Inhibitors of farnesyl-protein transferase

The present invention is directed to compounds which inhibit famesyl-protein transferase (FTase) and the famesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. The invention is further directed to chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for inhibiting famesyl-protein transferase and the famesylation of the oncogene protein Ras.

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TITLE OF THE INVENTION

INHIBITORS OF FARNESYL-PROTEIN TRANSFERASE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Ras proteins (Ha-Ras, Ki4a-Ras, Ki4b-Ras and N-Ras) are part of a signalling pathway that links cell surface growth factor receptors to nuclear signals initiating cellular proliferation. Biological and biochemical studies of Ras action indicate that Ras functions like a G-regulatory protein. In the inactive state, Ras is bound to GDP.

Upon growth factor receptor activation Ras is induced to exchange GDP for GTP and undergoes a conformational change. The GTPbound form of Ras propagates the growth stimulatory signal until the signal is terminated by the intrinsic GTPase activity of Ras, which returns the protein to its inactive GDP bound form (D.R. Lowy and

D.M. Willumsen, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 62:851-891 (1993)). Mutated ras genes (Ha-ras, Ki4a-ras, Ki4b-ra,s' and N-rai) are found in many human cancers, including colorectal carcinoma, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, and myeloid leukemias. The protein products of these genes are defective in their GTPase activity and constitutively transmit a growth stimulatory signal.

Ras must be localized to the plasma membrane for both normal and oncogenic functions. At least 3 post-translational modifications are involved with Ras membrane localization, and all 3 modifications occur at the C-terminus of Ras. The Ras C-terminus contains a sequence motif termed a CAAX or Cys-Aaa^-Aaa^-Xaa box (Cys is cysteine, Aaa is an aliphatic amino acid, the Xaa is any amino acid) (Willumsen et al., Nature 370:583-586 (1984)). Depending on the specific sequence, this motif serves as a signal sequence for the enzymes famesyl-protein transferase or geranylgeranyl-protein transferase, which catalyze the alkylation of the cysteine residue of the CAAX motif with a C15 or C20 isoprenoid, respectively. (S. Clarke., Ann. Rev. Biochem. 67:355-386 (1992); W.R. Schafer and J. Rine, Ann. Rev. Genetics 3032,09-237 (1992)). The Ras protein is one

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- 2 of several proteins that are known to undergo post-translational famesylation. Other famesylated proteins include the Ras-related GTPbinding proteins such as Rho, fungal mating factors, the nuclear lamins, and the gamma subunit of transducin. James, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269,

14182 (1994) have identified a peroxisome associated protein Pxf which is also famesylated. James, et al., have also suggested that there are famesylated proteins of unknown structure and function in addition to those listed above.

Inhibition of famesyl-protein transferase has been shown to block the growth of Ras-transformed cells in soft agar and to modify other aspects of their transformed phenotype. It has also been demonstrated that certain inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase selectively block the processing of the Ras oncoprotein intracellularly (N.E. Kohl et al., Science, 260:1934-1937 (1993) and G.L. James et al.,

Science, 260:1937-1942 (1993). Recently, it has been shown that an inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase blocks the growth of rasdependent tumors in nude mice (N.E. Kohl et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.

Sci U.S.A., 91:9141-9145 (1994) and induces regression of mammary and salivary carcinomas in ras transgenic mice (N.E. Kohl et al., Nature

Medicine, 1:792-797 (1995).

Indirect inhibition of famesyl-protein transferase in vivo has been demonstrated with lovastatin (Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ) and compactin (Hancock et al., ibid', Casey et al., ibid; Schafer et al., Science 245:329 (1989)). These drugs inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, the rate limiting enzyme for the production of polyisoprenoids including famesyl pyrophosphate. Famesyl-protein transferase utilizes famesyl pyrophosphate to covalently modify the Cys thiol group of the Ras CAAX box with a famesyl group (Reiss et al., Cell, 62:81-88 (1990); Schaber et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265:14701-14704 (1990); Schafer et al.,

Science, 249:1133-1139 (1990); Manne et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, §7:7541-7545 (1990)). Inhibition of famesyl pyrophosphate biosynthesis by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase blocks Ras membrane localization in cultured cells. However, direct inhibition of famesylWO 97/36890

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- 3 protein transferase would be more specific and attended by fewer side effects than would occur with the required dose of a general inhibitor of isoprene biosynthesis.

Inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase (FPTase) have been described in four general classes (S. Graham, Expert Opinion Ther. Patents, (1995) 5:1269-1285). The first are analogs of famesyl diphosphate (FPP), while a second class of inhibitors is related to the protein substrates (e.g., Ras) for the enzyme. Bisubstrate inhibitors and inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase that are non-competitive with the substrates have also been described. The peptide derived inhibitors that have been described are generally cysteine containing molecules that are related to the CAAX motif that is the signal for protein prenylation. (Schaber et al., ibid', Reiss et. al., ibid', Reiss et al.,

PNAS, 88:132-736 (1991)). Such inhibitors may inhibit protein prenylation while serving as alternate substrates for the famesylprotein transferase enzyme, or may be purely competitive inhibitors (U.S. Patent 5,141,851, University of Texas; N.E. Kohl et al.,

Science, 260:1934-1931 (1993); Graham, et al., J. Med. Chem.,

37,125 (1994)). In general, deletion of the thiol from a CAAX derivative has been shown to dramatically reduce the inhibitory potency of the compound. However, the thiol group potentially places limitations on the therapeutic application of FPTase inhibitors with respect to pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicity. Therefore, a functional replacement for the thiol is desirable.

It has recently been disclosed that certain tricyclic compounds which optionally incorporate a piperidine moiety are inhibitors of FPTase (WO 95/10514, WO 95/10515 and WO 95/10516). Imidazole-containing inhibitors of famesyl protein transferase have also been disclosed (WO 95/09001 and EP 0 675 112 Al).

It has recently been reported that famesyl-protein transferase inhibitors are inhibitors of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and are therefore useful in the prevention and therapy of arteriosclerosis and diabetic disturbance of blood

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PCT/US97/05309 vessels (JP H7-112930).

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to develop low molecular weight compounds that will inhibit famesyl-protein transferase and thus, the post-translational famesylation of proteins.

It is a further object of this invention to develop chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for producing the compounds of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises peptidomimetic biheteroaryl-containing compounds which inhibit the famesyl-protein transferase. Further contained in this invention are chemotherapeutic compositions containing these famesyl transferase inhibitors and methods for their production.

The compounds of this invention are illustrated by the formula A:

<img file="AU704792B2_D0001.tif" />

A

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compounds of this invention are useful in the inhibition of famesyl-protein transferase and the famesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. In a first embodiment of this invention, the inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase are illustrated by the formula A:

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V - A’(CR¹2)„A²(CR’₂)_nl W \

- (CR²2)_p

<img file="AU704792B2_D0002.tif" />

wherein:

from 1-2 of f(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining fs are independently CH;

from 1-3 of g(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining g's are independently CR6;

Rl and R^ are independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, RlOO-, RHS(O)m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, RllC(O)O-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, NO2,

RlOC(O)-, N3,-N(Rl0)2,orRHoC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

R¹⁰O-, R¹¹S(O)_m-, RlOC^NRlO-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-,

RlO2N-C(NR 1θ)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, and RllOC(O)-NRl0-;

r3, r4 and R^ are independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

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b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, R¹²O-,

R¹ lS(0)m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, rHc(O)O-, Rl02N-C(NRl0)-,CN,NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3, -N(R^I0)2, or RHoC(O)NR10-,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted Cl-Cg alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

Rl2o-, RHS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, and R¹ lOC(O)-NRl0-;

each R^ is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, Cl-Cb perfluoroalkyl, Rl2o~, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, R^llC(O)O-, R¹⁰2N-C(NRl0)-, CN, NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3,-N(R¹⁰)2, or RllOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted Cl-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

R¹²O-, RⁿS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (R10)2NC(0)-, RiO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(Rl0)2, and RⁿOC(O)-NRl0 or

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PCT/US97/05309 any two of Rb on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH2-, -(CH2)4- and -(CH2)3-;

provided that when R3, r4_? r5 _or r6 j_s unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, attachment of R3, r4, r5_{? or} r6 to the 6-membered heteroaryl ring, is through a substitutable heterocycle ring carbon;

R7 is selected from: H; Cl-4 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, aroyl, heteroaroyl, arylsulfonyl, heteroarylsulfonyl, unsubstituted or substituted with:

a)

b)

c)

d) θ)

Cl-4 alkoxy, aryl or heterocycle, halogen,

HO,

<img file="AU704792B2_D0003.tif" />

O

f) -so₂r¹¹

g) N(R'0)2 or

h) Cl_4 perfluoroalkyl;

