 29 mmol) and (l-methyl-6-moφholιn-4-yl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-acetamιde (67 mg, 0 245 mmol) d) 3-(6-Bromo-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφholm-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone (139 mg, 49%) was prepared from methyl (6-bromo-l- methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)glyoxylate (190 mg, 0 64 mmol) and (l-methyl-6- moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetamιde (150 mg 0 55 mmol) e) 3-(l-Methyl-6-moφholm-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-tnfluoromethyl-lH- ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone (151 mg, 54%) was prepared from methyl (1-methyl- 6-tπfluromethyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)glyoxylate (172 mg, 0 60 mmol) and (l-methyl-6- moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetamιde (150 mg, 0 55 mmol) f) 3-(6-Bromo-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrolidin-l-yl-lH-indol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (49 mg, 46%) was prepared from methyl (6-bromo- 1-methyl- lH-indol-3-yl)-glyoxylate (68 mg, 0.23 mmol) and (l-methyl-6-pyrrolidin-4-yl- lH-indol-3-yl)acetamide (54 mg, 0.21 mmol). g) 3-(6-Methoxy- 1 -methyl- lH-indol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-pynolidin- 1 -yl- lH-indol- 3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (55 mg, 58%) was prepared from methyl (6-methoxy-l - methyl -lH-indol-3-yl)-glyoxylate (57mg, 0.23 mmol) and (l-methyl-6- pynolidin-l-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)-acetamide (54 mg, 0.21 mmol). h) 3-(l-Methyl-6-pyrrolidin-l-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-lH- indol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (67 mg, 35%) was prepared from methyl (1-methyl- 6-trifluoromethyl-lH-indol-3-yl)glyoxylate (111 mg, 0.39 mmol) and (1-methyl- 6-pyrrolidin-l-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)acetamide (100 mg, 0.39 mmol). i) 3-(6-Chloro-l -methyl- lH-indol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-pyrrolidin- 1 -yl- lH-indol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione (70 mg, 37%) was prepared from methyl (6-chloro-l-methyl- lH-indol-3-yl)glyoxylate (98 mg, 0.39 mmol) and (l-methyl-6-pyrrolidin-l-yl- lH-indol-3-yl)-acetamide (100 mg, 0.39 mmol). Example 15 l-Methyl-3-[4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrolidin-l-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)-2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihvdro-lH- pyrrol-3-yl]-lH-indole-6-carbonitrile a) (l-Methyl-6-pyrrolidin-l-yl-lH-indol-3-yl)acetic acid methyl ester (360 mg. 1.32 mmol) and NaOH (132 mg, 3.3 mmol) in methanol (8 mL) were heated at reflux for 30 min. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0°C and acidified using 1 N HCl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (3 x 100 mL) and CH 2 C1 2 (3 x 100 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried (MgS0 ) and concentrated. Chromatography of the crude product over silica gel using 5-20% MeOH in CH 2 C1 2 gave (l-methyl-6-pyrrolιdm-l-yl-lH-mdol-3-yl)acetιc acid (241 mg, 71%). ( l-methyl-6-pyrrohdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-acetιc acid methyl ester was prepared in a similar manner as descnbed in examples 13 a) and b). b) A solution of oxalyl chlonde in CH 2 C1 2 (2 M, 1.6 mL, 3.2 mmol) was added dropwise to a solution of 6-cyano-l-methyl-lH-ιndole (360 mg, 2.3 mmol) in ether (5 mL) Stirπng was continued for 30 mm at 0°C and the cooling bath was removed. After 2 h, more of the 2 M solution of oxalyl chloπde (0.2 mL , 0.4 mmol.) was added. Stimng was continued at room temperature for additional 2h The solid was filtered and washed with ether to give (6-cyano-l-methyl-lH-mdol- 3-yl)glyoxylyl chlonde (450 mg, 79%). Ref:: Troxler, F.; Hamisch, A.; Bormann, G.; Seemann, F.; Szabo, L.; Helv. Chim Acta, 1968, 51(1), 1616 c) 6-Cyano-l-methyl-lH-ιndolyl-3-glyoxylyl chlonde (260 mg, 1.05 mmol) and (1- methyl-6-pyrrohdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-acetιc acid (241 mg, 0.93 mmol) in CH 2 C1 2 (5 mL) were stiπed at 0°C. Tnethylamine (0.41 mL. 2.95 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. The solvent was removed under vacuum and toluene (10 mL) and p-TsOH.H 2 0 (0.35 g , 1.84 mmol) were added to the residue. After 2 h, methanol (5 mL) was added and stirring was continued until the