KR100609800B1 - Treatment of Arthritis with MEK Inhibitors - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of treating or preventing arthritis in a mammal comprising administering to the patient suffering from arthritis and at risk of developing the arthritis, an effective antiarthritis amount of a MEK inhibitor comprising a compound of formula (I) or formula (II). To provide.

<Formula I>

Arthritis, MEV Inhibitor, Phenylamine

Description

Treatment of arthritis with MEV inhibitors {Treatment of Arthritis with MEK Inhibitors}

The present invention relates to a method for preventing and treating rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis by administering a compound characterized as an inhibitor of the kinase enzyme known as MEK ( M AP kinase or E RK K inase). MEK phosphorylates and activates MAP kinase (also known as Erk). This method is ideally performed by administering a phenyl amine MEK inhibitor.

Arthritis is a debilitating disease that plagues millions of people and currently has no cure for it. Various types of arthritis are known. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease, mainly characterized as a disease of the joint, and is generally marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membrane and joint structure, and atrophy and thinning of the bone. Osteoarthritis is a non-inflammatory degenerative joint disease that occurs most often in older people. Osteoarthritis, characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage, hypertrophic hypertrophy and changes in the synovial membrane, is accompanied by pain and stiffness, especially after long physical activity. Osteoarthritis is also referred to as degenerative arthritis, hypertrophic arthritis and degenerative joint disease. Current therapies are designed to alleviate pain and reduce symptoms. Most known therapies are to use anti-inflammatory agents such as NSAIDs and cyclooxygenase inhibitors.

We have found that a series of compounds called selective MEK inhibitors are useful for preventing and treating arthritis. Many compounds are described in WO 98/37881 as useful for treating sepsis.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a method of preventing and treating arthritis, comprising administering to a mammal in which arthritis appears to be progressing, or to a mammal in need thereof, an effective amount of an anti-arthritis MEK inhibitor, preferably a selective MEK inhibitor. to provide. Selective MEK inhibitors are compounds that inhibit the MEK 1 and MEK 2 enzymes without substantial inhibition of other related enzymes. One aspect of the invention provides a method of treating rheumatoid arthritis, comprising administering a MEK inhibitor to a patient. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating osteoarthritis, comprising administering an MEK inhibitor to a patient. In another embodiment of these aspects, the invention relates to arthritis treatment and / or comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a selective MEK inhibitor, described in US Pat. No. 5,525,625, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Provide preventive measures. An example of a selective MEK inhibitor is 2- (2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl) -4-oxo-4H- [1] benzopyran.

MEK inhibitors are compounds that inhibit one or more mammalian enzyme families known as MAP kinase kinases, which are MAP kinase subtypes of enzymes referred to as MAP kinases or ERKs (extracellular signal-regulating enzymes such as ERK1 and ERK 2). Phosphorylates the family (mitogen-associated protein kinase enzyme). These enzymes regulate the phosphorylation of other enzymes and proteins in the mammalian body. MEK 1 and MEK 2 are bispecific kinases that are present in all cell types and play an important role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation in response to mitogen and a wide range of growth factors and cytokines.

In a preferred embodiment, the administering MEK inhibitor is a phenyl amine derivative of formula (I).

In formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide or prodrug thereof, R ₁ is hydrogen, hydroxy, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkoxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, Or CN. R ₂ is hydrogen. R ₃ , R ₄ and R ₅ are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkoxy, nitro, CN and-(O or NH) _m- (CH ₂ ) is independently selected from _n -R ₉ . R ₉ is hydrogen, hydroxy, COOH or NR ₁₀ R ₁₁ ; n is 0-4; m is 0 or 1; Each R ₁₀ and R ₁₁ is independently selected from hydrogen and C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, or ₁ selected from O, S, NH, or N- (C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl), with the nitrogen to which they are attached; 3-10 membered cyclic rings optionally containing 2, or 3 additional hetero atoms may be formed. Z is COOR ₇ , tetrazolyl, CONR ₆ R ₇ , CONHNR ₁₀ R ₁₁ , or CH ₂ OR ₇ . R ₆ and R ₇ are independently hydrogen, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl, (CO) -C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, O C ₃ -C ₁₀ cycloalkyl optionally containing one, two or three hetero atoms selected from S, NH, or N alkyl; R ₆ and R ₇ together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 3-10 membered cyclic ring optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional hetero atoms selected from O, S, NH, or N alkyl. In formula (I), the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and alkynyl groups are unsubstituted or halo, hydroxy, C ₁ -C ₆ alkoxy, amino, nitro, C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl Amino, di (C ₁ -C ₄ ) alkylamino, C ₃ -C ₆ cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, C ₃ -C ₅ heteroaryl, or C ₃ -C ₅ heteroaryloxy.

Preferred embodiments of formula (I) are: (a) R ₁ is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, fluoro, chloro, or bromo; (b) R ₂ is hydrogen; (c) R ₃ , R ₄ and R ₅ are independently hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, methyl, methoxy, or nitro; (d) R ₁₀ and R ₁₁ are independently hydrogen or methyl; (e) Z is COOR ₇ , tetrazolyl, CONR ₆ R ₇ , CONHNR ₁₀ R ₁₁ , or CH ₂ OR ₇ ; R ₆ and R ₇ are independently hydrogen, C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, heteroaryl, or C ₃ -C ₅ cycloalkyl optionally containing one or two hetero atoms selected from O, S, or NH; R ₆ and R ₇ together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5-6 membered cyclic ring optionally containing 1 or 2 additional hetero atoms selected from O, NH, or N-alkyl; Wherein said alkyl or aryl group may be unsubstituted or substituted by halo, hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, or heteroaryloxy (eg, synthetic intermediate 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl ); (f) Z is COOR ₇ ; (g) R ₇ is H, pentafluorophenyl, or tetrazolyl; (h) R ₃ , R ₄ and R ₅ are independently H, fluoro, or chloro; (i) R ₄ is fluoro; (j) two of R ₃ , R ₄ and R ₅ are fluoro; Or (k) has a structure which is a combination of the foregoing. In a preferred embodiment of formula (I), R ₁ is methyl, fluoro, chloro, or bromo.

Examples of preferred embodiments include methods comprising a MEK inhibitor selected from the following formula (I) compound table.

Formula (I) Compound Table

[4-Chloro-2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -phenyl- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl) -amine

(4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl)-[2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -phenyl] amine

[4-Nitro-2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -phenyl- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl) -amine

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

3,4,5-Trifluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

Sodium 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoate

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzoic acid

4-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

5-Iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

2,3,5-Trifluoro-4- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

2- (4-Iodo-phenylamino) -5-methoxy-benzoic acid

5-Methyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-nitro-benzoic acid

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-fluoro-benzoic acid

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzoic acid

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-benzoic acid

5-Chloro-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-benzamide

N-ethyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N, N-dimethyl-benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N, N-dimethyl-benzamide

[5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoylamino] -acetic acid

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-propyl-benzamide

5-Bromo-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N, N-diethyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz amides

N, N-diethyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

N-Butyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N, N-diethyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N, N-dimethyl-benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- (2,3-dihydroxy-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- (2,3-Dihydroxy-propyl) -4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-2-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

N- (3-Dimethylamino-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-benzyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-thiophen-2-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-ylmethyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-phenethyl-benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-thiophen-2-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-phenethyl-benzamide

2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl)-benzamide

5-Chloro-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz amides

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N-pyridin-4-yl methyl-benzamide

5-Bromo-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz amides

5-Chloro-N- (2-diethylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

(3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-[5-nitro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl] -methanone

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N- (2-diethylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-ethyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N- (3-diethylamino-2-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N- (3-diethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N- (2-diisopropylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperazin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

N- (2-Diethylamino-ethyl) -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

5-Fluoro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- (3-Diethylamino-propyl) -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- (3-Diethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

[5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl]-(2 or 3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl) -methanone

5-Bromo-N- (2-diisopropylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

[5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl]-[4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl) -methanone

N- (3-Diethylamino-2-hydroxy-propyl) -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-cyclopropyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-benzyloxy-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-benzyloxy-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-ethyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-5-nitro-N-phenyl-benzamide

5-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide

N-allyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-benzyloxy-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

N-allyl-5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

5-Bromo-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide

5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

N-allyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

N-allyl-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -benzamide

N-cyclopropyl-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide

N-benzyloxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

N-cyclohexyl-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-allyl-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -benzamide

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -5-nitro-benzamide

5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide

N-cyclohexyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N-cyclohexyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N-cyclohexyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -benzamide

N-cyclohexyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

N-benzyloxy-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-benzyloxy-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-5-nitro-N-phenyl-benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide

N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-allyl-5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide

N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

5-Fluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-cyclopropyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

N-allyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-benzyloxy-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-allyl-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide

N-allyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzyl alcohol

[5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl] -methanol

[2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-phenyl] -methanol

[5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl] -methanol

       N-allyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide.

In another preferred embodiment, the MEK inhibitor is a compound of formula II.

In formula (II), R _1a is hydrogen, hydroxy, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkoxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, or CN. R _2a is hydrogen. Each of R _3a , R _4a , and R _5a is hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkoxy, nitro, CN, and (O or NH) _m − (CH ₂ ) _n -R _9a is independently selected. R _9a is hydrogen, hydroxy, CO ₂ H or NR _10a R _11a ; n is 0-4; m is 0 or 1; Each R _10a and R _11a is independently hydrogen or C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, or 1, 2 or 3 selected from O, S, NH, or N- (C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl) with the nitrogen to which they are attached 3- to 10-membered cyclic rings optionally containing two additional hetero atoms may be formed. R _6a is hydrogen, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, (CO)-(C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl), aryl, aralkyl, or C ₃ -C ₁₀ cycloalkyl. R _7a represents a hetero atom selected from hydrogen, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl, C ₃ -C ₁₀ (cycloalkyl, or O, S, or NR _9a Optionally containing cycloalkyl). In formula (II), the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heterocyclic and alkynyl groups are unsubstituted or halo, hydroxy, C ₁ -C ₆ alkoxy, amino, nitro, C ₁ -C ₄ alkylamino, di ( C ₁ -C ₄ ) alkylamino, C ₃ -C ₆ cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, C ₃ -C ₅ heteroaryl, or C ₃ -C ₅ heteroaryloxy; Or R _6a and R _7a together with N to which they are attached will form a 5- to 10-membered cyclic ring optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional hetero atoms selected from O, S, or NR _10a R _11a Can be. The invention also includes pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, amides or prodrugs of each of the taught compounds.

Preferred embodiments of formula (II) are: (a) R _1a is H, methyl, fluoro, or chloro; (b) R _2a is H; R _3a , R _4a , and R _5a are each H, Cl, nitro, or F; (c) R _6a is H; (d) R _7a is methyl, ethyl, 2-propenyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopropylmethyl, or cyclopropylethyl; (e) the 4 'position is I rather than Br; (f) R _4a is a para position for CO-NR _6a -OR _7a and a 4 position F for meta crosslinking nitrogen; (f) R _3a or R _5a is F; (g) at least one R _3a , R _4a , and R _5a is F; (h) R _1a is methyl or chloro; Or (i) structures which are a combination of the foregoing.

In a more preferred embodiment the MEK inhibitor is a compound selected from the table of formula (II).

Formula (II) Compound Table

4-Fluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (methoxy) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-phenoxyethoxy) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-thienylmethoxy) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-enyloxy) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopropylmethoxy) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopentoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-furylmethoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-ethoxy-benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-2-enyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopropylmethoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (1-methylprop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-phenylprop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-5-phenylpent-2-ene-4-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (propoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclobutyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-thienylmethoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-methyl-prop-2-enyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-phenoxyethoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-2-enyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-3-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopentyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3- (2-fluorophenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (n-propoxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N- (furan-3-ylmethoxy) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N- (but-2-enyloxy) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N-butoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-but-2-enyloxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-pent-2-en-4-ynyloxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-benzyl) -N- [5- (3-methoxy-phenyl) -3-methyl-pent-2- En-4-ynyloxy] -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-ynyl oxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- [3- (3-methoxy-phenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy ] -Benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (thiophen-2-ylmethoxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (pyridin-3-ylmethoxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3- (2-fluorophenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy) -Benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (ethoxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopropylmethoxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (isopropoxy) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-3-ynyloxy) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy) -benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methoxy-benzamide

4-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-phenylmethoxy-benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-phenylmethoxy-benzamide

5-Fluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-phenylmethoxy-benzamide

5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-phenylprop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-furylmethoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-thienylmethoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-3-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-methyl-prop-2-enyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-2-enyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (methoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (ethoxy) -benzamide

3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclobutoxy) -benzamide

3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (isopropoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-phenoxyethoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopropylmethoxy) -benzamide

3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (n-propoxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (1-methyl-prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3- (3-fluorophenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4,4-dimethylpent-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide

3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopentoxy) -benzamide

3,4,5-Trifluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide

N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-nitro-benzamide

3,4,5-Trifluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide

5-Chloro-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

2- (2-Fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-nitro-benzamide

2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4,5-trifluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (2-bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-methyl-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4,5-trifluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-chloro-3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-nitro-benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide

3,4-Difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide

2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -4-fluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -4-fluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-cyclopropylmethoxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-nitro-benzamide

N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide

N-cyclopropylmethoxy-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -4-nitro-benzamide

2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluoro-benzamide

5-Chloro-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide

5-Bromo-2- (2-bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-ethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide

2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-ethoxy-4-nitro-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluoro-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-nitro-benzamide

N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide

N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide

2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluoro-benzamide

2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluoro-benzamide

2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide .

In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, a compound selected from the following is administered to a patient (ie, a mammal) in an amount effective to prevent or treat rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis:

2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide (PD184352); 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-fluorobenzamide (PD170611); 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide (PD171984); 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide (PD177168); 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclobutylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide (PD180841); 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide (PD 184161); 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide (PD184386); 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclobutylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide (PD185625); 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-fluorobenzamide (PD185848); 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide (PD188563); 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluorobenzamide (PD198306); And 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluorobenzamide (PD 203311); And benzoic acid derivatives thereof. For example, the benzoic acid derivative of PD 198306 is 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -3,4,5-trifluorobenzoic acid.

Further preferred compounds are 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -5-chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide (PD297189), 2- (4-ioo Dophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-5-chloro-3,4-difluorobenzamide (PD 297190), 2- (4-iodophenylamino) -5-chloro-3,4-di Fluorobenzoic acid (PD 296711), 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -5-chloro-3,4-difluorobenzoic acid (PD 296770), 5-chloro-3,4-difluoro Rho-2- (4-iodo-2-methylphenylamino) -benzoic acid (PD 296767); And 5-Chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methylphenylamino) -benzamide (PD ).

The invention also provides synthetic methods and synthetic intermediates.

Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent in the following detailed description, examples and claims.

The present invention provides a method of preventing or treating arthritis, comprising administering an effective arthritis amount of an MEK inhibitor to a patient suffering from arthritis and in need thereof or at risk of developing arthritis. The present invention provides a method for preventing and treating both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The present invention is preferably carried out by administering a phenyl amine MEK inhibitor of formula (I) or formula (II). Many of these MEK-inhibited phenyl amine compounds are specific or selective MEK 1 and MEK 2 inhibitors.

Selective MEK 1 or MEK 2 inhibitors do not substantially inhibit MEK 1 or MEK 2 enzymes without substantially inhibiting other enzymes such as MKK3, ERK, PKC, Cdk2A, phosphorylase kinase, EGF, and PDGF receptor kinase, and C-src. It is a compound that inhibits. Generally the IC ₅₀ for MEK 1 or MEK 2 of the selective MEK 1 or MEK 2 inhibitor is at least 1/50 of the IC ₅₀ for one of the other enzymes. To preferably, a selective inhibitor IC ₅₀ is at least 1/100, more preferably at least 1/500, and more preferably the IC ₅₀ for the one or more enzymes of is at least 1/1000, 1/5000 or less.

Mammals treated in accordance with the present invention are animals, for example horses and dogs, as well as humans who are suffering from arthritis, who suffer from pain and appearance associated with arthritis, or who are at risk of disease progression, eg, family history of arthritis . Those skilled in the medical field can easily determine individual patients suffering from arthritis as well as those who appear to develop the disease.

The term "patient" means all animals, including humans. Examples of patients include humans, cows, dogs, cats, goats, sheep, horses, and pigs.

Compounds of the present invention that can be used to treat sepsis are MEK inhibitors. MEK inhibitors are compounds that show MEK inhibition when tested in the assay titled "Enzyme Assay" described from column 6, 35 of US Pat. No. 5,525,625. The entire contents of US Pat. No. 5,525,625 are incorporated herein by reference. One of the MEK inhibitors is 2- (2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl) -4-oxo-4H- [1] benzopyran. In particular, the compound exhibits activity in an assay entitled “Cascade Assay for Inhibitors of the MAP Kinase Pathway” described in column 6, 36 to column 7, line 4 of US Pat. No. 5,525,625 and / or in the column of the patent The compound is a MEK inhibitor if it shows activity in the assay entitled "In Vitro MEK Assay" described in lines 7, 4 to 27.

A. Terminology

Some of the terms used herein are defined below along with their uses used throughout this specification.

As used herein, the term “aryl” means a cyclic, bicyclic, or tricyclic aromatic ring moiety having 5 to 12 carbon atoms. Examples of typical aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl, and fluorenyl. Aryl can be substituted with 1, 2 or 3 groups selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, nitro, amino, alkylamino, or dialkylamino. Typical substituted aryl groups include 3-fluorophenyl, 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl, 4-nitronaphthyl, 2-methyl-4-chloro-7-aminofluorenyl, and the like.

The term "aryloxy" means an aryl group which is bonded via an oxygen atom, for example phenoxy, 3-bromophenoxy, naphthyloxy, and 4-methyl-1-fluorenyloxy.

"Heteroaryl" means a cyclic, bicyclic, or tricyclic aromatic ring portion containing 4 to 11 carbon atoms and 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S, or N. Examples include furyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, xanthenyl, pyridyl, indolyl, pyrimidyl, naphthyridyl, pyridyl, benzimidazolyl, And triazinyl. Heteroaryl groups can be unsubstituted or substituted with 1, 2, or 3 groups selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, nitro, amino, alkylamino, or dialkylamino. Examples of substituted heteroaryl groups include chloropyranyl, methylthienyl, fluoropyridyl, amino-1,4-benzisoxazinyl, nitroisoquinolinyl, and hydroxyindolyl.

Heteroaryl groups can be bonded through oxygen to form heteroaryloxy groups such as thienyloxy, isothiazolyloxy, benzofuranyloxy, pyridyloxy, and 4-methylisoquinolinyloxy.

The term "alkyl" refers to straight and branched aliphatic groups. Typical alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t-butyl, 2,3-dimethylhexyl and 1,1-dimethylpentyl. Alkyl groups may be unsubstituted or substituted by halo, hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, cycloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl, or heteroaryloxy, these terms being defined herein As shown. Typical substituted alkyl groups include chloromethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, 2-dimethylaminobutyl, and 2- (hydroxymethylamino) ethyl. Examples of aryl and aryloxy substituted alkyl groups are phenylmethyl, 2-phenylethyl, 3-chlorophenylmethyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3- (2-nitrophenoxy) butyl, and 3,4,5-trifluoro Ronaphthylmethyl. Examples of alkyl groups substituted by heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy groups include thienylmethyl, 2-furylethyl, 6-furyloxyoctyl, 4-methylquinolyloxymethyl, and 6-isothiazolylhexyl. Cycloalkyl substituted alkyl groups include cyclopropylmethyl, 2-cyclohexylethyl, piperidyl-2-methyl, 2- (piperidin-1-yl) -ethyl, 3- (morpholin-4-yl) propyl do.

"Alkenyl" means a straight or branched carbon chain having one or more double bonds. Examples are but-2-ethyl, 2-methyl-prop-2-enyl, 1,1-dimethyl-4-hex-4-enyl, 3-ethyl-4-methyl-pent-2-enyl, and 3- Isopropyl-pent-4-enyl. Alkenyl groups may be substituted by halo, hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl, or heteroyloxy, for example 2-bromoethenyl, 3- Hydroxy-2-butenyl, 1-aminoethenyl, 3-phenylprop-2-enyl, 6-thiethyl-hex-2-enyl, 2-furyloxy-but-2-enyl, and 4-naph Yloxy-hex-2-enyl.

"Alkynyl" means a straight or branched carbon chain having at least one triple bond. Typical alkynyl groups include prop-2-ynyl, 2-methyl-hex-5-ynyl, 3,4-dimethyl-hex-5-ynyl, and 2-ethyl-but-3-ynyl. Alkynyl groups can be substituted, such as alkyl and alkenyl groups, for example by aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl, or heteroaryloxy, for example 4- (2-fluorophenyl) -but-3-ynyl , 3-methyl-5-thienylpent-4-ynyl, 3-phenoxy-hex-4-ynyl, and 2-furyloxy-3-methyl-hex-4-ynyl.

Alkenyl and alkynyl groups may have one or more double or triple bonds, respectively, or may have a combination of double and triple bonds. For example, typical groups having both double bonds and triple bonds are hex-2-en-4-ynyl, 3-methyl-5-phenylpent-2-en-4-ynyl, and 3-thienyloxy-hex- 3-ene-5-ynyl.

The term "cycloalkyl" means a non-aromatic ring or a fused ring. Examples include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclooctyl, bicycloheptyl, adamantyl, and cyclohexyl. The ring may optionally contain 1, 2, or 3 hetero atoms selected from O, S, or N. Such groups include tetrahydrofuryl, tetrahydropyrrolyl, octahydrobenzofuranyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, octahydroindolyl, and octahydrobenzothiofuranyl. Cycloalkyl groups can be substituted with the same substituents as alkyl and alkenyl groups, such as halo, hydroxy, aryl, and heteroaryloxy. Examples include 3-hydroxycyclohexyl, 2-aminocyclopropyl, 2-phenylpyrrolidinyl, and 3-thienylmorpholin-1-yl.

B. Administration and Formulation

The MEK inhibitor of the method may be administered to the patient as part of a pharmaceutically acceptable composition. The compositions may be administered to humans and animals, orally, rectally, parenterally (intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously), subretinal algae, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, in bladder, topically (powder, ointment, or drop). Or as an oral or nasal spray.

Compositions suitable for parenteral injection can include physiologically acceptable sterile aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions, and sterile powders for restoration to sterile injectable solutions or dispersions. Examples of suitable aqueous and non-aqueous carriers, diluents, solvents, or vehicles include, but are not limited to, water, ethanol, polyols (propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils (such as olive oil), and injectable organics Esters such as ethyl oleate. Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, using a coating such as lecithin, in the case of dispersions to maintain the required particle size, and using surfactants.

These compositions may also contain auxiliaries such as preservatives, wetting, emulsifying and adjuvant. Prevention of microbial action can be ensured by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid and the like. It is also preferred to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, sodium chloride and the like. Delayed absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form can be achieved by using drugs that delay absorption, such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Solid dosage forms for oral administration include capsules, tablets, pills, powders, and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the active compound is at least one conventional inert excipient (or carrier) such as sodium citrate, or dicalcium phosphate, or (a) a filler or extender such as starch, lactose, sucrose, Glucose, mannitol, and silicic acid, (b) binders such as carboxymethylcellulose, alginate, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sucrose, and acacia, (c) curb agents such as glycerol, (d) disintegrants, for example agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain complex silicates, sodium carbonate, (e) solution coagulation retardants such as paraffin, (f) absorption accelerators, for example Quaternary ammonium compounds, (g) wetting agents such as cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate, (h) absorbents such as kaolin and bentonite, and (i) lubricants such as talc, calcium stearate, stearic acid magnesite Mixed with calcium, solid polyethylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, or mixtures thereof. In the case of capsules, tablets, and pills, the dosage form may also include a buffer.

Solid compositions of a similar type may also be used as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules using excipients such as lactose or lactose and high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.

Solid dosage forms such as tablets, sugars, capsules, pills, and granules can be prepared by coatings and shells such as enteric skin and other known in the art. They may contain milky agents and may also be compositions which release the active compound or compounds in a delayed manner in certain parts of the intestine. Encapsulation compositions that can be used are polymeric substances and waxes. The active compound may also be in micro-encapsulated form, with one or more such excipients as appropriate.

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, liquid dosage forms include inert diluents commonly used in the art, such as water or other solvents, solubilizers and emulsifiers, for example ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl Alcohols, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethylformamide, oils, in particular cottonseed oil, peanut oil, corn sprout oil, olive oil, castor oil, and sesame oil, glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohols, polyethylene glycols, fatty acid esters of sorbitan, mixtures of these substances, and the like.

In addition to the inert diluent, the composition may also include auxiliaries such as wetting agents, emulsifiers and suspending agents, sweetening agents, flavoring agents and flavoring agents.

Suspensions are added to the active compounds, suspending agents such as ethoxylated isostearyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene sorbitol and sorbitan esters, microcrystalline cellulose, aluminum metahydroxide, bentonite, agar and tragacanth, or Mixtures of these substances and the like.

Compositions for rectal administration are preferably suppositories, which are suitable non-irritating excipients or carriers, such as coconut butter, which dissolve in the anus or vaginal cavity to release the active compounds, which are solid at room temperature or liquid at body temperature. It can be prepared by mixing with polyethylene glycol, or suppository wax.

Dosage forms for topical administration of a compound of this invention include ointments, powders, sprays and inhalants. The active compound is mixed with physiologically acceptable carriers under sterile conditions and may require any preservatives, buffers, or propellants. Eye preparations, eye ointments, powders and solutions are also within the scope of the present invention.

Compounds of the invention can be administered to a patient at a dosage level in the range of about 0.1 to 1000 mg per day. For average adults weighing about 70 kg, dosages in the range of 0.01 to about 100 mg per kg body weight per day are preferred. However, the specific dosage used may vary. For example, the dosage may depend on several factors, including the patient's need, the severity of the condition to be treated, and the pharmacological activity of the compound used. Determination of the optimal dosage for a particular patient is known to those skilled in the art.