R8 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl, Br,

RlOO-, Ri lS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-,

Rlb2N-C(NR 10)-, CN, NO2, Rl°C(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, or Ri lOC(O)NRl0-, and

c) C1-C6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by aryl, cyanophenyl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl, Br,

RlOO-, Ri lS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NH-, (RlO)2NC(0)-,

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- s RlO₂N-C(NR 10)-, CN, RlOc(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)₂, or Rl0OC(O)NH-;

provided that when R8 is heterocycle, attachment of R8 to V is through a substitutable ring carbon;

R9 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl, Br, Rl 10-, Rl lS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, R1O2N-C(NR1O)-, CN, NO2, Rl°C(O)-,

N3, -N(RlO)2, orRllOC(O)NRl0-, _and

c) C1-C6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl, Br, RlOO-, Rl lS(O)_m-, R10C(0)NR10-, (Rl0)₂NC(O)-, RlO₂N-C(NRlO)-, CN, RlOc(O)-, N3,

-N(RlO)2, or r11OC(O)NR10-_;

RlO is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, benzyl,

2,2,2-trifluoroethyl and aryl;

Rl 1 is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl and aryl;

Rl2 is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 aralkyl, C1-C6 substituted aralkyl, Cl-Cg heteroaralkyl, C1-C6 substituted heteroaralkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteraryl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl,

2-aminoethyl and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl;

Al and A²- are independently selected from: a bond, -CH=CH-, -C=C-C(O)-, -C(O)NRl0., -NRlOC(O)-, O, -N(RlO)-,

-S(O)2N(R 10)., -N(RlO)S(0)2-, or S(O)_m;

V is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) heterocycle,

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c) aryl,

d) C1-C20 alkyl wherein from 0 to 4 carbon atoms are replaced with a heteroatom selected from O, S, and N, and

e) C2-C2O alkenyl, provided that V is not hydrogen if Al is S(0)m and V is not hydrogen if Al is a bond, n is 0 and A 7 is S(0)m;

provided that when V is heterocycle, attachment of V to R^ and to Al is through a substitutable ring carbon;

W is a heterocycle;

X is a bond, -CH=CH-, O, -C(=O)-, -C(0)NR7-, -NR?C(O)-, -C(O)O-, -OC(O)-, -C(0)NR7c(0)-, -NR7-, -S(O)2N(r10)-,

-N(Rl0)S(O)2- or -S(=O)_m-;

m is 0, 1 or 2;

n is independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; p is independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; q is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

r is 0 to 5, provided that r is 0 when V is hydrogen; and t is 0 or 1;

or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the compounds of this invention is illustrated by the following formula A:

<img file="AU704792B2_D0004.tif" />

A

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- 10 wherein;

from 1-2 of f(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining fs are independently CH;

from 1-3 of g(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining g's are independently CR6;

Rl is independently selected from: hydrogen, C3-C10 cycloalkyl,

RlOO-, -N(RlO)2, F or C1-C6 alkyl;

R2 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, RlOO-, -N(r10)2, F or C2-C6 alkenyl,

c) unsubstituted or substituted Cl -C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, Rl°O- and -N(R¹⁰)2;

R3, r4 and R^ are independently selected from;

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, R¹²O-, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (R10)2NC(0)-, r!02N-C(NR10)-, CN, NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3, -N(R¹⁰)2, or RⁿOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl;

d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

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- Il Rl2o-, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0_, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, RlO₂N-C(NRlO)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(R% and rHoC(O)-NR10-;

each R6 is independently selected from;

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoro alkyl,

R¹²O-, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, r10₂N-C(NR10)-,CN,NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3,-N(Rl0)2, orRHoC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl;

d) substituted Cl-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

R¹²O-, RllS(0)m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, and

RlloC(O)-NRl0-; or any two of R6 on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH2-, -(CH2)4- and -(CH2)3-;

provided that when R³, R⁴, R⁵ or R6 is unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, attachment of R³, R⁴, R³, or R0 to the 6-membered heteroaryl ring, is through a substitutable heterocycle ring carbon;

R2 is selected from: H; Cl-4 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, aroyl, heteroaroyl, arylsulfonyl, heteroarylsulfonyl, unsubstituted or substituted with:

a) Cl-4 alkoxy,

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- 12 b)

c)

d)

e) aryl or heterocycle, halogen,

HO,

<img file="AU704792B2_D0005.tif" />

O

f) -so₂r¹¹

g) N(RlO)2 or

h) Cl-4 perfluoroalkyl;

R8 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, Cl-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, Cl-C6 perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl, RlOo-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, CN, NO2, (R¹⁰)2N-C(NRl0)-, R¹⁰C(O)-, -N(RlO)2, or Rl lOC(O)NR¹0-, and

c) Cl-Cg alkyl substituted by Cl-C6 perfluoroalkyl, RlOO-,

Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (R1O)2N-C(NR1O)-, RlOC(O)-,

-N(RlO)2, or RlloC(O)NRl0-;

provided that when R8 is heterocycle, attachment of R$ to V is through a substitutable ring carbon;

R9 is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, F,

Cl, R' 1()-, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, CN, NO2, (RlO)2N-C(NR 10)-, RlOC(O)-, -N(RlO)2, or

RllOC(O)NRl0-, and

c) Cl-C6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by Cl -C6 perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl, RlOo-, Rl lS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (R¹⁰)2NC(O)-, CN, (R1O)2N-C(NR1O)-, RlOC(O)-, -N(RlO)2, or Rl lOC(O)NRl0-;

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- 13 RlO is independently selected from hydrogen, C{-C6 alkyl, benzyl,

2,2,2-trifluoroethyl and aryl;

Rl 1 is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl and aryl;

Rl2 is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 aralkyl, C1-C6 substituted aralkyl, C1-C6 heteroaralkyl, C1-C6 substituted heteroaralkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteraryl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl,

2-aminoethyl and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl;

A! and A⁷· are independently selected from: a bond, -CH=CH-, -ΟΞΟ, -C(O)-, -C(O)NRl0-, O, -N(RlO)., _Or S(0)_m;

V is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyridinyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, triazolyl and thienyl,

c) aryl,

d) C1-C2O alkyl wherein from 0 to 4 carbon atoms are replaced with a heteroatom selected from O, S, and N, and

e) C2-C20 alkenyl, and provided that V is not hydrogen if A¹ is S(0)m and V is not hydrogen if Al is a bond, n is 0 and A^ is S(0)m;

provided that when V is heterocycle, attachment of V to R8 and to Al is through a substitutable ring carbon;

W is a heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, 30 pyridinyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, triazolyl or isoquinolinyl;

X is a bond, O, -C(=0)-, -CH=CH-, -C(O)NR⁷-, -NR⁷C(0)-, -NR⁷-, -S(O)2N(R 10)-, -N(RlO)S(0)2- or -S(=O)_m-;

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- 14 m is 0, 1 or 2;

n is independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; p is independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

q is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

r is 0 to 5, provided that r is 0 when V is hydrogen; and t is 0 or 1;

or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the compounds of this invention are illustrated by the formula B:

<img file="AU704792B2_D0006.tif" />

wherein:

from 1-2 of f(s) are independently N or N-&gt;O, and the remaining fs are independently CH;

from 1-3 of g(s) are independently N or N-&gt;O, and the remaining g's are independently CR^;

Rl is independently selected from: hydrogen, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, R¹⁰O-, -N(RlO)2, F or Cl-(¼ alkyl;

is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, R^O-, -N(R¹⁰)2, F or C2-C6 alkenyl,

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- 15 10

c) unsubstituted or substituted C l -C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted Cl-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, Rl°O- and -N(RlO)2;

r3 and R^ are independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, r12o-, RllS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, r!0₂N-C(NR10)-, CN, NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3,-N(RlO)2, or Rl lOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted C l -C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

R¹²O-, RHS(O)m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, RlO2N-C(NR 10)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(R¹⁰)2, and rHoc(O)-nr10-;

each R^ is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, Rl2o-,RllS(O)_m-,Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (R10)2NC(0)-, r!0₂N-C(NR10)-, CN,NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3,-N(R!O)2, or Rl lOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted Cl-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or

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- 16 substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C1O cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

R¹²O-, RⁿS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (R¹⁰)2NC(O)-, r102N-C(NR10)_, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(R¹⁰)2, and

RlloC(O)-NRl0-; or any two of Rb on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH2-, -(CH2)4- and -(CH2)3-;

provided that when R^, r4 or R6 is unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, attachment of R3, r4 or R6 to the 6membered heteroaryl ring, is through a substitutable heterocycle ring carbon;

R8 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl,

R¹⁰O-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, CN, NO2, (R¹⁰)2N-C(NRl0)-,

RlOC(O)-, -N(RlO)2, or r11OC(O)NR10-, and

c) C1-C6 alky 1 substituted by C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, R¹ θθ-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2N-C(NRlO)-, RlOC(O)-,

