HETEROCYCLIC ARYLSULPHONES SUITABLE FOR TREATING DISORDERS THAT RESPOND TO MODULATION OF THE SEROTONIN 5HT6 RECEPTOR

Background Of The Invention

The present invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds. The compounds possess valuable therapeutic properties and are suitable, in particular, for treating diseases that respond to modulation of the serotonine 5-HT ₆ receptor.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT), a monoamine neurotransmitter and local hormone, is formed by the hydroxylation and decarboxylation of tryptophan. The greatest concentration is found in the enterochromaffin cells of the gastrointestinal tract, the remainder being predominantly present in platelets and in the Central Nervous System (CNS). 5HT is implicated in a vast array of physiological and pathophysiological path- ways. In the periphery, it contracts a number of smooth muscles and induces endothe- lium-dependent vasodilation. In the CNS, it is believed to be involved in a wide range of functions, including the control of appetite, mood, anxiety, hallucinations, sleep, vomiting and pain perception.

Neurons that secrete 5HT are termed serotonergic. The function of 5HT is exerted upon ist interaction with specific (serotonergic) neurons. Until now, seven types of 5HT receptors have been identified: 5HT ₁ (with subtypes 5HT _1A , 5HT ₁₆ , 5HT _1D , 5HT _1E and 5HT _{I F} ), 5HT ₂ (with subtypes 5HT _2A , 5HT _2B and 5HT ₁₀ ), 5HT ₃ , 5HT ₄ , 5HT ₅ (with subtypes 5HT _1A and 5HT _1B ), 5HT ₆ and 5HT ₇ ). Most of these receptors are coupled to G- proteins that affect the activities of either adenylate cyclase or phospholipase Cγ.

The human 5HT ₆ receptors are positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase. They are distributed throughout the limbic, striatal and cortical regions of the brain and show a high affinity to antipsychotics.

The modulation of the 5HT ₆ receptor by suitable substances is expected to improve certain disorders including cognitive dysfunctions, such as a deficit in memory, cognition and learning, in particular associated with Alzheimer's disease, age-related cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment, attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity syn- drome, personality disorders, such as schizophrenia, in particular cognitive deficits related with schizophrenia, affective disorders such as depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders, motion or motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, migraine, sleep disorders (including disturbances of the Circadian rhythm), feeding disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, certain gastrointestinaldisorders such as Irritable Bowl Syndrome, diseases associated with neurodegeneration, such as stroke,

spinal or head trauma and head injuries, such as hydrocephalus, drug addiction and obesity.

Another neurotransmitter with implications on the CNS is dopamine. Disorders in the dopaminergic transmitter system result in diseases of the central nervous system which include, for example, schizophrenia, depression and Parkinson's disease. These diseases, and others, are treated with drugs which interact with the dopamine receptors.

The dopamine receptors are divided into two families. On the one hand, there is the D ₂ group, consisting of D ₂ , D ₃ and D ₄ receptors, and, on the other hand, the D ₁ group, consisting of D ₁ and D ₅ receptors. Whereas D ₁ and D ₂ receptors are widely distributed, D ₃ receptors appear to be expressed regioselectively. Thus, these receptors are preferentially to be found in the limbic system and the projection regions of the mesolimbic dopamine system, especially in the nucleus accumbens, but also in other regions, such as the amygdala. Because of this comparatively regioselective expression, D ₃ receptors are regarded as being a target having few side-effects and it is assumed that while a selective D ₃ ligand would have the properties of known antipsychotics, it would not have their dopamine D ₂ receptor-mediated neurological side-effects (P. Sokoloff et al., Localization and Function of the D ₃ Dopamine Receptor, Arzneim. Forsch./Drug Res. 42(1 ), 224 (1992); P. Sokoloff et al. Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Dopamine Receptor (D ₃ ) as a Target for Neuroleptics, Nature, 347, 146 (1990)).

Compounds having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor have been described in the prior art on various occasions, e.g. in WO 95/04713, WO 96/23760, WO 97/45503, WO 99/58499 and in the unpublished international patent application PCT/EP 2005/01 1106.

Compounds having an affinity for the 5HT ₆ receptor have also been described in the prior art, e.g. in WO 2005/037830, WO 2005/026125, WO 00/05225 and WO 98/27081. However, their affinity and selectivity towards the 5HT ₆ receptor or their pharmacologi- cal profile is not yet satisfactory.

It is an object of the present invention to provide compounds which have a high affinity and selectivity for the 5HT ₆ receptor and optionally a high affinity and selectivity (in particular versus D ₂ ) for the dopamine D ₃ receptor, thus allowing the treatment of disor- ders related to or affected by the 5HT ₆ receptor. Compounds having an affinity for both receptors are expected to be suitable for treating disorders related to or affected by both the 5HT ₆ receptor and the D ₃ receptor, thus allowing the treatment of more than one aspect of the respective disorder.

The compounds should also have good pharmacological profile, e.g. a good brain plasma ratio, a good bioavailability, good metabolic stability, or a decreased inhibition of the mitochondrial respiration.

Summary Of The Invention

The invention is based on the object of providing compounds which act as 5HT ₆ receptor ligands. This object is surprisingly achieved by means of compounds of the formula I

wherein

n is O, 1 or 2;

G is CH ₂ or CHR ³ ;

R ¹ is H, d-Ce-alkyl, C _r C ₆ -alkyl substituted by C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, C _r C ₆ -hydroxyalkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ - alkenyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, formyl, acetyl, propionyl or benzyl;

R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are, independently of each other, H, methyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, or trifluoromethyl;

A is 1 ,4-phenylene or 1 ,3-phenylene, which is optionally substituted by one, two, three or four substituents selected from halogen, CrC ₄ -alkyl, CrC ₄ -alkoxy, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl and fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy;

E is NR ⁵ or CH ₂ , wherein R ⁵ is H or C _r C ₃ -alkyl;

Ar is a radical of the formula A, B, C, D, E, F or G

(A) (B) (C)

(D) (E)

(F) (G)

wherein

R ^a is halogen, hydroxyl, Ci-Cβ-alkyl, fluorinated CrC6-alkyl, CrC6-hydroxyalkyl, Cr C ₆ -alkoxy-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, fluorinated C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, CrC ₆ -alkoxy, CrC ₆ -hydroxyalkoxy, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy-Cr

Cβ-alkoxy, fluorinated CrCβ-alkoxy, Ci-Cβ-alkylthio, fluorinated Ci-Cβ-alkylthio, Ci-Cβ-alkylsulfinyl, fluorinated Ci-Cβ-alkylsulfinyl, CrC ₆ -alkylsulfonyl, fluorinated Ci-C ₆ -alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, pyridylsulfonyl, benzyloxy, phenoxy, phenyl, where the phenyl and the pyridyl radical in the 5 last-mentioned radicals may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl and halogen, CN, nitro, C-i-Ce-alkylcarbonyl, fluorinated CrC6- alkylcarbonyl, CrCβ-alkylcarbonylamino, fluorinated CrCβ-alkylcarbonylamino, carboxy, NH-C(O)-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ -C _r C ₆ -alkylene, 0-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are, independently of each other, H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl or d- C ₄ -alkoxy or may form, together with N, a 4-, 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated ring, R ⁹ -CO-NR ⁶ -CrC ₆ -alkylene, where R ⁶ is as defined above and R ⁹

is CrC ₄ -alkyl or phenyl, where the phenyl radical may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, CH ₂ -pyridyl, where the pyridyl radical may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from d-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, or is a saturated or unsaturated aromatic or non-aromatic 3- to 7- membered heterocyclic ring comprising as ring members 1 , 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S and/or 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatom-containing groups selected from NR ⁸ , where R ⁸ is H, C _r C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated C _r C ₄ -alkyl, C _r C ₄ -alkylcarbonyl or fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkylcarbonyl, SO, SO ₂ and CO, and where the heterocyclic ring may carry 1 , 2 or 3 substituents selected from hydroxy, halogen, Ci-Cβ-alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, CrC ₆ -alkoxy, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkoxy, CrC ₆ -alkylthio, fluorinated C _r C ₆ -alkylthio, NR ⁶ R ⁷ -C _r C ₆ -alkylene, where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are as defined above, carboxyl and CrC ₄ -alkyoxycarbonyl;

R ^b and R ^c , independently of each other, are H, halogen, CH ₃ , OCH ₃ , CH ₂ F, OCH ₂ F,

CHF ₂ , OCHF ₂ , CF ₃ , OCF ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₂ F, OCH ₂ CH ₂ F, CH ₂ CHF ₂ , OCH ₂ CHF ₂ , CH ₂ CF ₃ or OCH ₂ CF ₃ ;

R ^d is defined like R ^a ;

R ^e is H or is defined like R ^a ;

R ^f is defined like R ^a ;

k is O, 1 , 2 or 3; and

j is O, 1 , 2, 3 or 4; with the proviso that R ^a is not F, CH ₂ F, CHF ₂ , CF ₃ or OCF ₃ if A is 1 ,4-phenylene, Ar is a radical of the formula (A) and R ^b and R ^c are H or halogen;

except compounds, where R ¹ is propyl, G is CH ₂ , n is 1 , A is 1 ,4-phenylene, E is NH, Ar is a radical of formula (F) and R ^d is halogen, CrCβ-alkyl, C ₂ -C6-alkenyl or a 5- membered heteroaromatic ring;

and physiologically tolerated acid addition salts thereof.

The present invention therefore relates to compounds of the general formula I and to their physiologically tolerated acid addition salts.

In a specific embodiment of compounds I, Ar is a radical of the formula (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E), where the substituents have the following meanings:

R ^a is halogen, CrC ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, CrC ₆ -hydroxyalkyl, d-C ₆ -alkoxy- CrC ₆ -alkyl, C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, fluorinated C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated

C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, CrC ₆ -alkoxy, CrC ₆ -hydroxyalkoxy, CrCe-alkoxy-CrCβ-alkoxy, fluorinated CrCβ-alkoxy, Ci-Cβ-alkylthio, fluorinated Ci-Cβ-alkylthio, C ₁ -C6- alkylsulfinyl, fluorinated Ci-Cβ-alkylsulfinyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkylsulfonyl, fluorinated C ₁ -C ₆ - alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, benzyloxy, phenoxy, where the phenyl radical in the 3 last-mentioned radicals may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from CrC ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, CN, nitro, CrC ₆ - alkylcarbonyl, fluorinated CrCβ-alkylcarbonyl, CrCβ-alkylcarbonylamino, fluorinated d-Ce-alkylcarbonylamino, carboxy, NH-C(O)-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ -C _r C ₆ - alkylene, 0-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are, independently of each other, H, CrC ₄ - alkyl, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl or Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy or may form, together with N, a 4-, 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated ring, or is a saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring comprising as ring members 1 , 2, 3 or 4 het- eroatoms selected from N, O and S and/or 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatom-containing groups selected from NR ⁸ , where R ⁸ is is H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -alkylcarbonyl or fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkylcarbonyl, SO, SO ₂ and CO, and where the heterocyclic ring may carry 1 , 2 or 3 substituents selected from hydroxy, halogen, CrC ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl and CrC ₆ -alkoxy; and

R ^b and R ^c , independently of each other, are H, halogen, CH ₃ , OCH ₃ , CHF ₂ , OCHF ₂ , CF ₃ or OCF ₃ ;

with the proviso that R ^a is not F, CH ₂ F, CHF ₂ , CF ₃ or OCF ₃ if A is 1 ,4-phenylene and R ^b and R ^c are H or halogen;

and physiologically tolerated acid addition salts thereof.

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition which comprises at least one compound of the formula I and/or at least one physiologically tolerated acid addition salt of I, where appropriate together with physiologically acceptable carriers and/or auxiliary substances.

The present invention also relates to a method for treating disorders which respond to influencing by 5HT ₆ receptor antagonists or 5HT ₆ agonists, said method comprising administering an effective amount of at least one compound of the formula I

wherein

n is O, 1 or 2;

G is CH ₂ or CHR ³ ;

R ¹ is H, d-Cβ-alkyl, C _r C ₆ -alkyl substituted by C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, C _r C ₆ -hydroxyalkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ - alkenyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, formyl, acetyl, propionyl or benzyl;

R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are, independently of each other, H, methyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, or trifluoromethyl;

A is 1 ,4-phenylene or 1 ,3-phenylene, which is optionally substituted by one, two, three or four substituents selected from halogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl and fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkoxy;

E is NR ⁵ or CH ₂ , wherein R ⁵ is H or C _r C ₃ -alkyl;

Ar is a radical of the formula A, B, C, D, E, F or G

(A) (B) (C)

(D) (E)

(F) (G)

wherein

R ^a is halogen, hydroxy, Ci-Cβ-alkyl, fluorinated Ci-Cβ-alkyl, Ci-C6-hydroxyalkyl, Cr C ₆ -alkoxy-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, fluorinated C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, CrC ₆ -alkoxy, CrC ₆ -hydroxyalkoxy, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy-Cr Cβ-alkoxy, fluorinated CrCβ-alkoxy, Ci-Cβ-alkylthio, fluorinated Ci-Cβ-alkylthio,

Ci-Cβ-alkylsulfinyl, fluorinated Ci-Cβ-alkylsulfinyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkylsulfonyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, pyridylsulfonyl, benzyloxy, phenoxy, phenyl, where the phenyl and the pyridyl radical in the 5 last-mentioned radicals may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluori- nated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, CN, nitro, C-i-Ce-alkylcarbonyl, fluorinated CrC6- alkylcarbonyl, CrCβ-alkylcarbonylamino, fluorinated CrCβ-alkylcarbonylamino, carboxy, NH-C(O)-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ -C _r C ₆ -alkylene, 0-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are, independently of each other, H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl or Cr C ₄ -alkoxy or may form, together with N, a 4-, 5- or 6-membered saturated or un- saturated ring, R ⁹ -CO-NR ⁶ -C _r C ₆ -alkylene, where R ⁶ is as defined above and R ⁹ is CrC ₄ -alkyl or phenyl, where the phenyl radical may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, CH ₂ -pyridyl, where the pyridyl radical may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from CrC ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, or is a saturated or unsaturated aromatic or non-aromatic 3- to 7- membered heterocyclic ring comprising as ring members 1 , 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S and/or 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatom-containing groups selected

from NR ⁸ , where R ⁸ is H, C _r C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated C _r C ₄ -alkyl, C _r C ₄ -alkylcarbonyl or fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkylcarbonyl, SO, SO ₂ and CO, and where the heterocyclic ring may carry 1 , 2 or 3 substituents selected from hydroxy, halogen, C-i-C ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, d-C ₆ -alkoxy, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkoxy, CrC ₆ -alkylthio, fluorinated C _r C ₆ -alkylthio, NR ⁶ R ⁷ -C _r C ₆ -alkylene, where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are as defined above, carboxyl and CrC ₄ -alkyoxycarbonyl;

R ^b and R ^c , independently of each other, are H, halogen, CH ₃ , OCH ₃ , CH ₂ F, OCH ₂ F,

CHF ₂ , OCHF ₂ , CF ₃ , OCF ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₂ F, OCH ₂ CH ₂ F, CH ₂ CHF ₂ , OCH ₂ CHF ₂ , CH ₂ CF ₃ Or OCH ₂ CF ₃ ;

R ^d is defined like R ^a ;

R ^e is H or is defined like R ^a ;

R ^f is defined like R ^a ;

k is O, 1 , 2 or 3; and

j is O, 1 , 2, 3 or 4;

and/or at least one physiologically tolerated acid addition salt of I to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention further relates to the use of a compound as defined for the above method and/or physiologically tolerated acid addition salts thereof, for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a medical disorder susceptible to treatment with a 5-HT ₆ receptor ligand.

In a specific embodiment, the compound used according to the invention or in the method of the invention is as defined above, however with the above provisos.

In a specific embodiment of the use and the method of the invention, in compounds I, Ar is a radical of the formula (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E), where the substituents have the following meanings:

R ¹ is H, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, C _r C ₆ -alkyl substituted by C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, C _r C ₆ -hydroxyalkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ - alkenyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, formyl, acetyl or propionyl;

R ^a is halogen, Ci-Cβ-alkyl, fluorinated Ci-Cβ-alkyl, CrC6-hydroxyalkyl, Ci-C6-alkoxy- CrC ₆ -alkyl, C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, fluorinated C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, CrC ₆ -alkoxy, CrC ₆ -hydroxyalkoxy, CrCe-alkoxy-CrCβ-alkoxy, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkoxy, CrC ₆ -alkylthio, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylthio, CrC ₆ - alkylsulfinyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylsulfinyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkylsulfonyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ - alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, benzyloxy, phenoxy, where the phenyl radical in the 3 last-mentioned radicals may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, CN, nitro, CrC ₆ - alkylcarbonyl, fluorinated CrCe-alkylcarbonyl, d-Ce-alkylcarbonylamino, fluorinated CrCe-alkylcarbonylamino, carboxy, NH-C(O)-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ -C _r C ₆ - alkylene, 0-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are, independently of each other, H, CrC ₄ - alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl or Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy or may form, together with N, a 4-, 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated ring, or is a saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring comprising as ring members 1 , 2, 3 or 4 het- eroatoms selected from N, O and S and/or 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatom-containing groups selected from NR ⁸ , where R ⁸ is is H, CrC ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, CrC ₄ -alkylcarbonyl or fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkylcarbonyl, SO, SO ₂ and CO, and where the heterocyclic ring may carry 1 , 2 or 3 substituents selected from hy- droxy, halogen, CrC ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl and CrC ₆ -alkoxy; and

R ^b and R ^c , independently of each other, are H, halogen, CH ₃ , OCH ₃ , CHF ₂ , OCHF ₂ , CF ₃ or OCF ₃ ;

with the proviso that R ^a is not F, CH ₂ F, CHF ₂ , CF ₃ or OCF ₃ if A is 1 ,4-phenylene and R ^b and R ^c are H or halogen.

Detailed Description Of The Invention

The remarks made in the following with respect to preferred aspects of the invention, e.g. to preferred meanings of the variables of compound I, to preferred compounds I and to preferred embodiments of the method or the use according to the invention, apply in each case on their own or to combinations thereof.

The diseases which respond to the influence of 5HT ₆ receptor antagonists or agonists include, in particular, disorders and diseases of the central nervous system, in particular cognitive dysfunctions, such as a deficit in memory, cognition and learning, in particular associated with Alzheimer's disease, age-related cognitive decline and mild

cognitive impairment, attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity syndrome, personality disorders, such as schizophrenia, in particular cognitive deficits related with schizophrenia, affective disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders, motion or motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease and epi- lepsy, migraine, sleep disorders (including disturbances of the Circadian rhythm), feeding disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, certain gastrointestinaldisorders such as Irritable Bowl Syndrome, diseases associated with neurodegeneration, such as stroke, spinal or head trauma and head injuries, such as hydrocephalus, drug addiction and obesity.

According to the invention, at least one compound of the general formula I having the meanings mentioned at the outset is used for treating the above mentioned indications. Provided the compounds of the formula I of a given constitution may exist in different spatial arrangements, for example if they possess one or more centers of asymmetry, polysubstituted rings or double bonds, or as different tautomers, it is also possible to use enantiomeric mixtures, in particular racemates, diastereomeric mixtures and tautomeric mixtures, preferably, however, the respective essentially pure enantiomers, diastereomers and tautomers of the compounds of formula I and/or of their salts.

Particularly, the carbon atom of the nitrogen-containing ring carrying the group A may have (S) or (R) configuration. However, the (S) configuration is preferred.

Moreover, the radical A may be in a cis or trans position to either of the substituents R ² , R ³ or R ⁴ (if at least one of those is not hydrogen). However, the trans position is pre- ferred.

It is likewise possible to use physiologically tolerated salts of the compounds of the formula I, especially acid addition salts with physiologically tolerated acids. Examples of suitable physiologically tolerated organic and inorganic acids are hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, Ci-C ₄ -alkylsulfonic acids, such as methanesulfonic acid, aromatic sulfonic acids, such as benzenesulfonic acid and tolue- nesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid and benzoic acid. Other utilizable acids are described in Fortschritte der Arzneimit- telforschung [Advances in drug research], Volume 10, pages 224 ff., Birkhauser Verlag, Basel and Stuttgart, 1966.

The organic moieties mentioned in the above definitions of the variables are - like the term halogen - collective terms for individual listings of the individual group members. The prefix C _n -C _m indicates in each case the possible number of carbon atoms in the

group.

The term halogen denotes in each case fluorine, bromine, chlorine or iodine, in particular fluorine, chlorine or bromine.

C ₁ -C ₄ Alkyl is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of an alkyl group are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, 2-butyl, iso- butyl or tert-butyl. C ₁ -C ₂ Alkyl is methyl or ethyl, C ₁ -C3 alkyl is additionally n-propyl or isopropyl.

CrC ₆ Alkyl is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples include CrC ₄ alkyl as mentioned above and also pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1 ,1- dimethylpropyl, 1 ,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1 ,1-dimethylbutyl, 1 ,2-dimethylbutyl, 1 ,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2- dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1 ,1 ,2- trimethylpropyl, 1 ,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl and 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl.

Fluorinated CrC ₆ alkyl is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms (= fluorinated C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), in particular 1 to 3 carbon atoms (= fluorinated C ₁ -C3 alkyl), wherein at least one, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4 or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by a fluorine atom such as in fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, (R)-i-fluoroethyl, (S)-i-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 1 ,1-difluoroethyl, 2,2- difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1 ,1 ,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl, (R)-i-fluoropropyl, (S)-1- fluoropropyl, 2-fluoropropyl, 3-fluoropropyl, 1 ,1-difluoropropyl, 2,2-difluoropropyl, 3,3- difluoropropyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, (R)-2-fluoro-1-methylethyl, (S)-2-fluoro-1- methylethyl, (R)-2,2-difluoro-1-methylethyl, (S)-2,2-difluoro-1-methylethyl, (R)-1 ,2- difluoro-1-methylethyl, (S)-1 ,2-difluoro-1-methylethyl, (R)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-methylethyl, (S)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-methylethyl, 2-fluoro-1-(fluoromethyl)ethyl, 1-(difluoromethyl)-2,2- difluoroethyl, 1-(trifluoromethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1-(trifluoromethyl)-1 ,2,2,2- tetrafluoroethyl, (R)-i-fluorobutyl, (S)-i-fluorobutyl, 2-fluorobutyl, 3-fluorobutyl, 4- fluorobutyl, 1 ,1-difluorobutyl, 2,2-difluorobutyl, 3,3-difluorobutyl, 4,4-difluorobutyl, 4,4,4- trifluorobutyl, and the like.

Branched C ₃ -C ₆ alkyl is alkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms at least one being a secondary or tertiary carbon atom. Examples are isopropyl, tert. -butyl, 2- butyl, isobutyl, 2- pentyl, 2-hexyl, 3-methylpentyl, 1 ,1-dimethylbutyl, 1 ,2-dimethylbutyl, 1-methyl-1- ethylpropyl.

Fluorinated branched C ₃ -C ₆ alkyl is alkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms at least one being a secondary or tertiary carbon atom wherein at least one, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4 or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by a fluorine atom.

CrC ₆ Alkoxy is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6, in particular 1 to 4 carbon atoms (= CrC ₄ alkoxy), which is bound to the remainder of the molecule via an oxygen atom. Examples include methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n- butoxy, 2-butoxy, iso-butoxy, tert.-butoxy pentyloxy, 1-methylbutoxy, 2-methylbutoxy, 3- methylbutoxy, 2,2-dimethylpropoxy, 1 -ethyl propoxy, hexyloxy, 1 ,1-dimethylpropoxy, 1 ,2-dimethylpropoxy, 1-methylpentyloxy, 2-methylpentyloxy, 3-methylpentyloxy,

4-methylpentyloxy, 1 ,1-dimethylbutyloxy, 1 ,2-dimethylbutyloxy, 1 ,3-dimethylbutyloxy, 2,2-dimethylbutyloxy, 2,3-dimethylbutyloxy, 3,3-dimethylbutyloxy, 1-ethylbutyloxy, 2- ethylbutyloxy, 1 ,1 ,2-trimethylpropoxy, 1 ,2,2-trimethylpropoxy, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropoxy and 1-ethyl-2-methylpropoxy.

