Disclosed are novel aromatic compounds of the formula (I) wherein G, X, Ar, L and Q are defined herein. The compounds are useful in pharmaceutic compositions for treating diseases or pathological conditions involving inflammation such as chronic inflammatory diseases. Also disclosed are processes of making such compounds.

This invention relates to novel compounds of formula(I):
wherein G,X,Ar,L and Q of formula(I) are defined below. The compounds of the invention inhibit production of cytokines involved in inflammatory processes and are thus useful for treating diseases and pathological conditions involving inflammation such as chronic inflammatory disease. This invention also relates to processes for preparing these compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) are important biological entities collectively referred to as proinflammatory cytokines. These, along with several other related molecules, mediate the inflammatory response associated with the immunological recognition of infectious agents. The inflammatory response plays an important role in limiting and controlling pathogenic infections.
Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines are also associated with a number of diseases of autoimmunity such as toxic shock syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease (Dinarello, C. A., et al., 1984, Rev. Infect. Disease 6:51). In these diseases, chronic elevation of inflammation exacerbates or causes much of the pathophysiology observed. For example, rheumatoid synovial tissue becomes invaded with inflammatory cells that result in destruction to cartilage and bone (Koch, A. E., et al., 1995, J. Invest. Med. 43: 28-38). An important and accepted therapeutic approach for potential drug intervention in these diseases is the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF (also referred to in its secreted cell-free form as TNFxcex1) and IL-1xcex2. A number of anti-cytokine therapies are currently in clinical trials. Efficacy has been demonstrated with a monoclonal antibody directed against TNFxcex1 in a number of autoimmune diseases (Heath, P., xe2x80x9cCDP571: An Engineered Human IgG4 Anti-TNFxcex1 Antibodyxe2x80x9d IBC Meeting on Cytokine Antagonists, Philadelphia, Pa., Apr. 24-5, 1997). These include the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn""s disease and ulcerative colitis (Rankin, E. C. C., et al., 1997, British J. Rheum. 35: 334-342 and Stack, W. A., et al., 1997, Lancet 349: 521-524). The monoclonal antibody is thought to function by binding to both soluble TNFxcex1 and to membrane bound TNF.
A soluble TNFxcex1 receptor has been engineered that interacts with TNFxcex1. The approach is similar to that described above for the monoclonal antibodies directed against TNFxcex1; both agents bind to soluble TNFxcex1, thus reducing its concentration. One version of this construct, called Enbrel (Immunex, Seattle, Wash.) recently demonstrated efficacy in a Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (Brower et al., 1997, Nature Biotechnology 15: 1240). Another version of the TNFxcex1 receptor, Ro 45-2081 (Hoffman-LaRoche Inc., Nutley, N.J.) has demonstrated efficacy in various animal models of allergic lung inflammation and acute lung injury. Ro 45-2081 is a recombinant chimeric molecule constructed from the soluble 55 kDa human TNF receptor fused to the hinge region of the heavy chain IgG1 gene and expressed in eukaryotic cells (Renzetti, et al., 1997, Inflamm. Res. 46: S143).
IL-1 has been implicated as an immunological effector molecule in a large number of disease processes. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) had been examined in human clinical trials. Efficacy has been demonstrated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (Antril, Amgen). In a phase III human clinical trial IL-1ra reduced the mortality rate in patients with septic shock syndrome (Dinarello, 1995, Nutrution 11, 492). Osteoarthritis is a slow progressive disease characterized by destruction of the articular cartilage. IL-1 is detected in synovial fluid and in the cartilage matrix of osteoarthritic joints. Antagonists of IL-1 have been shown to diminish the degradation of cartilage matrix components in a variety of experimental models of arthritis (Chevalier, 1997, Biomed Pharmacother. 51, 58). Nitric oxide (NO) is a mediator of cardiovascular homeostasis, neurotransmission and immune function; recently it has been shown to have important effects in the modulation of bone remodeling. Cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF are potent stimulators of NO production. NO is an important regulatory molecule in bone with effects on cells of the osteoblast and osteoclast lineage (Evans, et al., 1996, J Bone Miner Res. 11, 300). The promotion of beta-cell destruction leading to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus shows dependence on IL-1. Some of this damage may be mediated through other effectors such as prostaglandins and thromboxanes. IL-1 can effect this process by controlling the level of both cyclooxygenase II and inducible nitric oxide synthetase expression (McDaniel et al., 1996, Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 211, 24).
Inhibitors of cytokine production are expected to block inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression. COX-2 expression has been shown to be increased by cytokines and it is believed to be the isoform of cyclooxygenase responsible for inflammation (M. K. O""Banion et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, 1992, 89, 4888.) Accordingly, inhibitors of cytokines such as IL-1 would be expected to exhibit efficacy against those disorders currently treated with COX inhibitors such as the familiar NSAIDs. These disorders include acute and chronic pain as well as symptoms of inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
Elevation of several cytokines have been demonstrated during active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A mucosal imbalance of intestinal IL-1 and IL-1ra is present in patients with IBD. Insufficient production of endogenous IL-1ra may contribute to the pathogenesis of IBD (Cominelli, et al., 1996, Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 10, 49). Alzheimer disease is characterized by the presence of beta-amyloid protein deposits, neurofibrillary tangles and cholinergic dysfunction throughout the hippocampal region. The structural and metabolic damage found in Alzheimer disease is possibly due to a sustained elevation of IL-1 (Holden, et al., 1995, Med Hypotheses, 45, 559). A role for IL-1 in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been identified. IL-1ra showed a clear relationship to acute inflammatory events as well as to the different disease stages in the pathophysiology of HIV infection (Kreuzer, et al., 1997, Clin Exp Immunol. 109, 54). IL-1 and TNF are both involved in periodontal disease. The destructive process associated with periodontal disease may be due to a disregulation of both IL-1 and TNF (Howells, 1995, Oral Dis. 1, 266).
Proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFxcex1 and IL-1xcex2 are also important mediators of septic shock and associated cardiopulmonary dysfunction, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure. TNFxcex1 has also been implicated in cachexia and muscle degradation, associated with HIV infection (Lahdiverta et al., 1988, Amer. J. Med., 85, 289). Obesity is associated with an increase incidence of infection, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Abnormalities in TNFxcex1 expression have been noted for each of the above conditions (Loffreda, et al., 1998, FASEB J. 12, 57). It has been proposed that elevated levels of TNFxcex1 are involved in other eating related disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Pathophysiological parallels are drawn between anorexia nervosa and cancer cachexia (Holden, et al., 1996, Med Hypotheses 47, 423). An inhibitor of TNFxcex1 production, HU-211, was shown to improve the outcome of closed brain injury in an experimental model (Shohami, et al., 1997, J Neuroimmunol. 72, 169). Atherosclerosis is known to have an inflammatory component and cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF have been suggested to promote the disease. In an animal model an IL-1 receptor antagonist was shown to inhibit fatty streak formation (Elhage et al., 1998, Circulation, 97, 242).
The abnormal expression of inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) has been associated with hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (Chou et al., 1998, Hypertension, 31, 643). IL-1 has a role in the expression of iNOS and therefore may also have a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension (Singh et al., 1996, Amer. J. Hypertension, 9, 867).
IL-1 has also been shown to induce uveitis in rats which could be inhibited with IL-1 blockers. (Xuan et al., 1998, J. Ocular Pharmacol. and Ther., 14, 31). Cytokines including IL-1, TNF and GM-CSF have been shown to stimulate proliferation of acute myelogenous leukemia blasts (Bruserud, 1996, Leukemia Res. 20, 65). IL-1 was shown to be essential for the development of both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. Epicutaneous sensitization can be prevented by the administration of an anti-IL-1 monoclonal antibody before epicutaneous application of an allergen (Muller, et al, 1996, Am J Contact Dermat. 7, 177). Data obtained from IL-1 knock out mice indicates the critical involvement in fever for this cytokine (Kluger et al., 1998, Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 25, 141). A variety of cytokines including TNF, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8 initiate the acute-phase reaction which is stereotyped in fever, malaise, myalgia, headaches, cellular hypermetabolism and multiple endocrine and enzyme responses (Beisel, 1995, Am J Clin Nutr. 62, 813). The production of these inflammatory cytokines rapidly follows trauma or pathogenic organism invasion.
Other proinflammatory cytokines have been correlated with a variety of disease states. IL-8 correlates with influx of neutrophils into sites of inflammation or injury. Blocking antibodies against IL-8 have demonstrated a role for IL-8 in the neutrophil associated tissue injury in acute inflammation (Harada et al., 1996, Molecular Medicine Today 2, 482). Therefore, an inhibitor of IL-8 production may be useful in the treatment of diseases mediated predominantly by neutrophils such as stroke and myocardial infarction, alone or following thrombolytic therapy, thermal injury, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ injury secondary to trauma, acute glomerulonephritis, dermatoses with acute inflammatory components, acute purulent meningitis or other central nervous system disorders, hemodialysis, leukopherisis, granulocyte transfusion associated syndromes, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
Rhinovirus triggers the production of various proinflammatory cytokines, predominantly IL-8, which results in symptomatic illnesses such as acute rhinitis (Winther et al., 1998, Am J Rhinol. 12, 17).
