CA2335815A1 - Compositions and uses for vision and memory disorders - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to novel compositions and uses of non-immunosuppressi ve FKBP neuroimmunophilin ligands for treating a vision disorder, improving vision, treating memory impairment or enhancing memory performance in an animal.

Description

COMPOSITIONS AND USES
FOR VISION AND MEMORY DISORDERS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating vision loss, preventing vision degeneration, and promoting vision regeneration ("neopsis") using low molecular weight, small molecule derivatives.

2. Description of Related Art The visual system is composed of the eyes, ocular adnexa and the visual pathways. Dysfunction of the visual system may lead to permanent or temporary visual impairment, i.e. a deviation from normal in one or more functions of the eye.
Visual impairment manifests itself in various ways and includes a ~ broad range of visual dysfunctions and disturbances. Without limitation, these dysfunctions and disturbances include partial or total loss of vision, the need for correction of visual acuity for objects near and far, loss of visual field, impaired ocular motility without diplopia (double vision), impaired or skewed color perception, limited adaptation to light and dark, diminished accommodation, metamorphopsic distortion, impaired binocular vision, paresis of accommodation, iridoplegia, entropion, ectropion, epiphora, lagophthalmos, and scarring. See Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) for Ophthalmology, 16th Edition, 6:47 (1988). The visual system may be adversely affected by various ophthalmologic disorders, diseases, injuries, and complications, including, without limitation, genetic disorders; [non-genetic disorders;] disorders associated with aging or degenerative diseases; disorders correlating to physical injury to the eye, head, or other SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) parts of the body resulting from external forces; disorders resulting from environmental factors; disorders resulting from a broad range of diseases; and combinations of any of the above.
The visual system is a complex system composed of numerous components. Visual impairment can involve the entire visual system, any one component, or any combination of components, depending upon the precise nature of the circumstances. The eye is composed of a lens, which is suspended in the zonules of Zinn and is focused by the ciliary body. The ciliary body also secretes aqueous humor, which fills the posterior chamber, passes through the pupil into the anterior chamber, then drains primarily via the canal of Schlemm. The iris regulates the quantity of light entering the eye by adjusting the size of its central opening, the pupil. A visual image is focused onto the retina, the fovea centralis being the retinal area of sharpest visual acuity. The conjunctiva is the mucus membrane which lines the eyelids and the eyeball, and ends abruptly at the limbus conjunctivae, the edge of the conjunctiva overlapping the cornea. The cornea is the clear, transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye;
it is important in light refraction and is covered with an epithelium that differs in many respects from the conjunctival epithelium.
The retina is the innermost, light sensitive portion of the eye, containing two types of photoreceptors, cones, which are responsible for color vision in brighter light, and rods, which are essential for vision in dim light but do not perceive colors. After light passes through the cornea, lens system, and the vitreous humor, it enters the retina from the inside; that is, it passes through the ganglion cells and nerve fibers, the inner and outer plexiform layers, the inner and outer nuclear layers, and the internal and external limiting membranes before it finally reaches the layer of SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00!09108 PCT/US99/18241 photoreceptors located near the outside of the retina, just inside the outermost pigment epithelium layer. The cells of the pigment epithelium layer act as an anatomical barrier to liquids and substances located outside of the eye, forming the "blood-retina" barrier, and provide nourishment, oxygen, a source of functionally useful substances like vitamin A, and phagocytosis of decomposition products to photoreceptor cells. There is no anatomical connection between the pigment epithelium and the photoreceptor layer, permitting separation of the layers in some pathological situations.
When rods or cones are excited by light, signals are transmitted through successive neurons in the retina itself, into the optic nerve fibers, and ultimately to the cerebral cortex. Both rods and cones contain molecules that decompose on exposure to light and, in the process, excite the nerve fibers leading from the eye. The molecule in rods is rhodopsin. The three light-sensitive molecules in cones, collectively called iodopsin, have compositions only slightly different from that of rhodopsin and are maximally excited by red, blue, or green light, respectively.
Neither rods nor cones generate action potentials.
Rather, the light-induced membrane hyperpolarization generated in the outer, photosensitive segment of a rod or cone cell is transmitted from the outer segment through the inner segment to the synaptic body by direct conduction of the electrical voltage itself, a process called electrotonic conduction. At the synaptic body, the membrane potential controls the release of an unknown transmitter molecule. In low light, rod and cone cell membranes are depolarized and the rate of transmitter release is greatest. Light-induced hyperpolarization causes a marked decrease in the release of transmitter molecules.
The transmitters released by rod and cone cells induce signals in the bipolar neurons and horizontal cells. The signals in both these cells are also transmitted by SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) electrotonic conduction and not by action potential.
The rod bipolar neurons connect with as many as 50 rod cells, while the dwarf and diffuse bipolar cells connect with one or several cone cells. A depolarizing bipolar cell is stimulated when its connecting rods or cones are exposed to light. The release of transmitter molecules inhibits the depolarizing bipolar cell. Therefore, in the dark, when the rods and cones are secreting large quantities of transmitter molecules, the depolarizing bipolar cells are inhibited. In the light, the decrease in release of transmitter molecules from the rods and cones reduces the inhibition of the bipolar cell, allowing it to become excited. In this manner, both positive and negative signals can be transmitted through different bipolar cells from the rods and cones to the amacrine and ganglion cells.
As their name suggests, horizontal cells project horizontally in the retina, where they may synapse with rods, cones, other horizontal cells, or a combination of cells types. The function of horizontal cells is unclear, although some mechanism in the convergence of photoreceptor signaling has been postulated.
All types of bipolar cells connect with ganglion cells, which are of two primary types. A-type ganglion cells predominately connect with rod bipolar cells, while B-type ganglion cells predominately connect with dwarf and diffuse bipolar cells. It appears that A-type ganglion cells are sensitive to contrast, light intensity, and perception of movement, while B-type ganglion cells appear more concerned with color vision and visual acuity.
Like horizontal cells, the Amacrine cells horizontally synapse with several to many other cells, in this case bipolar cells, ganglion cells, and other Amacrine cells. The function of Amacrine cells is also unclear.
The axons of ganglion cells carry signals into the nerve fiber layer of the eye, where the axons converge into fibers SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) which further converge at the optic disc, where they exit the eye as the optic nerve. The ganglion cells transmit their signals through the optic nerve fibers to the brain in the form of action potentials. These cells, even when 5 unstimulated, transmit continuous nerve impulses at an average, baseline rate of about 5 per second. The visual signal is superimposed onto this baseline level of ganglion cell stimulation. It can be either an excitatory signal, with the number of impulses increasing above the baseline rate, or an inhibitory signal, with the number of nerve impulses decreasing below the baseline rate.
As part of the central nervous system, the eye is in some ways an extension of the brain; as such, it has a limited capacity for regeneration. This limited regeneration capacity further complicates the challenging task of improving vision, resolving dysfunction of the visual system, and/or treating or preventing ophthalmologic disorders. Many disorders of the eye, such as retinal photic injury, retinal ischemia-induced eye injury, age-related macular degeneration, free radical-induced eye diseases, as well as numerous other disorders, are considered to be entirely untreatable. Other ophthalmologic disorders, e.g., disorders causing permanent visual impairment, are corrected only by the use of ophthalmic devices and/or surgery, with varying degrees of success.
The immunosuppressant drugs FK506, rapamycin, and cyclosporin are well known as potent T-cell specific immunosuppressants, and are effective against autoimmunity, transplant or graft rejection, inflammation, allergic responses, other autoimmune or immune-mediated diseases, and infectious diseases. It has been disclosed that application of Cyclosporin, FK-506, Rapamycin, Buspirone, Spiperone, and/or their derivatives are effective in treating some ophthalmologic disorders of these types. Several ophthalmologic disorders or vision problems are known to be SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/09108 PCT/US99/1824-i associated with autoimmune and immunologically-mediated activities; hence, immunomodulatory compounds are expected to demonstrate efficacy for treating those types of ophthalmologic disorders or vision problems.
The effects of FK506, Rapamycin, and related agents in the treatment of ophthalmologic diseases are disclosed in several U.S. patents (Goulet et al., U.S. Patent No.
5,532,248; Mochizuki et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,514,686; Luly et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,457,111; Russo et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,441,937; Kulkarni, U.S. Patent No. 5,387,589; Asakura et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,368,865; Goulet et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,258,389; Armistead et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,192,773;
Goulet et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,189,042; and Fehr, U.S.
Patent No. 5,011,844). These patents claim FK506 or Rapamycin related compounds and disclose the known use of FK506 or Rapamycin related compounds in the treatment of ophthalmologic disorders in association with the known immunosuppressive effects of FK506 and Rapamycin. The compounds disclosed in these patents are relatively large.
Further, the cited patents relate to immunomodulatory compounds limited to treating autoimmunity or related diseases, or immunologically-mediated diseases, for which the efficacy of FK506 and Rapamycin is well known.
Other U.S. patents disclose the use of cyclosporin, Spiperone, Buspirone, their derivatives, and other immunosuppressive compounds for use in the treatment of ophthalmologic diseases (Sharpe et al., U.S. Patent No.
5,703,088; Sharpe et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,693,645;
Sullivan, U.S. Patent No. 5,688,765; Sullivan, U.S. Patent No. 5,,620,921; Sharpe et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,574,041;
Eberle, U.S. Patent No. 5,284,826; Sharpe et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,244,902; Chiou et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,198,454 and 5,194,434; and Kaswan, U.S. Patent No. 4,839,342). These patents also relate to compounds useful for treating autoimmune diseases and cite the known use of cyclosporin, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Spiperone, Buspirone, their derivatives, and other immunosuppressive compounds in treating ocular inflammation and other immunologically-mediated ophthalmologic diseases.
The immunosuppressive compounds disclosed in the prior art suppress the immune system, by definition, and also exhibit other toxic side effects. Accordingly, there is a need for non-immunosuppressant, small molecule compounds, and compositions and methods for use of such compounds, that are useful in improving vision; preventing, treating, and/or repairing visual impairment or dysfunction of the visual system; and preventing, treating, and/or resolving ophthalmologic disorders.
There are also a number of patents on non immunosuppressive compounds disclosing methods of use for permitting or promoting wound healing (whether from injury or surgery); controlling intraocular pressure (often resulting from glaucoma); controlling neurodegenerative eye disorders, including damage or injury to retinal neurons, damage or injury to retinal ganglion cells, and macular degeneration;
stimulating neurite outgrowth; preventing or reducing oxidative damage caused by free radicals; and treating impaired oxygen and nutrient supply, as well as impaired waste product removal, resulting from low blood flow. These non-immunosuppressive substances fall into one of two general categories: naturally occurring molecules, such as proteins, glycoproteins, peptides, hormones, and growth factors; and synthetic molecules.
Within the group of naturally occurring non immunosuppressive molecules, several hormones, growth factors, and signaling molecules have been patented for use as supplements to naturally occurring quantities of such molecules, as well as for targeting of specific cells where the particular molecule does not naturally occur in a mature individual. These patents generally claim methods of use for reducing or preventing the symptoms of ocular disease, or SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) arresting or reversing vision loss.
Specifically, Louis et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,736,516 and 5,641,749, disclose the use of a glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to stop or reverse the degeneration of retinal neurons (i.e. photoreceptors) and retinal ganglion cells caused by glaucoma, or other degenerative or traumatic retinal diseases or injuries.
O'Brien, et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,714,459 and 5,700,909, disclose the use of a glycoprotein, Saposin, and its derivatives for stimulating neurite outgrowth and increasing myelination. To stop or reverse degeneration of retinal neurons, LaVail et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,667,968, discloses the use of a variety of neurotrophic proteins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3 or neurotrophin-4, acidic or basic fibroblast growth factors, interleukin, tumor necrosis factor-a, insulin-like growth factor-2 and other growth factors. Wong et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,632,984, discloses the use of interferons, especially interferon a-2a, for treating the symptoms of macular degeneration by reducing hemorrhage and limiting neovascularization. Finally, Wallace et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,441,937, discloses the use of a lung-derived neurotrophic factor (NTF) to maintain the functionality of ciliary ganglion and parasympathetic neuron cells.
A key characteristic of factors derived from specific cell lines is their localization to specific cell lines or tissues; systemic treatment with these molecules would run a substantial risk of unintended, and potentially dangerous, effects in cell lines where the genes encoding these molecules are inactive. Similarly, hormones and growth factors often activate a large number of genes in many cell lines; again, non-localized application of these molecules would run a substantial risk of provoking an inappropriate, and potentially dangerous, response.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Within the category of synthetic molecules, most of the patented compounds are immunosuppressive and disclose uses in treating inflammatory, autoimmune, and allergic responses, as discussed above. A few others are non-immunosuppressive and claim the ability to treat cellular degeneration, and in some cases promote cellular regeneration, most often in the context of their antioxidant properties.
Specifically, Tso et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,527,533, discloses the use of astaxanthin, a carotenoid antioxidant, for preventing or reducing photoreceptor damage resulting from the presence of free radicals. Similarly, Babcock et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,252,319, discloses the use of antioxidant aminosteroids for treating eye disease and injury, by increasing resistance to oxidative damage.
Freeman, U.S. Patent No. 5,468,752, discloses the use of the antiviral phosphonylmethoxyalkylcytosines to reduce abnormally increased intraocular pressure.
Hamilton and Steiner disclose in U.S. Patent No.
5,614,547 novel pyrrolidine carboxylate compounds which bind to the immunophilin FKBP12 and stimulate nerve growth, but which lack immunosuppressive effects. Unexpectedly, it has been discovered that these non-immunosuppressant compounds promote improvements in vision and resolve ophthalmologic disorders. Yet their novel small molecule structure and non-immunosuppressive properties differentiate them from FK506 and related immunosuppressive compounds found in the prior art.
Further, these compounds may be differentiated from the non-immunosuppressive compounds used to treat vision disorders by their novel small molecule structure and their lack of general, systemic effects. Naturally occurring hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and signaling molecules are generally multifunctional and activate many genes in diverse cell lines. The present compounds do not, thus avoiding the unexpected, and potentially dangerous, side SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) effects of systemic use. Similarly, the present compounds also avoid the potential unexpected side effects of introducing cell line-specific molecules into other cell lines were they do not naturally occur.

STJMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the surprising discovery that non-immunosuppressive immunophilin ligands, i . a . inhibitors or binding agents, may be useful for treating 10 a vision disorder, improving vision, treating memory impairment or enhancing memory performance in an animal.
Accordingly, novel compositions and methods of using non-immunosuppressive immunophilin ligands are provided. A
preferred feature of the compounds of the present invention is that they do not exert any significant immunosuppressive activity.
Preferred embodiments of this invention also include methods and compositions wherein the non-immunosuppressive immunophilin ligand has an affinity for FKBP-type immunophilins, and in particular FKBP-12.
Preferred FKBP-type non-immunosuppressive immunophilin ligands include without limitation small molecule heterocyclic ring compounds having a first and second substituent group attached thereto wherein the first substituent group comprises i) an acidic moiety or ii) an alkyl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl or group otherwise exemplified herein which is linked to the heterocyclic ring by an ester, thioester, amide, amine, ketone linkage, or a variation as disclosed herein, and wherein the second substituent group comprises an alkyl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, or group otherwise exemplified herein which is linked to the heterocyclic ring by a diketo, thiocarbonyl, carbamate, urea, sulfonyl, or a linkage as exemplified herein.
Preferred embodiments of the invention include methods SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) and compositions using a compound selected from formulas (I) -(XXIX) .
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 A, B and C show that GPI 1046 protects retinal ganglion cells against degeneration following retinal ischemia.
Figure 2 shows that GPI 1046 prevents degeneration of optic nerve axons and myelin following retinal ischemia.
Figure 3 shows that GPI 1046 provides moderate protection against retinal ganglion cell death after optic nerve transection.
Figure 4 shows that GPI 1046 treatment duration significantly affects the process of optic nerve axonal degeneration after transection.
Figure 5 shows that GPI 1046 treatment produces a greater effect on optic nerve axons than ganglion cell bodies.
Figure 6 shows that GPI 1046 treatment for 28 days after optic nerve transection prevents myelin degeneration in the proximal stump.
Figure 7 shows that FKBP-12 immunohistochemistry labels oligodendroglia (large dark cells with fibrous processes), the cells which produce myelin, located between the fascicles of optic nerve fibers, and also some optic nerve axons.
Figure 8 shows GPI 1046 treatment for 28 days after optic nerve transection prevents myelin degeneration in the distal stump.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 2fi) Figure 9 shows that 28 day treatment with GPI 1046 treatment beginning 8 weeks after onset of streptozotocin induced diabetes decreases the extent of neovascularization in the inner and outer retina and protects neurons in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) from degeneration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Definitions "Eye" refers to the anatomical structure responsible for vision in humans and other animals, and encompasses the following anatomical structures, without limitation: lens, vitreous body, ciliary body, posterior chamber, anterior chamber, pupil, cornea, iris, canal of Schlemm, zonules of Zinn, limbus, conjunctiva, choroid, retina, central vessels of the retina, optic nerve, fovea centralis, macula lutea, and sclera.
"GPI 1605" refers to a compound of formula N
~ O
HN- ' O

"GPI 1046" refers to 3- (3-pyridyl) -1-propyl (2s) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, a compound of formula N
O ~ /
N
O O
~-O

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) "GPI 1312" refers to a compound of formula N~ /
O-~O I'O
/ ~ GPI 1312 "GPI 1572" refers to a compound of formula N
/
O o --O

"GPI 1389" refers to a compound of formula N
N
O O
~O

"GPI 1511" refers to a compound of formula "GPI 1234" refers to a compound of formula .3PI 1234 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) "Isomers" refer to different compounds that have the same molecular formula. "Stereoisomers" are isomers that differ only in the way the atoms are arranged in space.
"Enantiomers" are a pair of stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other.
"Diastereoisomers" are stereoisomers which are not mirror images of each other. "Racemic mixture" means a mixture containing equal parts of individual enantiomers. "Non-racemic mixture" is a mixture containing unequal parts of individual enantiomers or stereoisomers.
"Enhancing memory performance" refers to improving or increasing the mental faculty by which to register, retain or recall past experiences, knowledge, ideas, sensations, thoughts or impressions.
"Memory impairment" refers to a diminished mental registration, retention or recall of past experiences, knowledge, ideas, sensations, thoughts or impressions.
Memory impairment may affect short and long-term information retention, facility with spatial relationships, memory (rehearsal) strategies, and verbal retrieval and production.
Common causes of memory impairment are age, severe head trauma, brain anoxia or ischemia, alcoholic-nutritional diseases, and drug intoxications. Examples of memory impairment include, without limitation, benign forgetfulness, amnesia and any disorder in which memory deficiency is present, such as Korsakoff's amnesic psychosis, dementia and learning disorders.
"Neopsic factors" or "neopsics" refers to compounds useful in treating vision loss, preventing vision degeneration, or promoting vision regeneration.
"Neopsis" refers to the process of treating vision loss, preventing vision degeneration, or promoting vision regeneration.
"Ophthalmological" refers to anything about or concerning the eye, without limitation, and is used SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) interchangeably with "ocular," "ophthalmic,'"
"ophthalmologic," and other such terms, without limitation.
"Pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate"
refers to a salt, ester, or solvate of a subject compound 5 which possesses the desired pharmacological activity and which is neither biologically nor otherwise undesirable. A
salt, ester, or solvate can be formed with inorganic acids such as acetate, adipate, alginate, aspartate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate, bisulfate, butyrate, citrate, camphorate, 10 camphorsulfonate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, fumarate, glucoheptanoate, gluconate, glycerophosphate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, lactate, maleate, methanesulfonate, 15 naphthylate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, oxalate, sulfate, thiocyanate, tosylate and undecanoate. Examples of base salts, esters, or solvates include ammonium salts;
alkali metal salts, such as sodium and potassium salts;
alkaline earth metal salts, such as calcium and magnesium salts; salts with organic bases, such as dicyclohexylamine salts; N-methyl-D-glucamine; and salts with amino acids, such as arginine, lysine, and so forth. Also, the basic nitrogen-containing groups can be quarternized with such agents as lower alkyl halides, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl chlorides, bromides, and iodides; dialkyl sulfates, such as dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl, and diamyl sulfates; long chain halides, such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl, and stearyl chlorides, bromides, and iodides; aralkyl halides, such as benzyl and phenethyl bromides; and others. Water or oil-soluble or dispersible products are thereby obtained.
"Preventing vision degeneration" refers to the ability to prevent degeneration of vision in patients newly diagnosed as having a degenerative disease affecting vision, or at risk of developing a new degenerative disease affecting vision, and for preventing further degeneration of vision in patients SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/09108 PC'T/US99/18241 who are already suffering from or have symptoms of 'a degenerative disease affecting vision.
"Promoting vision regeneration" refers to maintaining, improving, stimulating or accelerating recovery of, or revitalizing one or more components of the visual system in a manner which improves or enhances vision, either in the presence or absence of any ophthalmologic disorder, disease, or injury.
"Treating" refers to:
(i) preventing a disease and/or condition from occurring in a subject which may be predisposed to the disease and/or condition but has not yet been diagnosed as having it;
(ii) inhibiting the disease and/or condition, i.e., arresting its development; or (iii) relieving the disease and/or condition, i.e., causing regression of the disease and/or condition.
"Vision" refers to the ability of humans and other animals to process images, and is used interchangeably with "sight", "seeing", and other such terms, without limitation.
"Vision disorder" refers to any disorder that affects or involves vision, including without limitation visual impairment, orbital disorders, disorders of the lacrimal apparatus, disorders of the eyelids, disorders of the conjunctiva, disorders of the cornea, cataracts, disorders of the uveal tract, disorders of the retina, disorders of the optic nerve or visual pathways, free radical induced eye disorders and diseases, immunologically-mediated eye disorders and diseases, eye injuries, and symptoms and complications of eye disease, eye disorder, or eye injury.
"Visual impairment" refers to any dysfunction. in vision including without limitation disturbances or diminution in vision (e. g., binocular, central, peripheral, scotopic), visual acuity for objects near and far, visual field, ocular motility, color perception, adaptation to light and dark, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) accommodation, refraction, and lacrimation: See Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) for Ophthalmology, 16th Edition, 6:47 (1988) .
Methods of the Present Invention The present invention relates to a method of treating a vision disorder, improving vision, treating memory impairment, or enhancing memory performance in an animal, which comprises administering to said animal an effective amount of a derivative.
The inventive methods are particularly useful for treating various eye disorders including but not limited to visual disorders, diseases, injuries, and complications, genetic disorders; disorders associated with aging or degenerative vision diseases; vision disorders correlating to physical injury to the eye, head, or other parts of the body resulting from external forces; vision disorders resulting from environmental factors; vision disorders resulting from a broad range of diseases; and combinations of any of the above.
In particular, the compositions and methods of the present invention are useful for improving vision, or correcting, treating, or preventing visual (ocular) impairment or dysfunction of the visual system, including permanent and temporary visual impairment, without limitation. The present invention is also useful in preventing and treating ophthalmologic diseases and disorders, treating damaged and injured eyes, and preventing and treating diseases, disorders, and injuries which result in vision deficiency, vision loss, or reduced capacity to see or process images, and the symptoms and complications resulting from same. The eye diseases and disorders which may be treated or prevented by the compositions and methods of the present invention are not limited with regard to the cause of said diseases or disorders. Accordingly, said SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 2fi) compositions and methods are applicable whether the disease or disorder is caused by genetic or environmental factors, as well as any other influences. The compositions and methods of the present invention are particularly useful for eye problems or vision loss or deficiency associated with all of the following, without limitation: aging, cellular or physiological degeneration, central nervous system or neurological disorder, vascular defects, muscular defects, and exposure to adverse environmental conditions or substances.
The compositions and methods of the present invention are particularly useful in correcting, treating, or improving visual impairment, without limitation. Visual impairment in varying degrees occurs in the presence of a deviation from normal in one or more functions of the eye, including (1) visual acuity for objects at distance and near; (2) visual fields;. and (3) ocular motility without diplopia. See Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) for Ophthalmology, 16th Edition, 6:47 (1988). Vision is imperfect without the coordinated function of all three. Id.
Said compositions and methods of use are also useful in correcting, treating, or improving other ocular functions including, without limitation, color perception, adaptation to light and dark, accommodation, metamorphopsia, and binocular vision. The compositions and methods of use are particularly useful in treating, correcting, or preventing ocular disturbances including, without limitation, paresis of accommodation, iridoplegia, entropion, ectropion, epiphora, lagophthalmos, scarring, vitreous opacities, non-reactive pupil, light scattering disturbances of the cornea or other media, and permanent deformities of the orbit.
The compositions and methods of use of the present invention are also highly useful in improving vision and treating vision loss. Vision loss ranging from slight loss to absolute loss may be treated or prevented using said SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) compositions and methods of use. Vision may be improved by the treatment of eye disorders, diseases, and injuries using the compositions and methods of the invention. However, improvements in vision using the compositions and methods of use are not so limited, and may occur in the absence of any such disorder, disease, or injury.
The compositions and methods of the present invention are also useful in the treatment or prevention of the following non-limiting exemplary diseases and disorders, and symptoms and complications resulting therefrom.
Vision disorders include but are not limited to the following:
visual impairment, such as diminished visual acuity for objects near and far, visual fields, and ocular motility;
orbital disorders, such as orbital cellulitis, periorbital cellulitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, and exophthalmos (proptosis);
disorders of the lacrimal apparatus, such as dacryostenosis, congenital dacryostenosis, and dacryocystitis '20 (acute or chronic) ;
disorders of the eyelids, such as lid edema, blepharitis, ptosis, Bell's palsy, blepharospasm, hordeolum (stye), external hordeolum, internal hordeolum (meibomian stye), chalazion, entropion (inversion of the eyelid), ectropion (eversion of the eyelid), tumors (benign and malignant), xanthelasma, basil cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, meibomian gland carcinoma, and melanoma;
disorders of the conjunctiva, such as pinguecula, pterygium, and other neoplasms, acute conjunctivitis, chronic conjunctivitis, adult gonococcal conjunctivitis, neonatal conjunctivitis, trachoma (granular conjunctivitis or Egyptian ophthalmia), inclusion conjunctivitis (inclusion blenorrhea or swimming pool conjunctivitis), neonatal inclusion conjunctivitis, adult inclusion conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (keratitis SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) sicca or dry eye syndrome), episcleritis, scleritis, cicatricial pemphigoid (ocular cicatricial pemphigoid or benign mucous membrane pemphigoid), and subconjunctival hemorrhage;
5 disorders of the cornea, such as superficial punctate keratitis, corneal ulcer, indolent ulcer, recurrent corneal erosion, corneal epithelial basement membrane dystrophy, corneal endothelial cell dystrophy, herpes simplex keratitis (herpes simplex keratoconjunctivitis), dendritic keratitis, 10 disciform keratitis, ophthalmic herpes zoster, phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis (phlyctenular or eczematous conjunctivitis), interstitial keratitis (parenchymatous keratitis), peripheral ulcerative keratitis (marginal keratolysis or peripheral rheumatoid ulceration), 15 keratomalacia (xerotic keratitis), xerophthalmia, keratoconus, bullous keratopathy;
cataracts, including developmental or congenital cataracts, juvenile or adult cataracts, nuclear cataract, posterior subcapsular cataracts;