The compounds of the method may be administered as pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, amides, or prodrugs. As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, amides and prodrugs” is within the scope of sound medical judgment and is suitable for contact with the patient's tissue without inappropriate toxicity, irritation, allergic reactions, and the like. Carboxylate salts, amino acid addition salts, esters, amides, and prodrugs of the compounds of the present invention, where the benefit / risk ratio is reasonable and effective for their intended use, and, where appropriate, zwitterionic forms of the compounds of the present invention Refers to. The term "salt" refers to the relatively non-toxic, inorganic and organic acid addition salts of the compounds of the present invention. These salts may be prepared in situ during the final separation and purification steps of the present invention, or may be prepared by reacting a purified compound in free base form with an appropriate organic or inorganic acid and then separating the salts thus formed. Representative salts are hydrobromide, hydrochloride, sulfate, bisulfate, nitrate, acetate, oxalate, valerate, oleate, palmitate, stearate, laurate, borate, benzoate, lactate, phosphate, tosyl Latex, citrate, maleate, fumarate, succinate, tartrate, naphthylate, mesylate, glucoheptonate, lacthiobionate and laurylsulfonate salts and the like. These are cations based on alkali and alkaline earth metals such as sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the like, and include, but are not limited to, ammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, triethyl Non-toxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations including amines, ethylamines, and the like. (See, eg, SM Berge et al . , "Pharmaceutical Salts", J. Pharm. Sci. , 1977; 66: 1-19, which is incorporated herein by reference. .)

Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable, non-toxic esters of the compounds of the present invention include C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl esters wherein the alkyl group is straight or branched. Acceptable esters also include C ₅ -C ₇ cycloalkyl esters and aralkyl esters such as, but not limited to benzyl. Preference is given to C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl esters. Esters of the compounds of the present invention can be prepared according to conventional methods.

Examples of non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable amides of the compounds of the invention are the amides derived from ammonia, alkyl groups are straight or branched chain of a primary C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl amines and secondary C ₁ -C ₆ dialkyl amine Include. In the case of secondary amines the amines may also be in the form of five or six membered heterocycles containing one nitrogen atom. Preferred are amides derived from ammonia, C ₁ -C ₃ alkyl primary amines and C ₁ -C ₂ dialkyl secondary amines. Amides of the compounds of the present invention can be prepared according to conventional methods.

The term “prodrug” refers to a compound that is rapidly modified in vivo, for example by hydrolysis in blood, to form the parent compound of the above formula. The overall description is tee. Higuchi and V. V. Stella, "Pro-drugs as Novel Delivery Systems", Vol. 14, ACS Symposium Series], and Edward Bee. Provided by Edward B. Roche, Bioversible Carriers in Drug Design , American Pharmaceutical Association and Pergamon Press, 1987, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In addition, the compounds of the present invention may exist in solvated forms with unsolvated and pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water, ethanol and the like. In general, the solvated forms are considered equivalent to the unsolvated forms for the purposes of the present invention.

Some of the compounds of the present invention may exist in various stereoisomeric forms by the presence of chiral centers. Mixtures thereof, including all stereoisomers and racemic mixtures of the compounds of the present invention, are also considered to be part of the present invention.

C. Synthesis

The following examples are intended to illustrate certain embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way including the claims. After the priority date of the present specification, relevant synthesis and MEK inhibition data were also published in WO 99/01421 and WO 99/01426, which are incorporated by reference.

2- (4-Bromo and 4-iodo phenylamino) -benzoic acid derivatives of formula (I) can be prepared from commercially available starting materials using synthetic methodologies known to the organic chemist. Typical synthesis is carried out by reacting 4-bromo or 4-iodoaniline with benzoic acid having a leaving group at the 2-position to yield 2- (phenylamino) -benzoic acid. This reaction is shown in Scheme 1.

In the above scheme, L is a leaving group, for example halo such as fluoro.

Reactions of aniline and benzoic acid derivatives generally involve benzoic acid in an equimolar or excess of aniline with an unreactive organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran or toluene, such as a base such as lithium diisopropylamide, n-butyl lithium, sodium hydride, It is carried out by mixing in the presence of triethylamine, and Honey's base. The reaction is generally carried out at a temperature of about -78 ° C to about 100 ° C and is usually completed within about 2 hours to about 4 days. The product can be separated by removing the solvent, for example by evaporation under reduced pressure, and if desired can be further purified by standard methods such as chromatography, crystallization, or distillation.

2- (phenylamino) -benzoic acid (e.g., Formula I wherein R ₇ is hydrogen) reacts with an organic or inorganic base such as pyridine, triethylamine, calcium carbonate, or sodium hydroxide to form a pharmaceutically acceptable salt Can be generated. The free acid can also be reacted with an alcohol of the formula HOR ₇ , wherein R ₇ is other than hydrogen, for example methyl, to produce the corresponding ester. The reaction of benzoic acid with the alcohol can be carried out in the presence of a coupling agent. Typical coupling agents include 2-ethoxy-1-ethoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), bromo-tris (pyrrolidino) -Phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBrOP), and (benzotriazolyloxy) tripyrrolidino phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBOP). Phenylamino benzoic acid and alcohol derivatives are usually mixed in approximately equimolar amounts in an unreactive organic solvent such as dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, or xylene and equimolar amounts of coupling agent are added. If desired, a base such as triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine can be added to act as an acid scavenger. The coupling reaction is generally completed in about 10 minutes to 2 hours, and the product can be easily separated by removing the reaction solvent, for example by reduced pressure evaporation, and with chromatography or acetone, diethyl ether, or ethanol The product can be purified by standard methods such as recrystallization from the same solvent.

Benzamides of the invention of formula (I) wherein Z is CONR ₆ R ₇ are readily prepared by reacting the benzoic acid with an amine of formula HNR ₆ R ₇ . The reaction is carried out by reacting approximately equimolar amounts of benzoic acid and amine in the presence of a coupling agent in an unreactive organic solvent. Typical solvents are chloroform, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, benzene, toluene, and xylene. Typical coupling agents include DCC, EEDQ, PyBrOP, and PyBOP. The reaction is generally complete after about 10 minutes to about 2 hours when performed at a temperature of about 0 ° C to about 60 ° C. The product amide can be easily separated by removing the reaction solvent, for example by evaporation, and subsequent purification can be carried out by conventional methods such as chromatography, crystallization, or distillation. Hydrazide (Z = CONHNR ₁₀ R ₁₁ ) is prepared by similarly coupling benzoic acid with hydrazine of the formula H ₂ HNR ₁₀ R ₁₁ .

Benzyl alcohols of the invention, wherein Z is CH ₂ OR ₆ and R ₆ is hydrogen, are readily prepared by reducing the corresponding benzoic acid according to Scheme 2 below.

Typical reducing agents commonly used include boranes in tetrahydrofuran. The reduction is usually carried out in an unreactive organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran and is generally complete within about 2 hours to about 24 hours when performed at a temperature of about 0 ° C to about 40 ° C.

The following detailed examples describe certain compounds provided by the present invention.

Example 1

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methylphenylamino) benzoic acid

2.0 in tetrahydrofuran / heptane / ethylbenzene (Aldrich) solution at −78 ° C. in a stirred solution containing 3.16 g (0.0133 mol) of 2-amino-5-iodotoluene in 5 mL of tetrahydrofuran. 10 mL (0.020 mol) of M lithium diisopropylamide was added. After the resulting green suspension was vigorously stirred for 15 minutes, a solution of 1.00 g (0.00632 mol) of 2,4-difluorobenzoic acid in 10 mL of tetrahydrofuran was added. The reaction temperature was slowly raised to room temperature and then stirred at this temperature for 2 days. The reaction mixture was concentrated. Aqueous HCl (10%) was added to the concentrate and the solution was extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase was dried (MgSO ₄ ) and boiled in a steam bath to reduce volume and cool to room temperature. The off-white fiber was collected by vacuum filtration, washed with hexane and vacuum-oven dried (76 ° C .; ca. 10 mm Hg) to yield 1.10 g (47%) of the desired material;

mp 224-229.5 ° C;

¹ H NMR (400 MHz; DMSO): δ9.72 (s, 1H), 7.97 (dd, 1H, J = 7.0, 8.7 Hz), 7.70 (d, 1H, J = 1.5 Hz), 7.57 (dd, 1H , J = 8.4, 1.9 Hz), 7.17 (d, 1H, J = 8.2 Hz), 6.61-6.53 (m, 2H), 2.18 (s, 3H);

¹³ C NMR (100 MHz; DMSO): δ 169.87, 167.60, 165.12, 150.17, 150.05, 139.83, 138.49, 136.07, 135.31, 135.20, 135.07, 125.60, 109.32, 105.09, 104.87, 99,72, 99.46, 89.43, 17.52;

¹⁹ F NMR (376 MHz; DMSO): δ-104.00 to -104.07 (m);

IR (KBr) 1670 (C = O Stretch) cm ⁻¹ ;

MS (CI) M + 1 = 372.

Analytical calculations for C ₁₄ H ₁₁ FINO ₂ :

C, 45.31; H, 2.99; N 3.77.

Found: C, 45.21; H 2.77; N, 3.64.

Example 2-30

According to the general method of Example 1, the following benzoic acid of formula (I) and salts thereof were prepared.

 Example No. Compound MP ℃

2 3,4,5-trifluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla 206-210

Mino) -benzoic acid

3 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) 240.5-244.5

-Benzoic acid

4 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-259.5-262

Phenylamino) -benzoic acid

5 5-chloro-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino)-255-260

Benzoic acid

6 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)-234-238

Benzoic acid

7 Sodium 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla 310-320 DEC

Mino) -Benzoate

8 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)-239.5-240

Benzoic acid

9 2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-nitro-289-293

Benzoic acid

10 4-fluoro-2- (3-fluoro-4-iodo-2-methyl- 233-235

Phenylamino) -benzoic acid                 

11 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-264-267

Benzoic acid

12 2- (2-Fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-nit 256-258

Ro-benzoic acid

13 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-fluoro 218.5-220

-Benzoic acid

14 2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-nitro 285-288 DEC

-Benzoic acid

15 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-diflu 230-234

Oro-benzoic acid

16 3-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) 218-221

-Benzoic acid

17 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methoxy-phenyl 230-233

Amino) -benzoic acid

18 4-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)-245-255 DEC

Benzoic acid

19 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid 218-223

20 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)-243-46

Benzoic acid

21 5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid 241-245                 

22 2,3,5-trifluoro-4- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamini 218-222

No) -benzoic acid

23 4-Fluoro-2- (3-chloro-4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamini 248-252.5

No) -benzoic acid

24 2- (4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-methoxy-benzoic acid 208-211

25 3-Chloro-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzoic acid 232-233

26 2-Fluoro-6- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid 179-182

27 4-Fluoro-2- (2,3-dimethyl-4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamini 258-261

No) benzoic acid

28 5-Methyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid 209.5-211

29 2-Chloro-6- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid 171-175

30 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-nitro-benzoic acid 251-263

Example 31

5-Chloro-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

0.1020 g (0.2632 mmol) of 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid, 0.1 mL (in 5 mL of 1: 1 (v / v) tetrahydrofuran-dichloromethane solution) 0.15 g (0.29 mmol) of solid PyBOP powder was added directly to a stirred solution containing 1.7 mmol) of ethanolamine, and 0.05 mL (0.29 mmol) of diisopropylethylamine. The reaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight. The solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude residue was partitioned between ether (50 mL) and 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid (50 mL). The organic phase was washed with 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide (50 mL), dried (MgSO ₄ ) and concentrated in vacuo to give a tan oil which was crystallized from hexane-ether to give 0.0831 g (73%) of greenish yellow powder; mp 120-121 ° C .;

¹ H NMR (400 MHz; CDCl ₃ ): δ9.11 (s, 1H), 7.56 (d, 1H, J = 1.4 Hz), 7.46-7.41 (m, 2H), 7.20 (dd, 1H, J = 8.9 , 2.4Hz), 7.00 (t, 2H, J = 9.6Hz), 6.55 (br t, 1H), 3.86 (t, 2H, J = 5.0Hz), 3.61 (dd, 2H, J = 10.1, 5.5Hz) , 2.23 (s, 3 H), 1.56 (br s, 1 H);

IR (KBr) 3297 (OH stretch), 1627 (C═O stretch) cm ⁻¹ ;

MS (CI) M + 1 = 431.

Analytical calcd. For C ₁₆ H ₁₆ ClIN ₂ O ₂ :

C, 44.62; H, 3. 74; N 6.50.

Found: C, 44.63; H, 3.67; N, 6.30.

Example 32-48

According to the general method of Example 31, the following benzamide was prepared by reacting the corresponding benzoic acid with the corresponding amine.

