WO2007122591A2

WO2007122591A2 - Pyrazolo-tetrahydro pyridine derivatives as orexin receptor antagonists

Info

Publication number: WO2007122591A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/051522
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hamed Aissaoui; Christoph Boss; Markus Gude; Ralf Koberstein; Thierry Sifferlen
Original assignee: Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Priority date: 2006-04-26
Filing date: 2007-04-25
Publication date: 2007-11-01
Also published as: US7834028B2; CN101432285A; CA2647077A1; JP2009535324A; EP2013209A2; DE602007012072D1; ATE496051T1; WO2007122591A3; EP2013209B1; US20090099228A1

Abstract

The invention relates to novel pyrazolo-tetrahydropyridines compounds and their use as orexin receptor antagonists.

Description

Novel pyrazolo-tetrahydropyridine derivatives

The present invention relates to novel compounds of formula (I) and/or (Ia) and their use as pharmaceuticals. The invention also concerns related aspects including processes for the preparation of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more compounds of formula (I) and/or (Ia), and especially their use as orexin receptor antagonists.

Orexins (orexin A or OX-A and orexin B or OX-B) are novel neuropeptides found in 1998 by two research groups, orexin A is a 33 amino acid peptide and orexin B is a 28 amino acid peptide (Sakurai T. et al., Cell, 1998, 92, 573-585). Orexins are produced in discrete neurons of the lateral hypothalamus and bind to the G- protein-coupled receptors (OXi and OX₂ receptors). The orexin-1 receptor (OXi) is selective for OX-A, and the orexin-2 receptor (OX₂) is capable to bind OX-A as well as OX-B. Orexins are found to stimulate food consumption in rats suggesting a physiological role for these peptides as mediators in the central feedback mechanism that regulates feeding behaviour (Sakurai T. et al., Cell, 1998, 92, 573-585). On the other hand, it was also observed that orexins regulate states of sleep and wakefulness opening potentially novel therapeutic approaches to narcolepsy as well as insomnia and other sleep disorders (Chemelli R.M. et al., Cell, 1999, 98, 437-451 ).

Orexin receptors are found in the mammalian brain and may have numerous implications in pathologies such as dysthymic, mood, psychotic and anxiety disorders; diabetes and appetite, taste, eating, or drinking disorders; hypothalamic diseases; disturbed biological and circadian rhythms; sleep disturbances associated with diseases such as neurological disorders, neuropathic pain and restless leg syndrome; insomnias related to psychiatric disorders; sleep apnea; narcolepsy; idiopathic insomnias; parasomnias; benign prostatic hypertrophy; all dementias and cognitive dysfunctions in the healthy population and in psychiatric and neurologic disorders; and other diseases related to general orexin system dysfunctions. The present invention provides substituted 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1 ,2- a]pyrazine and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[1 ,5-a]pyrazine derivatives, which are non-peptide antagonists of human orexin receptors, in particular OX2 receptors. These compounds are in particular of potential use in the treatment of e.g. eating disorders, drinking disorders, sleep disorders, or cognitive dysfunctions in psychiatric and neurologic disorders.

Up to now, some low molecular weight compounds are known having a potential to antagonise either specifically OX1 or OX₂, or both receptors at the same time. In WO01/85693, Banyu Pharmaceuticals claimed N-acyltetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives. Other orexin receptor antagonists such as novel benzazepine derivatives (WO02/051838), and 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives (WO01/68609, WO2004/085403) are disclosed by Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Furthermore, the use of solution-phase chemistry for the lead optimization of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives as potential orexin receptor antagonists has been reported (Chimia, 2003, 57, 5, 270-275).

A first aspect of the invention consists of a compound of the general formula I

General Formula I

wherein Y represents -CH₂-CH₂-;

R¹ represents 1 ,3-benzodioxole or a phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group can be mono-, di-, or th-substituted, wherein the substituents are independently selected from the group consisting of

halogen and trifluoromethyl; R² represents (Ci_-4)alkyl; R³ represents (Ci_-4)alkyl;

R⁴ represents a phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is unsubstituted or independently mono-, di-, or trisubstituted wherein the substituents are independently selected from the group consisting of (Ci_-4)alkyl and halogen; R⁵ represents (Ci_-4)alkyl.

The compounds of the general formula I and/or Ia (see below) contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms and may be prepared in form of optically pure enantiomers, mixtures of enantiomers such as racemates, diastereomers, mixtures of diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, mixtures of diastereomeric racemates, or meso-forms.

The compounds of the general formula I and/or Ia (see below) also encompass the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In the present description the term "halogen" means fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine and preferably fluorine or chlorine. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the term "halogen" means fluorine.

The term "(Ci_-4)alkyl", alone or in combination, means a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of (Ci_-4)alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl or tert- butyl; in analogy the term

means a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group with 2 to 4 carbon atoms; the term

means a methyl or ethyl group. Preferred are methyl and ethyl.

For the substituent R² or R⁵ the term "(Ci_-4)alkyl" preferably means methyl. For the substituent R³, the term "(Ci_-4)alkyl" preferably means methyl, ethyl or butyl.

The term "aryl", alone or in combination, means a phenyl or a naphthyl group.

Preferred is a phenyl group. The aryl group may also be independently mono-, di-

, or trisubstituted wherein the substituents are independently selected from the group consisting of

halogen, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, NR⁸R⁹, N(R⁸)C(O)R⁹, and C(O)NR⁸R⁹. Preferred substituents are independently selected from the group consisting of (Ci_-4)alkyl, halogen and trifluoromethyl. Examples are trifluoromethyl-phenyl (eg 4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl), chloro-phenyl (2-chloro-phenyl, 3-chloro-phenyl and 4-chloro-phenyl), methyl- phenyl (eg 2-methyl-phenyl, 3-methyl-phenyl, 4-methyl-phenyl), dimethyl-phenyl

(eg 2,3-dimethyl-phenyl, 2,4-dimethyl-phenyl), dimethoxy-phenyl (eg 2,5- dimethoxy-phenyl, 2,4-dimethoxy-phenyl), fluoro-methoxy-phenyl (eg 3-fluoro-4- methoxy-phenyl), dichloro-phenyl (eg 2,4-dichloro-phenyl), difluoro-phenyl (eg 3,4- difluoro-phenyl).

R¹ is preferably substituted by methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, trifluoromethyl, fluorine, chlorine, or methoxy. More preferred R¹ is substituted by methyl, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, fluorine or chlorine. Said groups are preferred substituents for the aryl group.

For the substituent R⁴ the term "aryl" preferably means phenyl. The expression pharmaceutically acceptable salts encompasses either salts with inorganic acids or organic acids like hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, phosphorous acid, nitrous acid, citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, benzoic acid, mandelic acid, cinnamic acid, pamoic acid, stearic acid, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, ethanedisulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, succinic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, and the like that are non toxic to living organisms or, in case the compound of formula (I) and/or (Ia) is acidic in nature, with an inorganic base like an alkali or earth alkali base, e.g. sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and the like. For other examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts, reference can be made notably to "Salt selection for basic drugs", Int. J. Pharm. (1986), 33, 201- 217.

Salt-forming groups are groups having basic or acidic properties. Compounds having at least one basic group, for example amino, a secondary amino group not forming a peptide bond or a pyridyl group, may form acid addition salts, for example with inorganic acids. When several basic groups are present mono- or poly-acid addition salts may be formed.

