RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/642,235, filed on January 7, 2005. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to novel semisynthetic macrolides having antibacterial activity and useful in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. More particularly, the invention relates to 9a, 1 l-2C-bicyclic 9a-azalide derivatives, compositions comprising such compounds, methods for using the same, and processes by which to make such compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Macrolide antibacterial agents are widely used to treat and prevent bacterial infections. However, the discovery of bacterial strains which have resistance or insufficient susceptibility to macrolide antibacterial agents has promoted the development of compounds with modified or improved profiles of antibiotic activity. One such class of compounds is azalides, which includes azithromycin, described in United States Patents 4,474,768 and 4,517,359. Azalides are macrolide antibacterial agents with a ring structure similar to the erythronolide A or B, however azalides possess a substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen moiety at the 9a position as illustrated in the following structure:

The potential for azalides to display modified or improved profiles for antibiotic activity has spawned extensive research to identify additional azalide derivatives with enhanced clinical properties. The following are examples of current efforts in azalide research: PCT Application WO98/56801, published December 17, 1998 discloses a series of 9a-(N-(alkyl))-azalide erythromycin A derivatives and a series of 9a-(N- (alkyl))-azalide 6-O-methylerythromycin A derivatives;

PCT Application WO98/56802, published December 17, 1998 discloses a series of 9a-(N-(H))-azalide erythromycin A derivatives and a series of 9a-(N-(H))- azalide 6-O-methylerythromycin A derivatives;

PCT Application WO99/00124, published January 7, 1999 discloses a series of 9a-(N-(R _n ))-azalide 3-thioxoerythromycin A derivatives and a series of 9a-(N- (R _n ))-azalide 6-O-methyl 3-oxoerythromycin A derivatives, wherein R _n is an optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl; PCT Application WO99/00125, published January 7, 1999 discloses a series of 9a-(N-(R _n ))-azalide 3-oxoerythromycin A derivatives and a series of 9a-(N-(R _n ))- azalide 6-O-methyl 3-oxoerythromycin A derivatives, wherein R _n is an optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl; and

U. S. Pat. No. 5,686,587 discloses a synthesis of azithromycin comprising introducing a 9a-(N(H))-moiety to erythromycin A by oxime formation, Beckmann rearrangement, reduction, and methylation.

Additional disclosures delineating 15-membered azalide derivatives include, but are not limited to: PCT Application No. WO01/14397 (2001); PCT Application No. WO03/042228 (2003); PCT Application No. WO02/12260 (2002); U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,965 (2000); European Application No. 0 283 055 (1990); PCT Application No. WO99/20639 (1999); PCT Application No. WO02/055531 (2002); PCT Application No. WO93/13116 (1993); and commonly-assigned U.S. Application Nos. 10/397,923 (filed March 26, 2003) and 10/464,188 (filed June 18, 2003). PCT Application WO 03/095466 Al, published November 20, 2003 and PCT Application WO 03/097659 Al, published November 27, 2003 disclose a series of bicyclic erythromycin derivatives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel class of 9a,ll-2C-bicyclic 9a-azalide compounds, or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions, comprising the compounds of the present invention, for administration to a subject in need of antibiotic treatment. The invention also relates to methods of treating a bacterial infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention. The invention further includes process by which to make the compounds of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention there are disclosed compounds of formulae I and II:

as well as the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and prodrugs thereof, wherein:

A and B are independently selected from:

(a) hydrogen;

(b) deuterium;

(c) halogen;

(d) -R ₁ , where R ₁ is independently selected from the group consisting of:

(i) hydrogen;

(ii) aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl;

(iii) R ₈ , where R ₈ is -Ci-C ₆ alkyl, -C ₂ -C ₆ alkenyl, or -C ₂ -C ₆ alkynyl containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N, optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl;

(Iv)-C(O)-J-R ₁ , wherein J is absent, O, or S and Ri is as previously defined;

(e) -ORi, where Ri is as previously defined;

(f) -NR ₂ R ₃ , wherein R ₂ and R ₃ are each independently selected from the group consisting of:

(i) hydrogen;

(ii) R ₈ , where R ₈ is as previously defined;

(iii) R ₂ and R ₃ taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are connected form a 3- to 7-membered ring which may optionally contain one or more heterofunctions selected from the group consisting of: -O-, -NH-, -N(Ci-C ₆ -alkyl)-, -N(R ₂₀ )-, -S(O) _n -, wherein n = 0, 1 or 2, and R ₂₀ is selected from aryl; substituted aryl; heteroaryl; and substituted heteroaryl;

(g) -C(O)-NR ₂ R ₃ , where R ₂ and R ₃ are as previously defined; Alternatively, A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are:

(a) C=O; (b) C(OR ₄ )(OR ₅ ), where R ₄ and R ₅ are selected from the group consisting of Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl; or taken together are -(CH ₂ ) _m -, and where m is 2 or 3; (c) C(SR ₄ )(SR ₅ ), where R ₄ and R ₅ are as previously defined above; (d) C=CHRi, where Ri is as previously defined;

(e) C=CNH(amino protecting group);

(f) C=N-E-Ri, where E is absent, O, NH, NH(CO), NH(CO)NH or NHSO ₂ ; and Ri is as previously defined;

L is (a) -CH ₂ CH ₃

(b) CH(OH)CH ₃ ; or

(c) R ₈ , where R ₈ is as previously defined; Q is:

a) hydrogen; b) protected hydroxyl; or c) -OR ₉ , where R ₉ is selected from the group consisting of: i. hydrogen; ii. aryl; iii. substituted aryl; iv. heteroaryl; v. substituted heteroaryl; vi. -R ₈ ; or vii. -C ₃ -C ₁₂ cycloalkyl containing 0, 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S or N, optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl; G is: (a) hydrogen; or

(b) R ₈ , where R ₈ is as previously defined; W is selected from:

(a) hydrogen;

(b) -Ci-C6-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl or C2-C6-alkynyl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from :

(i) halogen; (ii) aryl;

(iii)substituted-aryl; (iv) heteroaryl; (v) substituted-heteroaryl;

(vi)-O-(Ci-C6-alkyl)-R _l5 where R ₁ is as previously defined; and (vii) -N(R ₄ R ₅ ), where R ₄ and R ₅ are as previously defined;

(c) -C(O)R ₁ , where R ₁ , where Ri is as previously defined;

(d) -C(O)O-Ri, where Ri is as previously defined; and (e) -C(O)N(R ₄ R ₅ ), where R ₄ and R ₅ are as previously defined;

U is: a) hydrogen; b) -N ₃ ;

c) -CN; d) -NO ₂ ; e) -CONH ₂ ; f) -COOH; g) -CHO; h) -R ₈ ; i) -COOR ₈ ; j) -C(O)R ₈ ; or k) -C(O)NR ₂ R ₃ . when X is hydrogen, Y selected from the group consisting of:

(a) hydrogen;

(b) hydroxy;

(c) hydroxy protecting group;

(d) -ORi, where Ri is as previously defined; (e) -OC(O)Ri, where Ri is as previously defined, provide that Ri is not hydrogen;

(f) -OC(O)NHRi, where Ri is as previously defined;

(g) -S(O) _n Ri, where n = 1, 2 or 3 and Ri are as previously defined; and

(h) - , where R ₃ " is selected from hydrogen or methyl and R ₄ " is selected from:

(i) hydrogen;

(ii) hydroxy protecting group;

(iii)-C(O)(CH ₂ ) _n -M-Ri, wherein Ri is as previously defined and M is absent or -Q(CH ₂ ) _q Q'-, where q = an integer from 2 to 8, and Q and Q' are independently selected from:

1) -N(Ri)-, where Ri is as previously defined;

2) -O-;

3) -S(O) _n -, where n = O, 1 , or 2;

4) -N(Ri)C(O)-, where Ri is as previously defined;

5) -C(O)N(Ri)-, where Ri is as previously defined; or

6) -N[C(O)Ri]-, where Ri is as previously defined; and alternatively, X and Y taken together is oxo; Z is

(a) hydrogen;

(b) - Rg, where R ₈ is as previously defined;

(c) halogen; Each of Rδ and R ₇ is independently selected from the group R ₈ or R ₆ and R ₇ can be taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring; R ₂ ' is hydrogen, hydroxy protecting group or hydroxy prodrug group.

In another embodiment of the present invention there are disclosed pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. hi yet another embodiment of the invention are methods of treating antibacterial infections in a subject in need of such treatment with said pharmaceutical compositions. Suitable carriers and formulations of the compounds of the present invention are disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention is a compound of formula I as illustrated above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof. Preferred subgenera of the present invention are:

A compound of formula III:

wherein A, B, G, W, R ₂ ', R ₃ ", and R ₄ " are as previously defined; A compound of formula IV:

wherein A, B, G, W, Y, and R ₂ ' are as previously defined; A compound of formula V:

wherein A, B, G, W, Z, and R ₂ ' are as previously defined; A compound of formula VI:

wherein A, B, G, W, R ₂ ', R ₃ ", and R ₄ " are as previously defined;

A compound of formula VII:

wherein A, B, G, W, Y, and R ₂ ' are as previously defined; and

A compound of formula VIII:

wherein A, B, G, W, Z, and R ₂ ' are as previously defined. Representative compounds according to the invention are those selected from: (a) A compound of Formula III, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH ₂ , G = W = R ₂ ' = hydrogen, R ₃ " is - CH ₃ and R ₄ ¹¹ HH.