 Example No. Compound MP ℃

32 4-methoxy-N- (4-methoxy-phenyl) -3-nitro-benzamide 153.5-156                 

33 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-methyl) -phenylamino) -benzia 158

mid

34 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-meth 102.5-104.5

Teal-benzamide

35 N-ethyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) 90-91

-Benzamide

36 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N, N- oil

Dimethyl-benzamide

37 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-285-288 DEC

(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -benzamide

38 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz 180-182

amides

39 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N, N- 137-138

Dimethyl-benzamide

40 [5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoyl 170-173

Amino] -acetic acid

41 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- 69-71

Propyl-Benzamide

42 5-Bromo-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-132-133.4

Phenylamino) -benzamide                 

43 N, N-diethyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla oil

Mino) -Benzamide

44 4-Fluoro-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazine 122-124

-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)

-Benzamide

45 N, N-diethyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5- 91-93

Nitro-benzamide

46 N-butyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)-97-99

Benzamide

47 5-Chloro-N, N-diethyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) 118-120

-Benzamide

48 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N, N- 142.5-144

            Dimethyl-benzamide

Example 49

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzyl alcohol

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid (0.50 g, 1.35 mmol) was added to 6 mL (6 mmol) of the cold 1.0 M borane-tetrahydrofuran complex in tetrahydrofuran solution. Dissolved. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction was terminated with 80 mL of methanol. Concentration in vacuo afforded a clear tan oil which was purified by MPLC. Eluting with dichloromethane gave 0.4285 g (89%) of a white solid; mp 99-100.5 ° C .;

¹ H NMR (400 MHz; DMSO): δ 7.57 (d, 1H, J = 1.7 Hz), 7.45 (dd, 1H, J = 8.4, 1.9 Hz), 7.39 (s, 1H), 7.29 (t, 1H , J = 7.5Hz), 6.89 (d, 1H, J = 8.4Hz), 6.67-6.60 (m, 1H), 5.47 (t, 1H, J = 5.5Hz), 4.49 (d, 2H, 5.1Hz), 2.14 (s, 3 H);

IR (KBr) 3372 (OH stretch) cm ^-1 ;

MS (CI) M + 1 = 358.

Analytical calculations for C ₁₄ H ₁₃ FINO:

C, 47.08; H, 3.67; N 3.92.

Found: C, 47.17; H 3.75; N, 3.72.

Example 50-52

According to the general method of Example 49, the following benzyl alcohols were prepared.

 Example No. Compound MP ℃

50 [5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl]-82-85

Methanol

51 [2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-phenyl] -126.5-128.5

Methanol

52 [5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl] -60.5-63.5

            Methanol

Some compounds of the invention of formula (I) were prepared using combinatorial synthesis techniques. The general method is as follows:

To a 0.8-mL autosampler vial in a metal block was added 40 μL of a 0.5 M solution of acid in DMF and 40 μL of reagent amine (2 M solution in honeybase and 1 M in amine in DMF). A 0.5 M solution of PyBrop was prepared fresh and 50 μL was added to the autosampler vial. The reaction was carried out for 24 hours.

The reaction mixture was transferred to a 2-dram vial and diluted with 2 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with 3 mL of distilled water and the aqueous layer was washed again with 2 mL of acetate. The combined organic layers were evaporated to dryness in an open smoke hood.

The residue was taken up in 50% acetonitrile in 2 mL of water and injected into a semi-prep reversed phase column (10 mm x 25 cm, 5 μM spherical silica, pore size 115 A derived from C-18, sample was 4.7 mL / min by linear ramp) Eluted with 100% acetonitrile for 8.5 minutes, eluting with 100% acetonitrile continued for 8 minutes). Fractions were collected by monitoring at 214 nM. The residue was dissolved in chloroform and transferred to a pre-weighed vial, evaporated and then weighed again to determine yield.

Example 53-206

Prepared by a process combining the following compounds of formula (I):

 Example No. Compound MS M-H

53 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -510                 

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

54 N- (2,3-dihydroxy-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4- 462

Iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

55 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 577

Amino) -N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

56 3,4-Difluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-432

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

57 N- (2,3-dihydroxy-propyl) -4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo 444

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

58 3,4-Difluoro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo 446

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

59 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-yodo-2--2-methyl-phenyla 564

Mino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

60 5-Bromo-3,4, -difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla 571

Mino) -N- (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

61 4-Fluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-414

Phenylamino) -benzamide

62 5-Bromo-N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -3,4, -difluoro 551

-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

63 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamini 580                 

No) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

64 3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-501

(2-Morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

65 3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-485

(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl) -benzamide

66 3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-493

(2-Pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

67 N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4- 473

Iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

68 N-benzyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)-460

Benzamide

69 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-384

(2-hydroxy-ethyl) -benzamide

70 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2- 483

Morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

71 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3- 495

Piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

72 3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-513

(3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

73 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-T 480                 

Offen-2-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

74 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-P 467

Ralidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

75 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2 453

-Morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

76 5-Bromo-3,4, -difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla 557

Mino) -N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

77 3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-479

Pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

78 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-dimethylamino-425

Propyl) -3,4-difluoro-benzamide

79 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-461

Pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

80 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-475

Pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

81 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-445

(2-Pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

82 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-400

(3-hydroxy-propyl) -benzamide

83 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-437                 

(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

84 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-phenethyl 474

-Benzamide

85 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-450

(2-thiophen-2-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

86 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4, -difluoro-N-431

Pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

87 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-444

Phenethyl-benzamide

88 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-451

(2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

89 5-Chloro-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -557 *

Propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

90 5-fluoro-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl]-541 *

Propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

91 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N-pyridine-4- 487

Methyl-benzamide

92 5-Bromo-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -601 *

Propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

93 5-chloro-N- (2-diethylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-486 *                 

Phenylamino) -benzamide

94 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperidine 497 *

-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

95 (3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-[2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 466

Amino) -5-nitro-phenyl] -methanone

96 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrroli 484 *

Din-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

97 5-Bromo-N- (2-diethylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl 530 *

Phenylamino) -benzamide

98 N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -5-chloro- 518 *

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

99 N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -5-bromo-562 *

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

100 [5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl]-(3- 499

Hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl) -methanone

101 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzoic acid 501

Phenethyl ester

102 N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} 568 *

-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

103 [5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl]-455                 

(3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl) -methanone

104 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-460

Pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide

105 5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-528 *

Pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

106 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-542 *

Piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

107 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-468 *

(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

108 5-chloro-N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo 472 *

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

109 N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -5-flu 502 *

Oro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

110 5-chloro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl 445 *

-Phenylamino) -benzamide

111 5-Chloro-N- (3-diethylamino-2-hydroxy-propyl) -2- 516 *

(4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

112 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-P 482 *

Ferridin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

113 5-Bromo-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl 489 *                 

-Phenylamino) -benzamide

114 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-pipe 556 *

Ridin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

115 N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -2- (4- 529 *

Iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

116 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-500 *

Morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

117 5-Chloro-N- (3-diethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo 500 *

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

118 5-chloro-N- (2-diisopropylamino-ethyl) 514 *

-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

119 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-512 *

Piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

120 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (2-509 *

Piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

121 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2- 544 *

Piperazin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

122 N- (2-diethylamino-ethyl) -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo 470 *

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

123 5-Bromo-N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo 516 *                 

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

124 N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 456 *

Mino) -5-nitro-benzamide

125 5-Fluoro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-429 *

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

126 N- (3-diethylamino-propyl) -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo 484 *

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

127 N- (3-diethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-511 *

Phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

128 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-544 *

(2-Morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

129 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N-523 *

(3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

130 [5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -439

Phenyl]-(3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl) -methanone

131 5-Bromo-N- (2-diisopropylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-558 *

Iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

132 5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- 484 *

(2-Morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

133 5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-496 *                 

(3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide

134 [5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)-482

Phenyl]-[4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -methanone

135 N- (3-diethylamino-2-hydroxy-propyl) -5-fluoro 500 *

-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

136 [5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -443

Benzoylamino] -acetic acid

137 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N-495 *

(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide

138 N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-483 *

Phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide

139 N- (2-diisopropylamino-ethyl) -5-fluoro-2- (4- 498 *

Iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

140 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -thio 490

Benzoic acid S-phenethyl ester

141 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -thio 506

Benzoic acid S-phenethyl ester

142 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -thio 536

Benzoic acid S-benzyl ester

143 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-thio 503                 

Benzoic acid S-benzyl ester

144 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -thio 476

Benzoic acid S-benzyl ester

145 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -thio 492

Benzoic acid S-benzyl ester

146 N-cyclopropyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-409

Phenylamino) -benzamide

147 5-Chloro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-429

Methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

148 5-Fluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-413

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

149 N-benzyloxy-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 475

Amino) -benzamide

150 N-benzyloxy-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla 593 *

Mino) -Benzamide

151 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (4-567

Sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

152 5-Bromo-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-me 473

Tyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

153 N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-meth 521                 

Tyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

154 N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamini 440

No) -5-nitro-benzamide

155 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-5-nitro- 486

N-phenyl-benzamide

156 5-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 425

Amino) -benzamide

157 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl 459

-N-phenyl-benzamide

158 N-allyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -409

Benzamide

159 N-benzyloxy-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) 583

-Benzamide

160 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfa 538

Moyl-benzyl) -benzamide

161 N-allyl-5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -425

Benzamide

162 N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-436

Nitro-benzamide

163 5-Bromo-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 469                 

Amino) -benzamide

164 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-475

N-phenyl-benzamide

165 5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-646

Sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

166 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-598

Sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

167 N-allyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-436

Benzamide

168 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (4-565

Sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

169 N-allyl-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -469

Benzamide

170 5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3- 473

Methyl-benzyl) -benzamide

171 N-cyclopropyl-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 517

Amino) -benzamide

172 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-519

N-phenyl-benzamide

173 N-benzyloxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro 502                 

-Benzamide

174 N-cyclohexyl-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) 559

-Benzamide

175 N-allyl-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -517

Benzamide

176 5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl 581

-Benzyl) -benzamide

177 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -5- 500

Nitro-benzamide

178 5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-567

Phenyl-benzamide

179 N-cyclohexyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamini 451

No) -benzamide

180 5-chloro-N-cyclohexyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylami 467

No) -benzamide

181 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-533

Benzyl) -benzamide

182 5-Bromo-N-cyclohexyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamini 511

No) -benzamide

183 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl 489                 

-Benzyl) -benzamide

184 N-cyclohexyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nit 478

Low-benzamide

185 N-benzyloxy-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -538

Benzamide

186 N-benzyloxy-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamini 477

No) -benzamide

187 5-Chloro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-431

Phenylamino) -benzamide

188 5-Bromo-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-475

Phenylamino) -benzamide

189 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-5-nitro-488

N-phenyl-benzamide

190 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-477

N-phenyl-benzamide

191 N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-523

-Phenylamino) -benzamide

192 5-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 425

Amino) -benzamide

193 N-allyl-5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -427                 

Benzamide

194 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl 461

-N-phenyl-benzamide

195 N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -442

5-nitro-benzamide

196 5-Fluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-415

Phenylamino) -benzamide

197 5-Bromo-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylami 472

No) -benzamide

198 N-cyclopropyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla 411

Mino) -Benzamide

199 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfa 540

Moyl-benzyl) -benzamide

200 N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-yodo-2--2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-438

Nitro-benzamide

201 N-allyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -411

Benzamide

202 N-benzyloxy-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) 585

-Benzamide

203 N-allyl-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -472                 

Benzamide

204 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sul 601

Pamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide

205 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl 522

-N-phenyl-benzamide

206 N-allyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro 438

      -Benzamide

* M + H

Example 207

Preparation of [4-Chloro-2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-(4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl) -amine

Step a: Preparation of 5-chloro-2-fluoro-benzaldehyde

To a solution of 1-chloro-4-fluorobenzene (13.06 g, 0.1 mol) in THF (180 mL) was added dropwise LDA (2M solution in THF, 50 mL, 0.1 mol) at -78 ° C. After stirring at −78 ° C. for 1.5 h, DMF (8 mL) was added to the reaction mixture and the temperature was raised to room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was partitioned between water and Et ₂ O. The Et ₂ O layer was dried (MgSO ₄ ) and the solvent removed in vacuo to give crude aldehyde in yield of 14.95 g (94%): ¹ H NMR (CDCl ₃ ): δ, 10.3 (s, -C ( = O) H ).

Step b : Preparation of 5-chloro-2-fluoro-benzaldehyde oxime

A solution of 5-chloro-2-fluoro-benzaldehyde (10 g, 0.0631 mol), hydroxylamine hydrochloride (6.57 g, 0.0946 mol) and pyridine (8.3 mL, 0.1010 mol) in EtOH (100 mL) was heated to 75 ° C. (oil Bath temperature) for 1 hour and the solvent was removed in vacuo to afford an oil. The oil was partitioned between water and CH ₂ Cl ₂ . The CH ₂ Cl ₂ layer was dried (MgSO ₄ ) and the solvent was removed in vacuo to afford crude aldogsim as a solid. The solid was purified by medium pressure liquid chromatography on silica. Elution with CH ₂ Cl ₂ gave 4.87 g (28%) of aldoxim as a white solid: mp 95-97 ° C .;

Analytical calculation for C ₇ H ₅ NOFCL:

C, 48.44; H, 2.90; N, 8.07.

Found: C, 48.55; H, 2.69, N, 7.90

Step c : Preparation of 5-chloro-2-fluoro-benzonitrile

A solution of 5-chloro-2-fluoro-benzaldehyde oxime (3.15 g, 0.0182 mol) in acetic anhydride (150 mL) was refluxed for 16 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and poured into saturated aqueous NaHCO ₃ (200 mL). The mixture was extracted with Et ₂ O. The Et ₂ O layer was dried (K ₂ CO ₃ ) and the solvent was removed to give the product as an oily solid. The product was used for next step without further purification.