Compounds having acidic groups, such as a carboxyl group or a phenolic hydroxy group, may form metal or ammonium salts, such as alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, for example sodium, potassium, magnesium or calcium salts, or ammonium salts with ammonia or suitable organic amines, such as tertiary monoamines, for example triethylamine or tri-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amine, or heterocyclic bases, for example Λ/-ethyl-piperidine or Λ/,Λ/'-dimethylpiperazine. Mixtures of salts are possible.

Compounds having both acidic and basic groups can form internal salts / zwitterions.

For the purposes of isolation or purification, as well as in the case of compounds that represent intermediates, it is as well possible to use pharmaceutically unacceptable salts, e.g. the picrates. However, only pharmaceutically acceptable, non-toxic salts may be used for therapeutic purposes, and are therefore preferred.

The present invention encompasses all these forms. Mixtures can be separated in a manner known per se, e.g. by column chromatography, thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), or crystallization. The present invention encompasses also solvation complexes of compounds of general formula I and/or Ia. The solvation can be effected in the course of the manufacturing process or can take place separately, e.g. as a consequence of hygroscopic properties of an initially anhydrous compound of general formula I and/or Ia. The compounds specifically mentioned above contain two centers of chirality. The more preferred stereoisomers exhibit the chirality as depicted below (see general formula Ia):

R-chirality

General Formula Ia

S-chirality A further embodiment of the invention are compounds of formula I and/or Ia wherein

Y represents -CH₂-CH₂-;

halogen and trifluoromethyl; R² represents (Ci_-4)alkyl; R³ represents (Ci_-4)alkyl; R⁴ represents a phenyl group; R⁵ represents (Ci_-4)alkyl.

A further embodiment of the invention are compounds of formula I and/or Ia wherein

Y represents -CH₂-CH₂-;

R¹ represents 1 ,3-benzodioxole or a phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group can be mono-, di-, or th-substituted, wherein the substituents are independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, fluorine, chlorine and trifluoromethyl;

R² represents methyl;

R³ represents ethyl; R⁴ represents a phenyl group;

R⁵ represents methyl.

Especially preferred compounds are listed below:

2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(4-ethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyhdin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(2,3-Difluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,3,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-[1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-(2-p-tolyl-ethyl)-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3- c]pyridin-5-yl]-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(4-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-[4-(2-Benzo[1 ,3]dioxol-5-yl-ethyl)-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl]-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(4-isopropyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(2,3-Difluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{4-[2-(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1 ,3-Dimethyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyndin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-[1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-(2-m-tolyl-ethyl)-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3- c]pyridin-5-yl]-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-[1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-(2-o-tolyl-ethyl)-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3- c]pyridin-5-yl]-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Butyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Benzyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

N-Methyl-2-{3-methyl-1-phenethyl-4-[2-(4-tπfluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]- 1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-2-phenyl-acetamide;

N-Methyl-2-{3-methyl-1-(2,2,2-tπfluoro-ethyl)-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl- phenyO-ethyO-I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-yl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{4-[2-(2,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(2,4-Difluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,3,4-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{4-[2-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl- I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(2,3-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl- I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{4-[2-(2,6-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-

I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; Out of this group of compounds, especially preferred compounds are:

2-{4-[2-(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyhdin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo[ 4,3-,c ]pyrdin-5-yl}-N- -methyl-2phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- - tetrahydro-pyrazolo [4,3--c] pyridin -5-yl -N-methyl-2--phenyl-acetamide; 2-{4-[2-(2,3-Difluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3- c]pyridin-5-yl}N-methyl-2phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(4-ethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl- 1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4 , 3--c] pyridin -5- yl}--N-methyl-2phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethy-l-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo[ 4,3--c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyll-2--phenyl-acetamide;

The compounds of the general formula I and/or Ia are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of the diseases mentioned herein.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prevention of the diseases mentioned herein, said method comprising administering to a subject a pharmaceutically active amount of a compound of general formula I and/or Ia. A further aspect of the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I and/or Ia and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier material. These pharmaceutical compositions may be used for the treatment or prevention of the above-mentioned diseases. The pharmaceutical compositions can be used for enteral, parenteral, or topical administration. They can be administered, for example, peroral, e.g. in the form of tablets, coated tablets, dragees, hard and soft gelatine capsules, solutions, emulsions or suspensions, nasal, e.g. in the form of sprays, rectal, e.g. in the form of suppositories, parenteral, e.g. in the form of injection solutions or infusion solutions, or topical, e.g. in the form of ointments, creams or oils. The invention also relates to the use of a compound of general formula I and/or Ia for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment and/or prevention of the above-mentioned diseases.

The production of the pharmaceutical compositions can be effected in a manner which will be familiar to any person skilled in the art (see for example Mark Gibson, Editor, Pharmaceutical Preformulation and Formulation, IHS Health Group, Englewood, CO, USA, 2001 ; Remington, The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20th Edition, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science) by bringing the described compounds of general formula I and/or Ia and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, optionally in combination with other therapeutically valuable substances, into a galenical administration form together with suitable, non-toxic, inert, therapeutically compatible solid or liquid carrier materials and, if desired, usual pharmaceutical adjuvants. The compounds of general formula I and/or Ia or the above-mentioned pharmaceutical compositions may also be used in combination with one or more other therapeutically useful substances.

The present invention also relates to pro-drugs of a compound of general formula I and/or Ia that convert in vivo to the compound of general formula I and/or Ia as such. Any reference to a compound of general formula I and/or Ia is therefore to be understood as referring also to the corresponding pro-drugs of the compound of general formula I and/or Ia, as appropriate and expedient. Compounds as described above have IC₅₀ values below 150 nM at least on one of the orexin receptors, which have been determined with the FLIPR (Fluorometric Imaging Plates Reader) method described in the experimental section. Preferred compounds are active against both, the OXi and OX₂ receptors.

The compounds according to formula (I) and/or (Ia) are useful in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of diseases selected from the group consisting of dysthymic, mood, psychotic and anxiety disorders; diabetes and appetite, taste, eating, or drinking disorders; hypothalamic diseases; disturbed biological and circadian rhythms; sleep disturbances associated with diseases such as neurological disorders, neuropathic pain and restless leg syndrome; insomnias related to psychiatric disorders; sleep apnea; narcolepsy; idiopathic insomnias; parasomnias; benign prostatic hypertrophy; all dementias and cognitive dysfunctions in the healthy population and in psychiatric and neurologic disorders; and other diseases related to general orexin system dysfunctions.

Compounds of formula (I) and/or (Ia) are particularly suitable for use in the treatment of diseases or disorders selected from the group consisting of eating or drinking disorders, all types of sleep disorders, or cognitive dysfunctions in the healthy population and in psychiatric and neurologic disorders. Eating disorders may be defined as comprising metabolic dysfunction; dysregulated appetite control; compulsive obesities; emeto-bulimia or anorexia nervosa. Pathologically modified food intake may result from disturbed appetite (attraction or aversion for food); altered energy balance (intake vs. expenditure); disturbed perception of food quality (high fat or carbohydrates, high palatability); disturbed food availability (unrestricted diet or deprivation) or disrupted water balance. Drinking disorders include polydipsias in psychiatric disorders and all other types of excessive fluid intake. Sleep disorders include all types of insomnias, narcolepsy and other disorders of excessive sleepiness, sleep-related dystonias; restless leg syndrome; sleep apneas; jet-lag syndrome; shift-work syndrome, delayed or advanced sleep phase syndrome or insomnias related to psychiatric disorders. Insomnias are defined as comprising sleep disorders associated with aging; intermittent treatment of chronic insomnia; situational transient insomnia (new environment, noise) or short-term insomnia due to stress; grief; pain or illness.