(b) A compound of Formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH ₂ , G = W = R ₂ ' = hydrogen, R ₃ " is - CH ₃ and R ₄ ^u =H.

(c) A compound of Formula VII, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH ₂ , G = W = R ₂ ' = hydrogen and Y = OH.

(d) A compound of Formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH ₂ , G = W = R ₂ ' = hydrogen and Y =

OH.

(e) A compound of Formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH ₂ , G = W = hydrogen, Y = OH and R ₂ ' = Ac. (f) A compound of Formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH ₂ , G = W = hydrogen, Y = O-[3- propenyl-quinoline], and R ₂ '= Ac.

(g) A compound of Formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH ₂ , G = W = R ₂ ' = hydrogen, and Y = O-[3-propenyl-quinoline].

(h) A compound of Formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH ₂ , G = W = hydrogen, Y = O-[2- pyridylacetyl], and R ₂ ' = Ac.

(i) A compound of Formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH ₂ , G = W = R ₂ ' = hydrogen, and Y = O-[2-pyridylacetyl] .

A further embodiment of the present invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising any single compound delineated herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug thereof, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of two or more compounds delineated herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug thereof, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

Yet a further embodiment of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising any single compound delineated herein in combination with one or more antibiotics known in the art, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug thereof, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

In addition, the present invention contemplates processes of making any compound delineated herein via any synthetic method delineated herein. Definitions

Listed below are definitions of various terms used to describe this invention. These definitions apply to the terms as they are used throughout this specification and claims, unless otherwise limited in specific instances, either individually or as part of a larger group.

The term "aryl," as used herein, refers to a mono- or polycyclic carbocyclic ring system having one or two aromatic rings including, but not limited to, phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl, idenyl and the like.

The term "heteroaryl," as used herein, refers to a mono- or polycyclic (e.g. bi-, or tri-cyclic or more) aromatic radical or ring having from five to ten ring atoms of which one or more ring atom is selected from, for example, S, O and N; zero, one or two ring atoms are additional heteroatoms independently selected from, for example, S, O and N; and the remaining ring atoms are carbon, wherein any N or S contained within the ring may be optionally oxidized. Heteroaryl includes, but is not limited to, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiophenyl, furanyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzooxazolyl, quinoxalinyl, and the like.

The terms "Ci-C ₆ alkyl," or "Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl," as used herein, refer to saturated, straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon radicals containing between one and six, or one and twelve carbon atoms, respectively. Examples OfC ₁ -C ₆ alkyl radicals include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, w-butyl, /ert-butyl, neopentyl and n-hexyl radicals; and examples Of Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl radicals include, but are not limited to, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl radicals.

The term "C ₂ -C ₆ alkenyl," as used herein, denotes a monovalent group derived from a hydrocarbon moiety containing from two to six carbon atoms having at least one carbon-carbon double bond by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, for example, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, l-methyl-2-buten-l-yl, and the like.

The term "C ₂ -C ₆ alkynyl," as used herein, denotes a monovalent group derived from a hydrocarbon moiety containing from two to six carbon atoms having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Representative alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, for example, ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 1-butynyl, and the like.

The term "Ci-Cs alkylene," as used herein, refer to saturated, straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon containing between one and eight. Alkylene groups include, but are not limited to, ethylene, propylene, butylene, 3-methyl-pentylene, and 5-ethyl-hexylene.

The term "C ₂ -C ₈ alkenylene," as used herein, denotes a divalent group derived from a straight chain or branch hydrocarbon moiety containing from two to eight carbon atoms having at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Alkenylene groups include, but are not limited to, for example, ethenylene, 2-propenylene, 2- butenylene, l-methyl-2-buten-l-ylene, and the like.

The term "C ₂ -C ₈ alkynylene," as used herein, denotes a divalent group derived from a straight chain or branch hydrocarbon moiety containing from two to eight carbon atoms having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. Representative alkynylene groups include, but are not limited to, for example, propynylene, 1- butynylene, 2-methyl-3-hexynylene, and the like.

The terms "substituted aryP, "substituted heteroaryl," "substituted Ci-C ₆ alkyl," or "substituted Ci-Ci ₂ alkyl," "substituted C ₂ -C ₆ alkenyl," "substituted C ₂ -C ₆ alkynyl," "substituted Ci-C ₈ alkylene," "substituted C ₂ -C ₈ alkenylene," "substituted C ₂ -C ₈ alkynylene," as used herein, refer to aryl, heteroaryl, Ci-C ₆ alkyl, Ci-Ci ₂

alkyl, C ₂ -C ₆ alkenyl, C ₂ -C ₆ alkynyl, C ₁ -C ₈ alkylene, C ₂ -C ₈ alkenylene, substituted C ₂ -C ₈ alkynylene groups as previously defined, substituted by independent replacement of one, two, or three or more of the hydrogen atoms thereon with substituents including, but not limited to, -F, -Cl, -Br, -I, -OH, protected hydroxyl, - NO ₂ , -CN, -Ci-C] ₂ -alkyl optionally substituted with, for example, halogen, C ₂ -Ci ₂ - alkenyl optionally substituted with, for example, halogen, -C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkynyl optionally substituted with, for example, halogen, -NH ₂ , protected amino, -NH -Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, - NH -C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NH -C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NH -C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -NH -aryl, -NH -heteroaryl, -NH -heterocycloalkyl, -dialkylamino, -diarylamino, - diheteroarylamino, -O-Ci-C^-alkyl, -O-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -O-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -O-C ₃ - Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -O-aryl, -O-heteroaryl, -O-heterocycloalkyl, -C(O)- Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, - C(O)- C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -C(O)- C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -C(O)-C ₃ -C ₁₂ -cycloalkyl, -C(O)-aryl, - C(O)-heteroaryl, -C(O)-heterocycloalkyl, -CONH ₂ , -CONH- d-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -CONH- C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -CONH- C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -CONH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -CONH-aryl, - CONH-heteroaryl, -CONH-heterocycloalkyl, -OCO ₂ - C _r Ci ₂ -alkyl, -OCO ₂ - C ₂ -C ₁₂ - alkenyl, -OCO ₂ - C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -OCO ₂ -C ₃ -C ₁₂ -cycloalkyl, -OCO ₂ -aryl, -OCO ₂ - heteroaryl, -OCO ₂ -heterocycloalkyl, -OCONH ₂ , -OCONH- Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -OCONH- C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -OCONH- C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -OCONH- C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -OCONH- aryl, -OCONH- heteroaryl, -OCONH- heterocycloalkyl, -NHC(O)- C _r Ci ₂ -alkyl, - NHC(O)-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NHC(O)-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NHC(O)-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, - NHC(O)-aryl, -NHC(O)-heteroaryl, -NHC(O)-heterocycloalkyl, -NHCO ₂ - Ci-C ₁₂ - alkyl, -NHCO ₂ - C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NHCO ₂ - C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NHCO ₂ - C ₃ -Ci ₂ - cycloalkyl, -NHCO ₂ - aryl, -NHCO ₂ - heteroaryl, -NHCO ₂ - heterocycloalkyl, - NHC(O)NH ₂ , -NHC(O)NH- Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -NHC(O)NH-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, - NHC(O)NH-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NHC(O)NH-C ₃ -C ₁₂ -cycloalkyl, -NHC(O)NH-aryl, - NHC(O)NH-heteroaryl, -NHC(O)NH-heterocycloalkyl, NHC(S)NH ₂ , -NHC(S)NH- Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -NHC(S)NH-C ₂ -C i ₂ -alkenyl, -NHC(S)NH-C ₂ -C i ₂ -alkenyl, - NHC(S)NH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -NHC(S)NH-aryl, -NHC(S)NH-heteroaryl, - NHC(S)NH-heterocycloalkyl, -NHC(NH)NH ₂ , -NHC(NH)NH- Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, - NHC(NH)NH-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NHC(NH)NH-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NHC(NH)NH-C ₃ - Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -NHC(NH)NH-aryl, -NHC(NH)NH-heteroaryl, -NHC(NH)NH- heterocycloalkyl, -NHC(NH)-Ci-C ₁₂ -alkyl, -NHC(NH)-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NHC(NH)- C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -NHC(NH)-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -NHC(NH)-aryl, -NHC(NH)- heteroaryl, -NHC(NH)-heterocycloalkyl, -C(NH)NH-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -C(NH)NH-C ₂ -

Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -C(NH)NH-C ₂ -C ₁₂ -alkenyl, -C(NH)NH-C ₃ -C ₁₂ -cycloalkyl, -C(NH)NH- aryl, -C(NH)NH-heteroaryl, -C(NH)NH-heterocycloalkyl, -S(O)-d-C ₁₂ -alkyl, - S(O)-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, - S(O)-C ₂ -C ₁₂ -alkenyl, - S(O)-C ₃ -C ₁₂ -cycloalkyl, - S(O)-aryl, - S(O)-heteroaryl, - S(0)-heterocycloalkyl -SO ₂ NH ₂ , -SO ₂ NH- Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -SO ₂ NH- C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -SO ₂ NH- C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -SO ₂ NH- C ₃ -C ₁₂ -cycloalkyl, -SO ₂ NH- aryl, -SO ₂ NH- heteroaryl, -SO ₂ NH- heterocycloalkyl, -NHSO ₂ -C _r Ci ₂ -alkyl, - NHSO ₂ -C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, - NHSO ₂ -C ₂ -C ₁₂ -alkenyl, -NHSO ₂ -C ₃ -C ₁₂ -cycloalkyl, - NHS0 ₂ -aryl, -NHSO ₂ -heteroaryl, -NHSO ₂ -heterocycloalkyl, -CH ₂ NH ₂ , - CH ₂ SO ₂ CH ₃ , -aryl, -arylalkyl, -heteroaryl, -heteroarylalkyl, -heterocycloalkyl, -C ₃ - Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, polyalkoxyalkyl, polyalkoxy, -methoxymethoxy, -methoxyethoxy, - SH, -S-Ci-C ₁₂ -alkyl, -S-C ₂ -Ci ₂ -alkenyl, -S-C ₂ -C ₁₂ -alkenyl, -S-C ₃ -C ₁₂ -CyClOaUCyI, -S- aryl, -S -heteroaryl, -S-heterocycloalkyl, or methylthiomethyl. It is understood that the aryls, heteroaryls, alkyls, and the like can be further substituted.

In accordance with the invention, any of the aryls, substituted aryls, heteroaryls and substituted heteroaryls described herein, can be any aromatic group. Aromatic groups can be substituted or unsubstituted.

The term "C ₃ -C ₁₂ -cycloalkyl," as used herein, denotes a monovalent group derived from a monocyclic or polycyclic saturated carbocyclic ring compound by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Examples include, but not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo [2.2.1] heptyl, and bicyclo [2.2.2] octyl.

It is understood that any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and cycloalkyl moiety described herein can also be an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group or a heterocyclic group. An "aliphatic group" is non-aromatic moiety that may contain any combination of carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, oxygen, nitrogen or other atoms, and optionally contain one or more units of unsaturation, e.g., double and/or triple bonds. An aliphatic group may be straight chained, branched or cyclic and preferably contains between about 1 and about 24 carbon atoms, more typically between about 1 and about 12 carbon atoms. In addition to aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, aliphatic groups include, for example, polyalkoxyalkyls, such as polyalkylene glycols, polyamines, and polyimines, for example. Such aliphatic groups may be further substituted. It is understood that aliphatic groups may be used in place of the alkyl groups described herein.

The term "alicyclic," as used herein, denotes a monovalent group derived from a monocyclic or polycyclic saturated carbocyclic ring compound by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Examples include, but not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo [2.2.1] heptyl, and bicyclo [2.2.2] octyl. Such alicyclic groups may be further substituted.

The term "heterocyclic" as used herein, refers to a non-aromatic 5-, 6- or 7- membered ring or a bi- or tri-cyclic group fused system, where (i) each ring contains between one and three heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, (ii) each 5-membered ring has 0 to 1 double bonds and each 6-membered ring has 0 to 2 double bonds, (iii) the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms may optionally be oxidized, (iv) the nitrogen heteroatom may optionally be quaternized, (iv) any of the above rings may be fused to a benzene ring, and (v) the remaining ring atoms are carbon atoms which may be optionally oxo-substituted. Representative heterocycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, [l,3]dioxolane, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, quinoxalinyl, pyridazinonyl, and tetrahydrofuryl. Such heterocyclic groups may be further substituted to give substituted heterocyclic.

The term "halogen," as used herein, refers to an atom selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

The term "hydroxy activating group", as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to activate a hydroxyl group so that it will depart during synthetic procedures such as in a substitution or an elimination reactions. Examples of hydroxyl activating group include, but not limited to, mesylate, tosylate, triflate, /?-nitrobenzoate, phosphonate and the like.

The term "activated hydroxyl", as used herein, refers to a hydroxy group activated with a hydroxyl activating group, as defined above, including mesylate, tosylate, triflate, p-nitrobenzoate, phosphonate groups, for example.

The term "hydroxyl protecting group," as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to protect a hydroxyl group against undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After said synthetic procedure(s) the hydroxy protecting group as described herein may be selectively removed. Hydroxy protecting groups as known in the are described generally in T.H. Greene and P.G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis. 3rd edition, John Wiley

& Sons, New York (1999). Examples of hydroxyl protecting groups include benzyloxycarbonyl, 4-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-bromobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4- methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, methoxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, diphenylmethoxycarbonyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, 2- (trimethylsilyl)ethoxycarbonyl, 2-furfuryloxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl, acetyl, foπnyl, chloroacetyl, trifluoroacetyl, methoxyacetyl, phenoxyacetyl, benzoyl, methyl, t-butyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, 2-trimethylsilyl ethyl, l,l-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 3 -methyl- 3 -butenyl, allyl, benzyl, para-methoxybenzyldiphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tetrahydrofuryl, methoxymethyl, methylthiomethyl, benzyloxymethyl, 2,2,2-triehloroethoxymethyl, 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl, methanesulfonyl, para-toluenesulfonyl, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, triisopropylsilyl, and the like. Preferred hydroxyl protecting groups for the present invention are acetyl (Ac or -C(O)CH ₃ ), benzoyl (Bz or -C(O)C ₆ H ₅ ), and trimethylsilyl (TMS or- Si(CH ₃ ) ₃ ). The term "protected hydroxyl," as used herein, refers to a hydroxy group protected with a hydroxy protecting group, as defined above, including benzoyl, acetyl, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, methoxymethyl groups, for example.

The term "hydroxyl prodrug group", as used herein, refers to a promoiety group which is known in the art to change the physicochemical, and hence the biological properties of a parent drug in a transient manner by covering or masking the hydroxy group. After said synthetic procedure(s), the hydroxy prodrug group as described herein must be capable of reverting back to hydroxy group in vivo. Hydroxy prodrug groups as known in the art are described generally in Kenneth B. Sloan, Prodrugs, Topical and Ocular Drug Delivery, (Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences; Volume 53), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York (1992).

The term "amino protecting group," as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to protect an amino group against undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After said synthetic procedure(s) the amino protecting group as described herein may be selectively removed. Amino protecting groups as known in the are described generally in T.H. Greene and P.G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis. 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1999). Examples of amino protecting groups include, but are not limited to, t-butoxycarbonyl, 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, and the like.

The term "protected amino," as used herein, refers to an amino group protected with an amino protecting group as defined above.

The term "alkylamino" refers to a group having the structure -NH(C ₁ -C ₁₂ alkyl) where C ₁ -C ₁₂ alkyl is as previously defined. The term "acyl" includes residues derived from acids, including but not limited to carboxylic acids, carbamic acids, carbonic acids, sulfonic acids, and phosphorous acids. Examples include aliphatic carbonyls, aromatic carbonyls, aliphatic sulfonyls, aromatic sulfinyls, aliphatic sulfinyls, aromatic phosphates and aliphatic phosphates. Examples of aliphatic carbonyls include, but are not limited to, acetyl, propionyl, 2-fluoroacetyl, butyryl, 2-hydroxyl acetyl, and the like.

The term "aprotic solvent," as used herein, refers to a solvent that is relatively inert to proton activity, i.e., not acting as a proton-donor. Examples include, but are not limited to, hydrocarbons, such as hexane and toluene, for example, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as, for example, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, chloroform, and the like, heterocyclic compounds, such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran and N-methylpyrrolidinone, and ethers such as diethyl ether, bis-methoxymethyl ether. Such compounds are well known to those skilled in the art, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that individual solvents or mixtures thereof may be preferred for specific compounds and reaction conditions, depending upon such factors as the solubility of reagents, reactivity of reagents and preferred temperature ranges, for example. Further discussions of aprotic solvents may be found in organic chemistry textbooks or in specialized monographs, for example: Organic Solvents Physical Properties and Methods of Purification, 4th ed., edited by John A. Riddick et al, Vol. II, in the Techniques of Chemistry Series, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1986.

The term "protogenic organic solvent," as used herein, refers to a solvent that tends to provide protons, such as an alcohol, for example, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, t-butanol, and the like. Such solvents are well known to those skilled in the art, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that individual solvents or mixtures thereof may be preferred for specific compounds and reaction conditions, depending upon such factors as the solubility of reagents, reactivity of reagents and preferred temperature ranges, for example. Further discussions of protogenic solvents may be found in organic chemistry textbooks or in specialized monographs, for example: Organic Solvents Physical Properties and

Methods of Purification, 4th ed., edited by John A. Riddick et ah, Vol. II, in the Techniques of Chemistry Series. John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1986.