20 disorders of the uveal tract, such as uveitis (inflammation of the uveal tract or retina), anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, iritis, cyclitis, choroiditis, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, pays planitis, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), acute retinal necrosis, toxocariasis, birdshot choroidopathy, histoplasmosis (presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome), Behcet's syndrome, sympathetic ophthalmia, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, sarcoidosis, reticulum cell sarcoma, large cell lymphoma, syphilis, tuberculosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, endophthalmitis, and malignant melanoma of the choroid;
disorders of the retina, such as vascular retinopathies (e. g., arteriosclerotic retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy), central and branch retinal artery occlusion, central and branch retinal vein occlusion, diabetic SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) retinopathy (e. g., proliferative retinopathy and nori-proliferative retinopathy), macular degeneration of the aged (age-related macular degeneration or senile macular degeneration), neovascular macular degeneration, retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa, retinal photic injury, retinal ischemia-induced eye injury, and glaucoma (e. g., primary glaucoma, chronic open-angle glaucoma, acute or chronic angle-closure, congenital (infantile) glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, and absolute glaucoma);
disorders of the optic nerve or visual pathways, such as papilledema (choked disk), papillitis (optic neuritis), retrobulbar neuritis, ischemic optic neuropathy, toxic amblyopia, optic atrophy, higher visual pathway lesions, disorders of ocular motility (e. g., third cranial nerve palsies, fourth cranial nerve palsies, sixth cranial nerve palsies, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and gaze palsies);
free radical induced eye disorders and diseases; and immunologically-mediated eye disorders and diseases, such as Graves' ophthalmopathy, conical cornea, dystrophia epithelialis corneae, corneal leukoma, ocular pemphigus, Mooren's ulcer, scleritis, and sarcoidosis (See The Merck Manual, Sixteenth Edition, 217:2365-2397 (1992) and The Eye Book, Cassel, Billig, and Randall, The Johns Hopkins University Press (1998)).
The compositions and methods of the present invention are also useful in the treatment of the following non-limiting eye injuries, and symptoms and complications resulting therefrom: conjunctival and corneal foreign body injuries, corneal abrasion, intraocular foreign body injuries, lacerations, lid lacerations, contusions, lid contusions (black eye), trauma to the globe, laceration of the iris, cataract, dislocated lens, glaucoma, vitreous hemorrhage, orbital-floor fractures, retinal hemorrhage or detachment, and rupture of the eyeball, anterior chamber hemorrhage (traumatic hyphema), burns, eyelid burns, chemical SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) burns, chemical burns of the cornea and conjunctiva, arid ultraviolet light burns (sunburn). See The Merck Manual, Sixteenth Edition, 217:2364-2365 (1992).
The compositions and methods of the present invention are also useful in treating and/or preventing the following non-limiting exemplary symptoms and complications of eye disease, eye disorder or eye injury: subconjunctival hemorrhages, vitreous hemorrhages, retinal hemorrhages, floaters, retinal detachments, photophobia, ocular pain, scotomas (negative and positive), errors of refraction, emmetropia, ametropia, hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), astigmatism, anisometropia, aniseikonia, presbyopia, bleeding, recurrent bleeding, sympathetic ophthalmia, inflammation, swelling, redness of the eye, irritation of the eye, corneal ulceration and scarring, iridocyclitis, perforation of the globe, lid deformities, exophthalmos, impaired mobility of the eye, lid swelling, chemosis, loss of vision, including partial or total blindness, optic neuritis, fever, malaise, thrombophlebitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, panophthalmitis, infection of the meninges and brain, papilledema, severe cerebral symptoms (headache, decreased level of consciousness, and convulsions), cranial nerve palsies, epiphora (chronic or persistent tearing), copious reflux of mucus or pus, follicular subconjunctival hyperplasia, corneal vascularization, cicatrization of the conjunctiva, cornea, and lids, pannus, hypopyon, lagophthalmos, phlyctenules, rubeosis iridis, bitemporal hemianopia, and homonymous hemianopia. See The Merck Manual, Sixteenth Edition, 217:2362-2363 (1992).
The derivative may be administered in combination with an effective amount of one or more factors) useful in treating vision disorder, improving vision, treating memory impairment, or enhancing memory performance.
In a preferred embodiment, the factors) to be combined SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) with the derivative is/are selected from the group consisting of immunosuppressants for treating autoimmune, inflammatory, and immunologically-mediated disorders; wound healing agents for treating wounds resulting from injury or surgery;
antiglaucomatous medications for treating abnormally elevated intraocular pressure; neurotrophic factors and growth factors for treating neurodegenerative disorders or stimulating neurite outgrowth; compounds effective in limiting or preventing hemorrhage or neovascularization for treating macular degeneration; and antioxidants for treating oxidative damage to eye tissues.
Pharmaceutical Compositions of the Present Invention The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising:
(i) an effective amount of a derivative for treating a vision disorder, improving vision, treating memory impairment, or enhancing memory performance in an animal; and (ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
The derivative may be administered in combination with an effective amount of one or more factors) useful in treating vision disorders, improving vision, treating memory impairment, or enhancing memory performance.
Non-Immunosuppressive Neuroimmunoohilin FKBP Ligands The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand used in the method and pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is a low molecular weight, small molecule compound having an affinity for an FKBP-type immunophilin, such as FKBP12. When the compound binds to an FKBP-type immunophilin, it has been found to inhibit the prolyl-peptidyl cis-trans isomerase activity, or rotamase, activity of the binding protein.
As its name suggests, the compound is devoid of any SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) significant immunosuppressive activity.
Examples of a non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand that may be used in the inventive method and pharmaceutical composition are set forth below.
I. HETEROCYCLIC THIOESTERS AND KETONES
FORMULA I
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula I
~B
Z
1'1 I
Y

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
A and B, together with the nitrogen and carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached, form a 5-7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing one or more heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO, SOz, N, NH, and NR2;
X is either O or S;
Z is either S, CH2, CHR1 or CR1R3;
W and Y are independently O, S, CHZ or H2;
R1 and R3 are independently C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of (Arl) n, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with (Arl) ~, C3-CB cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) alkyl or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with C,-CB cycloalkyl, and Ar2;
n is 1 or 2;
R2 is either C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C9 5 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Arl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, 10 C2-CQ straight or branched chain alkenyl, and hydroxy; and Arl and Ar2 are independently an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein said ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group 15 consisting of halo, hydroxyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, CZ-C, alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; and wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 20 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S.
Useful carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, azulenyl, fluorenyl, anthracenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, 25 benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, quinolizinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isotriazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, trithianyl, indolizinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thienyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, arid phenoxazinyl.
FORMULA II
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may also be a compound of formula II
~CH2)n Z
y II
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof; wherein:
n is 1 or 2;
X is O or S;
Z is selected from the group consisting of S, CHz, CHRI, and CR1R3 ;
R1 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-CS
straight or branched chain alkenyl, and Arl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl or Arl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, vitro, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, hydroxy, C1-C4 alkoxy, CZ-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino , and Arl ;
R2, is selected from the group consisting of C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, and Arl;
and Arl is phenyl, benzyl, pyridyl, fluorenyl, thioindolyl or naphthyl, wherein said Arl is unsubstituted or substituted SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, nitro, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, Cz-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino.
Preferred compounds of formula II are presented in TABLE
A.
TABLE A
No n X Z R1 R2 .

1 1 O CHZ 3-Phenylpropyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 2 1 O CH2 3-(3-Pyridyl)propyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 3 1 O CHZ 3-Phenylpropyl tert-Butyl 4 1 0 CHz 3-(3-Pyridyl)propyl tert-Butyl 5 1 O CHZ 3-(3-Pyridyl)propyl Cyclohexyl 6 1 0 CHz 3-(3-Pyridyl)propyl Cyclopentyl 7 1 O CH2 3-(3-Pyridyl)propyl Cycloheptyl 8 1 0 CHz 2-(9-Fluorenyl)ethyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 9 1 O S 2-Phenethyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 10 2 O S 2-Phenethyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 11 1 O S Methyl(2-thioindole) 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 12 1 O S 2-Phenethyl Cyclohexyl 13 2 O S 2-Phenethyl tent-Butyl 14 2 0 S 2-Phenethyl Phenyl 15 1 O CHZ 3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl propyl 16 2 O CHZ 4-(4-Methoxy- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl phenyl)butyl 17 2 O CHZ 4-Phenylbutyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 18 2 O CHZ 4-Phenylbutyl Phenyl 19 2 0 CH2 4-Phenylbutyl Cyclohexyl 20 1 S CHZ 3-Phenylpropyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 21 1 S S 2-Phenethyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE
26) No , n X Z R1 R2 22 2 S CHz 3-Phenylpropyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 23 2 S S 2-Phenethyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 24 2 O CHR1 3-Phenylpropyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 25 2 O CHR1 3-Phenylpropyl Cyclohexyl 26 2 O CHR1 3-Phenylpropyl Phenyl 27 2 O CHR1 3-Phenylpropyl 3,4,5-Trimethoxy-phenyl 28 1 O S 2-Phenethyl Cyclopentyl 29 2 O S 3-Phenylpropyl tert-Butyl 30 1 O S 3-Phenylpropyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 31 1 O S 3-(3-Pyridyl)propyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 32 1 O S 3-Phenylpropyl Cyclohexyl 33 1 O S 4-Phenylbutyl Cyclohexyl 34 1 O S 4-Phenylbutyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 35 1 O S 3-(3-Pyridyl)propyl Cyclohexyl 36 1 O S 3,3-Diphenylpropyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 37 1 O S 3,3-Diphenylpropyl Cyclohexyl 38 1 O S 3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl propyl 39 2 O S 4-Phenylbutyl tert-Butyl 40 2 O S 1,5-Diphenylpentyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 41 2 O S 1,5-Diphenylpentyl Phenyl 42 2 O S 3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl propyl 43 2 0 S 3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)- Phenyl propyl 44 2 O S 3-(1-Naphthyl)propyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 45 1 O S 3,3-Di(4- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl fluoro)phenylpropyl 46 1 O S 4,4-Di(4-fluoro)- l,l-Dimethylpropyl phenylbutyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) No , n X Z R1 RZ

47 1 O S 3-(1-Naphthyl)propyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 48 1 O S 2,2-Diphenylethyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 49 2 O S 2,2-Diphenylethyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 50 2 O S 3,3-Diphenylpropyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 51 1 0 S 3-(4-{Trifluoro- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl methyl}phenyl)propyl 52 1 O S 3-(2-Naphthyl)propyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 53 2 O S 3-(1-Naphthyl)propyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 54 1 O S 3-(3-Chloro)phenyl- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl propyl 55 1 O S 3-{3-{Trifluoro- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl methyl}phenyl)propyl 56 1 O S 3-(2-Biphenyl)propyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 57 1 O S 3-(2-Fluorophenyl)- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl propyl 58 1 O S 3-(3-Fluorophenyl)- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl propyl 59 2 O S 4-Phenylbutyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl 60 2 O S 3-Phenylpropyl l,l-Dimethylpropyl 61 1 O S 3-(2-Chloro)phenyl- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl propyl 62 2 O S 3-(3-Chloro)- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl phenylpropyl 63 2 O S 3-{2-Fluoro)phenyl- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl propyl 64 2 0 S 3-(3-Fluoro)- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl phenylpropyl 65 1 O S 3-(2,5-Dimethoxy- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl phenylpropyl 66 1 O CHz 3-Phenylpropyl Cyclohexyl 67 1 O CH2 3-Phenylethyl tert-Butyl 68 2 0 CHz 4-Phenylbutyl Cyclohexyl 69 2 O CHR1 2-Phenylethyl tert-Butyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) No . n X Z R1 Rz 70 1 O CHz 3,3-Di(4-fluoro- 1,1-Dimethylpropyl phenyl)propyl 71 2 0 CHz 3-Phenylpropyl 1,1-Dimethylpropyl Preferred compounds of TABLE A are named as follows:
5 1 (2S)-2-((1-Oxo-5-phenyl}-pentyl-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)pyrrolidine 2 3, 3-Dimethyl-1- [ (2S) -2- (5- (3-pyridyl) pentanoyl) -1-pyrrolidine]-1,2-pentanedione 3 (2S)-2-({1-Oxo-4-phenyl}-butyl-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-10 dioxobutyl)pyrrolidine 9 2-Phenyl-1-ethyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 10 2-Phenyl-1-ethyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 15 11 (3-Thioindolyl)methyl (2S)-1-{3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 12 2-Phenyl-1-ethyl {2S)-1-(2-cyclohexyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 14 2-Phenyl-1-ethyl 1-(2-phenyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-20 piperi.dinecarbothioate 28 2-Phenyl-1-ethyl (2S)-1-(1-cyclopentyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 29 3-Phenyl-1-propyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxobutyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 25 30 3-Phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 31 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 32 3-Phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-30 2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 33 4-Phenyl-1-butyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 34 4-Phenyl-1-butyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 35 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 36 3,3-biphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 37 3,3-biphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 38 3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carbothioate 39 4-Phenyl-1-butyl 1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylbutyl) -2-piperidinecarbothioate 40 1,5-biphenyl-3-pentyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 41 1,5-biphenyl-3-mercaptopentyl 1-(3-phenyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 42 3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propyl 1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)piperidine-2-carbothioate 43 3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propyl 1-(2-phenyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)piperidine-2-carbothioate 44 3-(1-Naphthyl)-1-propyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)piperidine-2-carbothioate 45 3,3-Di(para-fluoro)phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carbothioate 46 4,4-Di(para-fluorophenyl)butyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 47 3- (1-Naphthyl)propyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 48 2,2-Diphenylethyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)tetrahydro-1H-2-pyrrolidine-carbothioate 49 2,~2-Diphenylethyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl) 2-piperidinecarbothioate 50 3,3-Diphenylpropyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 51 3- [4- (Trifluoromethyl) phenyl] propyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carbothioate SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 52 3- (2-Naphthyl)propyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 53 3-(2-Naphthyl)propyl (2R,S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 54 3-(3-Chlorophenyl)propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 55 3- [3- (Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]propyl (2S} -1- (3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carbothioate 56 3-(1-Biphenyl)propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 57 3-(2-Fluorophenyl)propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 58 3-(3-Fluorophenyl)propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 59 4-Phenylbutyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 60 3-Phenylpropyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 61 3-(2-Chlorophenyl)propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbothioate 62 3-(2-Chlorophenyl)propyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 63 3-(2-Fluorophenyl)propyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 64 3-(3-Fluorophenyl)propyl 1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate 65 3-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxopentanoyl)-2- pyrrolidinecarbothioate 66 (2S)-2-({1-Oxo-4-phenyl)-butyl-1-(2-Cyclohexyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)pyrrolidine 67 2-({1-Oxo-4-phenyl}-butyl-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxobutyl)pyrrolidine 68 2-({1-Oxo-6-phenyl}-hexyl-1-(2-Cyclohexyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)piperidine 69 2-({1-Oxo-[2-{2'-phenyl}ethyl]-4-phenyl}-butyl-1-(3,3-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) dimethyl-1,2-dioxobutyl)piperidine 70 1-{ (2S) -2- [5, 5-di (4-Fluorophenyl)pentanoyl] -2-pyrrolidine}-3,3-dimethyl-1,2-pentanedione 71 3,3-Dimethyl-1-[2-(4-phenylpentanoyl)piperidino]-1,2-pentanedione FORMUhA III
Furthermore, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula III
z III

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
A, B, and C are independently CH2, O, S, SO, SOZ, NH or NRz ;
X is O or S;
Z i s S , CHZ , CHRl or CR1R3 ;
Rl and R3 are independently C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of (Arl) n, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with (Arl)~, . C3-CB cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with C3-Ce cycloalkyl, and Ar2;
n is 1 or 2;
R2 is either C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) cycloalkenyl or Arl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl, and hydroxyl; and Arl and Ar2 are independently an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein said ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C1-C9 alkoxy, CZ-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; and wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of 0, N, and S.
Preferred compounds of formula III are presented in TABLE B.
TABLE B
No . A B C X Z R1 RZ

72 CHZ S CHz S 2-phenethyl 1,1-dimethyl-propyl 73 CHZ S CHZ CHZ 3-phenyl- 1,1-dimethyl-propyl O

propyl 74 CHZ CHZ NH S 2-phenethyl 1,1-dimethyl-propyl O

75 CHz S CHZ S 2-phenethyl 1,1-dimethyl-propyl S

FoRMVLA zv Alternatively, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula IV
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) $/C\D
m X

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
5 A, B, C and D are independently CH2, O, S, SO, SO2, NH
or NRz ;
X is O or S;
Z i s S , CHZ , CHRl or CR1R3 ;
Rl and R3 are independently C1-C6 straight or branched 10 chain alkyl or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of (Arl) n, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with 15 (Arl) n, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with C3-CB cycloalkyl, and Ar2;
n is 1 or 2;
Rz is either C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C9 20 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-Cg cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl or Arl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C3-C8 cycloalkyl , C1-C4 straight or 25 branched chain alkyl, CZ-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, and hydroxyl; and Arl and Ar2 are independently an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein said ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, vitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C9 alkoxy, C2-CQ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; and wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of 0, N, and S.
Preferred compounds of formula IV are presented in TABLE
C.
TABLE C
No . A B C D X Z R1 RZ

76 CHZ CHZ 0 CHz 0 CHz 3-phenyl- 1,1-dimethylpropyl propyl 77 CHZ CHZ O CHz 0 S 2-phen- 1,1-dimethylpropyl ethyl 78 CHZ CHz S CH2 O CHZ 3-phenyl- 1,1-dimethylpropyl propyl 79 CHz CHZ S CHZ O S 2-phen- 1,1-dimethylpropyl ethyl FORMULA V
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may further be a compound of formula v B
Z
Y ~ ~I V
Y~~ W X

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) thereof, wherein:
V is C, N, or S;
A and B, together with V and the carbon atom to which they are respectively attached, form a 5-7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring which may contain, in addition to V, one or more heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO, SO2, N, NH, and NR4 ;
R4 is either C,-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-C9 cycloakyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Ar3, wherein R4 is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, haloalkyl, carbonyl, carboxy, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C,-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C,-C4 alkoxy, Cz-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, thioalkyl, alkylthio, sulfhydryl, amino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, aminocarboxyl, and Ar4;
Ar3 and Arq are independently an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein said heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; and R" Rz, W, X, Y, and Z are as defined in Formula I above.
TI. HETEROCYCLIC ESTERS AND AMIDES FORMULA VI
Additionally, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula VI
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~B
Z
W m Y. .. W X

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
A and B, together with the nitrogen and carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached, form a 5-7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring which may contain, in addition to the nitrogen atom, one or more heteroatom{s) independently selected from the group consisting of 0, S, SO, SO2, N, NH, and NR1;
X is O or S;
Z is O, NH or NRl;
W and Y are independently O, S, CHZ or H2;
R1 is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, which is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of (Arl}n, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with (Arl}~, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with C3-Ce cycloalkyl, and Ar2;
n is 1 or 2;
R2 is either C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C9 straight or branched chain or alkenyl, C3-Ca cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Arl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 2fi) WO 00/09108 PCT/US99/182d1 C2-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl, and hydroxyl; arid Arl and Arz are independently an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, CZ-C9 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; and wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S.
Suitable carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation naphthyl, indolyl, furyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, pyridyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, fluorenyl and phenyl.
FORMULA VII
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may also be a compound of formula VII
B-C
A. O -RI
N
VII
O _ O
~O

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
A,, B and C are independently CH2, 0, S, SO, SO2, NH or NRl;
R1 is C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl or CZ-CS
straight or branched chain alkenyl, which is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of (Arl)n and C1-C6 straight or branched SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) chain alkyl or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with (Arl) n;
n is 1 or 2;
RZ is either C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C9 5 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Arl; and Arl is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more 10 substituent(s) independently selected from. the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, CZ-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 15 members; and wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S.
In a preferred embodiment of the compounds of formula VII, the heterocyclic ester or amide is the Compound GPI
20 1572, of the formula N

o In a particularly preferred embodiment of formula VII
compounds:
25 A is CH2;
B is CHz or S;
C is CHZ or NH;
R1 is selected from the group consisting of 3-phenylpropyl and 3-(3-pyridyl)propyl; and 30 RZ is selected from the group consisting of 1,1-dimethvlpropyl, cyclohexyl, and tert-butyl.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Specific examples of this embodiment are presented in TABLE D.
TABhE D
No A B C R1 RZ
.