Cognitive dysfunctions include deficits in all types of attention, learning and memory functions occurring transiently or chronically in the normal, healthy, young, adult or aging population, and also occurring transiently or chronically in psychiatric, neurologic, cardiovascular and immune disorders. The compounds of the general formula I and/or Ia of the present invention may be prepared according to the procedures described herein, especially as described in the experimental part.

The compounds according to general formula (I) and/or (Ia) are useful in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of diseases selected from the group consisting of dysthymic disorders including major depression and cyclothymia, affective neurosis, all types of manic depressive disorders, delirium, psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, catatonic schizophrenia, delusional paranoia, adjustment disorders and all clusters of personality disorders; schizoaffective disorders; anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, all types of phobic anxiety and avoidance; separation anxiety; all psychoactive substance use, abuse, seeking and reinstatement; all types of psychological or physical addictions, dissociative disorders including multiple personality syndromes and psychogenic amnesias; sexual and reproductive dysfunction; psychosexual dysfunction and addiction; tolerance to narcotics or withdrawal from narcotics; increased anaesthetic risk, anaesthetic responsiveness; hypothalamic-adrenal dysfunctions; disturbed biological and circadian rhythms; sleep disturbances associated with diseases such as neurological disorders including neuropathic pain and restless leg syndrome; sleep apnea; narcolepsy; chronic fatigue syndrome; insomnias related to psychiatric disorders; all types of idiopathic insomnias and parasomnias; sleep-wake schedule disorders including jet-lag; all dementias and cognitive dysfunctions in the healthy population and in psychiatric and neurological disorders; mental dysfunctions of aging; all types of amnesia; severe mental retardation; dyskinesias and muscular diseases; muscle spasticity, tremors, movement disorders; spontaneous and medication-induced dyskinesias; neurodegenerative disorders including Huntington's, Creutzfeld-Jacob's, Alzheimer's diseases and Tourette syndrome; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Parkinson's disease; Cushing's syndrome; traumatic lesions; spinal cord trauma; head trauma; perinatal hypoxia; hearing loss; tinnitus; demyelinating diseases; spinal and cranial nerve diseases; ocular damage; retinopathy; epilepsy; seizure disorders; absence seizures , complex partial and generalized seizures; Lennox- Gastaut syndrome; migraine and headache; pain disorders; anaesthesia and analgesia; enhanced or exaggerated sensitivity to pain such as hyperalgesia, causalgia, and allodynia; acute pain; burn pain; atypical facial pain; neuropathic pain; back pain; complex regional pain syndrome I and II; arthritic pain; sports injury pain; dental pain; pain related to infection e.g. by HIV; post-chemotherapy pain; post-stroke pain; post-operative pain; neuralgia; osteoarthritis; conditions associated with visceral pain such as irritable bowel syndrome; eating disorders; diabetes; toxic and dysmetabolic disorders including cerebral anoxia, diabetic neuropathies and alcoholism; appetite, taste, eating, or drinking disorders; somatoform disorders including hypochondriasis; vomiting/nausea; emesis; gastric dyskinesia; gastric ulcers; Kallman's syndrome (anosmia); impaired glucose tolerance; intestinal motility dyskinesias; hypothalamic diseases; hypophysis diseases; hyperthermia syndromes, pyrexia, febrile seizures, idiopathic growth deficiency; dwarfism; gigantism; acromegaly; basophil adenoma; prolactinoma; hyperprolactinemia; brain tumors , adenomas; benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer; endometrial, breast, colon cancer; all types of testicular dysfunctions, fertility control; reproductive hormone abnormalities; hot flashes; hypothalamic hypogonadism, functional or psychogenic amenorrhea; urinary bladder incontinence asthma; allergies; all types of dermatitis, acne and cysts, sebaceous gland dysfunctions; cardiovascular disorders; heart and lung diseases, acute and congestive heart failure; hypotension; hypertension; dyslipidemias, hyperlipidemias, insulin resistance; urinary retention; osteoporosis; angina pectoris; myocardial infarction; arrhythmias, coronary diseases, left ventricular hypertrophy; ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke; all types of cerebrovascular disorders including subarachnoid haemorrhage, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and vascular dementia; chronic renal failure and other renal diseases; gout; kidney cancer; urinary incontinence; and other diseases related to general orexin system dysfunctions. Compounds of general formula (I) and/or (Ia) are particularly suitable for use in the treatment of diseases or disorders selected from the group consisting of all types of sleep disorders, of stress-related syndromes, of psychoactive substance use and abuse, of cognitive dysfunctions in the healthy population and in psychiatric and neurologic disorders, of eating or drinking disorders. Eating disorders may be defined as comprising metabolic dysfunction; dysregulated appetite control; compulsive obesities; emeto-bulimia or anorexia nervosa. Pathologically modified food intake may result from disturbed appetite (attraction or aversion for food); altered energy balance (intake vs. expenditure); disturbed perception of food quality (high fat or carbohydrates, high palatability); disturbed food availability (unrestricted diet or deprivation) or disrupted water balance. Drinking disorders include polydipsias in psychiatric disorders and all other types of excessive fluid intake. Sleep disorders include all types of parasomnias, insomnias, narcolepsy and other disorders of excessive sleepiness, sleep-related dystonias; restless leg syndrome; sleep apneas; jet-lag syndrome; shift-work syndrome, delayed or advanced sleep phase syndrome or insomnias related to psychiatric disorders. Insomnias are defined as comprising sleep disorders associated with aging; intermittent treatment of chronic insomnia; situational transient insomnia (new environment, noise) or short-term insomnia due to stress; grief; pain or illness. Insomnia also include stress-related syndromes including post-traumatic stress disorders as well as other types and subtypes of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks and all types of phobic anxiety and avoidance; psychoactive substance use, abuse, seeking and reinstatement are defined as all types of psychological or physical addictions and their related tolerance and dependence components. Cognitive dysfunctions include deficits in all types of attention, learning and memory functions occurring transiently or chronically in the normal, healthy, young, adult or aging population, and also occurring transiently or chronically in psychiatric, neurologic, cardiovascular and immune disorders. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention compounds of general formula (I) and (Ia) are particularly suitable for use in the treatment of diseases or disorders selected from the group consisting of sleep disorders that comprises all types of insomnias, narcolepsy and other disorders of excessive sleepiness, sleep-related dystonias, restless leg syndrome, sleep apneas, jet-lag syndrome, shift-work syndrome, delayed or advanced sleep phase syndrome or insomnias related to psychiatric disorders.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention compounds of general formula (I) and/or (Ia) are particularly suitable for use in the treatment of diseases or disorders selected from the group consisting of cognitive dysfunctions that comprise deficits in all types of attention, learning and memory functions occurring transiently or chronically in the normal, healthy, young, adult or aging population, and also occurring transiently or chronically in psychiatric, neurologic, cardiovascular and immune disorders.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention compounds of general formula (I) and/or (Ia) are particularly suitable for use in the treatment of diseases or disorders selected from the group consisting of eating disorders that comprise metabolic dysfunction; dysregulated appetite control; compulsive obesities; emeto-bulimia or anorexia nervosa.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention compounds of general formula (I) and/or (Ia) are particularly suitable for use in the treatment of diseases or disorders selected from the group consisting of psychoactive substance use and abuse that comprise all types of psychological or physical addictions and their related tolerance and dependence components.