Step d : Preparation of 5- (5-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl) -1 H-tetrazole

A mixture of 5-chloro-2-fluoro-benzonitrile (2.84 g, 0.01823 mol), butanol (15 mL), sodium azide (1.543 g, 0.0237 mol), acetic acid (1.36 mL, 0.0237 mol) was added for 24 hours. It was refluxed. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, additional 1.543 g sodium azide was added and the reaction mixture was refluxed for an additional 24 hours. After cooling to room temperature, Et ₂ O (100 mL) and 10% aqueous NaOH (200 mL) were added sequentially. The mixture was stirred vigorously. The aqueous layer was separated, cooled in an ice-methanol bath (-15 ° C.) and conc. Acidified to pH 1 with HCl. A gray solid precipitated out. The solid was dried in vacuo at 50 ° C. to yield 1.76 g (49%) of 5- (5-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl) -1H-tetrazole: mp partial melt at 110 ° C., complete melt at 124 ° C. ;

¹ H (400 Mz, CDCl ₃ ): δ 8.19-8.08 (m, 1 H), 7.77-7.71 (m, 1 H), 7.61-7.52 (m, 1 H); ¹³ C (100 Mz, CDCl ₃ ): δ 159.00, 156.49, 140.88, 133.02, 132.93, 130.73, 129.23, 129.21, 129.08, 126.05, 118.96, 118.73, 114.50;

MS (CI) M + 1 = 199 (100), M = 198 (6).

Step e : Preparation of [4-Chloro-2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-(4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl) -amine

To a solution of 2-methyl-4-iodoaniline (3.52 g, 0.0151 mol) in THF (25 mL) was added dropwise LDA (2 mol solution in THF, 11.33 mL, 0.02267 mol) at -78 ° C. After stirring for 0.5 h, a solution of 1- (tetrazol-5-yl) -2-fluoro-5-chlorobenzene (1.5 g, 0.00756 mol) in THF (15 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 16 hours to raise the temperature to room temperature. Conc. The reaction was terminated with aqueous NH ₄ Cl solution and extracted with CH ₂ Cl ₂ . The organic layer was dried (MgSO ₄ ) and the solvent removed to afford the crude product as an oil. The oil was CH ₂ Cl _2- > CH ₂ Cl ₂ : MeOH (9.7: 0.3) to give 1.5 g (48%) of the desired product:

mp 205-208 ° C; ¹ H (400Mz, DMSO): δ9.13 (s, 1H), 8.00-7.99 (s, 1H), 7.69 (s, 1H), 7.55-7.52 (m, 1H), 7.43-7.40 (m, 1H) , 7.12-7.05 (m, 1 H), 2.24 (s, 3 H); ¹³ C (100 Mz, CDCl ₃ ): δ 141.87, 139.28, 138.88, 135.47, 133.71, 131.65, 128.15, 123.69, 121.94, 116.68, 87.79, 17.22; MS (CI) M + 2 = 413 (44), M + 1 = 412 (85), M = 411 (100).

Analytical calcd. For C ₁₄ H ₁₁ N ₅ ClI.0.5H ₂ O:

C, 39.97; H, 2.87; N, 16.65

Found: C, 38.87, H, 2.77; N, 16.47.

The following tetrazol-substituted phenylamines were prepared according to the general method of Example 207.

Example 208

(4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl)-[2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -phenyl] amine, mp 231 ° C. (dec)

Example 209

[4-Nitro-2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-(4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl) -amine, mp 205-208 ° C

4-Bromo and 4-iodo phenylamino benzhydroxysamic acid derivatives of formula (II) can be prepared from commercially available starting materials using synthetic methods known to those skilled in organic chemistry. Typical synthesis is carried out by reacting 4-bromo or 4-iodoaniline with benzoic acid having a leaving group at the 2-position to give phenylamino benzoic acid, followed by reacting the benzoic acid phenylamino derivative with a hydroxylamine derivative. 3).

In the above scheme, L is a leaving group, for example halo such as fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo, or an activated hydroxy group such as diethylphosphate, trimethylsilyloxy, p-nitrophenoxy, or phenylsulfonoxy .

The reaction of aniline and benzoic acid derivatives generally involves the use of bases such as lithium diisopropylamide, n-butyl lithium, sodium hydride, And by mixing in the presence of sodium amide. The reaction is generally carried out at a temperature of -78 ° C to about 25 ° C and is usually completed within about 2 hours to about 4 days. The product can be separated by removing the solvent, for example by reduced pressure evaporation, and if desired can be further purified by standard methods such as chromatography, crystallization, or distillation.

Phenylamino benzoic acid is then reacted in the presence of a hydroxylamine derivative HNR _6a OR _7a with a peptide coupling agent. Hydroxylamine derivatives that can be used include methoxylamine, N-ethyl-isopropoxy amine, and tetrahydro-oxazine. Typical coupling agents include 2-ethoxy-1-ethoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), bromo-tris (pyrrolidino ) -Phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBrOP) and (benzotriazolyloxy) tripyrrolidino phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBOP). Phenylamino benzoic acid and hydroxylamino derivatives are typically mixed in approximately equimolar amounts in an unreactive organic solvent such as dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, or xylene and equimolar amounts of coupling agent are added. Bases such as triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine can be added if desired to act as an acid scavenger. The coupling reaction is generally completed after about 10 minutes to about 2 hours, the product is easily separated by removing the reaction solvent, for example by reduced pressure evaporation and the product is chromatographic or with acetone, diethyl ether, or ethanol Purification by standard methods such as crystallization from the same solvent.

An alternative method for preparing the compounds of the present invention involves first converting benzoic acid to a hydroxamic acid derivative and then reacting the hydroxamic acid derivative with aniline. The synthesis sequence is shown in Scheme 4.

In the above scheme, L is a leaving group. General reaction conditions for the two steps of Scheme 4 are the same as described above for Scheme 3.

Another method for preparing the compounds of the present invention involves reacting phenylamino benzhydroxamic acid with an ester former as shown in Scheme 5.

In the above scheme, L is a leaving group such as halo and base is triethylamine or diisopropylamineadi.

The synthesis of compounds of formula (Π) is described in more detail in the Examples below.

Example 1a

4-Fluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

(a) Preparation of 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

2.0 M lithium di in tetrahydrofuran / heptane / ethylbenzene (Aldrich) solution at −78 ° C. in a stirred solution containing 3.16 g (0.0133 mol) of 2-amino-5-iodotoluene in 5 mL of tetrahydrofuran. 10 mL (0.020 mol) of isopropylamide was added. The resulting green suspension was vigorously stirred for 15 minutes, after which a solution of 1.00 g (0.00632 mol) of 2,4-difluorobenzoic acid in 10 mL of tetrahydrofuran was added. The reaction temperature was slowly raised to room temperature and the mixture was stirred for 2 days at that temperature. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to concentrate the reaction mixture. Aqueous HCl (10%) was added to the concentrate and the solution was extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase was dried (MgSO ₄ ) then concentrated in a steam bath to reduce volume (10 mL) and cool to room temperature. The off white fiber formed was collected by vacuum filtration, washed with hexane and dried in vacuum-oven (76 ° C .; ca. 10 mm Hg) to give 1.10 g (47%) of the desired material; mp 224-229.5 ° C;

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ9.72 (s, 1H), 7.97 (dd, 1H, J = 7.0,8.7Hz), 7.70 (d, 1H, J = 1.5Hz), 7.57 (dd, 1H , J = 8.4, 1.9 Hz, 7.17 (d, 1H, J = 8.2 Hz), 6.61-6.53 (m, 2H), 2.18 (s, 3H);

¹³ C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO): δ 169.87, 166.36 (d, J _CF = 249.4 Hz), 150.11 (d, J _CF = 11.4 Hz), 139.83, 138.49, 136.07, 135.26 (d, J _CF = 11.5 Hz ), 135.07, 125.60, 109.32, 104.98 (d, J _CF = 21.1 Hz), 99.54 (d, J _CF = 26.0 Hz), 89.43, 17.52;

¹⁹ F NMR (376 MHz, DMSO): δ-104.00 to -104.07 (m);

IR (KBr) 1670 (C = O Stretch) cm ^-1 ;

MS (CI) M + 1 = 372.

Analytical calculations for C ₁₄ H ₁₁ FINO ₂ :

C, 45.31; H, 2.99; N, 3.77.

Found: C, 45.21; H, 2.77; N, 3.64.

(b) Preparation of 4-Fluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid (0.6495 g, 0.001750 mol) in 31 mL dynamic volume tetrahydrofuran-dichloromethane solution, O- (tetrahydro-2H 1.18 g (0.00227 mol) of solid PyBOP ([benzotria) in a stirred solution of -pyran-2-yl) -hydroxylamine (0.2590 g, 0.002211 mol), and diisopropylethylamine (0.40 mL, 0.0023 mol) Zolyloxy] tripyrrolidino phosphonium hexafluorophosphate, Advanced Chem Tech was added directly. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and then concentrated in vacuo. The brown oil was treated with 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid. The suspension was extracted with ether. The organic extract was washed with 10% sodium hydroxide, then further with 10% hydrochloric acid, dried (MgSO ₄ ) and concentrated in vacuo to yield 1.0 g of a light brown foam. This intermediate was dissolved in 25 mL of ethanol hydrogen chloride, and the solution was left at room temperature for 15 minutes. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo to give a brown oil which was purified by flash silica chromatography. Gradient elution (from 100% dichloromethane to 0.6% methanol in dichloromethane) yielded 0.2284 g of a light brown viscous oil. Scratched with pentane-hexane and dried under high vacuum to yield 0.1541 g (23%) of off-white foam; mp 61-75 ° C .;

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ 11.34 (s, 1H), 9.68 (s, 1H), 9.18 (s, 1H), 7.65 (d, 1H, J = 1.5 Hz), 7.58 (dd, 1H, J = 8.7,6.8 Hz), 7.52 (dd, 1H, J = 8.4,1.9 Hz), 7.15 (d, 1H, J = 8.4 Hz), 6.74 (dd, 1H, J = 11.8,2.4 Hz), 6.62 ( ddd, 1H, J = 8.4, 8.4, 2.7 Hz), 2.18 (s, 3H);

¹³ C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO): δ 165.91, 164.36 (d, J _CF = 247.1 Hz), 146.78, 139.18, 138.77, 135.43, 132.64, 130.60 (d, J _CF = 11.5 Hz), 122.23, 112.52, 104.72 (d, J = 22.1 Hz), 100.45 (d, J _CF = 25.2 Hz), 86.77, 17.03;

¹⁹ F NMR (376 MHz, DMSO): δ-107.20 to -107.27 (m);

IR (KBr) 3307 (br, OH-H stretch), 1636 (C = O stretch) cm ^-1

MS (CI) M + 1 = 387.

Analytical calculations for C ₁₄ H ₁₂ FIN ₂ O ₂ :

C, 43.54; H, 3.13; N, 7.25.                 

Found: C, 43.62; H, 3.24; N, 6.98.

Example 2a

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

(a) Preparation of 5-bromo-2,3,4-trifluorobenzoic acid

Heptane / tetra in a stirred solution containing 1-bromo-2,3,4-trifluorobenzene (Aldrich, 99%; 5.30 g, 0.0249 mol) in 95 mL of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran cooled to -78 ° C. 12.5 mL of 2.0 M lithium diisopropylamide in hydrofuran / ethylbenzene solution (Aldrich) was slowly added. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour and then transferred to 700 mL of stirred saturated etheric carbon dioxide solution cooled to -78 ° C by cannula. The cold bath was removed and the reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 18 hours. Dilution (10%) aqueous hydrochloric acid (ca. 500 mL) was poured into the reaction mixture, and the mixture was then concentrated to a solid on a rotary evaporator. The solid product was diluted with diethyl ether (150 mL) and aq. Partition between HCl (330 mL, pH 0). The aqueous phase was extracted with the second portion (100 mL) of diethyl ether and the combined etheric extracts were washed with 5% aqueous sodium hydroxide (200 mL) and water (100 mL, pH 12). The combined alkaline aqueous extracts were acidified to pH 0 with concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid. The resulting suspension was extracted with ether (2x200 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried (MgSO ₄ ), concentrated in vacuo and subjected to high vacuum until a constant mass was obtained to yield 5.60 g (88% yield) of off-white powder: mp 139-142.5 ° C.

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ 13.97 (br s, 1 H), 8.00-7.96 (m, 1 H);

¹³ C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO): δ 162.96, 129.34, 118.47, 104.54 (d, J _CF = 22.9 Hz) ,;

¹⁹ F NMR (376 MHz, DMSO): δ-120.20 to -120.31 (m), -131.75 to -131.86 (m), -154.95 to -155.07 (m);

IR (KBr) 1696 (C═O Stretch) cm ⁻¹ ;

MS (CI) M + 1 = 255.

Analytical calcd. For C ₇₄ H ₂₁ BrF ₃ O ₂ :

C, 32.97; H, 0.79; N, 0.00; Br, 31.34; F, 22.35.

Found: C, 33.18; H, 0.64; N, 0.01; Br, 30.14; F, 22.75.