Fluorinated CrC ₆ alkoxy is a straight-chain or branched alkoxy group having from 1 to 6, in particular 1 to 4 carbon atoms (= fluorinated CrC ₄ alkoxy), wherein at least one, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4 or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by a fluorine atoms such as in fluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, (R)-i-fluoroethoxy, (S)-1- fluoroethoxy, 2-fluoroethoxy, 1 ,1-difluoroethoxy, 2,2-difluoroethoxy, 2,2,2- trifluoroethoxy, 1 ,1 ,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy, (R)-i-fluoropropoxy, (S)-i-fluoropropoxy, (R)- 2-fluoropropoxy, (S)-2-fluoropropoxy, 3-fluoropropoxy, 1 ,1-difluoropropoxy, 2,2- difluoropropoxy, 3,3-difluoropropoxy, 3,3,3-trifluoropropoxy, (R)-2-fluoro-1- methylethoxy, (S)-2-fluoro-1-methylethoxy, (R)-2,2-difluoro-1-methylethoxy, (S)-2,2- difluoro-1 -methylethoxy, (R)-1 ,2-difluoro-1 -methylethoxy, (S)-1 ,2-difluoro-1 - methylethoxy, (R)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1 -methylethoxy, (S )-2,2,2-trifluoro-1 -methylethoxy, 2- fluoro-1 -(fluoromethyl)ethoxy, 1 -(difluoromethyl)-2,2-difluoroethoxy, (R)-1 -fluorobutoxy, (S)-i-fluorobutoxy, 2-fluorobutoxy, 3-fluorobutoxy, 4-fluorobutoxy, 1 ,1-difluorobutoxy, 2,2-difluorobutoxy, 3,3-difluorobutoxy, 4,4-difluorobutoxy, 4,4,4-trifluorobutoxy, and the like.

CrC ₆ Hydroxyalkyl is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms (= CrC ₄ hadroxyalkyl), in particular 1 to 3 carbon atoms (= C ₁ -C3 hydroxyalkyl), wherein one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a hydroxy group, such as in 2-hydroxyethyl or 3-hydroxypropyl.

Ci-C ₆ -Alkoxy-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms, in particular 1 to 3 carbon atoms, wherein one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a CrC ₆ -alkoxy group, such as in methoxymethyl, 2- methoxyethyl, ethoxymethyl, 3-methoxypropyl, 3-ethoxy propyl and the like.

C-i-Ce-Alkoxy-C-i-Ce-alkoxy is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms, in particular 1 to 3 carbon atoms, wherein one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a CrC ₆ -alkoxy group, such as in 2-methoxyethoxy, ethoxymethoxy, 2-ethoxyethoxy, 3-methoxypropoxy, 3-ethoxypropoxy and the like.

CrC ₆ -Alkylcarbonyl is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms (= CrC ₄ alkylcarbonyl), in particular 1 to 3 carbon atoms (= fluorinated C ₁ -C3 alkylcarbonyl), wherein one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a carbonyl group (CO), such as in acetyl and propionyl.

Fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylcarbonyl is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms (= fluorinated C ₁ -C ₄ alkylcarbonyl), in particular 1 to 3 carbon atoms (= fluorinated C ₁ -C ₃ alkylcarbonyl), wherein one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a carbonyl group (CO) and wherein at least one of the remaining hydrogen atoms, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, or 4 of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by a fluorine atom, such as in trifluoroacetyl and 3,3,3-trifluoropropionyl.

Ci-C ₆ -Alkylcarbonylamino is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms (= CrC ₄ alkylcarbonylamino), in particular 1 to 3 carbon atoms (= CrC ₄ alkylcarbonylamino), wherein one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a carbonylamino group (CO-NH-), such as in acetamido (acetylamino) (CH ₃ CONH-) and propionamido (CH ₃ CH ₂ CONH-).

Fluorinated Ci-C6-alkylcarbonylamino is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms (= fluorinated CrC ₄ alkylcarbonylamino), in particular 1 to 3 carbon atoms (= fluorinated CrC ₄ alkylcarbonylamino), wherein one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a carbonylamino group (CO-NH-) and wherein at least one of the remaining hydrogen atoms, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, or 4 of the hy- drogen atoms are replaced by a fluorine atom, such as in trifluoroacetylamino and 3,3,3-trifluoropropionylamino.

C ₁ -C6 Alkylthio (also termed as CrC6-alkylsulfanyl) (or Ci-Cβ-alkylsulfinyl or C ₁ -C6- alkylsulfonyl, respectively) refer to straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, e.g. 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which are bound to the remainder of the molecule via a sulfur atom (or S(O)O in case of alkylsulfinyl or S(O) ₂ O in case of alkylsul- fonyl, respectively), at any bond in the alkyl group. Examples for CrC ₄ -alkylthio include methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, isopropylthio, and n-butylthio. Examples for CrC ₄ - alkylsulfinyl include methylsulfinyl, ethylsulfinyl, propylsulfinyl, isopropylsulfinyl, and n-

butylsulfinyl. Examples for CrC ₄ -alkylsulfonyl include methylsulfonyl, ethylsulfonyl, propylsulfonyl, isopropylsulfonyl, and n-butylsulfonyl.

Fluorinated CrC ₆ alkylthio (also termed fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylsulfanyl) is a straight- chain or branched alkylthio group having from 1 to 6, in particular 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein at least one, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4 or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine atoms. Fluorinated CrC ₆ alkylsulfinyl is a straight-chain or branched alkylsulfinyl group having from 1 to 6, in particular 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein at least one, e.g. 1 ,

2, 3, 4 or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine atoms. Fluorinated CrCβ alkylsulfonyl is a straight-chain or branched alkylsulfonyl group having from 1 to 6, in particular 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein at least one, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4 or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine atoms.

C3-C6 Cycloalkyl is a cycloaliphatic radical having from 3 to 6 C atoms, such as cyclo- propyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl. The cycloalkyl radical may be unsubsti- tuted or may carry 1 , 2, 3 or 4 CrC ₄ alkyl radicals, preferably a methyl radical. One alkyl radical is preferably located in the 1 -position of the cycloalkyl radical, such as in 1- methylcyclopropyl or 1-methylcyclobutyl.

Fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ cycloalkyl is a cycloaliphatic radical having from 3 to 6 C atoms, such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl, wherein at least one, e.g. 1 , 2,

3, 4 or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by a fluorine atoms such as in 1- fluorocyclopropyl, 2-fluorocyclopropyl, (S)- and (R)-2,2-difluorocyclopropyl, 1 ,2- difluorocyclopropyl, 2,3-difluorocyclopropyl, pentafluorocyclopropyl, 1-fluorocyclobutyl, 2-fluorocyclobutyl, 3-fluorocyclobutyl, 2,2-difluorocyclobutyl, 3,3-difluorocyclobutyl, 1 ,2- difluorocyclobutyl, 1 ,3-difluorocyclobutyl, 2,3-difluorocyclobutyl, 2,4-difluorocyclobutyl, or 1 ,2,2-trifluorocyclobutyl.

C ₂ -C ₆ -Alkenyl is a singly unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 C- atoms, e.g. vinyl, allyl (2-propen-1-yl), 1-propen-1-yl, 2-propen-2-yl, methallyl (2- methylprop-2-en-1-yl) and the like. C ₃ -C ₆ -Alkenyl is, in particular, allyl, 1-methylprop-2- en-1-yl, 2-buten-1-yl, 3-buten-1-yl, methallyl, 2-penten-1-yl, 3-penten-1-yl, 4-penten-1- yl, 1-methylbut-2-en-1-yl or 2-ethylprop-2-en-1-yl.

Fluorinated C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl is a singly unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 C-atoms, I, wherein at least one, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4 or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by a fluorine atoms such as in 1-fluorovinyl, 2-fluorovinyl, 2,2-fluorovinyl, 3,3,3-fluoropropenyl, 1 ,1-difluoro-2-propenyl 1-fluoro-2-propenyl and the like.

CrC ₆ -Alkylene is a hydrocarbon bridging group having 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms, like methylene, ethylene, 1 ,2- and 1 ,3-propylene, 1 ,4-butylene and the like.

Examples of 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic radicals comprise 2-, 3-, or 4-pyridyl, 2-, 4- or 5-pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, 3- or 4-pyridazinyl, 2- or 3-thienyl, 2-or 3-furyl, 2- or 3- pyrrolyl, 2-, 3- or 5-oxazolyl, 3-, 4- or 5-isoxazolyl, 2-, 3- or 5-thiazolyl, 3-, 4- or 5- isothiazolyl, 3-, 4- or 5-pyrazolyl, 2-, 4- or 5-imidazolyl, 2- or 5-[1 ,3,4]oxadiazolyl, 4- or 5-[1 ,2,3]oxadiazolyl, 3- or 5-[1 ,2,4]oxadiazolyl, 2- or 5-[1 ,3,4]thiadiazolyl, 2- or 5- [1 ,3,4]thiadiazolyl, 4- or 5-[1 ,2,3]thiadiazolyl, 3- or 5-[1 ,2,4]thiadiazolyl 1 H-, 2H- or 3H- 1 ,2,3-triazol-4-yl, 2H-triazol-3-yl, 1 H-, 2H-, or 4H- 1 ,2,4-triazolyl and 1 H- or 2H- tetrazolyl, which may be unsubstituted or which may carry 1 , 2 or 3 of the aforementioned radicals R ^a .

Examples of a phenyl ring fused to a saturated or unsaturated 5- or 6-membered car- bocyclic or heterocyclic ring comprise indenyl, indanyl, naphthyl, 1 ,2- or 2,3- dihydronaphthyl, tetralin, benzofuranyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, benzothienyl, indolyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxathiazolyl, benzoxadiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, ben- zoxazinyl, dihydrobenzoxazinyl, chinolinyl, isochinolinyl, tetrahydroisochinolinyl, chromenyl, chromanyl and the like, which may be unsubstituted or which may carry 1 , 2 or 3 of the aforementioned radicals R ^a . This fused system may be bonded to the remainder of the molecule (more precisely to the sulfonyl group) via carbon atoms of the phenyl moiety or via ring atoms (C- or N-atoms) of the ring fused to phenyl.

Examples for saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic rings (as radicals R ^a ) comprise saturated or unsaturated, aromatic or non-aromatic heterocyclic rings. Examples therefore include, apart from the above-defined 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic radicals, aziridyl, diaziridinyl, oxiranyl, azetidinyl, azetinyl, di- and tetrahy- drofuranyl, pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, oxopyrrolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, oxazolinyl, oxazolidinyl, oxo-oxazolidinyl, isoxazolinyl, isoxazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, oxothiomorpholinyl, dioxothiomor- pholinyl and the like.

If R ⁶ and R ⁷ form together with N a 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring, examples for this type of radical comprise, apart from the above-defined 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic radi- cals containig at least one N atom as ring member, azetidinyl, azetinyl, pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, oxazolinyl, oxazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl and the like.

In compounds of formula I, n preferably is 0 or 1 ; i.e. the nitrogen-containing ring is an azetidinyl group or a pyrrolidinyl group; and particularly, n is 1 , which means that in a particularly preferred embodiment, the nitrogen-containing ring is a pyrrolidinyl ring.

Preferably, the radical R ¹ is selected from H, d-C ₄ -alkyl, CrC ₄ -alkyl which is substituted by C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl or hydroxy, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, C ₂ -C ₄ -alkenyl and benzyl. More preference is given to H, propyl, cyclopropylmethylene, fluorinated ethyl, e.g. 2- fluoroethyl, fluorinated propyl, e.g. 3-fluoropropyl, hydroxypropyl, e.g. 3-hydroxypropyl, propionyl, allyl and benzyl. More preferably, R ¹ is selected from H, propyl, ethyl, methyl, cyclopropylmethylene, 2-fluoroethyl, 3-fluoropropyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, allyl and benzyl. Even more preferably, R ¹ is selected from H, propyl, cyclopropylmethylene, 2- fluoroethyl, 3-fluoropropyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, allyl or benzyl. In a particularly preferred embodiment, R ¹ is H, n-propyl or allyl, in particular H or n-propyl and especially H.

Preferably, R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are H, CH ₃ or CH ₂ F and more preferably H.

If the group A is substituted, preferred substituents are selected from halogen, in particular fluorine, methyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, difluoromethoxy and trifluoromethoxy. More preferred substituents are selected from halogen, in particular fluorine, and methoxy. Specifically, the substituent is methoxy. Examples include 2- fluoro-1 ,4-phenylene, 3-fluoro-1 ,4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1 ,3-phenylene, 4-fluoro-1 ,3- phenylene, 2-methoxy-1 ,4-phenylene, 3-methoxy-1 ,4-phenylene, 2-methoxy-1 ,3- phenylene and 3-methoxy-1 ,3-phenylene. In a specific embodiment, A is unsubstituted 1 ,4-phenylene or unsubstituted 1 ,3-phenylene. More specifically, A is 1 ,3-pyridylene, in particular unsubstituted 1 ,3-pyridylene.

The group E is preferably NR ⁵ , more preferably NH or NCH ₃ and in particular NH.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, Ar is a radical of the formula (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E). Particular preference is given to the radical (A). Among the pyridyl radicals (B) to (E), preference is given to radicals (C) and (E).

In these Ar radicals (A) to (E), R ^a is preferably selected from the group consisting of halogen, CrC ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, CrC ₆ -hydroxyalkyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy-CrC ₆ - alkyl, C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, CrC ₆ -alkoxy, CrC ₆ - alkoxy-CrC ₆ -alkoxy, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkoxy, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylthio, CrC ₆ - alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, benzyloxy, phenoxy, CN, nitro, acetyl, trifluoroacetyl, acetamido, carboxy, NH-C(O)-NH ₂ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ -C _r C ₆ -alkylene, 0-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are, independently of each other, H, CrC ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl or d- C ₄ -alkoxy, and a saturated or unsaturated aromatic or non-aromatic 3- to 7-membered

heterocyclic ring comprising as ring members 1 , 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S and/or 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatom-containing groups selected from NR ⁸ , where R ⁸ is as defined above and is preferably H or Ci-C ₄ -alkyl such as methyl, SO, SO ₂ and CO, and where the 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring may carry 1 , 2 or 3 substituents se- lected from hydroxy, halogen, d-C ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl and CrC ₆ -alkoxy.

Preferably, the saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring is selected from azetidin-1-yl, 2-methylazetidinyl, 3-methoxyazetidinyl, 3-hydroxyazetidinyl, 3- fluoroazetidinyl, 2,2-difluoroazetidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-2-yl, pyrrolidin-3-yl, 2- and 3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoropyrrolidin-1-y 3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 1 -methylpyrrolidin-2-yl, 2,2-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3,3- dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- oxo-oxazolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, 2-methylpiperidin-1-yl, 2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl, 2,2- difluoropiperidin-1-yl, piperazin-1-yl, 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl, morpholin-4-yl, thiomor- pholin-4-yl, 1-oxothiomorpholin-4-yl, 1 ,1-dioxothiomorpholin-4-yl, pyrrol-1-yl, pyrrol-2-yl, pyrrol-3-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-2-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-3-yl, furan-2-yl, furan-3-yl, thiophen-2-yl, thiophen-3-yl, 5-propylthiophen-2-yl, pyrazol-1-yl, pyrazol-3-yl, pyrazol-4-yl, 1- methylpyrazol-4-yl, 4-fluoropyrazol-1-yl, imidazol-1-yl, imidazol-2-yl, 1-methylimidazol- 2-yl, oxazol-2-yl, oxazol-4-yl, oxazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, thi- azol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, 2-methylthiazol-4-yl, 2-methylthiazol-5-yl,

[1 ,2,3]thazol-1-yl, [1 ,2,4]thazol-1-yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]thazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-4- yl, 4-methyl-[1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, 2-methyl-[1 ,2,3]triazol-4-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]- oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5- methyl-[1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,3]thiadiazol-4-yl, tetrazol-1-yl, tetrazol-5-yl, 2-methyltetrazol-5-yl, 1-methyltetrazol-5-yl, furazan-3-yl, pyrid-2-yl, pyrid-3-yl, pyrid-4-yl, pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl and 2- methylpyrimidin-4-yl.

More preferably, the saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring is selected from nitrogen containing rings such as azetidin-1-yl, 2-methylazetidinyl, 3- methoxyazetidinyl, 3-hydroxyazetidinyl, 3-fluoroazetidinyl, 2,2-difluoroazetidin-1-yl, pyr- rolidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-2-yl, pyrrolidin-3-yl, 2- and 3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2,2- difluoropyrrolidin-1-y 3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 1- methylpyrrolidin-2-yl, 2,2-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3,3-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo- pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-oxazolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1- yl, 2-methylpiperidin-1-yl, 2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoropiperidin-1-yl, piperazin-1-yl, 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl, morpholin-4-yl, thiomorpholin-4-yl, 1-oxothiomorpholin-4-yl, 1 ,1- dioxothiomorpholin-4-yl, pyrrol-1-yl, pyrrol-2-yl, pyrrol-3-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-2-yl, 1- methylpyrrol-3-yl, pyrazol-1-yl, pyrazol-3-yl, pyrazol-4-yl, 1-methylpyrazol-4-yl, 4- fluoropyrazol-1-yl, imidazol-1-yl, imidazol-2-yl, 1-methylimidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl, oxa-

zol-4-yl, oxazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, 2-methylthiazol-4-yl, 2-methylthiazol-5-yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-1-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-1- yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-4-yl, 4-methyl-[1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, 2- methyl-[1 ,2,3]triazol-4-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol- 5-yl, [1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5- methyl-[1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,3]thiadiazol-4-yl, tetrazol-1-yl, tetrazol-5-yl, 2- methyltetrazol-5-yl, 1-methyltetrazol-5-yl, furazan-3-yl, pyrid-2-yl, pyrid-3-yl, pyrid-4-yl, pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl and 2-methylpyriιmidin-4-yl.

Even more preferably, the saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring is selected from nitrogen containing rings which are bound to the phenyl or pyridyl ring of the group Ar via their nitrogen atom, such as azetidin-1-yl, 2-methylazetidin-1-yl, 3- methoxyazetidin-1-yl, 3-hydroxyazetidin-1-yl, 3-fluoroazetidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoroazetidin- 1-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoropyrrolidin-1-y 3,3- difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2,2-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3,3- dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- oxo-oxazolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, 2-methylpiperidin-1-yl, 2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl, 2,2- difluoropiperidin-1-yl, piperazin-1-yl, 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl, morpholin-4-yl, thiomor- pholin-4-yl, 1-oxothiomorpholin-4-yl, 1 ,1-dioxothiomorpholin-4-yl, pyrrol-1-yl, pyrazol-1- yl, 4-fluoropyrazol-1 -yl, imidazol-1 -yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-1 -yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-1 -yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol- 2-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-4-yl, 4-methyl-[1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, 2-methyl- [1 ,2,3]triazol-4-yl, tetrazol-1-yl and tetrazol-2-yl.

In an alternative even more preferable embodiment, the saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring is selected from 5-or 6-membered, preferably 5- membered, nitrogen containing heteroaromatic rings bound via a carbon atom, such as pyrrol-2-yl, pyrrol-3-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-2-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-3-yl, pyrazol-3-yl, pyrazol-4- yl, 1-methylpyrazol-4-yl, imidazol-2-yl, 1-methylimidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl, oxazol-4-yl, oxazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5- yl, 2-methylthiazol-4-yl, 2-methylthiazol-5-yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-4-yl, 4-methyl-[1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, 2-methyl-[1 ,2,3]triazol-4-yl, [1 ,3,4]- oxadiazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,3]thiadiazol-4-yl, tetrazol-5-yl, 2-methyltetrazol-5-yl, 1-methyltetrazol-5-yl, furazan- 3-yl, pyrid-2-yl, pyrid-3-yl, pyrid-4-yl, pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl and 2- methylpyrimidin-4-yl.

The heterocyclic ring is unsubstituted or substituted by one substituent which is preferably selected from halogen, d-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy and

fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkoxy and in particular from halogen, in particular fluorine, CrC ₄ - alkyl, especially methyl, and fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, especially fluorinated methyl.

In a preferred embodiment, R ^a is selected from the group consisting of halogen, CrC ₆ - alkyl, CrC ₆ -hydroxyalkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, fluorinated CrC ₄ - alkoxy, Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy-CrC ₄ -alkoxy, C ₂ -C ₄ -alkenyl, fluorinated C ₂ -C ₄ -alkenyl, NR ⁶ R ⁷ , ONR ⁶ R ⁷ , CrC ₆ -alkylene-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are independently of each other H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl or or C _r C ₄ -alkoxy, ureido (NHCONH ₂ ) C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ - cycloalkyl , acetyl, carboxyl, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, benzoxy, methylsulfanyl, fluoro- methylsulfanyl, difluoromethylsulfanyl, trifluoromethylsulfanyl, methylsulfonyl and one of the above-mentioned saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic rings, in particular azetidin-1-yl, 2-methylazetidinyl, 3-methoxyazetidinyl, 3-hydroxyazetidinyl, 3- fluoroazetidinyl, 2,2-difluoroazetidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-2-yl, pyrrolidin-3-yl, 2- and 3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoropyrrolidin-1-y 3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 1 -methylpyrrolidin-2-yl, 2,2-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3,3- dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- oxo-oxazolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, 2-methylpiperidin-1-yl, 2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl, 2,2- difluoropiperidin-1-yl, piperazin-1-yl, 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl, morpholin-4-yl, thiomor- pholin-4-yl, 1-oxothiomorpholin-4-yl, 1 ,1-dioxothiomorpholin-4-yl, pyrrol-1-yl, pyrrol-2-yl, pyrrol-3-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-2-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-3-yl, pyrazol-1-yl, pyrazol-3-yl, pyrazol-4- yl, 1-methylpyrazol-4-yl, 4-fluoropyrazol-1-yl, imidazol-1-yl, imidazol-2-yl, 1- methylimidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl, oxazol-4-yl, oxazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, 2-methylthiazol-4-yl, 2-methylthiazol- 5-yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-1-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-1-yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-4-yl, 4-methyl-[1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, 2-methyl-[1 ,2,3]triazol-4-yl, [1 ,3,4]- oxadiazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,3]thiadiazol-4-yl, tetrazol-1-yl, tetrazol-5-yl, 2-methyltetrazol-5-yl, 1-methyltetrazol- 5-yl, furazan-3-yl, pyrid-2-yl, pyrid-3-yl, pyrid-4-yl, pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl and 2-methylpyrimidin-4-yl.