General methods for the preparation of compounds of general formula I and/or Ia:

R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and Y are as defined in general formula I above, X represents OH or Cl and Z represents Br or OTs; The preparation of an example for intermediates F is descirbed in WO05/1 18548.

Intermediate A is reacted with the unsymmetrical hydrazine B to give via a 6-step sequence (see experimental part) the 2,5-di-substituted pyrazole-3-yl-ethylamine C in a regioselective manner. In case Y shall represent -CH2-CH2- in the final compounds, the intermediate C is reacted with an aldehyde-derivative D under Pictet-Spengler conditions and microwave irradiation to give precursor E which can be N-alkylated by compounds F to give final orexin receptor antagonists G. In case Y shall represent -CH₂- or -CH₂-O- in the final compounds G, the intermediate C is reacted with carboxylic acid derivatives under amide-bond forming conditions to give the amide-intermediates \ which are transformed to the cyclic imines J under Bischler-Napieralski conditions followed by imine reduction to give the amine precursors E. By N-alkylation with derivatives F, the final orexin receptor antagonists G could be obtained. (The Bischler-Napieralski pathway is as well suitable for the preparation of compounds wherein Y represents -CH₂- CH₂-; The Pictet-Spengler pathway is not suitable for the preparation of compounds wherein Y represents -CH₂- or -CH₂-O- as the aldehyde intermediates D comprising these structural features are not stable enough to react via the desired pathway under the conditions applied in the Pictet-Spengler reaction to prepare intermediates E).

The compounds of the formula A, B, D, F and JH are either commercially available, or can be synthesized according to methods known in the art.

R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and Y are as defined in general formula I above, X represents OH or Cl and Z represents Br or OTs; For general methods see also WO 00/168609 and WO 02/051838 and WO 04/085403

In a slightly different route the intermediate E is reacted with ester derivatives K (instead of amide derivatives F) to give intermediate L, which can either be directly transformed into the final compounds G by reacting the ester with an amine derivative U or which can first be hydrolyzed to the acid intermediate M followed by reaction with an amine N to give final compounds G. The compounds of the formula t± and K are either commercially available, or can be synthesized according to methods known in the art.

In general, all chemical transformations can be performed according to well- known standard methodologies as described in the literature or as described in the procedures below.

Preparation of compounds of general formula I and/or Ia:

MeOH P-TsOH

Scheme 1.1 : Synthesis of pyrazole precursors The preparation of the pyrazole-3-yl-ethylamine-derivatives started by the coupling of diketene (1) and Meldrum's acid (2) in a solvent like DCM in the presence of a base like TEA to give after acidc work-up the intermediate 3. Reaction of compound 3 with an appropriate hydrazine derivative (e.g. ethylhydrazine (4)) in solvent like methanol in the presence of a base like TEA resulted in the formation of the pyrazole-derivative 5. Hydrolysis under acidic conditions (with e.g. p-TsOH in methanol) resulted in the formation of the methylester 6 which was efficiently transformed to the primary amide 7 by stirring it in methanolic ammonia (7M) for 20 h. Dehydration of 7 to prepare the nitrile 8 was accomplished by reaction with TFAA in dioxane in the presence of pyridine. Reduction of the nitirle 8 to the Boc-protected pyrazole-3-yl-ethylamine-dehvative 9 was accomplished by the use of sodium-borohydride and catalytic amounts of

The following compounds were prepared along the same sequence

20 21 22 23

Scheme 1.2: Preparation of 2-substituted 5-methyl-pyrazol-3-yl-ethylamines

Nickel(ll)-chloride in methanol in the presence of BoC₂O. Deprotection to the free amine hydrochloride was achieved via a standard procedure with 4M HCI in dioxane to give, after suspending it in diethylether, filtering and drying, 10 as a white powder. In order to obtain the free amine 12, the nitrile precursor 8 was reduced to the amine-intermediate by LAH. After work-up according to the "Corey-proceudre" the crude product was dissolved in a mixture of diethylether / THF followed by the addition of an aqueous base (e.g. 1 M sodium bicarbonate) and benzyl chloroformiate to give the Cbz-protected amine 11 which could then be purified by column chromatography and after purification deprotected by hydrogenolysis to give the desired compound 12. Whether compound 10 or compound 12 were prepared was dependent on the subsequent transformations intended.

Scheme 1.2 summarizes the preparation of further regioselectively unsymmethcally substituted pyrazole-3-yl-ethylamines. The synthesis again starts from the regioselective condensation of precursor 5 with an unsymmethcal hydrazine-derivative (e.g. benzylhydrazine 13) to give the pyrazole-intermediate 14 which after hydrolysis / decarboxylation resulted in the ester 15. Reduction of the ester 15 with LAH gave the alcohol 16, which after deprotonation with sodium hydride in DMF was transformed into the tosylate-intermediate and followed by the addition of potassium phthalimide (Gabriel synthesis) to give the amine- precursor 18. Hydrazine cleavage of the phthalimide resulted in the formation of the 2-benzyl substituted pyrazole-3-yl-ethylamine derivative 19. Compounds 20 to 23 were prepared according to the same sequence of transformations.

According to this 2 step procedure the following phenyl-propanal derivatives were prepared:

Scheme 2: Preparation of substituted 3-phenyl-propionaldehyde precursors

In case the hydrocinnamic acid derivatives were commercially available the 3- phenyl-propionaldehydes were prepared by the two step sequence depicted in Scheme 2; e.g. 4-trifluoromethyl-hydrocinnamic acid (24) was reduced to the 3- (4-Trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propan-1-ol (25) according to standard protocols with borane in THF (1 M). Oxidation to the aldehyde 26 was achieved by PCC in DCM according to a standard protocol developed by Corey et al. The substituted 3- phenyl-propionaldehydes 27 to 39 were synthesized according to the exact same procedure. Due to the fact that the 3-phenylpropananal-compounds were only of limited stability, they were usually prepared just before their use in the subsequent Pictet-Spengler-reacύon. 41

Tho following compounds were prepared according to the same sequence:

Scheme 3: Preparation of substituted phenyl-propionaldehydes In case neither the cinnamic acids nor the hydrocinnamic acids were available, the phenylpropionaldehyde derivatives were prepared according to the procedure depicted in Scheme 3 and as for example starting with a Knoevenagel condensation of a 3-thfluoromethyl-benzaldehyde 40 with malonic acid (41 ) in pyridine in the presence of piperidine to give, after acidic work-up, the cinnamic acid derivative 42. Catalytic hydrogenation under standard conditions (1 bar H₂; Pd-C 10%; methanol; rt; 3h) led to the hydrocinnamic acid compound 43. The acid function was subsequently reduced by BH₃ in THF to give the alcohol 44 followed by PCC-oxidation to give the desired aldehyde 45. Compounds 46 to 64 can be prepared according to the same synthetic sequence.