80 CH2 S CHz 3-phenylpropyl 1,1-dimethylpropyl 81 CHz S CH2 3-(3-pyridyl)propyl 1,1-dimethylpropyl 82 CHz S CH2 3-phenylpropyl cyclohexyl 83 CH2 S CHZ 3-phenylpropyl tert-butyl 84 CHZ CHz NH 3-phenylpropyl 1,1-dimethylpropyl 85 CH2 CHZ NH 3-phenylpropyl cyclohexyl 86 CHz CHz NH 3-phenylpropyl tent-butyl FORMULA VIII
In a further embodiment of this invention, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula VIII
B~C~D
A~ O -R1 VIII
O _ O
O

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
A, B, C and D are independently CH2, O, S, SO, SO2, NH
or NRl ;
Rl~ is C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl or Cz-CS
straight or branched chain alkenyl, which is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of (Arl) n and C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) substituted with (Arl) n;
n is 1 or 2;
Rz is either C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Arl; and Arl is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-CQ alkoxy, CZ-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; and wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of formula VIII
compounds:
A i s CH2 ;
B is CH2;
C is S, O or NH;
D i s CHz ;
R1 is selected from the group consisting of 3-phenylpropyl and (3,4,5-trimethoxy)phenylpropyl; and R2 is selected from the group consisting of 1,1-dimethylpropyl, cyclohexyl, tert-butyl, phenyl, and 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl.
Specific examples of this embodiment are presented in TABLE E.
TABLE E
No . A B C D R1 RZ

87 CHZ CHZ S CHz 3-phenylpropyl 1,1-dimethylpropyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) No . A B C D R1 R2 88 CHZ CHZ 0 CHZ 3-phenylpropyl 1,1-dimethylpropyl 89 CH2 CHz S CH2 3-phenylpropyl cyclohexyl 90 CHz CHZ O CHZ 3-phenylpropyl cyclohexyl 91 CH2 CHz S CH2 3-phenylpropyl phenyl 92 CHz CH2 O CHZ 3-phenylpropyl phenyl 93 CHZ CHZ NH CHZ 3-phenylpropyl 1,1-dimethylpropyl 94 CHZ CHZ NH CH2 3-phenylpropyl phenyl FORMULA IX
Additionally, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula IX
B
A\ ~ /Z\
ix Y~W X

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
V is C, N, or S;
A and B, together with V and the carbon atom to which they are respectively attached, form a 5-7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring which may contain, in addition to V, one or more heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of 0, S, S0, S02, N, NH, and NR;
R is either C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-C9 cycloakyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Ar3, wherein R is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) selected from the group consisting of halo, haloalkyT, carbonyl, carboxy, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C1-C4 alkoxy, Cz-C9 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, thioalkyl, alkylthio, sulfhydryl, amino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, aminocarboxyl, and Ar4;
Ar3 and Ar4 are independently an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein said heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; and R1, R2, W, X, Y, and Z are as defined in Formula VI
above.
III. N-OXIDES OF HETEROCYCLIC ESTERS. AMIDES, THIOESTERS AND KETONES
FORMULA X
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may further be a compound of formula X
B
X-Y-Z
x R
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
A and B, together with the nitrogen and carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached, form a 5-7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing one or more heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of CH, CH2, O, S, S0, SOZ, N, NH, and NR1;
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) W is 0, S, CHz, or Hz;
R is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C3-Ce cycloalkyl , CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Arl, which is optionally substituted with 5 one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl , CZ-C4 alkenyl , hydroxy, C3-C8 cycloalkyl , CS-C, cycloalkenyl , and Arz ;
Arl and Arz are independently selected from the group consisting of 1-napthyl, 2-napthyl, 1-indolyl, 2-indolyl, 2 10 furyl, 3-furyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl and phenyl, having one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain 15 alkenyl, C2-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino;
X i s O , NH , NR1, S , CH , CR1, or CR1R3 ;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or 20 more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C3-C8 cycloalkyl , CS-C~
cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally 25 substituted with C1-C4 alkyl, CZ-C4 alkenyl, hydroxy, or carbonyl oxygen; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally replaced with O, NH, NRz, S, SO, or SO2;
R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1 30 Cq straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally 35 fused to an Ar group;
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Z is an aromatic amine or a tertiary amine oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
said aromatic amine is selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, pyrimidyl, quinolinyl, or isoquinolinyl, which is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, nitro, trif luoromethyl , C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl , CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, Cz-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino;
said tertiary amine is NR4RSR6, wherein R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally substituted with C1-C4 alkyl, Cz-C4 alkenyl, hydroxy, or carbonyl oxygen; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR1, S, SO, or SOz;
Ar is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidinyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazyl, pyridazyl, quinolinyl, and isoquinolinyl; and R1 and R3 are independently hydrogen, C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, or Y-Z.
FORMULA XI
Moreover, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XI
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) F~G~J
ESN X-Y-Z
XI
,W
R
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
E, F, G and J are independently CH2, 0, S, SO, 502, NH
or NRl ;
W is O, S, CHZ, or H2;
R is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Arl, which is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, CZ-C4 alkenyl, hydroxy, C3-Ca cycloalkyl, CS-C~ cycloalkenyl, and Arl;
Arl is selected from the group consisting of 1-napthyl, 2-napthyl, 1-indolyl, 2-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, and phenyl, having one or more substituent (s) independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, CZ-C9 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino;
X is O, NH, NR1, S, CH, CR1, or CR1R3;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) substituted with C1-C4 alkyl, Cz-C4 alkenyl, hydroxy, or carbonyl oxygen; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally replaced with 0, NH, NR2, S, SO, or SO2;
RZ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Z is an aromatic amine or a tertiary amine oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
said aromatic amine is pyridyl, pyrimidyl, quinolinyl, and isoquinolinyl, which is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, CZ-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino;
said tertiary amine is NR4RSR6, wherein R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl and Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally substituted with C1-C9 alkyl, Cz-C4 alkenyl, hydroxy, or carbonyl oxygen;
wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR1, S, SO, or SOz;
Ar is selected from the group consisting of SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) pyrrolidinyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazyl, pyridazyl, quinolinyl, and isoquinolinyl; and R1 and R3 are independently hydrogen, C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, or Y-Z.
FORMULA XII
Furthermore, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XII
F-G
X-Y -Z
to N xII
O O
R
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
E, F, and G are independently CH2, O, S, SO, SO2, NH or NR1;
W is O, S, CHz, or H2;
R is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C3-CB cycloalkyl , CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Arl, which is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl, hydroxy, C3-CB
cycloalkyl , CS-C, cycloalkenyl , and Arl;
Arl is selected from the group consisting of 1-napthyl, 2-napthyl, 1-indolyl, 2-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl and phenyl, having one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C2-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, SUBSTETUTE SHEET (RULE 26) benzyloxy, and amino;
X is 0, NH, NR1, S, CH, CR1, or CR1R3;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein 5 said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, CS-C., cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said 10 alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally substituted with C1-C4 alkyl, CZ-C4 alkenyl, hydroxy, or carbonyl oxygen; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally replaced with 0, NH, NRZ, S, SO, or SO2;
15 R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said 20 heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Z is an aromatic amine or a tertiary amine oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
said aromatic amine is pyridyl, pyrimidyl, quinolinyl, 25 or isoquinolinyl, which is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, nitro, tri f luoromethyl , C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl , C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C1-C4 alkoxy, Cz-C4 30 alkenyl.oxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino;
said tertiary amine is NRQRSR6, wherein R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is 35 optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C3-Ce cycloalkyl , CS-C, cycloalkenyl , hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally substituted with C1-C9 alkyl, Cz-CQ alkenyl, hydroxy, or carbonyl oxygen;
wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR1, S, S0, or SO2;
Ar is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidinyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazyl, pyridazyl, quinolinyl, and isoquinolinyl; and R1 and R3 are independently hydrogen, C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, or Y-Z.
FORMULA XIII
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may also be a compound of formula XIII
~C~)n X-Y-Z
N
XIII
~W
R
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
n is 1, 2, or 3, forming a 5-7 member heterocyclic ring;
W is O, S, CH2, or H2;
R is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-Cg cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Arl, which is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, CZ-Cq alkenyl, hydroxy, C3-CB
cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, and Arl;
Arl is selected from the group consisting of 1-napthyl, 2-napthyl, 1-indolyl, 2-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl and phenyl, having one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, CZ-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino;
X is O, NH, NR1, S, CH, CR1, or CR1R3;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, CS-C~
cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally substituted with C1-C4 alkyl, CZ-Cq alkenyl, hydroxy, or carbonyl oxygen; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR2, S, SO, or SO2;
RZ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C, C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Z is an aromatic amine or a tertiary amine oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
said aromatic amine is pyridyl, pyrimidyl, quinolinyl, or isoquinolinyl, which is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, Cz-CQ
alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino;
said tertiary amine is NR4RSR6, wherein R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl and C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C3-CB cycloalkyl , C5-C., cycloalkenyl , hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally substituted with C1-C4 alkyl, CZ-C4 alkenyl, hydroxy, or carbonyl oxygen;
wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or Ar is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR1, S, SO, or SOZ;
Ar is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidinyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazyl, pyridazyl, quinolinyl, and isoquinolinyl; and R1 and R3 hydrogen, C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, or Y-Z.
Examples of the compounds of formula XIII when W is O
are presented in TABLE VI.
TABLE VI
~(C~)n 'X-Y-Z
0\ ~ O
R
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 2fi) TABLE VI continued No. n X Y Z R

95 1 O (CHZ)3 3-Pyridyl N-oxide 1,1-dimethylpropyl 96 1 O (CHZ)3 2-Pyridyl N-oxide 1,1-dimethylpropyl 97 1 O (CHZ)3 4-Pyridyl N-oxide 1,1-dimethylpropyl 98 1 0 (CHZ)3 2-Quinolyl N-oxide 1,1-dimethylpropyl 99 1 O (CHZ)3 3-Quinolyl N-oxide 1,1-dimethylpropyl 100 1 O (CH2)3 4-Quinolyl N-oxide 1,1-dimethylpropyl Preferred compounds of formula XIII may be selected from the group consisting of:
3-(2-Pyridyl)-1-propyl(2S)-1-(l,l-Dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, N-oxide;
3- (3-Pyridyl) -1-propyl (2S) -1- (1, 1-Dimethyl-1, 2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, N-oxide;
3-(4-Pyridyl)-1-propyl(2S)-1-(1,1-Dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, N-oxide;
3-(2-Quinolyl)-1-propyl(2S)-1-(1,1-Dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, N-oxide;
3-(3-Quinolyl)-1-propyl(2S)-1-(1,1-Dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, N-oxide;
3-(4-Quinolyl)-1-propyl(2S)-1-(1,1-Dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, N-oxide; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and solvates thereof.
FORMULA XIV
Additionally, the non-immunosuppressive neuroirilmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XIV
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) B
X-Y-Z
XIV
R
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
5 V is C, N, or S;
A and B, together with V and the carbon atom to which they are respectively attached, form a 5-7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring which may contain, in addition to V, one or more heteroatom(s) independently 10 selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO, S02, N, NH, and NR., ;
R, is either C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C3-C9 cycloalkyl , CS-C, cycloalkenyl, or Ar3, wherein R, is either unsubstituted or 15 substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of halo, haloalkyl, carbonyl, carboxy, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, Cz-C9 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, 20 benzyloxy, thioalkyl, alkylthio, sulfhydryl, amino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, aminocarboxyl, and Ar4;
Ar3 and Ar4 are independently an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring; wherein the ir~dividual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein said 25 heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; and R, W, X, Y, and Z are as defined in Formula X above.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) IV. N-LINKED UREAS AND CARBAMATES OF HETEROCYCLIC
THIOESTERS
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may further be a compound of formula XV
Y Z\
R D xv 2~

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
A and B, together with the nitrogen and carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached, form a 5-7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring which may contain, in addition to the nitrogen atom, one or more additional heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO, SOz, N, NH, and NR3;
X is either O or S;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with 0, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SOZ;
R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Ar is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of alkylamino, amido, amino, aminoalkyl, azo, benzyloxy, C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C1-C9 alkoxy, C2-C9 alkenyloxy, C2-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C8 cycloalkyl, CS-C-, cycloalkenyl, carbonyl, carboxy, cyano, diazo, ester, formanilido, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, imino, isocyano, isonitrilo, nitrilo, nitro, nitroso, phenoxy, sulfhydryl, sulfonylsulfoxy, thio, thioalkyl, thiocarbonyl, thiocyano, thioester, thioformarnido, trifluoromethyl, and carboxylic and heterocyclic moieties, including alicyclic and aromatic structures; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein said heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; and wherein said aromatic or tertiary alkyl amine is optionally oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
Z is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SOz;
C and D are independently hydrogen, Ar, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C3-Ce cycloalkyl, CS-C, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with C1-C6 alkyl, Cz-C6 alkenyl, hydroxy, amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, or sulfonyl; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with oxygen to form a carbonyl; or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SOz;
w is O or S; and U is either O or N, provided that:
when U is O, then R1 is a lone pair of electrons and RZ is selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-CB
cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar and C3-CB cycloalkyl; and when U is N, then R1 and Rz are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Ar, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar and C3-Ce cycloalkyl ; or R1 and RZ are taken together to form a heterocyclic 5 or 6 membered ring selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidine, imidazolidine, pyrazolidine, piperidine, and piperazine.
Useful carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, azulenyl, fluorenyl, anthracenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, quinolizinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isotriazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, trithianyl, indolizinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thienyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, and phenoxazinyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XV, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, furyl, fluorenyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, and thienyl.
FORMULA XVI
Moreover, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XVI
F~G~H
_ _ ESN S Y Z\
R I D xvI
2\ X
R, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
E, F, G and J are independently CHz, O, S, S0, SO2, NH, or NR3 ;
X is either O or S;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein SU9STITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, 5 thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SOZ;
R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1 C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or 10 branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-CQ bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
15 Ar is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of alkylamino, amido, amino, aminoalkyl, azo, benzyloxy, C1-C9 20 straight or branched chain alkyl, C1-C9 alkoxy, Cz-C9 alkenyloxy, CZ-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-CB
cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, carbonyl, carboxy, cyano, diazo, ester, formanilido, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, imino, isocyano, isonitrilo, nitrilo, nitro, nitroso, phenoxy, 25 sulfhydryl, sulfonylsulfoxy, thio, thioalkyl, thiocarbonyl, thiocyano, thioester, thioformamido, trifluoromethyl, and carboxylic and heterocyclic moieties, including alicyclic and aromatic structures; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein said heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 30 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; and wherein said aromatic or tertiary alkyl amine is optionally oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
Z is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain 35 alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/09108 PCT/tIS99/18241 any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, vitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl , sul fonyl , or oxygen to form a carbonyl , or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SO2;
C and D are independently hydrogen, Ar, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C3-Ce cycloalkyl, CS-C-, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with C1-C6 alkyl, CZ-C6 alkenyl, hydroxy, amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, vitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, or sulfonyl; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with oxygen to form a carbonyl; or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SOz;
W is O or S; and U is either O or N, provided that:
when U is O, then R1 is a lone pair of electrons and RZ is selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar and C3-CB cycloalkyl; and when U is N, then R1 and RZ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Ar, C3-Cs cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with orie or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar and C3-CB cycloalkyl; or R1 and Rz are taken together to form a heterocyclic 5 or 6 membered ring selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidine, imidazolidine, pyrazolidine, piperidine, and piperazine.
Useful carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, azulenyl, fluorenyl, anthracenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, quinolizinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isotriazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, trithianyl, indolizinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thienyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, and phenoxazinyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XVI, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, and thienyl.
~ FORMULA XVII
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may also be a compound of formula XVII
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ESN S Y Z\
R I D XVII
R, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
E, F, and G are independently CH2, 0, S, SO, S02, NH, and NR3 ;
X is either O or S;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SO2;
R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-CQ straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Ar is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of alkylamino, amido, amino, aminoalkyl, azo, benzyloxy, C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C,-C9 alkoxy, Cz-C9 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) alkenyloxy, C2-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, C5-C, cycloalkenyl, carbonyl, carboxy, cyano, diazo, ester, formanilido, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, imino, isocyano, isonitrilo, nitrilo, nitro, nitroso, phenoxy, sulfhydryl, sulfonylsulfoxy, thio, thioalkyl, thiocarbonyl, thiocyano, thioester, thioformamido, trifluoromethyl, and carboxylic and heterocyclic moieties, including alicyclic and aromatic structures; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein said heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; and wherein said aromatic or tertiary alkyl amine is optionally oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
Z is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SO2;
C and D are independently hydrogen, Ar, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C3-C8 cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with C1-C6 alkyl, Cz-C6 alkenyl, hydroxy, amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, or sulfonyl; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with oxygen to form a carbonyl; or wherein SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SO2;
W is O or S; and U is either O or N, provided that:
5 when U is 0, then R1 is a lone pair of electrons and RZ is selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or 10 more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar and C3-CB cycloalkyl; and when U is N, then R1 and Rz are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Ar, C3-Cg cycloalkyl , C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl , 15 and Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar and C3-C8 cycloalkyl ; or R1 and RZ
are taken together to form a heterocyclic 5 or 6 20 membered ring selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidine, imidazolidine, pyrazolidine, piperidine, and piperazine.
Useful carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, azulenyl, 25 fluorenyl, anthracenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, 30 quinolizinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isotriazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, trithianyl, indolizinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thienyl, 35 tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl:, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, and phenoxazinyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XVII, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, and thienyl.
FORMULA XVIII
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may further be a compound of formula XVIII
( CH2 ) n C
S-Y-Z/
N ~ D
R2 ~ X XVIII
~U W

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
n is 1, 2 or 3;
X is either O or S;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, vitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SOz;
R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1 C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Ar is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of alkylamino, amido, amino, aminoalkyl, azo, benzyloxy, C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C1-C9 alkoxy, CZ-C9 alkenyloxy, CZ-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl , C~-C8 cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, carbonyl, carboxy, cyano, diazo, ester, formanilido, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, imino, isocyano, isonitrilo, nitrilo, nitro, nitroso, phenoxy, sulfhydryl, sulfonylsulfoxy, thio, thioalkyl, thiocarbonyl, thiocyano, thioester, thioformamido, trifluoromethyl, and carboxylic and heterocyclic moieties, including alicyclic and aromatic structures; wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein said heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of 0, N, and S; and wherein said aromatic or tertiary alkyl amine is optionally oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
Z is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SO2;
C and D are independently hydrogen, Ar, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) selected from the group consisting of C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C., cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, hydroxy, amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, or sulfonyl; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with oxygen to form a carbonyl; or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SOZ;
W is O or S; and U is either O or N, provided that:
when U is O, then R1 is a lone pair of electrons and Rz is selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, Cl-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and C2-C6 straight or branched chain or alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar and C3-Ce cycloalkyl; and when U is N, then R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Ar, C3-CB cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar and C3-C8 cycloalkyl; or R1 and RZ
are taken together to form a heterocyclic 5 or 6 membered ring selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidine, imidazolidine, pyrazolidine, piperidine, and piperazine.
Useful carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, azulenyl, fluorenyl, anthracenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) benzthiazolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyridyT, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, quinolizinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isotriazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, trithianyl, indolizinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thienyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, and phenoxazinyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XVIII, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, and thienyl.
Exemplary compounds of formula XVIII are presented in TABLE VII.
TABLE VII
C

/

S-Y -Z

~

D

No . n W Y Z C D R, R2 101 1 0 (CHz)2 CH 3-Pyridyl H H 2-Methyl-butyl 102 1 O (CH2)Z CH 3-Pyridyl H H 1,1-dimethyl-propyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE VII (continued No . n W Y Z C D R1 R2 103 1 O (CHZ)2 CH 4-Methoxy- H H 1,1-phenyl dimethyl-propyl 104 1 O CHz CH Phenyl H H 1,1-dimethyl-propyl 5 105 1 S (CH2)z CH 4-Methoxy- H H Cyclohexyl phenyl 106 1 O (CHZ)Z CH 3-Pyridyl H H Cyclohexyl 107 1 S (CHz)2 CH 3-Pyridyl H H Cyclohexyl 108 1 S (CHz)z CH 3-Pyridyl H H 1-Adamantyl 109 1 S (CHz)2 CH 3-Pyridyl H H 1,1-dimethyl-propyl 10 110 1 O (CHZ)2 CH Phenyl Phenyl H 1,1-dimethyl-propyl 111 2 0 (CH2)2 CH Phenyl H H 1,1-dimethyl-propyl 112 2 O (CHZ)2 CH Phenyl H H Phenyl 113 2 O Direct CH 2-Phenyl- 2- H Phenyl bond ethyl Phenyl-ethyl 114 2 . Direct CH 2-Phenyl- 2- H Cyclohexyl O

bond ethyl Phenyl-ethyl 15 115 2 S Direct CH 2-Phenyl- 2- H Cyclohexyl bond ethyl Phenyl-ethyl SUBSTITUTE
SHEET
(RULE
26) TABLE VII (continued) No . n W Y Z C D R1 RZ
116 2 0 (CHZ)z CH 4-Methoxy- H H Cyclohexyl phenyl The most preferred compounds of formula XVIII are selected from the group consisting of:
3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propyl-2S-1-[(2-methylbutyl}
carbamoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate;
3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propyl-2S-1-[(1',1'-Dimethylpropyl) carbamoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate;
3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propyl-2S-1-[(cyclohexyl}
thiocarbamoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and solvates thereof.
FORMULA XIX
Additionally, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XIX
B
A\V 1 S_Y-Z\
D xIx \ \