presence of starting matenal could not be detected by TLC (40 % EtOAc/hexanes). The mixture was diluted with CH 2 C1 2 (50 mL) and washed with saturated Na 2 C0 3 (3x 50 mL). The aqueous layer was back extracted with CH C1 (2 \ 50 mL) The combined organic extracts were dned (MgSO 4 ) and evaporated to give 0.30 g of a puφle solid Chromatography of the crude product over silica gel using 5% - 20% EtOAc / hexanes gave l-methyl-3- [4-(l-methyl-6-pynohdm-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-2,5-dιoxo-2,5-dιhydro-furan-3-yl]- lH-mdole-6-carbonιtnle (0 19 g, 45 %) as a puφle solid. d) l-Methyl-3-[4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-2,5-dιoxo-2,5-dιhydro- furan-3-yl]-lH-mdole-6-carbomtπle (0.16 g, 0.36 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF ( 5 mL , dπed over 3 A° molecular sieves) in a 50 mL round bottom flask To this was added methanol (0.1 mL) and 1, 1,1 ,3,3,3 hexamethyldisilazane (0 9 mL) The puφle solution was stiπed at room temperature overnight. Methanol (0.03 mL) and 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexamethyldisilazane (0.27 mL) were added and stirred for 3 h The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (50 mL) and washed with bnne The aqueous layer was back extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 50 mL) The combined organic extracts were diluted with an equal volume of hexanes, dried (MgSO ), and passed over a pad of silica gel The silica gel was washed with 1.1 ethyl acetate/hexanes (150 mL), and the filtrate was concentrated Chromatography of the residue over silica gel using 25% - 40% EtOAc / hexanes gave l-methyl-3-[4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrohdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-2,5-dιoxo-2,5- dιhydro-lH-pynol-3-yl]-lH-ιndole-6-carbonιtnle (71 mg, 44%) as a puφle solid Example 16 3-(6-methoxymethyl-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone: prepared from 6-methoxymethyl-l -methyl- IH-indole and 1-methyl- 6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndole Example 17 3-[6-(2-ImidazoI-l-yl-ethoxy)-l-methyl-lH-indol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol- 3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione a) A solution of n-butylhthium in hexane (1.6 M, 1 7 mL, 27.2 mmol) was added to 6-bromo- 1-methyl indole (5.0 g, 23.8 mmol) in dry THF (100 mL) at-78°C over 30 mm After 30 min, tnmethylborate (2.93 g, 28 2 mmol) in dry THF (25 mL) was added. Stirnng was continued at -78°C for 30 mm Methanol (12.5 mL) and water (12.5 mL) were added, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 h. It was diluted with ether (100 mL), and washed with sulfuπc acid (1 N, 2 lOO mL) and water (2 x 100 mL). The aqueous layer was back extracted with ether (2 x 100 mL) The combined organic extracts were dπed (MgSO ), filtered over a pad of silica gel and the pad was washed with ether (100 mL) The filtrate was concentrated and the crude product was chromatographed over silica gel with 10 % to 25 % ethyl acetate / hexanes to give l-methyl-lH-ιndol-6-yl-boronιc acid (2 6 g, 62 5%) b) 1 -Methyl- lH-mdol-6-yl-boronιc acid (1 4 g, 8 0 mmol) was dissolved in ether (25mL) Hydrogen peroxide (15 %, 6 mL) was added over 5 minutes and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h The mixture was extracted with NaOH (IN, 2 x 50 mL) and the aqueous extracts were washed with ether ( 2x 50 mL) The aqueous layers were cooled to 0°C and acidified to pH 4 0 with 6 N HCl The mixture was extracted with ether (3 x 100 mL) and the organic extracts were washed with water The organic extracts were dπed (MgSO 4 ) , filtered through a pad of silica gel and the pad was washed with ether (100 mL) After the filtrate was concentrated, the residue was chromatographed over silica gel with 10% to 20% ethyl acetate/ hexanes to give 1-methyl-lH-mdol- 6-ol as a yellow solid (0 56 g, 47 %) c) 1 -Methyl- lH-ιndol-6-ol (0 36 g, 2 45 mmol), l-(2-hydroxyethyl)ιmιdazole (0 315 g, 2 82 mmol) and tnphenylphosphme (0 767 g, 2 92 mmol) were dissolved in dr\ THF under argon at -78°C Diethyl azodicarboxylate (0 47 mL, 2 95 mmol) was added over 2 min The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h More tnphenyl phosphine (0 7 g, 2 67 mmol) and DEAD (0 47 mL, 2 95 mmol) were added at -78°C The reaction mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then was diluted with ether (50 mL) and washed with