Other diseases that are effected by IL-8 include myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, inflammatory bowel disease and many others.
The proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 has been implicated with the acute phase response. IL-6 is a growth factor in a number in oncological diseases including multiple myeloma and related plasma cell dyscrasias (Treon, et al., 1998, Current Opinion in Hematology 5: 42). It has also been shown to be an important mediator of inflammation within the central nervous system. Elevated levels of IL-6 are found in several neurological disorders including AIDS dementia complex, Alzheimer""s disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, CNS trauma and viral and bacterial meningitis (Gruol, et al., 1997, Molecular Neurobiology 15: 307). IL-6 also plays a significant role in osteoporosis. In murine models it has been shown to effect bone resorption and to induce osteoclast activity (Ershler et al., 1997, Development and Comparative Immunol. 21: 487). Marked cytokine differences, such as IL-6 levels, exist in vivo between osteoclasts of normal bone and bone from patients with Paget""s disease (Mills, et al., 1997, Calcif Tissue Int. 61, 16). A number of cytokines have been shown to be involved in cancer cachexia. The severity of key parameters of cachexia can be reduced by treatment with anti IL-6 antibodies or with IL-6 receptor antagonists (Strassmann, et al., 1995, Cytokins Mol Ther. 1, 107). Several infectious diseases, such as influenza, indicate IL-6 and IFN alpha as key factors in both symptom formation and in host defense (Hayden, et al., 1998, J Clin Invest. 101, 643). Overexpression of IL-6 has been implicated in the pathology of a number of diseases including multiple myeloma, rheumatoid arthritis, Castleman""s disease, psoriasis and post-menopausal osteoporosis (Simpson, et al., 1997, Protein Sci. 6, 929). Compounds that interfered with the production of cytokines including IL-6, and TNF were effective in blocking a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice (Scholz et al., 1998, J. Med. Chem., 41, 1050).
GM-CSF is another proinflammatory cytokine with relevance to a number of therapeutic diseases. It influences not only proliferation and differentiation of stem cells but also regulates several other cells involved in acute and chronic inflammation. Treatment with GM-CSF has been attempted in a number of disease states including burn-wound healing, skin-graft resolution as well as cytostatic and radiotherapy induced mucositis (Masucci, 1996, Medical Oncology 13: 149). GM-CSF also appears to play a role in the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in cells of macrophage lineage with relevance to AIDS therapy (Crowe et al., 1997, Journal of Leukocyte Biology 62, 41). Bronchial asthma is characterised by an inflammatory process in lungs. Involved cytokines include GM-CSF amongst others (Lee, 1998, J R Coll Physicians Lond 32, 56).
Interferonxcex3 (IFNxcex3) has been implicated in a number of diseases. It has been associated with increased collagen deposition that is a central histopathological feature of graft-versus-host disease (Parkman, 1998, Curr Opin Hematol. 5, 22). Following kidney transplantation, a patient was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. Retrospective analysis of peripheral blood cytokines revealed elevated levels of GM-CSF and IFNxcex3. These elevated levels coincided with a rise in peripheral blood white cell count (Burke, et al., 1995, Leuk Lymphoma. 19, 173). The development of insulin-dependent diabetes (Type 1) can be correlated with the accumulation in pancreatic islet cells of T-cells producing IFNxcex3 (Ablumunits, et al., 1998, J Autoimmun. 11, 73). IFNxcex3 along with TNF, IL-2 and IL-6 lead to the activation of most peripheral T-cells prior to the development of lesions in the central nervous system for diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and AIDS dementia complex (Martino et al., 1998, Ann Neurol. 43, 340). Atherosclerotic lesions result in arterial disease that can lead to cardiac and cerebral infarction. Many activated immune cells are present in these lesions, mainly T-cells and macrophages. These cells produce large amounts of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF, IL-1 and IFNxcex3. These cytokines are thought to be involved in promoting apoptosis or programmed cell death of the surrounding vascular smooth muscle cells resulting in the atherosclerotic lesions (Geng, 1997, Heart Vessels Suppl 12, 76). Allergic subjects produce mRNA specific for IFNxcex3 following challenge with Vespula venom (Bonay, et al., 1997, Clin Exp Immunol. 109, 342). The expression of a number of cytokines, including IFNxcex3 has been shown to increase following a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction thus indicating a role for IFNxcex3 in atopic dermatitis (Szepietowski, et al., 1997, Br J Dermatol. 137, 195). Histopathologic and immunohistologic studies were performed in cases of fatal cerebral malaria. Evidence for elevated IFNxcex3 amongst other cytokines was observed indicating a role in this disease (Udomsangpetch et al., 1997, Am J Trop Med Hyg. 57, 501). The importance of free radical species in the pathogenesis of various infectious diseases has been established. The nitric oxide synthesis pathway is activated in response to infection with certain viruses via the induction of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFNxcex3 (Akaike, et al., 1998, Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 217, 64). Patients, chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) can develop cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Viral gene expression and replication in HBV transgenic mice can be suppressed by a post-transcriptional mechanism mediated by IFNxcex3, TNF and IL-2 (Chisari, et al., 1995, Springer Semin Immunopathol. 17, 261). IFNxcex3 can selectively inhibit cytokine induced bone resorption. It appears to do this via the intermediacy of nitric oxide (NO) which is an important regulatory molecule in bone remodeling. NO may be involved as a mediator of bone disease for such diseases as: the rheumatoid arthritis, tumor associated osteolysis and postmenopausal osteoporosis (Evans, et al., 1996, J Bone Miner Res. 11, 300). Studies with gene deficient mice have demonstrated that the IL-12 dependent production of IFNxcex3 is critical in the control of early parasitic growth. Although this process is independent of nitric oxide the control of chronic infection does appear to be NO dependent (Alexander et al., 1997, Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 352, 1355). NO is an important vasodilator and convincing evidence exists for its role in cardiovascular shock (Kilbourn, et al., 1997, Dis Mon. 43, 277). IFNxcex3 is required for progression of chronic intestinal inflammation in such diseases as Crohn""s disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) presumably through the intermediacy of CD4+ lymphocytes probably of the TH1 phenotype (Sartor 1996, Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 10 Suppl 2, 43). An elevated level of serum IgE is associated with various atopic diseases such as bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis. The level of IFNxcex3 was negatively correlated with serum IgE suggesting a role for IFNxcex3 in atopic patients (Teramoto et al., 1998, Clin Exp Allergy 28, 74).
Compounds which modulate release of one or more of the aforementioned inflammatory cytokines can be useful in treating diseases associated with release of these cytokines. For example, WO 98/52558 discloses heteroaryl urea compounds which are indicated to be useful in treating cytokine mediated diseases. WO 99/23091 discloses another class of urea compounds which are useful as anti-inflammatory agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,360 discloses N-substituted aryl-Nxe2x80x2-heterocyclic substituted urea compounds which are described as being useful for treating hypercholesterolemia and atheroclerosis.
The work cited above supports the principle that inhibition of cytokine production will be beneficial in the treatment of various disease states. Some protein therapeutics are in late development or have been approved for use in particular diseases. Protein therapeutics are costly to produce and have bioavailability and stability problems. Therefore a need exists for new small molecule inhibitors of cytokine production with optimized efficacy, pharmacokinetic and safety profiles.
The work cited above supports the principle that inhibition of cytokine production will be beneficial in the treatment of various disease states.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide novel compounds which inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor.
It is a further object of the invention to provide methods for treating diseases and pathological conditions involving inflammation such as chronic inflammatory disease, using the novel compounds of the invention.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide processes of preparation of the above-mentioned novel compounds.
In one embodiment of the invention there are provided compounds of the formula (1):
wherein:
G is:
an aromatic C6-10 carbocycle or a nonaromatic C3-10 carbocycle saturated or unsaturated; a 6-10 membered heteroaryl containing 1 or more heteroatoms chosen from O, N and S; or
a 5-8 membered monocyclic heterocycle or a 8-11 membered bicyclic heterocycle, each containing one or more heteroatoms chosen from O, N and S;
wherein G is substituted by one or more R1, R2 or R3;
Ar is:
phenyl, naphthyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzothienyl, indolenyl, benzothiophenyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, indanyl, indenyl or indolyl each optionally substituted by one or more R4 or R5 groups;
L is a:
C1-10 saturated or unsaturated branched or unbranched carbon chain;
wherein one or more methylene groups are optionally independently replaced by heteroatoms chosen from O, N and S(O)m; and
wherein said L is optionally substituted with 0-2 oxo groups and one or more C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl optinally substituted by one or more halogen atoms;
Q is:
phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyranyl, naphthyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrimidinyl, purinyl, pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridinyl, pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridinyl, tubercidinyl, oxazo[4,5-b]pyridinyl and imidazo[4,5-b]pyridinyl, which are optionally substituted with one to three C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, mono- or di-(C1-3 alkyl)amino, mono- or di-(phenyl-C1-3 alkyl)amino, C1-6 alkyl-S(O)m, phenyl-C1-3-alkoxy or phenylamino wherein the phenyl ring is optionally substituted with one to two halogen, C1-6 alkyl or C1-6 alkoxy;
tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, 1,3-dioxolanone, 1,3-dioxanone, 1,4-dioxanyl, morpholino, thiomorpholino, thiomorpholino sulfoxide, thiomorpholino sulfone, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, piperidinonyl, tetrahydropyrimidonyl, cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol, pentamethylene sulfide, pentamethylene sulfoxide, pentamethylene sulfone, tetramethylene sulfide, tetramethylene sulfoxide or tetramethylene sulfone which are optionally substituted with one to three C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, hydroxy, mono- or di-(C1-3 alkyl)amino-C1-3 alkyl, phenylamino-C1-3 alkyl or C1-3 alkoxy-C1-3 alkyl;
C1-6 alkoxy, secondary or tertiary amine wherein the amino nitrogen is covalently bonded to C1-3 alkyl or C1-5 alkoxyalkyl, phenylamino, wherein the phenyl ring is optionally substituted with one to two halogen, C1-6 alkoxy, hydroxy or mono- or di-(C1-3 alkyl)amino, C1-6 alkyl-S(O)m or phenyl-S(O)m wherein the phenyl ring is optionally substituted with one to two halogen, C1-6 alkoxy, hydroxy or mono- or di-(C1-3 alkyl)amino;
each R1 is independently:
C3-10 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, and optionally substituted with one to three C3-10 cycloalkyl, hydroxy, phenyl, naphthyl,
pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, thienyl, furyl, isoxazolyl or isothiazolyl; each of the aforementioned being optionally substituted with 1 to 5 halogen, C1-6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated, C3-8 cycloalkyl, C5-8 cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, cyano, C1-3 alkoxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated and NH2C(O) or mono- or di(C1-3)alkylaminocarbonyl;
cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, cycloheptanyl, bicyclopentanyl, bicyclohexanyl or bicycloheptanyl, which are optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl groups optionally partially or fully halogenated, cyano, hydroxyC1-3alkyl or aryl; or an analog of cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, cycloheptanyl, bicyclopentanyl, bicyclohexanyl or bicycloheptanyl wherein one to three ring methylene groups are replaced independently by O, S(O)m, CHOH,  greater than Cxe2x95x90O,  greater than Cxe2x95x90S or NH;
C3-10 branched or unbranched alkenyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, and optionally substituted with one to three C1-5 branched or unbranched alkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, thienyl, furyl, isoxazolyl or isothiazolyl, each of the aforementioned are optionally substituted with 1 to 5 halogen, C1-6 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, cycloheptanyl, bicyclopentanyl, bicyclohexanyl or bicycloheptanyl, hydroxy, cyano, C1-3 alkoxy optionally partially or fully halogenated, NH2C(O) or mono- or di(C1-3)alkylaminocarbonyl; the C3-10 branched or unbranched alkenyl is optionally interrupted by one or more O, N or S(O)m;
cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclohexadienyl, cycloheptenyl, cycloheptadienyl, bicyclohexenyl or bicycloheptenyl, each optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl groups;
cyano, halogen;
methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl or propoxycarbonyl;
silyl containing three C1-4 independently branched or unbranched alkyl groups optionally partially or fully halogenated;
C2-6 branched or unbranched alkyl-C(O), C2-6 branched or unbranched-S, C2-6 branched or unbranched-S(O), C2-6 branched or unbranched-S(O)2;
C2-6 alkynyl branched or unbranched carbon chain optionally partially or fully halogenated, wherein one or more methylene groups are optionally replaced by O, NH and S(O)m and wherein said alkynyl group is optionally independently substituted with 0-2 oxo groups, pyrroldinyl, pyrrolyl, one or more C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms, nitrile, morpholino, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, imidazolyl, phenyl, pyridinyl, tetrazolyl, or C1-4 branched or unbranched alkylamino optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms;
each R2, R4, and R5 is independently
a C1-6 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, acetyl, aroyl, C1-4 branched or unbranched alkoxy optionally partially or fully halogenated, halogen, methoxycarbonyl or phenylsulfonyl;
C1-6 alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, or mono- or di-(C1-4 alkyl)amino, cyano, halogen;
OR6;
nitro; or
mono- or di-(C1-4 alkyl)amino-S(O)2 optionally partially or fully halogenated, or H2NSO2;
each R3 is independently:
hydrogen, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, thienyl, furyl, tetrahydrofuryl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl,
oxazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, isothiazolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzoxazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzpyrazolyl, benzothiofuranyl, cinnolinyl, pterindinyl, phthalazinyl, naphthypyridinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, purinyl or indazolyl wherein each of the aforementioned is optionally substituted with one to five phenyl, naphthyl, heterocycle or heteroaryl wherein the heterocyclic and heteraryl moiety is as hereinabove described in this paragraph , C1-6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, cycloheptanyl, bicyclopentanyl, bicyclohexanyl, bicycloheptanyl, phenyl C1-5 alkyl, naphthyl C1-5 alkyl, halogen, hydroxy, oxo, cyano, C1-3 alkoxy optionally partially or fully halogenated, phenyloxy, naphthyloxy, heteraryloxy wherein the heterocyclic moiety is as hereinabove described in this paragraph, nitro, amino, mono- or di-(C1-3)alkylamino, phenylamino, naphthylamino, heterocyclic or heteroaryl amino wherein the heterocyclic or heteroaryl moiety is as hereinabove described in this paragraph, NH2C(O), a mono- or di-(C1-3)alkyl aminocarbonyl, C1-5 alkyl-C(O)xe2x80x94C1-4 alkyl, amino-C1-5 alkyl, mono- or di-(C1-3)alkylamino-C1-5 alkyl, amino-S(O)2, di-(C1-3)alkylamino-S(O)2, R7xe2x80x94C1-5 alkyl, R8xe2x80x94C1-5 alkoxy, R9xe2x80x94C(O)xe2x80x94C1-5 alkyl, R10xe2x80x94C1-5 alkyl(R11)N, carboxy-mono- or di-(C1-5)-alkyl-amino;
a fused aryl selected from benzocyclobutanyl, indanyl, indenyl, dihydronaphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, benzocycloheptanyl and benzocycloheptenyl, or a fused heterocycle selected from cyclopentenopyridine, cyclohexanopyridine, cyclopentanopyrimidine, cyclohexanopyrimidine, cyclopentanopyrazine, cyclohexanopyrazine, cyclopentanopyridazine, cyclohexanopyridazine, cyclopentanoquinoline, cyclohexanoquinoline, cyclopentanoisoquinoline, cyclohexanoisoquinoline, cyclopentanoindole, cyclohexanoindole, cyclopentanobenzimidazole, cyclohexanobenzimidazole, cyclopentanobenzoxazole, cyclohexanobenzoxazole, cyclopentanoimidazole, cyclohexanoimidazole, cyclopentanothiophene and cyclohexanothiophene; wherein the fused aryl or fused heterocyclic ring is optionally independently substituted with 1 to 3 groups selected from phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, thienyl, furyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, C1-6 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, halo, cyano, C1-3 alkoxy optionally partially or fully halogenated, phenyloxy, naphthyloxy, heterocyclicoxy heteroaryloxy wherein the heterocyclic or heteroaryl moiety is as hereinabove described in this paragraph, nitro, amino, mono- or di-(C1-3)alkylamino, phenylamino, naphthylamino, heterocyclicamino or heteroarylamino wherein the heterocyclic or heteroaryl moiety is as hereinabove described in this paragraph, NH2C(O), a mono- or di-(C1-3)alkyl aminocarbonyl, C1-4 alkyl-OC(O), C1-5 alkyl-C(O)xe2x80x94C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl, an amino-C1-5 alkyl, mono- or di-(C1-3)alkylamino-C1-5 alkyl, R12xe2x80x94C1-5 alkyl, R13xe2x80x94C1-5 alkoxy, R14xe2x80x94C(O)xe2x80x94C1-5 alkyl and R15xe2x80x94C1-5 alkyl(R16)N;
cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, cycloheptanyl, bicyclopentanyl, bicyclohexanyl or bicycloheptanyl optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl groups, or an analog of cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, cycloheptanyl, bicyclopentanyl, bicyclohexanyl or bicycloheptanyl wherein one to three ring methylene groups are replaced independently by O, S(O)m, CHOH,  greater than Cxe2x95x90O,  greater than Cxe2x95x90S or NH;
cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclohexadienyl, cycloheptenyl, cycloheptadienyl, bicyclohexenyl or bicycloheptenyl each optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl groups;
C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl-phenyl-C(O)xe2x80x94C0-4 branched or unbranched alkyl, C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl-C(O)xe2x80x94C0-4 branched or unbranched alkyl, C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl-phenyl-S(O)mxe2x80x94C0-4 branched or unbranched alkyl;
C1-6 branched or unbranched alkyl or C1-6 branched or unbranched alkoxy each is optionally partially or fully halogenated or optionally substituted with R17;
C0-6 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally substituted with OR18;
amino or C1-C5 branched or unbranched mono- or di-alkylamino optionally substituted with R19;
Cyclopropyloxy, cyclobutyloxy, cyclopentyloxy, cyclohexyloxy or cycloheptyloxy which are optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl groups optionally partially or fully halogenated, wherein one to three ring methylene groups are replaced independently by O, S(O)m, CHOH,  greater than Cxe2x95x90O,  greater than Cxe2x95x90S or NH;
R20C(O)N(R21)xe2x80x94, R22Oxe2x80x94 or R23R24NC(O)xe2x80x94; R26(CH2)mC(O)N(R21)xe2x80x94 or R26C(O)(CH2)mN(R21)xe2x80x94;
C2-6alkenyl substituted by R23R24NC(O)xe2x80x94;
C2-6 alkynyl branched or unbranched carbon chain optionally partially or fully halogenated, wherein one or more methylene groups are optionally replaced by O, NH, S(O), S(O)2 or S and wherein said alkynyl group is optionally independently substituted with 0-2 oxo groups, pyrroldinyl, pyrrolyl, one or more C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms, nitrile, morpholino, piperidine, piperazine, imidazole, phenyl, pyridine, tetrazole, or C1-4 branched or unbranched alkylamino optioanlly substituted by one or more halogen atoms; or
aroyl;
R6 is a:
C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally substituted with R26;
each R7, R8, R9, R10, R12, R13, R14, R15, R17, R19, R25 and R26is independently:
nitrile, morpholino, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, imidazolyl, phenyl, pyridinyl, tetrazolyl or alkylamino mono- or di-C0-4 branched or unbranched optionally partially or fully halogenated;
each R11 and R16 is independently:
hydrogen or C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated;
R18 is independently:
hydrogen or a C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally independently substituted with oxo or R25;
R20 is:
C1-10 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, phenyl or pyridinyl;
R21 is:
hydrogen or C1-3 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated;