-N(Rl°)2, or Rl lOC(O)NRl0-;

provided that when R$ is heterocycle, attachment of R$ to V is through a substitutable ring carbon;

R^a and R^b are independently hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, trifluoromethyl and halogen;

Rl° is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, benzyl,

2,2,2-trifluoroethyl and aryl;

Rl 1 is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl and aryl;

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- 17 Rl2 is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 aralkyl, C1-C6 substituted aralkyl, C1-C6 heteroaralkyl, C1-C6 substituted heteroaralkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteraryl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl,

2-aminoethyl and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl;

Al and A² are independently selected from: a bond, -CH=CH-, -C=C-, -C(O)-, -C(O)NRl0-, O, -N(RlO)-, or S(0)_m;

V is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyridinyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, triazolyl and thienyl,

c) aryl,

d) C1-C20 alkyl wherein from 0 to 4 carbon atoms are replaced with a heteroatom selected from O, S, and N, and

e) C2-C2O alkenyl, and provided that V is not hydrogen if Al is S(0)m and V is not hydrogen if Al is a bond, n is 0 and A² is S(0)m;

provided that when V is heterocycle, attachment of V to R^ and to Al is through a substitutable ring carbon;

X is a bond, -CH=CH-, -C(O)NRl0-, -NRIOC(O)-, -NRIO-, O or

-C(=O)-;

m is 0, 1 or 2;

n is independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

p is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and r is 0 to 5, provided that r is 0 when V is hydrogen;

or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

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- 18 Another preferred embodiment of the compounds of this invention are illustrated by the formula C:

<img file="AU704792B2_D0007.tif" />

wherein:

from 1-2 of f(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining fs are independently CH;

from 1-3 of g(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining g's are independently CR.6;

Rl is independently selected from: hydrogen, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, RlOO-, -N(RlO)2, F or C1-C6 alkyl;

R2 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, R^O-, -N(R^)2, F or C2-C6 alkenyl,

c) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted Cl-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, R^O- and -N(RM)2;

r3 and R^ are independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6

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- 19 10 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, Rl2o-, Rl lS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, CN(Rl0)2NC(O)-, r102N-C(NRW)-, CN, NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3, -N(RW)2, orRHoC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

R 12()-, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (R10)2NC(0)-, r102N-C(NR10)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(R¹⁰)2, and RlloC(O)-NRl0-;

each R6 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, Cl-Cg perfluoroalkyl, Rl2o-, Rl lS(O)_m-, RiOCCOjNRiO-, CN(Rl0)2NC(O)-, Rl02N-C(NRl0)-,CN,NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3,-N(RlO)2, orRHOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted Cj-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, R12O-, Rl 1 S(O)_m-, R^l0C(O)NRl0-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(Rl0)2, and RllOC(O)-NRl0-; or any two of R^ on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH2-(CH2)4- and -(CH2)3-;

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-20provided that when R3, r4 or Rb is unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, attachment of R3, r4 _or r6 to the 6membered heteroaryl ring, is through a substitutable heterocycle ring carbon;

R8 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, Cl-C6 alkyl, C9-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, Cl-C6 perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl,

R¹⁰O-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, CN, NO2, (R¹⁰)2N-C(NRl0)-,

RlOC(O)-, -N(RlO)2, or rHoC(O)NR10-, and

c) Cl-C6 alkyl substituted by C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, RlOO-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2N-C(NR 10)-, R^J0C(O)-,

-N(R¹ θ)2, or R11 OC(O)NR¹θ-;

provided that when R8 is heterocycle, attachment of R&amp; to V is through a substitutable ring carbon;

R^a and R^b are independently hydrogen, Cl-C6 alkyl, trifluoromethyl and halogen;

Rio is independently selected from hydrogen, Cl-C6 alkyl, benzyl,

2,2,2-trifluoroethyl and aryl;

Rll is independently selected from Cl-C6 alkyl and aryl;

R¹² is independently selected from hydrogen, Cl-C6 alkyl, Cl-C6 aralkyl, Cl-C6 substituted aralkyl, Cl-C6 heteroaralkyl, C1-C6 substituted heteroaralkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteraryl, Cl-C6 perfluoroalkyl,

2-aminoethyl and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl;

Al and A² are independently selected from: a bond, -CH=CH-, -C=C-C(O)-, -C(O)NRl0-, O, -N(Rl0)-, or S(O)_m;

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- 21 V is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyridinyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, triazolyl and thienyl,

c) aryl,

d) Cl-C20 alkyl wherein from 0 to 4 carbon atoms are replaced with a heteroatom selected from O, S, and N, and

e) C2-C2O alkenyl, and provided that V is not hydrogen if Al is S(O)_m and V is not hydrogen if Al is a bond, n is 0 and A^ is S(0)m;

provided that when V is heterocycle, attachment of V to R8 and to Al is through a substitutable ring carbon;

X is a bond, -CH=CH-, -C(O)NRl0-, -NRlOC(O)-, -NRlO-, O or -C(=O)-;

m is 0, 1 or 2;

n is independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

p is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, provided that p is not 0 if X is a bond or O;

and r is 0 to 5, provided that r is 0 when V is hydrogen;

or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In a more preferred embodiment of this invention, the inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase are illustrated by the formula D:

<img file="AU704792B2_D0008.tif" />

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- 22 wherein;

from 1-2 of f(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining f’s are independently CH;

from 1-3 of g(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining g's are independently CR.6;

Rl is independently selected from: hydrogen, C3-C10 cycloalkyl or

C1-C6 alkyl;

R^ is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, R¹⁰O-, -N(R¹⁰)2, F or C2-C6 alkenyl,

c) C1-C6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, RlOO-, or

-N(RlO)2;

RY is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, Cl-Cb perfluoroalkyl,

Rl2o-, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-,

RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3,-N(Rⁱ⁰)2, or Rl lOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

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-23 r12o-, Rl lS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, and RllOC(O)-NRl0-;

R⁴ is selected from H, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl and CF3;

each R6 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, r12o-, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (R10)2NC(0)-, RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, NO2, RWC(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, or RlloC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted C l -C6 alkyl,

d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, R¹²O-, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, and RllOC(O)-NRl0-; or any two of R6 on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a 25 diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH2-,

-(CH2)4- and -(CH2)3-;

provided that when R3 or R6 is unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, attachment of R^ or R6 to the 6-membered heteroaryl ring, is through a substitutable heterocycle ring carbon;

R8 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

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- 24 b) aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, Cl-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl, RlOO-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, CN, NO2, (R¹⁰)2N-C(NR 10)-, R¹⁰C(O)-, -N(RlO)2, or RllOC(O)NRl0-, and

c) C1-C6 alkyl substituted by C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, RlOO

Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (Rl0)2N-C(NR 10)-, RlOC(O)-, -N(RlO)2, or Rl 1oC(O)NR10._; provided that when R8 is heterocycle, attachment of R8 to V is through a substitutable ring carbon;

ROa and R^b _are independently hydrogen, ethyl, cyclopropyl or methyl;

RlO is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, benzyl,

2,2,2-trifluoroethyl and aryl;

Rl 1 is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl and aryl;

Rl2 i_s independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 aralkyl, C1-C6 substituted aralkyl, C1-C6 heteroaralkyl,

Cl-Cb substituted heteroaralkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteraryl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, 2-aminoethyl and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl;

Al is selected from: a bond, -C(O)-, O, -N(Rl°)-, or S(O)_m;

X is a bond, -CH=CH-, -C(O)NRl0-, -NRIOC(O)-, -NR¹^, O or -C(=O)-;

<td> 30 n is</td><td> 0 or 1; provided that n is not 0 if A1 is a bond, 0, -N(Rl0)- or S(O)_m;</td>

<td> m is</td><td> 0, 1 or 2; and</td>

<td> pis</td><td> 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;</td>

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- 25 or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In another more preferred embodiment of this invention, the inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase are illustrated by the formula E:

<img file="AU704792B2_D0009.tif" />

wherein:

from 1-2 of f(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining fs are independently CH;

from 1-3 of g(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining g's are independently CR6;

Rl is independently selected from: hydrogen, C3-C10 cycloalkyl,

RlOO-, -N(RlO)2, F or C1-C6 alkyl;

R2 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, RlOO-, -N(R1°)2, F or C2-C6 alkenyl,

c) C1-C6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, Rl°O-, or -N(RlO)₂;

Rl is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

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- 26 b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, R¹²O-, RⁿS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-,

RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3, -N(R¹⁰)2, orRllOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted C1-Cft alkyl,

d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic,

C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, R¹²O-, RⁿS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (R10)2NC(0)-, RlO2N-C(NRlO)-, CN, RWC(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, and RⁿOC(O)-NRl0-;