Combinations of substituents and variables envisioned by this invention are only those that result in the formation of stable compounds. The term "stable", as used herein, refers to compounds which possess stability sufficient to allow manufacture and which maintains the integrity of the compound for a sufficient period of time to be useful for the purposes detailed herein (e.g., therapeutic or prophylactic administration to a subject).

The synthesized compounds can be separated from a reaction mixture and further purified by a method such as column chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography, or recrystallization. As can be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further methods of synthesizing the compounds of the formulae herein will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, the various synthetic steps may be performed in an alternate sequence or order to give the desired compounds. Synthetic chemistry transformations and protecting group methodologies (protection and deprotection) useful in synthesizing the compounds described herein are known in the art and include, for example, those such as described in R. Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations, VCH Publishers (1989); T.W. Greene and P.G.M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2d. Ed., John Wiley and Sons (1991); L. Fieser and M. Fieser, Fieser and Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1994); and L. Paquette, ed., Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1995), and subsequent editions thereof.

The term "subject" as used herein refers to an animal. Preferably the animal is a mammal. More preferably the mammal is a human. A subject also refers to, for example, dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, guinea pigs, fish, birds and the like.

The compounds of this invention may be modified by appending appropriate functionalities to enhance selective biological properties. Such modifications are known in the art and may include those which increase biological penetration into a given biological system (e.g., blood, lymphatic system, central nervous system), increase oral availability, increase solubility to allow administration by injection, alter metabolism and alter rate of excretion.

The compounds described herein contain one or more asymmetric centers and thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomeric forms that may be defined, in terms of absolute stereochemistry, as (R)- or (S)- , or as (D)- or

(L)- for amino acids. The present invention is meant to include all such possible isomers, as well as their racemic and optically pure forms. Optical isomers may be prepared from their respective optically active precursors by the procedures described above, or by resolving the racemic mixtures. The resolution can be carried out in the presence of a resolving agent, by chromatography or by repeated crystallization or by some combination of these techniques which are known to those skilled in the art. Further details regarding resolutions can be found in Jacques, et al., Enantiomers, Racemates, and Resolutions (John Wiley & Sons, 1981). When the compounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds, other unsaturation, or other centers of geometric asymmetry, and unless specified otherwise, it is intended that the compounds include both E and Z geometric isomers or cis- and trans- isomers. Likewise, all tautomeric forms are also intended to be included. The configuration of any carbon-carbon double bond appearing herein is selected for convenience only and is not intended to designate a particular configuration unless the text so states; thus a carbon-carbon double bond or carbon-heteroatom double bond depicted arbitrarily herein as trans may be cis, trans, or a mixture of the two in any proportion.

As used herein, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable salt" refers to those salts which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like, and are commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known in the art. For example, S. M. Berge, et al. describes pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 66: 1-19 (1977). The salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention, or separately by reacting the free base function with a suitable organic acid. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable include, but are not limited to, nontoxic acid addition salts are salts of an amino group formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and perchloric acid or with organic acids such as acetic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, succinic acid or malonic acid or by using other methods used in the art such as ion exchange. Other pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, adipate, alginate, ascorbate, aspartate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bisulfate, borate, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, citrate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate,

dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, formate, fumarate, glucoheptonate, glycerophosphate, gluconate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydroiodide, 2- hydroxy-ethanesulfonate, lactobionate, lactate, laurate, lauryl sulfate, malate, maleate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oleate, oxalate, palmitate, pamoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, stearate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, thiocyanate, /7-toluenesulfonate, undecanoate, valerate salts, and the like. Representative alkali or alkaline earth metal salts include sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the like. Further pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, when appropriate, nontoxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations formed using counterions such as halide, hydroxide, carboxylate, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, sulfonate and aryl sulfonate.

As used herein, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable ester" refers to esters which hydrolyze in vivo and include those that break down readily in the human body to leave the parent compound or a salt thereof. Suitable ester groups include, for example, those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable aliphatic carboxylic acids, particularly alkanoic, alkenoic, cycloalkanoic and alkanedioic acids, in which each alkyl or alkenyl moiety advantageously has not more than 6 carbon atoms. Examples of particular esters include, but are not limited to, formates, acetates, propionates, butyrates, acrylates and ethylsuccinates.

The term "pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs" as used herein refers to those prodrugs of the compounds of the present invention which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals with undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response, and the like, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio, and effective for their intended use, as well as the zwitterionic forms, where possible, of the compounds of the present invention. "Prodrug", as used herein means a compound which is convertible in vivo by metabolic means (e.g. by hydrolysis) to a compound of Formula I. Various forms of prodrugs are known in the art, for example, as discussed in Bundgaard, (ed.), Design of Prodrugs, Elsevier (1985); Widder, et al. (ed.), Methods in Enzymology, vol. 4, Academic Press (1985); Krogsgaard-Larsen, et al., (ed). "Design and Application of Prodrugs, Textbook of Drug Design and Development, Chapter 5, 113-191 (1991); Bundgaard, et al., Journal of Drug Deliver

Reviews, 8:1-38(1992); Bundgaard, J. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 77:285 et seq. (1988); Higuchi and Stella (eds.) Prodrugs as Novel Drug Delivery Systems, American Chemical Society (1975); and Bernard Testa & Joachim Mayer, "Hydrolysis In Drug And Prodrug Metabolism: Chemistry, Biochemistry And Enzymology," John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. (2002).

This invention also encompasses pharmaceutical compositions containing, and methods of treating bacterial infections through administering, pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs of compounds of the formula I. For example, compounds of formula I having free amino, amido, hydroxy or carboxylic groups can be converted into prodrugs. Prodrugs include compounds wherein an amino acid residue, or a polypeptide chain of two or more (e.g., two, three or four) amino acid residues is covalently joined through an amide or ester bond to a free amino, hydroxy or carboxylic acid group of compounds of formula I. The amino acid residues include but are not limited to the 20 naturally occurring amino acids commonly designated by three letter symbols and also includes 4-hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, demosine, isodemosine, 3-methylhistidine, norvalin, beta-alanine, gamma- aminobutyric acid, citrulline, homocysteine, homoserine, ornithine and methionine sulfone. Additional types of prodrugs are also encompassed. For instance, free carboxyl groups can be derivatized as amides or alkyl esters. Free hydroxy groups may be derivatized using groups including but not limited to hemisuccinates, phosphate esters, dimethylaminoacetates, and phosphoryloxymethyloxycarbonyls, as outlined in Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 1996, 19, 115. Carbamate prodrugs of hydroxy and amino groups are also included, as are carbonate prodrugs, sulfonate esters and sulfate esters of hydroxy groups. Derivatization of hydroxy groups as (acyloxy)methyl and (acyloxy)ethyl ethers wherein the acyl group may be an alkyl ester, optionally substituted with groups including but not limited to ether, amine and carboxylic acid functionalities, or where the acyl group is an amino acid ester as described above, are also encompassed. Prodrugs of this type are described in J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 10. Free amines can also be derivatized as amides, sulfonamides or phosphonamides. All of these prodrug moieties may incorporate groups including but not limited to ether, amine and carboxylic acid functionalities. As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the term "bacterial infection(s)" or "protozoa infections"; includes, but is not limited to, bacterial infections and protozoa infections that occur in mammals, fish and birds as well as disorders

related to bacterial infections and protozoa infections that may be treated or prevented by administering antibiotics such as the compounds of the present invention. Such bacterial infections and protozoa infections and disorders related to such infections include, but are not limited to, the following: pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis, sinusitus, bronchitis, tonsillitis, cystic fibrosis (CF) and mastoiditis related to infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Peptostreptococcus spp, or Pseudomonas spp.; pharynigitis, rheumatic fever, and glomerulonephritis related to infection by Streptococcus pyogenes, Groups C and G streptococci, Clostridium diptheriae, or Actinobacillus haemolyticum; respiratory tract infections related to infection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Chlamydia pneumoniae; uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections, abscesses and osteomyelitis, and puerperal fever related to infection by Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-positive staphylococci (i.e., S. epidermidis, S. hemolyticus, etc.), S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, Streptococcal groups C-F (minute-colony streptococci), viridans streptococci, Corynebacterium spp., Clostridium spp., or Bartonella henselae; uncomplicated acute urinary tract infections related to infection by S. saprophytics or Enterococcus spp.; urethritis and cervicitis; and sexually transmitted diseases related to infection by Chlamydia trachomatis, Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, or Nesseria gonorrheae; toxin diseases related to infection by S. aureus (food poisoning and Toxic shock syndrome), or Groups A, S. and C streptococci; ulcers related to infection by Helicobacter pylori; systemic febrile syndromes related to infection by Borrelia recurrentis; Lyme disease related to infection by Borrelia burgdorferi; conjunctivitis, keratitis, and dacrocystitis related to infection by C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, H. influenzae, or Listeria spp.; disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease related to infection by Mycobacterium avium, or Mycobacterium intracellulare; gastroenteritis related to infection by Campylobacter jejuni; intestinal protozoa related to infection by Cryptosporidium spp. odontogenic infection related to infection by viridans streptococci; persistent cough related to infection by Bordetella pertussis; gas gangrene related to infection by Clostridium perfringens or Bacteroides spp.; Skin infection by S. aureus, Propionibacterium acne;

atherosclerosis related to infection by Helicobacter pylori or Chlamydia pneumoniae; or the like.