each R22, R23 and R24 is independently:
hydrogen, C1-6 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally substituted by carbonylamino- mono- or di-C1-3alkyl or amino-mono or diC1-3alkyl or wherein said C1-6 alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally interrupted by one or more O, N or S, phenyl, pyridine, mono- or di-C0-4 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated and alkylamino;
or R23 and R24 taken together optionally form a heterocyclic or heteroaryl ring;
m=0, 1 or 2;
X=O or S; and
the pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof.
In another embodiment of the invention there is provided compounds of the formula(I) as described immmediately above, and wherein
G is
phenyl, naphthyl, benzocyclobutanyl, dihydronaphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, benzocycloheptanyl, benzocycloheptenyl, indanyl, indenyl, benzofuran-3-one, 4H-benzo[1,4]oxazine-3-one;
pyridinyl, pyridonyl, quinolinyl, dihydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinoyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinoyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, benzpyrazolyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzothiophenyl, benzooxazolonyl, benzo[1,4]oxazin-3-onyl, benzodioxolyl, benzo[1,3]dioxol-2-onyl, tetrahydrobenzopyranyl, indolyl, indolinyl, indolonyl, indolinonyl, phthalimidyl;
oxetanyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, dioxanyl, tetramethylene sulfonyl, tetramethylene sulfoxidyl, oxazolinyl, thiazolinyl, imidazolinyl, tertrahydropyridinyl, homopiperidinyl, pyrrolinyl, tetrahydropyrimidinyl, decahydroquinolinyl, decahydroisoquinolinyl, thiomorpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, dihydrooxazinyl, dihydropyranyl, oxocanyl, heptacanyl, thioxanyl or dithianyl;
wherein G is substituted by one or more R1, R2 or R3
In another embodiment of the invention there is provided compounds of the formula(I) as described immediately above, and wherein
G is phenyl, pyridinyl, pyridonyl, naphthyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, pyrazinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, benzpyrazolyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzothiophenyl, indanyl, indenyl, indolyl, indolinyl, indolonyl, indolinonyl, benzofuran-3-one or 4H-benzo[1,4]oxazine-3-one, wherein G is substituted by one or more R1, R2 or R3;
Ar is:
naphthyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, indanyl, indenyl or indolyl each optionally substituted by one or more R4 or R5 groups;
L is a:
C1-4 saturated or unsaturated branched or unbranched carbon chain;
wherein one or more methylene groups are optionally independently replaced by heteroatoms chosen from O, N and S(O)m; and
wherein said L is optionally substituted with 0-2 oxo groups and one or more C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms;
Q is:
phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl or imidazolyl which are optionally substituted with one to three halogen, C1-3 alkyl, C1-3 alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, mono- or di-(C1-3 alkyl)amino or mono- or di-(phenyl-C1-3 alkyl)amino;
tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, morpholino, thiomorpholino, thiomorpholino sulfoxide, piperidinyl, piperidinonyl, tetrahydropyrimidonyl, pentamethylene sulfide, pentamethylene sulfoxide or pentamethylene sulfone which are optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl, C1-3 alkoxy, hydroxy, mono- or di-(C1-3 alkyl)amino-C1-3 alkyl, phenylamino-C1-3 alkyl or C1-3 alkoxy-C1-3 alkyl;
each R1 is independently:
C3-5 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, and optionally substituted with one to three C3-6 cycloalkyl, hydroxy, phenyl, thienyl, furyl, isoxazolyl or isothiazolyl; each of the aformentioned being optionally substituted with 1 to 5 halogen, C1-3 alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated, hydroxy, cyano or C1-3 alkoxy optionally partially or fully halogenated;
cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, bicyclopentanyl or bicyclohexanyl optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl groups optionally partially or fully halogenated, CYANO, hydroxyC1-3alkyl or phenyl; or an analog of cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, bicyclopentanyl or bicyclohexanyl wherein one to three ring methylene groups are independently replaced by O, S, CHOH,  greater than Cxe2x95x90O,  greater than Cxe2x95x90S or NH; or
silyl containing three C1-4 independently branched or unbranched alkyl groups optionally partially or fully halogenated;
each R3 is independently:
hydrogen, phenyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolylidinyl, imidazolyl or pyrazolyl, wherein each of the aforementioned is optionally substituted with one to five phenyl, naphthyl, heterocycle or heteroaryl as hereinabove described in this paragraph, C1-6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, cycloheptanyl, bicyclopentanyl, bicyclohexanyl, bicycloheptanyl, phenyl C1-5 alkyl, naphthyl C1-5 alkyl, halogen, oxo, hydroxy, cyano, C1-3 alkoxy optionally partially or fully halogenated, phenyloxy, naphthyloxy, heteraryloxy or heteryclicoxy wherein the heteraryl or heterocyclic moiety is as hereinabove described in this paragraph, nitro, amino, mono- or di-(C1-3)alkylamino, phenylamino, naphthylamino, heterocyclic or heteroaryl amino wherein the heterocyclic or heteroaryl moiety is as hereinabove described in this paragraph, NH2C(O), a mono- or di-(C1-3)alkyl aminocarbonyl, C1-5 alkyl-C(O)xe2x80x94C1-4 alkyl, amino-C1-5 alkyl, mono- or di-(C1-3)alkylamino-C1-5 alkyl, amino-S(O)2, di-(C1-3)alkylamino-S(O)2, R7xe2x80x94C1-5 alkyl, R8xe2x80x94C1-5 alkoxy, R9xe2x80x94C(O)xe2x80x94C1-5 alkyl, R10xe2x80x94C1-5 alkyl(R11)N or carboxy-mono- or di-(C1-5)-alkyl-amino;
C1-3 alkyl or C1-3 alkoxy optionally partially or fully halogenated or optionally substituted with R17;
Cyclopropyloxy, cyclopentyloxy or cyclohexyloxy which are optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl groups optionally partially or fully halogenated, wherein one to three ring methylene groups are replaced independently by O, S(O)m, CHOH,  greater than Cxe2x95x90O,  greater than Cxe2x95x90S or NH;
C0-6 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally substituted with OR18;
amino or C1-C5 branched or unbranched mono- or di-alkylamino optionally substituted with R19;
R20C(O)N(R21)xe2x80x94, R22Oxe2x80x94; R23R24NC(O)xe2x80x94; R26CH2C(O)N(R21)xe2x80x94 or R26C(O)CH2N(R21)xe2x80x94;
C2-4 alkenyl substituted by R23R24NC(O)xe2x80x94;
C2-4 alkynyl branched or unbranched carbon chain optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally independently substituted with 0-2 oxo groups, pyrroldinyl, pyrrolyl or one or more C1-4 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms;
X is O; and
R23 and R24 taken together optionally form imidazole, piperidine, morpholino, piperazine or a pyridinyl ring.
In yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided compounds of the formula(I) as described immediately above, and wherein:
G is phenyl, pyridinyl, pyridonyl, naphthyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, pyrazinyl, benzothiophenyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzothiophenyl, indanyl, indolyl, indolinyl, indolonyl, indolinonyl, cyclopropanyl, cyclohexanyl, piperidinyl or tetrahydropyran, wherein G is substituted by one or more R1, R2 or R3;
Ar is naphthyl;
L is a:
C1-4 alkyl or alkynyl branched or unbranched carbon chain;
wherein one methylene group is optionally independently replaced by heteroatoms chosen from O, N and S(O)m; and
wherein said L is optionally substituted with 0-2 oxo groups and one or more C1-2 alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms;
Q is:
phenyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, imidazolyl, tetrahydropyranyl, morpholino, thiomorpholino, thiomorpholino sulfoxide, piperidinyl, piperidinonyl or pentamethylene sulfoxide which are optionally substituted with one to three amino, mono- or di-(phenyl-C1-3 alkyl)amino, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, methoxymethyl or ethoxymethyl;
each R1 is independently:
C3-5 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, and optionally substituted with phenyl substituted with 0 to 5 halogen, CI3 alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, hydroxy, cyano or C1-3alkoxy optionally partially or fully halogenated;
cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, bicyclopentanyl or bicyclohexanyl optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl groups optionally partially or fully halogenated, cyano, hydroxyC1-3alkyl or phenyl;
or an analog of cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, bicyclopentanyl or bicyclohexanyl wherein one ring methylene group is replaced by O; and
silyl containing three C1-2 independently branched or unbranched alkyl groups optionally partially or fully halogenated;
each R3 is independently:
hydrogen, phenyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolylidinyl, 2,5-pyrrolidin-dione, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, each of the aforementioned is optionally substituted with one to five C1-3 alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, halogen, oxo, hydroxy, cyano or C1-3 alkoxy optionally partially or fully halogenated;
C1-3 alkyl or C1-3 alkoxy which may optionally be partially or fully halogenated or optionally substituted with R17;
Cyclopropyloxy, cyclopentyloxy or cyclohexyloxy which are optionally partially or fully halogenated and optionally substituted with one to three C1-3 alkyl groups optionally partially or fully halogenated, wherein one to three ring methylene groups are replaced independently by O, S(O)m, CHOH,  greater than Cxe2x95x90O,  greater than Cxe2x95x90S or NH;
C0-3 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally substituted with OR18; amino or C1-C3 branched or unbranched mono- or di-alkylamino optionally substituted with R19;
R20C(O)N(R21)xe2x80x94, R22Oxe2x80x94; R23R24NC(O)xe2x80x94; R26CH2C(O)N(R21)xe2x80x94 or R26C(O)CH2N(R21)xe2x80x94;
C2-4 alkenyl substituted by R23R24NC(O)xe2x80x94; or
C2-4 alkynyl substituted with pyrroldinyl or pyrrolyl; and
R23 and R24 taken together optionally form morpholino.
In yet still another embodiment of the invention there is provided compounds of the formula(I) as described immediately above, and wherein
G is phenyl, pyridinyl, pyridonyl, naphthyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, indanyl, indolinyl, indolonyl, indolinonyl or cyclopropanyl, wherein G is substituted by one or more R1, R2 or R3;
Ar is 1-naphthyl;
L is:
Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, Oxe2x80x94CH2CH2, Oxe2x80x94CH2CH2CH2, Oxe2x80x94CH2CH2(CH3), Oxe2x80x94CH2(CH3)CH2, NHCH2, NHCH2CH2, NHCH2CH2CH2, S(O)mCH2, S(O)mCH2CH2, S(O)mCH2CH2CH2, CH2CH2, CH2CH2CH2, Oxe2x80x94CH2C(O), HCxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94CH2 or HCxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94CH2O;