R⁴ is selected from H, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl and CF3;

each r6 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, R¹²O-, RllS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (R10)2NC(0)-, R¹⁰2N-C(NRl0&gt;, CN,NO2, R¹⁰C(O)-, N3, -N(R¹⁰)2, or RllOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted Cl -C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, R¹²O-, RⁿS(O)m-, Rl0c(O)NR¹⁰-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, r102N-C(NR10)_, CN, Rl0c(O)-, N3, -N(R¹0)2, and RllOC(O)-NRl0-_; or

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- 27 any two of R6 on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH2-, -(CH2)4- and -(CH2)3-;

provided that when R^ or R6 is unsubstituted or substituted 5 heterocycle, attachment of R3 or Rb to the 6-membered heteroaryl ring, is through a substitutable heterocycle ring carbon;

R8 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, Cl-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, F, Cl, RlOo-, Rl0c(O)NRl0-, CN, NO2, (R^1o)2N-C(NR!O)-, R¹⁰C(O)-, -N(RlO)2, or rHoC(O)NR10-, and

c) C1-C6 alkyl substituted by C l -C6 perfluoroalkyl, R1 θθ-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (R¹0)2N-C(NR¹0)-, RlOC(O)-, -N(RlO)2, or Rl lOC(O)NRl0-;

provided that when R8 is heterocycle, attachment of R8 to V is through a substitutable ring carbon;

R^a and R^b are independently hydrogen, ethyl, cyclopropyl or methyl;

RlO is independently selected from hydrogen, Cl-C6 alkyl, benzyl, 25 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl and aryl;

Rll is independently selected from Cl-C6 alkyl and aryl;

Rl2 is independently selected from hydrogen, Cj-C6 alkyl, Cl-C6 30 aralkyl, Cl-C6 substituted aralkyl, Cl-C6 heteroaralkyl,

C1-C6 substituted heteroaralkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteraryl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, 2-aminoethyl and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl;

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- 28 X is a bond, -CH=CH-, -C(O)NRl0-, -NRIOC(O)-, -NRW-, O or -C(=O)-;

n is 0 or 1;

m is 0, 1 or 2; and p is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, provided that p is not 0 if X is a bond or O;

or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In a further embodiment of this invention, the inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase are illustrated by the formula F:

<img file="AU704792B2_D0010.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0011.tif" />

wherein;

from 1-2 of f(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining fs 15 are independently CH;

from 1 -3 of g(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining g's are independently CR6;

Rl is independently selected from: hydrogen, C3-C10 cycloalkyl or C1-C6 alkyl;

R² is independently selected from;

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, R¹⁰O-, -N(Rl°)2 or F,

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- 29 c) C1-C6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, RlOO-, or -N(RlO)₂;

R3 is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, R¹²O-, RllS(O)m-, Rl0C(O)NR¹⁰-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, Rl0₂N-C(NR 10)-, CN, NO2, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)₂, or RllOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, Rl²O-, RllS(O)m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (r10)2NC(O)-, RlO₂N-C(NR 10)-, CN, Rl0c(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, and r11oC(O)-NR10-_;

R4 is selected from H, halogen, CH3 and CF3;

each Rb is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, Rl2o-, RilS(O)_m-, Rl0c(O)NRl0-, (R10)₂NC(0)-, RlO₂N-C(NRlO)-, CN, NO2, Rⁱ⁰C(O)-, N3,-N(Rl0)₂, or Rl lOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or

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- 30 substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

Rl2o-, Rl lS(O)_m-, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, (r10)2NC(O)-, r10₂N-C(NR10)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(RlO)2, and

RHOC(O)-NRl0-; or any two of R^ on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH2-, -(CH2)4- and -(CH2)3-;

provided that when R^ or R6 is unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, attachment of R^ or R6 to the 6-membered heteroaryl ring, is through a substitutable heterocycle ring carbon;

R^a and R^b are independently hydrogen, ethyl, cyclopropyl or methyl;

RlO is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, benzyl,

2,2,2-trifluoroethyl and aryl;

Rll is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl and aryl;

Rl2 is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 25 aralkyl, C1-C6 substituted aralkyl, C1-C6 heteroaralkyl,

C1-C6 substituted heteroaralkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteraryl, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, 2-aminoethyl and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl;

X is a bond, -CH=CH-, -C(O)NRl0-, -NRIOC(O)-, -NRIO-, O or -C(=O)-;

m is 0, 1 or 2; and p is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

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- 31 or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In a further embodiment of this invention, the inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase are illustrated by the formula G:

<img file="AU704792B2_D0012.tif" />

wherein:

from 1-2 of f(s) are independently N or N-&gt;O, and the remaining fs are independently CH;

from 1-3 of g(s) are independently N or N-&gt;0, and the remaining g's are independently CR^;

Rl is independently selected from; hydrogen, C3-C10 cycloalkyl,

RlOo-, -N(RlO)₂, F or Cl&lt;6 alkyl;

r2 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) aryl, heterocycle or C3-C10 cycloalkyl

c) C1-C6 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by aryl, heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, Rl°O-, or -N(RlO)₂;

IP is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

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- 32 b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoro alkyl, r12o-, RllS(O)_m-,Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)₂NC(0)-,

RK&gt;2N-C(NR 10)-, CN, NO2, Rl°C(O)-, N3,-N(RlO)₂, or Rl lOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl,

d) substituted Cl-Cb alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic,

C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, R12O-, Rl lS(O)_m-, RiOCCOjNRiO-, (Rl0)2NC(O)-, RlO2N-C(NR 10)-, CN, RlOc(O)-, N3, -N(R¹⁰)2, and r11oC(O)-NR10-_; r4 is selected from H, halogen, CH3 and CF3;

each R^ is independently selected from;

a) hydrogen,

b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, R12O-, RllS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, RlO₂N-C(NRlO)-, CN, NO2, Rl°C(O)-, N3, ^10)2, or Rl lOC(O)NRl0-,

c) unsubstituted C1-C6 alky 1,

d) substituted Cl-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C₂-C6 alkynyl, Rl2o-, RllS(O)_m-, Rl0C(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, RlO₂N-C(NR 10)-, CN, Rl0c(O)-, N3, -N(r10)₂, and RllOC(O)-NRl0-; or

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- 33 any two of R6 on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH2-, -(CH2)4- and -(CH2)3S provided that when R3 or r6 is unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, attachment of R3 or R6 to the 6-membered heteroaryl ring, is through a substitutable heterocycle ring carbon;

R^a and R^b are independently hydrogen, ethyl, cyclopropyl or methyl;

RlO is independently selected from hydrogen, Cl -C6 alkyl, benzyl,

2,2,2-trifluoroethyl and aryl;

Rl 1 is independently selected from Cl-C6 alkyl and aryl;

Rl² is independently selected from hydrogen, Cl-C6 alkyl, Cl-C6 aralkyl, C1-C6 substituted aralkyl, Cl-C6 heteroaralkyl,

Cl-C6 substituted heteroaralkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteraryl, Cl-C6 perfluoroalkyl, 2-aminoethyl and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl;

Al is selected from: a bond, -C(O)-, O, -N(RlO)-, or S(0)m;

m is 0, 1 or 2; and n is 0 or 1;

or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Specific examples of the compounds of the invention are:

l-(2-[Pyrid-2-yl]pyrid-5-ylmethyl)-5-(4-cyanobenzyl)imidazole

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<img file="AU704792B2_D0013.tif" />

N-{ l-(4-Cyanobenzyl)-lH-imidazol-5-yl)methyl}-5-(pyrid-2-yl)-2amino-pyrimidine

<img file="AU704792B2_D0014.tif" />

or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

The compounds of the present invention may have 10 asymmetric centers and occur as racemates, racemic mixtures, and as individual diastereomers, with all possible isomers, including optical isomers, being included in the present invention. When any variable (e.g. aryl, heterocycle, Rl, R2 etc.) occurs more than one time in any constituent, its definition on each occurence is independent at every other occurence. Also, combinations of substituents/or variables are permissible only if such combinations result in stable compounds.

As used herein, alkyl and the alkyl portion of aralkyl and similar terms, is intended to include both branched and straight-chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having the specified number of carbon atoms; alkoxy represents an alkyl group of indicated number of carbon atoms attached through an oxygen bridge.

As used herein, cycloalkyl is intended to include nonaromatic cyclic hydrocarbon groups having the specified number of carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkyl groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and the like.

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- 35 Alkenyl groups include those groups having the specified number of carbon atoms and having one or several double bonds. Examples of alkenyl groups include vinyl, allyl, isopropenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, heptenyl, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2butenyl, isoprenyl, famesyl, geranyl, geranylgeranyl and the like.

Alkynyl groups include those groups having the specified number of carbon atoms and having one triple bonds. Examples of alkynyl groups include acetylene, 2-butynyl, 2-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl and the like.

Halogen or halo as used herein means fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.