Bacterial infections and protozoa infections and disorders related to such infections that may be treated or prevented in animals include, but are not limited to, the following: bovine respiratory disease related to infection by P. haemolytica., P. multocida, Mycoplasma bovis, or Bordetella spp.; cow enteric disease related to infection by E. coli or protozoa (i.e., coccidia, Cryptosporidia, etc.), dairy cow mastitis related to infection by S. aureus, S. uberis, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, Klebsiella spp., Corynebacterium, or Enterococcus spp.; swine respiratory disease related to infection by A. pleuropneumoniae., P. multocida, or Mycoplasma spp.; swine enteric disease related to infection by E. coli, Lawsonia intracellularis, Salmonella spp., or Serpulina hyodyisinteriae; cow footrot related to infection by Fusobacterium spp.; cow metritis related to infection by E. coli; cow hairy warts related to Infection by Fusobacterium necrophorum or Bacteroides nodosus; cow pink-eye related to infection by Moraxella bovis, cow premature abortion related to infection by protozoa (i.e. neosporium); urinary tract infection in dogs and cats related to infection by E. coli; skin and soft tissue infections in dogs and cats related to infection by S. epidermidis, S. intermedius, coagulase neg. Staphylococcus or P. multocida; and dental or mouth infections in dogs and oats related to infection by Alcaligenes spp., Bacteroides spp., Clostridium spp., Enterobacter spp.,

Eubacterium spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Porphfyromonas spp., Campylobacter spp., Actinomyces spp., Erysipelothrix spp., Rhodococcus spp., Trypanosoma spp., Plasmodium spp., Babesia spp., Toxoplasma spp., Pneumocystis spp., Leishmania spp., and Trichomonas spp. or Prevotella spp. Other bacterial infections and protozoa infections and disorders related to such infections that may be treated or prevented in accord with the method of the present invention are referred to in J. P. Sanford at al.,"The Sanford Guide To Antimicrobial Therapy," 26th Edition, (Antimicrobial Therapy, Inc., 1996). Antibacterial Activity Susceptibility tests can be used to quantitatively measure the in vitro activity of an antimicrobial agent against a given bacterial isolate. Compounds were tested for in vitro antibacterial activity by a micro-dilution method. Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined in 96 well microtiter plates utilizing the appropriate Mueller Hinton Broth medium (CAMHB) for the observed bacterial

isolates. Antimicrobial agents were serially diluted (2-fold) in DMSO to produce a concentration range from about 64 μg/ml to about 0.03 μg/ml. The diluted compounds (2 μl/well) were then transferred into sterile, uninoculated CAMHB (0.2 mL) by use of a 96 fixed tip-pipetting station. The inoculum for each bacterial strain was standardized to 5 x 10 ⁵ CFU/mL by optical comparison to a 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard. The plates were inoculated with 10 μl/well of adjusted bacterial inoculum. The 96 well plates were covered and incubated at 35 +/- 2 ^° C for 24 hours in ambient air environment. Following incubation, plate wells were visually examined by Optical Density measurement for the presence of growth (turbidity). The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent at which no visible growth occurs was defined as the MIC. The compounds of the invention generally demonstrated an MIC in the range from about 64 μg/ml to about 0.03 μg/ml. AU in vitro testing follows the guidelines described in the Approved Standards M7-A4 protocol, published by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) .

Pharmaceutical Compositions.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention formulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients. As used herein, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient" means a non-toxic, inert solid, semi-solid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any type. Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are sugars such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose and its derivatives such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipients such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; glycols such as propylene glycol; esters such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminun hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol, and phosphate buffer solutions, as well as other non-toxic compatible lubricants such as sodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate, as well as coloring agents, releasing agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and

perfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants can also be present in the composition, according to the judgment of the formulator.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir, preferably by oral administration or administration by injection. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may contain any conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, adjuvants or vehicles. In some cases, the pH of the formulation may be adjusted with pharmaceutically acceptable acids, bases or buffers to enhance the stability of the formulated compound or its delivery form. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarticular, intraarterial, intrasynovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intralesional and intracranial injection or infusion techniques.

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethylformamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor, and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof. Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions can also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring, and perfuming agents. Injectable preparations, for example, sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspensions, may be formulated according to the known art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution, suspension or emulsion in a nontoxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example, as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution, U.S.P. and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil can be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid are used in the preparation of injectables.

The injectable formulations can be sterilized, for example, by filtration through a bacterial-retaining filter, or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or other sterile injectable medium prior to use. In order to prolong the effect of a drug, it is often desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material with poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution, which, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle. Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of the drug in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending upon the ratio of drug to polymer and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions that are compatible with body tissues.

Compositions for rectal or vaginal administration are preferably suppositories which can be prepared by mixing the compounds of this invention with suitable non-irritating excipients or carriers such as cocoa butter, polyethylene glycol or a suppository wax which are solid at ambient temperature but liquid at body temperature and therefore melt in the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound. Solid dosage forms for oral administration include capsules, tablets, pills, powders, and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the active compound is mixed with at least one inert, pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate and/or: a) fillers or extenders such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and silicic acid, b) binders such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidinone, sucrose, and acacia, c) humectants such as glycerol, d) disintegrating agents such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate, e) solution retarding agents such as paraffin, f) absorption accelerators such as quaternary ammonium compounds, g) wetting agents such as,

for example, cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate, h) absorbents such as kaolin and bentonite clay, and i) lubricants such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage form may also comprise buffering agents.

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

The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, and granules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and can also be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions that can be used include polymeric substances and waxes.

Dosage forms for topical or transdermal administration of a compound of this invention include ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels, powders, solutions, sprays, inhalants or patches. The active component is admixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and any needed preservatives or buffers as may be required. Ophthalmic formulation, ear drops, eye ointments, powders and solutions are also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention.

The ointments, pastes, creams and gels may contain, in addition to an active compound of this invention, excipients such as animal and vegetable fats, oils, waxes, paraffins, starch, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene glycols, silicones, bentonites, silicic acid, talc and zinc oxide, or mixtures thereof.

Powders and sprays can contain, in addition to the compounds of this invention, excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminum hydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of these substances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants such as chlorofluorohydrocarbons. Transdermal patches have the added advantage of providing controlled delivery of a compound to the body. Such dosage forms can be made by dissolving or dispensing the compound in the proper medium. Absorption enhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the compound across the skin. The rate can be

controlled by either providing a rate controlling membrane or by dispersing the compound in a polymer matrix or gel.

According to the methods of treatment of the present invention, bacterial infections are treated or prevented in a patient such as a human or other animals by administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention, in such amounts and for such time as is necessary to achieve the desired result.

By a "therapeutically effective amount" of a compound of the invention is meant a sufficient amount of the compound to treat or prevent bacterial infections, at a reasonable benefit/risk ratio applicable to any medical treatment. It will be understood, however, that the total daily usage of the compounds and compositions of the present invention will be decided by the attending physician within the scope of sound medical judgment. The specific therapeutically effective dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the disorder being treated and the severity of the disorder; the activity of the specific compound employed; the specific composition employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion of the specific compound employed; the duration of the treatment; drugs used in combination or contemporaneously with the specific compound employed; and like factors well known in the medical arts.

The total daily dose of the compounds of this invention administered to a human or other animal in single or in divided doses can be in amounts, for example, from 0.01 to 50 mg/kg body weight or more usually from 0.1 to 25 mg/kg body weight. Single dose compositions may contain such amounts or submultiples thereof to make up the daily dose. In general, treatment regimens according to the present invention comprise administration to a patient in need of such treatment from about 10 mg to about 1000 mg of the compound(s) of this invention per day in single or multiple doses.

The compounds of the formulae described herein can, for example, be administered by injection, intravenously, intraarterially, subdermally, intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously; or orally, buccally, nasally, transmucosally, topically, in an ophthalmic preparation, or by inhalation, with a dosage ranging from about 0.5 to about 100 mg/kg of body weight, alternatively dosages between 1 mg and 1000 mg/dose, every 4 to 120 hours, or according to the

requirements of the particular drug. The methods herein contemplate administration of an effective amount of compound or compound composition to achieve the desired or stated effect. Typically, the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention will be administered from about 1 to about 6 times per day or alternatively, as a continuous infusion. Such administration can be used as a chronic or acute therapy. The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated and the particular mode of administration. A typical preparation will contain from about 5% to about 95% active compound (w/w). Alternatively, such preparations may contain from about 20% to about 80% active compound.