each R1 is independently:
C3-5 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, and optionally substituted with phenyl;
cyclopropyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl or bicyclopentanyl optionally substituted with one to three methyl groups optionally be partially or fully halogenated, CYANO, hydroxymethyl or phenyl;
cyclopentyloxy or cyclohexyloxy which are optionally partially or fully halogenated;
2-tetrahydrofuranyl substituted by methyl; or
trimethylsilyl;
each R3 is independently:
hydrogen, phenyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolylidinyl, 2,5-pyrrolidin-dione, imidazolyl or pyrazolyl, wherein each of the aforementioned is optionally substituted with C1-2 alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated;
C1-3 alkyl or C1-3 alkoxy each optionally partially or fully halogenated or optionally substituted with diethylamino;
C0-3 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally substituted with OR18;
amino or C1-C3 branched or unbranched mono- or di-alkylamino optionally substituted with R19;
CH3C(O)NHxe2x80x94, R22Oxe2x80x94; R23R24NC(O)xe2x80x94; R26CH2C(O)N(R21)xe2x80x94 or R26C(O)CH2N(R21)xe2x80x94;
C2-4 alkenyl substituted by R23R24NC(O)xe2x80x94; or
C2-4 alkynyl substituted with pyrroldinyl or pyrrolyl;
R23 and R24 are H or R23 and R24 taken together optionally form morpholino; and
R26 is morpholino.
In another embodiment of the invention there is provided of the formula(I) as described immediately above, and wherein
G is phenyl substituted by one or more R1, R2 or R3; and
L is:
O, NH, CH2 or S(O)m.
In yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided of the formula(I) as described in the fourth embodiment above, and wherein
G is phenyl or pyridinyl substituted by one or more R1, R2 or R3;
Ar is 1-naphthyl;
L is:
C(O)CH2xe2x80x94,  greater than C(O), O, or CH2;
each R1 is independently:
C3-5 branched or unbranched alkyl optionally partially or fully halogenated, and
each R3 is independently:
hydrogen, C1-3 alkyl or C1-3 alkoxy each optionally be partially or fully halogenated or optionally substituted with diethylamino;
CH3C(O)NHxe2x80x94, R22Oxe2x80x94; R23R24NC(O)xe2x80x94; R26C(O)N(R21)xe2x80x94 or R26C(O)CH2N(R21)xe2x80x94;
R23 and R24 are H or R23 and R24 taken together optionally form morpholino; and
R26 is alkylamino mono- or di-C0-4 branched or unbranched.
In another embodiment of the invention there is provided of the formula(I) as described immediately above, and wherein
G is pyridinyl and
L is C(O)CH2xe2x80x94,  greater than C(O), O or CH2.
Any compounds of this invention containing one or more asymmetric carbon atoms may occur as racemates and racemic mixtures, single enantiomers, diastereomeric mixtures and individual diastereomers. All such isomeric forms of these compounds are expressly included in the present invention. Each stereogenic carbon may be in the R or S configuration, or a combination of configurations.
Some of the compounds of formula (I) can exist in more than one tautomeric form. The invention includes all such tautomers.
All terms as used herein in this specification, unless otherwise stated, shall be understood in their ordinary meaning as known in the art. For example, xe2x80x9cC1-4alkoxyxe2x80x9d is a C1-4alkyl with a terminal oxygen, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, and butoxy. All alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups shall be understood as being branched or unbranched where structurally possible and unless otherwise specified. Other more specific definitions are as follows:
The term xe2x80x9caroylxe2x80x9d as used in the present specification shall be understood to mean xe2x80x9cbenzoylxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cnaphthoylxe2x80x9d.
The term xe2x80x9ccarbocyclexe2x80x9d shall be understood to mean an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from three to twelve carbon atoms. Carbocycles include hydrocarbon rings containing from three to ten carbon atoms. These carbocycles may be either aromatic or non-aromatic ring systems. The non-aromatic ring systems may be mono- or polyunsaturated. Preferred carbocycles include but are not limited to cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptanyl, cycloheptenyl, phenyl, indanyl, indenyl, benzocyclobutanyl, dihydronaphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, naphthyl, decahydronaphthyl, benzocycloheptanyl and benzocycloheptenyl.
The term xe2x80x9cheterocyclexe2x80x9d refers to a stable nonaromatic 4-8 membered (but preferably, 5 or 6 membered) monocyclic or nonaromatic 8-11 membered bicyclic heterocycle radical which may be either saturated or unsaturated. Each heterocycle consists of carbon atoms and one or more, preferably from 1 to 4 heteroatoms chosen from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. The heterocycle may be attached by any atom of the cycle, which results in the creation of a stable structure. Preferred heterocycles include but are not limited to, for example oxetanyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, dioxanyl, tetramethylene sulfonyl, tetramethylene sulfoxidyl, oxazolinyl, thiazolinyl, imidazolinyl, tertrahydropyridinyl, homopiperidinyl, pyrrolinyl, tetrahydropyrimidinyl, decahydroquinolinyl, decahydroisoquinolinyl, thiomorpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, dihydrooxazinyl, dihydropyranyl, oxocanyl, heptacanyl, thioxanyl, dithianyl.
The term xe2x80x9cheteroarylxe2x80x9d shall be understood to mean an aromatic 5-8 membered monocyclic or 8-11 membered bicyclic ring containing 1-4 heteroatoms chosen from N,O and S. Such heteroaryls include: pyridinyl, pyridonyl, quinolinyl, dihydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinoyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinoyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, benzpyrazolyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzothiophenyl, benzooxazolonyl, benzo[1,4]oxazin-3-onyl, benzodioxolyl, benzo[1,3]dioxol-2-onyl, tetrahydrobenzopyranyl, indolyl, indolinyl, indolonyl, indolinonyl, phthalimidyl.
The term xe2x80x9cheteroatomxe2x80x9d as used herein shall be understood to mean atoms other than carbon such as O, N, S and P.
The term xe2x80x9carylxe2x80x9d as used herein shall be understood to mean aromatic carbocycle or heteroaryl as defined herein.
Terms which are analogs of the above cyclic moieties such as aryloxy or heteroaryl amine shall be understood to mean an aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle as defined above attached to it""s respective group.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cnitrogenxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9csulfurxe2x80x9d include any oxidized form of nitrogen and sulfur and the quaternized form of any basic nitrogen.
The term xe2x80x9chalogenxe2x80x9d as used in the present specification shall be understood to mean bromine, chlorine, fluorine or iodine.
The compounds of the invention are only those which are contemplated to be xe2x80x98chemically stablexe2x80x99 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. For example, a compound which would have a xe2x80x98dangling valencyxe2x80x99, or a xe2x80x98carbanionxe2x80x99 are not compounds contemplated by the invention.
The invention includes pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives of compounds of formula (I). A xe2x80x9cpharmaceutically acceptable derivativexe2x80x9d refers to any pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester of a compound of this invention, or any other compound which, upon administration to a patient, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) a compound of this invention, a pharmacologically active metabolite or pharmacologically active residue thereof. A pharmacologically active metabolite shall be understood to mean any compound of the formula(I) capable of being metabolized enzymatically or chemically. This includes, for example, hydroxylated or oxidized derivative compounds of the formula(I).
Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic acids and bases. Examples of suitable acids include hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, nitric, perchloric, fumaric, maleic, phosphoric, glycolic, lactic, salicylic, succinic, toluene-p-sulfuric, tartaric, acetic, citric, methanesulfonic, formic, benzoic, malonic, naphthalene-2-sulfuric and benzenesulfonic acids. Other acids, such as oxalic acid, while not themselves pharmaceutically acceptable, may be employed in the preparation of salts useful as intermediates in obtaining the compounds of this invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. Salts derived from appropriate bases include alkali metal (e.g., sodium), alkaline earth metal (e.g., magnesium), ammonium and Nxe2x80x94(C1-C4 alkyl)4+ salts.
In addition, the compounds of this invention include prodrugs of compounds of the formula (I). Prodrugs include those compounds that, upon simple chemical transformation, are modified to produce compounds of the invention. Simple chemical transformations include hydrolysis, oxidation and reduction. Specifically, when a prodrug of this invention is administered to a patient, the prodrug may be transformed into a compound of formula (I), thereby imparting the desired pharmacological effect.
In accordance with the invention, there are provided methods of using the compounds of the formula (I). The compounds of the invention effectively block inflammatory cytokine production from cells. The inhibition of cytokine production is an attractive means for preventing and treating a variety of disorders associated with excess cytokine production, e.g., diseases and pathological conditions involving inflammation. Thus, the compounds of the invention are useful for the treatment of such conditions. These encompass chronic inflammatory diseases including, but not limited to, osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Crohn""s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, graft versus host disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The compounds of the invention can also be used to treat other disorders associated with the activity of elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as responses to various infectious agents and a number of diseases of autoimmunity such as rheumatoid arthritis, toxic shock syndrome, diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases unrelated to those listed above are discussed in the Background of the Invention.
In addition, the compounds of the invention being inhibitors of cytokine production are expected to block inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression. COX-2 expression has been shown to be increased by cytokines and it is believed to be the isoform of cyclooxygenase responsible for inflammation (M. K. O""Banion et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, 1992, 89, 4888.) Accordingly, the present novel compounds would be expected to exhibit efficacy against those disorders currently treated with COX inhibitors such as the familiar NSAIDs. These disorders include acute and chronic pain as well as symptoms of inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