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
V is C, N, or S;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with 0, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SO2;
R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Ar is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent (s) ;
wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein said heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; and wherein said aromatic or tertiary alkyl amine is optionally oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
Z is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SOz;
C and D are independently hydrogen, Ar, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/09108 PCT/US9911$241 cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with C1-C6 alkyl, CZ-C6 alkenyl, hydroxy, amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, vitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, or sulfonyl; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with oxygen to form a carbonyl; or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or SO2; and A, B, R1, R2, U, W, and X are as otherwise defined in formula XV.
V. N-LINKED SULFONAMIDES OF HETEROCYCLIC THIOESTERS
FORMULA XX
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may further be a compound of formula XX
D xx O

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
A and B, together with the nitrogen and carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached, form a 5-7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring which may contain, in addition to the nitrogen atom, one or more heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, S0, SOz, N, NH, and NR2;
X is either 0 or S;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or 502;
R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1 C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-CQ straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Ar is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent (s) ;
wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of 0, N, and S; wherein an aromatic or tertiary alkyl amine is optionally oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
Z is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR2, S, SO, or SO2;
C and D are independently hydrogen, Ar, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is optionally 5 substituted with C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, hydroxy, amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, vitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, or sulfonyl; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or 10 more positions) with oxygen to form a carbonyl; or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, S0, or 502; and R1 is selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and C2-C6 15 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-CB cycloalkyl, amino, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain 20 alkyl, C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, vitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, and sulfonyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, S0, or 502.
25 Useful carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, azulenyl, fluorenyl, anthracenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyridyl, 30 pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, quinolizinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isotriazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, 35 pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, trithianyl, indolizinyl, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thienyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, and phenoxazinyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XX, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, furyl, fluorenyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, and thienyl.
In another preferred embodiment of formula XX, A and B, together with the nitrogen and carbon atoms to which they are respectfully attached, form a 6 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring; and RZ is C4-C., branched chain alkyl, C4-C~ cycloalkyl, phenyl, or 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl.
In the most preferred embodiment of formula XX, the compound is selected from the group consisting of:
3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propylmercaptyl(2S)-N-(benzenesulfonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate;
3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propylmercaptyl(2S)-N-(a-toluenesulfonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate;
3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propylmercaptyl(2S)-N-(a-toluenesulfonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate;
1,5-biphenyl-3-pentylmercaptyl N-(para-toluenesulfonyl)pipecolate; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and solvates thereof.
FORMULA XXI
Moreover, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XXI
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) O
,G ~
~C
ESN S Y \
xxz ~~O

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
E, F, G and J are independently CH2, 0, S, SO, SO2, NH
or NR2;
X is either O or S;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or 502;
RZ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C9 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Z. is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR2, S, SO, or 502;
Ar is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent (s) ;
wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; wherein an aromatic or tertiary alkyl amine is optionally oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
C and D are independently hydrogen, Ar, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with C1-C6 alkyl, Cz-C6 alkenyl, hydroxy, amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, or sulfonyl; wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with oxygen to form a carbonyl; or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, SO, or 502; and R1 is selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-CB
cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, amino, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, and sulfonyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, S0, or SOz.
Useful carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, azulenyl, fluorenyl, anthracenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, quinolizinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isotriazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, trithianyl, indolizinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thienyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, and phenoxazinyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XXI, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, furyl, fluorenyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, and thienyl.
FORMULA XXII
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may also be a compound of formula XXII
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) -Y-Z
\D XXII
W ~\

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
5 E, F, and G are independently CH2, 0, S, SO, SOz, NH or NRZ ;
X is either O or S;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein 10 any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein 15 any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR2, S, S0, or SOz;
Rz is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-CQ bridging alkyl 20 wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Ar is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, 25 carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent (s) ;
wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of 0, N, and S; wherein an 30 aromatic or tertiary alkyl amine is optionally oxidized to a SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) corresponding N-oxide;
Z is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR2, S, SO, or 502;
R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Cl-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C4 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
C and D are independently hydrogen, Ar, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C3-Ce cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with C1-C4 alkyl , Cz-C4 alkenyl , or hydroxy;
wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NRz, S, SO, or SO2; and R1 is selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) consisting of Ar, C3-CB cycloalkyl, amino, halo, haloalkyl., hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, and sulfonyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with 0, NH, NR3, S, SO, or 502.
Useful carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, azulenyl, fluorenyl, anthracenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, quinolizinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isotriazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, trithianyl, indolizinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thienyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, and phenoxazinyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XXII, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, furyl, fluorenyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, and thienyl.
FORMULA XXIII
Additionally, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XXIII
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) (CH2~ C
S-Y~Z~
D XXIII
D
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
n is l, 2 or 3;
X is either 0 or S;
Y is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR2, S, SO, or S02;
R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C4 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-CQ bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Z is a direct bond, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more positions) with amino, halo, haloalkyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, or oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) O, NH, NR2, S, SO, or SO2;
Rz is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, C3-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl, and C1-C9 bridging alkyl wherein a bridge is formed between the nitrogen and a carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl chain containing said heteroatom to form a ring, wherein said ring is optionally fused to an Ar group;
Ar is an alicyclic or aromatic, mono-, bi- or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent (s) ;
wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; wherein an aromatic or tertiary alkyl amine is optionally oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide;
C and D are independently hydrogen, Ar, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C., cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, carbonyl oxygen, and Ar; wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with C1-C4 alkyl , C2-C4 alkenyl , or hydroxy;
wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted in one or more position (s) with oxygen to form a carbonyl, or wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR2, S, S0, or SOz ; and Rl is selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Ar, C3-CB cycloalkyl, amino, halo, haloalkyl, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, C,-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, 5 and sulfonyl, wherein any carbon atom of said alkyl or alkenyl is optionally replaced with O, NH, NR3, S, S0, or SOz.
Useful carbo- and heterocyclic rings include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, azulenyl, fluorenyl, anthracenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, 10 benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, quinolizinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, 15 benzoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isotriazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, trithianyl, indolizinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thienyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, 20 quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, and phenoxazinyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XXIII, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, 25 naphthyl, indolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, furyl, fluorenyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, and thienyl.
Exemplary compounds of formula XXIII are presented in 30 TABLE VIII.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE VITI
~CH2)n C
S-Y-Z ~
D
~=S ~
O
Rt No. n Y Z C D R1 117 1 CHZ CH Phenyl H Phenyl 118 1 CH2 CH Phenyl H a-Methyl-phenyl 119 1 CHZ CH Phenyl H 4-Methylphenyl 120 1 (CHz)2 CH p-Methoxy- H Phenyl phenyl 121 1 (CHz)2 CH p-Methoxy- H a-Methyl-phenyl phenyl 122 1 (CHz)2 CH p-Methoxy- H 4-Methyl-phenyl phenyl 123 1 (CHZ)2 CH Phenyl Phenyl Phenyl 124 1 (CHZ)2 CH Phenyl Phenyl a-Methyl-phenyl 125 1 (CHz)z CH Phenyl Phenyl 4-Methyl-phenyl 126 2 (CHZ)3 CH Phenyl H Phenyl 127 2 (CHZ)3 CH Phenyl H a-Methyl-phenyl 128 2 (CHZ)3 CH Phenyl H 4-Methyl-phenyl 129 2 (CHz)3 CH Phenyl H 3,4,5-tri-methoxyphenyl 130 2 (CH2)3 CH Phenyl H Cyclohexyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE VIII (continued (CH2)n C
S-Y-Z~
D
O=S
O

No. n Y Z C D R1 131 2 Direct CH 3-Phenyl- 3-Phenyl- Phenyl bond propyl propyl 132 2 Direct CH 3-Phenyl- 3-Phenyl- a-Methyl-bond propyl propyl phenyl 133 2 Direct CH 3-Phenyl- 3-Phenyl- 4-Methyl-bond propyl propyl phenyl 134 2 Direct CH 3-Phenyl- 3-Phenyl- 4-Methyl-bond ethyl ethyl phenyl 135 2 Direct CH 3-(4- 3-Phenyl- 4-Methyl-bond Methoxy- propyl phenyl phenyl)-propyl 136 2 Direct CH 3-(2- 3-Phenyl- 4-Methyl-bond Pyridyl)- propyl phenyl propyl The most preferred compounds of formula XXIII are selected from the group consisting of:
3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propylmercaptyl(2S)-N-(benzenesulfonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate;
3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propylmercaptyl(2S)-N-(a-toluenesulfonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate;
3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propylmercaptyl(2S)-N-(a-toluenesulfonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate;
1,5-biphenyl-3-pentylmercaptyl N-(para-toluenesulfonyl)pipecolate; and SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 2fi) pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and solvates thereof .
FORMULA xxlv Moreover, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XXIV
\D XXIV

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
V is C, N, or S;
A, B, C, D, R1, X, Y, and Z are as defined in formula XX
above.
VI. PYRROLIDINE DERIVATIVES
FORMULA XXV
The non-immunosupressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may also be a compound of formula XXV
Y-Z
N
O xxv O
X
R~
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
R1 is C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl , CZ-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-C~ cycloalkyl, CS-C~
cycloalkenyl or Arl, wherein said R1 is unsubstituted or SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/09108 PC'T/US99/18241 substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl, Cz-C6 alkenyl, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, CS-C~ cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, and Ar2 ;
Arl and Arz are independently selected from the group consisting of 1-naphthyl, 2-napthyl, 2-indolyl, 3-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl and phenyl, wherein said Arl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, vitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-Cq alkoxy, CZ-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino;
X is O, S, CHz or H2;
Y is a direct bond, O, or NR2, wherein Rz is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl; and Z is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said Z is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Arl, C3-CB cycloalkyl, and C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with C3-Ca cycloalkyl;
or Z is fragment -CIH~'XZ R4 k3 wherein:
R3 is C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with C3-CB cycloalkyl or Arl;
X2 is O or NRS, wherein RS is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; and SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) R9 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-CS straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl substituted with phenyl, and CZ-CS straight or branched 5 chain alkenyl substituted with phenyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XXV, Z and R1 are lipophilic.
In a more preferred embodiment of formula XXV, the compound is selected from the group consisting of:
10 3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-prop-2- (E) -enyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-1, 2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-15 dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-prop-2-(E)-enyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(4,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
20 3-(4,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-prop-2-(E)-enyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(4,5-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(4,5-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-prop-2-(E)-enyl (2S}-1-25 (3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-cyclohexyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-cyclohexyl-1-prop-2-(E)-enyl (2 S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
30 (1R)-1,3-diphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
(1R) -1, 3-diphenyl-1-prop-2- (E) -enyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
(1R)-1-cyclohexyl-3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-35 dimethvl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) (1R) -1-cyclohexyl-3-phenyl-1-prop-2- (E) -enyl (2S) -1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
(1R)-1-(4,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-cyclohexyl)ethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-4-cyclohexyl)butyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-[2-furanyl))ethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;.
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S) -1- (1, 2-dioxo-2- [2-thienyl] ) ethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-[2-thiazolyl])ethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-phenyl)ethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
1,7-diphenyl-4-heptyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxo-4-hydroxybutyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide;
1-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-L-proline]-L-phenylalanine ethyl ester;
1-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-L-proline]-L-leucine ethyl ester;
1-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-L-proline]-L-phenylglycine ethyl ester;
1-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-L-proline]-L-phenylalanine phenyl ester;
1-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-L-proline]-L-phenylalanine benzyl ester;
1-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-L-proline]-L-isoleucine ethyl ester; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and solvates SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/09108 PCT/US99>18241 thereof .
FORMULA XXVI
Additionally, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XXVI
O-Z
xxvl O O
~-O
R~
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
R1 is C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-C9 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl or Arl, wherein said R1 is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl, CZ-C6 alkenyl, C3-CB cycloalkyl, CS-C, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, and Ar2 ;
Ar, and Ar2 are independently selected from the group consisting of 1-naphthyl, 2-napthyl, 2-indolyl, 3-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl and phenyl, wherein said Arl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, Cz-C4 alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino;
Z is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said Z is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Arl, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, and C,-C~ straight or branched chain alkyl or C2-C6 straight SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) or branched chain alkenyl substituted with C3-C$ cycloalkyl;
or Z is fragment O
-~IH~'Xz Ra wherein:
R3 is C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with C3-CB cycloalkyl or Arl;
Xz is O or NRS, wherein RS is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Cl-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; and R4 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl, Cz-CS straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl substituted with phenyl, and Cz-CS straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with phenyl.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XXVI, R1 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl, 2-cyclohexyl, 4-cyclohexyl, 2-furanyl, 2-thienyl, 2-thiazolyl, and 4-hydroxybutyl.
In another preferred embodiment of formula XXVI, Z and R1 are lipophilic.
FORMULA XXVII
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may also be a compound of formula XXVII
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) H
N -Z' N
XXVII
,o or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
Z' is fragment -CIH~LXz-Ra wherein:
R3 is C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl or unsubstituted Arl, wherein said alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with C3-Ce cycloalkyl or Arl;
Xz is O or NRS, wherein RS is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl;
R9 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl , C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl , Cz-CS straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl substituted with phenyl, and CZ-CS straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with phenyl; and Arl is as defined in formula XXVI.
In a preferred embodiment of formula XXVII, Z' is lipophilic.
FORMULA XXVIII
The non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) may also be a compound of formula XXVIII
Y-Z
N
XXVIII
X
R~
wherein:
5 R1 is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl or Arl, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl is unsubstituted or substituted with C3-C6 cycloalkyl or Ar2;
Arl and Ar2 are independently selected from the group 10 consisting of 2-furyl, 2-thienyl, and phenyl;
X is O, S, CHz or H2;
Y is oxygen;
Z is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or C2-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said Z is 15 substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of 2-furyl, 2-thienyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, pyridyl, and phenyl, each having one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-CQ alkoxy.
20 In a preferred embodiment of formula XXVIII, Z and R1 are lipophilic.
In another preferred embodiment of formula XXVIII, the compound is selected from the group consisting of:
3-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-25 1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3- (2, 5-dimethoxyphenyl) -1-prop-2- (E) -enyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-ethyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
30 3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(2-pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(4-pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-tert-butyl-1,2-dioxoethyl}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexylethyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexylethyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3- (3-pyridyl) -1-propyl (2S) -1- (2-tert-butyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3,3-diphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(3-pyridyl}-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3- (3-pyridyl) -1-propyl (2S) -N- ( [2-thienyl]
glyoxyl)pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3,3-diphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxobutyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3,3-diphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-cyclohexylglyoxyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3,3-diphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-thienyl)glyoxyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and solvates thereof .
In a more preferred embodiment of formula XXVIII, the compound is selected from the group consisting of:
3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S}-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(2-pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate;
3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexyl-1,2-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and solvates thereof.
In the most preferred embodiment of formula XXVIII, the compound is 3- (3-pyridyl) -1-propyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-1, 2 dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and solvates thereof.
FORMULA XXIX
Additionally, the non-immunosuppressive neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand may be a compound of formula XXIX
Y-Z
XXIX
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, wherein:
unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent (s) ;
wherein the individual ring size is 5-8 members; wherein said heterocyclic ring contains 1-6 heteroatom(s) independently selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S;
X i s O , S , CHZ or HZ ;
Y is a direct bond, O, or NR2, wherein R2 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl ; and Z is C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, or Cz-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl, wherein said Z is substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of Arl, C3-Ce cycloalkyl, and C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl or CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with C3-Ce cycloalkyl;
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) or Z is fragment -~IH-"Xz Ra wherein:
R3 is C1-C9 straight or branched chain alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with C3-C8 cycloalkyl or Arl;
Xz is O or NRS, wherein RS is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 straight or branched chain alkyl, and CZ-C6 straight or branched chain alkenyl; and R4 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl, CZ-CS straight or branched chain alkenyl, C1-CS straight or branched chain alkyl substituted with phenyl, and CZ-CS straight or branched chain alkenyl substituted with phenyl.
All the compounds of Formulas I-XXIX possess asymmetric centers and thus can be produced as mixtures of stereoisomers or as individual R- and S- stereoisomers. The individual stereoisomers may be obtained by using an optically active starting material, by resolving a racemic or non-racemic mixture of an intermediate at some appropriate stage of the synthesis, or by resolving the compounds of Formulas I-XXIX.
It is understood that the compounds of Formulas I-XXIX
encompass individual stereoisomers as well as mixtures (racemic and non-racemic) of stereoisomers. Preferably, S-stereoisomers are used in the pharmaceutical compositions and methods of the present invention.
Synthesis of Non-Immunosut~pressive Neuroimmunophilin FKBP
1 ig~ands The compounds of formulas XV to XIX may be readily ~renared by standard techniques of organic chemistry, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) utilizing the general synthetic pathway depicted below. As described by Scheme I, cyclic amino acids 1 protected by suitable blocking groups P on the amino acid nitrogen may be reacted with thiols RSH to generate thioesters 2. After removal of the protecting group, the free amine 3 may be reacted with a variety of isocyanates or isothiocyanates to provide the final ureas or thioureas, respectively.
SCHEME I
(CH2~ (CHZhi OH R-SH ~ S-R Deprotect N ~ Coupling O Method p O

(CH2}n R~-N4C-W (CH2)n S-R - C S-R
CH2C~ N
O ~ O

R' Isocyanates (R'NCO) or isothiocyanates (R'NCS) 4 may be conveniently. prepared from the corresponding readily available amines by reaction with phosgene or thiophosgene, as depicted in Scheme II.
scHEME II
w R'-NH2 + ~ ---a R'-NCW
Cl C1 Thiols R-SH may be conveniently prepared from the corresponding readily available alcohols or halides via a two step replacement of halide by sulfur, as described in Scheme III. Halides may be reacted with thiourea, and the corresponding alkyl thiouronium salts hydrolyzed to provide SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) thiols RSH. If alcohols are used as the starting materials, they may be first converted to the corresponding halides by standard methods.
SCHEME III
1) S
PBr3 R-OH ~r R-Br R-SH
CBr4/Ph3P 2) OH
The compounds of formulas XX to XXIV may be readily prepared by standard techniques of organic chemistry, utilizing the general synthetic pathway depicted below. As described by Scheme IV, cyclic amino acids 1 protected by suitable blocking groups P on the amino acid nitrogen may be reacted with thiols RSH to generate thioesters 2. After removal of the protecting group, the free amine 3 may be reacted with various sulfonyl chlorides 4 to provide final products 5 in good to excellent yield.
SCHEME IV
(CH2)n (CH2)n OH R S~ S-R Deprotect N Coupling N
Method - -O (CH2)n tCH2)n ~~ 4 C S-R
S-R --~ N
N Et3N, CH2C1~
d Thiols R-SH may be conveniently prepared from the corresponding readily available alcohols or halides via a two SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) step replacement of halogen by sulfur, as described in Scheme V. Halides may be reacted with thiourea, and the corresponding alkyl thiouronium salts hydrolyzed to provide thiols RSH. If alcohols are used as the starting materials, they may be first converted to the corresponding halides by standard methods.
scxEME v 1) S
H N NH
R-OH PBr3 or R-Br 2 2 R-SH
CBr4/Ph3P 2) OH
to The compounds of formulas XXV to XXIX may be prepared by a variety of synthetic sequences that utilize established ' chemical transformations. The general pathway to the present compounds is described in Scheme VI. N-glyoxylproline derivatives may be prepared by reacting L-proline methyl ester with methyl oxalyl chloride as shown in Scheme VI. The resulting oxamates may be reacted with a variety of carbon nucleophiles to obtain intermediates compounds. These intermediates are then reacted with a variety of alcohols, amides, or protected amino acid residues to obtain the propyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) esters and amides of the invention.

SCHEME VI
O

RLi or RM gX

H ~ p~' ~N
~O

OCH3 LiOH pH Y - Z
N MeOH/HZp N Coupling p O p~p M ethod ~OCH3'~ ~OCH\3 ~Y-Z
' I~IN
O O
,O
K
The substituted alcohols may be prepared by a number of methods known to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis. As described in Scheme VII, alkyl or aryl aldehydes may be homologated to phenyl propanols by reaction with methyl(triphenyl-phosphoranylidene)acetate to provide a variety of traps-cinnamates; these latter may be reduced to the saturated alcohols by reaction with excess lithium aluminum hydride, or sequentially by reduction of the double bond by catalytic hydrogenation and reduction of the saturated ester by appropriate reducing agents.
Alternatively, the traps-cinnamates may be reduced to (E)-allylic alcohols by the use of diisobutylaluminum hydride.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) SCHEME VII
Lithium alurrrt~um Ph3P=CHCOOCH3 COOCH
R-CHO -.~ R/~/ 3 s R~OH
TFiF
Diisobutyialuminum H2~ Lithium aluminum hydride or hydride Pd/C Diisobutylaluminum hydride R~OH R~COOCH3 Longer chain alcohols may be prepared by homologation of benzylic and higher aldehydes. Alternatively, these aldehydes may be prepared by conversion of the corresponding phenylacetic and higher acids, and phenethyl and higher alcohols.
Affinity for FKBP12 The compounds used in the inventive methods and pharmaceutical compositions have an affinity for the FK506 binding protein, particularly FKBP12. The inhibition of the prolyl peptidyl cis-traps isomerase activity of FKBP may be measured as an indicator of this affinity.
Iti Test Procedure Inhibition of the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (rotamase) activity of the compounds used in the inventive methods and pharmaceutical compositions can be evaluated by known methods described in the literature (Harding et al., Nature, 1989, 341:758-760; Holt et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 115:9923-9938).
These values are obtained as apparent Ki's.
The cis-traps isomerization of an alanine-proline bond in a model substrate, N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-p nitroanilide, is monitored spectrophotometrically in a chymotrypsin-coupled assay, which releases para-nitroanilide from the traps form of the substrate . The inhibition of this reaction caused by the addition of different concentrations SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) of inhibitor is determined, and the data is analyzed as 'a change in first-order rate constant as a function of inhibitor concentration to yield the apparent Ki values.
In a plastic cuvette are added 950 mL of ice cold assay buffer (25 mM HEPES, pH 7.8, 100 mM NaCl), 10 mL of FKBP (2.5 mM in 10 mM Tris-C1 pH 7.5, 100 mM NaCl, 1 mM
dithiothreitol) , 25 mL of chymotrypsin (50 mg/ml in 1 mM HC1) and 10 mL of test compound at various concentrations in dimethyl sulfoxide. The reaction is initiated by the addition of 5 mL of substrate (succinyl-Ala-Phe-Pro-Phe-para nitroanilide, 5 mg/mL in 2.35 mM LiCl in trifluoroethanol).
The absorbance at 390 nm versus time is monitored for 90 seconds using a spectrophotometer and the rate constants are determined from the absorbance versus time data files.
TABLE IX
In Vitro Test Results - Formulas I to V
Compound Ki (nM) 30 31 8.7 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE TX !continued) Compound Ki nM

38 8.9 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE IX (continued) Compound K; nM

TABLE X
In Vitro Test Results - Formulas VI to IX
Compound K; nM

Table XI
In Vitro Test Results - Formulas X to XIV
Compound K; nM
Parent (unoxidized) 7.5 compound of Example 6 95 (Example 6) 225 TABLE XII
In Vitro Test Results - Formulas XV to XIX
Compound K; nM
101 +++
102 ++
103 ++
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE XII (continued) Compound Ki nM

104 ++

105 ++

106 +

107 ++

108 +++

109 +++

110 +++

111 ++

112 +++

113 +++

114 +++

115 +++

116 ++

Relative potencies of compounds axe ranked according to the following scale: ++++ denotes Ki or ED50 < 1 nM; +++
denotes K; or ED50 of 1-50 nM; ++ denotes Ki or ED 50 of 51-200 nM; + denotes Ki or ED of 201-500 nM.
TABLE XIII
In Vitro Test Results - Formulas XX to XXIV
Compound Ki nM

117 +++

118 ++

119 ++

120 ++

121 ++

122 +

123 ++
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE XIII (continued) Compound Ki nM

124 +++

125 +++

126 +++

127 ++

128 +++

129 +++

130 +++

131 +++

132 ++

Relative potencies of compounds are ranked according to the following scale : ++++ denotes Ki or ED50 < 1 nM; +++
denotes K; or ED50 of 1-50 nM; ++ denotes Ki or ED 50 of 51-200 nM; + denotes Ki or ED of 201-500 nM.
TABLE XIV
In Vitro Test Results - Formulas XXV to XXIX
O-Z
N
d ~O
IZ
No . Z R' Ki 137 1,1-dimethylpropyl 3-phenylpropyl 42 138 " 3-phenyl-prop-2-(E)- 125 enyl 139 " 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxy- 200 phenyl)propyl 140 " 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxy- 65 phenyl)-prop-2-(E)-enyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE XIV (continued) No Z R' K;
.