water (2x 50 mL) The aqueous layer was back-extracted with ether (2 x 50 mL) and the combined organic extracts were dπed (MgS0 4 ) and evaporated The crude red-orange oil was passed over a pad of silica gel and the pad was washed with 10% methanol/ methylene chloπde (200 mL) to yield a maroon oil (3 15 g) Chromatography of the crude product over silica gel with 0-10% methanol/chloroform gave 6-(2- ιmιdazol-l-yl-ethoxy)-l-methyl-lH-ιndole (0 19 g, 32%) as a thick brown oil d) 6-(2-Imιdazol-l-yl-ethoxy)-l -methyl- IH-indole (185 mg, 0 77 mmol) was dissolved in CH C1 (2 mL) under argon at 0°C To this was added oxalyl chloπde (0 19 mL, 2 18 mmol) in CH 2 C1 2 (2 mL) After stimng at 0°C for 4 h, the mixture was evaporated and dned under vacuum for 2 h 2-( -Methyl-6-nιtro- lH-ιndol-3-yl)acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde (239 mg, 0 77 mmol) and CH 2 C1 (3 mL) were added to the abov e green solid Tnethylamme (0 8 lmL, 5 82 mmol) was added slowly at 0°C and the mixture was stirred at room temperatuie for 16 h The mixture was ev aporated to dryness and methanol (5 mL) and 12 N hydrochlonc acid (1 mL) were added The mixture was heated to 85°C for 1 h After the solvents were evaporated, ethyl acetate (50 mL) was added and the mixture was carefully washed with 5% sodium bicarbonate (3 x 50 mL) The aqueous layer was back-extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 50 mL), then the combined organic extracts were dned (MgSO 4 ), filtered though a pad of silica gel and the pad was washed with 10 % methanol/CH 2 Cl 2 ( 400 mL) The filtrates were concentrated and the crude product was chromatographed on silica gel with 1% to 5% methanol/ ethyl acetate gave an orange solid Further punfication by dissolving the solid in hot CH 2 C1 2 (3mL) and precipitating with ether (20 mL) yielded 3-[6-(2-ιmιdazol-l-yl-ethoxy)-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6- nιtro-lH-mdol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dιone as an orange solid (0 103 g, 26 %) Example 18 3-(l-Methyl-6-nitro-lH-indol-3-yl)-4-(l-meth> l-6-pyrimidin-5-yl-lH-indol-3- j l)pyrrole-2,5-dione a) l-methyl-lH-ιndol-6-yl-boronιc acid (from example 17(b) (0 86 g, 5 mmol) was suspended in dry dioxane (20 ml) and treated with 5-bromo-pyπmιdιne (1 0 g, 6 3 mmol), sodium carbonate (2 0 g), and tetrakιs(tπphenylphosphιne)palldιum (0) (120 mg, 0 10 mmol) The mixture was refluxed for 16 hr and cooled This was diluted with hexane (20 ml), filtered through ce te, and concentrated to dryness. The residue was punfied by silica gel chromatography using ethyl acetate as solvent 1- Methyl-6-pyπrmdιn-5-yl-lH-ιndole was crystallized from ether b) 3-(l-Methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pynmιdιn-5-yHlH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone was prepared from l-methyl-6-pynmιdιn-5-yl-lH-ιndole and 2- (l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-mdol-3-yl)-acetιmιdιc acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde. Example 19 3-(l-Methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pynmιdm-5-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5- dione prepared from l-methyl-6-pynmιdιn-5-yl-lH-mdole and l-methyl-3-ιndole- acetimidic acid isopropyl ester hydrochlonde as descnbed in Example 18 Example 20 CAPSULE FORMULATION Manufacturing Procedure: 1 Mix Items 1, 2 and 3 in a suitable mixer for 15 minutes 2 Pass the mix from Step 1 through a Fitz mill using "00" screen at slow speed 3 Add the adjusted amount of Items 4 and 5 and mix for 3 minutes in a suitable mixer. Fill the powder mix from Step 3 into a suitable size capsules. Example 21 TABLET FORMULATION Manufacturing Procedure: 1. Mix Items 1, 2. 3 and 4 in a high shear mixer for 5 minutes. 2. Granulate the powder mix from Step 1 with purified water. 3. Dry the granulation from Step 2 at 50°C. 4. Pass the granulation from Step 3 through a suitable milling equipment. 5. Add the adjusted amount of Item 5 to the milled granulation from Step 4 and mix for 5 minutes in a suitable mixer. 6. Compress the granulation from Step 5 on a suitable press. 7. Using a suitable air spray system, coat the kernels from Step 6 with a Film-Coat Suspension of Items 6, 7 and 8 in purified water to the desired weight.