In a more preferred embodiment, R ^a is selected from the group consisting of halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated C _r C ₄ -alkyl, C _r C ₄ -alkoxy, OCF ₃ , OCHF ₂ , OCH ₂ F, 2- fluoroethoxy, 2,2-difluoroethoxy, 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy, 1 ,1 ,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy, 1 ,1 ,2,2,2-pentafluoroethoxy, C ₂ -C ₄ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ - cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ - cycloal- kyl, ureido, acetyl, acetylamino, carboxyl, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, benzoxy, trifluoromethylsulfanyl, methylsulfonyl, azetidin-1-yl, 2-methylazetidinyl, 3-methoxyazetidinyl, 3- hydroxyazetidinyl, 3-fluoroazetidinyl, 2,2-difluoroazetidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin- 2-yl, pyrrolidin-3-yl, 2- and 3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoropyrrolidin-1-y 3,3- difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 1 -methylpyrrolidin-2-yl, 2,2-

dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3,3-dimethylpyrrolidin-i-yl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3- trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl, 2-oxo-oxazolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, 2-methylpiperidin-1- yl, 2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoropiperidin-1-yl, piperazin-1-yl, 4-methylpiperazin-1- yl, morpholin-4-yl, thiomorpholin-4-yl, 1-oxothiomorpholin-4-yl, 1 ,1-dioxothiomorpholin- 4-yl, pyrrol-1-yl, pyrrol-2-yl, pyrrol-3-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-2-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-3-yl, pyrazol- 1 -yl, pyrazol-3-yl, pyrazol-4-yl, 1-methylpyrazol-4-yl, 4-fluoropyrazol-1-yl, imidazol-1-yl, imidazol-2-yl, 1-methylimidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl, oxazol-4-yl, oxazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, 2-methylthiazol-4-yl, 2- methylthiazol-5-yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-1-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-1-yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol- 3-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-4-yl, 4-methyl-[1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, 2-methyl-[1 ,2,3]triazol-4-yl, [1 ,3,4]- oxadiazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,3]thiadiazol-4-yl, tetrazol-1-yl, tetrazol-5-yl, 2-methyltetrazol-5-yl, 1-methyltetrazol- 5-yl, furazan-3-yl, pyrid-2-yl, pyrid-3-yl, pyrid-4-yl, pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl and 2-methylpyrimidin-4-yl.

In an alternatively preferred embodiment, R ^a has the formula R ^a

R ^a1

— Y R ^a'

V ²

wherein

Y is N, CH or CF,

R ^a1 and R ^a2 are independently of each other selected from d-C ₂ -alkyl, in particular methyl, fluorinated CrC ₂ -alkyl, in particular fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl, provided for Y being CH or CF one of the radicals R ^a1 or R ^a2 may also be hydrogen or fluorine, or

R ^a1 and R ^a2 form a radical (CH ₂ ) _m wherein 1 or 2 of the hydrogen atoms may be replaced by fluorine and wherein m is 2, 3 or 4, in particular CH ₂ -CH ₂ , CHF-CH ₂ CF ₂ -CH ₂ , CH ₂ -CH ₂ -CH ₂ , CHF-CH ₂ -CH ₂ , CF ₂ -CH ₂ -CH ₂ , CH ₂ -CHF-CH ₂ , CH ₂ -CF ₂ -CH ₂ .

In case R ^a1 and R ^a2 are different from each other, the radical of the aforementioned formula Ra may have either (R)- or (S)-configuration with regard to the Y-moiety.

Examples for preferred radicals of the formula R ^a comprise isopropyl, (R)-i-fluoroethyl, (S)-i-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 1 ,1-difluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, (R)-i-fluoropropyl, (S)-i-fluoropropyl, 2-fluoropropyl, 3-fluoropropyl, 1 ,1-difluoropropyl,

2,2-difluoropropyl, 3,3-difluoropropyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, 1- fluorocyclopropyl, (S)- and (R)-2,2-difluorocyclopropyl and 2-fluorocyclopropyl.

Amongst the radicals of the formula R ^a those are preferred which carry 1 , 2, 3 or 4, in particular 1 , 2 or 3 fluorine atoms.

R ^b and R ^c , independently of each other, are H, halogen, CH ₃ , OCH ₃ , CH ₂ F, OCH ₂ F, CHF ₂ , OCHF ₂ , CF ₃ , OCF ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₂ F, OCH ₂ CH ₂ F, CH ₂ CHF ₂ , OCH ₂ CHF ₂ , CH ₂ CF ₃ or OCH ₂ CF ₃ . If both R ^b and R ^c are different from H, it is preferred that one of R ^b and R ^c is selected from halogen and the other is selected from halogen, CH ₃ , OCH ₃ , CH ₂ F, OCH ₂ F, CHF ₂ , OCHF ₂ , CF ₃ , OCF ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₂ F, OCH ₂ CH ₂ F, CH ₂ CHF ₂ , OCH ₂ CHF ₂ , CH ₂ CF ₃ and OCH ₂ CF ₃ and specifically from CH ₃ , OCH ₃ , CH ₂ F, OCH ₂ F, CHF ₂ , OCHF ₂ , CF ₃ , OCF ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₂ F and OCH ₂ CH ₂ F.

Preferred examples for Ar, where Ar is a radical of formula (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E), are in particular the following: 3-methylphenyl, 3-ethylphenyl, 3-propylphenyl, 3- isopropylphenyl, 3-sec-butylphenyl, 3-isobutylphenyl, 3-tert-butylphenyl, 3-(1 ,1- dimethylpropyl)-phenyl, 3-vinylphenyl, 3-isopropenylphenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 3- chlorophenyl, 3-bromophenyl, 3-iodophenyl, 3-(fluoromethyl)phenyl, 3- (difluoromethyl)phenyl, 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 3-(1- fluoroethyl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-1-fluoroethyl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-1-fluoroethyl)-phenyl, 3-(2- fluoroethyl)-phenyl, 3-(1 ,1-difluoroethyl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2-difluoroethyl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2,2- trifluoroethyl)-phenyl, 3-(3-fluoropropyl)-phenyl, 3-(2-fluoropropyl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2- fluoropropyl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2-fluoropropyl)-phenyl, 3-(3,3-difluoropropyl)-phenyl, 3- (3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)-phenyl, 3-(1-fluoro-1-methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-(2-fluoro-1- methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-fluoro-1 -methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2-fluoro-1 - methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2-difluoro-1 -methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2,2-difluoro-1 - methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2,2-difluoro-1 -methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1 - methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1 -methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1 - methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-(2-fluoro-1-fluoromethylethyl)-phenyl, 3-(1-difluoromethyl-2,2- difluoroethyl)-phenyl, 3-(1 ,1-dimethyl-2-fluoroethyl)-phenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 3- ethoxyphenyl, 3-propoxyphenyl, 3-isopropoxyphenyl, 3-butoxyphenyl, 3- (fluoromethoxy)-phenyl, 3-(difluoromethoxy)-phenyl, 3-(trifluoromethoxy)-phenyl, 3-(2- fluoroethoxy)-phenyl, 3-(2,2-difluoroethoxy)-phenyl, 3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-phenyl, 3- (1 ,1 ,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)-phenyl, 3-cyclopropylphenyl, 3-cyclobutylphenyl, 3- cyclopentylphenyl, 3-(2,2-difluorocyclopropyl)-phenyl, 3,4-difluorophenyl, 3,5- dichlorophenyl, 2,3-dichlorophenyl, 2,5-dichlorophenyl, 4-bromo-3-fluorophenyl, 3- bromo-2-fluorophenyl, 2-bromo-3-fluorophenyl, 3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl, 3-bromo-2,5- difluorophenyl, 4-bromo-2,5-difluorophenyl, 5-bromo-2,4-difluorophenyl, 3-bromo-2,4- difluorophenyl, 4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 2-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl,

2-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 4-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 3-fluoro-5- (trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 4-bromo-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 3-bromo-5- (trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 2-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 5-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl, 3-bromo-4-methoxyphenyl, 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethoxy)-phenyl, 3,5-dibromo-4-(2- fluoroethoxy)-phenyl, 2-fluoro-3-isopropylphenyl, 4-fluoro-3-isopropylphenyl, 3-(1- hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-phenyl, 3-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)-phenyl, 3-acetylphenyl, 3- acetylaminophenyl, 3-carboxyphenyl, 3-cyanophenyl, 3-nitrophenyl, 3-hydroxyphenyl, 3-(O-benzyl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methoxyethoxy)-phenyl, 3-(CH ₂ -N(CH ₃ ) ₂ )-phenyl, 3-(NH-CO- NH ₂ )-phenyl, 3-(methylsulfanyl)-phenyl, 3-(fluoromethylsulfanyl)-phenyl, 3- (difluoromethylsulfanyl)-phenyl, 3-(trifluoromethylsulfanyl)-phenyl, 3-(methylsulfonyl)- phenyl, 3-(N-methoxy-N-methyl-amino)-phenyl, 3-(methoxyamino)-phenyl, 3- (ethoxyamino)-phenyl, 3-(N-methylaminooxy)-phenyl, 3-(N,N-dimethylaminooxy)- phenyl, 3-cyanophenyl, 2,5-dimethylphenyl, 2,5-di-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 3,5-di- (trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl, 2-methoxy- 5-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 3-(azetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methylazetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3- ((S)-2-methylazetidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2-methylazetidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3- fluoroazetidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2-difluoroazetidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-methoxyazetidin-1 - yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-hydroxyazetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-2- yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-3- yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1- yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 5-(pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-2-methoxyphenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-4- methoxyphenyl, 5-(pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-2,4-difluorophenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-2,4- difluorophenyl, 3-(2-fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2-fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-3- fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2- difluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(2- methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2- methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-3- methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-3-methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 - methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-1- methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 -methylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-1 - methylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)- 1 -methylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2- dimethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3,3-dimethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(2- trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3- ((R)-2-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)- phenyl, 3-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-oxo-oxazolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(piperidin-1- yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3- ((R)-2-methylpiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-fluoropiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2- fluoropiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2-

difluoropiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(piperazin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(4-methylpiperazin-1 -yl)- phenyl, 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 5- (morpholin-4-yl)-2-methoxyphenyl, 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-4-methoxyphenyl, 5-(morpholin- 4-yl)-2,4-difluorophenyl, 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-2,4-difluorophenyl, 3-(thiomorpholin-4-yl)- phenyl, 3-(1-oxo-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 ,1-dioxo-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3- (pyrrol-i-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1-methylpyrrol-2- yl)-phenyl, 3-(1-methylpyrrol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(furan-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(furan-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(thiophen-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(thiophen-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(5-propylthien-2-yl)-phenyl, 3- (pyrazol-i-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 -methyl-1 H- pyrazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 -ethyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazol-5-yl)- phenyl, 3-(4-fluoropyrazol-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 H-imidazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(imidazol-1-yl)- phenyl, 3-(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(oxazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(oxazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(oxazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 4-fluoro-3-(oxazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(isoxazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3- (isoxazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(isoxazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-(thiazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(thiazol-4-yl)- phenyl, 3-(thiazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methylthiazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methylthiazol-5-yl)- phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,3]-triazol-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,4]-triazol-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,3]-triazol-2- yl)-phenyl, 3-(4H-[1 ,2,4]-triazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,4]-triazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2H- [1 ,2,3]-triazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(4-methyl-4H-[1 ,2,4]-triazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methyl-2H- [1 ,2,3]-triazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(5-methyl-[1 ,3,4]- oxadiazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(5-methyl-[1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol- 3-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3- ([1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,3]-thiadiazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 H-tetrazol-5-yl)- phenyl, 3-(tetrazol-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 -methyl-1 H- tetrazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-furazan-3-yl-phenyl, 3-(pyrid-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrid-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrid-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrimidin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrimidin-5-yl)-phenyl, 5-bromopyridin-3-yl, 3-bromo-2- chloropyridin-5-yl, 4-methylpyridin-2-yl, 6-methylpyridin-2-yl, 4-(trifluoromethyl)-pyridin- 2-yl, 6-(trifluoromethyl)-pyridin-2-yl, 5-(trifluoromethyl)-pyridin-3-yl, 5-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)- pyridin-3-yl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2-chloropyridin-5-yl and 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-2- chloropyridin-5-yl.

In an alternatively preferred embodiment; Ar is a group of the formulae (F) or (G), (F) being particularly preferred.

In compounds I, wherein Ar is a radical (F), R ^d is preferably selected from halogen, hydroxyl, CrC ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, CrC ₄ -alkylsulfonyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ - alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, pyridylsulfonyl, phenyl, where the phenyl and the pyridyl radical in the 3 last-mentioned radicals may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 sub- stituents selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl and halogen, R ⁹ -CO-NR ⁶ -Ci- C ₂ -alkylene, CH ₂ -pyridyl, where the pyridyl radical may be unsubstituted or may carry 1

to 3 substituents selected from CrC ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, and a saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring comprising as ring members 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S and/or 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatom-containing groups selected from NR ⁸ , where R ⁸ is is H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -alkylcarbonyl or fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkylcarbonyl, and where the heterocyclic ring may carry 1 , 2 or 3 substituents selected from hydroxy, halogen, d-C ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, CrC ₆ -alkoxy, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkoxy, C _r Ce-alkylthio, fluorinated C _r C ₆ -alkylthio, NR ⁶ R ⁷ -C _r C ₆ -alkylene, carboxyl and C _r C ₄ - alkyoxycarbonyl, where R ⁶ , R ⁷ and R ⁹ are as defined above.

More preferably, R ^d is selected from halogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, d- C ₄ -alkylsulfonyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, where the phenyl radical may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, and a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring com- prising as ring members one nitrogen atom or one group NR ⁸ , where R ⁸ is is H or d- C ₄ -alkyl, and optionally one or two further heteroatoms selected from N, O, S, and where the heteroaromatic ring may carry 1 , 2 or 3 substituents selected from halogen, Ci-C6-alkyl, fluorinated CrCβ-alky!, Ci-Cβ-alkoxy, fluorinated CrCβ-alkoxy, CrC6- alkylthio and fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylthio.

Even more preferably, R ^d is selected from halogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, phenylsulfonyl, where the phenyl radical may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 substituents selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl and halogen, and a 5- or 6- membered heteroaromatic ring comprising as ring members one nitrogen atom or one group NR ⁸ , where R ⁸ is is H or Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, and optionally one or two further heteroatoms selected from N, O, S, and where the heteroaromatic ring may carry 1 , 2 or 3 substituents selected from halogen, CrC ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, CrC ₆ -alkoxy, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkoxy, CrC ₆ -alkylthio and fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylthio.

The 5-membered heteroaromatic radical can be bound via a ring carbon atom or a nitrogen ring atom.

The 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic radical is preferably selected from oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridyl and pyrimidyl. In case the heteroaromatic radical is substituted, it carries preferably one substituent which is preferably selected from halogen, CrC ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl, CrC ₆ -alkoxy, fluorinated CrC6-alkoxy, Ci-Cβ-alkylthio and fluorinated Ci-Cβ-alkylthio and more preferably from F, CH ₃ , CH ₂ F, CHF ₂ , CF ₃₁ OCH ₃ , OCH ₂ F, OCHF ₂ , OCF ₃ , SCH ₃ , SCH ₂ F, SCHF ₂ and SCF ₃ .

k is preferably 0, 1 or 2, more preferably 0 or 1 and in particular 1.

The thienyl radical (F) can be bound to the sulfonyl group SO ₂ via its 2- or 3-position, the 2-position (= C-atom adjacent to the ring S atom (S = 1 -position)) being preferred. If the thienyl radical carries one radical R ^d , this is preferably bound in the 4- or 5-position, more preferably in the 5-position (relative to the 2- or 3-position of the ring atom bound ttoo tthhee ssuullffoonnyyll ggrroouupp)).. IIff tthhee tthhiieenyl radical carries two radicals R ^d , these are preferably bound in the 4- and 5-position.

Particularly preferred Ar radicals (F) are selected from thien-2-yl, thien-3-yl, 3- chlorothien-2-yl, 4-chlorothien-2-yl, 5-chlorothien-2-yl, 3-bromothien-2-yl, 4-bromothien- 2-yl, 5-bromothien-2-yl, 4,5-dichlorothien-2-yl, 4,5-dibromothien-2-yl, 4-bromo-5- chlorothien-2-yl, 3-bromo-5-chlorothien-2-yl, 5-methylthien-2-yl, 5-ethylthien-2-yl, 5- propylthien-2-yl, 5-trifluoromethylthien-2-yl, 5-phenylthien-2-yl, 5-(pyrid-2-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(phenylsulfonyl)-thien-2-yl, 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(pyrid-2-ylsulfonyl)-thien-2- yl, 5-(3-chloro-5-trifluoro-pyrid-2-ylsulfonyl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(benzoylaminomethyl)-thien-2- yl, 5-((4-chlorobenzoyl)aminomethyl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(acetylaminomethyl)-thien-2-yl, 5- (pyrazol-1-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(pyrazol-3-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(pyrazol-4-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5- (pyrazol-5-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(4-fluoropyrazol-1 -yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(1 -methyl-5- trifluoromethyl-(1 H)-pyrazol-3-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(1 -methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-(1 H)-pyrazol- 5-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(4-carboxy-1-methyl-5-methylthio-(1 H)-pyrazol-3-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(4- aminomethyl-1 -methyl-5-methylthio-(1 H)-pyrazol-3-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(isoxazol-3-yl)- thien-2-yl, 5-(isoxazol-4-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(isoxazol-5-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(5- trifluoromethylisoxazol-3-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(oxazol-2-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(oxazol-4-yl)-thien- 2-yl, 5-(oxazol-5-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(2-methyloxazol-4-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(2-methyloxazol-5- yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(isothiazol-3-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(isothiazol-4-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(isothiazol-5- yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(5-trifluoromethylisothiazol-3-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(thiazol-2-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5- (thiazol-4-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(thiazol-5-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(2-methylthiazol-4-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5- (2-methylthiazol-5-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-([1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-4-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-([1 ,2,3]- thiadiazol-4-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-thien-2-yl, 5-(pyrimidin-4-yl)-thien-2-yl , 5- (pyrimidin-5-yl)-thien-2-yl , 5-(2-methylthiopyrimidin-4-yl)-thien-2-yl , 5-([1 ,3]-dioxolan-2- yl)-thien-2-yl, 3-([1 ,3]-dioxolan-2-yl)-thien-2-yl thien-2-yl, 5-((3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)- pyridin-2-yl)-methyl)-thien-2-yl, 5-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-pyrid-2-ylsulfonyl]-thien-2- yl, 2-chlorothien-3-yl, 4-chlorothien-3-yl, 5-chlorothien-3-yl, 2-bromothien-3-yl, 4- bromothien-3-yl, 5-bromothien-3-yl, 2,5-dichlorothien-3-yl, 2,5-dibromothien-3-yl, 2,4,5- trichlorothien-3-yl, 4-bromo-2,5-dichlorothien-3-yl, 2-chloro-5-methylsulfonylthien-3-yl, 2,5-dimethylthien-3-yl, 4-hydroxythien-3-yl, 2-phenylthien-3-yl, 4-phenyl-5- (trofluoromethyl)-thien-3-yl and 2-methoxycarbonyl-4-phenyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-thien-3- yi-

In compounds I, wherein Ar is a radical (G), R ^e is preferably selected from H, halogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl and fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, more preferably from halogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl and fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and more preferably from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, specifically CH ₃ .

R ^f is preferably selected from halogen, d-C ₄ -alkyl and fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, more preferably from halogen, specifically chlorine.

j is preferably 0 or 1 , in particular 1. In case j is 1 , R ^f is preferably bound at the 4- or in particular at the 5-position (relative to the 3-position of R ^e ). In compounds I, wherein Ar is a radical (G), n is specifically 0.

Particularly preferred Ar radicals (G) are selected from benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl, benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl, 3-methyl-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl, 5-methyl-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl, 5-fluoro-3-methyl-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl, 5-chloro-3-methyl-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl and 5-bromo-3-methyl-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl.

In one preferred embodiment, A is 1 ,3-phenylene. In this case, the radicals R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , E and Ar with its variables R ^a , R ^b , R ^c R ^d , R ^e and R ^f have the above general or preferred meanings.

In an alternatively preferred embodiment, A is 1 ,4-phenylene. In this case, the radicals R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , E and Ar with its variables R ^a , R ^b , R ^c , R ^d , R ^e and R ^f have the above general or preferred meanings. However, R ^a in this case is preferably selected from the group consisting of CrC ₆ -alkyl, CrC ₆ -hydroxyalkyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, C ₂ -C ₆ - alkenyl, fluorinated C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, CrC ₆ - alkoxy, CrC6-hydroxyalkoxy, Ci-C6-alkoxy-C-i-C6-alkoxy, Ci-Cβ-alkylthio, fluorinated Cr C ₆ -alkylthio, CrC ₆ -alkylsulfinyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylsulfinyl, CrC ₆ -alkylsulfonyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, benzyloxy, phenoxy, where the phenyl radical in the 3 last-mentioned radicals may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 to 3 sub- stituents selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl and halogen, CN, nitro, Cr C ₆ -alkylcarbonyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkylcarbonyl, CrC ₆ -alkylcarbonylamino, fluorinated d-Ce-alkylcarbonylamino, carboxy, NH-C(O)-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ , NR ⁶ R ⁷ -CrC ₆ -alkylene, O- NR ⁶ R ⁷ , where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are, independently of each other, H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl or Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy or may form, together with N, a 4-, 5- or 6-membered satu- rated or unsaturated ring, or is a saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring comprising as ring members 1 , 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S and/or 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatom-containing groups selected from NR ⁸ , where R ⁸ is as defined above, SO, SO ₂ and CO, and where the heterocyclic ring may carry 1 , 2 or 3 substituents selected from hydroxy, halogen, CrC ₆ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₆ -alkyl and CrC6-alkoxy. More preferably, R ^a in this case is selected from the group consisting of

CrC ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -hydroxyalkyl, CrC ₄ -alkoxy, d-Q-alkoxy-d-Q-alkoxy, C ₂ -C ₄ - alkenyl, fluorinated C ₂ -C ₄ -alkenyl, NR ⁶ R ⁷ , ONR ⁶ R ⁷ , C _r C ₆ -alkylene-NR ⁶ R ⁷ , where R ⁶ and R ⁷ are independently of each other H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl or or Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, ureido (NHCONH ₂ ) C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl , acetyl, carboxyl, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, benzoxy, methylsulfanyl, fluoromethylsulfanyl, difluoromethylsulfanyl, trifluoromethylsulfanyl, methylsulfonyl and one of the above-mentioned saturated or unsaturated 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic rings, in particular azetidin-1-yl, 2- methylazetidinyl, 3-methoxyazetidinyl, 3-hydroxyazetidinyl, 3-fluoroazetidinyl, 2,2- difluoroazetidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl, py rrol id i n-2-y I , pyrrolid i n-3-y 1 , 2- and 3- fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoropyrrolidin-1-y 3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3- methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 1 -methylpyrrolidin-2-yl, 2,2-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3,3- dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- oxo-oxazolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, 2-methylpiperidin-1-yl, 3-(2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)- phenyl, 3-((S)-2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3- (2,2-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, piperazin-1-yl, 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl, morpholin-4- yl, thiomorpholin-4-yl, 1-oxothiomorpholin-4-yl, 1 ,1-dioxothiomorpholin-4-yl, pyrrol-1-yl, pyrrol-2-yl, pyrrol-3-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-2-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-3-yl, pyrazol-1-yl, pyrazol-3- yl, pyrazol-4-yl, 1-methylpyrazol-4-yl, 4-fluoropyrazol-1-yl, imidazol-1-yl, imidazol-2-yl, 1-methylimidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl, oxazol-4-yl, oxazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, 2-methylthiazol-4-yl, 2-methylthiazol- 5-yl, [1 ,2,3]thazol-1-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-1-yl, [1 ,2,3]thazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]thazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-4-yl, 4-methyl-[1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, 2-methyl-[1 ,2,3]triazol-4-yl, [1 ,3,4]- oxadiazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,3]thiadiazol-4-yl, tetrazol-1 -yl, tetrazol-5-yl, 2-methyltetrazol-5-yl, 1 -methyltetrazol- 5-yl, furazan-3-yl, pyrid-2-yl, pyrid-3-yl, pyrid-4-yl, pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, pyrimi- din-5-yl and 2-methylpyrimidin-4-yl.