As discussed in the Background of the Invention, IL-8 plays a role in the influx of neutrophils into sites of inflammation or injury. Therefore, in a yet further aspect of the invention, the compounds of the invention may be useful in the treatment of diseases mediated predominantly by neutrophils such as stroke and myocardial infarction, alone or following thrombolytic therapy, thermal injury, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ injury secondary to trauma, acute glomerulonephritis, dermatoses with acute inflammatory components, acute purulent meningitis or other central nervous system disorders, hemodialysis, leukopherisis, granulocyte transfusion associated syndromes, and necrotizing entrerocolitis.
For therapeutic use, the compounds of the invention may be administered in any conventional dosage form in any conventional manner. Routes of administration include, but are not limited to, intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intrasynovially, by infusion, sublingually, transdermally, orally, topically or by inhalation. The preferred modes of administration are oral and intravenous.
The compounds of this invention may be administered alone or in combination with adjuvants that enhance stability of the inhibitors, facilitate administration of pharmaceutic compositions containing them in certain embodiments, provide increased dissolution or dispersion, increase inhibitory activity, provide adjunct therapy, and the like, including other active ingredients. Advantageously, such combination therapies utilize lower dosages of the conventional therapeutics, thus avoiding possible toxicity and adverse side effects incurred when those agents are used as monotherapies. Compounds of the invention may be physically combined with the conventional therapeutics or other adjuvants into a single pharmaceutical composition. Advantageously, the compounds may then be administered together in a single dosage form. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions comprising such combinations of compounds contain at least about 5%, but more preferably at least about 20%, of a compound of formula (I) (w/w) or a combination thereof. The optimum percentage (w/w) of a compound of formula(I) may vary and is within the purview of those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the compounds may be administered separately (either serially or in parallel). Separate dosing allows for greater flexibility in the dosing regime.
As mentioned above, dosage forms of the compounds of this invention include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and adjuvants known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These carriers and adjuvants include, for example, ion exchangers, alumina, aluminum stearate, lecithin, serum proteins, buffer substances, water, salts or electrolytes and cellulose-based substances. Preferred dosage forms include, tablet, capsule, caplet, liquid, solution, suspension, emulsion, lozenges, syrup, reconstitutable powder, granule, suppository and transdermal patch. Methods for preparing such dosage forms are known (see, for example, H. C. Ansel and N. G. Popovish, Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems, 5th ed., Lea and Febiger (1990)). Dosage levels and requirements are well-recognized in the art and may be selected by those of ordinary skill in the art from available methods and techniques suitable for a particular patient. In some embodiments, dosage levels range from about 1-1000 mg/dose for a 70 kg patient. Although one dose per day may be sufficient, up to 5 doses per day may be given. For oral doses, up to 2000 mg/day may be required. As the skilled artisan will appreciate, lower or higher doses may be required depending on particular factors. For instance, specific dosage and treatment regimens will depend on factors such as the patient""s general health profile, the severity and course of the patient""s disorder or disposition thereto, and the judgment of the treating physician.
In order that this invention be more fully understood, the following examples are set forth. These examples are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of this invention, and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.
The examples which follow are illustrative and, as recognized by one skilled in the art, particular reagents or conditions could be modified as needed for individual compounds. Starting materials used in the scheme below are either commercially available or easily prepared from commercially available materials by those skilled in the art.
The invention additionally provides for methods of making the compounds of the formula (I). In all schemes xe2x80x9cGxe2x80x9d in the formulas shown below shall have the meaning of xe2x80x9cGxe2x80x9d in the formula (I) of the invention desrcibed hereinabove.
The compounds of the invention may be prepared by Method A, B, C or D as illustrated in Scheme I, preferably method C.
In Method A, a mixture of an arylamine of formula IIa and an arylisocyanate of formula III is dissolved in a non-protic, anhydrous solvent such as THF, ether, toluene, dioxane or ethyl acetate. The preferred solvent is THF. The mixture is stirred at between 0-45xc2x0 C., preferably at 25xc2x0 C., for 2-24 h, and the volatiles are removed. Purification of the residue can be accomplished by recrystallization from an appropriate solvent such as ethyl acetate/hexanes, ethyl acetate/methanol, THF/petroleum ether or ethanol/water or by silica gel chromatography, using for example, hexanes and ethyl acetate as eluents, providing the product of formula I or precursors thereof.
In Method B, an arylamine of formula Ha is dissolved in a halogenated solvent, such as methylene chloride, chloroform or dichloroethane. The preferred solvent is methylene chloride. The mixture is diluted with aqueous alkali, such as sodium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate, cooled in an ice bath and phosgene is added. The mixture is vigorously stirred for 5-30 min, with 10 min being preferable. The organic layer is lo dried, with agents such as MgSO4 or Na2SO4, and the volatiles removed to provide the corresponding isocyanate. The isocyanate and arylamine IV are mixed in a non-protic, anhydrous solvent such as THF, ether, toluene, dioxane, methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. The preferred solvent is THF. The mixture is stirred at between 0-45xc2x0 C., preferably at 25xc2x0 C., for 2-24 h, and the volatiles are removed. Purification of the residue by recrystallization or by silica gel chromatography, as above, provides the product of formula I or precursors thereof.
In Method C, an arylamine of formula IIa is dissolved in a suitable halogenated solvent such as methylene chloride, chloroform or dichloroethane. The preferred solvent is methylene chloride. A suitable base such as triethylamine may be added, followed by an alkyl or aryl chloroformate, such as t-butyl chloroformate or phenyl chloroformate (shown). The mixture is stirred at between 0-85xc2x0 C., preferably at reflux temperature, for 2-24 h, and the volatiles are removed providing carbamate V. The carbamate and arylamine IV are mixed in a non-protic, anhydrous solvent such as THF, ether, toluene, dioxane, methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. The preferred solvent is THF. The mixture is stirred at between 0-110xc2x0 C., preferably at reflux temperature, for 2-24 h, and the volatiles are removed. Purification of the residue as above provides the product of formula I or precursors thereof.
In Method D, an aromatic carboxylic acid is dissolved in a non-protic solvent, such as THF or diethyl ether, and an inorganic base, such as triethyl amine is added and the mixture is cooled to xe2x88x9230-0xc2x0 C., with the preferred temperature being xe2x88x9210xc2x0 C. An alkyl chloroformate, such as ethyl chloroformate, is added dropwise and the resulting mixture stirred at below room temperature, such as 0xc2x0 C. for 1-3 hours. A solution of sodium azide in water is added and the mixtiure stirred between 1-3 hours, diluted with toluene and the organic layer dried and reduced in volume. This mixture is heated at reflux for 1-4 hours, cooled to room temperature to give isocyanate (Vb) which can be reacted with amine (IV) to give product of formula I or precursors thereof.
Method E describes a procedure by which one may obtain a product of formula (I) in which Ar is tetrahydroquinoline. Preparations of tetrahydroquinoline intermediates that may be used are known in the art (see for example C. Wang et al., Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1998, 2685; W. S. Johnson and B. G. Buell, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1952, 74, 4513; P. D. Leeson et al., Med. Chem. Res., 1991, 1, 64; A. L. Tokes, Synth. Commun., 1989, 19, 2081; U. Gerlach et al., EP 0 857 724 A1, May 2, 1998). The following method is illustrative.
Aniline is reacted with an acrylate ester such as t-butyl acrylate, in a suitable solvent such as acetic acid at reflux temperature. The product obtained is cyclized by heating under acidic conditions, such as heating in polyphosphoric acid to give the cyclic ketone. The ketone is reduced with a suitable reducing agent such as NaBH4 to give the corresponding alcohol. The alcohol is converted to the amine by methods known in the art, for example, reaction with sodium azide under anhydrous acidic conditions in ethereal solvent provides the azide. Protection of the tetrahydroquinoline nitrogen, for example by treatment with t-butyl dicarbonate under heating conditions affords the t-boc protected compound. Reaction under suitable reducing conditions, for example, Pd/charcoal and H2 gas affords the t-boc protected 4-amino tetrahydroquinoline.
This may then be reacted using the desired Method B, C or D, to provide the urea. Deprotection, for example with trifluoroacetic acid, can be followed by further reaction to add L-Q to provide the desired product of formula (I). For example, treatment with the desired acid, such as 4-pyridine acetic acid hydrochloride in the presence of a suitable carbodiimide coupling reagent provides an amide. Reaction with an arylaldehyde, for example 3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde in the presence of a suitable reducing agent such as Na(AcO)3BH at room temperature affords the tetrahydroquinoline product in which L is a methylene bridge and Q is a substituted aryl group.
Arylamine intermediates of formula Ia are either commercially available or may be prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art. Examples 1-5 (Methods F-J) are representative of procedures for preparing aryl amine or aryl isocyanate derivatives that may be used in Methods A-D. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other desired intermediates could be made by these methods by using appropriately substituted starting materials and intermediates.