68 69

The following compounds were prepared according to the same sequence:

Scheme 4: Preparation of further substituted phenyl-propionaldehydes

In Scheme 4 an alternative pathway for the preparation of substituted phenylpropionylaldehydes is depicted. 2-Fluoro-3-methylbenzylbromide (65) is reacted with diethylmalonate to give intermediate 66. Esterhydrolysis under basic conditions followed by decarboxylation under acidic conditions resulted in the hydrocinnamic acid intermediate 67. Subsequent borane-reduction (-> alcohol 68) and PCC-oxidation led to the desired substituted phenyl-propionaldehyde 69. Compounds 70 and 71 can be prepared according to the same synthetic sequence.

Scheme 5: Synthesis of final compounds (e.g. Example 1 )

Scheme 5 summarizes the sequence applied for the preparation of 4-"phenethyl"- substituted examples. For example the pyrazol-ethylamine derivative 12 can be reacted with the phenyl-propionaldehyde 26 in ethanol in the presence of 2 equivalents of acetic acid in the microwave oven for 6 minutes (100 Watt; 130°C, 14 bar) to give after HPLC purification the secondary amine-intermediates 72. S_N2-reaction with the tosylate 73 (described in WO 2005/118548) in methyl-iso- butyl-ketone at 90°C for 24 h under inert conditions led to the final compound 74 (Example 1 ). Examples 2 to 42 could be prepared according to the sequence described in Scheme 5. The following examples illustrate the invention but do not limit the scope thereof. All temperatures are stated in °C.

Abbreviations (as used herein) aq. aqueous

Boc tert.-butyloxycarbonyl

DCM dichloromethane

DMF dimethylformamide

DMSO dimethylsulfoxide

EDC N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethyl-carbodiimid

ELSD Evaporative Light-Scattering Detection

Et ethyl

EtOAc ethyl acetate h hour(s)

HPLC High Performance Liquid Chromatography

HV High Vacuum

LAH lithium aluminumhydride

LC-MS Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectroscopy min minute(s)

MS Mass Spectroscopy

PBS phosphate buffered saline

PyBOP benzothazole-1-yl-oxy-tris-pyrrolidino-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate

PCC pyridinium chlorochromate

P-TsOH para-toluenesulfonic acid rt room temperature sat. saturated

TBTU O-benzotriazol-1 -yl-Λ/,Λ/,Λ/',Λ/-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate

TEA triethylamine

TFA trifluoroacetic acid

TFAA trifluoroacetic anhydride THF tetrahydrofurane

TLC Thin Layer Chromatography t_R retention time

UV ultra violet

Vis visible

General Procedures and Examples:

HPLC conditions: Analytic: Zorbax 59 SB Aqua column, 4.6 x 50 mm from Agilent Technologies.

Eluents: A: acetonitrile; B: H₂O + 0.5% TFA. Gradient: 90% B → 5% B over 2 min. Flow: 1 mL/min. Detection: UV/Vis + MS.

Preparative: Zorbax SB Aqua column, 20 x 500 mm from Agilent Technologies.

Eluent: A: Acetonitrile; B: H₂O + 0.05% ammonium hydroxide (25% aq.). Gradient: 80% B → 10% B over 6 min. Flow: 40 mL/min. Detection: UV + MS, or UV + ELSD.

Chiral, analytic: Regis Whelk column, 4.6 x 250 mm, 10 μm. Eluent A: EtOH +

0.05% EtβN. Eluent B: hexane. lsocratic conditions, usually 60% B, over 40 min,

1 mL/min. The isocratic mixture may vary, depending on the compounds. Chiral, preparative: As analytical conditions, but on a Regis Whelk 01 column,

50x250 mm and a flow of 100 mL/min.

Preparation of precursors and intermediates:

In an inert atmosphere, meldrum's acid (50 g, 347 mmol) was dissolved in DCM (300 ml) and TEA (35.1 g, 347 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was cooled to 0°C followed by drop by drop addition of diketene (35 g, 416.3 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 h at r.t. cooled again to 0°C and 1 M hydrochloric acid solution (700 ml) was slowly added. The layers were separated and the organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 79.36 g (quantitative yield) of the product 5-(1 -hydroxy-3-oxo-butylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-[1 ,3]dioxane-4,6-dione as an orange solid. LC-MS: t_R = 0.55 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionisation.

5-(1-Hydroxy-3-oxo-butylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-[1 ,3]dioxane-4,6-dione (10 g, 44 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous methanol (140 ml) and cooled to 0°C followed by drop by drop addition of a solution of ethylhydrazine oxalate (7.24 g, 48.2 mmol) and TEA (9.75 g, 96.4 mmol) in anhydrous methanol (60 ml) with the help of a dropping funnel within 15 minutes. Upon completion of the addition, the mixture was slowly warmed to 60°C and stirring was continued for 90 minutes. The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure and further dried at HV for 15 minutes to give 11.5 g (quantitative yield) of the product 5-(2-ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-2,2-dimethyl-[1 ,3]dioxane-4,6-dione as an orange oil which was used in the next step without further purification. LC-MS: t_R = 0.52 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionisation.

5-(2-Ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-2,2-dimethyl-[1 ,3]dioxane-4,6-dione (11.05 g, 43.8 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous methanol (125 ml) followed by the addition of p-TsOH x H2O (36.68 g, 192.85 mmol). The resulting reaction mixture was heated to 60°C for 75 minutes, cooled to 0°C and thethylamine (26.85 ml, 192.9 mmol) was added drop by drop over a period of 20 minutes. The resulting mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was taken into DCM (200 ml) and washed with water (2 x 75 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (silicagel, DCM / methanol = 30 / 1 ) to give 5.56 g(70%) of (2-ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-acetic acid methyl ester. LC-MS: t_R = 0.62 min; [M+H]⁺ = 183.18.

(2-Ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-acetic acid methyl ester (4.64 g, 25.46 mmol) was dissolved in 7N ammonia in methanol (100 ml, 700 mmol NH3). The reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 2Oh. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure to give 4.25 g (quant, yield) of 2-(2-ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)- acetamide. LC-MS: t_R = 0.33 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionisation.

2-(2-Ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-acetamide (2.0 g, 11.96 mmol) was dissolved in dioxane (180 ml) followed by the addition of pyridine (1.89 g, 23.9 mmol). The resulting solution was cooled to 0°C and TFAA (2.76 g, 13.16 mmol) was added drop by drop. The suspension was then slowly warmed to rt and stirring was continued in total for 4 h. The volatiles were removed under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in DCM (150 ml), washed with water (2 x 100 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. After flash-chromatography (silicagel; DCM / methanol = 40 / 1 ), 1.58 g (88%) of (2-ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-acetonitrile was obtained. LC-MS: t_R = 0.65 min; [M+H]⁺ = 150.18.

LAH (806 mg, 21.22 mmol) was suspended in anhydrous diethylether (105 ml) at 0°C in an inert atmosphere. (2-Ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-acetonithle (1.58 g, 10.6 mmol) dissolved in diethylether (10 ml) was added dropwise at 0°C over a period of 11 minutes followed by the addition of anhydrous THF (115 ml). Stirring was continued for 2.5 h followed by careful addition of water (0.8 ml), 15% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (0.8 ml) and water (2.4 ml). Stirring was continued at rt for 10 minutes. The mixture was filtered, the filter cake was washed with diethylether and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude 2-(2-ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethylamine was further transformed to the Z-protected amine in the next step without prior purification. LC-MS: t_R = 0.2 min (broad peak); [M+H]⁺ = no ionization.