(b) Preparation of 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid

6 mL of 2.0 M lithium diisopropylamide in tetrahydrofuran / heptane / ethylbenzene (Aldrich) solution in a stirred solution containing 1.88 g (0.00791 mol) of 2-amino-2-iodotoluene in 10 mL of tetrahydrofuran. (0.012 mol) was added. After the resulting green suspension was vigorously stirred for 10 minutes, a solution of 1.00 g (0.00392 mol) of 5-bromo-2,3,4-trifluorobenzoic acid in 15 mL of tetrahydrofuran was added. The cold bath was then removed and the reaction mixture was stirred for 18 hours. The mixture was concentrated and the concentrate was treated with 100 mL dilution (10%) aqueous hydrochloric acid. The resulting suspension was extracted with ether (2 × 150 mL) and the combined organic extracts were dried (MgSO ₄ ) and concentrated in vacuo to afford an orange solid. The solid was triturated with boiling dichloromethane, cooled to ambient temperature and collected by filtration. The solid was washed with dichloromethane and dried in a vacuum oven (80 ° C.) to yield 1.39 g (76%) of greenish yellow powder; mp 259.5-262 ° C .;

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ 9.03 (s, 1H), 7.99 (dd, 1H, J = 7.5,1.9 Hz), 7.57 (dd, 1H, J = 1.5 Hz), 7.42 (dd, 1H, J = 8.4, 1.9 Hz), 6.70 (dd, 1H, J = 8.4,6.0 Hz), 2.24 (s, 3H);

¹⁹ F NMR (376 MHz, DMSO): δ-123.40 to -123.47 (m); -139.00 to -139.14 (m);

IR (KBr) 1667 (C = O Stretch) cm ⁻¹ ;

MS (CI) M + 1 = 469.

Analytical calcd. For C ₁₄ H ₉ BrF ₂ INO ₂ :

C, 35.93; H, 1.94; N, 2.99; Br, 17.07; F, 8.12; I, 27.11.

Found: C, 36.15; H, 1.91; N, 2.70; Br, 16.40; F, 8.46; I, 26.05.

(c) Preparation of 5-bromo-3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid (0.51 g, 0.0011 mol) in 20 mL dynamic volume tetrahydrofuran-dichloromethane solution 0.6794 g (0.2 g) in a stirred solution comprising O- (tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl) -hydroxylamine (0.15 g, 0.0013 mol), and diisopropylethylamine (0.25 ml, 0.0014 mol) 0.001306 mol) of solid PyBOP (Advanced Chemtech) was added directly. The reaction mixture was stirred at 24 ° C. for 10 minutes and then concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The concentrate was suspended in 100 mL of 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid. The suspension was extracted with 125 mL of diethyl ether. The ether layer was separated, washed with 75 mL of 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide and then with 100 mL of dilute acid. The ether solution was dried (MgSO ₄ ) and concentrated in vacuo to yield 0.62 g (100%) of off-white foam. Foams ca. It was dissolved in 15 mL of methanolic hydrogen chloride. After 5 minutes, the solution was concentrated in vacuo to an oil and the oil was purified by flash silica chromatography. Elution with dichloromethane: dichloromethane-methanol (99: 1) gave 0.2233 g (42%) of a yellow powder. The powder was dissolved in diethyl ether and washed with dilute hydrochloric acid. The organic phase was dried (MgSO ₄ ) and concentrated in vacuo to yield 0.200 g of foam. The product was triturated with pentane to give 0.1525 g of powder which was repurified by flash silica chromatography. Elution with dichloromethane gave 0.0783 g (15%) of analytical pure title compound. mp 80-90 ° C .;

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ 11.53 (s, 1H), 9.38 (s, 1H), 8.82 (s, 1H), 7.70 (dd, 1H, J = 7.0,1.9 Hz), 7.53 (s, 1H), 7.37 (dd, 1H, J = 8.4, 1.9 Hz), 6.55 (dd, 1H, J = 8.2, 6.5 Hz), 2.22 (s, 3H);

¹⁹ F NMR (376 MHz, DMSO): δ-126.24 to -126.29 (m), -137.71 to -137.77 (m);

IR (KBr) 3346 (br, OH stretch), 1651 (C = O stretch) cm ⁻¹ ;

MS (CI) M + 1 = 484.

Analytical calcd. For C ₁₄ H ₁₀ BrF ₂ IN ₂ O ₂ :

C, 34.81; H, 2.09; N, 5.80.

Found: C, 34.53; H, 1.73; N, 5.52.

Examples 3a-12a in the table below were prepared according to the general method of Examples 1a and 2a.

Examples 13a-77a

Examples 13a-77a are prepared by reacting an appropriately substituted phenylamino benzoic acid (eg as shown in Scheme 1) and hydroxylamine (eg (NHR _6a ) -OR _7a ) using a combinatorial synthesis method. Was prepared. The general method is as follows:

To a 0.8-mL autosampler vial in a metal block was added 40 μL of a 0.5M solution of acid in DMF and 40 μL of hydroxylamine (2M solution in Hung's base and 1M in amine in DMF). Fresh 0.5M solution of PyBrOP was prepared and 50 μL was added to the autosampler vial. The reaction was carried out for 24 hours.

The reaction mixture was transferred to a 2-drum vial and diluted with 2 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with 3 mL of distilled water and the aqueous layer was washed again with 2 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were evaporated to dryness in an open smoke hood.

The residue was taken up in 2 mL of 50% acetonitrile in water and a semi-prep reversed phase column (10 mm x 25 cm, 5 μM spherical silica, pore size 115 A derived from C-18, sample was 100% at 4.7 mL / min by linear ramp) Elution with acetonitrile for 8.5 min. Elution with 100% acetonitrile continued for 8 min.) Fractions were collected by monitoring at 214 nM. Desired fractions were evaporated using Zymark Turbocap. The product was dissolved in chloroform and transferred to a pre-weighed vial, evaporated and then weighed again to determine yield. The structure was confirmed by mass spectroscopy.

Example 3a-77a

 Example No. Compound Melting Point (° C) MS (M-H +)

3a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4- 56-75 DEC 523

Fluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide

4a 5-chloro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo- 65 dec

`` 2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

5a 5-chloro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo- 62-67

2-Methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-benzamide

6a 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla 105-108

Mino) -N- (tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy)

Benzamide

7a 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla 64-68

Mino) -N-methoxybenzamide

8a 4-fluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-fluoro 119-135                 

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

9a 4-fluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (2-methyl-fe 101-103

Nylamino) -Benzamide

10a 4-fluoro-2- (4-fluoro-2-methyl-pe 142-146

Nylamino) -N- (tetrahydropyran-2-yl

Oxy) -benzamide

11a 4-fluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-chloro-133.5-135

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

12a 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 107-109.5

Amino) -N-phenylmethoxy-benzamide

13a 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 399

Amino) -N-methoxy-benzamide

14a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-417

Phenylamino) -N-methoxy-benzamide

15a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3, 369

4-difluoro-N-methoxy-benzamide

16a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-342 *

Ethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide (M-EtO)

17a 5-Bromo-N-ethoxy-3,4, -difluoro 509

-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)-                 

Benzamide

18a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-445

Phenylamino) -N-isopropoxy-benzamide

19a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4- 397

Difluoro-N-isopropoxy-benzamide

20a 4-fluoro-N- (furan-3-ylmethoxy) -2- (4-465

Iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

21a 3,4-difluoro-N- (furan-3-ylmethoxy) -483

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz

amides

22a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-435

Difluoro-N- (furan-3-ylmethoxy) -benz

amides

23a 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N- (furan-3-561

Monomethoxy) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl

Amino) -benzamide

24a 5-Bromo-N- (but-2-enyloxy) -3,4- 536

Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl

Amino) -benzamide

25a 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 423                 

Amino) -N- (prop-2-ynyloxy) -benz

amides

26a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-441

Phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-ynyloxy)-

Benzamide

27a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-455

Phenylamino) -N- (1-methyl-prop-2-ynyl

Oxy) -benzamide

28a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-407

Difluoro-N- (1-methyl-prop-2-ynyljade

-Benzamide

29a N- (but-3-ynyloxy) -3,4-difluoro-455

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz

amides

30a 2- (4-bromo-2-methylphenylamino) -N-407

(But-3-ynyloxy) -3,4-difluoro-

Benzamide

31a 5-Bromo-N- (but-3-ynyloxy) -3,4- 533

Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl

Amino) -benzamide                 

32a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-517

Phenylamino) -N- (3-phenyl-prop-2-ynyl

Oxy) -benzamide

33a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-469

Phenylamino) -N- (3-phenyl-prop-2-ynyl

Oxy) -benzamide

34a 3,4-difluoro-N- [3- (3-fluoro-peh 535

Yl) -prop-2-ynyloxy] -2- (4-iodo-

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

35a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -487

3,4-difluoro-N- [3- (3-fluoro-

Phenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy] -benzamide

36a 3,4-difluoro-N- [3- (2-fluoro-phenyl) 535

-Prop-2-ynyloxy] -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl

-Phenylamino) -benzamide

37a 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N- [3- (2-flu 613

Oro-phenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy] -2- (4-yo

Odo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

38a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-557 *

Phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-5-phenyl-pent-2-* (M + H)                 

En-4-ynyloxy) -benzamide

39a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-510

Difluoro-N- (3-methyl-5-phenyl-pent-2-

En-4-ynyloxy) -benzamide

40a N-ethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo 431

2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide

41a 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-383

Ethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide

42a 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-427

Phenylamino) -N-propoxy-benzamide

43a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl 445

-Phenylamino) -N-propoxy-benzamide

44a 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4 397

-Difluoro-N-propoxy-benzamide

45a 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-523

2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-propoxy-benz

amides

46a 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 427

Amino) -N-isopropoxy-benzamide

47a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-445                 

Phenylamino) -N-isopropoxy-benzamide

48a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4- 397

Difluoro-N-isopropoxy-benzamide

49a 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-523

2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-isopropoxy-benz

amides

50a N-cyclobutyloxy-3,4, -difluoro-2-457

(4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz

amides

51a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-409

Cyclobutyloxy-3,4, -difluoro-benz

amides

52a N-cyclopentyloxy-4-fluoro-2- (4- 453

Iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzia

mid

53a N-cyclopentyloxy-3,4-difluoro-2 471

-(4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz

amides

54a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-423

Cyclopentyloxy-3,4-difluoro-benz                 

amides

55a N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluoro-2 439

-(4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz

amides

56a N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro 457

-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz

amides

57a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-cy 409

Clopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benz

amides

58a 5-Bromo-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-di 435

Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)

59a 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyla 505

Mino) -N- (2-phenoxy-ethoxy) -benzamide

60a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-peh 523

Nylamino) -N- (2-phenoxy-ethoxy) -benzia

mid

61a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-475

Difluoro-N- (2-phenoxy-ethoxy) -benz

amides                 

62a 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 481

Amino) -N- (thiophen-2-ylmethoxy) -benz

amides

63a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-499

Phenylamino) -N- (thiophen-2-ylmethoxy)-

Benzamide

64a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -451

3,4-difluoro-N- (thiophen-2-ylme

Methoxy) -benzamide

65a 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 439

Amino) -N- (2-methyl-allyloxy) -benzia

mid

66a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-457

Phenylamino) -N- (2-methyl-allyloxy) -bene

Zamide

67a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-410

Difluoro-N- (2-methyl-allyloxy) -benz

amides

68a N- (but-2-enyloxy) -4-fluoro-2- (4- 439

Iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide                 

69a N- (but-2-enyloxy) -3,4-difluoro- 457

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino)-

Benzamide

70a 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (part 410

Tri-2-enyloxy) -3,4-difluoro-benzamide

71a 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-441

Phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-ynyloxy) -benz

amides

72a N- (but-3-ynyloxy) -3,4, -difluoro-455

2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz

amides

73a 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-449

(4,4-dimethyl-pent-2-ynyloxy) -3,4-

Difluoro-benzamide

74a N- (but-2-enyloxy) -3,4-difluoro 457

-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -bene

Zamide

75a 2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-410

(But-2-enyloxy) -3,4-difluoro-

Benzamide                 

76a N- (3-t-butyl-propyn-2-yl) -oxy-4- 479

Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl

Amino) -benzamide

77a 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl 577 *

Amino) -N-phenylmethoxy-benzamide * Cl

D. Pharmacological Activity

The various compounds described above were evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo assays designed to measure antiarthritis activity and recognized by those skilled in the art as effective predictors of clinical efficacy.

Type II-collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice has been used as an experimental model of arthritis with many pathological, immunological and genetic characteristics, such as human rheumatoid arthritis. The disease was induced by immunizing mice's DBA / 1 subculture with 100 μg of type II collagen (C II), a major component of articular cartilage. Collagen was administered by intradermal injection to mice with a solution consisting of Freund's complete adjuvant. Progressive and inflammatory arthritis develops in a number of immunized mice characterized by an increase in forefoot width by 100%. The clinical scoring index was used to assess disease progression from erythema and edema (step 1) to joint torsion (step 2), joint stiffness (step 3). Diseases vary because they can affect one or both of the animals' feet, with a total score of 12 possible for each mouse. Histopathology of arthritis joints showed synovitis, pannus formation, and cartilage and bone erosion. All mouse strains sensitive to CIA have a high antibody response to type II collagen and a significant cellular response to C II.