141 " 3-(4,5-methylenedioxy)- 170 phenylpropyl 142 " 3-(4,5-methylenedioxy)- 160 phenylprop-2-(E)-enyl 143 " 3-cyclohexylpropyl 200 144 " 3-cyclohexylprop-2-(E)- 600 enyl 145 " (1R)-1,3-Biphenyl-1- 52 propyl 146 2-furanyl 3-phenylpropyl 4000 147 2-thienyl " 92 10148 2-thiazolyl " 100 149 phenyl " 1970 150 1,1-dimethylpropyl 3-(2,5-dimethoxy)- 250 phenylpropyl 151 " 3- (2, 5-dimethoxy) - 450 phenylprop-2-(E)-enyl 152 " 2-(3,4,5-trimethoxy- 120 phenyl)ethyl 15153 " 3-(3-pyridyl)propyl 5 154 " 3-(2-pyridyl)propyl 195 155 " 3-(4-pyridyl)propyl 23 156 cyclohexyl 3-phenylpropyl 82 157 tert-butyl " 95 20158 cyclohexylethyl " 1025 159 cyclohexylethyl 3-(3-pyridyl)propyl 1400 160 tert-butyl 3-(3-pyridyl)propyl 3 161 1,1-dimethylpropyl 3,3-diphenylpropyl 5 162 cyclohexyl 3-(3-pyridyl)propyl 9 25163 2-thienyl 3-(3-pyridyl)propyl 1000 164 text-butyl 3,3-diphenylpropyl 5 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE XIV (continued) No . Z R' Ki 165 cyclohexyl " 20 166 2-thienyl " 150 Route of Administration To effectively treat vision loss or promote vision regeneration, the compounds used in the inventive methods and pharmaceutical compositions must readily affect the targeted areas.
Other routes of administration known in the pharmaceutical art are also contemplated by this invention.
Dosage Dosage levels on the order of about 0.1 mg to about 10,000 mg of the active ingredient compound are useful in the treatment of the above conditions, with preferred levels of about 0.1 mg to about 1,000 mg. The specific dose level for any particular patient will vary depending upon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specific compound employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration; the rate of excretion; drug combination; the severity of the particular disease being treated; and the form of administration.
Typically, in vitro dosage-effect results provide useful guidance on the proper doses for patient administration.
Studies in animal models are also helpful. The considerations for determining the proper dose levels are well known in the art.
The compounds can be administered with other agents for treating vision loss, preventing vision degeneration, or promoting vision regeneration. Specific dose levels for such other agents will depend upon the factors previously stated and the effectiveness of the drug combination.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) EXAMPLES
The following examples are illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to be limitations thereon.
Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages are based upon 100% by weight of the final composition.
Example 1 Synthesis of (2S) -2- (~(1-oxo-5-phenyl,~~-pentyl-1- (3, 3 dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)pr~rrolidine (1) X25)-2-(1-oxo-4-phenyl)butyl-N-benzylpyrrolidine 1-chloro-4-phenylbutane (1.78 g; 10.5 mmol) in 20 mL of THF was added to 0.24 g (10 mmol) of magnesium turnings in 50 mL of refluxing THF. After the addition was complete, the mixture was refluxed for an additional 5 hours, and then added slowly to a refluxing solution of N-benzyl-L-proline ethyl ester (2.30 g (10 mmol) in 100 mL of THF. After 2 hours of further reflux, the mixture was cooled and treated with 5 mL of 2 N HC1. The reaction mixture was diluted with ether (100 mL) and washed with saturated NaHC03, water and brine. The organic phase was dried, concentrated and chromatographed, eluting with 5:1 CHZCI2:EtOAc to obtain 2.05 g (64%) of the ketone as an oil . 1H NMR (CDC13; 300 MHz) 1.49-2.18 (m, 8H); 2.32-2.46 (m, 1H); 2.56-2.65 (m, 2H);
2.97-3.06 (m, 1H); 3.17-3.34 (m, 1H); 3.44-3.62 (m, 1H);
4.02-4.23 (m, 2H); 7.01-7.44 (m, lOH).
(2S)-2-(1-oxo-4-phenyl)butylgyrrolidine The ketone compound (500 mg) and palladium hydroxide (20% on carbon, 50 mg) was hydrogenated at 40 psi in a Paar shaker overnight. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The free amine was obtained as a yellow oil (230 mg; 100%) . 1H NMR (CDC13; 300 MHz): 1.75-2.34 (m, 10H); 2.55 (m, 2H); 2.95 (dm, 1H); 3.45-3.95 (m, 1H); 4.05 (m, 1H); 7.37 (m, 5H).
(2S)-2-(1-oxo-4-~hen~l)butyl-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)pYrrolidine SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) To a solution of (2S) -2- (1-oxo-4-phenyl)butylpyrrolidirie (230 mg; 1.0 mmol) in CHzClz(20 mL) at 0°C was added dropwise methyloxalyl chloride (135 mg; 1.1 mmol). After stirring at 0°C for 3 hours, the reaction was quenched with saturated NH4C1 and the organic phase was washed with water and brine and dried and concentrated. The crude residue was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 20:1 CH2CIz:EtOAc to obtain 300 mg of the oxamate as a clear oil (98%) . 1H NMR
(CDC13; 300 MHz) : 1.68 (m, 4H) ; 1.91-2.38 (m, 4H) ; 2.64 (t, 2H); 3.66-3.80 (m, 2H); 3.77, 3.85 (s, 3H total); 4.16 (m, 2H) ; 4 . 90 (m, 1H) ; 7. 16 (m, 3H) ; 7.27 (m, 2H) .
(2S)-2-((1-oxo-5-phenyl -pentyl-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxoQentyl)pyrrolidine (1) To a solution of the oxamate above (250 mg; 0.79 mrnol) in anhydrous ether (15 mL), cooled to - 78°C, was added 1,1 dimethylpropyl-magnesium chloride (0.8 mL of a 1.0 M solution in ether; 0.8 mmol). After stirring the resulting mixture at -78°C for 2 hours, the reaction was quenched by the addition of 2 mL of saturated NH4C1, followed by 100 mL of EtOAc. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried, concentrated, and purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 50:1 CH2C12:EtOAc. Compound 1 was obtained as a clear oil, 120 mg.
1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz) : b 0.87 (t, 3H, ~ = 7.5) ; 1 .22 (s, 3H); 1.25 (s, 3H); 1.67 (m, 4H); 1.70-2.33 (m, 6H); 2.61 (t, 2H, ~ = 7.1) ; 3.52 (m, 2H) ; 4.17 (t, 2H, ~ = 6.2) ; 4.52 (m, 1H) ; 7.16-7.49 (m, 5H) . Analysis calculated for CZZH3INOa -H20: C, 70.37; H, 8.86; N, 3.73. Found: 70.48; H, 8.35; N, 3.69.
Example 2 Synthesis of 2-phenyl-1-ethyl 1-53,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate (10) Methyl (2S) -1- (1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl) -2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate A solution of L-proline methyl ester hydrochloride (3.08 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) g; 18.60 mmol) in dry methylene chloride was cooled to 0°C
and treated with triethylamine (3.92 g; 38.74 mmol; 2.1 eq).
After stirring the formed slurry under a nitrogen atmosphere for 15 min, a solution of methyl oxalyl chloride (3.20 g;
26.12 mmol) in methylene chloride (45 mL) was added dropwise.
The resulting mixture was stirred at 0°C for 1,5 hour. After filtering to remove solids, the organic phase was washed with water, dried over MgS04 and concentrated. The crude residue was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 50% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 3.52 g (88%) of the product as a reddish oil. Mixture of cis-traps amide rotamers; data for traps rotamer given. 1H NMR (CDC13): b 1.93 (dm, 2H); 2.17 (m, 2H); 3.62 (m, 2H); 3.71 (s, 3H); 3.79, 3.84 (s, 3H
total); 4.86 (dd, 1H, ~ = 8.4, 3.3).
Methyl (2S) -1- (1,2-dioxo-3, 3-dimethvlpentyl) -2-gvrrolidinecarboxylate A solution of methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2.35 g; 10.90 mmol) in 30 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was cooled to -78°C and treated with 14.2 mL of a 1.0 M solution of 1,1-dimethylpropylmagnesium chloride in THF. After stirring the resulting homogeneous mixture at -78°C for three hours, the mixture was poured into saturated ammonium chloride (100 mL) and extracted into ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with water, dried, and concentrated, and the crude material obtained upon removal of the solvent was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 25% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 2.10 g (75%) of the oxamate as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (CDC13): b 0.88 (t, 3H);
1.22, 1.26 (s, 3H each); 1.75(dm, 2H); 1.87-2.10 (m, 3H);
2.23 (m, 1H) ; 3.54 (m, 2H) ; 3.76 (s, 3H) ; 4.52 (dm, 1H, .~ _ 8.4, 3.4) .
~2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3.3-dimethyl_pentyl)-2-Qvrrolidine-carboxylic acid A mixture of methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3 dimethylpentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2.10 g; 8.23 mmol), SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 1 N LiOH (15 mL), and methanol (50 mL) was stirred at 0°C for 30 minutes and at room temperature overnight. The mixture was acidified to pH 1 with 1 N HCl, diluted with water, and extracted into 100 mL of methylene chloride. The organic extract was washed with brine and concentrated to deliver 1.73 g (87%) of snow-white solid which did not require further purification. 1H NMR (CDC13) : b 0.87 (t, 3H) ; 1.22, 1.25 (s, 3H each); 1.77 (dm, 2H); 2.02 (m, 2H}; 2.17 (m, 1H);
2.25 (m, 1H); 3.53 (dd, 2H, ~ = 10.4, 7.3); 4.55 (dd, 1H, .) _ 8.6, 4.1).
2-phenyl-1-ethyl 1-(3.3-dimethyl-1.2-dioxopentyl)-2-piperidinecarbothioate (10) To a solution of (2S) -1- (1, 2-dioxo-3, 3-dimethylpentyl) 2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (241 mg; 1.0 mmol) in CHzCl2 (10 mL) was added dicyclohexylcarbo-diimide (226 mg; 1.1 mmol).
After stirring the resulting mixture for 5 minutes, the solution was cooled to 0°C and treated with a solution of phenyl mercaptan (138 mg; 1.0 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (6 mg) in 5 ml of CHzCl2. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature with stirring overnight. The solids were removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo; the crude residue was purified by flash chromatography (10:1 hexane:EtOAc) to obtain 302 mg (84%) of compound 10 as an oil. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz}: b 0.85 (t, 3H, ~ = 7.5); 1.29 (s, 3H); 1.31 (s, 3H) ; 1 .70-2.32 (m, 6H) ; 2.92 (t, 2H, ~ = 7.4) ; 3.22 (t, 2H, .) - 7.4); 3.58 (m, 2H); 4.72 (m, 1H); 7.23-7.34 (m, 5H).
Analysis calculated for CzoH2~N03S - 0.4 H20: C, 65.15; H, 7.60; N, 3.80. Found: C, 65.41; H, 7.49; N, 3.72.
Example 3 Svntheais of 2-phenyl-1-ethyl (2S)-1-(3,3 dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentvl)-2-gyrrolidinecarbothioate (9) Methyl 1-(1.2-dioxo-2-methoxvethyl)-2-giperidine-carboxylate SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) A solution of methyl pipecolate hydrochloride (8.50 g;
47.31 mmol) in dry methylene chloride (100 mL) was cooled to 0°C and treated with triethylamine (10.5 g; 103 mmol; 2.1 eq). After stirring the formed slurry under a nitrogen atmosphere for 15 minutes, a solution of methyl oxalyl chloride (8.50 g; 69.4 mmol) in methylene chloride (75 mL) was added dropwise. The resulting mixture was stirred at 0°C
for l, 5 hours. After filtering to remove solids, the organic phase was washed with water, dried over MgS04 and concentrated. The crude residue was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 50% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 9.34 g (86%) of the product as a reddish oil. Mixture of cis-trans amide rotamers; data for trans rotamer given. 1H
NMR (CDC13) : b 1.22-1.45 (m, 2H) ; 1.67-1.78 (m, 3H) ; 2.29 (m, 1H); 3.33 (m, 1H); 3.55 (m, 1H); 3.76 (s, 3H); 3.85, 3.87 (s, 3H total); 4.52 (dd, 1H).
Methyl 1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpen ~1)-2-piperidine-carbox~rlate A solution of methyl 1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)-2 piperidinecarboxylate (3.80 g; 16.57 mmol) in 75 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was cooled to -78°C and treated with 20.7 mL of a 1.0 M solution of 1,1-dimethyl-propylmagnesium chloride in THF. After stirring the resulting homogeneous mixture at -78°C for three hours, the mixture was poured into saturated ammonium chloride (100 mL) and extracted into ethyl acetate . The organic phase was washed with water, dried, and concentrated, and the crude material obtained upon removal of the solvent was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 25% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 3.32 g (74%) of the oxamate as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (CDC13): b 0.88 (t, 3H);
1.21, 1.25 (s, 3H each); 2.35-1.80 (m, 7H); 2.35 (m, 1H);
3.24 (m, 1H) ; 3.41 (m, 1H) ; 3.76 (s, 3H) ; 5.32 (d, 1H) .
1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2-piperidine-carboxylic acid A mixture of methyl 1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2 piperidinecarboxylate (3.30 g; 12.25 mmol), 1 N LiOH (15 mL), SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) and methanol (60 mL) was stirred at 0°C for 30 minutes and at room temperature overnight. The mixture was acidified to pH
1 with 1 N HC1, diluted with water, and extracted into 100 mL
of methylene chloride. The organic extract was washed with brine and concentrated to deliver 2.80 g (87~) of snow-white solid which did not require further purification. 1H NMR
(CDC13): b 0.89 (t, 3H); 1.21, 1.24 (s, 3H each); 1.42-1.85 (m, 7H); 2.35 (m, 1H); 3.22 (d, 1H); 3.42(m, 1H); 5.31 (d, 1H) .
2-phenyl-1-ethyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-p~rrrolidinecarbothioate (9) To a solution of 1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2-piperidine-carboxylic acid (255 mg; 1.0 mmol) in CH2C12 (10 mL) was added dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (226 mg; 1.1 mmol) .
After stirring the resulting mixture for 5 minutes, the solution was cooled to 0°C and treated with a solution of phenyl mercaptan (138 mg; 1.0 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (6 mg) in 5 ml of CH2C12. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature with stirring overnight. The solids were removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo; the crude residue was purified by flash chromatography (10:1 hexane:EtOAc) to obtain 300 mg (80~) of compound 9 as an oil. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz) : d 0.94 (t, 3H, ~ = 7.5) ; 1.27 (s, 3H) ; 1.30 (s, 3H); 1.34-1.88 (m, 7H); 2.45 (m, 1H); 2.90 (t, 2H, ~ = 7.7);
3 .26 (t, 2H, .~ = 7.7) ; 3.27 (m, 1H) ; 3.38 (m, 1H) ; 5.34 (m, 1H) ; 7.24-7.36 (m, 5H) . Analysis calculated for CZIHz9N03S:
C, 67.17; H, 7.78; N, 3.73. Found: C, 67.02; H, 7.83; N, 3.78.
Example 4 Synthesis of 3-phenyl-1-propyl(2S)-1-(3.3-dimethyl-1,2 dioxopentyl)-2-(4-thiazolidine)carboxylate (80) 1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)2-(4-thiazolidine)-carboxylate A solution of L-thioproline (1.51 g; 11.34 mmol)in 40 mL
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) of dry methylene chloride was cooled to 0°C and treated with 3.3 mL (2.41 g; 23,81 mmol) of triethylamine. After stirring this mixture for 30 minutes, a solution of methyl oxalyl chloride (1.81 g; 14.74 mmol) was added dropwise. The resulting mixture was stirred at 0°C for 1.5 hours, filtered through Celite to remove solids, dried and concentrated. The crude material was purified on a silic gel column, eluting with 10% MeOH in methylene chloride, to obtain 2.0 g of the oxamate as an orange-yellow solid.
3-phenyl-1-propyl(2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)2-(4-thiazolidine)carboxylate 1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)2-(4-thiazolidine)-carboxylate (500 mg; 2.25 mmol) , 3-phenyl-1-propanol (465 mg;
3.42 mmol), dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (750 mg; 3.65 mmol), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (95 mg; 0.75 mmol) and camphorsulfonic acid (175 mg; 0.75 mmol) in 30 mL of methylene chloride were stirred together overnight. The mixture was filtered through Celite to remove solids and chromatographed (25% ethyl acetate/hexane) to obtain 690 mg of material. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): b1.92-2.01 (m, 2H); 2.61-2.69 (m, 2H); 3.34 (m, 1H); 4.11-4.25 (m, 2H); 4.73 (m, 1H); 5.34 (m, 1H); 7.12 (m, 3H) ; 7.23 (m, 2H) .
3-phenyl-1-propyl(2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-(4-thiazolidine)carboxylate (80) A solution of 3-phenyl-1-propyl(2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)2-(4-thiazolidine)carboxylate (67o mg; 1.98 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL) was cooled to -78°C and treated with 2.3 mL of a 1.0 M solution of 1,1-dimethylpropylmagnesium chloride in ether. After stirring the mixture for 3 hours, it was poured into saturated ammonium chloride, extracted into ethyl acetate, and the organic phase was washed with water, dried and concentrated.
The crude material was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 25% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 380 mg of the compound of Example 4 as a yellow oil. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) MHz): d 0.86 (t, 3H); 1.21 (s, 3H); 1.26 (s, 3H); 1.62-1.91 (m, 3H); 2.01 (m, 2H); 2.71 (m, 2H); 3.26-3.33 (m, 2H); 4.19 (m, 2H); 4.58 (m, 1H); 7.19 (m, 3H); 7.30 (m, 2H). Analysis calculated for C2oH2~N04S : C, 63 . 63 ; H, 7 . 23 ; N, 3 . 71. Found C, 64.29; H, 7.39; N, 3.46.
Example 5 Synthesis of 3-I'3-pyridyl)-1-propyl(2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl 1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-(4-thiazolidine) carboxylate (81) The compound of Example 5 was prepared according to the procedure of Example 4, using 3- (3-pyridyl) -1-propanol in the final step, to yield 3- (3-pyridyl) -1-propyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-(4-thiazolidine)carboxylate. 1H
NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): b 0.89 (t, 3H, .) = 7.3); 1.25 (s, 3H);
1.28 (s, 3H) ; 1.77 (q, 2H, .~ = 7.3) ; 2.03 (tt, 2H, .~ = 6.4, 7.5) ; 2.72 (t, 2H, ~ = 7.5) ; 3.20 (dd, 1H, ~ = 4.0, 11.8) ;
3.23 (dd, 1H, ~ = 7.0, 11.8); 4.23 (t, 2H, ~ = 6.4); 4.55 (d, 2H, .~ = 8.9) ; 5.08 (dd, 1H, .~ = 4.0, 7.0) ; 7.24 (m, 1H) ; 8.48 (m, 2H) . Analysis calculated for C19H26N2~4S - 0.5 H20: C, 58.89; H, 7.02; N, 7.23. Found: C, 58.83; H, 7.05; N, 7.19.
Example 6 Synthesis of 3-(3-gyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-Dimethyl 1,2-dioxo~entyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, N-oxide (95) Methyl (2SZ-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate A solution of L-proline methyl ester hydrochloride (3.08 g; 18.60 mmol) in dry methylene chloride was cooled to 0°C
and treated with triethylamine (3.92 g; 38.74 mmol; 2.1 eq).
After stirring the formed slurry under a nitrogen atmosphere for 15 minutes, a solution of methyl oxalyl chloride (3.20 g;
26.12 mmol) in methylene chloride (45 mL) was added dropwise.
The resulting mixture was stirred at 0°C for 1.5 hour. After filtering to remove solids, the organic phase was washed with SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) water, dried over MgS09 and concentrated. The crude residue was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 50% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 3.52 g (88%) of the product as a reddish oil. Mixture of cis-trans amide rotamers; data for trans rotamer given. 1H NMR (CDC13): b 1.93 (dm, 2H); 2.17 (m, 2H); 3.62 (m, 2H); 3.71 (s, 3H); 3.79, 3.84 (s, 3H
total ) ; 4 . 86 (dd, 1H, .~ = 8 . 4 , 3 . 3 ) .
Methyl(2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate A solution of methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2.35 g; 10.90 mmol) in 30 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was cooled to -78°C and treated with 14.2 mL of a 1.0 M solution of 1,1-dimethylpropylmagnesium chloride in THF. After stirring the resulting homogeneous mixture at -78°C for three hours, the mixture was poured into saturated ammonium chloride (100 mL) and extracted into ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with water, dried, and concentrated, and the crude material obtained upon removal of the solvent was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 25% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 2.10 g (75%) of the oxamate as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (CDC13): b 0.88 (t, 3H); 1.22, 1.26 (s, 3H each); 1.75 (dm, 2H); 1.87-2.10 (m, 3H); 2.23 (m, 1H); 3.54 (m, 2H); 3.76 (s, 3H); 4.52 (dm, 1H, 8.4, 3.4).
(2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3.3-dimethylpentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid A mixture of methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl-2-pyrrolidine-carboxylate (2.10 g; 8.23 mmol), 1 N LiOH (15 mL), and methanol (50 mL) was stirred at 0°C for 30 minutes and at room temperature overnight. The mixture was acidified to pH 1 with 1 N HC1, diluted with water, and extracted into 100 mL of methylene chloride. The organic extract was washed with brine and concentrated to deliver 1.73 g (87%) of snow-white solid which did not require further purification. 1H NMR (CDC13) : d 0.87 (t, 3H) ; 1.22, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 1.25 (s, 3H each); 1.77 (dm, 2H); 2.02 (m, 2H); 2.17 (m, 1H)';
2.25 (m, 1H); 3.53 {dd, 2H, ~ = 10.4, 7.3); 4.55 (dd, 1H, 8.6, 4.1).
3-(3-PvridLrl)-1-propyl(2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate A mixture of (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (4.58 g; 19 mmol), 3-pyridinepropanol (3.91 g; 28.5 mmol), dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (6.27 g; 30.4 mmol), camphorsulfonic acid (1.47 g; 6.33 mmol) and 4-dimethyl aminopyridine (773 mg; 6.33 mmol) in methylene chloride (100 mL) was stirred overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite to remove solids and concentrated in vacuo. The crude material was triturated with several portions of ether, and the ether portions were filtered through Celite to remove solids and concentrated in vacuo.
The concentrated filtrate was purified on a flash column (gradient elution, 25% ethyl acetate in hexane to pure ethyl acetate) to obtain 5.47 g {80%) of GPI 1046 as a colorless oil (partial hydrate) . 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz) : b 0.85 (t, 3H) ; 1.23, 1.26 (s, 3H each) ; 1.63-1.89 (m, 2H) ; 1.90-2.30 (m, 4H); 2.30-2.50 (m, 1H); 2.72 (t, 2H); 3.53 (m, 2H); 4.19 (m, 2H); 4.53 (m, 1H); 7.22 (m, 1H); 7.53 (dd, 1H); 8.45.
Analysis calculated for CZOH2gN04 - 0.25 H20: C, 65.82; H, 7.87; N, 7.68. Found: C, 66.01; H, 7.85; N, 7.64.
3- (3-Pyridyl) -1-propyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-1, 2-dioxopentyl) -2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, N-oxide (95) A solution of 3- (3-pyridyl) -1-propyl (2S) -1- (3, 3 dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (190 mg;
0.52 mmol) and m-chloroperbenzoic acid (160 mg of 57%-86%
material, 0.53 mmol) was stirred in methylene chloride (20 mL) at room temperature for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with methylene chloride and washed twice with 1 N NaOH. The organic extract was dried and concentrated, and the crude material was chromatographed, eluting with 10%
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) methanol in ethyl acetate, 130 mg the Compound to obtain of 95 of Example 6. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): S 0.83 (t, 3H);