The crude primary amine 2-(2-ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethylamine

(theoretical amount: 1.62 g, 10.6 mmol) was dissolved in diethylether (115 ml), THF (115 ml) and water (55 ml) at 0°C followed by the addition of sodium bicarbonate (2.22 g, 26.5 mmol) and drop by drop addition of benzyl chloroformate (1.99 g, 11.7 mmol). Stirring was continued for 30 min. The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with diethylether (55 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification was accomplished by flash chromatography (DCM / methanol = 50 / 1 ) to give 881 mg (29%) of [2-(2-ethyl-5- methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethyl]-carbamic acid benzyl ester. LC-MS: t_R = 0.76 min; [M+H]⁺ = 288.24.

[2-(2-Ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethyl]-carbamic acid benzyl ester (818 mg, 2.85 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (8 ml) and added to a suspension of Pd-C (10%, 163 mg) in methanol (8 ml), put under an atmosphere of hydrogen (1 bar) and stirring at rt was continued for 45 minutes. The reaction mixture was filtered over a pad of celite and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give 408 mg (93.7%) of 2-(2-Ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethylamine. LC-MS: t_R = 0.20 min, broad peak; [M+H]⁺ = no ionization.

Step 1 :

5-(1-Hydroxy-3-oxo-butylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-[1 ,3]dioxane-4,6-dione (1 g, 4.4 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous methanol (8.1 ml) and cooled to 0°C followed by the addition of a solution of benzylhydrazine dihydrochloride (885 mg, 4.4 mmol) and TEA (979 mg, 9.7 mmol) in anhydrous methanol (6 ml). The reaction mixture was heated to 60°C for 2 h. Product was detected by LC-MS. Step 2 was performed without any prior work-up. LC-MS: tR = 0.66 min; [M+H]⁺ = 315.4. Step2: To the solution of 5-(2-benzyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-2,2-dimethyl- [1 ,3]dioxane-4,6-dione obtained in step 1 , pTsOH (3.74 g, 19.4 mmol) was added and stirring was continued for 2 h at 60°C. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0°C and TEA (1.96 g, 19.4 mmol) was added drop by drop. Stirring was continued for 15 minutes. The mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, the residue taken up into DCM (30 ml), washed with water (2 x 15 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 1.03 g (96%) of (2-benzyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-acetic acid methyl ester which was used in the next step without further purification. LC-MS: t_R = 0.83 min; [M+H]⁺ = 245.16.

LAH (250 mg, 6.6 mmol) was suspended in THF (18 ml) in an inert atmosphere and cooled to 0°C followed by the dropwise addition of a solution of (2-benzyl-5- methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-acetic acid methyl ester (1.07 g, 4.4 mmol) in THF (4 ml). Stirring was continued for 2 h at rt. At 0°C, water (0.25 ml), 15% aqueous NaOH- solution (0.25 ml) and again water (0.75 ml) were subsequently added. Stirring was continued for several hours followed by the addition of sodium sulfate and filtration. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give 850 mg (89%) of 2-(2-benzyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethanol directly used in the next step without further purification. LC-MS: t_R = 0.66 min; [M+H]⁺ = 217.15.

2-(2-Benzyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethanol (848 mg, 3.92 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (21 ml) and cooled to -20°C followed by the addition of sodium hydride (218 mg, 5.02 mmol). Stirring was continued at rt for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was again cooled to -20°C and toluene-4-suofonyl chloride (pTs-CI, 966 mg, 5.02 mmol) was added. The cooling bath was removed and stirring was continued for 2 h at rt and 30 minutes at 50°C followed by the addition of potassium phthalimid (1.7 g, 9.2 mmol). Stirring at 50°C was continued for 2h. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was taken up in DCM (30 ml) filtered again and the filtrate was washed with water (30 ml). The phases were separated. The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude material was purified by preparative HPLC to give 80 mg (6%) of 2-[2-(2-benzyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3- yl)-ethyl]-isoindole-1 ,3-dione. LC-MS: t_R = 0.95 min; [M+H]⁺ = 346.31.

2-[2-(2-benzyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethyl]-isoindole-1 ,3-dione (80 mg, 0.233 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (2 ml) followed by the addition of an 1 M solution of hydrazine in methanol (0.34 ml, 0.34 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 90°C for 16 h, cooled to rt and DCM (3 ml) was added and the suspension was filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give 40 mg (80%) 2-(2-benzyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethylamine. LC-MS: t_R = 0.58 min; [M+H]⁺ = 216.38.

According to the procedure described above for the preparation of 2-(2-benzyl-5- methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethylamine, the following four derivatives could be prepared:

LC-MS: LC-MS: LC-MS: LC-MS: t_R = 0.60 min t_R = 0.48 min t_R = 0.44 min t_R = 0.33 min

[M+H]⁺ = 230.31 [M+H]⁺ = 182.34 [M+H]⁺ = 208.28 [M+H]⁺ = 140.11

In an inert atmosphere, 3-(4-Thfluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionic acid (10 g, 45.8 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous THF (250 ml) and cooled to 0°C followed by the addition of a 1 M solution of borane in THF (69 ml, 69 mmol). Stirring was continued at 0°C for 1 h and 16 h at rt followed by slow addition of methanol (100 ml) and water (100 ml). The organic solvents were evaporated under reduced pressure. The remaining water phase was extracted with DCM (3 x 100 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with brine (100 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography (silicagel, DCM / methanol = 9/1 to give 9.25 g (99%) of 3-(4-Trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propan-1-ol. LC-MS: t_R = 0.89 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionisation.

In an inert atmosphere, 3-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propan-1-ol (1.02 g, 5 mmol) was dissolved in DCM (10 ml) and slowly added to a suspension of PCC (1.61 g, 7.5 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (15 ml). Stirring was continued for 4 h at rt. Anhydrous heptane (10 ml) was added to the reaction mixture followed by filtration over a pad of silicagel (15 g). The filtrate was evaporated to give 850 mg of 3-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionaldehyde. LC-MS: t_R = 0.94 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionisation.

According to the procedure described for the preparation of 3-(4-trifluoromethyl- phenyl)-propionaldehyde, the following substituted 3-phenyl-propionaldehyde derivatives were prepared:

t_R = 0.82 t_R = 0.95 t_R = 0.97

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

t_R = 0.91 t_R = 0.94 t_R = 0.88

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

t_R = 0.92 t_R = 0.85 t_R = 0.89

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

t_R = 0.88 t_R = 0.84 t_R = 0.85

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

= no inoization

In an inert atmosphere, 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde (13.26 g, 76.15 mmol) was dissolved in pyridine (58 ml) and malonic acid (15 g, 145 mmol) was added and the mixture was warmed to 50°C followed by slow addition (over 5 minutes) of piperidine (5.8 ml, 58.6 mmol). The resulting suspension was warmed to 75°C and stirring was continued for 3.5 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0°C and poured onto an ice-cold solution of concentrated hydrochloric acid (12 M, 32 ml) in water (400 ml). The precipitated product was filtered off and dried at HV to give 14.21 g (68%) of 3-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-acrylic acid. LC-MS: t_R = 0.88 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionisation.

In an inert atmosphere, Pd-C (10%, 2.84 g)was suspended in methanol (130 ml) followed by the addition of a solution of 3-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-acrylic acid (14.21 g, 65.7 mmol). The reaction mixture was put under an atmosphere of hydrogen (1 bar) and vigorously stirred for 2.5 h. The reaction mixture was filtered over a pad of celite and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 12.39 g (86 %) of 3-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionic acid. LC-MS: t_R = 0.87 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionisation.