Claims: CLAIMS A compound of the formula wherein R 1 and R 1 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl; R is hydrogen, nitro, cyano, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, or lower alkoxy; and R is a heteroaryl, heterocycle, ethyl substituted with a heteroaryl, or ethoxy substituted with a heteroaryl or heterocycle; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A compound of claim 1, wherein R" is a heteroaryl. 3. A compound of claim 2, wherein at least one of R and R 1 is lower alkyl. A compound of claim 3, wherein at least one of R 1 and R 1 is methyl. 5. A compound of claim 4, wherein R " is thiophenyl. A compound of claim 5, selected from the group consisting of a) 3-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thιophen-2-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5 dione; b) 3-(l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thιophen-3-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, c) 3-( 1 -methyl-6-mtro- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-thιophen-2-yl- 1 H- mdol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dιone; and d) 3-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thιophen-3-yl-lH- ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone. A compound of claim 4, wherein R 2 is furanyl 8. A compound of claim 7, selected from the group consisting of a) 3-(6-furan-2-yl- 1 -methyl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl- lH-mdol-3- yl)pynole-2,5-dιone, b) 3-(6-furan-2-yl-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(lH-mdol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5- dione; c) 3-(6-furan-2-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-mtro-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone. 9. A compound of claim 4, wherein R 2 is imidazolyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl. 10. A compound of claim 9, selected from the group consisting of a) 3-[l-methyl-6-(l-methyl-lH-ιmιdazol-2-yl)-lH-mdol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl- 6-nιtro-lH-mdol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, b) 3-(l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(l-methyl-lH-ιmιdazol-2-yl)- lH-ιndol-3-yl]-pyrrole-2,5-dιone, c) 3-[l-methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H-ιmιdazol-4-yl)-lH-mdol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl- 6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dιone, d) 3-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H-ιmιdazol-4-yl)- lH-ιndol-3-yl]pyrrole-2,5-dιone, e) 3-(6-methoxy-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(3-methyl-3H- ιmιdazol-4-yl)-lH-ιndol-3-yl]pynole-2,5-dιone, f) 3-[6-(l-ethyl-lH-ιmιdazol-2-yl)-lH-ιndol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-mtro-lH- ιndol-3-yl)pynole-2,5-dιone, g) 3-[6-(lH-ιmιdazol-2-yl)-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-lH-mdol- 3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, h) 3-[6-(3H-ιmιdazol-4-yl)-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nιtro- lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone hydrochlonde, I) 3-(6-ιmιdazol- 1 -yl- 1 -methyl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl- lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, j) 3-(6-ιmιdazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-mtro-lH- ιndol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dιone, k) 3-(6-ιmιdazol-l -yl- 1 -methyl- lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(6-methoxy- 1 -methyl- 1H- ιndol-3-yl)-pyπole-2,5-dιone, 1) 3-(6-bromo-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(6-ιmιdazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH- ιndol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dιone, m) 3-[4-(6-ιmιdazol-l-yl-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-2,5-dιoxo-2,5-dιhydro- 1 H-pyrrol-3-yl]- 1 -methyl- 1 H-mdole-6-carbonιtπle , n) 3-[l-methyl-6-(2-methyl-ιmιdazol-l-yl)-lH-ιndol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6- nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2,5-dιone, and o) 3-[6-(lH-ιmιdazol-2-yl)-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-mtro- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-pyrrole-2, 5-dιone A compound of claim 4, wherein R " is thiazolyl A compound of claim 11 , selected from the group consisting of a) 3-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thιazol-2-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)- pyrrole-2, 5-dιone, and b) 3-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-thιazol-2-yl-lH-ιndol- 