1.21 (s, 3H); 1.25 (s, 3H); 2.69 (t, 2H, 1.75-2.23 (m, 8H);

7.5); 3.52 (t, 2H, ~ = 6.3); 4.17(dd, 2H, = 6.3); 4.51 ~

(m, 1H); 7.16-7.22 (m, 2H); 8.06-8.11 (m, 2H).
Analysis calculated for CzoH28NzOs - 0.75 HZ(J:C, 61.60; H, 7.63; N, 7.18. Found: C, 61.79; H, 7.58; 7.23.
N, Example 7 Synthesis of 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-progylmercaptyl 2S-1-((2-methylbutyl)carbamoyllpyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (101) 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propylchloride To a solution of 3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propanol (10 g; 72.4 mmol) in chloroform (100 mL) was added dropwise a solution of thionyl chloride (12.9 g; 108.6 mmol) in chloroform (50 mL).
The resulting mixture was refluxed for 1 hour, then poured into ice-cold 50% aqueous potassium hydroxide (150 mL). The layers were separated, and the organic phase was dried, concentrated, and purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 40% ethylacetate in hexane, to obtain 10 g (65%) of the chloride as a clear oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : b 2.02-2.11 (m, 2H) ; 2.77 (m, 2H) ; 3.51 (m, 2H) ; 7.20 (m, 1H) ; 7.49 (m, 1H) ; 8.45 (m, 2H) .
3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-Larowlmercaptan A mixture of 3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propylchloride (3 g; 19.4 mmol) and thiourea (1.48 g; 19.4 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL) was refluxed for 24 hours. Aqueous sodium hydroxide, 15 mL of a 0.75 N solution, was added, and the mixture was refluxed for an additional 2 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the solvent was removed in vacuo. Chromatographic purification of the crude thiol on a silica gel column eluting with 50% ethyl acetate in hexane delivered 1.2 g of 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propylmercaptan as a clear liquid. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDC13): b 1.34 (m, 1H); 1.90 (m, 2H); 2.52 (m, 2H);
2.71 (m, 2H); 7.81 (m, 1H); 7.47 (m, 1H); 8.42 (m, 2H).
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 3-(3-P~rridyl)-1-propylmercaptyl N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate A mixture of N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-(S)-proline (3.0 g; 13.9 mmol); 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propylmercaptan (3.20 g; 20.9 mmol), dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (4.59 g; 22.24 mmol), camphorsulfonic acid (1.08 g; 4.63 mmol), and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (0.60 g; 4.63 mmol) in dry methylene chloride (100 mL) was stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was diluted with methylene chloride (50 mL) and water (100 mL), and the layers were separated. The organic phase was washed with water {3 x 100 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated, and the crude residue was purified on a silica gel column eluting with ethyl acetate to obtain 4.60 g (95%) of the thioester as a thick oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : b 1.45 (s, 9H) ; 1.70-2.05 (m, 5H) ; 2.32 (m, 1H); 2.71 (t, 2H); 2.85 (m, 2H); 3.50 (m, 2H); 4.18 (m, 1H);
7.24 (m, 1H); 7.51 (m, 1H); 8.48 (m, 2H).
3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propylmercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate A solution of 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-mercaptyl N-(tert butyloxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (4.60 g; 13.1 mmol) in methylene chloride (60 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (6 mL) was stirred at room temperature for three hours.
Saturated potassium carbonate was added until the pH was basic, and the reaction mixture was extracted with methylene chloride (3x). The combined organic extracts were dried and concentrated to yield 2.36 g (75%) of the free amine as a thick oil . 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : b 1. 87-2 .20 (m, 6H) : 2 .79 (m, 2H); 3.03-3.15 (m, 4H total); 3.84 (m, 1H); 7.32 (m, 1H);
7.60 (m, 1H); 8.57 (m, 2H).
3- (3-Pyridyl) -1-propylmercaptyl 2S-1- f (2-methylbutyl)carbamoyllpvrrolidine-2-carboxylate (101) A solution of 2-methylbutylamine (113 mg; 1.3 mmol) and triethylamine (132 mg; 1.3 mmol) in methylene chloride (5 mL) was added to a solution of triphosgene (128 mg; 0.43 mmol) in methylene chloride (5 mL). The resulting mixture was SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) refluxed for 1 hour and then cooled to room temperature. 3~-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propylmercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (300 mg; 1.3 mmol) in 5 mL of methylene chloride was added and the resulting mixture was stirred for 1 hour and then partitioned between water and a 1:1 mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane.
The organic phase was dried, concentrated and purified by column chromatography (50% ethyl acetate/hexane) to obtain 250 mg (55%) of the compound of Example 7 (Compound 101, Table VII) as an oil. 'H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : d 1H NMR
(CDC13, 300 MHz) : ~ 0 . 89-0. 93 (m, 6H) ; 1.10-1.20 (m, 1H) ;
1.27 (s, 1H); 1.36-1.60 (m, 2H); 1.72 (s, 2H); 1.97-2.28 (m, 6H); 2.70-2.75 (m, 2H); 2.92-3.54 (m, 6H); 4.45-4.47 (m, 1H);
7.21-7.29 (m, 1H); 7.53-7.56 (dd, 1H); 8.46-8.48 (s, 2H).
Exam-ple 8 Synthesis of 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propel 2S-1-[Sl',1'-Dimethylpropyl)carbamoyl~pvrrolidine-2-carboxylate (102) Reaction of 3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propylmercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate with the isocyanate generated from tert amylamine and triphosgene, as described for Example 7, provided the compound of Example 8 (Compound 102, Table VII) in 62% yield. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): S 0.83 (t, 3H); 1.27 (s, 6H); 1.64-1.71 (m, 2H); 1.91-2.02 (m, 7H); 2.66-2.71 (t, 2H); 2.85 (m, 2H); 3.29-3.42 (m, 2H); 4.11 (br, 1H); 4.37 4.41 (m, 1H).
Example 9 Svnthesisof 3~3-pvridvl)-1-pronvlmercaptvl 2S-1-L(cvclohexyl)thiocarbamoyl]-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (107) A mixture of cyclohexylisothiocyanate (120 mg; 0.9 mmol), 3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propylmercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (200 mg; 0.9 mmol) and triethylamine (90 mg; 0.9 mmol) in 20 mL of methylene chloride was stirred for 1 hour and then partitioned between water and a 1:1 mixture of ethyl SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) acetate and hexane . The organic phase was dried, concentrated and purified by column chromatography (50% ethyl acetate/hexane) to obtain 160 mg (47%) of the compound of Example 9 (Compound 107, Table VII) . 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz) b 1. 16-1 .40 (m, 6H) ; 1 .50-1.71 (m, 4H) ; 1.95-2.08 (m, 7H) ;
2.70-2.75 (t, 2H); 3.03 (m, 2H); 3.40-3.60 (m, 2H); 4.95-4.98 {d, 1H); 5.26-5.29 (d, 1H); 7.17-7.25 (m, 1H).
Example 10 Synthesis of 3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propylmercaptyl(2S)-N-(benzenesulfonYl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (120) 3-(p-Methoxyphenyl)-1-progylbromide To a solution of 3- (p-methoxyphenyl) -1-propanol (16.6 g;
0.1 mol) in 250 mL of toluene, cooled to 0°C, was added dropwise 26 mL of phosphorus tribromide (0.27 mol).
Following completion of the addition, the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, then refluxed for an additional hour. The reaction was cooled and poured onto ice, the layers were separated, and the organic phase washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate (3x) and brine (3x). The crude material obtained upon drying and evaporation of the solvent was chromatographed, eluting with 10% EtOAc/hexane, to obtain 14 g (61%) of 3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1-propylbromide.
3-(p-Methoxvnhenyl)-1-propylmercaptan A mixture of 3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1-propylbromide (14 g;
61 mmol) and thiourea (5.1 g; 67 mmol) in ethanol (150 mL) was refluxed for 48 hours. Evaporation of the solvent provided a clear glassy compound, which was dissolved in 50 mL of water and treated with 100 mL of 40% aqueous sodium hydroxide. After stirring the resulting mixture for two hours, the product was extracted into ether (3x) , and the combined organic extracts were washed with sodium bicarbonate and brine, dried, and concentrated. Chromatographic purification of the crude thiol on a silica gel column eluting with 2% either in hexane delivered 10.2 g of 3-(p-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) methoxyphenyl)- 1-propylmercaptan as a clear liquid. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDC13) : b 1.34 (t, 1H) ; 1.88-1.92 (m, 2H) ; 2.49-2.53 (m, 2H); 2.64-2.69 (m, 2H); 3.77 (s, 3H); 6.80-6.84 (m, 2H) ; 7.06-7.24 (m, 2H) .
3-(p-Methoxyphenyl)-1-mercaptyl N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate A mixture of N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-(S)-proline (2.0 g; 9.29 mmol), 3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1-propylmercaptan (1.86 g;
10.22 mmol), 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (1.96 g; 10.22 mmol), and 4 dimethylaminopyridine (catalytic) in dry methylene chloride (50 mL) was stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was diluted with methylene chloride (50 mL) and water 100 (mL), and the layers were separated. The organic phase was washed with water (3 x 100 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated to provide 3.05 g of the product (100%) as a thick oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : b 1. 15 (s, 9H) ; 1.84-2.31 (m, 6H); 2.61 (m, 2H); 2.83 (m, 2H); 3.51 (m, 2H); 3.75 (s, 3H); 6.79 (d, 2H, ~ = 8.04); 7.05 (m, 2H).
3-(p-Methoxyphenyl)-1-mercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate A solution of 3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-mercaptyl N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (3.0 g; 8.94 mmol) in methylene chloride (60 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (6 mL) was stirred at room temperature for three hours. Saturated potassium carbonate was added until the pH was basic, and the reaction mixture was extracted with methylene chloride (3x).
The combined organic extracts were dried and concentrated to yield 1.73 g (69%) of the free amine as a thick oil. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDC13) : b 1.80-2.23 (m, 6H) ; 2.62 (m, 2H) ; 2 .81 (m, 2H); 3.01 (m, 2H); 3.75 (s, 3H); 3.89(m, 1H); 6.81 (m, 2H) ; 7. 06 (m, 2H) .
3-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-propylmercaptyl (2S)-N-(benzenesulfonyl)Qyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (120) A solution of 3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1-mercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (567 mg; 2.03 mmol) and SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) benzenesulfonyl chloride (358 mg; 2.03 mmol) in methylene chloride (5 mL) was treated with diisopropylethylamine (290 mg; 2.23 mmol) and stirred overnight at room temperature.
The reaction mixture was filtered to remove solids and applied directly to a silica gel column, eluting with 25~
ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 540 mg of Compound 120 (Table VIII) as a clear oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : S
1.65-1.89 (m, 6H); 2.61 (t, 2H, ~ = 7.3); 2.87 (t, 2H, 7.6); 3.26 (m, 1H); 3.54 (m, 1H); 3.76 (s, 3H); 4.34 (dd, 1H, ~ = 2.7, 8.6) ; 6.79 (d, 2H, .~ = 8.7) ; 7.06 (d, 2H, .~ = 8.6) ;
7.49-7.59 (m, 3H); 7.86 (dd, 2H, ~ = 1.5, 6.8).
Example 11 Synthesis of 3-(para-Methoxmhenvl)-1-propvlmercaptvl(2S
N-(a-toluenesulfonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (121) A solution of 3-(p-Methoxyphenyl)-1-mercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (645 mg; 2.30 mmol) and a-toluenesulfonyl chloride (440 mg; 2.30 mmol) in methylene chloride (5 mL) was treated with diisopropylethylamine (330 mg; 2.53 mmol) and stirred overnight at room temperature.
Purification as described for Example 10 provided the compound of Example 11 (Compound 121, Table VIII) as a clear oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13): b 1.65-2.25 (m, 8H); 2.65 (t, 2H) ; 2 .89-2.96 (m, 2H) ; 3.55-3 .73 (m, 2H) ; 3.80 (s, 3H) ; 4.32 (s, 2H); 4.70-4.81 (m, 1H); 6.83 (d, 2H); 7.09 (d, 2H); 7.14 (m, 3H) ; 7.26 (m, 2H) .
Example 12 Svnthesisof 3-( para-Methoxyphenvl)-1-propvlmercaptvl(2S
N-(a-toluenesulfonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (122) A solution of 3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1-mercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (567 mg; 2.30 mmol) and p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (425 mg; 2.23 mmol) in methylene chloride (5 mL) was stirred overnight at room temperature.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Purification as described for Example l0 provided the compound of Example 12 (Compound 122, Table VIII) as a clear oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13): b 1.67-1.94 (m, 6H); 2.40 (s, 3H) ; 2.61 (t, 2H, .~ = 7.3) ; 2.84 (m, 2H, .~ = 7.2) ; 3.22 (m, 1H); 3.52 (m, 1H); 3.76 (s, 3H); 4.32 (dd, 1H, J-2.9, 8.5);
6.79 (d, 2H, .~ = 6.5) ; 7.07 (d, 2H, .~ = 6.5) ; 7.29 (d, 2H, 6.5) ; 7.74 (d, 2H, ~ = 6.5) .
Example 13 Synthesis of 1,5-biphenyl-3~entylmercaptyl N-(nara-toluenesulfonyl)pipecolate (134) 3-Phenyl-1_propanal Oxalyl chloride (2.90 g; 2.29 mmol) in methylene chloride (50 mL), cooled to -78°C, was treated with dimethylsulfoxide (3.4 mL) in 10 mL of methylene chloride.
After stirring for 5 min, 3-phenyl-1-propanol (2.72 g; 20 mmol) in 20 mL of methylene chloride was added, and the resulting mixture was stirred at -78°C for 15 min, treated with 14 mL of triethylamine, stirred an additional 15 min, and poured into 100 mL of water. The layers were separated, the organic phase was dried and concentrated, and the crude residue was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 10°s ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 1.27 g (47~) of the aldehyde as a clear oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13): b 2.80 (m, 2H); 2.98 (m, 2H); 7.27 (m, 5H); 9.81 (2, 1H).
1,5-biphenyl-3-pentanol A solution of 2-(bromoethyl)benzene (1.73 g; 9.33 mmol) in diethylether (10 mL) was added to a stirred slurry of magnesium turnings (250 mg; 10.18 mmol) in 5 mL of ether.
The reaction was initiated with a heat gun, and after the addition was complete the mixture was heated on an oil bath for 30 min. 3-Phenyl-1-propanal (1.25 g; 9.33 mmol) was added in 10 mL of ether, and reflux was continued for 1 hour. The reaction was cooled and quenched with saturated ammonium chloride, extracted into 2x ethyl acetate, and the combined SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26j organic portions were dried and concentrated.
Chromatographic purification on a silica gel column (10%
ethyl acetate in hexane) delivered 1.42 g(63%) of the diphenyl alcohol. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13): b 1.84 {m, 4H);
2.61-2.76(m, 4H); 3.65 (m, 1H); 7.19-7.29 (m, lOH).
1 5-biphenyl-3-bromopentane To a solution of 1,5-diphenyl-3-pentanol (1.20 g (5 mmol) and carbon tetrabromide (1.67 g; 5 mmol) in methylene chloride (20 mL) was added triphenylphosphine (1.31 g; 5 mmol) portionwise, at 0°C. After stirring at room temperature for 18 hours, the mixture was concentrated, triturated with ether, and the solids removed by filtration.
The filtrate was passed through a plug of silica gel, eluting with hexane:methylene chloride, 10:1, to give 1.35 g (90%) of the bromide as an oil which was used without further purification. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : b 2.11-2.18 (m, 4H) ;
2.73 (m, 2H); 2.86 (m, 2H); 3.95 (m, 1H); 7.16-7.30 (m, lOH).
1.5- biphenyl-3-pentylmercaptan Using the procedure described in Example 10 for the conversion of bromides to thiols, 1,5-diphenyl-3-bromopentane was converted to 1,5-diphenyl-3-pentylmercaptan in 35%
overall yield. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : S 1.79 (m, 2H) ; 1.98 (m, 2H); 2.71 {m, 3H); 2.80 (m, 2H); 7.16-7.28 (m, lOH).
1 5-biphenyl-3-pentvlmercaptyl N-(tert-butLrloxycarbonyl)p~rrrolidine-2-carboxylate A mixture of N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-(S)-pipecolic acid (2.11 g; 9.29 mmol), 1,5-diphenyl-3-pentylmercaptan (2.58 g; 10.22 mmol), 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (1.96 g; 10.22 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (catalytic) in dry methylene chloride (50 mL) was stirred overnight. the reaction mixture was diluted with methylene chloride (50 mL) and water (100 mL), and the layers were separated. The organic phase was washed with water (3 x 100 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated to provide 870 mg (20%) of the product as a SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) thick oil, which was used without further purification.
1 5-biphenyl-3-pentylmercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carbox~ ate A solution of 1,5-diphenyl-3-pentylmercaptyl N-(tert butyloxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (850 mg; 1.8 mmol) in methylene chloride (10 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (1 mL) was stirred at room temperature for three hours. Saturated potassium carbonate was added until the pH was basic, and the reaction mixture was extracted with methylene chloride. The combined organic extracts were dried and concentrated to yield 480 mg (72%) of the free amine as a thick oil, which was used without further purification.
1,5-biphenyl-3-pentylmercaptyl N-(para-toluenesulfonyl)pipecolate (134) 1,5-biphenyl-3-pentylmercaptyl N-(para toluenesulfonyl)pipecolate(18) was prepared from 1,5 diphenyl-3-pentylmercaptyl pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate and para-toluenesulfonyl chloride as described for Example 12, in 65% yield. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): b 0.80 (m, 4H); 1.23 1.97 (m, 5H); 2.15 (d, 1H); 2.61-2.69 (m, 4H); 3.23 (m, 1H);
3.44 (dm, 1H); 4.27 (s, 2H); 4.53 (d, 1H, ~ = 4.5); 5.06 (m, 1H); 7.16-7.34 (m, 15H).
Example 14 Synthesis of 3-phenyl-1 ~ropyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxogentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (137) Methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate A solution of L-proline methyl ester hydrochloride (3.08 g; 18.60 mmol) in dry methylene chloride was cooled to 0°C
and treated with triethylamine (3.92 g; 38.74 mmol; 2.1 eq).
After stirring the formed slurry under a nitrogen atmosphere for 15 min, a solution of methyl oxalyl chloride (3.20 g;
26.12 mmol) in methylene chloride (45 mL) was added dropwise.
The resulting mixture was stirred at 0°C for 1.5 hour. After filtering to remove solids, the organic phase was washed with SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) water, dried over MgS09 and concentrated. The crude residue was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 50% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 3.52 g (88%) of the product as a reddish oil. Mixture of cis-trans amide rotamers; data for trans rotamer given. 1H NMR (CDC13): d 1.93 (dm, 2H); 2.17 (m, 2H); 3.62 (m, 2H); 3.71 (s, 3H); 3.79, 3.84 (s, 3H
total}; 4.86 (dd, 1H, ~ = 8.4, 3.3).
Methyl (2S)-1-(1 2-dioxo-3 3-dimethylpentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate A solution of methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2.35 g; 10.90 mmol) in 30 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was cooled to -78°C and treated with 14.2 mL of a 1.0 M solution of 1,1-dimethylpropylmagnesium chloride in THF. After stirring the resulting homogeneous mixture at -78°C for three hours, the mixture was poured into saturated ammonium chloride (100 mL) and extracted into ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with water, dried, and concentrated, and the crude material obtained upon removal of the solvent was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 25% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 2.10 g (75%) of the oxamate as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (CDC13): d 0.88 (t, 3H);
1.22, 1.26 (s, 3H each); 1.75 (dm, 2H); 1.87-2.10 (m, 3H);
2.23 (m, 1H); 3.54 (m, 2H); 3.76 (s, 3H}; 4.52 (dm, 1H, 8.4, 3.4).
Synthesis of (2S)-1-(1 2-dioxo-3,3-dimethvlpentvl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid A mixture of methyl (2S) -1- (1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2.10 g; 8.23 mmol), 1 N LiOH (15 mL), and methanol (50 mL} was stirred at 0°C for 30 minutes and at room temperature overnight. The mixture was acidified to pH 1 with 1 N HC1, diluted with water, and extracted into 100 mL of methylene chloride. The organic extract was washed with brine and concentrated to deliver 1.73 g (87%) of snow-white solid which did not require further purification. 1H NMR (CDC13): d 0.87 (t, 3H); 1.22, SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 1.25 (s, 3H each); 1.77 (dm, 2H); 2.02 (m, 2H); 2.17 (m, 1H);
2.25 (m, 1H); 3.53 (dd, 2H, ~ = 10.4, 7.3); 4.55 (dd, 1H, 8.6, 4.1) .
3-Phenyl-1-progyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (137) A mixture of (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carboxylic acid (600 mg; 2.49 mmol), 3-phenyl-1-propanol (508 mg; 3.73 mmol), dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (822 mg; 3.98 mmol), camphorsulfonic acid (190 mg; 0.8 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (100 mg; 0.8 mmol) in methylene chloride (20 mL) was stirred overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite to remove solids and concentrated in vacuo, and the crude material was purified on a flash column (25% ethyl acetate in hexane) to obtain 720 mg (80%) of Example 14 as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (CDC13) : d 0.84 (t, 3H) ; 1.19 (s, 3H) ; 1.23 (s, 3H); 1.70 {dm, 2H); 1.98 (m, 5H); 2.22 (m, 1H); 2.64 (m, 2H);
3.47 (m, 2H); 4.14 (m, 2H); 4.51 (d, 1H); 7.16 (m, 3H); 7.26 (m, 2H) .
Example 15 The method of Example 14 was utilized to prepare the following illustrative compounds.
Compound 138: 3-phenyl-1-prop-2-(E)-enyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 80%. 1H
NMR (360 Mhz, CDC13) : d 0.86 (t, 3H) ; 1.21 (s, 3H) ; 1.25 (s, 3H); 1.54-2.10 (m, 5H); 2.10-2.37 (m, 1H); 3.52-3.55 {m, 2H);
4.56 (dd, 1H, ~ = 3.8, 8.9); 4.78-4.83 (m, 2H); 6.27 (m, 1H);
6.67 {dd, 1H, ~ = 15.9); 7.13-7.50 (m, 5H).
Compound 139: 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidine- carboxylate, 61%. 1H NMR {CDC13): d 0.84 (t, 3H); 1.15 (s, 3H); 1.24 (s, 3H); 1.71 (dm, 2H); 1.98 (m, 5H); 2.24 (m, 1H); 2.63 (m, 2H);
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 3.51 (t, 2H); 3.79 (s, 3H); 3.83 (s, 3H); 4.14 (m, 2H); 4.52 (m, 1H) ; 6.36 (s, 2H) .
Compound 140: 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-prop-2-(E)-enyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidine carboxyl ate, 66%. 1H NMR (CDC13) : d 0.85 (t, 3H) ; 1.22 (s, 3H); 1.25 (s, 3H); 1.50-2.11 (m, 5H); 2.11-2.40 (m, 1H); 3.55 (m, 2H); 3.85 (s, 3H); 3.88 (s, 6H); 4.56 (dd, 1H); 4.81 (m, 2H) ; 6.22 (m, 1H) ; 6.58 (d, 1H, ~ = 16) ; 6.63 (s, 2H) .
Compound 141: 3-(4,5-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidine- carboxylate, 82%. 1H NMR (360 MHz, CDC13): d 0.86 (t, 3H); 1.22 (s, 3H);
1.25 (s, 3H); 1.60-2.10 (m, 5H); 3.36-3.79 (m, 2H); 4.53 (dd, 1H, ~ = 3.8, 8.6); 4.61-4.89 (m, 2H); 5.96 (s, 2H); 6.10 (m, 1H); 6.57 (dd, 1H, ~ = 6.2, 15.8); 6.75 (d, 1H, ~ = 8.0); 6.83 (dd, 1H, ~ = 1.3, 8.0) ; 6.93 (s, 1H) .
Compound 142: 3-(4,5-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-prop-2-(E)-enyl (2S) -1- (3, 3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl) -2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 82%. 1H NMR (360 MHz, CDC13) : d 0.86 (t, 3H); 1.22 (s, 3H); 1.25 (s, 3H); 1.60-2.10 (m, 5H); 2.10-2.39 (m, 1H); 3.36-3.79 (m, 2H); 4.53 (dd, 1H, ~ = 3.8, 8.6);
4.61-4.89 (m, 2H); 5.96 (s, 2H); 6.10 (m, 1H); 6.57 (dd, 1H, ~ = 6.2, 15.8); 6.75 (d, 1H, ~ = 8.0); 6.83 (dd, 1H, ~ = 1.3, 8.0); 6.93 (s, 1H).
Compound 144: 3-cyclohexyl-1-prop-2-(E)-enyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carboxylate, 92%. 1H
NMR (3'60 MHz, CDC13) : d 0.86 (t, 3H) ; 1.13-1.40 (m + 2 singlets, 9H total); 1.50-1.87 (m, 8H); 1.87-2.44 (m, 6H);
3.34-3.82 (m, 2H); 4.40-4.76 (m, 3H); 5.35-5.60 (m, 1H);
5.60-5.82 (dd, 1H, ~ = 6.5, 16) .
Compound 145: (1R)-1,3-biphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 90%. 1H
NMR (360 MHz, CDC13) : d 0.85 (t, 3H) ; 1.20 (s, 3H) ; 1.23 (s, 3H); 1.49-2.39 (m, 7H); 2.46-2.86 (m, 2H); 3.25-3.80 (m, 2H);
4.42-4.82 (m, 1H); 5.82 (td, 1H, ~ = 1.8, 6.7); 7.05-7.21 {m, 3H); 7.21-7.46 (m, 7H).
Compound 146: 3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-[2-furanyl])ethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 99%. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : d 1.66-2.41 (m, 6H) ; 2.72 (t, 2H, .) = 7.5) ; 3 .75 (m, 2H); 4.21 (rn, 2H); 4.61 (m, 1H); 6.58 (m, 1H); 7.16-7.29 (m, 5H) ; 7.73 (m, 2H) .
Compound 147: 3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-[2-thienyl])ethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 81%. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13): d 1.88-2.41 {m, 6H); 2.72 (dm, 2H); 3.72 (m, 2H); 4.05 {m, 1H); 4.22 (m, 1H); 4.64 (m, 1H); 7.13-7.29 (m, 6H); 7.75 (dm, 1H); 8.05 (m, 1H).
Compound 149: 3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-phenyl)ethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 99%. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : d 1 . 97-2.32 (m, 6H) ; 2.74 (t, 2H, .~ = 7.5) ; 3.57 (m, 2H); 4.24 (m, 2H); 4.67 (m, 1H); 6.95-7.28 (m, 5H); 7.51-7.64 (m, 3H); 8.03-8.09 (m, 2H).
Compound 150: 3-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3 dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidine- carboxylate, 99%.
1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13) : d 0.87 (t, 3H) ; 1.22 (s, 3H) ; 1.26 (s, 3H); 1.69 (m, 2H); 1.96 (m, 5H); 2.24 (m, 1H); 2.68 (m, 2H); 3.55 (m, 2H); 3.75 (s, 3H); 3.77 (s, 3H); 4.17 (m, 2H);
4.53 (d, 1H) ; 6.72 (m, 3H) .
Compound 151: 3-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-prop-2-(E)-enyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carboxylate, 99%. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13): d 0.87 (t, 3H);
1.22 (s, 3H); 1.26 (s, 3H); 1.67 (m, 2H); 1.78 (m, 1H); 2.07 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) (m, 2H); 2.26 (m, 1H); 3.52 (m, 2H); 3.78 (s, 3H); 3.80 (s, 3H) ; 4 .54 (m, 1H) ; 4.81 (m, 2H) ; 6.29 (dt, 1H, .~ = 15.9) ;
6.98 (s, 1H).
Compound 152: 2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-ethyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidine- carboxylate, 97%. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDC13): d 0.84 (t, 3H); 1.15 (s, 3H);
1.24 (s, 3H); 1.71 (dm, 2H); 1.98 (m, 5H); 2.24 (m, 1H); 2.63 (m, 2H); 3.51 (t, 2H); 3.79 (s, 3H); 3.83 (s, 3H); 4.14 (m, 2H); 4.52 (m, 1H); 6.36 (s, 2H).
Compound 153: 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 80%. 1H NMR
(CDC13, 300 MHz) : d 0.85 (t, 3H) ; 1.23, 1.26 (s, 3H each) ;
1.63-1.89 (m, 2H); 1.90-2.30 (m, 4H); 2.30-2.50 (m, 1H); 2.72 {t, 2H); 3.53 (m, 2H); 4.19 (m, 2H); 4.53 (m, 1H); 7.22 (m, 1H); 7.53 (dd, 1H); 8.45.
Compound 154: 3-(2-Pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 88%. 1H NMR
(CDC13, 300 MHz) : d 0.84 (t, 3H) ; 1.22, 1.27 (s, 3H each) ;
1.68-2.32 (m, 8H) ; 2.88 (t, 2H, .~ = 7.5) ; 3.52 (m, 2H) ; 4.20 (m, 2H}; 4.51 (m, 1H); 7.09-7.19 (m, 2H); 7.59 (m, 1H); 8.53 (d, 1H, ~ = 4.9).
Compound 155: 3-(4-Pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 91%.1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): d 6.92-6.80 (m, 4H); 6.28 (m, 1H); 5.25 (d, 1H, .~
- 5.7); 4.12 (m, 1H); 4.08 (s, 3H); 3.79 (s, 3H); 3.30 (m, 2H); 2.33 (m, 1H); 1.85-1.22 (m, 7H); 1.25 (s, 3H); 1.23 (s, 3H) ; 0.89 (t, 3H, ~ = 7.5) .
Compound 156: 3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexyl-1,2-dioxoethyl) -2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 91%. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) MHz): d 1.09-1.33 (m, 5H); 1.62-2.33 (m, 12H); 2.69 (t, 2H, 7.5); 3.15 (dm, 1H); 3.68 {m, 2H); 4.16 (m, 2H); 4.53, 4.84 (d, 1H total); 7.19 (m, 3H); 7.29 (m, 2H).
Compound 157: 3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-tert-butyl-1,2-dioxoethyl) -2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 92 % . 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): d 1.29 (s, 9H); 1.94-2.03 (m, 5H); 2.21 (m, 1H); 2.69 (m, 2H}; 3.50-3.52 (m, 2H); 4.16 (m, 2H); 4.53 (m, 1H); 7.19 (m, 3H) ; 7.30 (m, 2H) .
Compound 158: 3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclohexyl- ethyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 97%. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): d 0.88 (m, 2H); 1.16 (m, 4H); 1.43-1.51 (m, 2H);
1.67 (m, 5H}; 1.94-2.01 (m, 6H); 2.66-2.87 {m, 4H); 3.62-3.77 (rn, 2H); 4.15 (m, 2H); 4.86 (m, 1H); 7.17-7.32 (m, 5H).
Compound 159: 3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-cyclo-hexylethyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 70%. 1H
NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): d 0.87 (m, 2H); 1.16 (m, 4H); 1.49 (m, 2H}; 1.68 (m, 4H); 1.95-2.32 (m, 7H); 2.71 (m, 2H); 2.85 (m, 2H); 3.63-3.78 (m, 2H); 4.19 (m, 2H); 5.30 (m, 1H); 7.23 (m, 1H); 7.53 (m, 1H); 8.46 (m, 2H).
Compound 160: 3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-tent-butyl-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 83%. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): d 1.29 (s, 9H); 1.95-2.04 (m, 5H); 2.31 (m, 1H);
2.72 (t, 2H, ~ = 7.5); 3.52 (m, 2H); 4.18 (m, 2H); 4.52 (m, 1H); 7.19-7.25 (m, 1H); 7.53 (m, 1H); 8.46 (m, 2H).
Compound 161: 3,3-diphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 99%. 1H NMR
(CDC13, 300 MHz): d 0.85 (t, 3H); 1.21, 1.26 (s, 3H each);
1.68-2.04 (m, 5H); 2.31 (m, 1H); 2.40 (m, 2H); 3.51 (m, 2H);
4.08 (m, 3H); 4.52 (m, 1H); 7.18-7.31 (m, lOH).
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 2fi) Compound 162 3- (3-pyridyl) -1-propyl : (2S) -1- (2-cyclo- hexyl.-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 88%.1H
NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): d 1.24-1.28 (m, 5H); 1.88-2.35(m, 11H); 2.72 (t, 2H, ~ = 7.5); 3.00-3.33 (dm, 1H); 3.69 2H);4.19 (m, 2H);
(m, 4.55 (m, 7.20-7.24 (m, 1H); 7.53 (m, 1H);8.47 (m, 2H).
1H);