Compounds useful as anti-inflammatory agents

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.


This invention provides an exposure mask including a translucent film formed on a light-transmitting substrate and having a mask pattern, and a stabilized region formed in the boundary between the light-transmitting substrate and the translucent film or on at least the surface of the translucent film to prevent variations in physical properties of the translucent film. In addition, this invention provides a method of manufacturing an exposure mask, including the steps of forming a translucent film on a light-transmitting substrate, forming a photosensitive resin film on the translucent film, forming a photosensitive resin pattern by exposing the photosensitive resin film to a radiation or a charged particle beam, removing an exposed portion of the translucent film by using the photosensitive resin pattern as a mask, removing the photosensitive resin pattern, and forming a stabilized region in the boundary between the light-transmitting substrate and the translucent film or on at least the surface of the translucent film before the step of forming the photosensitive resin film or after the step of forming the photosensitive resin pattern. Also, this invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing an exposure mask, including a light source for radiating light containing at least an exposure wavelength onto a translucent film formed on a light-transmitting substrate, a photodetecting unit for detecting light emitted from the light source and transmitted through or reflected by the translucent film, and a measuring unit for measuring the characteristic of the translucent film from the light detected by the photodetecting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure mask for use in lithography in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the exposure mask.
2. Description of the Related Art
The degrees of integration and miniaturization of semiconductor integrated circuits have increased steadily, and shortening the wavelength of an exposure light source has been studied to meet this requirement. Recently, on the other hand, a phase-shifting method of improving an exposure mask without changing an exposure light source has attracted attention. This phase-shifting method aims at improving pattern accuracy by forming a portion called a phase shifter for inverting a phase and thereby removing the influence of positive interference of light between adjacent patterns. Although a variety of phase-shifting methods have been proposed so far, a Levenson method, among other phase-shifting methods, is particularly known well as a method of dramatically improving resolving power and focal depth.
The Levenson method produces a negative interference by setting a 180.times. phase difference between light components transmitted through adjacent light-transmitting portions. The Levenson method has a large effect of improving resolving power for periodic patterns such as line-and-space patterns. If, however, the phase difference of 180.degree. is set in situations where three or more patterns are formed adjacent to one another, phases become equal at least at one portion.
Consequently, no resolving power improving effect can be obtained in this portion in which the phase difference between adjacent portions becomes 0. It is therefore required to improve the design or the like in order to put this method into practice for actual device patterns.
A halftone method is one phase-shifting method requiring no change in device design. This method uses a translucent film, instead of a light-shielding film, and sets a 180.degree. phase difference between light transmitted through the translucent film and light transmitted through a transparent portion, thereby reducing the interference of light which causes a decrease in pattern resolution. To take advantage of the full phase-shift improving effect of the halftone method, it is necessary to optimize the transmittance of the translucent film and the phase difference between the light components transmitted through the translucent film and the transparent portion.
One example of this half-one method is the method disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 4-136854 in which the phase and the transmittance are adjusted by using a multilayered film. However, the use of the multilayered film requires two transfer steps. In addition, if defects occur in the lower layer, it is difficult to correct these defects. Adjusting the phase and the transmittance by using a single-layer film also has been examined as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-327623. However, to simultaneously control the transmittance and the phase difference by a single-layer translucent film, the composition of a film to be used as the translucent film is limited.
Generally, a film consisting of a material having an intermediate composition, i.e., a material containing a semibonded state is used as the translucent film. Therefore, variations in the physical properties of the translucent film may readily take place upon irradiation with light during exposure. Since the irradiation direction of exposure light is from a transparent substrate to the translucent film, the influence of the photoirradiation reaches a maximum in the interface between the translucent film and the transparent substrate. The translucent film has a large absorbance to an exposure wavelength. Therefore, a thermal reaction occurs due to an optical reaction taking place near the interface or due to heat produced by this optical reaction. This results in loss of a resistance against the irradiation of exposure light if a measure of only stabilization of the film quality on the surface of the translucent film is taken by an oxidation treatment. Consequently, the physical properties of the translucent film vary primarily near the interface with the transparent substrate.
With this reaction, the phase difference and the transmittance of the translucent film of a halftone phase-shifting mask are shifted from their respective desired values upon irradiation with light during exposure. After the mask is manufactured, therefore, the shape of the transferred resist pattern is degraded or the focal depth is decreased due to the deterioration with time of the amplitude transmittance and the phase difference.
Note that it is also possible to leave the translucent film to stand until physical property variations no longer take place. This method, however, is impractical because several years are required before the film quality is stabilized.
The present invention provides a method of solving the above conventional problems by using at least one of irradiation, heating, and oxidation as will be described later. As disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 3-131027, however, the end point of irradiation has been indirectly determined in conventional methods. That is, the relationships between the film thickness of an insulating film formed by irradiation and the irradiation temperature and between the film quality and the irradiation time are obtained beforehand, and the irradiation time is calculated by monitoring the temperature during the irradiation. Alternatively, as disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 3-278524, a method of compensating for the lamp output by measuring the transmittance and the reflectance to infrared light prior to irradiation has been performed. These methods, however, cannot directly measure the film thickness or the physical properties of a film being treated. Consequently, variations are produced in the physical properties of the film obtained after the treatment.
In conventional halftone phase-shifting masks as discussed above, the physical properties of a translucent film vary due to photoirradiation during exposure or with time, shifting the phase difference and the transmittance of the translucent film from their respective desired values. This leads to degradation in the shape of a transferred resist pattern or decrease in the focal depth. In addition, exposure masks capable of achieving the maximum phase-shifting effect are difficult to manufacture with a high reproducibility, since it is not possible to directly measure the transmittance and the phase shift during the irradiation or heating mentioned above.

Exposure mask and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same


An online system receives host content items and supplementary content items to be presented in conjunction with one another. In embodiments, the online system receive an allocation of display instances of supplementary content items with host content items during a time interval. For a host content providers, the online system receives a count of display instances of supplementary content items in conjunction with host content items. The online system determines a content quality score based on user interactions with content from the host content provider and a count of display instances for host content items presented in conjunction with supplementary content items for a preceding time interval. The online system determines a content quality threshold based and, for host providers with content quality scored below the threshold, presents host content items in conjunction with supplementary content items to a user.

This invention relates generally to the distribution of content by online systems, and in particular to, the selection of content items to be distributed as embedded content items by the online system.
Online systems, such as social networking systems, allow users to connect to and communicate with other users of the online system. Online systems provide content items to users, for example, content items provided by third party systems. The online system presents some content items in conjunction with another content item, for example a video embedded in another video content item. An online system may have access to a large amount of host contents which may be potential candidates for a smaller number of supplementary content items to be distributed as embedded content items. Ineffective distribution of supplementary content items results in providing content items to users that are not interested in viewing the content items. The online system spends communication and computation resources in processing and transmitting content items to users. As a result, conventional techniques often result in wasting computational and communication resources by distributing content items that are not accessed by users. There is need for systems that improve the efficiency of computation and communication for distribution of content items to users.

Distribution of embedded content items by an online system


A treatment process is provided for removing a scale-forming inorganic salt from a produced brine having a scale inhibitor and the inorganic salt dissolved therein. The process is initiated by adding an interfering agent to the produced brine which disrupts the function of the scale inhibitor, thereby enabling formation of an insoluble inorganic salt precipitate. The precipitate is readily separable from the aqueous brine.

The precipitation of inorganic salts, such as alkaline earth metal sulfates, from produced brines to form scale is a persistent and common problem encountered during the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs. Scale deposition in the reservoir, in the hydrocarbon production well bore penetrating the reservoir, and in surface and subsurface production equipment and tubing is typically caused by commingling incompatible fluids in situ and producing the resulting brine during hydrocarbon recovery operations, especially during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations involving waterflooding or a water drive.
Aqueous fluids are deemed incompatible if each fluid contains distinct ions which ultimately form a precipitate that deposits as a scale when the fluids are commingled. A common example of two incompatible fluids is a connate water containing naturally-occurring alkaline earth metal cations and an EOR injection water containing naturally-occurring sulfate anions. Offshore operations often involve the injection of large volumes of sea water containing relatively high concentrations of sulfate anions into subterranean reservoirs containing connate water with relatively high concentrations of alkaline earth metal cations. Upon in situ mixing of the sea water and connate water, precipitation of alkaline earth metal sulfate scale often occurs in the reservoir, in the well bore, or in surface and subsurface production tubing and equipment.
To remedy the problem of scale deposition, conventional commercial scale inhibitors, primarily comprising polyelectrolytes such as polycarboxylates or polyphosphonates, are added to the brine in situ. The scale inhibitors advantageously maintain the inorganic salt in solution and prevent precipitation of the scale-forming salt from the produced brine during hydrocarbon production operations. Nevertheless, it is often desirable to precipitate and separate the inorganic salts from the produced brine after production of the hydrocarbons, particularly where the inorganic salt is radioactive, to reduce the disposal load. Unfortunately, the downstream presence of a scale inhibitor in the produced brine maintains the inorganic salt in solution and hinders separation of the inorganic salt from the brine.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a process for removing an inorganic salt from an aqueous brine. It is further an object of the present invention to provide a process for removing an inorganic salt from an aqueous brine in the presence of a scale inhibitor. It is a yet another object of the present invention to provide a process for removing an inorganic salt from an aqueous brine produced from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir, wherein the salt is a radioactive alkaline earth metal salt.