Even more preferably, R ^a in this case is selected from the group consisting of C ₁ -C6- alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, C ₂ -C ₄ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, fluorinated C ₃ -C ₆ - cycloalkyl, ureido, acetyl, acetylamino, carboxyl, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, benzoxy, trifluoromethylsulfanyl, methylsulfonyl, azetidin-1-yl, 2-methylazetidinyl, 3-methoxyazetidinyl, 3- hydroxyazetidinyl, 3-fluoroazetidinyl, 2,2-difluoroazetidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl, pyrrolidin- 2-yl, pyrrolidin-3-yl, 2- and 3-fluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2,2-difluoropyrrolidin-1-y 3,3- difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 1 -methylpyrrolidin-2-yl, 2,2- dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 3,3-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2- and 3- trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-oxazolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, 2-methylpiperidin-1- yl, 3-(2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2- fluoropiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, piperazin-1-yl, 4- methylpiperazin-1-yl, morpholin-4-yl, thiomorpholin-4-yl, 1-oxothiomorpholin-4-yl, 1 ,1-

dioxothiomorpholin-4-yl, pyrrol-1-yl, pyrrol-2-yl, pyrrol-3-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-2-yl, 1- methylpyrrol-3-yl, pyrazol-1-yl, pyrazol-3-yl, pyrazol-4-yl, 1-methylpyrazol-4-yl, 4- fluoropyrazol-1-yl, imidazol-1-yl, imidazol-2-yl, 1-methylimidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl, oxa- zol-4-yl, oxazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, 2-methylthiazol-4-yl, 2-methylthiazol-5-yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-1 -yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-1 - yl, [1 ,2,3]triazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]triazol-4-yl, 4-methyl-[1 ,2,4]triazol-3-yl, 2- methyl-[1 ,2,3]triazol-4-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol- 5-yl, [1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-5-yl, [1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl, 5- methyl-[1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl, [1 ,2,3]thiadiazol-4-yl, tetrazol-1-yl, tetrazol-5-yl, 2- methyltetrazol-5-yl, 1-methyltetrazol-5-yl, furazan-3-yl, pyrid-2-yl, pyrid-3-yl, pyrid-4-yl, 4-methylpyιϊdin-2-yl, 6-methylpyridin-2-yl, 5-bromopyridin-2-yl, pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin- 4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl and 2-methylpyrimidin-4-yl.

In this case, i.e. if A is 1 ,4-phenylene, preferred examples for Ar are in particular the following: 3-methylphenyl, 3-ethylphenyl, 3-propylphenyl, 3-isopropylphenyl, 3-sec- butylphenyl, 3-isobutylphenyl, 3-tert-butyl phenyl, 3-(1 ,1-dimethylpropyl)-phenyl, 3- vinylphenyl, 3-isopropenylphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 3-ethoxyphenyl, 3-propoxyphenyl, 3-isopropoxyphenyl, 3-butoxyphenyl, 3-cyclopropylphenyl, 3-cyclobutylphenyl, 3- cyclopentylphenyl, 3-(2,2-difluorocyclopropyl)-phenyl, 3-(1 -hydroxy-1 -methylethyl)- phenyl, 3-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)-phenyl, 3-(cyanophenyl, 2,5-dimethylphenyl, 2,5- di-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 3,5-di-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl, 2- methoxy-5-methylphenyl, 2-methoxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 3-acetylphenyl, 3- acetylaminophenyl, 3-carboxyphenyl, 3-cyanophenyl, 3-nitrophenyl, 3-hydroxyphenyl, 3-(O-benzyl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methoxyethoxy)-phenyl, 3-(CH ₂ -N(CH ₃ ) ₂ )-phenyl, 3-(NH-CO- NH ₂ )-phenyl, 3-(methylsulfanyl)-phenyl, 3-(fluoromethylsulfanyl)-phenyl, 3-

(difluoromethylsulfanyl)-phenyl, 3-(trifluoromethylsulfanyl)-phenyl, 3-(methylsulfonyl)- phenyl, 3-(N-methoxy-N-methyl-amino)-phenyl, 3-(methoxyamino)-phenyl, 3- (ethoxyamino)-phenyl, 3-(N-methylaminooxy)-phenyl, 3-(N,N-dimethylaminooxy)- phenyl, 3-(azetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methylazetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2- methylazetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2-methylazetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-fluoroazetidin-1- yl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2-difluoroazetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-methoxyazetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(3- hydroxyazetidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3- ((S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3- ((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-5- (trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 5-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2-methoxyphenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-4- methoxyphenyl, 5-(pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-2,4-difluorophenyl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-2,4- difluorophenyl, 3-(2-fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2-fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-3- fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-3-fluoropyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2- difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(3,3-difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-

methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2- methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-3- methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-3-methylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 - methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-1 -methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-1 - methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-1- methylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-1 -methylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2- dimethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3,3-dimethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(2- trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3- ((R)-2-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-3-trifluoromethylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)- phenyl, 3-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-oxo-oxazolidin-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(piperidin-1- yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3- ((R)-2-methylpiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-fluoropiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((S)-2- fluoropiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-((R)-2-fluoropiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(2,2- difluoropiperidin-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-(piperazin-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)- phenyl, 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl, 5- (morpholin-4-yl)-2-methoxyphenyl, 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-4-methoxyphenyl, 5-(morpholin- 4-yl)-2,4-difluorophenyl, 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-2,4-difluorophenyl, 3-(thiomorpholin-4-yl)- phenyl, 3-(1-oxo-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 ,1-dioxo-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3- (pyrrol-i-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrrol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1-methylpyrrol-2- yl)-phenyl, 3-(1-methylpyrrol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(furan-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(furan-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(thiophen-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(thiophen-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(5-propylthien-2-yl)-phenyl, 3- (pyrazol-i-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1-methyl-1 H- pyrazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1-ethyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1-methyl-1 H-pyrazol-5-yl)- phenyl, 3-(4-fluoropyrazol-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 H-imidazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(imidazol-1-yl)- phenyl, 3-(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(oxazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(oxazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(oxazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 4-fluoro-3-(oxazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(isoxazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3- (isoxazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(isoxazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-(thiazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(thiazol-4-yl)- phenyl, 3-(thiazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methylthiazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methylthiazol-5-yl)- phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,3]-triazol-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,4]-triazol-1 -yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,3]-triazol-2- yl)-phenyl, 3-(4H-[1 ,2,4]-triazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,4]-triazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2H- [1 ,2,3]-triazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(4-methyl-4H-[1 ,2,4]-triazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methyl-2H- [1 ,2,3]-triazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(5-methyl-[1 ,3,4]- oxadiazol-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(5-methyl-[1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol- 3-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3- ([1 ,2,3]-oxadiazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-([1 ,2,3]-thiadiazol-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1 H-tetrazol-5-yl)- phenyl, 3-(tetrazol-1-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-(1-methyl-1 H- tetrazol-5-yl)-phenyl, 3-furazan-3-yl-phenyl, 3-(pyrid-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrid-3-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrid-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrimidin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(2- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-phenyl, 3-(pyrimidin-5-yl)-phenyl, 5-bromopyridin-3-yl, 3-bromo-2-

chloropyιϊdin-5-yl, 4-methylpyridin-2-yl, 6-methylpyridin-2-yl, 4-(trifluoromethyl)-pyridin- 2-yl, 6-(trifluoromethyl)-pyridin-2-yl, 5-(trifluoromethyl)-pyridin-3-yl, 5-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)- pyridin-3-yl, 3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2-chloropyridin-5-yl and 3-(morpholin-4-yl)-2- chloropyridin-5-yl.

Particularly preferred compounds I are those of formulae I. a, l.b, l.c, l.d, l.e, l.f, l.g, l.h, l.i, l.k, I.I, l.m, l.n, l.o, l.p, l.q, l.r, l.s and l.t, wherein R ¹ and Ar have the above-defined meanings. Preferred meanings of R ¹ and Ar are as defined above.

l.a l.b

l.c

l.e l.f

^■ g l.h

l.i

l.k

.m l.n

l.o Lp

Examples of preferred compounds which are represented by the formulae l.q, l.r, l.s and l.t are listed in following tables 1 to :

Table 1

Compounds of the formula l.q in which R ⁴ is methyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A Table 2

Compounds of the formula l.q in which R ⁴ is fluoromethyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 3

Compounds of the formula l.q in which R ⁴ is difluoromethyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A Table 4 Compounds of the formula l.q in which R ⁴ is trifluoromethyl and the combination of

R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 5

Compounds of the formula l.r in which R ⁴ is methyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 6 Compounds of the formula l.r in which R ⁴ is fluoromethyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 7

Compounds of the formula l.r in which R ⁴ is difluoromethyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A Table 8

Compounds of the formula l.r in which R ⁴ is trifluoromethyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 9

Compounds of the formula l.s in which R ³ is methyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 10

Compounds of the formula l.s in which R ³ is fluoromethyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 11 Compounds of the formula l.s in which R ³ is difluoromethyl and the combination of

R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 12

Compounds of the formula l.r in which R ³ is trifluoromethyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A Table 13

Compounds of the formula l.t in which R ³ is methyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 14

Compounds of the formula l.t in which R ³ is fluoromethyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 15

Compounds of the formula l.t in which R ³ is difluoromethyl and the combination of R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Table 16 Compounds of the formula l.t in which R ³ is trifluoromethyl and the combination of

R ¹ and Ar for a compound corresponds in each case to one row of Table A

Examples of preferred compounds which are represented by the formulae I. a, l.b, l.c, l.d, l.e, l.f, l.g, l.h, l.i, l.k, I.I, l.m, l.n, l.o, l.p, l.q, l.r, l.s and l.t are the individual com-

pounds listed above, where the variables Ar and R ¹ have the meanings given in one row of table A.

Table A

Compounds I of the present invention can be synthesized as outlined in the synthetic routes A, B and C below.

Route A

Scheme 1 :

In scheme 1 , A, Ar, G, n, R ² , and R ⁴ are as defined above. R' is either R ¹ or is a pre- cursor of R ¹ .

Route A

In route A, the amino compound (11-1 ) is reacted with a suitable sulfonic acid derivative to give the sulfonamide (1-1 ) (E = NH). A suitable sulfonic acid derivative is e.g. the sulfonyl chloride Ar-SO ₂ CI. The sulfonation reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a base, according to standard procedures in the art. In the reaction depicted in the above scheme 1 , the sulfonation takes place under the reaction conditions which are customary for preparing arylsulfonamide compounds or arylsulfonic esters, respectively, and which are described, for example, in J. March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 3 ^rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1985 page 444ff and the literature cited therein, European J. Org. Chem. 2002 (13), pp. 2094-2108, Tetrahedron 2001 , 57 (27) pp. 5885-5895, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2000, 10(8), pp. 835-838 and Synthesis 2000 (1 ), pp. 103-108. The reaction customarily takes place in an inert solvent, for example in an ether, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether or tetrahydrofuran, a halohydrocarbon, such as dichloro- methane, an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, such as pentane, hexane or cyclohexane, or an aromatic hydrocarbon, such as toluene, xylene, cumene and the like, or in a mixture of the abovementioned solvents. The reaction with CI-SO ₂ -Ar is customarily carried out in the presence of an auxiliary base. Suitable bases are inor- ganic bases, such as sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, or sodium hydrogen- carbonate or potassium hydrogencarbonate, and organic bases, for example trial- kylamines, such as triethylamine, or pyridine compounds, such as pyridine, lutidine and the like. The latter compounds can at the same time serve as solvents. The auxiliary base is customarily employed in at least equimolar quantities, based on the amine compound (11-1 ).

Prior to the sulfonation reaction, the radical NH ₂ can be converted into a NR group, in which R ⁵ ' has the meanings different from hydrogen which are specified for R ⁵ (not shown in scheme 1 ).

If in the resulting sulfonamide (l'-1 ) R' is not the desired radical R ¹ but a precursor thereof, the compound can be modified as outlined below to obtain the desired sub- stituent R ¹ . A precursor is a radical which can be easily removed and replaced by the desired group R ¹ or which can be modified to give R ¹ . The precursor can also be an N- protective group.

If R' is allyl, the allyl group can be cleaved to obtain a compound wherein R' is hydrogen. The cleavage of the allyl group is achieved, for example, by reacting compound (l'-1 ) [R' = allyl] with an allyl trapping agent, such as mercaptobenzoic acid or 1 ,3- dimethylbarbituric acid, in the presence of catalytic quantities of palladium (0) com-

pounds or palladium compounds which are able to form a palladium(O) compound under reaction conditions, e.g. palladium dichloride, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)- palladium(O) or tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0), advantageously in combination with phosphine ligands, e.g. triarylphosphines, such as triphenylphosphine, trial- kylphosphines, such as tributylphosphine, and cycloalkylphosphines, such as tricyclo- hexylphosphine, and especially with phosphine chelate ligands, such as 2,2'- bis(diphenylphosphino)-1 ,1 '-binaphthyl or 1 ,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane, using methods known from the literature (with regard to eliminating N-allyl in the presence of mercaptobenzoic acid, see WO 94/24088; with regard to eliminating in the presence of 1 ,3-dimethylbarbituric acid, see J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001 , 123 (28), pp. 6801-6808 and J. Org. Chem 2002, 67(1 1 ) pp. 3718-3723). Alternatively, the cleavage of N-allyl can also be effected by reacting in the presence of rhodium compounds, such as tris(triphenylphosphine)chlororhodium(l), using methods known from the literature (see J. Chem. Soc, Perkin Transaction I: Organic and Bio-Organic Chemistry 1999 (21 ) pp. 3089-3104 and Tetrahedron Asymmetry 1997, 8(20), pp. 3387 - 3391 ).

If R' is benzyl, this substituent may also be cleaved to obtain a compund (l'-1 ) wherein R' is H. The reaction conditions for the cleavage are known in the art. Typically, the benzyl group is removed by a hydrogenation reaction in the presence of a suitable Pd catalyst, such as Pd on carbon or palladium hydroxide.

R' can also be a protective group. The protective group may be removed to yield a compund (l'-1 ) wherein R' is H. Suitable protective groups are known in the art and are, for example, selected from tert-butoxycarbonyl (boc), benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz), 9- fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc), triphenylmethyl (Trt) and nitrobenzenesulfenyl (Nps). A preferred protective group is boc. The protective groups can be removed by known methods, such as treatment of the protected amine with an acid, e.g halogen acid, such as HCI or HBr, or trifluoroacetic acid, or by hydrogenation, optionally in the presence of a Pd catalyst.

The resulting compound, wherein R' is H, can then be reacted, in a known manner, in the sense of an alkylation, with a compound R ¹ -X. In this compound, R ¹ is CrC ₄ -alkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl, C _r C ₄ -haloalkyl, Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy-C _r C ₄ -alkyl or C ₃ -C ₆ -cycloalkyl-Ci-C ₄ - alkyl and X is a nucleophilically displaceable leaving group, e.g. halogen, trifluoroace- tate, alkylsulfonate, arylsulfonate, alkyl sulfate and the like. The reaction conditions which are required for the alkylation have been adequately disclosed, e.g. in Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Lett. 2002, 12(7), pp. 2443-2446 and also 2002, 12(5), pp. 1917-1919.

The alkylation can also be achieved, in the sense of a reductive amination, by reacting the compound (l'-1 ), wherein R' = H, with a suitable ketone or aldehyde in the presence of a reducing agent, e.g. in the presence of a borohydride such as sodium borohydride, sodium cyanoborohydride or sodium triacetoxyborohydride. The skilled person is famil- iar with the reaction conditions which are required for a reductive amination, e.g. from Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Lett. 2002, 12(5), pp. 795-798 and 12(7) pp. 1269- 1273.

In case R' is hydrogen, the resulting sufonamide (l'-1 ) can further be reacted with an acyl halide to obtain a compound of the formula I wherein R ¹ is C-i-Cs-alkylcarbonyl. The carbonyl group in these compounds can be reduced with diborane to obtain compounds of the general formula I, wherein R ¹ is C ₂ -C ₄ -alkyl. The carbonyl group can also be reacted with a fluorinating agent to obtain a compound I wherein R ¹ is 1 ,1- difluoroalkyl. Acylation and reduction can be achieved by standard methods, which are discussed in Jerry March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 3rd ed. J. Wiley & Sons, New York 1985, p.370 and 373 (acylation) and p. 1099 f. and in the literature cited in this publication (with regard to acylation, see also Synth. Commun. 1986, 16, p. 267, and with regard to reduction, see also J. Heterocycl. Chem. 1979, 16, p. 1525).

Route B

In route B, the bromo substituted compound (II-2) is reacted with an appropriate sulfonamide ArSO ₂ NHR ⁵ to give the sulfonamide (l'-1 ). The reaction is generally carried out under activating conditions, e.g. under microwave conditions. Pd, especially Pd(O), or Cu catalysts may also be used for coupling (see, e.g. Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 1101 ; J.

Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 6043; Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 4373; Tetrahedron Lett. 2003, 44, 3385). Examples for suitable Pd (0) catalysts are tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)- palladium(O) and Pd ₂ (dba) ₃ (tris(dibenzylideneacetone) -dipalladium(O)), which are customarily used in the presence of a tri(substituted)phosphine, e.g. a triarylphosphine such as triphenylphosphine, tritolylphosphine or xantphos, tri(cyclo)alkylphosphine such as tris-n-butylphosphine, tris(tert.-butyl)phosphine or tris(cyclohexylphosphine). This route is especially useful in cases where the corresponding sulfonyl chloride is not available.

Alternatively, the bromo substituent may be replaced by an amino substituent, e.g. by reacting with a benzophenone imine or with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in the presence of a palladium(O) compound such as tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) in the presence of a tri(substituted)phosphine, e.g. a triarylphosphine such as triphenylphosphine or tritolylphosphine, tri(cyclo)alkylphosphine such as tris-n-butylphosphine, tris(tert.-butyl)phosphine or tris(cyclohexylphosphine), preferably in the presence of a

base such as sodium hydride according to the method described in, e.g., J. Org. Chem., 68 (2993) pp 8274-8276, or J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 2612. The resulting amino compound may then be subjected to the sulfonation reaction of route A.

Route C

In route C, compound (II-3) is reacted with a mercapto compound HS-Ar in the presence of a base, such as sodium hydride or sodium alkoxide or with an alkali metal salt thereof thereby yielding a thioether compound. The thioether moiety is then oxidized to a sulfone moiety, e.g. by oxone, to yield the sulfone (l'-2).

The substituent Ar can be varied by either using different sulfonyl chlorides or by modifying the substituents of the group Ar after the formation of the sulfonamide (l'-1 ) or the sulfone (l'-2) by known methods. For example, a bromine substituent of the Ar group may be replaced by an N-bound pyrrolidinyl group according to the procedure described in Tetrahedron Asym. 1999, 10, 1831. This Pd-mediated coupling is generally applicable to all nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as azetidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imi- dazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl and the like. The reaction is also appli- cabel to heterocyclic compounds carrying one or more substituents such as halogen, alkyl or fluorinated alkyl. A bromine substituent of the Ar group may further be replaced by an isopropenyl group according to a Stille coupling where the bromo compound is reacted with an alkenyl tributyl stannate in the presence of an appropriate Pd coupling catalyst, e.g. tetrakistriphenylphosphine palladium(O) (see, e.g. Tetrahedron, 2003, 59(34), 6545 and Bioorg. Med. Chem. 1999, 7(5), 665). The isopropenyl group may then be converted into the isopropyl group by known hydrogenation methods.

Compounds of formula (II) (11-1 , II-2 and II-3) can be synthesized by as shown below.

1. Synthesis of compounds (11-1 )

Scheme 2

^ [G] _n -CH ₂ OH

(III) (IV) (V)

(Vl) (VII) (VIM)

(vi) ^/A-NH ₂

, R ¹ N I V[G] _n

(11-1 )

In scheme 2, A, G, n and R' are as defined above.

The conversion of the acid (III) into its methyl ester (IV) is performed by standard techniques, e.g. as described in Jerry March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, John Wiley, 3 ^rd edition, page 348ff. For instance, the acid is transformed into the corresponding acid chloride, e.g by reacting it with SOCb. The chloride is then converted into the ester by reaction with methanol.

The reduction in step (ii) is suitably carried out under standard conditions for the conversion of carboxylic esters into alcohols. Appropriate reaction conditions and reducing agents are described, e.g. in Jerry March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, John Wiley, 3 ^rd edition, page1093ff. Typical reducing agents are metal hydrides and complex hy- drides. Examples of suitable metal hydrides include BH ₃ , 9-BBN, AIH ₃ and AIH(i-Bu) ₂ (DIBAL-H), suitably in the presence of complexing solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and diethylether. Complex hydrides are e.g. NaBH ₄ , LiAIH ₄ and LiAIH(OR) ₃ , where R is Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, isobutyl or tert-butyl. A preferred reducing agent is LiAIH ₄ . The reduction is suitably carried out in complexing solvents, such as open- chain and cyclic ethers, e.g. tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, diisopropyl ether, dibutyl ether and methylbutyl ether. A preferred solvent is tetrahydrofuran.

In the mesylation step (iii), the alcohol functionality is converted into a better leaving group. The mesylation is performed under standard conditions, e.g. by reacting the alcohol with methansulfonyl chloride in the presence of a base. Suitable bases are, among others, alkyl amines, such as diethyl amine, triethyl amine and ethyldiisopropyl amine. In this step, other functionalties representing good leaving groups, such as

trifluoroacetate, other alkylsulfonates, arylsulfonates, e.g. tosylates, alkyl sulfates and the like tosylate, may be introduced instead of the methansulfonyl group.

In the cyclisation step (iv), compound (Vl) or a suitable derivative thereof is reacted with a primary amine NH ₂ R'. In case the primary amine is a liquid, it may also be used as solvent, no further solvent being necessary. If the amine is visquous or a solid, the reaction is advantageously carried out in a suitable solvent.

The reaction of step (v) takes place under the reaction conditions which are customary for a nitration reaction on an aromatic radical and which are described, for example, in Jerry March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, John Wiley, 3 ^rd edition, page 468ff, Tetrahedron 1999, 55(33), pp. 10243-10252, J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40(22), pp. 3679-3686 and Synthetic Communications, 1993, 23(5), pp. 591-599. For example, compound (VII) is reacted with concentrated nitric acid or a nitrate, such as potassium or sodium nitrate, in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid. The resulting product (VIII) may in the form of different regioisomers (e.g. ortho, meta or para, if A is phenyl or a 6- membered hetaryl. In the case of A being phenyl or a 6-membered hetaryl, the para- nitro compound generally predominates. However, some ortho product may also be obtained, whereas the meta product is not produced at all or only in neglectable amounts. By separating ortho and para products, compounds of formula I, wherein A is 1 ,4-bound phenyl, are accessible via the reaction path shown in scheme 2.

In step (vi), the nitro group in (VIII) is reduced to an NH ₂ group. Subsequently, the NH ₂ group can be converted into a -NR ^5' group, in which R ^5' has the meanings different from hydrogen which are specified for R ⁵ . The reaction conditions which are required for step (vi) correspond to the customary conditions for reducing aromatic nitro groups which have been described extensively in the literature (see, for example, J. March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 3rd ed., J. Wiley & Sons, New-York, 1985, p. 1 183 and the literature cited in this reference). The reduction is achieved, for example, by react- ing the nitro compound VII with a metal such as iron, zinc or tin under acidic reaction conditions, i.e. using nascent hydrogen, or using a complex hydride such as lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride, preferably in the presence of transition metal compounds of nickel or cobalt such as NiCI ₂ (P(phenyl) ₃ ) ₂ , or CoCI ₂ , (see Ono et al. Chem. Ind. (London), 1983 p.480), or using NaBH ₂ Ss (see Lalancette et al. Can. J. Chem. 49, 1971 , p. 2990), with it being possible to carry out these reductions, depending on the given reagent, in substance or in a solvent or diluent. Alternatively, the reduction can be carried out with hydrogen in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, e.g. using hydrogen in the presence of catalysts based on platinum, palladium, nickel, ruthenium or rhodium. The catalysts can contain the transition metal in elemental form or in the form of a complex compound, of a salt or of an oxide of the transition metal,

with it being possible, for the purpose of modifying the activity, to use customary coli- gands, e.g. organic phosphine compounds, such as triphenylphosphine, tricyclohexyl- phosphine or tri-n-butylphosphines or phosphites. The catalyst is customarily employed in quantities of from 0.001 to 1 mol per mol of nitro compound, calculated as catalyst metal. In a preferred variant, the reduction is effected using tin(ll) chloride in analogy with the methods described in Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2002, 12(15), pp. 1917-1919 and J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45(21 ), pp. 4679-4688. The reaction of VII with tin(ll) chloride is preferably carried out in an inert organic solvent, preferably an alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or butanol.