The assay was performed to evaluate the antiarthritis activity of various doses of compound 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide. The compound (also referred to as "PD 184352") was suspended in an aqueous mixture of 0.5% hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) and 0.2% Tween 80. The suspension was administered orally twice daily (once in the morning and once at night) in equal doses. All animals were fed an experimental diet and an unlimited amount of water. The analysis continued for 63 days throughout the study, with regular disease scores, averaged at the end of the study on day 63. The results of the analysis are shown in Table 1 below.

Pharmacology Table 1

Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Mice

process Military party arthritis Average severity Arthritis foot

Number of mice Incidence Score Average number

Vehicle 10 100 6.3 3.5

PD 184 352 9 22 0.333 0.333

200 mg / kg / day

PD 184 352 10 10 0.6 0.4

60 mg / kg / day

PD 184 352 10 60 2.9 2

20 mg / kg / day

The data above demonstrate that the compound is a potent antiarthritis agent.

In another standard assay, monoarticular arthritis was induced in mice. Mice were dosed 6 ug of streptococcal cell membrane (SCW) sonicated in 10 ul of Dulbecco's phosphate buffered salt (DPBS) on the day 0 in the right tibia joint by intraarticular injection. SCW induces animal foot swelling. On day 21, delayed hypersensitivity (DTH) started with 100 μg of SCW intravenous administration. Test compounds were started 1 hour prior to SCW reactivation, suspended in an aqueous mixture of 0.5% HPMC and 0.2% Tween 80, sonicated, and administered twice daily at the same divided dose (10 mL / kg volume). The baseline volume of the hind paw sensitized prior to reactivation on day 21 was measured to determine the degree of edema and compared with the volume at Foot volume was measured by mercury flow measurement. When evaluated by the above assay, the antiarthritis activity of the various phenyl amine compounds described above is shown in Table 2 below. In the table, compound "PD 184352" is 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide, and compound "PD 170611" is 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-fluorobenzamide.                 

Pharmacology Table 2

SCW-induced monoarticular arthritis

                       Inhibition rate of foot swelling at the indicated time points

Treatment (n) Day 22 Day 23 Day 24 Day 25 Day 25

PD 184 352 10 59 57 68 53

200 mg / kg / day

PD 184 352 10 30 34 40 31

60 mg / kg / day

PD 184 352 10 17 17 28 17

20 mg / kg / day

PD 170611 10 40 4 0 0

300 mg / kg / day

PD 170611 10 80 9 20 32

100 mg / kg / day

The data demonstrate that the phenylamine compounds of Formulas (I) and (II) are potent antiarthritis agents and can be used to prevent and treat various types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Various phenyl amine MEK inhibitors were evaluated in an in vitro cell culture assay designed to measure the effects of MEK inhibitors on interleukin-1 (IL-1) induced stromelysin production and phospho-ERK levels in rabbit lubricated fibroblasts. Tromelilysin is a matrix metalloproteinase enzyme that is the causative agent of arthritis. Phospho-ERK is an enzyme that is phosphorylated by MEK enzymes, and thus is an indicator of MEK activity in cells.

New England white rabbits were euthanized with B-euthanasia administered IV with a 25 gauge needle at the edge of the vein. The synovial membrane was removed immediately by dissecting the quadracep gun and folding the patella. The synovial membrane with infrapellar fat was then removed from the patellar ligament and placed in sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (Gibco BRL, Gaitsburg, MD, USA). The synovial membrane was sliced thinly with a surgical scalpel and placed in a 50 ml tube containing 6 ml of a solution of collagenase type I (Gibco BRL, Gaitsburg, MD, USA) 4 mg / ml PBS. The mixture was incubated at 37 ° C. for 3 hours. During incubation, the 50 ml tube was gently rotated 4-6 times. Synovial cells were then washed twice in medium (medium composition is described below). Washed cells were inoculated in T-75 plastic cell culture flasks and incubated at 37 ° C. in 5% CO ₂ . After reaching 90-100% density, cells were seeded in a suitable container for analysis. Synovial fibroblasts were allowed to grow in 96 well plates for 3 days prior to testing after fusion. Phenylamine MEK inhibitor test compound dissolved in vehicle (0.1% dimethylsulfoxide in medium) or vehicle was added to synovial fibroblasts 30 minutes before IL-1α addition. Interleukin-1α (100 U / mL) (Genzyme, Mass.) Was suspended in the medium and added in a volume of 10 μl / well. Cells were then incubated for 24 hours before removing medium and stored at -20 ° C. Prostomeliin-1 levels were measured using ELISA from Amersham (Cat. No. RPN2615). Inhibition rates were determined by comparing stromelysin-1 concentrations of drug-treated cells with vehicle-treated controls. The drug concentration (IC ₅₀ ), determined to inhibit 50% of stromelysin-1 production, was determined using linear regression analysis.

The medium used for the assay was prepared as follows using commercial reagents purchased from Gibco BRL (Guitersburg, MD), unless otherwise noted. 10 ml (1 mole of N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethane sulfonic acid in each 500 ml bottle of alpha-modified Eagles medium (α-MEM, Cat. No. 12561-023) 1M HEPES, Cat.No. 15630-023), 10 ml of penicillin / streptomycin stock (Cat No. 15070-030, 5,000 U / ml Pen./5,000 µg / ml Strep), 500 µl of gentamicin stock (50 mg / Ml) (Cat. No. 15750-011), Hyclone Inc. 40 ml of fetal bovine serum (Cat. No. A1111-L) purchased from (Hyclone Inc) was added. The results of the above analysis are shown in Pharmacology Tables 3 and 4. Pharmacology Table 3 shows the nanomolar doses of test compounds required to induce 50% inhibition of stromelysin expression (IC ₅₀ ).

Pharmacology Table 3

Effect of MEK Inhibitors on IL-1 Induced Tromelisine Expression in Rabbit Synovial Fibroblast Cultures

Test Compound IC ₅₀ (nM)

PD 171984 59

PD 177 168 20

PD 180841 61

PD 184161 192

PD 184 352 28

PD 184386 18

PD 185625 24

PD 185848 9

PD 188563 11

PD 198306 18

PD 199601 24

PD 203311 20

In addition, Western blot analysis of phospho-ERK levels was performed in cell culture. Pharmacology Table 4 shows the percent inhibition of ERK 1/2 phosphorylation induced by phenyl amine MEK inhibitors. Cells were lysed with 1 ml lysis buffer (containing NaCl (70 mM), B-glycerol phosphate (50 mM), 1 M HEPES (10 mM), Triton X-100 (1%) per T25). The mixture was transferred to a microcentrifuge tube and spun at 2500 × g for 15 minutes. After removing the supernatant, protein analysis was performed. Samples were tested on 10% tris-glycine gels and transferred to nitrocellulose. Blots were examined with phospho-p44 / 42 MAP kinase antibody, followed by secondary Ab (goat anti rabbit HRP conjugated antibody), coated with ECL detection reagent and exposed to film. Phospho-ERK abundance was determined by relative density measurement.

Pharmacology Table 4

Inhibition of ERK Phosphorylation by PD 184352 in IL-2 Stimulated Rabbit Synovial Fibroblast Cell Cultures

% Inhibition of PD 184352 (nM) phospho-ERK

10 22

10 81

   1,000 100

10,000 97

Pharmacology The data shown in Tables 3 and 4 indicate that the phenyl amino MEK inhibitors of Formula I and Formula II are potent inhibitors of cellular enzymes that are the causative agents of arthritis.                 

The method of the present invention also demonstrates in vivo assays using New Zealand white rabbits that induce cartilage degeneration by injecting interleukin 1-α into the knee joint. About 3 kg of mature male rabbits were anesthetized with 5 mg / kg rompun and 10-15 mg / kg ketamine. Test compounds were suspended in a vehicle of 0.5% aqueous hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and 0.2% Tween 80. Suspensions were administered orally to animals. After 30 minutes, following the administration of MEK inhibitor, human recombinant IL-1α (Genzyme, Cambridge, Mass.) Was injected (25 ng) through the patellar ligament into one knee joint space. The contralateral joint was administered with the same volume of vehicle (phosphate buffered saline / 0.2% fetal calf serum). Animals were euthanized 24 hours after IL-1 injection and the degree of cartilage degeneration was determined by measuring the proteoglycan content with a dimethylene blue staining assay kit from the femoral joint ridges of the articular cartilage. Spectrophotometry was analyzed and the inhibition rate of proteoglycan loss in treated joints was determined in comparison to untreated joints. The results of these in vivo assays for various selective MEK inhibitors of Formulas I and II are shown in Table 5 below.

Pharmacology Table 5

Suppression of Proteoglycan Loss in Rabbits

PD Number Dose Administration (n) of Proteoglycan Loss

(mg / kg)% Inhibition

184 352 30 2x 6 75

10 2x 6 48

3 2x 6 13

185625 30 1x 6 63

185 848 30 1x 6 43

The claimed method was further supported by the results of reusing the SCW model and also three other in vivo inflammation and / or arthritis models. Data for each of the additional experiments is shown in Table 6 below, pharmacology. In the carrageenan-induced footpad edema (CFE) model, male non-facial Wistar rats (135-150 g, Charles River Labs) were sonicated carrageenan suspension (1 mg). 10 ml / kg vehicle or test compound was orally administered 1 hour prior to dosing. Carrageenan was injected into the plantar region of the right hind paw. Paw volume was determined immediately after injection and again 5 hours after carrageenan injection by mercury hemometry. Inhibition rate of edema was determined and ID ₄₀ was calculated by linear regression. Differences in swelling compared to control animals were assessed by 1-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's test.

In another model, rat adjuvant-induced polyarthritis (rat AIP) was induced in the following published manner. Non-familial male Wistar rats (100-115 gms) were obtained from Hicks River Lab 2-5 days prior to study start. Mice were injected subcutaneously on day 0 using a free tuberculin syringe and 25 gauge needles with 1 mg of Mycobacterium butyricum suspended in paraffin oil at the third end of the tail. The Mycobacterium butyricum suspension was obtained by sonication in paraffin oil for 10 minutes with a dip tube in an ice bath. After all mice in the study were immunized, they were randomized into groups. In the treatment study, randomization was done on day 14. Dosing beginning on day 14 ended on day 27. Vehicle or drug suspended in vehicle was orally administered at a volume of 10 ml / kg. The hind swelling, beginning on day 11 of the study, followed by every 3 or 4 days, was assessed by mercury hematology. The change in edema was determined by the difference between the volume of the hind paw on the evaluated day and the volume on day 14. Inhibition rates were based on the treatment group compared to the vehicle group. The number of animals in the vehicle group was 20, while the number of animals in the treatment group was 10.

Finally, in the rabbit IL-1 arthritis (IL-1) model, mature male New Zealand white rabbits were anesthetized with rompun (10 mg / kg) and ketamine (50 mg / kg) (intramuscular). 25 ng of IL-1 was injected through the patellar ligament into one knee joint space (using sterilization technique). The same volume of vehicle was administered to the contralateral joint. The knee was first sliced thin and swab sterilized with a surgical disinfectant prior to intraarticular injection. After 24 hours animals were euthanized, articular cartilage was cut out of the femoral articular ridges and shin plaeau, weighed, and the degree of cartilage degeneration was determined by the standard dimethylene blue assay. Test compounds were administered orally by one hour prior to administration of IL-1.