Lower or higher doses than those recited above may be required. Specific dosage and treatment regimens for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health status, sex, diet, time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, the severity and course of the disease, condition or symptoms, the patient's disposition to the disease, condition or symptoms, and the judgment of the treating physician.

Upon improvement of a patient's condition, a maintenance dose of a compound, composition or combination of this invention may be administered, if necessary. Subsequently, the dosage or frequency of administration, or both, may be reduced, as a function of the symptoms, to a level at which the improved condition is retained when the symptoms have been alleviated to the desired level. Patients may, however, require intermittent treatment on a long-term basis upon any recurrence of disease symptoms. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be administered orally to fish by blending said pharmaceutical compositions into fish feed or said pharmaceutical compositions may be dissolved in water in which infected fish are placed, a method commonly referred to as a medicated bath. The dosage for the treatment offish differs depending upon the purpose of administration (prevention or cure of disease) and type of administration, size and extent of infection of the fish to be treated. Generally, a dosage of 5 - 1000 mg, preferably 20 - 100 mg, per kg of body weight offish may be administered per day, either at one time or divided into several times. It will be recognized that the above-specified dosage is only a general

range which may be reduced or increased depending upon the age, body weight, condition of disease, etc. of the fish.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein are accorded the meaning commonly known to one with ordinary skill in the art. All publications, patents, published patent applications, and other references mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Abbreviations

Abbreviations which may appear in the following synthetic schemes and examples are: Ac for acetyl;

AIBN for azobisisobutyronitrile; 9-BBN for 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane; Boc for tert-butoxycarbonyl; Bu3SnH for tributyltin hydride; Bz for benzoyl;

Bn for benzyl;

CDI for carbonyldiimidazole; dba for dibenzylidene acetone; DBU for l,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene; DEAD for diethylazodicarboxylate;

Dess-Martin periodinane for l,l,l-tris(acetyloxy)-l,l-dihydro-l,2- benziodoxol-3 -(I H)-one; DMAP for dimethylaminopyridine; DMF for dimethyl formamide; DMSO for dimethyl sulfoxide;

DPPA for diphenylphosphoryl azide; dppb for diphenylphosphino butane; EtOAc for ethyl acetate; iPrOH for isopropanol; NaHMDS for sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide;

NMO for N-methylmorpholine N-oxide; MeOH for methanol; MOM for methoxymethyl;

PDC for pyridinium dichromate;

Ph for phenyl;

POPd for dihydrogen dichlorobis(di-tert-butylphosphino)palladium(II);

TBAHS for tetrabutyl ammonium hydrogen sulfate;

TBS for tert-butyl dimethylsilyl;

TEA for triethylamine;

TES for triethyl silyl;

THF for tetrahydrofuran;

TMS for trimethyl silyl;

TPAP for tetra-n-propyl ammonium perruthenate;

TPP for triphenylphosphine; and

Tris for Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane.

Synthetic Methods

The compounds and processes of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following synthetic schemes that illustrate the methods by which the compounds of the invention may be prepared.

A preferred intermediate for the preparation of compounds represented by formula I is a compound represented by the formula Ia:

wherein 1) X is hydrogen;

2) Y is and R ₄ " are as previously defined; and

3) G, L, W, Z, and R ₂ ' are as previously defined.

Preferred intermediate of formula Ia, where G is not hydrogen may be produced via methods described in Or et al., International Publication No. WO 01/14397, which discloses 6-0-substituted azithromycin derivatives.

Scheme 1

Scheme 1 illustrates the synthesis of compounds of formulae (i-3) and (1-4). Desmethyl azithromycin of formula (1-1), where G, L, W ₅ R ₂ ', R ₃ ", and R ₄ " are as previously defined, is reacted with an alkylating agent of the formula (1-2):

wherein R ₁₀ is Q-Cn-alkyl.

Most palladium (O) catalysts are expected to produce compounds of formulae (1-3) and (1,-4). Some palladium (II) catalysts, such as palladium (II) acetate, which are converted into a palladium (O) species in-situ by the actions of a phosphine, will work as well. See, for example, Beller et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 1995, 34 (17), 1848. The palladium catalyst can be selected from, but not limited to, palladium (II) acetate, tetrakis(triphenylphospine)palladium (O),

tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium, tetradibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium and the like. Palladium on carbon and palladium (II) halide catalysts are less preferred than other palladium catalysts for this process.

Suitable phosphines include, but are not limited to, triphenylphosphine, bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, l,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane, bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane, and tri-o-tolyl-phosphine, and the like.

In the presence of acid such as, but not limited to, acetic acid in the reaction mixutre, the compound of of formula (1-3) is exclusively favored. Without the presence of such acid, compounds of formula (1-4) is the major regioisomer.

The reaction is carried out in an aprotic solvent, at a temperature range of 25 ⁰ C-IOO ⁰ C, preferably at elevated temperature, more preferably at or above 5O ⁰ C to 80 ⁰ C. Suitable aprotic solvents include, but are not limited to, tetrahydrofuran, N ₅ N- dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, hexamethylphosphoric triamide, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, methyl-tert-butyl ether, heptane, acetonitrile, isopropyl acetate and ethyl acetate. The most preferred solvents are tetrahydrofuran or toluene. The reaction can also be carried out optionally in the presence of an organic acid including, but not limited to, acetic acid, propionic acid, and the like. Generally, the alkylating agents have the formula (i-2) as previously described. The preferred alkylating agents are those wherein R ₁₂ is tert-butyl, isopropyl or isobutyl. The alkylating reagents are prepared by reaction of a diol with a wide variety of compounds for incorporating the di-carbonate moiety. The compounds include, but are not limited to, tert-butyl chloroformate, di-tert-butyl dicarbonate, and l-(te7t-butoxycarbonyl)imidazole and the reaction is carried out in the presence of an organic or an inorganic base. The temperature of the reaction varies from about -30 ⁰ C to approximately 3O ⁰ C. Preferably the alkylating reagent is dicarbonate.

An alternative method of converting the alcohol into the carbonate involves treating the alcohol with phosgene or triphosgene to prepare the chloroformate derivative of the diol. The di-chloroformate derivative is then converted into the dicarbonate by the methods described in Cotarca, L., Delogu, P., Nardelli, A., Sunijic, V, Synthesis, 1996, 553. The reaction can be carried out in a variety of organic solvents such as dichloromethane, toluene, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and

chloroform in the presence of a base. Examples of suitable bases include, but are not limited to, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium

Scheme 2

As described in scheme 2, another process of the invention involves the removal of the cladinose moiety of the compounds of formula (2-1), wherein A, B, G, L, W R ₂ ', R ₃ ", and R ₄ " are as previously defined. The cladinose moiety of the macrolide compound (2-1) is removed either by mild acid hydrolysis or by enzymatic hydrolysis to afford compounds of formula (2-2) in Scheme 2. Representative acids include, but are not limited to, dilute hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid. Suitable solvents for the reaction include, but are not limited to, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, water and mixtures there of. Reaction times are typically 0.5 to 24 hours. The reaction temperature is preferably 0 to 8O ⁰ C.

Scheme 3

(2-2) (3-1)

As shown in scheme 3, conversion of compounds of formula (2-2) to compounds of formula (3-1) can be accomplished by oxidation of the 3-hydroxy

group to a 3-oxo group using Dess-Martin periodinane (for further details concerning the Dess-Martin oxidation see D. B. Dess, J. C. Martin, J. Org. Chem. 48, 4155 (1983)), a Corey-Kim reaction with N-chlorosuccinimide-dimethylsulfide (for further details concerning the Corey-Kim oxidation reaction see E. J. Corey, C. U. Kim, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 94, 7586 (1972)), or a Moffat oxidation with a carbodiimide-DMSO complex in the presence of pyridinium trifluoroacetate, TPAP, PDC, and the like (for further details concerning the Moffat oxidation see J. G. Moffatt, "Sulfoxide-Carbodiimide and Related Oxidations" in Oxidation vol. 2, R. L. Augustine, D. J. Trecker, Eds. (Dekker, New York, 1971) pp 1-64; T. T. Tidwell, Org. React. 39, 297-572 passim (1990); and T. V. Lee, Comp. Org. Syn. 7, 291-303 passim (1991)). In a preferred embodiment, compounds of formula (2-2) are treated with Dess-Martin periodinane in dichloromethane at about O ⁰ C to about 25 ⁰ C for approximately 0.5 to 4 hours to produce compounds of formula (3-1).

Scheme 4

(4-1) (4-2)

Scheme 4 illustrates another process of the invention by which to prepare compound of the present invention. Conversion of alkenes (4-1) into aldehydes (4- 2) can be accomplished by ozonolysis followed by decomposition of the ozonide with the appropriate reducing agents. The reaction is typically carried out in an inert solvent such as, but not limited to, methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, glacial acetic acid, chloroform, methylene chloride or hexane or mixtures thereof, preferably methanol, preferably at -78 ⁰ C to -2O ⁰ C. Representative reducing agents are, for example, triphenylphosphine, trimethylphosphite, thiourea, and dimethyl sulfide, preferably triphenylphosphine. A more thorough discussion of ozonolysis and conditions therefor may be found in J. March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 4 ^th ed., Wiley & Son, Inc, 1992. Alternatively, compounds of formula (4-2) can be prepared

from compounds of formula (4-1) dihydroxydation with OsO ₄ followed by NaIO ₄ cleavage.