For compounds, wherein n is 1 and A is phenylene (i.e. (I) is N-(pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl- sulfonamide), starting compound (III) is e.g. commercially available (S) or (R) phenyl- succinic acid or a racemic mixture thereof. By starting from enantiomerically pure (S)- or (R)-compound (III), pure (S)- or (R) may be obtained:

a) (S) isomer

_/ \ .COOH _/ \ .COOCH, _/ --. .CHJDH HOOC ^ H.COOC ^ ³ HOH,C ^ ²

(Ml-S) (IV-S) (V-S)

,NO,

(iv)

R'N R'N

MsO^

OMs

(Vl-S) (VII-S) (VMI-S)

_NH,

^N-S-Ar

(vii) O

R'N

R'N

(M-S) (I'-S)

In step (i), commercially available (S)-phenylsuccinic acid (M-S) is converted into the the methyl ester (III); this is reduced to the alcohol (IV) which is reacted with methylsul- fonylchloride. Cyclisation with a primary amine gives the phenyl pyrrolidine (Vl). The phenyl group is first nitrated, then the nitro group is reduced to an amino function which is reacted with a sulfonyl chloride to give the desired sulfonyl amide (I'-S).

a) (R) isomer

The (R)-isomer can be obtained in an analogous way starting from commercially available (R)-phenylsuccinic acid (Ml-R):

(Ml-R)

(I'-R)

c) Isomeric mixtures

Isomeric mixtures of compound I'-S and I'-R can be obtained by starting from racemic III or from a mixture of IM-S and Ml-R.

The skilled person will appreciate that the synthesis described in scheme 2 is also suitable for the preparation of compounds (II) and consequently for compounds (I), wherein R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are different from H, e.g. by starting from the correspondingly substituted compound (III). The same applies to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure (I) which can be synthesized by starting from the corresponding enantiomer (III).

2. Synthesis of compounds (II-2)

Compounds of formula (M-2) can be synthesized by carrying out in step (v) of scheme 2 a halogenation instead of a nitration. Halogenation reactions of aryl and hetaryl groups are widespread standard methods and are, e.g., discussed in Jerry March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, John Wiley, 3 ^rd edition page 476 ff.

3. Synthesis of compounds (M-3)

The synthesis of these compounds also belongs to standard reaction methods and can be performed by monohalogenating the methyl group of a methyl-substituted aryl or hetaryl compound.

4. Synthesis of enantiomerically pure compounds I

In addition to the method described in item 1., enantiomerically pure compounds (I) can also be obtained by applying standard resolution techniques to suitable precursors thereof. For instance, compound VIII (see scheme 2 above) or compounds (M-2) or (M- 3) (see scheme 1 above), wherein R' is a suitable protective group, such as benzyl, may be reacted with tartric acid or a derivative thereof (e.g. diethyltartrate, dipropyltar- trate, diisopropyltartrate, etc.) to afford two diasteromeric salts. These can be sepa-

rated in a customary manner, e.g. by extraction or chromatographic methods or preferably by fractionated crystallization. The thus separated diastereomeric salts are then converted into enantiomerically pure compounds VIII, II-2 or 11— 3 by reacting the salts with a suitable base to afford the S- or R-enantiomers of compounds VIII, II-2 or II-3. Suitable bases are, e.g., alkali metal hydroxides, such as potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, such as magnesium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonates, such as sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, alkaline earth metal carbonates, such as magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate, alkali metal oxides such as sodium oxide and potassium oxide, and alkaline earth metal oxides, such as magnesium oxide and calcium oxide; organice bases, such as alkoholates, e.g. sodium methanolate, sodium ethanolate or sodium- tert-butanolate, amines, such as dimethylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethyl- amine, dipropylamine, tripropylamine, diisopropylamine, diisopropylethylamine and the like, and nitrogen-containing basic heterocyclic compounds, such as pyridine, picoline und lutidine.

5. Specific syntheses

5.1 Synthesis of compounds, wherein n is 1 (pyrrolidinyl sulfone derivatives)

5.1.1

Scheme 3:

(IX) (X) (Xl)

In scheme 3, A and R ³ are as defined above.

The pyrrolidine ring is also available by a [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition of a non-stabilized azomethine ylid to a 1-alkenylaryl or hetaryl derivative (IX) (e.g. a vinyl benzene, R ³ = H). This procedure is generally described in J. Org. Chem 1987, 52, 235. The precursor of the ylid, the amine N(CH ₂ R ¹⁵ KCH ₂ SiMe ₃ )(CH ₂ OCH ₃ ) (X), is commercially available or can be synthesized from NH ₂ (CH ₂ R ^b ), Me ₃ SiCH ₂ CI and HCHO in the presence of methanol.

The 1-alkenyl-(hetero)aromatic compound (IX) can be synthesized e.g. by a Stille coupling of a halogeno benzene, e.g. a bromo benzene, with the corresponding alkenyl tributyl stannate, such as vinyl or isobutenyl tributyl stannate, in the presence of an appropriate Pd coupling catalyst, e.g. tetrakistriphenylphosphine palladium(O) (see, e.g. Tetrahedron, 2003, 59(34), 6545 and Bioorg. Med. Chem. 1999, 7(5), 665). By choosing a special Stille isomer (e.g. cis- or trans-isobutenyl tributyl stannate), the corresponding cis- or trans alkyl phenyl pyrrolidine can be prepared selectively.

Alternatively, the 1-alkenyl-(hetero)aromatic compound (IX) can be synthesized by a Wittig reaction of aryl aldehyde with a Wittig reagent such as PPh ₃ =CHR (R is H, or d- C ₃ -alkyl). Conditions for the Wittig reaction are well known in the art and are, e.g. discussed in Jerry March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, John Wiley, 3 ^rd edition, page 845 ff.

Advantageously, the 1-(hetero)alkenyl-aromatic compound (IX) further carries a nitro group or another halogeno substituent (X = NO ₂ or halogen). In this case, the subsequent reaction steps can be carried out as outlined in route A or B. If X = H, the A ring may be first nitrated as described in scheme 2, step (v) and then subjected to the reac- tion of scheme 2, step (vi) and scheme 1 , route A; or ring A may be halogenated and then subjected to the procedure of route B.

The group CH ₂ R ^b of the precursor amine advantageously corresponds either to the desired group R ¹ of the final compound I or is alternatively a cleavable group, such as benzyl, which can be removed to give the N-unsubstituted pyrrolidine. The latter can subsequently be functionalized as described above (see route A).

The synthesis of hetarylpyrrolidines is e.g. described in Chem. Pharm. Bull., 1985, 33, 2762-66; J. Heterocyclic Chemistry, 1996, 1995-2005; J. Heterocyclic Chemistry, 2001 , 38, 1039-1044; Tetrahedron Letters, 1992, 33, 44, 6607-10; Heterocycles, 1998, 48, 12, 2535-2541 for A being pyridylene. The synthesis of vinyl-substituted thiophene and thiazol is e.g. described in Bioorg. Med. Chem. 1999, 7(5), 665.

5.1.2

Scheme 4:

_^^ A-X + _N I _^ b_ / /\ Y _^ - ^A - ^χ _^ b_ / /^ Y - ^A " ^x

R OMe (XII) (X) (XIII) (Xl)

Phenylpyrrolidines can also be prepared by a [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition of a non- stabilized azomethine ylid to a 1-alkynylbenzene (XII) (see, e.g., Tetrahedron 1996, 52, 59). The resulting pyrroline (XIII) or the final product (I') is then hydrogenated to the corresponding pyrrolidine (Xl). If the hydrogenation is carried out under chiral conditions, e.g. by using chiral catalysts, the enantiomerically pure phenylpyrrolidine compounds can be obtained. Chiral hydrogenation catalysts are well known in the art. The subsequent conversion to the desired sulfonamide can be carried out as described in route A or B.

5.1.3

Alternatively, hetarylpyrrolidinyl compounds can be prepared from hetaryl halides which are subjected to a Pd-mediated cross coupling with an organozinc pyrrolidine compound. This process is described in further detail below in route F. In this alternative, too, the hetaryl halide advantageously carries a nitro group. In this case, the conversion to the desired sulfonamides can be carried out as described in route A. Alterna- tively, the hetaryl halide carries a halogen atom. In this case, the conversion to the desired sulfonamides can be achieved as described in route B.

5.1.4

Compounds I, wherein n is 1 , G is CH ₂ , A is 1 ,3-bound arylene or hetarlyene and E is NH, can be prepared in a similar way compared to the 1 ,4-bound compound from a 3- aminoaryl or hetaryl-pyrrolidine which is reacted with an appropriate sulfonyl chloride. Advantageously, the N-atom of the pyrrolidine ring is protected by a urathane-based protective group, like carbomethoxy (-COOCH ₃ ), benzyloxycarbonyl (cbz) and tert- butyloxycarbonyl (boc). This group may be replaced by the desired substituent R ¹ by treating the compound with an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, thus removing the acid group, and then introducing the desired substituent as described in route A.

The 3-aminoaryl or hetaryl-pyrrolidine may be prepared by way of a Heck reaction where a protected pyrroline is reacted with 1-iodo-3-nitrobenzene or the corresponding pyridine (2-iodo-4-nitropyridine or 3-iodo-5-nitropyridine) under typical Heck conditions.

Catalytic hydrogenation of the pyrroline double bond and reduction of the nitro group according to the procedure described in scheme 2 yields the desired product.

The N-protected pyrroline can be obtained by reacting commercially available pyrroline with the desired protective group, e.g. with chloromethylfumarate, benzylchloride, Cbz- anhydride or Boc-anhydride.

The pyrroline may be synthesized in a metathesis reaction of N-protected diallylamine in the presence of a metathesis catalyst, e.g. a Grubbs catalyst.

5.2 Synthesis of N-(azetidin-3-yl)-sulfonamides

Compounds I, wherein n is 0 (azetidine compounds) can be synthesized as follows:

Scheme 5:

( _c ) I ₂ , PPh ₃ ^boc

In scheme 5, Ar and R ¹ are as defined above. X and Y are, independently of each other, CH or N.

Starting from i-benzhydryl-azetidin-3-ol, Pd-mediated deprotection of the amine (Tetrahedron 2002, 58, 9865-9870), carbamate formation and subsequent halogenation generate an intermediate that undergoes Zn insertion (Tetrahedron 1987, 43, 2203- 2212; J. Org. Chem. 1988, 53, 2390-2392). The thus obtained organozinc species can react with an appropriate 2-halo-nitro-ring (Synlett 1998, 4, 379-380; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 12527-12530) to give the nitro-aryl-azetidine core. If one utilizes a 2- halo-halo-ring, there is also the possibility to realize the direct coupling between the aryl-azetidine halide and the appropriate sulfonamides (Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 1 101-1 104; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 6043-6048; Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 4373-4376; Tetrahedron Lett. 2003, 44, 3385-3386). The amine may be regenerated by cleavage of the carbamate (e.g. with trifluoroacetic acid in the case of a Boc carbamate) and subsequently converted into an amide by reaction with the appropriate acyl chloride. The nitro group can be reduced to the amine via tin chloride or catalytic hydrogenation (e.g. Pd-C) and then converted to the desired sulfonamide by reaction with the appropriate sulfonyl chloride in the presence of a base such as pyridine. Ultimate reduction of the amide via hydroboration furnishes the final compounds.

Of course, the reaction also applies to compounds wherein the (hetero)aromatic ring bound to the azetidine group is a 5-membered heterocyclic radical, e.g. thienyl.

5.3 Synthesis of N-(piperidin-3-yl)-sulfonamides

Further to the above-described syntheses (routes A, B and C), compounds I, wherein n is 2 and E is NR ⁵ (piperidin-3-yl sulfonamides) may be prepared by starting from com- mercially available 3-aryl or 3-hetaryl piperidines. These starting compounds may then be converted into the amino-substituted or halogenated derivative and then be subjected to the synthetic path of route A or B.

A skilled person will readily appreciate that compopunds of the formula I can also be obtained from structurally similar compounds by functional group interconversion. In particular N-bound radicals R ^a can be introduced into compounds of the formula I by reacting the corresponding halogen compound, i.e. a compound of the formula I, which instead of R ^a carries a halogen atom, in particular a bromine or iodine atom, with a primary or secondary amine in the presence of a base, preferably also in the presence of a palladium catalyst in terms of a Buchwald-Hartwig reaction.

If not indicated otherwise, the above-described reactions are generally carried out in a solvent at temperatures between room temperature and the boiling temperature of the solvent employed. Alternatively, the activation energy which is required for the reaction can be introduced into the reaction mixture using microwaves, something which has

proved to be of value, in particular, in the case of the reactions catalyzed by transition metals (with regard to reactions using microwaves, see Tetrahedron 2001 , 57, p. 9199 ff. p. 9225 ff. and also, in a general manner, "Microwaves in Organic Synthesis", Andre Loupy (Ed.), Wiley-VCH 2002.

The sulfonylchlorides Cl-Sθ ₂ -Ar are either commercially available or can be prepared according to standard synthetic methods. Sulfonylchlorides containing a fluorinated radical R ^a may be prepared by different synthetic routes, e.g. by reacting suitable hydroxy or oxo precursor (e.g. a compound Cl-Sθ ₂ -Ar, carrying a hydroxy or oxo substi- tuted radical) with fluorinating reagents like DAST (diethylaminosulfurtrifluoride), mor- pholine-DAST, deoxo-fluor (bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride), Ishikawa's reagent (N,N-diethyl-(1 ,1 ,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropyl)amine; Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, 1989, 43, 371-377). More conventionally, the hydroxy group of an aromatic compound which carries a hydroxy substituted radical but not a chlorosulfonyl group, is trans- formed into a leaving group which is then replace by a fluoride ion (J. Org. Chem., 1994, 59, 2898-22901 ; Tetrahedron Letters, 1998, 7305-6; J. Org. Chem., 1998, 63, 9587-9589, Synthesis, 1987, 920-21 )). Subsequent direct chlorosulfonylation with chlo- rosulfonic acid (Heterocycles, 2001 , 55, 9, 1789-1803; J. Org. Chem., 2000, 65, 1399- 1406) or a two step process preparing first the sulfonic acid derivatives which are then transformed to the sulfonylchlorides with e.g. chlorosulfonic acid, phosphorous penta- chloride (Eur. J. Med. Chem., 2002, 36, 809-828) and the like, yields the desired sul- fonylchloride (Tetrahedron Letters, 1991 , 33,50 7787-7788)) Sulfonylchlorides may also be prepared by diazotation of suitable amine precursor Ar-NH ₂ with sodium nitrite under acidic conditions and reaction with sulfur dioxide in acetic acid (scheme (iii); J. Org. Chem., 1960, 25, 1824-26;); by oxidation of suitable heteroaryl-thiols HS-Ar or heteroaryl-benzyl-thioethers C ₆ H ₅ -CH ₂ -S-Ar with chlorine (Synthesis, 1998, 36-38; J. Am. Chem. Soc, 1950, 74, 4890-92;) directly to the corresponding sulfonyl chlorides. The further are known in the art or may be prepared by standard methods.

The acid addition salts of compounds I are prepared in a customary manner by mixing the free base with a corresponding acid, where appropriate in solution in an organic solvent, for example a lower alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol or propanol, an ether, such as methyl terf-butyl ether or diisopropyl ether, a ketone, such as acetone or methyl ethyl ketone, or an ester, such as ethyl acetate.

The compounds according to the invention of the formula I have a surprisingly high affinity for 5HT ₆ receptors. Compounds of formula I, wherein A is 1 ,3-phenylene, 2,4- pyridylene or 3,5-pyridylene and in particular 1 ,3-phenylene, are furthermore highly selective dopamine 5HT ₆ receptor ligands which, because of their low affinity for other receptors such as D ₁ receptors, D ₅ receptors, D ₄ receptors, α1 -adrenergic and/or α2-

adrenergic receptors, muscarinic receptors, histamine receptors, opiate receptors and, in particular, dopamine D ₂ receptors, give rise to fewer side-effects than other, less selective 5HT ₆ ligands. Compounds of formula I, wherein A is 1 ,4-phenylene, show a high affinity for 5HT ₆ receptors and optionally also for dopamine D ₃ receptors. Because of their low affinity for other receptors such as D ₁ receptors, D ₅ receptors, D ₄ receptors, α1 -adrenergic and/or α2-adrenergic receptors, muscarinic receptors, histamine receptors, opiate receptors and, in particular, dopamine D ₂ receptors, they give rise to fewer side-effects than other, less selective compounds, such as classic neuroleptics, which are D ₂ receptor antagonists.

The compound of the invention can be a dopamine 5HT ₆ receptor agonist, including partial agonistic activity, or a dopamine 5HT ₆ receptor antagonist, including inverse agonist activity.

The high affinity of the compounds according to the invention for 5HT ₆ receptors is reflected in very low in-vitro receptor binding constants (K,(5HT ₆ ) values) of as a rule less than 50 nM (nmol/l), preferably of less than 10 nM and, in particular of less than 5 nM. The displacement of ³ H-LSD can, for example, be used in receptor binding studies for determining binding affinities to 5-HT ₆ receptors and [ ¹²⁵ l]-iodosulpride for determining binding affinities to dopamine D ₃ receptors.

The D ₃ /D ₂ selectivity of the compounds according to the invention which also have a high affinity for dopamine D ₃ receptors, i.e. the ratio K,(D ₂ )/K,(D ₃ ) of the receptor binding constants, is as a rule at least 25, preferably at least 50, even better at least 100. The displacement of [ ³ H]SCH23390 or [ ¹²⁵ I] spiperone can be used, for example, for carrying out receptor binding studies on D ₁ , D ₂ and D ₄ receptors.

Because of their binding profile, the compounds can be used for treating diseases which respond to 5HT ₆ receptor ligands and optionally to dopamine D ₃ receptor ligands (or which are susceptible to treatment with a 5HT ₆ receptor ligand, and optionally with a dopamine D ₃ receptor ligand), i.e. they are effective for treating those medical disorders or diseases in which exerting an influence on (modulating) the 5HT ₆ receptors, and optionally on (modulating) the dopamine D ₃ receptors, leads to an improvement in the clinical picture or to the disease being cured. Examples of these diseases are dis- orders or diseases of the central nervous system.

Disorders or diseases of the central nervous system are understood as meaning disorders which affect the spinal chord and, in particular, the brain. Within the meaning of the invention, the term "disorder" denotes disturbances and/or anomalies which are as a rule regarded as being pathological conditions or functions and which can manifest

themselves in the form of particular signs, symptoms and/or malfunctions. While the treatment according to the invention can be directed toward individual disorders, i.e. anomalies or pathological conditions, it is also possible for several anomalies, which may be causatively linked to each other, to be combined into patterns, i.e. syndromes, which can be treated in accordance with the invention.

The disorders which can be treated in accordance with the invention are in particular disorders which respond to a modulation of the 5HT ₆ receptor. They include cognitive dysfunctions, such as a deficit in memory, cognition and learning, in particular associ- ated with Alzheimer's disease, age-related cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment, attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity syndrome, personality disorders, such as schizophrenia, in particular cognitive deficits related with schizophrenia, affective disorders such as depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders, motion or motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, migraine, sleep disorders (includ- ing disturbances of the Circadian rhythm), feeding disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, certain gastrointestinal disorders such as Irritable Bowl Syndrome, diseases associated with neurodegeneration, such as stroke, spinal or head trauma and head injuries, such as hydrocephalus, drug addiction and obesity.

The addiction diseases include psychic disorders and behavioral disturbances which are caused by the abuse of psychotropic substances, such as pharmaceuticals or narcotics, and also other addiction diseases, such as addiction to gaming (impulse control disorders not elsewhere classified). Examples of addictive substances are: opioids (e.g. morphine, heroin and codeine), cocaine; nicotine; alcohol; substances which in- teract with the GABA chloride channel complex, sedatives, hypnotics and tranquilizers, for example benzodiazepines; LSD; cannabinoids; psychomotor stimulants, such as 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (ecstasy); amphetamine and amphetamine- like substances such as methylphenidate and other stimulants including caffeine. Addictive substances which come particularly into consideration are opioids, cocaine, am- phetamine or amphetamine-like substances, nicotine and alcohol.

With regard to the treatment of addiction diseases, particular preference is given to those compounds according to the invention of the formula I which themselves do not possess any psychotropic effect. This can also be observed in a test using rats, which, after having been administered compounds which can be used in accordance with the invention, reduce their self administration of psychotropic substances, for example cocaine.

Compounds of formula I having a high affinity for the 5HT ₆ receptor as well as for the dopamine D ₃ receptor can be advantageously used for treating disorders, preferably

CNS disorders, having both a dopaminergic and a serotoninergic impact. While the 5HT ₆ receptor is more related to cognitive functions, the dopamine D ₃ receptor is associated with positive symptoms, such as delusion, hallucination, disorganized thinking, disorganized speaking, disorganized, agitated or catatonic behaviour, and negative symptoms, such as depletion of feelings, impairment of the language, loss of motivation, loss of vitality, attention deficits and social retreat. Thus, compounds of formula I having a high affinity for the 5HT ₆ receptor as well as for the dopamine D ₃ receptor can be advantageously used for treating disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and in particular schizophrenia, which are characterized by cognitive dysfunctions as well as by positive and negative symptoms.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the compounds according to the invention are suitable for treating disorders whose causes can at least partially be attributed to an anomalous activity of 5HT ₆ receptors.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the treatment is directed, in particular, toward those disorders which can be influenced, within the sense of an expedient medicinal treatment, by the binding of preferably exogeneously administered binding partners (ligands) to 5HT ₆ receptors.

The diseases which can be treated with the compounds according to the invention are frequently characterized by progressive development, i.e. the above-described conditions change over the course of time; as a rule, the severity increases and conditions may possibly merge into each other or other conditions may appear in addition to those which already exist.

The compounds according to the invention can be used to treat a large number of signs, symptoms and/or malfunctions which are connected with the disorders of the central nervous system and, in particular, the abovementioned conditions. These signs, symptoms and/or malfunctions include, for example, a disturbed relationship to reality, lack of insight and ability to meet customary social norms or the demands made by life, changes in temperament, changes in individual drives, such as hunger, sleep, thirst, etc., and in mood, disturbances in the ability to observe and combine, changes in personality, in particular emotional lability, hallucinations, ego-disturbances, distracted- ness, ambivalence, autism, depersonalization and false perceptions, delusional ideas, chanting speech, lack of synkinesia, short-step gait, flexed posture of trunk and limbs, tremor, poverty of facial expression, monotonous speech, depressions, apathy, impeded spontaneity and decisiveness, impoverished association ability, anxiety, nervous agitation, stammering, social phobia, panic disturbances, withdrawal symptoms in as- sociation with dependency, maniform syndromes, states of excitation and confusion,

dysphoria, dyskinetic syndromes and tic disorders, e.g. Huntington's chorea and Gilles- de-la-Tourette's syndrome, vertigo syndromes, e.g. peripheral positional, rotational and oscillatory vertigo, melancholia, hysteria, hypochondria and the like.