Compound 163: 3-(3-Pyridyl)-1-propyl (2S)-N-([2-thienyl]
glyoxyl) pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 49% . 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz) d 1.81-2.39 (m, 6H); 2.72 (dm, 2H); 3.73 (m, 2H); 4.21 (m, 2H); 4.95 (m, 1H); 7.19 (m, 2H); 7.61 (m, 1H); 7.80 (d, 1H);
8. 04 (d, 1H} ; 8.46 {m, 2H) .
Compound 164: 3,3-biphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxobutyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 99%. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): d 1.27 (s, 9H); 1.96 (m, 2H); 2.44 (m, 4H); 3.49 (m, 1H); 3.64 {m, 1H); 4.08 (m, 4H); 4.53 (dd, 1H); 7.24 (m, lOH) .
Compound 165: 3,3-biphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-cyclohexyl glyoxyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 91%. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): d 1.32 (m, 6H); 1.54-2.41 (m, 10H); 3.20 (dm, 1H);
3.69 (m, 2H}; 4.12 (m, 4H); 4.52 (d, 1H); 7.28 (m, lOH).
Compound 166: 3,3-biphenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(2-thienyl) glyoxyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, 75%. 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz): d 2.04 (m, 3H); 2.26 (m, 2H); 2.48 (m, 1H); 3.70 (m, 2H); 3.82-4.18 (m, 3H total); 4.64 (m, 1H); 7.25 (m, 11H);
7.76 (dd, 1H); 8.03 (m, 1H).
Example 16 General procedure for the synthesis of acrylic esters, exemplified for methyl (3,3,5-trimethoxy)-trans-cinnamate.
A solution of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (5.0 g; 25.48 mmol) and methyl (triphenyl- phosphoranylidene)acetate (10.0 a; 29.91 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (250 mL) was refluxed SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) overnight. After cooling, the reaction mixture was diluted with 200 mL of ethyl acetate and washed with 2 x 200 mL of water, dried, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was chromatographed on a silica gel column, eluting with 25%
ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 5.63 g (88%) of the cinnamate as a white crystalline solid. 1H NMR (300 Mhz;
CDC13) : d 3.78 (s, 3H) ; 3 . 85 (s, 6H) ; 6.32 (d, 1H, ~ = 16) ;
6.72 (s, 2H); 7.59 (d, 1H, ~ = 16).
Example 17 General procedure for the synthesis of saturated alcohols from acrylic esters, exemplified for (3,4,5-trimethoxy) phenylpropanol.
A solution of methyl (3,3,5-trimethoxy)-traps-cinnamate (1.81 g; 7.17 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (30 mL) was added in a dropwise manner to a solution of lithium aluminum hydride (14 mmol) in THF (35 mL), with stirring and under an argon atmosphere. After the addition was complete, the mixture was heated to 75°C for 4 hours. After cooling, it was quenched by the careful addition of 15 mL of 2 N NaOH followed by 50 mL of water. The resulting mixture was filtered through Celite to remove solids, and the filter cake was washed with ethyl acetate. The combined organic fractions were washed with water, dried, concentrated in vacuo, and purified on a silica gel column, eluting with ethyl acetate to obtain 0.86 g (53%) of the alcohol as a clear oil. 1H NMR (300 Mhz;
CDC13) : d 1.23 (br, 1H) ; 1.87 (m, 2H) ; 2.61 (t, 2H, ~ = 7.1) ;
3.66 (t, 2H); 3.80 (s, 3H); 3.83 (s, 6H); 6.40 (s, 2H).
Example 18 General procedure for the synthesis of traps-allylic alcohols from acrylic esters, exemplified for (3,4,5-trimethoxy)phenylprop-2-(E)-enol.
A solution of methyl (3,3,5-trimethoxy)-traps-cinnamate (1.35 g; 5.35 mmol) in toluene (25 mL) was cooled to -10°C
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) and treated with a solution of diisobutylaluminum hydride in toluene (11.25 mL of a 1.0 M solution; 11.25 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 3 hours at 0°C and then quenched with 3 mL of methanol followed by 1 N HC1 until the pH was 1. The reaction mixture was extracted into ethyl acetate and the organic phase was washed with water, dried and concentrated. Purification on a silica gel column eluting with 25% ethyl acetate in hexane furnished 0.96 g (80%) of a thick oil. 1H NMR (360 Mhz; CDC13) : d 3.85 (s, 3H); 3.87 (s, 6H); 4.32 (d, 2H, ~ = 5.6); 6.29 (dt, 1H, ~ _ 15.8, 5.7) , 6.54 (d, 1H, .~ = 15.8) ; 6.61 (s, 2H) .
Example 19 Synthesis of 3-phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (1) Methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate A solution of L-proline methyl ester hydrochloride (3.08 g; 18 . 60 mmol ) in dry methylene chloride was cooled to 0°C
and treated with triethylamine (3.92 g; 38.74 mmol; 2.1 eq).
After stirring the formed slurry under a nitrogen atmosphere for 15 min, a solution of methyl oxalyl chloride (3.20 g;
26.12 mmol) in methylene chloride (45 ml) was added dropwise.
The resulting mixture was stirred at 0°C for 1.5 hour. After filtering to remove solids, the organic phase was washed with water, dried over MgS04 and concentrated. The crude residue was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 50% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 3.52 g (88%) of the product as a reddish oil. Mixture of cis-trans amide rotamers; data for trans rotamer given. 1H NMR (CDC13): d 1.93 {dm, 2H); 2.17 (m, 2H); 3.62 (m, 2H); 3.71 (s, 3H); 3.79, 3.84 (s, 3H
total ) ; 4 . 86 (dd, 1H, ~ = 8 . 4 , 3 . 3 ) .
Methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2-Qyrrolidinecarboxylate A solution of methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-2-methoxyethyl)-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2.35 g; 10.90 mmol) in 30 ml of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was cooled to -78°C and treated with 14.2 ml of a 1.0 M solution of 1,1-dimethylpropylmagnesium chloride in THF. After stirring the resulting homogeneous mixture at -78°C for three hours, the mixture was poured into saturated ammonium chloride (100 ml) and extracted into ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with water, dried, and concentrated, and the crude material obtained upon removal of the solvent was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 25% ethyl acetate in hexane, to obtain 2.10 g (75%) of the oxamate as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (CDC13): d 0.88 (t, 3H);
1.22, 1.26 (s, 3H each); 1.75 (dm, 2H); 1.87-2.10 (m, 3H);
2.23 (m, 1H) ; 3.54 (m, 2H) ; 3 .76 (s, 3H) ; 4.52 (dm, 1H, ~ _ 8.4, 3.4).
Synthesis of (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethyl~entyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid A mixture of methyl (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2.10 g; 8.23 mmol), 1 N LiOH (15 ml), and methanol (50 ml) was stirred at 0°C for 30 minutes and at room temperature overnight . The mixture was acidified to pH 1 with 1 N HCl, diluted with water, and extracted into 100 ml of methylene chloride. The organic extract was washed with brine and concentrated to deliver 1.73 g (87%) of snow-white solid which did not require further purification. 1H NMR (CDC13) : d 0.87 (t, 3H) ; 1.22, 1.25 (s, 3H each); 1.77 (dm, 2H); 2.02 (m, 2H); 2.17 (m, 1H);
2.25 (m, 1H); 3.53 (dd, 2H, .~ = 10.4, 7.3); 4.55 (dd, 1H, ~ _ 8.6, 4.1).
3-Phenyl-1-propyl (2S)-1-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxopentyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (1) A mixture of (2S)-1-(1,2-dioxo-3,3-dimethylpentyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carboxylic acid (600 mg; 2.49 mmol), 3-phenyl-1-propanol (508 mg; 3.73 mmol), dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (822 mg; 3.98 mmol), camphorsulfonic acid (190 mg; 0.8 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (100 mg; 0.8 mmol) in methylene SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) chloride (20 ml) was stirred overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite to remove solids and concentrated in vacuo, and the crude material was purified on a flash column (25~ ethyl acetate in hexane) to obtain 720 mg (80~) of Example 1 as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (CDC13): d 0.84 (t, 3H); 1.19 (s, 3H); 1.23 (s, 3H); 1.70 (dm, 2H); 1.98 (m, 5H); 2.22 (m, 1H}; 2.64 (m, 2H);
3 .47 (m, 2H) ; 4 . 14 (m, 2H) ; 4 .51 (d, 1H) ; 7. 16 (m, 3H) ; 7.26 (m, 2H} .
Figure 1. GPI 1046 protects retinal ganglion cells against degeneration following retinal ischemia.
Retinal ganglion cells were retrogradely labeled in adult rats by bilateral injection of fluorogold in their lateral geniculate nuclei. Labeled ganglion cells in the normal rat retina appear as white profiles against the dark background (Figure 1A). Complete retinal ischemia was produced by infusing normal saline solution into the retinal vitreous cavity of each eye until the intraocular pressure exceeded arterial blood pressure. 28 days after the ischemic episode extensive degeneration of retinal ganglion cell was evidenced by massive reduction in the density of fluorogold labeled cells (Figure 1B). Administration of GPI 1046 (lOmg/kg, s . c . ) 1 hour prior to the ischemic episode and at l0mg/kg/day for the next four days produced noticeable protection of a large proportion of the vulnerable ganglion cell population (Figure 1C).
Figure 2. GPI 1046 prevents degeneration of optic nerve axons and myelin following retinal ischemia Examination of the optic nerves from the same retinal ischemia cases reveals that GPI 1046 produces dramatic protection of optic nerve element from ischemic degeneration.
Toluidine blue staining of epon embedded optic nerve cross sections revealed the detail of myelin sheaths (white SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) circles) and optic nerve axons (black centers) in the normal rat optic nerve. Optic nerves from vehicle treated cases examined 28 days after a 1 hour retinal ischemic episode are characterized by a decreased density of optic nerve axons and the appearance of numerous degenerating myelin figures (bright white filled circles). Treatment with GPI 1046 protected the majority of optic nerve axons from degeneration and also dramatically decreased the density of degenerating myelin figures.
Figure 3. GPI 1046 provides moderate protection against retinal ganglion cell death after optic nerve transection Complete transection of the optic nerve 5 mm from the eyeball produces massive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, representing loss of >87% of the normal ganglion cell population 90 days after the injury (Table 1) . Few spared fluorogold pre labeled ganglion cells are present in vehicle treated cases (large white figures) among a population of small microglia that digest the debris of the degenerating cells and take up the fluorogold label (Figure 3A).
Treatment with GPI 1046 for 14 days resulted in a small but not significant increase in the density of retinal ganglion cells that survived 90 days after transection (Table 1) but treatment with GPI 1046 for the first 28 days after transection produced moderate but significant protection of 12.6% of the vulnerable ganglion cell population (Table 1, Figure 3B).
Figure 4. GPI 1046 treatment duration significantly affects the process of optic nerve axonal degeneration after transection.
Examination of optic nerve axon density in the proximal stump of the optic nerve from the same cases revealed a more dramatic protection afforded by GPI 1046 treatment. 90 days SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) after transection few ganglion cell axons remain within the optic nerve (Figure 4B), representing only 5.6% of the normal population. The loss of axons reflects both the death of retinal ganglion cells and the regression or "dying back" of the axons of - 70% of the small surviving ganglion cell population into the retina itself (Table 1). Treatment with GPI 1046 for the first 14 days after optic nerve transection produced a small but significant 5.3% protection of optic nerve axons (Figure 4D, Table 1), but treatment with the same dose of GPI 1046 for 28 days resulted in the protection of optic nerve axons for the vast majority (81.4%) of spared retinal ganglion cells (Figure 4C, Table 1).
Figure 5. GPI 1046 treatment produces a greater effect on ogtic nerve axons than ganglion cell bodies This summary figure shows data from Figure 3 ganglion cell protection and higher power photomicrographs of optic nerve axon protection (Figure 5A&B, upper panels). 28 day treatment with GPI 1046 produced a significant increase in the density of large, and particularly medium and small caliber optic nerve axons (Figure 5C&D, lower panels).
Figure 6. GPI 1046 treatment for 28 days after optic nerve transection prevents myelin degeneration in the proximal stump Myelin basic protein immunohistochemistry labels fascicles (darker labeled 'islands') of myelinated axons in the normal optic nerve (Figure 6A, upper left). 90 days after transection extensive degeneration of myelin is evident in vehicle treated cases, characterized by the loss of fascicular organization and the appearance of numerous large dense degenerating myelin figures (Figure 6B, upper right).
Treatment with GPI 1046 for the first 14 days after optic nerve transection did not alter the pattern of myelin degeneration (Figure 6C, lower left panel), and yielded an SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) insignificant 1.6% quantitative recovery in myelin density (Table 1). Extending the GPI 1046 treatment course through the first 28 days after optic nerve transection produced a dramatic preservation of the fascicular staining pattern for myelin basic protein in the proximal stump of the optic nerve and decreased the density of degenerating myelin figures (Figure 6D, lower right panel), representing a '70% recovery of myelin density (Table 1).
Figure 7. FKBP-12 immunohistochemistry labels oligodendroglia (large dark cells with fibrous processes), the cells which produce myelin, located between the fascicles of optic nerve fibers, and also some optic nerve axons.
Figure 8. GPI 1046 treatment for 28 days after optic nerve transection prevents myelin degeneration in the distal stump.
Complete transection of the optic nerve leads to degeneration of the distal segments (axon fragments disconnected from the ganglion cell bodies), and the degeneration of their myelin sheaths. 90 days after transection (Figure 8B) myelin basic protein immunohistochemistry reveals the near total loss of fascicular organization (present in the normal optic nerve, Figure 8A) and the presence of numerous dense degenerating myelin figures. Quantitation reveals that the cross sectional area of the transected distal stump shrinks by 31%
and loses approximately 1/2 of its myelin (Table 1).
Treatment with GPI 1046 for the first 14 days after transection did not protect against shrinkage of the distal stump but did slightly increase the density of myelin, though the density of degenerating myelin figures remained high (Figure 8C, Table 1). GPI 1046 treatment through the first 28 days produced dramatic protection of the fascicular pattern of myelin labeling, decreased the density of degenerating myelin figures, prevented cross sectional SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) shrinkage of the distal stump of the transected nerve and maintained the myelin levels at ~99% of normal levels (Figure 8D, Table 1) .
Figure 9. 28 day treatment with GPI 1046 treatment beginning 8 weeks after onset of streptozotocin induced diabetes decreases the extent of neovascularization in the inner and outer retina and protects neurons in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) from degeneration.
Negative images of cresyl violet stained tangential retinal sections reveals perikarya in the three cellular layers (Figure 9A). The retinae of streptozotocin treated animals administered only vehicle (Figure 9B) exhibited loss of cells from the ONL and INL, decreased thickness of the Outer plexiform layer (the dark area between ONL and INL) and a dramatic increase in the size and density of retinal blood vessels (large black circular outlines) in the INL, OPL, ONL
and the photoreceptor layer (PR, the gray fuzzy area above the ONL). GPI 1046 treatment reduced neovascularization (i.e. prevented the proliferation of blood vessels) in the PR, ONL, OPL and INL. Although GPI 1046 did not appear to protect against neuronal loss in the ONL, it appeared to decrease the loss of neurons in both the INL and GCL compared to streptozotocin/vehicle treated controls.
Example 20 In Vivo Retinal Ganglion Cell and Outic Nerve Axon Tests The extent of degeneration reduction or prevention in retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve axons was determined in a vision loss model utilizing surgical optic nerve transection to simulate mechanical damage to the optic nerve .
The effects of several neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligands on retinal ganglion cells neuroprotection and optic nerve axon SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) density was determined experimentally, comparing 14 day and 28 day neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand treatments. The effects of treatment with neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligands on retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve axons was correlated.
Surgical Procedures Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (3 months old, 225-250 grams) were anesthetized with a ketamine (87mg/kg) and xylazine (l3mg/kg) mixture. Retinal ganglion cells were pre-labeled by bilateral stereotaxic injection of the fluorescent retrogradely transported marker fluoro-gold (FG, 0.5 microliters of 2.5% solution in saline) at the coordinates of the LGNd (4.5 millimeters post (3, 3.5 millimeters lateral, 4.6 millimeters below dura). Four days later, FG labeled rats underwent a second surgery for microsurgical bilateral intraorbital optic nerve transection 4-5 millimeters behind the orbit.
Experimental animals were divided into six experimental groups of six rats (12 eyes) per group. One group received a neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand (10 milligrams per kg per day sc in PEG vehicle (20 percent propylene glycol, 20 percent ethanol, and 60 percent saline)) for 14 days. A second group received the same neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand dose for 28 days. Each treated group had a corresponding sham/surgery and transection control group which received corresponding 14 or 28 day dosing with the vehicle only.
All animals were sacrificed 90 days after optic nerve transection and perfused pericardially with formalin. All eyes and optic nerves stumps were removed. Cases were excluded from the study if the optic nerve vasculature was damaged or if FG labeling was absent in the retina.
Retinal Ganglion Cell Counts Retinas were removed from eyes and prepared for wholemount analysis. For each group, five eyes with dense and intense FG labeling were selected for quantitative analysis using a 20 power objective. Digital images were SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) obtained from five fields in the central retina (3=4 millimeters radial to optic nerve head). FG labeled Large ( > 18 ~,m) , medium ( 12 -16 ~.m} , and smal l ( < 10 ~Cm) gangl ion cells and microglia were counted in five 400 ~,m by 400 ~m fields per case, 5 cases per group.
Examination of Optic Nerves Proximal and distal optic nerve stumps were identified, measured, and transferred to 30% sucrose saline. The proximal stumps of five nerves were blocked and affixed to a chuck, and 10 micron cross sections were cut on a cryostat;
one in ten sections were saved per set. Sections including the region 1-2 mm behind the orbit were reacted for RT97 neurofilament immunohistochemistry. Analysis of optic nerve axon density was performed using a 63 power oil immersion lens, a Dage 81 camera, and the Simple Image Analysis program. RT97 positive optic nerve axons were counted in three 200 ~,m by 200 ~.m fields per nerve. The area of the nerve was also determined for each case at 10 power.
As depicted graphically in Table I & II, the 14 day course of treatment with a neuroimmunophilin FKHP ligand provided moderate neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells observed 28 days after optic nerve transection. However, by 90 days after transection, only 5% of the ganglion cell population remained viable.
90 days after optic nerve transection the number of axons persisting in the proximal stump of the optic nerve represented approximately one half of the number of surviving ganglion cells in groups of animals that received vehicle alone or the 14 day course of treatment with a neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand. These results indicate that over half of the transected ganglion cell axons retract beyond the optic ner~re head, and that treatment with a neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand during the first 14 days after optic nerve transection is not sufficient to arrest this retraction.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 2fi) As depicted graphically in Table I & II, more prolonged treatment with a neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligand during the 28 day course of treatment produced a moderate increase in retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection. Approximately 12% of the vulnerable retinal ganglion cell population was protected. A similar proportion (~50%) of optic nerve axon density sparing was also observed. These results demonstate the startling result that extending the duration of treatment with a neuroimmunophilin FKBP ligands to 28 days after transection completely arrests the regression of damaged axons for essentially the entire surviving population of retinal ganglion cells.
Additional results are set forth in Tables III and IV.
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p~a~ ~ suoxd aNaN ~i~dp + 16 lb SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Example 21 A patient is suffering from macular degeneration. A
derivative as identified above, alone or in combination with one or more other neopsic factors, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, may be administered to the patient. A reduction in vision loss, prevention of vision degeneration, and/or promotion of vision regeneration are/is expected to occur following treatment.
Example 22 A patient is suffering from glaucoma, resulting in cupping of the optic nerve disc and damage to nerve fibers.
A derivative as identified above, alone or in combination with one or more other neopsic factors, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, may be administered to the patient. A reduction in vision loss, prevention of vision degeneration, and/or promotion of vision regeneration are/is expected to occur following treatment.
Example 23 A patient is suffering from cataracts requiring surgery.
Following surgery, a derivative as identified above, alone or in combination with one or more other neopsic factors, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, may be administered to the patient. A reduction in vision loss, prevention of vision degeneration, and/or promotion of vision regeneration are/is expected to occur following treatment.
Example 24 A patient is suffering from an impairment or blockage of retinal blood supply relating to diabetic retinopathy, ischemic optic neuropathy, or retinal artery or vein blockage. A derivative as identified above, alone or in combination with one or more other neopsic factors, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, may be SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) administered to the patient. A reduction in vision loss, prevention of vision degeneration, and/or promotion of vision regeneration are/is expected to occur following treatment.
Example 25 A patient is suffering from a detached retina. A
derivative as identified above, alone or in combination with one or more other neopsic factors, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, may be administered to the patient. A reduction in vision loss, prevention of vision degeneration, and/or promotion of vision regeneration are/is expected to occur following treatment.
Example 26 A patient is suffering from tissue damage caused by inflammation associated with uveitis or conjunctivitis. A
derivative as identified above, alone or in combination with one or more other neopsic factors, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, may be administered to the patient. A reduction in vision loss, prevention of vision degeneration, and/or promotion of vision regeneration are/is expected to occur following treatment.
Example 27 A patient is suffering from photoreceptor damage caused by chronic or acute exposure to ultraviolet light. A
derivative as identified above, alone or in combination with one or more other neopsic factors, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, may be administered to the patient. A reduction in vision loss, prevention of vision degeneration, and/or promotion of vision regeneration are/is expected to occur following treatment.
Example 28 A patient is suffering from optic neuritis. A
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) derivative as identified above, alone or in combination with one or more other neopsic factors, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, may be administered to the patient. A reduction in vision loss, prevention of vision degeneration, and/or promotion of vision regeneration are/is expected to occur following treatment.
Example 29 A patient is suffering from tissue damage associated IO with a "dry eye" disorder. A derivative as identified above, alone or in combination with one or more other neopsic factors, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, may be administered to the patient. A reduction in vision loss, prevention of vision degeneration, and/or promotion of vision regeneration are/is expected to occur following treatment.
Example 30 Efficacy of representative compounds from different immunophilin ligand series in protecting retinal ganglion cell axons from degeneration following optic nerve transection is set forth in Table V.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Table V
Efficacy of representative compounds from different immunophilin ligand series in protecting retinal ganglion cell axons from degeneration following optic nerve transection RT97+RGC
axon density 14 days after ON transection (% ON axons Compound Structure Comments rescued) Adamantyl Thioester of urea 100.0%
HN"O ° Ki rotamase=149 nM t5.2% SEM
Clearance=? ~.1/min.
"~ Ester A ~o I ~ Ki rotamase=7.5 nM 60.5%
GPI 1046 ° ', IoI Clearance=63.8 ~tl/min. t3.9SEM
Sulfonamide Ki rotamase=107 nM 60.4%
2 0 C °-s-° Clearance=31.1 itl/min. X3.1 % SEM
~I
Pipecolic sulfonamide Ki rotamase= nM 58.4%
D ~ °° ~ Clearance= ~tl/min. t6.4% SEM