3-(3-Trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionic acid (12.4 g, 57 mmol) was dissolved in THF (160 ml) in an inert atmosphere and cooled to 0°C followed by slow addition of borane in THF (85 ml, 85 mmol). Stirring was continued at 0°C for 1 h and at rt for 24 h. The mixture was cooled to 0°C and methanol (100 ml) and water (100 ml) was carefully added. The organic solvents were removed under reduced pressure. The remaining aqueous layer was extracted with DCM (3 x 100 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (silicagel, DCM / methanol = 9 / 1 ) to give 10.97 g (94%) of 3-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propan-1-ol. LC-MS: t_R = 0.87 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionisation.

According to the procedure described above for the preparation of 3-(4- trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionaldehyde by PCC-oxidation, 132 mg (44%) of 3-(3- trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionaldehyde {LC-MS: tR = 0.89 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionization} was obtained from 3-(3-thfluoromethyl-phenyl)-propan-1-ol (300 mg, 1.5 mmol).

According to the procedure described for the preparation of 3-(3-trifluoromethyl- phenyl)-propionaldehyde, the following substituted 3-phenyl-propionaldehyde derivatives were prepared:

t_R = 0.86 t_R = 0.98 t_R = 0.93

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

t_R = 0.88 t_R = 0.93 t_R = 0.96

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

t_R = 0.95 t_R = 0.94 t_R = 0.96

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

t_R = 0.96 t_R = 0.95 t_R = 0.87

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

t_R = 0.94 t_R = 0.93 IR = 1 .01

[M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization [M+H]⁺ = no inoization

= no inoization

To a suspension of sodium hydride (215 mg, 4.92 mmol) in dimethoxyethane (3 ml) was added dropwise a solution of diethyl malonate (868 mg, 5.42 mmol) in dimethoxyethane (2 ml) in an inert atmosphere at rt. Stirring was continued for 1 h followed by the addition of a solution of 2-fluoro-3-methyl-benzylbromide (1 g, 4.92 mmol) in dimethoxyethane (15 ml). The reaction mixture was refluxed for 90 minutes, cooled again to rt and water (5 ml) was carefully added. The diemthoxyethane was removed under reduced pressure, DCM (100 ml) was added and the organic layer was washed with water (100 ml), dried over magenisum sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (silicagel, DCM / heptane = 4 / 1 ) to give 973 mg (70%) of 2-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-benzyl)-malonic acid diethyl ester. LC-MS: t_R = 1.03 min; [M+H]⁺ = 283.22.

Potassium hydroxide (387 mg, 6.9 mmol) was dissolved in water (8 ml) followed by the addition of 2-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-benzyl)-malonic acid diethyl ester (973 mg, 3.44 mmol). The mixture was refluxed for 5 h followed by removal of the ethanol under reduced pressure. Concentrated sulfuric acid (0.59 ml) was added to the remaining aqueous solution and refluxing was continued for 18 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0°C and the precipitated product was filtered off, washed with water and dried at HV to give 433 mg (69%) of 3-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)- propionic acid. LC-MS: t_R = 0.84 min; [M+H]⁺ = 183.20.

According to procedures described above, 3-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-propionic acid (2.39 g, 13.12 mmol) was reduced by borane in THF to give 1.82 g (82.5%) of 3-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-propan-1-ol. LC-MS: t_R = 0.86 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionization.

According to procedures described above, 3-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-propan- 1-ol (300 mg, 1.78 mmol) was oxidized by PCC in DCM to give 178 mg (60%) of 3-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-propionaldehyde. LC-MS: t_R = 0.86 min; [M+H]⁺ = no ionization.

According to the procedure described for the preparation of 3-(2-fluoro-3-methyl- phenyl)-propionaldehyde, the following substituted 3-phenyl-propionaldehyde derivatives were prepared:

LC-MS: LC-MS: t_R = 0.95 IR = 1 .02

[M+H]⁺ = no ionization [M+H]⁺ = no ionization Preparation of final compounds:

Example 1 : 2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyndin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

2-(2-Ethyl-5-methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-ethylamine (148 mg, 0.97 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (3 ml) and acetic acid (116.5 mg. 1.94 mmol) was added followed by the addition of 3-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionaldehyde (197 mg, 0.97 mmol). The mixture was sealed and put in the microwave oven (100 Watts; 130°C, 14 bar, 6 minutes). The solvents were removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by prep. HPLC to give 113 mg (34.5%) of 1 -ethyl-3- methyl-4-[2-(4-thfluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1 H-pyrazolo[4,3- φyridine. LC-MS: t_R = 0.75 min; [M+H]⁺ = 338.22.

In an inert atmosphere, 1-ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-thfluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1 H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine (51 mg, 0.15 mmol) was dissolved in 3-methyl-2-butyl-ketone (MIBK) (1 ml) followed by the addition of DIPEA (21.3 mg, 0.165 mmol) and toluene-4-sulfonic acid methylcarbamoyl-phenyl-methyl ester (71.8 mg, 0.225 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to 90°C for 24 h, concentrated in vacuo and the crude product was purified by prep. HPLC to give 70 mg (95%) of 2-{1-ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide. LC-MS: t_R = 0.84 min; [M+H]⁺ = 485.28.

According to the procedure described for the preparation of example 1 the following examples 2 to 9 could be prepared:

Example 2: 2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(4-ethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyhdin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

22 5 mg yield Example 2

153 mg 162 mg 0 076 mmol 2 mg yield 1 mmol 1 mmol t_R = 0 75 min 0 0045 mmol [M+H]⁺ = 298 21 t_R = 0 85 min [M+H]⁺ = 445 26

Example 3: 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl- I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

884 mg yield Example 3

153 mg 220 mg 0 25 mmol 27 mg yield 1 mmol 1 mmol t_R = 0 76 min O 053 mmol [M+H]⁺ = 356 22 t_R = 0 85 min [M+H]⁺ = 503 22

Example 4: 2-{4-[2-(2,3-Difluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl- I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyndin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide :

87 9 mg yield Example 4

153 mg 184 mg 0 28 mmol 16 mg yield 1 mmol 1 mmol t_R = 0 74 min 0 084 mmol [M+H]⁺ = 320 17 t_R = 0 84 min [M+H]⁺ = 467 26

Example 5: 2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,3,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

77 5 mg yield Example 5

153 mg 188 mg O 24 mmol 50 mg yield 1 mmol 1 mmol t_R = 0 72 min O 106 mmol [M+H]⁺ = 324 42 t_R = 0 82 min [M+H]⁺ = 471 27

Example 6: 2-[1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-(2-p-tolyl-ethyl)-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl]-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

10 mg yield Example 6

153 mg 149 mg 0 035 mmol 14 mg yield 1 mmol 1 mmol t_R = 0 71 min 0 033 mmol [M+H]⁺ = 284 27 t_R = 0 81 min [M+H]⁺ = 431 32

Example 7: 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(4-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

29 mg yield Example 7

153 mg 166 mg O 096 mmol 29 2 mg yield 1 mmol 1 mmol t_R = 0 73 min 0 065 mmol [M+H]⁺ = 302 21 t_R = 0 82 min [M+H]⁺ = 449 27

Example 8: 2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyndin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