Scheme S

XH = halogen, triflate

Compounds according to the invention of the formula (4-2) can be further functionalized in a variety of ways. Scheme 5 details a procedure for the conversion of the aldehyde of formula (4-2) into an oxime of formula (5-1). Oxime formation can be accomplished using the appropriate substituted hydroxylamine under either acidic or basic conditions in a variety of solvents. Representative acids include, but are not limited to, hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulfuric, p-toluenesulfonic, and pyridinium p-toluene sulfonate. Likewise, representative bases include, but are not limited to, triethylamine, pyridine, diisopropylethyl amine, 2,6-lutidine, and the like. Appropriate solvents include, but are not limited to, methanol, ethanol, water, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and ethyl acetate. Preferably the reaction is

carried out in ethanol using triethylamine as the base. The reaction temperature is generally 25°C and reaction time is 1 to 12 hours.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that ketones of formula (4-2) can be transformed into alkenes of formula (5-2) and (5-7) via Wittig reaction with the appropriate phosphonium salt in the presence of a base, see (a) Burke,

Tetrahedron Lett, 1987, 4143-4146, (b) Rathke and Nowak, J. Org. Chem., 1985, 2624-2626, (c) Maryanoff and Reitz, Chem. Rev., 1989, 863-927. Furthermore, vinyl halides of formula (5-7) can be functionalized by Sonogashira coupling with alkynes in the presence of a palladium catalyst, a copper halide and an amine base to give compounds of formula (5-8) (see (a) Sonogashira, Comprehensive Organic Synthesis, Volume 3, Chapters 2,4; (b) Sonogashira, Synthesis 1977, 777.). In a similar manner, alkenes of formula (5-2) can be obtained from vinyl halides (5-7) via Suzuki cross coupling with organoboron reagents in the presence of a palladium catalyst and a base, or via Stille cross coupling with organostananes in the presence of a palladium catalyst (see (a) Suzuki, J. Organomet. Chem. 1999, 576,147-168, (b) Stille, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl, 1986, 508-524 (c) Farina, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 1991, 9585-9595).

Furthermore, alcohols of type (5-3) can be prepared by reduction of the corresponding aldehyde of formula (4-2) under a variety of conditions (see Hudlicky, M. Reductions in Organic Chemistry, Ellis Horwood Limited: Chichester, 1984). The alcohols thus derived can be further modified to give compounds of formula (5-4). A process to generate compounds of formula (5-4) includes, but is not limited to, alkylation of the alcohol with an electrophile or conversion of the alcohol into a leaving group, such as a triflate, tosylate, phosponate, halide, or the like, followed by displacement with a heteroatom nucleophile (e.g. an amine, alkoxide, sulfide or the like).

. Yet another means by which to functionalize aldehydes of formula (4-2) is via addition of Grignard reagents to form alcohols of formula (5-5). The requisite Grignard reagents are readily available via the reaction of a variety of alkyl or aryl halides with magnesium under standard conditions (see B. S. Furniss, AJ.

Hannaford, P.W.G. Smith, A.R. Tatchell, Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, 5 ^th ed., Longman, 1989). The addition is performed in an inert solvent, generally at low temperatures. Suitable solvents include, but are not limited to, tetrahydrofuran, diethylether, 1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and hexanes.

Preferably the solvent is tetrahydrofuran or diethylether. Preferably the reaction is run at-78 ^o Cto 0°C.

In a similar way, reaction with other organometallic reagents gives rise to alcohols of formula (5-5). Examples of useful organometallic reagents include, but are not limited to, organo-aluminum, organo-lithium, organo-cerium, organo-zinc, organo-thallium, and organo-boron reagents. A more thorough discussion of organometallic reagents can be found in B. S. Furniss, AJ. Hannaford, P.W.G. Smith, A.R. Tatchell, VogePs Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, 5 ^th ed., Longman, 1989. Aldehyde of formula (4-2) can be further utilized by conversion into amine of formula (5-6) via a reductive amination. Reductive amination is achieved by treating the aldehyde with an amine in the presence of a reducing agent to obtain the product amine (5-6). The reaction can be carried out either with or without added acid. Examples of acids that are commonly used include, but are not limited to, hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulfuric, acetic, and the like. Reducing agents that effect reductive amination include, but are not limited to, hydrogen and a catalyst, zinc and hydrochloric acid, sodium cyanoborohydride, sodium borohydride, iron pentacarbonyl, and alcoholic potassium hydroxide. Generally alcoholic solvents are used. The preferred conditions use sodium cyanoborohydride in methanol with added acetic acid.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, that the unsaturated compounds represented by compounds (5-2) and (5-8) can be reduced to form the corresponding saturated compound (see Hudlicky, M., Reductions in Organic Chemistry, Ellis Horwood Limited: Chichester, 1984).

Scheme 6

Compounds of the invention according to formula (6-1) are also capable of further functionalization to generate compounds of the present invention. Alkene (6-2) can be treated with an aryl halide or aryl triflate in the presence of a palladium catalyst [Pd(O) or Pd(II)] to provide compound (6-3): (See (a) Heck, Palladium Reagents in Organic Synthesis, Academic Press: New York, 1985, Chapter 1; (b) Sonogashira, Comprehensive Organic Synthesis, Volume 3, Chapters 2,4; (c) Sonogashira, Synthesis 1977, 777). Under the Heck coupling conditions, regioisomers and stereoisomers of the double bond are possible. Alternatively, compound (6-1) can undergo a cross metathesis reaction with vinylaromatic derivatives using ruthenium catalysts to give compounds of formula (6-2) (see (a) J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 2204-2207; (b) Reviews: Synlett. 1999, 2, 267; (c) Reviews: Ivin, K. J.; MoI, J. C, Olefin Metathesis and Metathesis Polymerization, 2 ^nd ed., Academic Press: New York, 1997; (d) J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 4798-4816; (e) Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1997, 36, 2036-2056; (f) Tetrahedron 1998, 54, 4413- 4450).

Scheme 7

Scheme 7 illustrates the procedure by which compounds of formula (7-1), wherein A, B, Q, and R ₂ ' are as previously defined, may be converted to compounds of formula (7-2), wherein A, B, Q, Z, and R ₂ ' are as previously defined, by treatment with a halogenating reagent. This reagent acts to replace a hydrogen atom with a halogen atom at the C-2 position of the ketolide. Various halogenating reagents may be suitable for this procedure.

Fluorinating reagents include, but are not limited to, N- fluorobenzenesulfonimide in the presence of base, 10% F2 in formic acid, 3,5- dichloro- 1 -fluoropyridinium tetrafluoroborate, 3 , 5 -dichloro- 1 -fluoropyridinium triflate, (CF ₃ SO ₂ ) ₂ ΝF, Ν-fluoro-Ν-methyl-p-toluenesulfonamide in the presence of base, N-fluoropyridinium triflate, Ν-fluoroperfluoropiperidine in the presence of base.

Chlorinating reagents include, but are not limited to, hexachloroethane in the presence of base, CF ₃ CF ₂ CH ₂ ICl ₂ , SO ₂ Cl ₂ , SOCl ₂ , CF ₃ SO ₂ Cl in the presence of base, Cl ₂ , NaOCl in the presence of acetic acid.

Brominating reagents include, but are not limited to, Br ₂ *pyridine ^» HBr, Br ₂ /acetic acid, N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of base, LDATBrCH ₂ CH ₂ Br, or LDA/CBr ₄ .

A suitable iodinating reagent is Ν-Iodosuccinimide in the presence of base, or I ₂ , for example.

Suitable bases for the halogenating reactions requiring them are compounds such as alkali metal hydrides, such as NaH and KH, or amine bases, such as LDA or triethylamine, for example. Different reagents may require different type of base, but this is well known within the art.

A preferred halogenating reagent is N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide in the presence of sodium hydride.

Suitable solvents are dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, pyrrolidinone and the like. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that all ketolide compounds delineated herein may be halogenated at the 2-carbon if so desired.

Scheme 8

(2-2) (8-1)

T = Rii, NHR ₁₁ , or S(O) _n Ri _I , where n and R^ are as previously defined Scheme 8 illustrates a procedure for the acylation of the C-3 hydroxyl of compounds of formula (2-2). The hydroxyl group is acylated under basic conditions using a suitable acylating agent in an aprotic solvent. Typical acylating agents include, but are not limited to, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, and chloroformates.

Typical bases include, but are not limited to, pyridine, triethylamine, diisopropyl ethylamine, N-methyl morpholine, N-methyl pyrrolidine, 2,6-lutidine, l,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene. For a more extensive discourse on acylating conditions see for example, T. W. Greene and P.G.M. Wuts in "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis" 3 ^rd ed., John Wiley & Son, Inc, 1999, referred to above herein.