Within the meaning of the invention, a treatment also includes a preventive treatment (prophylaxis), in particular as relapse prophylaxis or phase prophylaxis, as well as the treatment of acute or chronic signs, symptoms and/or malfunctions. The treatment can be orientated symptomatically, for example as the suppression of symptoms. It can be effected over a short period, be orientated over the medium term or can be a long-term treatment, for example within the context of a maintenance therapy.

The compounds according to the invention are preferentially suitable for treating diseases of the central nervous system, more preferably for treating cognitive dysfunctions and in particular, for treating cognitive dysfunctions associated with schizophrenia or Alzheimer's disease.

Within the context of the treatment, the use according to the invention of the described compounds involves a method. In this method, an effective quantity of one or more compounds, as a rule formulated in accordance with pharmaceutical and veterinary practice, is administered to the individual to be treated, preferably a mammal, in particular a human being, productive animal or domestic animal. Whether such a treatment is indicated, and in which form it is to take place, depends on the individual case and is subject to medical assessment (diagnosis) which takes into consideration signs, symptoms and/or malfunctions which are present, the risks of developing particular signs, symptoms and/or malfunctions, and other factors.

As a rule, the treatment is effected by means of single or repeated daily administration, where appropriate together, or alternating, with other active compounds or active compound-containing preparations such that a daily dose of preferably from about 0.1 to 1000 mg/kg of bodyweight, in the case of oral administration, or of from about 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of bodyweight, in the case of parenteral administration, is supplied to an individual to be treated.

The invention also relates to the production of pharmaceutical compositions for treating an individual, preferably a mammal, in particular a human being, productive animal or domestic animal. Thus, the ligands are customarily administered in the form of pharmaceutical compositions which comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient together with at least one compound according to the invention and, where appropriate, other active compounds. These compositions can, for example, be administered orally, rectally, transdermally, subcutaneously, intravenously, intramuscularly or intranasally.

Examples of suitable pharmaceutical formulations are solid medicinal forms, such as powders, granules, tablets, in particular film tablets, lozenges, sachets, cachets, sugar- coated tablets, capsules, such as hard gelatin capsules and soft gelatin capsules, sup- positories or vaginal medicinal forms, semisolid medicinal forms, such as ointments, creams, hydrogels, pastes or plasters, and also liquid medicinal forms, such as solutions, emulsions, in particular oil-in-water emulsions, suspensions, for example lotions, injection preparations and infusion preparations, and eyedrops and eardrops. Implanted release devices can also be used for administering inhibitors according to the invention. In addition, it is also possible to use liposomes or microspheres.

When producing the compositions, the compounds according to the invention are optionally mixed or diluted with one or more excipients. Excipients can be solid, semisolid or liquid materials which serve as vehicles, carriers or medium for the active com- pound.

Suitable excipients are listed in the specialist medicinal monographs. In addition, the formulations can comprise pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or customary auxiliary substances, such as glidants; wetting agents; emulsifying and suspending agents; pre- servatives; antioxidants; antiirritants; chelating agents; coating auxiliaries; emulsion stabilizers; film formers; gel formers; odor masking agents; taste corrigents; resin; hy- drocolloids; solvents; solubilizers; neutralizing agents; diffusion accelerators; pigments; quaternary ammonium compounds; refatting and overfatting agents; raw materials for ointments, creams or oils; silicone derivatives; spreading auxiliaries; stabilizers; steri- lants; suppository bases; tablet auxiliaries, such as binders, fillers, glidants, disinte- grants or coatings; propellants; drying agents; opacifiers; thickeners; waxes; plasticiz- ers and white mineral oils. A formulation in this regard is based on specialist knowledge as described, for example, in Fiedler, HP., Lexikon der Hilfsstoffe fur Pharmazie, Kos- metik und angrenzende Gebiete [Encyclopedia of auxiliary substances for pharmacy, cosmetics and related fields], 4 ^th edition, Aulendorf: ECV-Editio-Kantor-Verlag, 1996.

It has further been found that disorders having both a dopaminergic and a serotoniner- gic impact can also be treated by the combined use of a dopamine D ₃ receptor ligand and a 5HT ₆ receptor ligand. This combination surprisingly shows no adverse effects.

Accordingly, a further aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor and at least one compound having an affinity for the 5HT ₆ receptor and optionally at least one physiologically acceptable carrier and/or auxiliary substance.

The invention also relates to the use of at least one compound having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor together with at least one compound having an affinity for the 5HT ₆ receptor or of the pharmaceutical composition as defined above for preparing a medicament for the treatment of a disease of the central nervous system.

The compounds to be used according to the invention or in the above composition having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor preferably have no or no significant activity for the 5HT ₆ receptors and vice versa. Preferably, the compound having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor has a binding constant K, to the dopamine D ₃ receptor of at most 150 nM and the compound having an affinity for the 5HT ₆ receptor has a binding constant K ₁ to the 5HT ₆ receptor of at most 150 nM. More preferably, the compound having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor has a selectivity for the D ₃ dopamine receptor versus the 5HT ₆ receptor K|(5HT ₆ )/K|(D ₃ ) of at least 10, more preferably at least 25, and in particular at least 50 and the compound having an affinity for the 5HT ₆ dopamine receptor has a selectivity for the 5HT ₆ receptor versus the dopamine D ₃ receptor K,(D ₃ )/K,(5HT ₆ ) of at least 10, more preferably at least 25, and in particular at least 50.

Compounds having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor are widely known and are for example described in following publications:

WO 2006/058753, WO 2006/040176, WO 2006/040177, WO 2006/040178, WO 2006/040179, WO 2006/0040180, WO 2006/008592, WO 2006/015842, WO 2005/058328, WO 2004/89905, WO 2004/108706, WO 2004/080981 , WO 2004/069830, WO 01/72306, WO 00/67847, WO 00/42038, WO 99/09015, WO 99/02503, WO 97/25324, WO 96/002519, the contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference.

Preferred compounds having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor are dopamine D ₃ receptor antagonists.

Compounds having an affinity for the dopamine 5HT ₆ receptor are also well known and are for example described in following publications:

WO 2006/081322, WO 2005/040124, WO 2003/080580, WO 2002/032863, WO

00/05225, WO 98/27081 and S.-H. Zhao et al., Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2007, the contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference.

Preferred compounds having an affinity for the dopamine 5HT ₆ receptor are dopamine 5HT ₆ receptor antagonists.

Surprisingly, the combination of compound having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor and at least one compound having an affinity for the 5HT ₆ receptor does not have any adverse effects. This can be proved by the assay (microdialysis study) described in the examples. In particular, the binding affinity to the one or other receptor is not reduced.

It has further been found that treating disorders which have both a dopaminergic and a serotoninergic impact can also be effected by using compounds which have an affinity for both the D ₃ dopamine receptor and the 5HT ₆ receptor.

Accordingly, the invention further relates to the use of at least one compound which has an affinity for both the D ₃ dopamine receptor and the 5HT ₆ receptor for preparing a medicament for the treatment of a disease of the central nervous system, excepting compounds of the formula

where

Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or hetaryl ring;

A is a 3- to 7-membered substituted or unsubstitutedcycloalkyl or heterocyclyl ring;

Hc is a substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl or heteroaryl ring;

Q is C-K or N, where K is H, lower alkyl, halogen or cyano;

Z is O, S or NR, where R is H or lower alkyl;

J is a chain havin from 0 to 8 units selected from unsubstituted or substituted methylene; NR ⁸ , O and S, where R ⁸ is H or unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, aryl or hetaryl.

Preferably, the compound has a combined dopamine D ₃ /5HT ₆ antagonistic activity.

The invention also relates to the use of at least one compound which is a D ₃ dopamine receptor antagonist and also has an affinity for the 5HT ₆ receptor for preparing a medicament for the treatment of a disease of the central nervous system.

Preferably, the compound has a 5HT ₆ receptor antagonistic activity. Preferably, the compound has a combined dopamine D ₃ /5HT ₆ antagonistic activity.

Compounds having these "mixed" affinities are for example the compounds described in WO 2006/040182.

Among the compounds of the formula I described in WO 2006/040182, preference is given to compounds wherein

- R ¹ is H, n is 1 , A is optionally substituted 1 ,4-phenylene, E is NH and Ar is phenyl carrying in the 4-position (relative to the 1 -position of the SO ₂ group) a substituent R ^a and optionally 1 or 2 further substituents R ^a , where the substituent R ^a bound in the 4- position is preferably a radical R ^a ' and is in particular selected from isopropyl or fluori- nated isopropyl, such as 1-methyl-2-fluoro-1 -ethyl, 1-methyl-2,2-difluoro-1 -ethyl or 1- methyl-2,2,2-trifluoro-1 -ethyl; or - R ¹ is not H and is in particular n-propyl, n is 0, A is optionally substituted 1 ,4- phenylene and Ar is phenyl carrying in the 4-position (relative to the 1 -position of the SO ₂ group) a substituent R ^a and optionally 1 or 2 further substituents R ^a ; or

- R ¹ is not H and is in particular n-propyl, n is 1 , A is optionally substituted 1 ,2- phenylene and Ar is phenyl carrying at least one substituent R ^a .

More preferred compounds are those described as compounds I herein, preference being given to the compounds described herein as preferred.

In particular, in the compounds of the invention having a mixed activity, R ¹ is not H. Preferably, R ¹ is selected from Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, in particular methyl, ethyl or particularly propyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, in particular 3-fluoropropyl or 2-fluoropropyl, C3-C ₄ - alkenyl, in particular allyl, cyclopropylmethyl or benzyl. Particularly preferably R ¹ is propyl.

G is preferably CH ₂ and n is preferably 1.

A is preferably 1 ,4-phenylene, in particular unsubstituted 1 ,4-phenylene.

E is preferably NH.

Ar is preferably a group (A) or (F).

R ^a is preferably halogen, CrC ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy or a 5- or 6-membered unsaturated or saturated heterocyclic ring. R ^b and R ^c are preferably selected from H, halogen and Ci-C ₄ -haloalkoxy.

R ^d is preferably halogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, fluorinated Ci-C ₄ -alkyl or a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring which is unsubstituted or carries one substituent selected from CrC ₄ - alkyl and fluorinated CrC ₄ -alkyl. Preferred 6-membered hetaryl rings contain one or two nitrogen atoms (particularly preferred being pyridyl and pyrimidyl) and in particular one nitrogen atom. Preferred 5-membered hetaryl rings contain one nitrogen atom and optionally one or two further heteroatoms selected from N, O and S.

k is preferably 0 or in particular 1.

The compound having a "mixed" affinity for both the dopamine D ₃ receptor and the 5HT ₆ receptor preferably has a binding constant K, to the dopamine D ₃ receptor of at most 150 nM and to the 5HT ₆ receptor of at most 150 nM. More preferably, the compound having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor and the 5HT ₆ receptor has a binding constant K, to the dopamine D ₃ receptor of at most 100 nM and to the 5HT ₆ receptor of at most 100 nM. Even more preferably, the compound having an affinity for the dopamine D ₃ receptor and the 5HT ₆ receptor has a binding constant K ₁ to the dopamine D ₃ receptor of at most 50 nM and to the 5HT ₆ receptor of at most 50 nM.

Disorders having both a dopaminergic and a serotoninergic impact are disorders which respond to the modulation of the dopamine D ₃ receptor and the 5HT ₆ receptor. Disor- ders having both a dopaminergic and a serotoninergic impact are in particular cognitive dysfunctions and specifically cognitive dysfunctions associated with Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.

The following examples serve to explain the invention without limiting it.

The compounds were either characterized via proton-NMR in d ₆ -dimethylsulfoxid or d- chloroform, if not stated otherwise, on a 400 MHz or 500 MHz NMR instrument (Bruker AVANCE), or by mass spectrometry, generally recorded via HPLC-MS in a fast gradient on C18-material (electrospray-ionisation (ESI) mode), or melting point.

The magnetic nuclear resonance spectral properties (NMR) refer to the chemical shifts (δ) expressed in parts per million (ppm). The relative area of the shifts in the ¹ H NMR spectrum corresponds to the number of hydrogen atoms for a particular functional type

in the molecule. The nature of the shift, as regards multiplicity, is indicated as singlet (s), broad singlet (s. br.), doublet (d), broad doublet (d br.), triplet (t), broad triplet (t br.), quartet (q), quintet (quint.) and multiplet (m).

Preparation Examples:

I. Preparation of the intermediates

a. Preparation of sulfonyl chlorides

a.1 3-Bromo-4-trifluoromethoxy-benzenesulfonyl chloride

2.0 g of 1-bromo-2-(trifluoro-methoxy)benzene (8.3 mmol) were dissolved in 30 ml of dichloromethane. At 0-5°C, 1.06 g of chlorosulfonic acid (9.13 mmol), dis- solved in 3 ml of dichloromethane, were added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 min at room temperature. Additional 5.5 equivalents of chlorosulfonic in dichloromethane were added to drive the reaction to completion. Standard work-up was followed and silica gel chromatography with n-heptane- dichloromethane (6:4) as eluent gave 2.19 g of the title compound.

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.3 (d, 1 H), 8.05 (dd, 1 H), 7.5 (dd, 1 H).

b. Preparation of 3-(3-aminophenyl)-pyrrolidines

b.1 1-(Methoxycarbonyl)-3-(3-aminophenyl)-pyrrolidine

b.1.1 1-(Methoxycarbonyl)-pyrroline

In a 5 I flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer and a thermocouple, were charged 50Og of powdered potassium carbonate, 2.5 I of dichloromethane, and stirring was started. The resulting suspension was cooled to 0 ⁰ C. 300 g of diallylamine, were charged slowly. There was a slight exotherm. Subsequently, 292.95 g of methylchloroformate in 500 ml of CH ₂ Cb were charged to an addition funnel and the solution was slowly added to the amine over a period of 1 hour. Temperature was kept below 10 ⁰ C. Then, the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to r.t. over night. After filtering the reaction mixture through a pad of celite, the filter cake was washed with dichloromethane. The dichloromethane solution was washed with water and dried over MgSO ₄ . Concentration under vacuum yielded the product in the form of a yellow oil. Further purification was accomplished by vacuum distillation. At about 10 -12 mm of Hg, three fractions were

collected at 50 - 61 °C, 61 - 85 °C, and 85 - 90 °C. The 2nd and 3rd fractions were identified via NMR to be the desired N-protected diallylamine.

The obtained N-carbomethoxy diallyl amine (400 g) was dissolved in 1.5 I of dichloro- methane purged with nitrogen for 10 minutes by bubbling nitrogen through the stirred solution. In a 5 I flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer and an addition funnel, was charged the Grubb's catalyst (bis^ricyclohexylphosphinejstyrylrutheniumdichloride (3 g, 3.9 mmol) under a steady purge. Dichloromethane was added and the resultant dark solution was stirred at r.t. with nitrogen bubbling for 10 minutes. The N-carbomethoxy diallyl amine solution was added to the catalyst solution over a period of 2 hours. When the addition was complete, the solution was stirred at r.t. for 2.5 days. Then, the reaction mixture was concentrated to an oil, which was subsequently purified by vacuum distillation. The desired product was obtained as a clear colorless liquid boiling at about 90 ⁰ C (10 mm of Hg ) The NMR was consistent with the expected structure.

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ ): δ [ppm] 5.8-5.75 (m, 2H); 4.1 (m, 2H), 4.13 (m, 2H); 3.72 (s, 3H)

b.1.2 1-(Methoxycarbonyl)-3-(3-aminophenyl)-pyrrolidine

A 3-necked flask was flushed with nitrogen for 10 minutes. Palladium acetate and tri-o- tolyl phosphine were charged to the flask under a gentle purge of nitrogen. Anhydrous dimethyl formamide was pre-purged with nitrogen by bubbling nitrogen through it for several minutes, and was then charged to the Pd(OAc) ₂ catalyst and phosphine, with a nitrogen purge going through the flask. Subsequently, diisipropylethyl amine, the pyr- roline obtained in example b.1.1 , 1-iodo-3-nitrobenzene, and silver(ll) carbonate were also charged to the flask. The reaction mixture was stirred and heated under nitrogen to 100 ⁰ C for 6 hours. After about 9 hours, the reaction was complete (t.l.c. analysis). After the reaction mixture had cooled to r.t. over night, it was quenched with 10% sodium carbonate and extracted with MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) three times. The combined organic phases were dried over MgSO ₄ and concentrated. The excess olefin was removed by vacuum distillation. The dark residue was dissolved in MTBE, loaded on a silica column and chromatographed with MTBE:heptane, gradient from 1 :9 to 2:8.

2.05 g of the eluted pyrroline product was then slurried in portions in 95 ml of methanol and hydrogenated using 0.14 g of Wilkinson's catalyst (RhCI(PPh ₃ ) ₃ ; 2 mol%) at r.t. and 40 psi of hydrogen pressure to yield 1-(methoxycarbonyl)-3-(3-nitrophenyl)- pyrrolidine.

The product was then subjected to an acidic treatment (HCI in methanol, TFA) to yield the title compound.

CI-MS: 221.2 [M+H] ⁺

c. Preparation of enantiomercally pure precursors

c.1 (S)- and (R)-1-Benzyl-3-(3-nitrophenyl)-pyrrolidine

3-Nitrostyrene was reacted with 2.5 mole equivalents of benzyl methoxymethyl trimethylsilylmethyl amine in dichloromethane in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid.

To 54 g of the hydrochloride of racemic 1-benzyl-3-(3-nitrophenyl)-pyrrolidine (48 of free base) dissolved in ethanol was added 1 molar equivalent of L-tartric acid. The precipitated tatrate was isolated and recrystallized 4 times in methanol. The thus purified salt was isolated, dissolved and converted into the free pyrrolidine. 24.9 g of (S)-1- benzyl-3-(3-nitrophenyl)-pyrrolidine having >99%ee were obtained.

The combined filtrates of the above resolution process were concentrated, neutralized and subjected to the above treatment, however using D-tartric acid instead of the L- form. 17.5 g of (R)-1-benzyl-3-(3-nitrophenyl)-pyrrolidine having >99%ee were ob- tained.

II. Preparation of the compounds I

EXAMPLE 1

3-Trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-ph enyl]-benzenesulfonamide and its hydrochloride

1.1 (S)-2-Phenyl-succinic acid dimethyl ester

5 g of (S)-2-phenyl succinic acid (25.75 mmol) were dissolved in 50 ml of methanol. At 4 ⁰ C, 4.7 ml of thionyl chloride (64.37 mmol) were added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2h, the solvents were evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue that remained was dissolved in diethyl ether, washed once with saturated aqueous NaHCO ₃ solution, reextracted with diethyl ether, and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated to dryness to yield 5.8 g of the desired product. ESI-MS: 223.1 [M+H] ⁺

1.2 (S)-2-Phenyl-butane-1 ,4-diol

2.54 g of lithium aluminium hydride (66.95 mmol) were suspended under ice cooling in 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran. 5.8 g of (S)-2-phenyl succinic acid dimethyl ester (25.75 mmol) dissolved in 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran were added slowly at 5-1O ⁰ C. Stirring was continued for 15 minutes and then 15 ml of tetrahydrofuran/water (1 :1 ) were added dropwise. The suspension was adjusted to pH 3-4 with cone, hydrochloric acid, filtered and the filter washed with dichloromethane. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness, taken up in diethylether, washed with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, reextracted with diethylether, and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 4.2 g of the diol.

ESI-MS: 189.1 [M+Na] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ ): δ [ppm] 7.25-7.4 (m, 2H), 7.15-7.3 (m, 3H), 4.2-4.35 (m, 2H), 3.2 (m, 1 H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.1-2.3 (m, 3H).

1.3 Methanesulfonic acid (S)-4-methanesulfonyloxy-3-phenyl-butyl ester

4.19 g of (S)-2-phenyl-butane-1 ,4-diol (25.21 mmol) were dissolved in 50 ml of dichloromethane. 10.53 ml of triethylamine (75.6 mmol) were added, and, under ice cool- ing, 5 ml of methansulfonyl chloride (64.34 mmol). Stirring was continued for 15 minutes and then 40 ml of water were added. The organic phase was separated, and the aqueous phase extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 8.37 g of the product. 1.4 (S )-3-phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

2.0 g of methanesulfonic acid (S)-4-methanesulfonyloxy-3-phenyl-butyl ester (5.51 mmol) were dissolved in 5 ml of n-propylamine (60.82 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 15 h at room temperature, diethyl ether added, the organic phase washed twice with water. The aqueous phase was reextraced once with diethylether, the organic layers combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 1.09 g of the product. ESI- MS: 190.1 [M+H] ⁺

1.5 (S )-3-(4-Nitro-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

0.3 g of (S )-3-phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine (1.48 mmol) was dissolved in 2 ml of cone, sulphuric acid under argon and ice cooling. 165.16 mg of potassium nitrate (1.63 mmol) were added in small portions. The reaction mixture was stirred for 15 minutes under ice cooling, for 15 h at room temperature, and poured onto crushed ice. The aqueous solu-

tion was made alkaline with 25 % sodium hydroxide, extracted three times with diethyl ether, the aqueous phase reextracted once with diethylether, the organic layers combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 0.326 g of a brownish oil. A second reaction yielded another 0.919 g of the desired product. ESI-MS: 235.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ ): δ [ppm] 8.15 (d, 2H), 7.45 (d, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (m, 1 H), 2.9-3.0

(m, 1 H), 2.75 (m, 1 H), 2.3-2.6 (m, 4H), 1.8-1.9 (m, 1 H), 1.5-1.65 (m, 3H), 0.95 (m, 3H).

1.6 (S )-3-(4-Amino-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

0.907 g of (S )-3-(4-nitro-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine (3.59 mmol) were dissolved in 20 ml of methanol, 7.0 g of tin dichloride (31.02 mmol) added, and the reaction mixture stirred under reflux for 1 h. The methanol was evaporated, 60 ml of 1 N sodium hydrox- ide and dichloromethane added, and the phases separated after extensive stirring. The aqueous phase was extracted twice with dichloromethane, the organic layers combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 0.744 g of the crude amino compound. ESI-MS: 205.2 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ ): δ [ppm] 6.9 (d, 2H), 6.45 (d, 2H), 4.7 (s, broad, 2H), 3.1 (m,

1 H), 2.85 (m, 1 H), 2.65 (m, 1 H), 2.55 (m, 1 H), 2.25-2.45 (m, 3H), 2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.65 (m, 1 H), 1.4-1.5 (m, 2H), 0.85 (m, 3H).

1.7 3-Trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide and its hydrochloride

0.4 g of (S )-3-(4-amino-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine (1.96 mmol) and 0.455 g of commercially available 3-trifluoromethoxy-phenylsulfonyl chloride (1.86 mmol) were dissolved in 15 ml of tetrahydrofuran. 0.82 ml of triethylamine (5.87 mmol) were added and the reaction mixture stirred for 15 h at room temperature. The solvents were evaporated under reduced pressure, the residue treated with water and adjusted to an alkaline pH with sodium hydroxide solution. The aqueous layer was extracted three times with diethyl ether, the organic layers combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified with silica gel chromatography with ethyl acetate/methanol (2.5-3%) as eluent, yielding 0.225 g of the purified product.