Removal of scale-forming inorganic salts from a produced brine


Products having improved handfeel and methods for making those products are described. The disclosed napkin product includes an emboss pattern that creates a pillow effect resulting in improved handfeel.

Consumer acceptance of absorbent paper products, such as napkin and towel products, is heavily influenced by the absorbency and the perceived softness of the product. Indeed, the consumer's perception of the desirability of one paper product over another can often rest on the perceived relative softness of the product. Assuming the products have similar absorbency characteristics, napkin and towel products that are perceived to be the puffiness or softest are typically perceived to be more acceptable.
In recent years, many napkin and towel products are produced using through-air-drying (TAD) methods in which a nascent web is dried without compression by passing hot air through the web while it is supported by a fabric. Because it does not suffer from compaction losses, TAD paper sheets currently exhibit the highest caliper, i.e., bulk of any base sheet for use in premium product. However, as compared to conventional wet pressing, TAD is expensive in terms of capital and energy costs.
Despite the proliferation of TAD and similar technologies, CWP products continue to have a place in the commercial market. TAD products enjoy significantly higher bulk than CWP products; however, the added bulk can interfere with a retailer's packaging and sizing choices. To accommodate the added bulk, a package may need to be resized or the product count may need to be reduced to fit in the existing package. Not all customers desire a reduction in product count and/or a larger package size and continue to prefer the less expensive, less bulky/soft CWP product. Given that CWP products are expected to be part of the commercial market indefinitely, manufacturers are consistently looking for ways to improve CWP tissue to bring it closer to the characteristics associated with webs produced via the more expensive TAD.
Manufacturers use a variety of techniques to modify the existing processes for producing commercial CWP products to improve their product attributes to move closer to the perceived absorbency and softness of TAD products. They may improve the fiber used in the fibrous web or they may improve the formation characteristics, for example creping, of the web. However, the majority of product attributes are imparted to an absorbent product during the converting operations that are used to produce the final product.
Product attributes including emboss definition and bulk of the tissue paper are most commonly found to affect the perceived softness of the absorbent product. A typical commercial napkin embossing process involves the compression and stretching of the flat tissue base sheet between two hard rolls each of which contain both male and female elements. The male elements of one emboss roll are engaged or mated with the female elements of another mirror image emboss roll. This method of embossing impacts the aesthetics of the tissue as well as the properties of the tissue sheet. It is well understood that embossing generally improves the bulk of the tissue web.
While embossing improves bulk, many emboss processes do not improve the handfeel and softness of the product. They may improve the perceived softness of a product, by making it appear puffier or more quilted. The emboss pattern as described in the instant disclosure improves the physical handfeel of the product in a manner not available in prior art emboss processes.
The present disclosure describes an embossed paper product having improved handfeel. According to one embodiment, the paper product has improved handfeel without a significant increase in caliper and/or bulk. The present disclosure also describes an embossing method that deforms the paper web in a new way to create pillows that provide significantly improved handfell from a CWP base sheet.

Paper product having an improved handfeel


A spinning disk game is playable on any flat surface, including a table top as well as a prefabricated game board. The disk playing piece may be a coin, token or specially formed disk having a circular edge that permits it to undergo spinning movement about a vertical axis as it is projected across the playing surface. Spinning motion and linear projection of the disk are produced by manually thumping the disk while it is held upright. If a prefabricated playing board is not available, any movable objects such as slips of paper can be used as targets. Multiple targets are grouped in separate rows and the rows are spaced apart to permit a spinning disk to be projected along a target path lying between adjacent targets of one row to a designated target lying in another row. Various levels of skill and manual dexterity are required to project the disk in upright, spinning motion, to thump the spinning disk to change its trajectory to a designated target, and to seize the spinning disk between a player's two thumbs.

This invention relates generally to board games of skill rather than chance, and in particular to a board game which requires manual dexterity for projecting a spinning disk toward a target.
Board games are known in which a playing piece is moved across a playing board toward a target, for example by rolling a disk or cylinder toward a marked score sector as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,602. Other board games utilize a flat disk which is manipulated by a player's finger for causing the disk to slide on its face across a playing surface into a side pocket or a corner pocket of a playing table, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,035. Some board games utilize a top game piece which is set into twirling, spinning motion on a spindle, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,790. According to that patent, the object of the game is to establish and maintain simultaneous spinning movement of several top game pieces. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,864, a spinning top game piece is maneuvered across a playing surface by tilting the game board to cause the spinning top to avoid contact with obstacles.
Conventional board games as discussed above require specially formed playing pieces and playing boards that are essential for playing according to relatively complex rules. There remains an interest in providing a simple board game that can played on any flat surface, including a table top or printed playing board, and that can be played with commonly available materials as well as prefabricated game pieces. Moreover, there is a need for a simple board game that appeals to a variety of players, both children and adults, including players possessing different levels of manual dexterity and skill.


A device (10) for instantaneously energizing glow bait (22), is described. The device has a container (12) with a reflective chamber (16) mounted inside. The reflective chamber has a reflective layer (18) surrounded by a transparent layer which allows light from a flash circuit (32) to reflect off the reflective layer and onto the glow bait to be energized. The flash circuit is mounted within a lid (26) pivotably mounted to the top (14A) of the handle (14) adjacent the top portion (12H) of the container. In the closed position, the lid completely covers the top opening (12D) of the container and upon activation, the flashbulb (38) of the flash circuit directs a flash of light down into the reflective chamber containing the glow bait. The flash circuit is activated by a switch (44) located on the top of the handle of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the reflective layer (116) is mounted directly to the interior surface (112F) of the container (112) of the device (110).

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for instantaneously energizing glow bait for use in fishing. In particular, the present invention relates to a container having a reflective inner chamber and a flash circuit located within a lid for the container. The glow bait is placed in the container and the lid is closed, which completely encloses the reflective chamber in the container. The flash circuit is activated and the glow bait is instantaneously energized within the container.
(2) Prior Art
The general use of a light source to energize luminous material to prolong illumination is well known in the prior art. Illustrative of such devices are U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,275,890 to Flannery; 1,654,370 to Goetschius; 2,905,863 to Martin et al; 4,209,823 to Burkdoll and 4,528,621 to Hoyt. With the above devices, the luminous material is part of the device. In addition, the luminous material is exposed to the light source for a considerable length of time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,388 to Bouchard et al uses a flashlamp to activate a phosphorous coating which is disposed on the interior surface of the housing surrounding the flashlamp. Although, only a single flash is used to activate the phosphorous coating, the luminous material is again attached to the light source.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,242,831 to O'Shaughnessy uses an activation apparatus which includes a hollow housing made of a transparent plastic material within which is located a battery operated lamp surrounded by a transparent plastic cylinder to activate a phosphorescent member. The phosphorescent member is placed on top of the transparent housing immediately above the lamp, which is then illuminated. Here, the phosphorescent member is separate from the light source but this activation apparatus does not instantly energize the phosphorescent member using a flash of light.
Thus, none of the prior art shows a device which uses a flash of light to instantaneously energize luminous material which can then be removed from the device for use elsewhere. In particular, none of the prior art describe a device which is used to instantaneously energize glow bait for fishing which is portable and easy to use.
Also of interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 564,839 to Pflueger; 1,817,694 to Lafky and 2,303,097 to Townsend et al which show various fishing lures using luminous material.

Device for instantaneously energizing glow bait used for fishing


An image forming apparatus includes a button member having an operation button portion, a part of which is translucent, an LED arranged behind the operation button portion, a switch arranged behind the button member and a button supporting member, which supports the button member rotatably. The button member is rotatably supported by a shaft portion provided at the button supporting member and the operation button portion is pressed by a plate spring portion out of the image forming apparatus. When the operation button portion is pressed against the pressing force of the plate spring portion, a button contact portion provided at a front end of the plate spring portion allows the switch to operate. In this configuration, the shaft portion, the plate spring portion, the button contact portion, the switch and the LED are arranged so as to overlap the button member for simplification.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operation button mounting structure, and an image forming apparatus and an electronic apparatus equipped with the operation button attachment structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, various attempts have been made for simplification of an assembling process of a button member having an operation button operated for inputting various commands to an electronic device. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-141961 discloses an attachment structure which enables simplification of attachment of a button member by engaging a hook provided at the button member with an engaging portion of a housing thereof. Furthermore, Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 63-55344 discloses a structure in which a hinge is provided at a button member and the hinge is fixed by being held between a chassis and base board. Still furthermore, Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication discloses a structure in which a button member is supported by an upper arm and lower arm.
In recent electronic apparatuses, for the facilitation of its operation, a part of an operation button which is to be operated by a user is made translucent, a light emitting device provided on a rear face side of the operation button emits light and the light passes through the translucent region to allow the operation button to glow, thereby prompting the user to operate the operation button. In such electronic apparatuses, since the light emitting device and a switch are provided on the rear face side of the operation button, the configuration of the operation button structure becomes complicated and thus an assembling process thereof also becomes complicated. Moreover, this is a cause for disturbing the downsizing of the electronic apparatus.

Operation button mounting structure, and image forming apparatus and electronic apparatus equipped with the same