17 3 mg yield Example 8

153 mg 202 mg 0 051 mmol 16 2 mg yield 1 mmol 1 mmol t_R = 0 75 min 0 033 mmol [M+H]⁺ = 338 22 t_R = 0 84 min [M+H]⁺ = 485 28

Example 9: 2-[4-(2-Benzo[1 ,3]dioxol-5-yl-ethyl)-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl]-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

88 6 mg yield Example 9

153 mg 178 mg O 28 mmol 40 mg yield 1 mmol 1 mmol t_R = O 68 min O 086 mmol [M+H]⁺ = 314 142 t_R = O 78mιn [M+H]⁺ = 461 24

According to the sequences described above, the following examples were prepared:

Example 10: 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 11 : 2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(4-isopropyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 12: 2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo^S-cJpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 13: 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 14: 2-{4-[2-(2,3-Difluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 15: 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 16: 2-{4-[2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 17: 2-{4-[2-(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 27: 2-{1 -Benzyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 28: 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 29: N-Methyl-2-{3-methyl-1 -phenethyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)- ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-2-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 32: 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 33: 2-{4-[2-(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 34: 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

.43

Example 35: 2-{4-[2-(2,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c] pyridin-5-n-- yll}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 38: 2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,3,4-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo4,3c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 38 51 mg yield t_R = 0.83min [M+H]⁺ = 471.43

Example 39: 2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,3,4-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3- c]pyridin-5- yl-}N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 39 24mg yield t_R = 0.86min [M+H]⁺ = 503.38

Example 40: 2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2-methyl-5-tπfluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]- 1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-, c]pyridin-5-yl -}N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 40 70mg yield t_R = O.δOmin [M+H]⁺ = 499.43

Example 41 : 2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl- I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 42: 2-{4-[2-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl- I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyπdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide:

Example 43: 2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3- methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl- acetamide:

.24

Example 44: 2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl- I,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-- c]pyridin -5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide: -

Example 47: 2-{4-[2-(2,6-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3- methyl-I AβJ-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^S-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl- acetamide:

Biological assays

In vitro assay

The orexin receptor antagonistic activity of the compounds of formula (I) and/or (Ia) is determined in accordance with the following experimental method.

Experimental method:

• Intracellular calcium measurements:

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing the human orexin-1 receptor and the human orexin-2 receptor, respectively, are grown in culture medium (Ham F-

12 with L-Glutamine) containing 300 μg/ml G418, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin and 10 % inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS). The cells are seeded at 80'0OO cells / well into 96-well black clear bottom sterile plates (Costar) which have been precoated with 1 % gelatine in Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS). All reagents are from Gibco BRL. The seeded plates are incubated overnight at

37°C in 5% CO₂. Human orexin-A as an agonist is prepared as 1 mM stock solution in methanol: water (1 :1 ), diluted in HBSS containing 0.1 % bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 2 mM HEPES for use in the assay at a final concentration of 10 nM.

Antagonists are prepared as 10 mM stock solution in DMSO, then diluted in 96- well plates, first in DMSO, then in HBSS containing 0.1 % bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 2 mM HEPES.

On the day of the assay, 100 μl of loading medium (HBSS containing 1 % FCS, 2 mM HEPES, 5 mM probenecid (Sigma) and 3 μM of the fluorescent calcium indicator fluo-3 AM (1 mM stock solution in DMSO with 10% pluronic acid) (Molecular Probes) is added to each well.

The 96-well plates are incubated for 60 min at 37° C in 5% CO₂. The loading solution is then aspirated and cells are washed 3 times with 200 μl HBSS containing 2.5 mM probenecid, 0.1 % BSA, 2 mM HEPES. 100 μl of that same buffer is left in each well.

Within the Fluorescent Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR, Molecular Devices), antagonists are added to the plate in a volume of 50 μl, incubated for 20 min and finally 100 μl of agonist is added. Fluorescence is measured for each well at 1 second intervals, and the height of each fluorescence peak is compared to the height of the fluorescence peak induced by 10 nM orexin-A with buffer in place of antagonist. For each antagonist, IC₅₀ value (the concentration of compound needed to inhibit 50 % of the agonistic response) is determined. Antagonistic activities of compounds are in the nanomolar range with respect to OXi and OX₂ receptors. Selected compounds are displayed in Table 1. Table 1:

Claims

1. Compounds of the general formula I

General Formula I

wherein Y represents -CH₂-CH₂-;

R⁴ represents a phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is unsubstituted or independently mono-, di-, or trisubstituted wherein the substituents are independently selected from the group consisting of (Ci_-4)alkyl and halogen; R⁵ represents (Ci_-4)alkyl; and optically pure enantiomers, mixtures of enantiomers such as racemates, diastereomers, mixtures of diastereomers, diastereomehc racemates, mixtures of diastereomeric racemates, or meso-forms and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

2. Compounds of the general formula Ia according to claim 1 with the chirality as depicted below

R-chirality

General Formula Ia

S-chirality

3. Compounds according to anyone of claims 1 to 2, wherein

Y represents -CH₂-CH₂-;

4. Compounds according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein

Y represents -CH₂-CH₂-;

R² represents methyl;

R³ represents ethyl; R⁴ represents a phenyl group;

R⁵ represents methyl.

5. Compounds according to any one of claims 1 to 4 selected from the group consisting of: 2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(4-ethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyhdin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1 ,3-Dimethyl-4-[2-(4-tπfluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-[1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-(2-m-tolyl-ethyl)-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3- c]pyridin-5-yl]-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-[1-Ethyl-3-methyl-4-(2-o-tolyl-ethyl)-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3- c]pyridin-5-yl]-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Butyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Benzyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

N-Methyl-2-{3-methyl-1-phenethyl-4-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]- 1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-2-phenyl-acetamide;

N-Methyl-2-{3-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethyl)-4-[2-(4-tnfluoromethyl- phenyO-ethyO-I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-yl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(2,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{4-[2-(2,4-Difluoro-3-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyndin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2,3,4-trifluoro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1 -Ethyl-3-methyl-4-[2-(2-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; and

2-{4-[2-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl- I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(2,3-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl- I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{4-[2-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(2,6-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl- I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

6. Compounds according to any one of claims 1 to 5 selected from the group consisting of:

2-{4-[2-(3,4-Dimethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyhdin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{1 -Ethyl-4-[2-(3-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(2,3-Difluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide; and

2-{1-Ethyl-4-[2-(4-ethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-methyl-1 ,4,6,7-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyhdin-5-yl}-N-methyl-2-phenyl-acetamide; 2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1 -ethyl-3-methyl-

I ^^J-tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyridin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

2-{4-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-1-ethyl-3-methyl-1 , 4,6,7- tetrahydro-pyrazolo^^-clpyhdin-S-ylJ-N-methyl^-phenyl-acetamide;

7. Compounds according to anyone of claims 1 to 6 for use as medicaments.

8. Use of a compound according to any of claims 1 to 6 for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of diseases selected from the group consisting of dysthymic, mood, psychotic and anxiety disorders; diabetes and appetite, taste, eating, or drinking disorders; hypothalamic diseases; disturbed biological and circadian rhythms; sleep disturbances associated with diseases such as neurological disorders, neuropathic pain and restless leg syndrome; insomnias related to psychiatric disorders; sleep apnea; narcolepsy; idiopathic insomnias; parasomnias; benign prostatic hypertrophy; all dementias and cognitive dysfunctions in the healthy population and in psychiatric and neurologic disorders; and other diseases related to general orexin system dysfunctions.