Scheme 9

(9-2)

Another process of the invention, as illustrated in Scheme 9, involves the C-3 deoxygenation of the macrolide (2-2) which can be accomplished via the two step procedure shown therein. In the first step the xanthate or thiocarbonate is formed by the reaction of alkoxide of alcohol (2-2) with the appropriate thiocarbonyl. For instance, formation of the xanthate can be accomplished by reaction of the alkoxide with either carbondisulfide followed by methyliodide, or a dithiocarbonyl imidazole; whereas the thiocarbonate can be prepared by the reaction of the alkoxide with either thiocarbonyldimidazole followed by methanol, ethanol or the like, or a thiochloroformate. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other reagents and conditions exist to perform these transformations and that the examples above are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of this invention. These reactions are typically run in a polar aprotic solvent, preferably tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile, or N,N dimethylformamide.

In the second step of Scheme 9, the thiocarbonate or xanthate is decomposed to give the alkane. Most typically this is done under radical conditions using, for example, a silyl hydride such as (TMS) ₃ SiH, Ph ₂ SiH ₂ or the like, a tin hydride such as Bu ₃ SnH, Ph ₃ SnH or the like, and a radical initiator such as AIBN or f-butyl peroxide. The preferred solvent is toluene.

Scheme 10

Acylation of the 4" -hydroxy of the cladinose ring of compounds may be achieved via similar methods by acylation of the 3 -position hydroxy delineated in Scheme 8 to form compounds of formula (10-1), where n, M and Rn are as previously defined. For further details concerning the acylation of the 4-hydroxy of the cladinose ring of compounds of formula (2-1), please see PCT Publication No. WO03/42228. AU references cited herein, whether in print, electronic, computer readable storage media or other form, are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety, including but not limited to, abstracts, articles, journals, publications, texts, treatises, internet web sites, databases, patents, and patent publications. Examples The compounds and processes of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following examples, which are intended as an illustration only and not limiting of the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and such changes and modifications including, without limitation, those relating to the chemical structures, substituents, derivatives, formulations and/or methods of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Example 1. Compound of formula III, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH?. G = W = Ra' = hydrogen. R7 is -CR ₁ and Rj.' -H.

Step Ia.

To a solution of 2-butene 1,4-diol (5.28g, 0.06 mmol) and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (35 g, 0.16 mol) in 150 ml of dichloromethane was added 6N NaOH (70 ml) and tetrabutylammoniahydrogensulfate (3.4 g, 10 mmol). The mixture was stirred at

room temperature overnight. The organic layer was separated, washed with NaHCO ₃ (200 ml x 3) and brine (200 ml), dried over anhydrous MgSO ₄ , concentrated and dried over vacuum to give 2-butene-l, 4-[bis-(tert-butyl)carbonate] (14g).

Step Ib. A mixture of the desmethyl azithromycin (14.7 g, 20 mmol), 2-butene-l, 4-[bis-(tert- butyl)carbonate] (7.2 g, 25 mmol) and l,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)-butane (426 mg, 1 mmol) was dissolved in freshly distilled THF (200 ml). To the solution were added acetic acid (1.14 ml, 20 mmol) and Pd ₂ (dba) ₃ (458 mg, 0.5 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux slowly. After refluxing for 8 hours, the reaction was cooled to room temperaure, diluted with 400 ml ethyl acetate, and washed with saturated NaHCO ₃ (400 ml) and brine (400 ml). The organic phase was dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , the solvent was removed in vacuo and the solid residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (2M NH ₃ in methanol /methylene chloride = 5/95) to give the title compound as 1:1 mixture of two epimers (14.5g, 92%). MS (ESI) m/z: 787 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 2. Compound of formula VI. wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH?, G = W = R?' = hydrogen, RV is -CH _? and R ₄ ' -H. A mixture of the desmethyl azithromycin of formula Ia (14.7 g, 20 mmol), 2- butene-1, 4-[bis-(tert-butyl)carbonate] (7.2 g, 25 mmol) and 1,4- bis(diphenylphosphino)-butane (426 mg, 1 mmol) was dissolved in freshly distilled THF (200 ml). To the solution were added Pd ₂ (dba) ₃ (458 mg, 0.5 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux slowly. After refluxing for 8 hours, the reaction was cooled to room temperaure, diluted with 400 ml ethyl acetate, and washed with saturated NaHCO ₃ (400 ml) and brine (400 ml). The organic phase was dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , the solvent was removed in vacuo and the solid residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (2M NH ₃ in methanol /methylene chloride = 5/95) to give the title compound as 2:1 mixture of two epimers (13.0, 83%). MS (ESI) m/z: 787 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 3. Compound of formula VII. wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH?.. G = W = Rg' = hydrogen and Y = OH.

Hydrochloric acid (2N, 30 ml) was added to a mixture of epimers from Example 1 (11.8 g, 15 mmol) in ethanol (50 ml) at room temperature. The mixture was heated to 65 ⁰ C for 2 hours and then cooled to room temperature. The pH of reaction mixture was adjusted to pH=10 by slow addition of 3N aqueous sodium hydroxide. Extracted with ethyl acetate (150ml) and washed once with saturated sodium bicarbonate (150 ml). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (2M NH ₃ in methanol /methylene chloride = 5/95) to give the title compound (8.5g, 90%). MS (ESI) m/z: 629 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 4. Compound of formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH?, G = W = R?' = hydrogen and Y =OH. Hydrochloric acid (2N, 30 ml) was added to a solution of the mixture of epimers from Example 2 (7.87g, 10 mmol) in ethanol (30 ml) at room temperature. The mixture was heated to 65 ⁰ C for 2 hours and then cooled to room temperature. The pH of reaction mixture was adjusted to pH=10 by slow addition of 3N aqueous sodium hydroxide. Extracted with ethyl acetate (100ml) and washed once with saturated sodium bicarbonate (100 ml). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (2M NH ₃ in methanol /methylene chloride = 5/95) to give the title compound (5.4g, 85%). MS (ESI) m/z: 629 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 5. Compound of formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH?, G = W = hydrogen, Y = OH and R?' = Ac. Acetic anhydride (1.42 ml, 15 mmol) was added to a solution of the compound from Example 3 (6.3 g, 10 mmol) and triethylamine (2.8 ml, 20 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours, diluted with 100 ml of dichloromethane and washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate (3x100 ml) and brine (100 ml). The organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was purified on

silica gel chromatography (hexane: acetone/1 :1) to give the title compound (6.6 g,

MS (ESI) m/z: 671 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 6. Compound of formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH?, G = W = hydrogen, Y =O-l ^" 3-propenyl-quinoline ^~ l, and R?'= Ac.

A mixture of the compound from Example 5 (671 mg, 1 mmol), and carbonic acid ter/-butyl ester l-quinolin-3-yl-allyl ester (428 mg, 1.5 mmol) and l,4-bis(diphenyl- phosphino)-butane (85 mg, 0.2 mmol) was dissolved in freshly distilled THF (20 ml). To the solution was added Pd ₂ (dba) ₃ (92 mg, 0.1 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux slowly. After refluxing for 8 hours, the reaction was cooled to room temperaure, diluted with 40 ml ethyl acetate, and washed with saturated NaHCO ₃ (40 ml) and brine (40 ml). The organic phase was dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , the solvent was removed in vacuo and the solid residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (hexane: acetone/1 :1) to give the title compound (687 mg, 82%). MS (ESI) m/z: 838 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 7. Compound of formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH?, G = W = R?' = hydrogen, and Y = O-[3-propenyl-quinoline].

A solution of compound from Example 6 (420 mg, 0.5 mmol) in methanol (10 ml) was refluxed for 5 hours and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (2M NH ₃ in methanol /methylene chloride = 5/95) to give the title compound (398 mg, 100%). MS (ESI) m/z: 796 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 8. Compound of formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH?. G = W = hydrogen. Y = O-[2-pyridylacetvn, and R?' = Ac.

A mixture of 2-pyridylacetic acid hydrochloride (347 mg, 2 mmol), EDC (384 mg, 2 mmol) and triethylamine (557 μl, 4 mmol) in 40 ml of methylenechloride was stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. The compound from Example 5 (671 mg, 1

mmol) and DMAP (100 mg) were added, and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 6 hours. The reaction was quenched with the addition of saturated NaHCO3 and the organic layer was separated, washed with brine and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give the desired title compound (0.75g).

MS (ESI) m/z: 790 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 9. Compound of formula IV, wherein A and B taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached are C=CH?, G = W = R?' = hydrogen, and Y = O-[2-pyridylacetyl].

The compound from Example 8 was dissolved in 10 ml of methanol and refluxed for 5 hours. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (2M NH ₃ in methanol /methylene chloride = 5/95) to give the title compound (698 mg, 93%). MS (ESI) m/z: 748 (M+H) ⁺ .

Although the invention has been described with respect to various preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto, but rather those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications may be made therein which are within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.