ESI-MS: 429.15 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.7 (d, 1 H), 7.55 (s, 1 H), 7.5 (t, 1 H), 7.4 (d, 1 H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 6.95 (d, 2H), 5.3 (bs, 1 H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.05 (m, 1 H), 2.85 (m, 1 H), 2.65 (m, 1 H), 2.5 (m, 1 H), 2.45 (m, 2H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.8 (m, 1 H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

This material was dissolved in 15 ml of diethyl ether and 1 ml of dichloromethane, 0.61 ml of 1 N HCI in diethyl ether added, and after formation of a precipitate, the suspension evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 0.235 g of a white precipitate. EXAMPLE 2

4-Bromo-3-fluoro-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesulfonamide

0.289 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-pheny l]- benzenesulfonamide using commercially available 4-bromo-3-fluro-benzene- sulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 441.0 / 443.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ ): δ [ppm] 7.65 (m, 1 H), 7.5 (m, 1 H), 7.4 (m, 1 H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 7.0 (d, 2H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.0 (m, 1 H), 2.8 (m, 1 H), 2.65 (m, 1 H), 2.35-2.5 (m, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.8 (m, 1 H), 1.5 (m, 2H), 0.9 (m, 3H).

EXAMPLE 3 4-Bromo-3,6-difluoro-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phe nyl]-benzenesulfonamide

0.131 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide using commercially available 4-bromo-3,6-difluoro- benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 459.0 / 461.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ ): δ [ppm] 7.55 (m, 1 H), 7.4 (m, 1 H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 7.0 (d, 2H), 4.7 (s, very broad, 2H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.0 (m, 1 H), 2.85 (m, 1 H), 2.7 (m, 1 H), 2.4-2.6 (m,

3H), 2.25 (m, 1 H), 1.8 (m, 1 H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 0.85 (m, 3H).

EXAMPLE 4 3-Trifluoromethyl-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl ]-benzenesulfonamide

0.11 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide using commercially available 3-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylchloride. ESI-MS: 427.2 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 5

3,4-Difluoro-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfoneamide hydrochloride

ESI-MS: 381.2 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 11.25 (bd, 1 H), 10.55 (m, 1 H), 7.85 (t, 1 H), 7.65 (m, 2H), 7.3 (d, 1 H), 7.25 (d, 1 H), 7.1 (m, 2H), 3.2-3.8 (m, 5H), 2.9-3.15 (m, 2H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.95 (m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 6 N-(3-Pyrrolidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethoxy-benzenesulfo namide

6.1 3-[3-(3-Trifluoromethoxy-benzenesulfonylamino)-phenyl]-pyrro lidine-1-carboxylic acid methyl ester

This compound was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-pheny l]-benzenesulfonamide by reacting 1-(Methoxycarbonyl)-3-(3-aminophenyl)-pyrrolidine as obtained in example b.1 with commercially available 3-trifluoromethoxy-benzenesulfonyl chloride.

ESI-MS: 445.1 [M+H] ⁺

6.2 N-(3-Pyrrolidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethoxy-benzenesulfo namide

3-[3-(3-Trifluoromethoxy-benzenesulfonylamino)-phenyl]-py rrolidine-1-carboxylic acid methyl ester (0.105 g; 0.24 mmol) were dissolved in 2.5 ml ethanol and 0.9 ml of concentrated HCI were added. The reaction mixture was heated in a microwave system (CEM) at 90-150°C for several hours until consumption of starting material. The mixture was then concentrated in vacuo and the acidic aqueous phase extracted twice with diethylether. The aqueous phase was adjusted to pH 9 with 1 N aqueous NaOH, extracted three times with diethylether, and the combined organic layers dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and the solvent evaporated to dryness to yield 45 mg of the product.

ESI-MS: 387.15 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 7

N-((S)-3-Pyrrolidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethoxy-benze ne sulfonamide

7.1 (S)-1-Benzyl-3-(3-amino-phenyl)-pyrrolidine

(S)-1-Benzyl-3-(3-nitro-phenyl)-pyrrolidine (1 g, 3.54 mmol) was dissolved in methanol, 4.5 g of stannous dichloride (19.94 mmol) were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 1.5 h under refluxing conditions. When the starting material was consumed, the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue treated with a mixture of 1 N aqueous NaOH/ethyl acetate and filtered over celite. Phases were separated, the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate and the combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to dryness to yield 0.75 g of a yellowish oil.

7.2 N-[3-((S)-1 -Benzyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethoxy-benzene sulfonamide

(S)-1-Benzyl-3-(3-amino-phenyl)-pyrrolidine (0.4 g, 1.59 mmol) and commercially available 3-trifluoromethoxy-benzene sulfonylchloride (0.39 g, 1.5 mmol) were dissolved in 30 ml tetrahydrofurane. 0.66 ml of triethylamine (3.75 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred for 16 h at room temperature. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was treated with water/diethylether. After adjusting the aqueous phase to alkaline pH with 1 N aqueous NaOH, the aqueous layer was extracted with diethylether and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The product was purified via silica gel chromatography using an lsco Companion semi-automated chromatography system to yield 0.512 g of the desired compound.

ESI-MS: 477.1 [M+H] ⁺

7.3 N-((S)-3-Pyrrolidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethoxy-benzenes ulfonamide

N-[3-((S)-1-Benzyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluorometho xy-benzene sulfonamide (0.5 g, 1.05 mmol) was dissolved in glacial acetic acid and 10% Pd on charcoal was added unter a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was then hydrogenated for 5 h at 7O ⁰ C. Subsequently, the catalyst was removed by filtration over celite. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was treated with water and the pH adjusted to alkaline pH with 1 N aqueous NaOH. The aqueous layer was extracted twice with ethyl acetate and once with dichloromethane and the combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The remaining white solid was tritiurated with 10 ml diethylether, and the precipitate was filtered and dried to yield 0.18 g of the title compound.

ESI-MS: 387.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO): δ [ppm] 7.75 (d, 1 H), 7.6 (m, 2H), 7.5 (d, 1 H), 7.0 (t, 1 H),

6.85 (s, 1 H), 6.8 (d, 1 H), 6.7 (d, 1 H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.0-3.2 (m, 3H), 2.7 (m, 1 H), 2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 8

N-[4-Methoxy-3-(1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifl uoromethoxy- benzenesulfonamide

8.1 1-[3-(2-Methoxy-phenyl)-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-propan-1-one

Commercially available 3-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-pyrrolidin (1.64 g, 9.25 mmol) was dissolved in 50 ml tetrahydrofuran, 1.873 g triethylamine (18.51 mmol) were added, and after cooling to 0-5°C, 1.325 g propionic acid anhydride (10.18 mmol), dissolved in some tetrahydrofurane, was added dropwise. After stirring for 30 minutes, the starting material was consumed, and 2 ml of 7 N ammonia in methanol were added. After stirring at room temperature for 10 minutes, the solvents were evaporated under reduced pressure, the residue was treated with diethylether, washed once with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent was evaporated again to yield 2.2 g of the desired product.

ESI-MS: 234.1 [M+H] ⁺

8.2 1 -[3-(2-Methoxy-5-nitro-phenyl)-pyrrolidin-1 -yl]-propan-1 -one

1-[3-(2-Methoxy-phenyl)-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-propan-1-one (0.7 g; 3 mmol) were dissolved in 10 ml of nitromethane. At -5°C to -10°C, a mixture of 0.290 g nitric acid, 0.5 g water and 5.52 g sulphuric acid were added within 25 minutes, and the reaction mixture was stirred for another 1 h at low temperature and 16 h at room temperature. Ice was added, the reaction mixture was adjusted to alkaline pH with 50% aqueous NaOH, and the aqueous phase was extracted twice with diethylether. The organic layers were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 0.85 g of the desired product as a mixture of isomers and small amounts of the dinitro derivative which was used in the next reaction without fur- ther purification.

ESI-MS: 279.1 [M+H] ⁺

8.3 1 -[3-(2-Methoxy-5-amino-phenyl)-pyrrolidin-1 -yl]-propan-1 -one

1-[3-(2-Methoxy-5-nitro-phenyl)-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-propan-1 -one (0.85 g; 3.05 mmol) were dissolved in 50 ml methanol. 3.65 g of stannous dichloride (16.18 mmol) were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 2 h under refluxing conditions. When the starting material was consumed, the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was treated with a mixture of 1 N aqueous NaOH/ethyl acetate and filtered. Phases were separated, the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate and the combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to dryness to yield 0.44 g of crude procuct which was used in the next reaction without further purification.

ESI-MS: 249.1 [M+H] ⁺

8.4 N-[4-Methoxy-3-(1-propionyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifl uoromethoxy- benzenesulfonamide

1-[3-(2-Methoxy-5-amino-phenyl)-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-propan-1 -one (0.44 g, 1.77 mmol) and commercially available 3-trifluoromethoxy-benzene sulfonylchloride (0.23 g, 0.89 mmol) were reacted as described above, to yield, after purificatinon via silica gel chromatography using a ISCO Companion instrumen, 0.198 g of the desired compound.

ESI-MS: 473.1 [M+H] ⁺

8.5 N-[4-Methoxy-3-(1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluor omethoxy- benzenesulfonamide

N-[4-Methoxy-3-(1-propionyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-tr ifluoromethoxy- benzenesulfonamide (0.19 g, 0.4 mmol) were dissolved in 15 ml tetrahydrofurane and 2 ml 1 M boranetetrahydrofuran complex in tetrahydrofurane was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 30 minutes, 2 ml of 2 N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and the mixture was refluxed again for 3 h. After stirring for 16 h at room temperature, the solvent was evaporated, the residue was treated with water and the pH was adjusted to alkaline pH with 1 N aqueous NaOH. The aqueous layer was extracted twice with diethylether, the combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The crude product was chroma- tographed on a chromabond column using 0-5% dichloromethane/methanol as eluent, to yield 0.077 mg of the title compound.

ESI-MS: 459.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ ): δ [ppm] 7.65 (d, 1 H), 7.5 (s, 1 H), 7.45 (t, 1 H), 7.35 (d, 1 H), 6.95 (d, 1 H), 6.85 (s, 1 H), 6.7 (d, 1 H), 6.5 (s, broad, 1 H), 3.8 (s, 3H), 3.6 (m, 1 H), 2.9 (m, 1 H), 2.75 (m, 1 H), 2.65 (m, 1 H), 2.3-2.5 (several m, 3H), 2.15 (m, 1 H), 1.65 (m, 1 H), 1.5 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 9

5-Chloro-3-methyl-benzo[b]thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (3-azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-amide

Following the same procedure as described in Example 1.7, tert-butyl 3-(3- aminophenyl)azetidine-1-carboxylate (100 mg, 0.40 mmol) was coupled with 5-chloro- 3-methylbenzo[b]thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride (118 mg, 0.42 mmol) to give tert-butyl 3- (3-(5-chloro-3-methylbenzo[b]thiophene-2-sulfonamido)phenyl) azetidine-1-carboxylate (140 mg, 71 %). ESI-MS: 437.0 [M+H] ⁺

tert-Butyl 3-(3-(5-chloro-3-methylbenzo[b]thiophene-2-sulfonamido)pheny l)azetidine-1- carboxylate (140 mg, 0.28 mmol) was stirred in formic acid (3 ml) at OC for 3 h. The solution was concentrated, dissolved in water, concentrated HCI added and the solution concentrated by lyophylisation to give the title compound (113 mg, 93 %) as a white foam.

ESI-MS: 393.0 [M+H] ⁺

The compounds of Examples 10 to 32 were prepared by following the same procedure.

EXAMPLE 10

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-(2-methyl-thiazol-4-yl)-benzene sulfonamide ESI-MS: 386.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 11 N-(4-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonam ide ESI-MS: 357.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 12

Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (3-azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-amide ESI-MS: 294.9 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.82 (m, 2H), 3.92 (m, 1 H), 4.04 (m, 2H), 6.87 (d, 1 H), 6.91 (d, 1 H), 6.95 (s, 1 H), 7.00 (t, 1 H), 7.13 (t, 1 H), 7.41 (d, 1 H), 7.68 (d, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 13

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesu lfonamide ESI-MS: 425.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.93 (m, 3H), 4.15 (m, 2H), 6.71 (d, 1 H), 6.78 (d, 1 H), 6.87 (s, 1 H), 7.04 (t, 1 H), 8.17 (s, 1 H), 8.20 (s, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 14

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-2,5-dimethoxy-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 349.0 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.78 (m, 2H), 3.70 (m, 3H), 3.91 (m, 3H), 6.94 (t, 2H), 7.02 (s, 1 H), 7.09 (m, 1 H), 7.11 (d, 1 H), 7.17 (t, 1 H), 7.23 (d, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 15

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-fluoro-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 306.9 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.81 (m, 2H), 3.91 (m, 1 H), 4.04 (m, 2H), 6.87 (d, 1 H), 6.94 (s, 1 H), 7.12 (t, 1 H), 7.36 (t, 1 H), 7.47 (d, 1 H), 7.49 (m, 1 H), 7.56 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 16 2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid (3-azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-amide ESI-MS: 362.9 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.93 (m, 3H), 4.14 (m, 2H), 6.71 (d, 1 H), 6.81 (d, 1 H), 6.85 (s, 1 H), 7.06 (t, 1 H), 7.10 (s, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 17

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-chloro-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 322.9 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.86 (m, 2H), 3.94 (m, 1 H), 4.07 (m, 2H), 6.87 (t, 2H), 6.94 (s, 1 H), 7.13 (t, 1 H), 7.52 (t, 1 H), 7.57 (d, 1 H), 7.72 (m, 2H).

EXAMPLE 18

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3,5-dichloro-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 356.9 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.90 (m, 3H), 4.1 1 (m, 2H), 6.66 (d, 1 H), 6.76 (d, 1 H), 6.82 (s, 1 H), 7.03 (t, 1 H), 7.62 (m, 2H).

EXAMPLE 19

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-methyl-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 303.0 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 2.31 (s, 3H), 3.78 (m, 2H), 3.93 (m, 3H), 6.93 (d, 1H), 6.96 (d, 1H), 7.00 (s, 1H), 7.17 (t, 1H), 7.38 (m, 2H), 7.54 (m, 1H), 7.57 (s, 1H).

EXAMPLE 20

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-5-bromo-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonam ide ESI-MS: 399.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.78 (m, 2H), 3.85 (s, 3H), 3.91 (m, 3H), 6.95 (d, 1H), 6.97 (d, 1H), 7.02 (s, 1H), 7.13 (d, 1H), 7.18 (t, 1H), 7.71 (d, 1H), 7.80 (s, 1H).

EXAMPLE 21 δ-Benzenesulfonyl-thiophene^-sulfonic acid (3-azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-amide ESI-MS: 435.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.91 (m, 3H), 4.14 (m, 2H), 6.66 (d, 1H), 6.80 (s, 1H), 6.81 (d, 1H), 7.00 (d, 1H), 7.18 (t, 1H), 7.71 (d, 1H), 7.80 (s, 1H).

EXAMPLE 22

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-2-methoxy-5-methyl-benzenesulfona mide ESI-MS: 333.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 1.78 (m, 3H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 3.81 (m, 3H), 4.14 (m, 2H), 6.75 (d, 1H), 6.80 (s, 1H), 6.81 (d, 1H), 7.00 (d, 1H), 7.18 (t, 1H), 7.71 (d, 1H), 7.80(s, 1H).

EXAMPLE 23

5-(2-Methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (3-azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)- amide ESI-MS: 417.1 [M-H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 3.85 (s, 3H), 3.91 (m, 3H), 4.10 (m, 2H), 6.70 (d, 1H), 6.89 (m, 2H), 7.04 (d, 1H), 7.36 (d, 1H), 7.58 (d, 1H), 7.83 (s, 1H), 8.58 (m, 1H).

EXAMPLE 24 N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-cyano-benzenesulfonamide

ESI-MS: 313.9 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 25

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 319.0 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 26

5-Chloro-3-methyl-benzo[b]thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (4-azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-amide ESI-MS: 393.3 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 27

N-(4-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-4-fluoro-3-oxazol-4-yl-benzene sulfonamide ESI-MS: 374.1

[M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 28

N-(4-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-4-fluoro-3-oxazol-5-yl-benzenesul fonamide ESI-MS: 374.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 29 N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-difluoromethoxy-benzenesulfonam ide ESI-MS: 355.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 30

N-(4-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-difluoromethoxy-benzenesulfonam ide ESI-MS: 355.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 31

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonam ide ESI-MS: 357.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 32

N-(3-Azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethoxy-benzenesulfona mide ESI-MS: 373.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 33

5-Chloro-3-methyl-benzo[b]thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (4-azetidin-3-yl-phenyl)-methyl- amide

tert-Butyl 3-(4-(5-chloro-3-methylbenzo[b]thiophene-2-sulfonamido)pheny l)azetidine-1- carboxylate (216 mg, 0.44 mmol) was stirred in THF (5 ml) and NaH (25 mg, 0.53 mmol) was added. After stirring at r.t. for 15 min, methyl iodide (0.028 ml, 0.44 mmol) was added and stirring was continued for 1 16 h. The solution was concentrated in vacuo, dissolved in water (pH 11 ) and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extracts were dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated to give tert-butyl 3-(4-(5-chloro-N,3- dimethylbenzo[b]thiophene-2-sulfonamido)phenyl)azetidine-1 -carboxylate (= starting compound methylated at the amido-N) (185 mg, 83 %). ESI-MS: 508.1 [M+H] ⁺

tert-Butyl 3-(4-(5-chloro-N,3-dimethylbenzo[b]thiophene-2- sulfonamido)phenyl)azetidine-1 -carboxylate (185 mg, 0.36 mmol) was stirred in formic acid (3 ml) at 0°C for 3.5 h. The solution was concentrated, dissolved in water, concen- trated HCI was added and the solution was concentrated by lyophylisation to give the title compound (144 mg, 87 %) as a white foam. ESI-MS: 408.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 34 3-((S)-2,2-Difluoro-1 -methyl-ethyl)-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide

Following the same procedure as described in Example 1.7, (S)-3-(4-amino-phenyl)-1- propyl-pyrrolidine was coupled with (S)-3-(1 ,1-difluoropropan-2-yl)benzene-1-sulfonyl chloride to give the title compound. ESI-MS: 424.1 [M+H] ⁺

The compounds of Examples 35 to 58 were prepared by following the same procedure.

EXAMPLE 35

5-lsoxazol-5-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide ESI-MS: 418.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 36 5-lsoxazol-3-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide ESI-MS: 418.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 37

5-Oxazol-5-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide

ESI-MS: 418.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 38

3-((S)-2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrro lidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide

ESI-MS: 428.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 39

Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-(1 -propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide

Following the same procedure as described in Example 1.7, 4-(1-propylazetidin-3- yl)aniline was coupled with thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride to give the title compound. ESI-MS: 337.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) : δ (ppm) 0.88 (t, 3H), 1.45 (m, 2H), 3.1 1 (m, 2H), 3.97 (m, 3H), 4.22 (m, 1 H), 4.35 (m, 1 H), 7.11 (m, 3H), 7.29 (m, 2H), 7.54 (m, 1 H), 7.84 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 40 2,5-Dichloro-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesu lfonamide ESI-MS: 400.8 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 41

N-[4-(1-Propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benz enesulfonamide ESI-MS: 400.8 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 42

N-[4-(1-Propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3,5-bis-trifluoromethy l-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 467.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 43

2,5-Dimethyl-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesu lfonamide ESI-MS: 359.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 44

3-Chloro-4-fluoro-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benz enesulfonamide ESI-MS: 383.0 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 45

3-Fluoro-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesul fonamide ESI- ESI-MS: 349.0

[M+H] ⁺ 349.1

EXAMPLE 46

2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid [4-(1 -propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide ESI-MS: 404.9 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 47 5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide ESI-MS: 370.9 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 48

3-Chloro-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesulfon amide ESI-MS: 365.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 49

3,5-Dichloro-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesu lfonamide ESI-MS: 400.8 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 50

3-Methyl-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesulfon amide ESI-MS: 345.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 51

2,3-Dichloro-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesu lfonamide ESI-MS: 400.8 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 52 3-Bromo-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesulfona mide ESI-MS: 410.9 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 53

5-lsoxazol-3-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-(1 -propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide ESI-MS: 404.0 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 54

3,4-Difluoro-N-[4-(1 -propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 367.0

[M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 55

3-Cyano-N-[4-(1-propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesulfona mide ESI-MS: 356.3 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 56 4-Fluoro-3-oxazol-4-yl-N-[4-(1 -propyl-azetidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 416.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 57

4-Fluoro-3-oxazol-4-yl-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-p henyl]-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 430.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 58

4-Fluoro-3-oxazol-5-yl-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-p henyl]-benzenesulfonamide ESI-MS: 430.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 59

5-Bromo-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide hydrochloride

59.1 (S)-2-Phenyl-succinic acid dimethyl ester

5 g of (S)-2-phenyl succinic acid (25.75 mmol) were dissolved in 50 ml of methanol. At 4 ⁰ C, 4.7 ml of thionyl chloride (64.37 mmol) were added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2h, the solvents were evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue that remained was dissolved in diethyl ether, washed once with saturated aqueous NaHCθ3 solution, reextracted with diethyl ether, and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated to dryness to yield 5.8 g of the desired product. ESI-MS: 223.1 [M+H] ⁺

59.2 (S)-2-Phenyl-butane-1 ,4-diol

2.54 g of lithium aluminium hydride (66.95 mmol) were suspended under ice cooling in 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran. 5.8 g of (S)-2-phenyl succinic acid dimethyl ester (25.75

mmol) dissolved in 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran were added slowly at 5-1O ⁰ C. Stirring was continued for 15 minutes and then 15 ml of tetrahydrofuran/water (1 :1 ) were added dropwise. The suspension was adjusted to pH 3-4 with cone, hydrochloric acid, filtered and the filter washed with dichloromethane. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness, taken up in diethylether, washed with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, reextracted with diethylether, and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 4.2 g of the diol. ESI-MS: 189.1 [M+Na] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ ): δ [ppm] 7.25-7.4 (m, 2H), 7.15-7.3 (m, 3H), 4.2-4.35 (m, 2H), 3.2 (m, 1 H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.1-2.3 (m, 3H).

59.3 Methanesulfonic acid (S)-4-methanesulfonyloxy-3-phenyl-butyl ester

4.19 g of (S)-2-phenyl-butane-1 ,4-diol (25.21 mmol) were dissolved in 50 ml of di- chloromethane. 10.53 ml of triethylamine (75.6 mmol) were added, and, under ice cooling, 5 ml of methansulfonyl chloride (64.34 mmol). Stirring was continued for 15 minutes and then 40 ml of water were added. The organic phase was separated, and the aqueous phase extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 8.37 g of the product.

59.4 (S)-3-phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

2.0 g of methanesulfonic acid (S)-4-methanesulfonyloxy-3-phenyl-butyl ester (5.51 mmol) were dissolved in 5 ml of n-propylamine (60.82 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 15 h at room temperature, diethyl ether added, the organic phase washed twice with water. The aqueous phase was reextraced once with diethylether, the organic layers combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 1.09 g of the product. ESI- MS: 190.1 [M+H] ⁺

59.5 (S)-3-(4-Nitro-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

0.3 g of (S )-3-phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine (1.48 mmol) was dissolved in 2 ml of cone, sulphuric acid under argon and ice cooling. 165.16 mg of potassium nitrate (1.63 mmol) were added in small portions. The reaction mixture was stirred for 15 minutes under ice cooling, for 15 h at room temperature, and poured onto crushed ice. The aqueous solution was made alkaline with 25 % sodium hydroxide, extracted three times with diethyl

ether, the aqueous phase reextracted once with diethylether, the organic layers combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 0.326 g of a brownish oil. A second reaction yielded another 0.919 g of the desired product. ESI-MS: 235.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ ): δ [ppm] 8.15 (d, 2H), 7.45 (d, 2H), 3.4-3.5 (m, 1 H), 2.9-3.0

(m, 1 H), 2.75 (m, 1 H), 2.3-2.6 (m, 4H), 1.8-1.9 (m, 1 H), 1.5-1.65 (m, 3H), 0.95 (m, 3H).