As used herein, aryl, and the aryl portion of aroyl and aralkyl, is intended to mean any stable monocyclic or bicyclic carbon ring of up to 7 members in each ring, wherein at least one ring is aromatic. Examples of such aryl elements include phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl, biphenyl, phenanthryl, anthryl or acenaphthyl.

The term heterocycle or heterocyclic, as used herein, represents a stable 5- to 7-membered monocyclic or stable 8- to 11 -membered bicyclic heterocyclic ring which is either saturated or unsaturated, and which consists of carbon atoms and from one to four heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S, and including any bicyclic group in which any of the above-defined heterocyclic rings is fused to a benzene ring. The heterocyclic ring may be attached at any heteroatom or carbon atom which results in the creation of a stable structure. Examples of such heterocyclic elements include, but are not limited to, azepinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzofurazanyl, benzopyranyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzofuryl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, chromanyl, cinnolinyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, furyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolyl, indolinyl, indolyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isothiazolyl, isothiazolidinyl, morpholinyl,

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- 36 naphthyridinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, , pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrroiyl, quinazolinyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrahydrofuryl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thiamorpholinyl, thiamorpholinyl sulfoxide, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, thienofuryl, thienothienyl, and thienyl.

As used herein, heteroaryl is intended to mean any stable monocyclic or bicyclic carbon ring of up to 7 members in each ring, wherein at least one ring is aromatic and wherein from one to four carbon atoms are replaced by heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S. Examples of such heterocyclic elements include, but are not limited to, benzimidazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzofurazanyl, benzopyranyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzofuryl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, chromanyl, cinnolinyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, furyl, imidazolyl, indolinyl, indolyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolinyl, isothiazolyl, naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrroiyl, quinazolinyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thiazolyl, thienofuryl, thienothienyl, and thienyl.

As used herein in the definition of R7, the substituted Cl-8 alkyl, substituted C3-6 cycloalkyl, substituted aroyl, substituted aryl, substituted heteroaroyl, substituted arylsulfonyl, substituted heteroarylsulfonyl and substituted heterocycle include moieties containing from 1 to 3 substituent s in addition to the point of attachment to the rest of the compound.

As used herein, when no specific substituents are set forth, the terms substituted aryl, substituted heterocycle and substituted cycloalkyl are intended to include the cyclic group which is substituted on a substitutable ring carbon atom with 1 or 2 substitutents selected from the group which includes but is not limited to F, Cl, Br, CF3, NH2, N(Cl-C6 alkyl)2, NO2, CN, (C1-C6 alkyl)O-, -OH, (C1-C6 alkyl)S(O)_m-, (Cl-Cg alkyl)C(O)NH-, H2N-C(NH)-, (C1-C6

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- 37 alkyl)C(O)-, (C1-C6 alkyl)OC(O)-, N3/C1-C6 alkyl)OC(O)NH-, phenyl, pyridyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, furyl, isothiazolyl and C1-C2O alkyl.

Lines drawn into the ring systems from substituents (such 5 as from R^, r4 etc.) means that the indicated bond may be attached to any of the substitutable ring carbon atoms.

The moiety designated by the following structure

<img file="AU704792B2_D0015.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0016.tif" />

z f represents an aromatic 6-membered heterocyclic ring and includes the 10 following ring systems:

O

<img file="AU704792B2_D0017.tif" />

The moiety designated by the following structure f

represents an aromatic 6-membered heterocyclic ring and includes the 15 following ring systems:

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<img file="AU704792B2_D0018.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0019.tif" />

wherein it is understood that one with the ring carbon atoms is substituted

A xs-³

Preferably, the aromatic 6-membered heterocyclic ring is a pyridyl ring.

The moiety designated by the following structure

<img file="AU704792B2_D0020.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0021.tif" />

represents an aromatic 6-membered heterocyclic ring and includes the 10 following ring systems:

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<img file="AU704792B2_D0022.tif" />

wherein R6 is as defined hereinabove.

The moiety described as .9' where any two of R^ on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH-, -(CH2)4and -(CH2)4- includes, but is not limited to the following structures:

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<img file="AU704792B2_D0023.tif" />

»ZV\A

It is understood that such fused ring moieties may be further substituted by the remaining R^s as defined hereinabove.

Preferably, the terminal aromatic 6-membered 5 heterocyclic ring is a pyridyl ring.

Preferably, Rl and R2 are independently selected from: hydrogen, RllC(O)O-, -N(RlO)2, R¹⁰C(O)NRl0-, RlOO- or unsubstituted or substituted Cl-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, -N(R¹0)2, R¹⁰O- and r10C(O)NR10-.

Preferably, R³ is selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, R 12()CN, NO2, R¹⁰C(O)- or-N(RlO)2,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl,

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- 41 d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl,

R¹²O-, Rl lS(O)_m-, R^wC(O)NRl0-, (RlO)2NC(0)-, r10₂N-C(NR10)-, CN, RlOC(O)-, N3, -N(R¹⁰)2, and RllOC(O)-NRl0-.

Preferably, R4 is selected from: hydrogen, halogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy and C1-C6 alkyl.

Preferably, R^ is hydrogen.

Preferably, r6 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen,

b) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, halogen, C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, Rl²O

Rl lS(O)_m-, CN, NO2, R¹⁰C(O)- or -N(Rl0)2,

c) unsubstituted Cl-C6 alkyl;

d) substituted C1-C6 alkyl wherein the substituent on the substituted C1-C6 alkyl is selected from unsubstituted or substituted aryl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, Rl²O-, RHS(O)m-,

RlOC(0)-or-N(RlO)2;or any two of R^a, R6b, r6c, R0d and R0e _on adjacent carbon atoms are combined to form a diradical selected from -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -CH=CH-CH2-, -(CH2)4- and -(CH2)325 Preferably, R8 is independently selected from:

a) hydrogen, and

b) aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle,

C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl or CN.

Preferably, R9 is hydrogen, halogen, CF3 or methyl.

Preferably, RlO is selected from H, C1-C6 alkyl and benzyl.

Preferably, and A² are independently selected from: a bond, -C(O)NRl0-, -NRIOC(O)-, O, -N(RlO)-, -S(O)2N(R*0)- andN(RlO)S(0)2-.

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- 42 Preferably, V is selected from hydrogen, heterocycle and aryl. More preferably, V is phenyl.

Preferably, W is selected from imidazolinyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyyrolidinyl, thiazolyl and pyridyl. More preferably, W is selected from imidazolyl and pyridyl.

Preferably, n and r are independently 0, 1, or 2. Preferably s is 0.

Preferably t is 1.

Preferably from 1-2 of f(s) are independently N, and the remaining fs are independently CH.

Preferably from 1-3 of g(s) are independently N, and the remaining g's are independently CR6.

Preferably, the moiety

<img file="AU704792B2_D0024.tif" />

is selected from:

<img file="AU704792B2_D0025.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0026.tif" />

It is intended that the definition of any substituent or variable (e.g., Rl, R2, r9, n, etc.) at a particular location in a molecule be independent of its definitions elsewhere in that molecule.

Thus, -N(RlO)2 represents -NHH, -NHCH3, -NHC2H5, etc. It is understood that substituents and substitution patterns on the compounds of the instant invention can be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art to provide compounds that are chemically stable and that can be

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- 43 readily synthesized by techniques known in the art, as well as those methods set forth below, from readily available starting materials.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include the conventional non-toxic salts of the compounds of this invention as formed, e.g., from non-toxic inorganic or organic acids. For example, such conventional non-toxic salts include those derived from inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfamic, phosphoric, nitric and the like: and the salts prepared from organic acids such as acetic, propionic, succinic, glycolic, stearic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, pamoic, maleic, hydroxymaleic, phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicylic, sulfanilic, 2-acetoxy-benzoic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, ethane disulfonic, oxalic, isethionic, trifluoroacetic and the like.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention can be synthesized from the compounds of this invention which contain a basic moiety by conventional chemical methods. Generally, the salts are prepared either by ion exchange chromatography or by reacting the free base with stoichiometric amounts or with an excess of the desired salt-forming inorganic or organic acid in a suitable solvent or various combinations of solvents.

Reactions used to generate the compounds of this invention are prepared by employing reactions as shown in the Schemes 1-12, in addition to other standard manipulations such as ester hydrolysis, cleavage of protecting groups, etc., as may be known in the literature or exemplified in the experimental procedures. Substituents R^, r6 and R*“&gt;, as shown in the Schemes, represent the substituents R^, r4,

R5, R^ and R^; although only one such R^, r6 or R8 is present in the intermediates and products of the schemes, it is understood that the reactions shown are also applicable when such aryl or heteroaryl moieties contain multiple substituents.

These reactions may be employed in a linear sequence to provide the compounds of the invention or they may be used to synthesize fragments which are subsequently joined by the alkylation reactions described in the Schemes. The reactions described in the

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-44Schemes are illustrative only and are not meant to be limiting. Other reactions useful in the preparation of heteroaryl moieties are described in Comprehensive Organic Chemistry, Volume 4: Heterocyclic Compounds ed. P.G. Sammes, Oxford (1979) and references therein.