Pharmacology Table 6

Activity of MEK inhibitors in arthritis and inflammatory animal models

Model 184352 198306 203311 Rat carrageenan plantar edema (CFE) (ID ₄₀ ) 75.8 14.7 18.9 mg / kg Rat SCW Arthritis (SCW) (IC ₅₀ ) 10.0 11.2 > 100 " Rat Adjuvant Arthritis (AIP) (IC ₅₀ ) 6.9 6.6 > 30 " Rat IL-1 Arthritis (IL-1) (% Inhibitory Proteoglycan Loss @ 30mg / kg) 57.9 42.9 29.2

Claims (19)

delete delete delete delete delete For the treatment or prophylaxis of arthritis in a patient suffering from arthritis that is in need of or at risk of developing arthritis, comprising an effective amount of an antiarthritis MEK inhibitor selected from a compound of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof Pharmaceutical composition. <Formula I>

In the above formula, R ₁ is hydrogen, hydroxy, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkoxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, or CN; R ₂ is hydrogen; R ₃ , R ₄ and R ₅ are independently hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkoxy, nitro, CN or-(O or NH) _m- ( CH ₂ ) _n -R ₉ , wherein R ₉ is hydrogen, hydroxy, COOH or NR ₁₀ R ₁₁ ; n is 0-4; m is 0 or 1; R ₁₀ and R ₁₁ are independently hydrogen or C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, or 1, 2, or 3 additional groups selected from O, S, NH, or NC ₁ -C ₈ alkyl with the nitrogen to which they are attached; To form 3-10 membered cyclic rings which may contain hetero atoms; Z is COOR ₇ , tetrazolyl, CONR ₆ R ₇ , CONHNR ₁₀ R ₁₁ , or CH ₂ OR ₇ ; R ₆ and R ₇ are independently hydrogen, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl, (CO) -C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₅ -C ₁₂ aryl Or C ₃ -C ₁₀ cycloalkyl which may contain 1, 2 or 3 hetero atoms selected from C ₄ -C ₁₁ heteroaryl, O, S, NH, or N alkyl; R ₆ and R ₇ together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 3-10 membered cyclic ring which may contain 1, 2 or 3 additional hetero atoms selected from O, S, NH, or N alkyl; Wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, C ₅ -C ₁₂ aryl, heterocyclic, and alkynyl groups are unsubstituted or halo, hydroxy, C ₁ -C ₆ alkoxy, amino, nitro, C ₁ -C ₄ alkylamino , Di (C ₁ -C ₄ ) alkylamino, C ₃ -C ₆ cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, C ₃ -C ₅ heteroaryl, or C ₃ -C ₅ heteroaryloxy. The method according to claim 6, wherein the MEK inhibitor, [4-Chloro-2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -phenyl- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl) -amine; (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl)-[2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -phenyl] amine; [4-nitro-2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -phenyl- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenyl) -amine; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methylphenylamino) benzoic acid; 3,4,5-trifluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; Sodium 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoate; 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzoic acid; 4-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 2,3,5-trifluoro-4- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 2- (4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-methoxy-benzoic acid; 5-Methyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoic acid; 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-nitro-benzoic acid; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-fluoro-benzoic acid; 2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzoic acid; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-benzoic acid; 5-Chloro-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-benzamide; N-ethyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N, N-dimethyl-benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl) -benzamide; 5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N, N-dimethyl-benzamide; [5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzoylamino] -acetic acid; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-propyl-benzamide; 5-Bromo-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N, N-diethyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 4-Fluoro-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz amides; N, N-diethyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; N-butyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N, N-diethyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N, N-dimethyl-benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- (2,3-dihydroxy-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- (2,3-dihydroxy-propyl) -4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 4-Fluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-2-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; N- (3-Dimethylamino-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-benzyl-4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -benzamide; 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-thiophen-2-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide; 2- (4-bromo-2-ylmethyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -3,4-difluoro-benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide; 4-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -benzamide; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-phenethyl-benzamide; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-thiophen-2-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-phenethyl-benzamide; 2- (4-Bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide ; 5-Fluoro-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz amides; 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N-pyridin-4-yl methyl-benzamide; 5-Bromo-N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benz amides; 5-Chloro-N- (2-diethylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; (3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-[2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-phenyl] -methanone; 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-N- (2-diethylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- {3- [4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -propyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-pyridin-4-ylmethyl-benzamide; 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-ethyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N- (3-diethylamino-2-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide; N- {2- [bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -amino] -ethyl} -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N- (3-diethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N- (2-diisopropylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide; 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-piperazin-1-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; N- (2-Diethylamino-ethyl) -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-N- (3-dimethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; 5-Fluoro-N- (3-hydroxy-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- (3-Diethylamino-propyl) -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- (3-Diethylamino-propyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide; [5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl]-(3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl) -methanone; 5-Bromo-N- (2-diisopropylamino-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-piperidin-1-yl-propyl) -benzamide; [5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl]-[4- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -piperazin-1-yl] -methanone; N- (3-Diethylamino-2-hydroxy-propyl) -5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-cyclopropyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-benzyloxy-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-benzyloxy-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-ethyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-5-nitro-N-phenyl-benzamide; 5-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide; N-allyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-benzyloxy-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-allyl-5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; 5-Bromo-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide; N-allyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; N-allyl-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -benzamide; N-cyclopropyl-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide; N-benzyloxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; N-cyclohexyl-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-allyl-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -benzamide; 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -5-nitro-benzamide; 5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide; N-cyclohexyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N-cyclohexyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-N-cyclohexyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-benzyl) -benzamide; N-cyclohexyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; N-benzyloxy-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-benzyloxy-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-5-nitro-N-phenyl-benzamide; 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide; N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-allyl-5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide; N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; 5-Fluoro-N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-cyclopropyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-cyclopropyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; N-allyl-5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-benzyloxy-5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-allyl-5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methyl-N-phenyl-benzamide; N-allyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzyl alcohol; [5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl] -methanol; [2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-phenyl] -methanol; [5-Bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -phenyl] -methanol; And A compound selected from N-allyl-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-benzamide. The method according to claim 6, wherein the MEK inhibitor, (a) R ₁ is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, fluoro, chloro, or bromo; (b) R ₂ is hydrogen; (c) R ₃ , R ₄ and R ₅ are independently hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, methyl, methoxy, or nitro; (d) R ₁₀ and R ₁₁ are independently hydrogen or methyl; (e) Z is COOR ₇ , tetrazolyl, CONR ₆ R ₇ , CONHNR ₁₀ R ₁₁ , or CH ₂ OR ₇ ; R ₆ and R ₇ are independently C ₃ -C which may contain one or two hetero atoms selected from hydrogen, C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, C ₄ -C ₁₁ heteroaryl, or O, S, or NH ₅ cycloalkyl; R ₆ and R ₇ together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5-6 membered cyclic ring which may contain 1 or 2 additional hetero atoms selected from O, NH, or N-alkyl; Wherein said alkyl or aryl group is a compound of formula (I) which may be unsubstituted or substituted by halo, hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, or heteroaryloxy. The compound of claim 8, wherein the MEK inhibitor is Z is COOR ₇ ; R ₇ is H, pentafluorophenyl, or tetrazolyl; R ₃ and R ₅ are independently H, fluoro, or chloro; R ₄ is a compound of formula I wherein fluoro. For the treatment or prophylaxis of arthritis in a patient suffering from arthritis that is in need of or at risk of developing arthritis, comprising an antiarthritis effective amount of a compound of formula (II) selected from the following formula (II) and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof Pharmaceutical composition. <Formula II>

In the above formula, R _1a is hydrogen, hydroxy, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkoxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, or CN; R _2a is hydrogen; R _3a , R _4a , and R _5a are independently hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkoxy, nitro, CN, or (O or NH) _m − (CH ₂ ) _n -R _9a , where R _9a is hydrogen, hydroxy, CO ₂ H or NR _10a R _11a ; n is 0-4; m is 0 or 1; R _10a and R _11a are independently hydrogen or C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl or together with the nitrogen to which they are attached 1, 2 or 3 additional hetero atoms selected from O, S, NH, or NC ₁ -C ₈ alkyl To form 3- to 10-membered cyclic rings which may contain; R _6a is hydrogen, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, (CO) -C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₅ -C ₁₂ aryl, C ₆ -C ₂₀ aralkyl, or C ₃ -C ₁₀ cycloalkyl; R _7a represents a hetero atom selected from hydrogen, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl, C ₃ -C ₁₀ (cycloalkyl, or O, S, or NR _9a Cycloalkyl) which may contain; Wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, C ₅ -C ₁₂ aryl, C ₄ -C ₁₁ heteroaryl, heterocyclic and alkynyl groups are unsubstituted or halo, hydroxy, C ₁ -C ₆ alkoxy, amino, nitro, C ₁ -C ₄ alkylamino, di (C ₁ -C ₄ ) alkylamino, C ₃ -C ₆ cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, C ₃ -C ₅ heteroaryl or heterocyclic radical, or C ₃ -C ₅ heteroaryloxy or heterocyclic radical-oxy; Or R _6a and R _7a together with N to which they are attached form a 5- to 10-membered cyclic ring which may contain 1, 2 or 3 additional hetero atoms selected from O, S, or NR _10a R _11a can do. The method of claim 10, wherein the MEK inhibitor, (a) R _1a is H, methyl, fluoro, or chloro; (b) R _2a is H; R _3a , R _4a , and R _5a are each H, Cl, nitro, or F; (c) R _6a is H; (d) R _7a is methyl, ethyl, 2-propenyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopropylmethyl, or cyclopropylethyl; (e) A composition having a structure of Formula II wherein the 4 ′ position is I, not Br. 12. The MEK inhibitor of claim 11, wherein the MEK inhibitor is: F at position 4 where R _4a is para for the CO-NR _6a -OR _7a group and meta for the bridging nitrogen; One or both of R _3a and R _5a are F or Cl; R _1a is a compound having a structure of Formula II wherein methyl or chloro. The method of claim 10, wherein the MEK inhibitor, 4-fluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (methoxy) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-phenoxyethoxy) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-thienylmethoxy) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-enyloxy) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopropylmethoxy) -benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopentoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-furylmethoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-ethoxy-benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-2-enyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopropylmethoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (1-methylprop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-phenylprop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-Difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-5-phenylpent-2-ene-4-ynyloxy) -benzamide 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (propoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclobutyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-thienylmethoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-methyl-prop-2-enyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-phenoxyethoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-2-enyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-3-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopentyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3- (2-fluorophenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (n-propoxy) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-N- (furan-3-ylmethoxy) -2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-bromo-N- (but-2-enyloxy) -3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-bromo-N-butoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-but-2-enyloxy) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-methyl-pent-2-en-4-ynyloxy) -benzamide ; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-benzyl) -N- [5- (3-methoxy-phenyl) -3-methyl-pent-2- En-4-ynyloxy] -benzamide; 5-bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- [3- (3-methoxy-phenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy ] -Benzamide; 5-bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (thiophen-2-ylmethoxy) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (pyridin-3-ylmethoxy) -benzamide; 5-Bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3- (2-fluorophenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy) Benzamide; 5-bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (ethoxy) -benzamide; 5-bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopropylmethoxy) -benzamide; 5-bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (isopropoxy) -benzamide; 5-bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-3-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy) -benzamide; 5-chloro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-methoxy-benzamide; 4-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-phenylmethoxy-benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-phenylmethoxy-benzamide; 5-Fluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N-phenylmethoxy-benzamide; 5-fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-phenylprop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3-furylmethoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-thienylmethoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-3-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-methyl-prop-2-enyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (but-2-enyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (methoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (ethoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclobutoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (isopropoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (2-phenoxyethoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopropylmethoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (n-propoxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (1-methyl-prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (3- (3-fluorophenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4,4-dimethylpent-2-ynyloxy) -benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (4-bromo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (cyclopentoxy) -benzamide; 3,4,5-trifluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-bromo-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide; N-hydroxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-nitro-benzamide; 3,4,5-trifluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide; 5-Chloro-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide; 5-bromo-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; 2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-nitro-benzamide; 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4,5-trifluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; 5-chloro-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; 5-bromo-2- (2-bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-methyl-benzamide; 2- (2-bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4,5-trifluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; 2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-chloro-3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; 2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-nitro-benzamide; 4-fluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide; 3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-hydroxy-benzamide; 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -4-fluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; 2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -4-fluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; 2- (2-bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -3,4-difluoro-N-hydroxy-benzamide; N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-bromo-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-cyclopropylmethoxy-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -4-nitro-benzamide; N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-Chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide; 5-bromo-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide; N-cyclopropylmethoxy-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -4-nitro-benzamide; 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluoro-benzamide; 5-chloro-2- (2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide; 5-bromo-2- (2-bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-ethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide; 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-ethoxy-4-nitro-benzamide; 2- (2-bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluoro-benzamide; 2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -5-chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide; 2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-nitro-benzamide; N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide; N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -benzamide; 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluoro-benzamide; 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide; 2- (2-Bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluoro-benzamide; And A composition having a formula selected from 2- (2-bromo-4-iodo-phenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide. 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -5-chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide; 2- (4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-5-chloro-3,4-difluorobenzamide; 2- (4-iodophenylamino) -5-chloro-3,4-difluorobenzoic acid; 2- (2-Chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -5-chloro-3,4-difluorobenzoic acid; 5-Chloro-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methylphenylamino) -benzoic acid; And an antiarthritis effective amount of a compound selected from 5-chloro-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methylphenylamino) -benzamide A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prophylaxis of arthritis in a patient suffering from and in need thereof, or at risk of developing arthritis. 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide; 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-fluorobenzamide; 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide; 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide; 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclobutylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide; 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide; 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-3,4-difluoro-5-bromobenzamide; 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclobutylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide; 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-4-fluorobenzamide; 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-hydroxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide; 2- (2-methyl-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluorobenzamide; And Is suffering from arthritis, comprising an effective antiarthritis amount of a compound selected from 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluorobenzamide and in need of treatment A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prevention of arthritis in a patient at risk of developing arthritis. The compound of claim 15, wherein the compound is 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide, 2- (2-methyl-4- Iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4,5-trifluorobenzamide; And 2- (2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino) -N-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-fluorobenzamide. The compound of claim 8, wherein the MEK inhibitor is Z is COOR ₇ ; R ₇ is H, pentafluorophenyl, or tetrazolyl; R ₃ , R ₄ and R ₅ are independently compounds of formula I wherein H, fluoro, or chloro. The compound of claim 8, wherein the MEK inhibitor is Z is COOR ₇ ; R ₇ is H, pentafluorophenyl, or tetrazolyl; Two of R ₃ , R ₄ and R ₅ are independently fluoro. 2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -5-nitro-N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide; 5-Fluoro-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide; 5-iodo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide; And I am suffering from arthritis, including an antiarthritis effective amount of a compound selected from 5-bromo-2- (4-iodo-2-methyl-phenylamino) -N- (4-sulfamoyl-benzyl) -benzamide A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing arthritis in a patient in need thereof or at risk of developing arthritis.