3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone A compound of claim 4, wherein R 2 is pyrazolyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl A compound of claim 13, selected from the group consisting of a) 3-( 1 -methyl-6-nιtro- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-pyrazol- 1 -yl- 1 H- ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone, b) 3-( 1 -methyl- 1 H-mdol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-pyrazol- 1 -yl- lH-ιndol-3- yl)pynole-2, 5-dιone, c) 3-(6-bromo- 1 -methyl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-pyrazol- 1 -yl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)pynole-2,5-dιone, d) 3-[l-methyl-6-(2-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-lH-ιndol-3-yl]-4-(l- methyl-6-nιtro-lH-mdol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, e) 3-(l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(2-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3- yl)-lH-mdol-3-yl]pyrrole-2,5-dιone, f) 3-(6-bromo-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(2-methyl-2H- pyrazol-3-yl)-lH-mdol-3-yl]pyrrole-2,5-dιone A compound of claim 4, wherein R 2 is a pynmidmyl A compound of claim 15, selected from the group consisting of a) 3-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pynmιdm-5-yl- 1 H-ιndol-3-yl )pyrrole-2 ,5-dιone , b) 3-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyπmιdm-5-yl-lH-ιndol- 3-yl)pynole-2,5-dιone A compound of claim 4, wherein R2' is an isothiazolyl A compound of claim 17, selected from the group consisting of a) 3-(6-ιsothιazol-5-yl-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-nιtro- lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone, b) 3-(6-ιsothιazol-5-yl-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol- 3-yl)-pynole-2,5-dιone 19 A compound of claim 1, wherein R 2 is a heterocycle 20 A compound of claim 19, wherein at least one of R 1 and A τ R> 1 is lower alkyl 21 A compound of claim 20, wherein at least one of R 1 and R 1 is methyl 22 A compound of claim 21, wherein R" is piperazme which is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or carbonyl 23 A compound of claim 22, wherein R " is piperazme which is substituted with lower alkyl 24 A compound of claim 23, wherein R2' is 4-methyl-pιperazmyl 25. A compound of claim 24, wherein the compound is 3-(l-methyl-lH-mdol-3- yl)-4-[l-methyl-6-(4-methyl-pιperazm-l-yl)-lH-ιndol-3-yl]pyrrole-2,5- dione 26 A compound of claim 21 , wherein R is pyrro dmyl 27 A compound of claim 26, selected from the group consisting of a) 3-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrolιdm-l-yl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)pynole-2,5-dιone, b) 3-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone, c) 3-(6-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol- 3-yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone, d) 3-(6-chloro-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(6-pyrrohdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol- 3-yl)pynole-2, 5-dιone, e) 3-( 1 -methoxymethyl-6-pyπOlιdm- 1 -yl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl- 6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pynole-2, 5-dιone, f) 3-(6-bromo- 1-methyl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrolιdm-l-yl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, g) 3-(6-methoxy- 1 -methyl- lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-pyπolιdm- 1 - yl-lH-mdol-3-yl)ρyrrole-2,5-dιone, h) 3-(l-methyl-6-pyrrohdιn-l-yl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6- tnfluoromethyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, I) 3-(l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyπolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol- 3-yl)pynole-2,5-dιone, j) l-methyl-3-[4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrohdm-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-2,5-dιoxo- 2,5-dιhydro-lH-pyrrol-3-yl]-lH-mdole-6-carbonιtπle, k) 3-(lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pyrrolιdιn-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)- pyrrole-2,5-dιone; 1) 3-(6-chloro- 1 -methyl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-( l-methyl-6-pyrrolιdm- 1 -yl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone A compound of claim 21 , wherein R 2 is pipendinyl A compound of claim 28, wherein the compound is 