Aryl-aryl coupling is generally described in Comprehensive Organic Functional Group Transformations, Katritsky et al. eds., pp 472-473, Pergamon Press (1995).

Synopsis of Schemes 1-12:

The requisite intermediates are in some cases commercially available, or can be prepared according to literature procedures, for the most part. Schemes 1-12 illustrate synthesis of the instant biheteroaryl compound which incorporate a preferred benzylimidazolyl sidechain. Thus, in Scheme 1, for example, a biheteroaryl intermediate that is not commercially available may be synthesized by methods known in the art. Thus, a suitably substituted pyridyl boronic acid I may be reacted under Suzuki coupling conditions (Pure Appl. Chem., 63:419 (1991)) with a suitably substituted halogenated nicotinic acid, such as 4-bromonicotinic acid, to provide the biheteroaryl carboxylic acid II. The acid may be reduced and the triflate of the intermediate alcohol ΠΙ may be formed in situ and coupled to a suitably substituted benzylimidazolyl IV to provide, after deprotection, the instant compound V.

Schemes 2-4 illustrate other methods of synthesizing the key alcohol intermediates, which can then be processed as described in

Scheme 1. Thus, Scheme 2 illustrates the analogous series of biheteroaryl alcohol forming reactions starting with the methyl nicotinate boronic acid and the terminal heteroaryl moiety employed in the Suzuki coupling as the halogenated reactant. Such a coupling reaction is also compatible when one of the reactants incorporates a suitably protected hydroxyl functionality as illustrated in Scheme 3.

Negishi chemistry (Org. Synth., 66:67 (1988)) may also be employed to form the biheteroaryl component of the instant compounds, as shown in Scheme 4. Thus, a suitably substituted zinc bromide adduct may be coupled to a suitably substituted heteroaryl

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-45 halide in the presence of nickel (II) to provide the biheteroaryl VII.

The heteroaryl halide and the zinc bromide adduct may be selected based on the availability of the starting reagents.

Scheme 5 illustrates the preparation of the pyridylmethanol intermediate starting with the 3-methyl pyridine.

As illustrated in Scheme 6, the sequence of coupling reactions may be modified such that the heteroaryl-heteroaryl bond is formed last. Thus, a suitably substituted imidazole may first be alkylated with a suitably substituted benzyl halide to provide intermediate VIII. Intermediate VIII can then undergo Suzuki type coupling to a suitably substituted pyridyl boronic acid.

Scheme 7 illustrates synthesis of an instant compound wherein a non-hydrogen R^b is incorporated in the instant compound. Thus, a readily available 4-substituted imidazole IX may be selectively iodinated to provide the 5-iodoimidazole X. That imidazole may then be protected and coupled to a suitably substituted benzyl moiety to provide intermediate XI. Intermediate XI can then undergo the alkylation reactions that were described hereinabove.

Scheme 8 illustrates synthesis of instant compounds that incorporate a preferred imidazolyl moiety connected to the biaryl via an alkyl amino, sulfonamide or amide linker. Thus, the 4-aminoalkylimidazole XII, wherein the primary amine is protected as the phthalimide, is selectively alkylated then deprotected to provide the amine ΧΙΠ. The amine ΧΠΙ may then react under conditions well known in the art with various activated biheteroaryl moieties to provide the instant compounds shown.

Compounds of the instant invention wherein the Al(CR^2)nA²(CR^2)n linker is oxygen may be synthesized by methods known in the art, for example as shown in Scheme 9.

The suitably substituted phenol XIV may be reacted with methyl N-(cyano)methanimidate to provide the 4-phenoxyimidazole XV.

After selective protection of one of the imidazolyl nitrogens, the intermediate XVI can undergo alkylation reactions as described for the benzylimidazoles hereinabove.

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-46Scheme 10 illustrates an analogous series of reactions wherein the (CR^2)pX(CR^2)p linker of the instant compounds is oxygen. Thus, a suitably substituted halopyridinol, such as 3-chloro2-pyridinol, is reacted with methyl N-(cyano)methanimidate to provide intermediate XVI. Intermediate XVI is then protected and, if desired to form a compound of a preferred embodiment, alkylated with a suitably protected benzyl. The intermediate XVII can then be coupled to a heteroaryl moiety by Suzuki chemistry to provide the instant compound.

Compounds of the instant invention wherein the

A1 (CR12)nA^(CR 12)n linker is a substituted methylene may be synthesized by the methods shown in Scheme 11. Thus, the N-protected imidazolyl iodide XVIII is reacted, under Grignard conditions with a suitably protected benzaldehyde to provide the alcohol XIX. Acylation, followed by the alkylation procedure illustrated in the Schemes above (in particular, Scheme 1) provides the instant compound XX. If other Rl substituent s are desired, the acetyl moiety can be manipulated as illustrated in the Scheme.

Scheme 12 illustrates the use of halogenated 2-aminopyrimidine in the preapration of compounds of the instant invention.

SCHEME 1

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<img file="AU704792B2_D0027.tif" />

III

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- 48 SCHEME 1 (continued)

<img file="AU704792B2_D0028.tif" />

R⁸

V

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-49 SCHEME 2

<img file="AU704792B2_D0029.tif" />

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<img file="AU704792B2_D0030.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0031.tif" />

HO

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- 51 SCHEME 4

R₃SiO

<img file="AU704792B2_D0032.tif" />

N /1

FT

BrZri

N

J]

<img file="AU704792B2_D0033.tif" />

R⁶

NiCI₂(PPh₃)₂

<img file="AU704792B2_D0034.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0035.tif" />

HO

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- 52 SCHEME 5

<img file="AU704792B2_D0036.tif" />

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- 53 SCHEME 6

<img file="AU704792B2_D0037.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0038.tif" />

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- 54 SCHEME 7

Η H p9b_/ T] Nal, NaHCO₃, I? ^_9b_/ TrCl, NEt₉

VN ~V-N

IX ^x

<img file="AU704792B2_D0039.tif" />

y r”⁷ '· -78°C-20°C ii. MeOH, reflux

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- 55 SCHEME 8

<img file="AU704792B2_D0040.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0041.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0042.tif" />

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- 56 SCHEME 9

<img file="AU704792B2_D0043.tif" />

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- 57 SCHEME 10

H

<img file="AU704792B2_D0044.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0045.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0046.tif" />

i. -78°C-20°C ii. MeOH reflux

<img file="AU704792B2_D0047.tif" />

DMF, Pd(PPh₃)₄K₃PO₄, 80°C

N

<img file="AU704792B2_D0048.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0049.tif" />

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<img file="AU704792B2_D0050.tif" />

OH

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- 59 SCHEME 11 (continued)

<img file="AU704792B2_D0051.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0052.tif" />

R⁸

OMe

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- 60 SCHEME 12

<img file="AU704792B2_D0053.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0054.tif" />

<img file="AU704792B2_D0055.tif" />

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-61 The instant compounds are useful as pharmaceutical agents for mammals, especially for humans. These compounds may be administered to patients for use in the treatment of cancer. Examples of the type of cancer which may be treated with the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, colorectal carcinoma, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, myeloid leukemias and neurological tumors.

Such tumors may arise by mutations in the ras genes themselves, mutations in the proteins that can regulate Ras activity (i.e., neurofibromin (NF-1), neu, scr, abl, lck, fyn) or by other mechanisms.

The compounds of the instant invention inhibit famesylprotein transferase and the famesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. The instant compounds may also inhibit tumor angiogenesis, thereby affecting the growth of tumors (J. Rak et al. Cancer Research, 55:45754580 (1995)). Such anti-angiogenesis properties of the instant compounds may also be useful in the treatment of certain forms of blindness related to retinal vascularization.

The compounds of this invention are also useful for inhibiting other proliferative diseases, both benign and malignant, wherein Ras proteins are aberrantly activated as a result of oncogenic mutation in other genes (i.e., the Ras gene itself is not activated by mutation to an oncogenic form) with said inhibition being accomplished by the administration of an effective amount of the compounds of the invention to a mammal in need of such treatment. For example, a component of NF-1 is a benign proliferative disorder.

The instant compounds may also be useful in the treatment of certain viral infections, in particular in the treatment of hepatitis delta and related viruses (J.S. Glenn et al. Science, 256:1331-1333 (1992).

The compounds of the instant invention are also useful in the prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty by inhibiting neointimal formation (C. Indolfi et al. Nature medicine, 1:541-545(1995).

The instant compounds may also be useful in the treatment and prevention of polycystic kidney disease (D.L. Schaffner et al.

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- 62 American Journal of Pathology, 142:1051-1060 (1993) and B. Cowley, Jr. et al.FASFB Journal, 2.-A3160 (1988)).