Ester of pipecolic acid 2 5 ~° ~ ~ Ki rotamase=20 nM 56.6%
E ° ° Clearance-41.8 ~1/min. t9.4% SEM
I~
" Proline heterocycle o ~ , Analog of GPI 1046 55.1%
F N I'~ Ki rotamase=272 nM t5.9% SEM
° o ° Clearance=? ~.l/min.
I
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE V continued RT97+RGC
axon density 14 days after ON transection (% ON axons Compound Structure Comments rescued) Pipecolic acid °" dimethyl ketone 34.0%
G o o Ki rotamase>10,000 nM X4.8% SEM
Clearance=? ~tl/min.
\I
~NHi Ki rotamase= nM 30.3%
H ° I°I Clearance- ? ~tl/min. t8.0% SEM
~ "~ Ester of Thiourea ° ~ Ki rotamase=131 nM 23.8%
I ~,~5 Clearance=8.0 Itl/min. f5.3 SEM
" Ketone analog of GPI 1046 15.8%
J " Ki rotamase=210 nM f4.8% SEM
° o ° Clearance=1.5 ~tl/min.
Pipecolic acid Thioester 2 0 N S I ~ Ki rotamase=86 nM 13.0%
K o ° ~ Clearance=4.5 ltl/min, t4.2% SEM
I
Prolyl acrd L o" Ki rotamase= >7743 nM 7.8%
0 o Clearance=5.2 ~tl/min. X3.0% SEM
~o Thioester 2 5 S ~ ~ Ki rotamase=7 nM -6.3%
M o ° ~ Clearance=12.5 ~.l/min. +3.9% SEM
I
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) TABLE V continued RT97+RGC
axon density 14 days after ON transection (% ON axons Compound Structure Comments rescued) Ki rotamase=722 nM
N Clearance=21.9 ~,1/min.
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Example 31 THE FKBP NEUROI1~2UNOPHILIN LIGAND GPI-1046 ENHANCES RETINAL GANGLION CELL SURVIVAL
AND ARRESTS AXONAL DYING BACK
FOLLOWING OPTIC NERVE TRANSECTION
Transection of the mammalian optic nerve results in a brief period of abortive regeneration, but the majority of axotomized neurons die and the axons from many persisting ganglion cells die back beyond the optic nerve head. The present Example was designed to examine the neuroprotective effects of GPI-1046 following optic nerve transection.
Retinal ganglion cells in adult male Sprague Dawley rats were retrogradely labeled by f luorogold inj ection in the LGNd and four days later the optic nerves were transected 5 mm behind the globe. Groups of animals received either GPI-1046 lOmg/kg/day s.c. or vehicle for 28 days. All experimental animals and controls were sacrificed 90 days after transection.
By 90 days only - 10% of the FG labeled ganglion cell population survived but less than half of these neurons maintained axons that extended past the optic nerve head, as detected with RT97 neurofilament immunohistochemisty. GPI-1046 treatment produced a moderate degree of perikaryal SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) neuroprotection, sparing 25% of the ganglion cell population, and preserved the axons of virtually all protected neurons in the proximal stump of the transected nerve. These results indicate that treatment with the FKBP neuroimmunophilin ligand GPI-1046 produces a fundamental alteration in the pathological process following injury to CNS tracts.
These results also demonstrate that the small molecule FKBP neuroimmunophilin ligand GPI 1046 enhances neurite outgrowth in culture, enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, and stimulate sprouting within the CNS following partial deafferentation.
Example 32 NEUROIMMUNOPHILIN LIGANDS PROMOTE RECOVERY
FROM THE PERIPHERAL SENSORY NEUROPATHY ASSOCIATED
WITH STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES
Peripheral neuropathy is a common debilitating complication of Type 2 diabetes in some 30-40% of diabetic patients. Neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) are known to promote survival of developing and adult neurons of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and have also been evaluated as treatments for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Some of the selective ligands of the neuroimmunophilin FKBP-12 such as the small molecule GPI-1046, have also been shown to promote repair and regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous systems (Proc. Nat'1.
Acad. Sci. USA 94, 2019-2024, 1997}.
In this Example the potential therapeutic effects of GPI-1046 were evaluated for its ability to improve sensory function in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. The procedure involved using Male Wistar rats which were given a single injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg i.v.). Blood glucose levels were determined weekly for the first three weeks and on the last week of the experiment. Animals were SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) evaluated weekly for signs of sensory neuropathy using the conventional hot plate and tail flick apparatus test procedures. After six weeks, treatment either with GPI-1046 or vehicle was initiated.
The results demonstrated that behavioral testing using the hot plate and the tail flick apparatus indicated improvement in latency in lesioned animals treated for 6 weeks with GPI-1046 at 10 mg/kg s.c. The results also showed that GPI-1046 ameliorates the behavioral sequelae of diabetic sensory neuropathy and may offer some relief for patients suffering from diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Morris Watermaze/Aging and Memory Test Procedure Aged rodents exhibit marked individual differences in performance on a variety of behavioral tasks, including two choice spatial discrimination in a modified T-maze, spatial discrimination in a circular platform task, passive avoidance, radial maze tasks, and spatial navigation in a water pool.
In all of these tasks, a proportion of aged rats or mice perform as well as the vast majority of young control animals, while other animals display severe impairments in memory function compared to young animals. For example, Fischer and colleagues showed that the proportion of rats displaying significant impairments in spatial navigation increases with age, (Fischer et al. 1991b) with 8% of all 12 month old, 45% of 18 month old, 53% of 24 month old, and 90%
of all 30 month old rats displaying impairments in spatial acquisition of the Morris watermaze task relative to young controls.
Specifically, rodent spatial learning and memory decline during aging has been accepted by many investigators as an intriguing correlative animal model of human senile dementia.
Cholinergic function in the hippocampus has been extensively studied as a component of spatial learning in rodents, and SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) declining hippocampal cholinergic function has been noted in parallel with the development of learning and memory impairments. In addition, other neurotransmitter systems have been shown to contribute to spatial learning, and to decline with age, such as the dopaminergic and noradrenergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic systems.
Also, reports on age-related deficits of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP)-induction, a reduction in theta rhythm frequency, a loss of experience-dependent plasticity of hippocampal place-units, and reductions in hippocampal protein kinase C are in keeping with the concept that no single underlying pathology can be identified as the cause of age-related behavioral impairment in rodents. However, the various experimental therapeutic approaches that have been undertaken to improve memory function in aged rodents have been somewhat slanted towards the cholinergic hypothesis.
The Morris watermaze is widely used for assessing spatial memory formation and retention in experimental animals . The test depends on the animal ~ s ability to utilize spatial visual information in order to locate a submerged escape platform in a water tank. It is important that the tank itself be as devoid of specific visual features as possible - thus, it is always circular in shape, the sides are kept smooth and in uniform dull colors, and the water is rendered opaque with nontoxic watercolour pigment or powdered milk. This is to ensure that the animal navigates only by the use of more distant visual cues, or by the use of intra-maze cues specifically provided by the experimenter.
The tank is filled to a level which forces the animal to swim actively. Normal mice and rats react aversively to the swimming part of the test and will climb onto, and remain on, an escape platform from which they are removed to a heated resting cage.
If the platform is visible (i.e. above the surface), animals placed in the tank will quickly learn to home in on SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) the platform and climb out onto it. Testing with a visible platform will also ensure that the experimental animals are not blind and show sufficient motivation and stamina to perform the task, which can be important in experiments involving aged rodents. If the platform is invisible (i.e.
submerged just below the surface), normal animals learn to use distant visual cues in the test room for orientation in the test tank, and, when placed in the tank, will quickly home in on the approximate location of the platform and circle in that area until the platform is found. The animals' path, speed, and swim time are tracked with a ceiling camera for later computerized analysis. Over the course of several successive trials, spatial learning can therefore be defined as a drop of distance swum, or time elapsed, from placement in the tank until escape onto the invisible platform.
The test can be adapted to assess several aspects of spatial memory: a) acquisition of a cued task, where the animal's ability to link one visual cue directly with the escape platform depends on cortical function (i.e. a ball is suspended over the escape platform and the animal learns to follow this cue to find the platform); b) acquisition of a spatial task, where the animal's ability to learn the location of a submerged escape platform based on a combination of distant visual cues is dependent upon hippocampal function (i.e. the animal learns to triangulate its position in the tank by visually aligning the paper-tower dispenser with the door and ceiling lamp); c) retention of a successfully acquired spatial task, which is predominantly dependant on cortical function (i.e. the animal must remember the spatial location of the platform over several weeks); d) a hippocampus-dependant reversal task where the animals must reacquire a new spatial platform location (i.e. the platform is moved to a new location between swim trials and the animal must abandon its previous search strategy and acquire a new SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26~

one ) .
These different modifications of the Morris watermaze procedure can be applied in sequence to the same set of experimental animals and allow for a thorough characterization of their spatial memory performance and its decline with normal ageing. Moreover, such a series of sequential memory tests sheds some light on the functional integrity of the specific brain systems involved in the acquisition and retention of spatial memory (e. g. rats with cholinergic lesions of the hippocampus may remember a platform location acquired weeks before, but persevere over the old platform location after the platform is moved).
Example 33 ON SPATIAL LEARNING AND MEMORY IN AGED RODENTS
This Example shows the effects of chronic treatment with the systemically available FKBP-ligand GPI-1046 on spatial learning and memory in aged rodents.
The procedure involved using three-month old (young) and 18-19 month old male C57BL/6N-Nia (aged) mice which habituated to the well known and conventional Morris watermaze during a 4 trials/day, 3-4 day visible platform training phase. Subsequent spatial acquisition testing was conducting as follows: All mice were given 4 trials/day (block) , for 5 days . Maximum swim time was 90 seconds . Aged mice were allocated to an "aged impaired" group if their performance during blocks 4 or 5 of the acquisition phase was >1 S.D: above the mean of "young" mice, and to an "aged non-impaired" group if their performance was < 0.5 S.D. above the mean of "young" mice. Aged groups were then split into statistically similar "GPI-1046" and "vehicle" groups.
Daily treatment with lOmg/kg GPI-1046 was initiated 3 days after the end of acquisition training, and continued SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) through retention testing. Retention testing began after 3 weeks of dosing using the same methods as the acquisition phase. Swim Distances (cm) were analyzed in a 7 X 5 ANOVA
including Groups and Blocks (1-5) as factors in the analysis, treating Blocks as a repeated measure.
The results showed that planned contrasts revealed that there were significant differences between the "young", and "aged impaired-vehicle and GPI-1046" treated groups at the end of the acquisition phase, F1.58 - 26.75, P=0.0001, and F1,58 - 17.70, P=0.0001 respectively. While there were no significant differences between the two "aged impaired"
groups, F1.58 - 0.67, P - 0.42. During retention testing, however, "aged impaired-vehicle" treated animals performed significantly poorer than "aged impaired - GPI-1046", and "young" animals, Fl.ss - 8.11, P - 0.006, and Fl,ss - 25.45, P - 0.0001 respectively. There was no longer any statistically significant difference between the "young" and "aged impaired" - GPI-1046" treated groups during the retention phase, Fl.ss = 3.09, P = 0.08. Tn summary, systemic treatment with GPI-1046 significantly enhanced spatial memory performance of mice with age-related spatial memory impairments.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims (4)

What is claimed is:

1. A method for treating a vision disorder, improving vision, treating memory impairment or enhancing memory performance in an animal, which comprises administering to said animal an effective amount of a non-immunosuppressive FKBP neuroimmunophilin ligand.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the FKBP
neuroimmunophilin is FKBP-12.

3. A pharmaceutical composition for treating a vision disorder, improving vision, treating memory impairment or enhancing memory performance in an animal, comprising:
a) an effective amount for treating a vision disorder, improving vision, treating memory impairment or enhancing memory performance in an animal of a non-immunosuppressive FKBP neuroimmunophilin ligand; and b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

4. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3, wherein the FKBP neuroimmunophilin is FKBP-12.