3-(l-methyl-lH-mdol-3- yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-pιpeπdm-l-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pynole-2.5-dιone A compound of claim 21. wherein R is moφhohn>l A compound of claim 30, selected from the group consisting of a) 3-(l-methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-nιtro- lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, b) 3-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-mdol- 3-yl)pyrrole 2,5-dione; c) l-methyl-3-[4-(l-methyl-6-moφholιn-4-yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-2,5- dιoxo-2,5-dιhydro-lH-pyrrol-3-yl]-lH-ιndole-6-carbomtπle, d) 3-(6-methoxy-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφholιn-4- yl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, e) 3-(6-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, f) 3-(6-chloro-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφhohn-4-yl- lH-mdol-3-yl)pynole-2,5-dιone, g) 3-(6-bromo-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφholm-4-yl- lH-ιndol-3-yl)pynole-2,5-dιone, h) 3-(l-methyl-6-moφholm-4-yl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6- tnfluoromethyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, l) 3-( 1 ,6-dιmethyl- lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-( 1 -methyl-6-moφholm-4-yl- 1H- ιndol-3-yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone, j) 3-(lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methyl-6-moφholιn-4-yl-lH-mdol-3- yl)pyrrole-2, 5-dιone, k) 3-(6-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(l-methoxymethyl-6- moφholιn-4-yl-lH-mdol-3-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone, 1) 3-(6-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-mdol-3-yl)-4-(6-moφholιn-4-yl-lH-ιndol- 3-yl)-pynole-2,5-dιone, m) 3-(l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl)-4-(6-moφhohn-4-yl-lH-mdol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone A compound of claim 1 , wherein R is an ethoxy substituted by a heteroaryl or heterocycle A compound of claim 33, wherein at least one of R 1 and R 1 is lower alkyl A compound of claim 33, wherein at least one of R 1 and R 1 is methyl A compound of claim 35, wherein R is ethoxy substituted by a heteroaryl 6. A compound of claim 36, wherein the heteroaryl is imidazolyl 7 A compound of claim 37, wherein the compound is 3-[6-(2-ιmιdazol-l-yl- ethoxy)-l-methyl-lH-ιndol-3-yl]-4-(l-methyl-6-nιtro-lH-ιndol-3- yl)pyrrole-2,5-dιone 8 A pharmaceutical composition compnsing as an active ingredient an effective amount of a compound of any one of claims 1-38 and a pharmaceutically acceptable earner or excipient 9 The pharmaceutical composition of claim 39 which is suitable for parenteral administration The use of a compound as defined in any one of claims 1-38 for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of cell proliferative disorders 1 The use of compound as defined in any one of claims 1-38 for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of cancer. A method for treating a cell proliferative disorder compnsing administenng to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 38 3 The method of claim 43 wherein the cell proliferative disorder is cancer The method of claim 44 wherein the cancer is a solid tumor 5 The method of claim 45 wherein the cancer is breast, colon or lung cancer6 A process for the preparation of compounds of any of claims 1 to 38 compnsing d) reacting a compound of formula 7 with a compound of formula 8 wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 1 and R 2 are as defined in claim 1; e) reacting a compound of formula 11 with a compound of formula 13 wherein R , R" , and R are as defined in claiml, or f) reacting a compound of formula 15 wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 2 are as defined in claim 1 and X is Br or I, with a heteroaryl substituted trialkylstannane or boronic acid in the presence of a base catalyzed by a palladium catalyst; 47. The novel compounds, novel pharmaceutical compositions, processes and methods as well as the use of such compounds substantially as described hereinbefore.

Inventors: FOTOUHI NADER, KONG NORMAN, LOVEY ALLEN JOHN, FOTOUHI, NADER, KONG, NORMAN, LOVEY, ALLEN, JOHN
Applicants: HOFFMANN LA ROCHE, F. HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE AG
Application year: 2000
Main classification: C07D409
IPC codes: A61K31, A61P35, A61P43, C07D401, C07D403, C07D405, C07D407, C07D409, C07D413, C07D417