The instant compounds may also be useful for the treatment of fungal infections.

The compounds of this invention may be administered to mammals, preferably humans, either alone or, preferably, in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents, optionally with known adjuvants, such as alum, in a pharmaceutical composition, according to standard pharmaceutical practice. The compounds can be administered orally or parenterally, including the intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, rectal and topical routes of administration.

For oral use of a chemotherapeutic compound according to this invention, the selected compound may be administered, for example, in the form of tablets or capsules, or as an aqueous solution or suspension. In the case of tablets for oral use, carriers which are commonly used include lactose and com starch, and lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, are commonly added. For oral administration in capsule form, useful diluents include lactose and dried com starch. When aqueous suspensions are required for oral use, the active ingredient is combined with emulsifying and suspending agents.

If desired, certain sweetening and/or flavoring agents may be added.

For intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and intravenous use, sterile solutions of the active ingredient are usually prepared, and the pH of the solutions should be suitably adjusted and buffered. For intravenous use, the total concentration of solutes should be controlled in order to render the preparation isotonic.

The compounds of the instant invention may also be co-administered with other well known therapeutic agents that are selected for their particular usefulness against the condition that is being treated. For example, the instant compounds may be useful in combination with known anti-cancer and cytotoxic agents. Similarly, the instant compounds may be useful in combination with agents that are effective in the treatment and prevention of NF-1, restinosis, polycystic

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- 63 kidney disease, infections of hepatitis delta and related viruses and fungal infections.

If formulated as a fixed dose, such combination products employ the compounds of this invention within the dosage range described below and the other pharmaceutically active agent(s) within its approved dosage range. Compounds of the instant invention may alternatively be used sequentially with known pharmaceutically acceptable agent(s) when a combination formulation is inappropriate.

The present invention also encompasses a pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment of cancer, comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the compounds of this invention, with or without pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents. Suitable compositions of this invention include aqueous solutions comprising compounds of this invention and pharmacolo15 gically acceptable carriers, e.g., saline, at a pH level, e.g., 7.4. The solutions may be introduced into a patient's blood-stream by local bolus injection.

As used herein, the term composition is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specific amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specific ingredients in the specified amounts.

When a compound according to this invention is administered into a human subject, the daily dosage will normally be determined by the prescribing physician with the dosage generally varying according to the age, weight, and response of the individual patient, as well as the severity of the patient's symptoms.

In one exemplary application, a suitable amount of compound is administered to a mammal undergoing treatment for cancer. Administration occurs in an amount between about 0.1 mg/kg of body weight to about 60 mg/kg of body weight per day, preferably of between 0.5 mg/kg of body weight to about 40 mg/kg of body weight per day.

The compounds of the instant invention are also useful as a component in an assay to rapidly determine the presence and

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- 64 quantity of famesyl-protein transferase (FPTase) in a composition.

Thus the composition to be tested may be divided and the two portions contacted with mixtures which comprise a known substrate of FPTase (for example a tetrapeptide having a cysteine at the amine terminus) and famesyl pyrophosphate and, in one of the mixtures, a compound of the instant invention. After the assay mixtures are incubated for an sufficient period of time, well known in the art, to allow the FPTase to famesylate the substrate, the chemical content of the assay mixtures may be determined by well known immunological, radiochemical or chromatographic techniques.

Because the compounds of the instant invention are selective inhibitors of FPTase, absence or quantitative reduction of the amount of substrate in the assay mixture without the compound of the instant invention relative to the presence of the unchanged substrate in the assay containing the instant compound is indicative of the presence of FPTase in the composition to be tested.

It would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that such an assay as described above would be useful in identifying tissue samples which contain famesyl-protein transferase and quantitating the enzyme. Thus, potent inhibitor compounds of the instant invention may be used in an active site titration assay to determine the quantity of enzyme in the sample. A series of samples composed of aliquots of a tissue extract containing an unknown amount of famesyl-protein transferase, an excess amount of a known substrate of FPTase (for example a tetrapeptide having a cysteine at the amine terminus) and famesyl pyrophosphate are incubated for an appropriate period of time in the presence of varying concentrations of a compound of the instant invention. The concentration of a sufficiently potent inhibitor (i.e., one that has a Ki substantially smaller than the concen30 tration of enzyme in the assay vessel) required to inhibit the enzymatic activity of the sample by 50% is approximately equal to half of the concentration of the enzyme in that particular sample.

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- 65 EXAMPLES

Examples provided are intended to assist in a further understanding of the invention. Particular materials employed, species and conditions are intended to be further illustrative of the invention and not limitative of the reasonable scope thereof.

EXAMPLE 1 l-(2-[Pvrid-2-yllpyrid-5-ylmethyl)-5-f4-cvanobenzyl)imidazole.

Step A: 2-Trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy-5-pyridine carboxylic acid

To a solution of 2-hydroxy 5-pyridine carboxylic acid (185 mg, 1.33 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.464 mL, 2.66 mmol) in dichloromethane (7 mL) at -78°C is added trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (0.224 mL, 1.33 mmol) and the mixture stirred at -78°C for 1 hour and then at ambient temperature for 1 hour. The reaction is diluted with water and extracted with CH2CI2, and the organic extract is dried, (MgSO4) and the solvent is evaporated in vacuo. The residue is purified by chromatography to afford the title compound.

Step B: 2-(Pyrid-2-yl)-5-pyridine carboxylic acid_

A mixture of 2-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy-5-pyridine25 carboxylic acid (0.442 g, 1.72 mmol), 2-pyridyIboronic acid (1.57 g, 12.79 mmol), barium hydroxide (0.813 mg, 2.58 mmol), DME (8 mL) and water (1.5 mL) is purged with dry argon. Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(O) (99.0 mg, 0.086 mmol) is added, and the resultant solution is stirred at 80°C for 4 hours. The solvents are evaporated in vacuo, and the residue is partitioned between EtOAc and water. The aqueous extract is separated, and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extracts are combined, washed with sat. aq. NaHCO3 and 5% aq. Na2S2O3, dried, (Na2SO4) and the solvent is evaporated in

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-66vacuo. The residue is purified by chromatography to afford the title compound.

Step C: 2-(Pvrid-2-yl)-5-hvdroxymethyl-pyridine_

To a solution of 2-(pyrid-2-y 1)-5-pyridine carboxylic acid (0.320 g, 1.60 mmol) in THF (5 mL) at 0°C is added 1.0 M lithium aluminum hydride in diethyl ether (1.60 mL, 1.60 mmol) over 10 minutes. The reaction is allowed to stir at ambient temperature for 3 hours, cooled to 0°C, and water (0.10 mL), 4 N aq. NaOH (0.10 mL), and water (0.30 mL) are added sequentially. The reaction is filtered through a pad of Celite and the filtrate is evaporated in vacuo. The residue is purified by chromatography to afford the title compound.

Step D: l-(2-(Pyrid-2-yl) pyrid-5-ylmethyl)-5-(415 cyanobenzyDimidazole_

To a solution of 2-(pyrid-2-y 1)-5-hydroxymethyl-pyridine (269 mg, 1.33 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.464 mL, 2.66 mmol) in dichloromethane (7 mL) at -78°C is added trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (0.224 mL, 1.33 mmol) and the mixture stirred at

-78°C for 1 hour. To this mixture is added a solution of l-trityl-4(4-cyanobenzyl)-imidazole (566mg , 1.33 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL). The mixture is allowed to warm to ambient temperature and stirred for 2 hours. The solvent is evaporated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in methanol (50 mL), heated at reflux for 1 hour, and the solvent is evaporated in vacuo. The residue is partitioned between dichloromethane and sat. aq. NaHCO3 solution. The organic layer is dried, (Na2SO4) and the solvent evaporated in vacuo. The residue is chromatographed to afford the title compound.

EXAMPLE 2

N - {1 -(4-Cyanobenzyl)-1 H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl} -5-(pyrid-2-yl)-2amino -pyrimidine

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-67Step A: 5-(Pyrid-2-yl)-2-aminopyrimidine_

A mixture of 2-amino-5-bromopyrimidine (0.299 g,

1.72 mmol), 2-pyridylboronic acid (1.57 g, 12.79 mmol), barium hydroxide (0.813 mg, 2.58 mmol), DME (8 mL) and water (1.5 mL) is purged with dry argon. Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(O) (99.0 mg, 0.086 mmol) is added, and the resultant solution is stirred at 80°C for 4 hours. The solvents are evaporated in vacuo, and the residue is partitioned between EtOAc and water. The aqueous extract is separated, and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extracts are combined, washed with sat. aq. NaHCO3 and 5% aq. Na2S2O3, dried, (Na2SO4) and the solvent is evaporated in vacuo. The residue is purified by chromatography to afford the title compound.

Step B: l-Triphenylmethyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)imidazol_

To a solution of 4-(hydroxymethyl)imidazole hydrochloride (35.0 g, 260 mmol) in dry DMF (250 mL) at room temperature was added triethylamine (90.6 mL, 650 mmol). A white solid precipitated from the solution. Chlorotriphenylmethane (76.1 g, 273 mmol) in DMF (500 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 20 hours, poured over ice, filtered, and washed with ice water. The resulting product was slurried with cold dioxane, filtered, and dried in vacuo to provide the titled product as a white solid which was sufficiently pure for use in the next step.

Step C: l-Triphenylmethyl-4-(acetoxymethyl)-imidazole_

The alcohol from Step B (260 mmol, prepared above) was suspended in pyridine (500 mL). Acetic anhydride (74 mL, 780 mmol) was added dropwise, and the reaction was stirred for 48 hours during which it became homogeneous. The solution was poured into EtOAc, washed sequentially with water, 5% aq. HC1 solution, sat. aq. NaHCO3, solution, and brine. The organic extracts were dried, (Na2SO4), and concentrated in vacuo to provide the product as a white powder, which was sufficiently pure for use in the next reaction.

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- 68 Step D: 1 -(4-Cyanobenzyl)-5-(acetoxymethyl)-imidazole hydrobromide _

A solution of the product from Step C (85.8 g, 225 mmol) and 4-cyanobenzyl bromide (50.1 g, 232 mmol) in EtOAc (500 mL) was stirred at 60°C for 20 hours, during which a pale yellow precipitate formed. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and filtered to provide the solid imidazolium bromide salt. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to a volume (200 mL), heated at 60°C for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to a volume (100 mL), heated at 60°C for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and concentrated in vacuo to provide a pale yellow solid. All of the solid material was combined, dissolved in methanol (500 mL), and warmed to 60°C. After 2 hours, the solution was concentrated in vacuo to provide a white solid which was triturated with hexane to remove soluble by products. Removal of residual solvents in vacuo provided the titled product as a white solid which was used in the next step without further purification.

Step E: l-(4-Cyanobenzyl)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-imidazole_

To a solution of the acetate from Step D (50.4 g, 150 mmol) in 3:1 THF/water (1.5 L) at 0°C was added lithium hydroxide monohydrate (18.9 g, 450 mmol). After 1 hour, the reaction was concentrated in vacuo, diluted with EtOAc (3 L), and washed with water, sat. aq. NaHCO3 and brine. The solution was then dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to provide the crude product as a pale yellow fluffy solid which was sufficiently pure for use in the next step without further purification.

Step F: l-(4-Cyanobenzyl)-5-(chloromethyl)-imidazol_

A solution of l-(4-cyanobenzyl)-5-(hydroxymethyl)imidazole (l.OOg, 4.70 mmol), in thionyl chloride (5 mL), was stirred at 70°C for 16 hours. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the resulting solid suspended in CH2CI2, collected by filtration and dried

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- 69 in vacuo. The material was sufficiently pure for use in the next step without further purification.

lH NMR (CD3OD 400MHz) δ 9.06 (1H, s), 7.83(2H, d, J=8.0Hz), 7.77(1H, s), 7.55(2H, d, J=8.0Hz), 5.67(2H, s) and 4.78(2H, s) ppm.

Step G: N-{ l-(4-Cyanobenzyl)-lH-imidazol-5-yl)methyl}-5(pyrid-2-yl)-2-amino pyrimidine_

To a solution of the chloride from step F (500mg,

1.65 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) at 0°C is added sequentially, the amine from step A (284mg, 1.65 mmol) and sodium hydride (145mg, 60% dispersion in mineral oil, 3.62 mmol). Stirring is continued at 0°C for 1 hour and then at room temperature for 16 hours. The reaction is quenched with water (50 mL), and extracted with CH2CI2. The organic extracts are dried, (MgSO4), and the solvent is evaporated in vacuo.

The residue is purified by chromatography to afford the title compound

EXAMPLE 3

In vitro inhibition of ras famesvl transferase

Assays offarnesyl-protein transferase. Partially purified bovine FPTase and Ras peptides (Ras-CVLS, Ras-CVIM and Ras-CAIL) were prepared as described by Schaber et ah, J. Biol. Chem. 265:1470114704 (1990), Pompliano, et al., Biochemistry 31:3800 (1992) and Gibbs et al., PNAS U.S.A. 86:6630-6634 (1989), respectively. Bovine

FPTase was assayed in a volume of 100 μΐ containing 100 mM N-(2hydroxy ethyl) piperazine-A'-(2-ethane sulfonic acid) (HEPES), pH 7.4, 5 mM MgCl2, 5 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), 100 mM pHJ-famesyl diphosphate (pHl-FPP; 740 CBq/mmol, New England Nuclear), 650 nM Ras-CVLS and 10 pg/ml FPTase at 31 °C for 60 min. Reactions were initiated with FPTase and stopped with 1 ml of 1.0 M HCL in ethanol. Precipitates were collected onto filter-mats using a TomTec Mach II cell harvestor, washed with 100% ethanol, dried and counted in an LKB β-plate counter. The assay was linear with respect to both substrates, FPTase levels and time; less than 10% of the pHJ-FPP was

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-70utilized during the reaction period. Purified compounds were dissolved in 100% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and were diluted 20-fold into the assay. Percentage inhibition is measured by the amount of incorporation of radioactivity in the presence of the test compound when compared to the amount of incorporation in the absence of the test compound.

Human FPTase was prepared as described by Omer et al., Biochemistry 32:5167-5176 (1993). Human FPTase activity was assayed as described above with the exception that 0.1% (w/v) polyethylene glycol 20,000, 10 μΜ ZnCh and 100 nM Ras-CVIM were added to the reaction mixture. Reactions were performed for 30 min., stopped with 100 μΐ of 30% (v/v) trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in ethanol and processed as described above for the bovine enzyme.

The compounds of the instant invention are tested for inhibitory activity against human FPTase by the assay described above.

EXAMPLE 4

In vivo ras famesvlation assay

The cell line used in this assay is a v-ras line derived from either Rati or NIH3T3 cells, which expressed viral Ha-ras p21. The assay is performed essentially as described in DeClue, J.E. et al·, Cancer Research 51:712-717, (1991). Cells in 10 cm dishes at 50-75% confluency are treated with the test compound (final concentration of solvent, methanol or dimethyl sulfoxide, is 0.1%). After 4 hours at 37°C, the cells are labelled in 3 ml methionine-free DMEM supplemeted with 10% regular DMEM, 2% fetal bovine serum and 400 mCi[35S]methionine (1000 Ci/mmol). After an additional 20 hours, the cells are lysed in 1 ml lysis buffer (1% NP40/20 mM HEPES, pH 7.5/5 mM MgCl2/lmM DTT/10 mg/ml aprotinen/2 mg/ml leupeptin/2 mg/ml antipain/0.5 mM PMSF) and the lysates cleared by centrifugation at 100,000 x g for 45 min. Aliquots of lysates containing equal numbers of acid-precipitable counts are bought to 1 ml with IP buffer (lysis buffer lacking DTT) and immunoprecipitated with the ras-specific

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- 71 monoclonal antibody Y13-259 (Furth, M.E. et al., J. Virol. 43:294-304, (1982)). Following a 2 hour antibody incubation at 4°C, 200 ml of a 25% suspension of protein A-Sepharose coated with rabbit anti rat IgG is added for 45 min. The immunoprecipitates are washed four times with IP buffer (20 nM HEPES, pH 7.5/1 mM EDTA/1 % Triton X100.0.5% deoxycholate/O.1 %/SDS/0.1 M NaCl) boiled in SDS-PAGE sample buffer and loaded on 13% acrylamide gels. When the dye front reached the bottom, the gel is fixed, soaked in Enlightening, dried and autoradiographed. The intensities of the bands corresponding to famesylated and nonfamesylated ras proteins are compared to determine the percent inhibition of famesyl transfer to protein.

EXAMPLE 5

In vivo growth inhibition assay

To determine the biological consequences of FPTase inhibition, the effect of the compounds of the instant invention on the anchorage-independent growth of Rati cells transformed with either a v-ras, v-raf, or v-mos oncogene is tested. Cells transformed by v-Raf and v-Mos maybe included in the analysis to evaluate the specificity of instant compounds for Ras-induced cell transformation.

Rat 1 cells transformed with either v-ras, v-raf, or v-mos are seeded at a density of 1 x 10⁴ cells per plate (35 mm in diameter) in a 0.3% top agarose layer in medium A (Dulbecco's modified Eagle’s medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum) over a bottom agarose layer (0.6%). Both layers contain 0.1% methanol or an appropriate concentration of the instant compound (dissolved in methanol at 1000 times the final concentration used in the assay).

The cells are fed twice weekly with 0.5 ml of medium A containing

0.1% methanol or the concentration of the instant compound. Photomicrographs are taken 16 days after the cultures are seeded and comparisons are made.

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