59.6 (S)-3-(4-Amino-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

0.907 g of (S )-3-(4-nitro-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine (3.59 mmol) were dissolved in 20 ml of methanol, 7.0 g of tin dichloride (31.02 mmol) added, and the reaction mixture stirred under reflux for 1 h. The methanol was evaporated, 60 ml of 1 N sodium hydroxide and dichloromethane added, and the phases separated after extensive stirring. The aqueous phase was extracted twice with dichloromethane, the organic layers combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 0.744 g of the crude amino compound. ESI-MS:

205.2 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ ): δ [ppm] 6.9 (d, 2H), 6.45 (d, 2H), 4.7 (s, broad, 2H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.85 (m, 1 H), 2.65 (m, 1 H), 2.55 (m, 1 H), 2.25-2.45 (m, 3H), 2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.65 (m, 1 H), 1.4-1.5 (m, 2H), 0.85 (m, 3H).

59.7 5-Bromo-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide hydrochloride

400 mg g of (S )-3-(4-amino-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine hydrochloride (1.66 mmol) and 435 mg of (0,33 mmol) of 5-bromothiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride (1.66 mmol) were dissolved in 15 ml of tetrahydrofuran. 1.2 ml of triethylamine (8.3 mmol) were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 15 h at room temperature. The solvents were evaporated under reduced pressure, the residue was treated with water and adjusted to an alkaline pH with sodium hydroxide solution. The aqueous layer was extracted three times with diethyl ether, the organic layers were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified with silica gel chromatography with ethyl dichloro- methane/methanol (0-6%) as eluent, yielding 45 mg of the purified product. This material was dissolved in 10 ml of diethyl ether and 0.055 ml of 1 N HCI in diethyl ether were

added, and after formation of a precipitate, the suspension was evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 50 mg of a white precipitate. ESI-MS: 431.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO): δ [ppm] 1 1.2 and 1 1.0 (2 s, broad, 1 H), 10.65 (m, 1 H), 7.2- 7.4 (several m, 4H), 7.1 (m, 2H), 3.0-3.8 (several m, 7H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.85-2.0 (m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 2H), 0.9 (m, 3H).

EXAMPLE 60

5-Propyl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using 5-propyl-thiophene-2-sulfonylchloride which itself was prepared from commercially available 2-propyl-thiophene through reaction with chlorosulfonic acid.

ESI-MS: 393.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.3 (d, 1 H), 7.2 (d, 2H), 7.05 (d, 2H), 6.65 (d, 1 H), 3.35 (m, 1 H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.9 (m, 1 H), 2.75 (m, 3H), 2.5 (m, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.85 (m, 1 H), 1.5-1.7 (m, 4H), 0.9 (m, 6H).

EXAMPLE 61

3-Bromo-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-4-tri fluoromethoxy- benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 3-bromo-4-trifluoromethoxy- benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 507.05/509.05 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 1 1.1-1 1.4 (broad, 1 H), 10.6 (broad, 1 H), 8.15 (s, 1 H); 7.9 (d, 1 H), 7.7 (d, 1 H), 7.35 (d,1 H), 7.3 (d, 1 H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.2-3.8 (several m, 4H), 2.95-3.15 (several m, 3H), 2.8 (m, 1 H), 1.95 (m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 62

5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as in Example 59 using commercially available 5-chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 385.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.25 (d, 1 H), 7.2 (d, 2H), 7.0 (d, 2H), 6.8 (d, 1 H),

5.1 (bs, 1 H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.05 (m, 1 H), 2.85 (m, 1 H), 2.7 (m, 1 H), 2.4-2.6 (several m, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.8 (m, 1 H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 63

N-(3-Piperidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethoxy-benzenesul fonamide hydrochloride

ESI-MS: 401.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.55 (broad, 1 H), 9.35 (broad, 1 H), 9.2 (broad, 1 H), 7.8 (d, 1 H), 7.7 (m, 1 H), 7.65 (m, 2H), 7.2 (t, 1 H), 7.0 (m, 3H), 3.25 (m, 1 H),

3.2 (m, 1 H), 2.8-3.0 (m, 3H), 1.7-1.9 (m, 3H), 1.5-1.65 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 64

3-Cyano-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benze nesulfonamide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in

Example 59 using commercially available 3-cyanobenzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 370.4 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.8 (broad, 2H), 8.2 (s, 1 H), 8.1 (d, 1 H), 8.05

(d, 1 H), 7.8 (t, 1 H), 7.25 (d, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.0-3.8 (several m, 7H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.95

(m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 65

N-[3-((S)-1-Benzyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluorome thyl-benzene sulfonamide

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 3-trifluoromethyl-benzene sulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 461.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.0 (s (1 H), 7.9 (d, 1 H), 7.75 (d, 1 H), 7.55 (t, 1 H), 7.2-7.4 (several m, 6H), 7.15 (m, 1 H), 7.05 (d, 1 H), 6.95 (s, 1 H), 6.9 (d, 1 H), 3.65 (s, 2H), 3.25 (m, 1 H), 2.95 (m, 1 H), 2.75 (m, 2H), 2.45 (m, 1 H), 2.25 (m, 1 H), 1.75 (m, 1 H),

EXAMPLE 66

5-Pyridin-2-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 5-Pyridin-2-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 428.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.8-11.2 (broad, 1 H), 10.6 (m, 1 H), 8.55 (d, 1 H), 8.0 (d, 1 H), 7.9 (t, 1 H), 7.8 (d, 1 H), 7.6 (d, 1 H), 7.3-7-4 (m, 2H), 7.3 (d, 1 H), 7.15 (m, 2H), 3.8 (m, 1 H), 3.65 (m, 1 H), 3.6 (m, 1 H), 3.3-3.5 (m, 1 H), 3.25 (m, 1 H), 3.0-3.15 (m, 2H), 2.35 (m, 1 H), 2.0 (m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 67 N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benzene sulfonamide

A solution of N-[3-((S)-1-benzyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethy l-benzene sulfo- namid (620 mg, 1.34 mmol) (Example 65) in methanol (30 ml) was hydrogenated using the ThalesNano H-Cube® hydrogenation reactor employing a 10% palladium on charcoal catalyst cartridge. After concentration of the solution under reduced pressure, the crude product was purified with silica gel chromatography with ethyl acetate/methanol (1 :1 ; 0:1 ) as eluent, yielding 328 mg of the purified product.

ESI-MS: 371.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (MeOD, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.9 (m, 2H), 7.7 (m, 1 H), 7.55 (m, 1 H), 7.0 (m, 1 H), 6.7-6.85 (m, 3H), 3.2-3.3 (m, 2H), 3.05-3.15 (m, 2H), 3.0 (m, 1 H), 2.7 (m, 1 H), 2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 68

5-Pyridin-2-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1-allyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 5-bromo-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide hydrochloride (Example 59) using commercially available 5-pyridin-2-yl-thiophene-2- sulfonylchloride and 4-((S)-1 -allyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenylamine.

ESI-MS: 426.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 69

5-Pyridin-2-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid ((S)-4-pyrrolidin-3-yl-phenyl)-amide hydrochloride

36 mg of Pd ₂ (dba)3 (0.04 mmol) and 24 mg of 1 ,4-bis-(diphenylphosphino)-butane (0.06 mmol) were dissolved in 10 ml of tetrahydrofuran. After stirring for 20 min, 5- pyridin-2-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1-allyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide (235 mg, 0.55 mmol) (Example 68) and 2-mercapto-benzoic acid (160 mg, 1.04 mmol) were added, each as a solution in 3 ml of tetrahydrofuran. The reaction mixture was stirred for 20 h at room temperature. The solvents were evaporated under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and extracted with 0.5 N HCI. The aqueous phase was adjusted to an alkaline pH with sodium hydroxide solution and then extracted three times with dichloromethane. The organic layers were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by chromatography (Chromabond-C18) with H ₂ O/acetonitrile (95:5; 0:100; 95:5)/0.1 % acetic acid as eluent. To a solution of the so obtained oil in 2-propanol HCI in diethylether was added. The solid formed was filtered and dried in a vacuum oven to obtain 8 mg of the title compound.

ESI-MS: 386.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.5 (d, 1 H), 7,95 (d, 1 H), 7.85 (t, 1 H), 7.7 (d, 1 H), 7.4 (d, 1 H), 7.3 (m, 1 H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 7.0 (d, 2H), 3.4 (m, 1 H), 3.2-3.3 (m, 2H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.85 (m, 1 H), 2.2 (m, 1 H), 1.7-1.85 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 70 3-Bromo-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenes ulfonamide

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 3-bromo-benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 423.0/425.0 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 71 N-[4-((S)-1 -Propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-pyrrolidin-1 -yl-benzenesulfonamide

0.4 g of 3-Bromo-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenes ulfonamide (0.94 mmol), 0.156 ml pyrrolidin (1.89 mmol), 160 mg sodium tert-butanolate ((1.66 mmol) and 540 mg sodium sulfate were dissolved in 15 ml of tetrahydrofuran and heated to 50°C. 120 mg of 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1 ,1 '-binaphthalene (0.19 mmol) and 85

mg tri(dibenzylidenacetone)dipalladium(0) (0.09 mmol) were added and the reaction stirred for 4 h under reflux. After workup, the partially converted starting material was reacted again under the same reaction conditions until completion. The solvents were evaporated under reduced pressure, the residue was treated with dichloromethane and water, the organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified with silica gel chromatography with dichloromethane/methanol (0-20%) as eluent using a semi- automated ISCO companion instrument, yielding 0.309 g of the purified product.

ESI-MS: 414.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.2 (m, 1 H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 7.0 (m, 3H), 6.8 (s, 1 H), 6.65 (d, 1 H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.2 (m, 4H), 3.0 (m, 1 H), 2.8 (m, 1 H), 2.6 (m, 1 H), 2.3-2.5 (several m, 3H), 2.25 (m, 1 H), 2.0 (m, 4H), 1.75 (m, 1 H), 1.5 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 72

3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidi n-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

0.023 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 71.

ESI-MS: 428.2 / 443.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-d ₆ ): δ [ppm] 10.8-11.2 (broad, 1 H), 10.2 (m, 1 H), 7.2-7.35 (several m, 3H), 7.1 (m, 2H), 6.95 (d, 1 H), 6.8 (s, 1 H), 6.7 (d, 1 H), 2.9-3.9 (several m, 8H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.8-2.1 (several m, 4H), 1.6-1.75 (several m, 3H), 1.0 (d, 3H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 73

5-Pyrazol-1 -yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide hydrochloride

0.2 g of 5-bromo-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- amide (0.47 mmol), 0.038 g pyrazole (0.56 mmol), 0.005 g Cu ₂ O (0.03 mmol), 0.015 g of salicylaldoxim (0.11 mmol) and 0.3 g of cesium carbonate (0.93 mmol) were dissolved in 3 ml acetonitrile and heated in a microwave instrument (CEM) at 120°C for 4 h. The reaction mixture was filtered over celite, the filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure, the residue was treated with dichloromethane and water, and the organic layer were washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The organic phase was evaporated under reduced pressure and the crude product was purified with preparative HPLC yielding 0.02 g of the purified product.

ESI-MS: 417.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-Cl ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.65-1 1.0 (broad, 1 H), 10.55 (s, 1 H), 8.55 (s, 1 H), 7.8 (s, 1 H), 7.5 (s, 1 H), 7.35 (d, 2H), 7.3 (m, 1 H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 6.6 (s, 1 H), 2.9- 3.85 (several m, 7H), 2.3-2.4 (m, 1 H), 1.85-2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 74

4,5-Dichloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 4,5-dichloro-thiophene-2-sulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 419/421 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.9-1 1.2 (broad, 1 H), 10.8 (s, 1 H), 7.7 (s, 1 H), 7.4 (d, 1 H), 7.3 (d, 1 H), 7.2 (d, 2H), 3.8 (m, 1 H), 3.2-3.7 (several m, 3H), 2.95-3.2 (m, 3H), 2.35 (m, 1 H), 1.9-2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.8 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 75

5-[1 ,2,3]Thiadiazol-4-yl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- phenyl]-amide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in

Example 59 using commercially available 5-[1 ,2,3]Thiadiazol-4-yl-thiophene-2- sulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 435.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.55-10.85 (broad, 1 H), 10.6 (s, 1 H), 9.7 (s,

1 H), 7.8 (d, 1 H), 7.65 (d, 1 H), 7.3-7.4 (m, 2H), 7.2 (d, 2H), 3.2-3.8 (several m, 4H),

2.95-3.2 (m, 3H), 2.35 (m, 1 H), 1.85-2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 76

5-Trifluoromethyl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- amide hydrochloride

5-trifluoromethyl-thiophene-2-sulfonylchloride was prepared from commercially avail- able 2-trifluoromethyl-thiophene through reaction with chlorosulfonic acid in dichloro- methane and subsequent silica gel chromatography ( ¹ H-NMR of the sulfonylchloride

(CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.9 (1 H, d), 7.5 (1 H, d)).

ESI-MS: 419.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-Ci ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.8-1 1.1 (broad, 2H), 7.8 (d, 1 H), 7.65 (d, 1 H), 7.25-7.4 (m, broad, 2H), 7.1-7.2 (d, 2H), 3.2-3.9 (several m, 4H), 2.9-3.2 (m, 3H), 2.35 (m, 1 H), 1.85-2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.8 (m, 2H), 0.95 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 77

N-[3-((S)-1-Methyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluorome thyl-benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

The product was obtained after reductive amination of N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- 3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide (of Example 67) with formaldehyde and sodium triacetoxy borohydride in dichloromethane in the presence of acetic acid.

ESI-MS: 385.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.5-1 1.0 (broad, 2H), 7.9-8.1 (m, 3H), 7.8 (m, 1 H), 7.25 (m, 1 H), 7.1 (m, 1 H), 7.1. (s, 1 H), 6.95 (d, 1 H), 3.0-3.8 (m, 5H), 2.85 (s, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.85-2.05 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 78

5-(2-Methyl-thiazol-4-yl)-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- phenyl]-amide

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 5-(2-Methyl-thiazol-4-yl)-thiophene-2- sulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 448.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 9.7-1 1.0 (broad, 1 H), 8.0 (s, 1 H), 7.5 (d, 1 H), 7.45 (d, 1 H), 7.2 (d, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.25 (m, 1 H), 2.84 (m, 1 H), 2.7 (s, 3H), 2.6-2.7 (m, 2H), 2.3-2.5 (m, 3H), 2.1-2.2 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.7 (m, 1 H), 1.4-1.5 (m, 2H), 0.8-0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 79 N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethy l-benzenesulfonamide

The product was prepared as described for the synthesis of N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide (Example 67). Deprotection of the N- benzyl derivative was achieved through hydrogenation in the H-cube™.

ESI-MS: 389.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 80 N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethy l-benzenesulfonamide

The product was prepared as described for the synthesis of N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide (Example 67). Deprotection of the N- benzyl derivative was achieved through hydrogenation in the H-cube™.

ESI-MS: 389.0 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.8 (s, 1 H), 7.7-7.8 (m, 2H), 6.95 (t, 1 H), 6.8 (s, 1 H), 6.75 (d, 1 H), 6.6 (d, 1 H), 5.8 (very broad, 2H), 3.45 (m, 1 H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.1- 3.25 (m, 2H), 2.85 (m, 1 H), 2.2 (m, 1 H), 1.75 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 81 N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-4-fluoro-5-trifluoromethy l-benzenesulfonamide

The product was prepared as described for the synthesis of N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide (Example 67). Deprotection of the N- benzyl derivative was achieved through hydrogenation in the H-cube™.

ESI-MS: 389.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.05 (m, 1 H), 8.0 (m, 1 H), 7.6 (t, 1 H), 7.0 (m, 2H), 6.85 (s, 1 H), 6.8 (d, 1 H), 6.7 (d, 1 H), 5.8 (very broad, 2H), 3.4 (m, 1 H), 3.2 (m, 2H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.85 (m, 1 H), 2.2 (m, 1 H), 1.75 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 82 N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-2-methoxy-5-trifluorometh yl-benzenesulfonamide

The product was prepared as described for the synthesis of N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide (Example 67). Deprotection of the N- benzyl derivative was achieved through hydrogenation in the H-cube™.

ESI-MS: 401.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.0 (s, 1 H), 7.9 (m, 1 H), 7.35 (d, 1 H), 7.1 (m, 1 H), 7.0 (m, 1 H), 6.85-6.95 (m, 2H), 3.9 (s, 3H), 3.0-3.4 (several m, 4H), 2.65 (m, 1 H), 2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.6 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 83

3,5-Dibromo-4-(2-fluoro-ethoxy)-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrol idin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide

The corresponding sulfonylchloride was prepared from commercially available 2,6- dibromophenol via reaction with 1-bromo-2-fluoro-ethane and cesium carbonate and subsequent formation of the sulfonylchloride through reaction with chloro sulfonic acid ( ¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz) of 3,5-dibromo-4(2-fluoro-ethoxy)phenylsulfonylchloride: δ [ppm] 8.2 (s, 2H), 4.9 (m, 1 H), 4.8 (m, 1 H), 4.45 (m, 1 H), 4.4 (m, 1 H)).

ESI-MS: 565.0 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.85 (s, 2H), 7.2 (d, 2H), 7.0 (d, 2H), 4.85 (m, 1 H), 4.7 (m, 1 H), 4.35 (m, 1 H), 4.25 (m, 1 H), 3.35 (m, 1 H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.9 (m, 1 H), 2.8 (m, 1 H), 2.45-2.6 (m, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.85 (m, 1 H), 1.6 (m, 2H), 0.95 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 84

3-difluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phe nyl]-benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as in Example 59 using commercially available 3-difluoromethoxy-benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 411.5 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.2-1 1.1 (very broad, 2H), 7.65 (m, 2H),7.5 (s, 1 H), 7.45 (m, 1 H), 7.25 (m, 2H), 7.1 (m, 2H), 3.1-3.8 (m, 5H), 3.1 (m, 2H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.9-2.0 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 85 5-bromo-2,4-difluoro-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phe nyl]-benzenesulfonamide

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 5-bromo-2,4-difluoro- benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 459.0/461.0 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.9 (very broad), 8.1 (t, 1 H), 7.75 (t, 1 H), 7.3 (d, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.15-3.8 (m, 5H), 3.1 (m, 2H), 2.35 (m, 1 H), 1.9-2.0 (m, 1 H), 1.6- 1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 86

3-Bromo-2,4-difluoro-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- phenyl]-benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 3-bromo-2,4-difluoro- benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 459.4/461.4 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.9 (very broad), 7.9 (q, 1 H), 7.45 (t, 1 H), 7.3 (d, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.15-3.8 (m, 5H), 3.1 (m, 2H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.9-2.0 (m, 1 H), 1.6- 1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 87

N-[4-((S)-1-Propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3,5-bis-trifl uoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in

Example 59 using commercially available 3,5-bis-trifluoromethoxy- benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 481.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.8 (very broad), 8.5 (s, 1 H), 8.25 (s, 2H),

7.3 (d, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.15-3.7 (m, 5H), 3.1 (m, 2H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.9-2.0 (m, 1 H), 1.6-

1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 88

3-Bromo-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-5-tri fluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylchloride.

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.7 (very broad), 8.3 (s, 1 H), 8.15 (s, 1 H), 7.95 (s, 1 H), 7.3 (d, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.15-3.7 (m, 5H), 3.1 (m, 2H), 2.25-2.4 (m, 1 H), 1.85-2.05 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 89

N-[4-((S)-1-Propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-2,5-bis-trifl uoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 2,5-bis-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 481.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.5-11.0 (very broad), 8.35 (s, 1 H), 8.25 (s, 2H), 7.3 (broad, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.2-3.8 (m, 4H), 2.9-3.1 (m, 3H), 2.25-2.4 (m, 1 H), 1.8-2.05 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 90

5-Methyl-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid [4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-amide hydrochloride

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 5-methyl-thiopene-2-sulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 365.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 11.1-1 1.2 (very broad), 10.85-11.0 (very broad), 10.4 (m, 1 H), 7.4 (d, 1 H), 7.3 (d, 1 H), 7.25 (d, 1 H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 6.8 (s, 1 H), 3.2- 3.8 (m, 4H), 2.95-3.2 (m, 3H), 2.45 (s, 3H), 2.25-2.4 (m, 1 H), 1.85-2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 91 2-Methoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-5-trif luoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide

The title product was obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described in Example 59 using commercially available 2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 443.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.9 (very broad), 10.25 (very broad), 7.95 (m, 2H), 7.4 (d, 1 H), 7.3 (d, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 2.9-3.8 (several m, 7H), 2.25- 2.35 (m, 1 H), 1.8-2.0 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.75 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 92 N-((R)-3-Pyrrolidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesu lfonamide

The product was prepared as described for the synthesis of N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide (Example 67). Deprotection of the N- benzyl derivative was achieved through hydrogenation in the H-cube™.

ESI-MS: 371.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.0 (m, 2H), 7.85 (d, 1 H), 7.7 (m, 1 H), 7.0 (t, 1 H), 6.85 (s, 1 H), 6.8 (d, 1 H), 6.7 (d, 1 H), 3.35 (m, 1 H), 3.0-3.2 (m, 3H), 2.75 (m, 1 H), 2.05-2.2 (m, 1 H), 1.6-1.75 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 93

3-(2-Methyl-thiazol-4-yl)-N-((S)-3-pyrrolidin-3-yl-phenyl )-benzenesulfonamide

The product was prepared as described for the synthesis of N-[3-((S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide (Example 67). Deprotection of the N- benzyl derivative was achieved through hydrogenation with ammoniumformate and 10% Pd/C.

ESI-MS: 400.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.4 (s, 1 H), 8.1 (d, 1 H), 8.0 (s, 1 H), 7.65 (d, 1 H), 7.55 (t, 1 H), 7.1 (t, 1 H), 7.0 (s, 1 H), 6.8-6.9 (m, 2), 3.2 (m, 1 H), 2.85-3.1 (m, 3H), 2.7 (s, 3H), 2.55 (m, 1 H), 2.0-2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.5-1.65 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 94

N-[4-((3S,5R)-5-Methyl-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- 3-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

The product was prepared via the following intermediates:

propanal D HNO ₃ /H ₂ SO ₄ SnCL sodium / nitromethane / triacetoxy borohydride

94.1 (2S,4S)-4-Phenyl-pyrrolidine-1 ,2-dicarboxylic acid 1 -tert-butyl ester 2-methyl ester

4.48 g of commercially available (2S,4S)-Boc-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (15.37 mmol) were dissolved in 50 ml dimethylformamide. 2.59 g of potassium carbonate (18.76 mmol) and 2.66 g of methyl iodide (18.76 mmol) were added and the reaction was stirred for 48 h at room temperature. Standard work-up with ethyl acetate yielded 5.3 of the product.

ESI-MS: 206.1 (-Boc), 250.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.2-7.35 (m, 5H), 4.4-4.55 (m, 1 H), 3.9-4.1 (m,

1 H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 3.55 (m, 1 H), 3.4 (m, 1 H), 2.35 (m, 2H), 1.45 (m, 9H).

94.2 (2S,4S)-2-Hydroxymethyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester

4.2 g of (2S,4S)-4-Phenyl-pyrrolidine-1 ,2-dicarboxylic acid 1 -tert-butyl ester 2-methyl ester (13.75 mmol) in 30 ml tetrahydrofuran were slowly added to a suspension of 0.27 g of lithium aluminium hydride in 50 ml tetrahydrofurane. Stirring was continued for 5 h at 0-5°C and for 14 h at room temperature. For workup, a mixture of tetrahydrofu- rane/water (1 :1 ) was slowly added to the reaction mixture at 0°C. The solvent was then evaporated under reduced pressure, water was added and the pH was adjusted to about 5 with 20 % aqueous citric acid. The aqueous phase was extracted four times with ethyl acetate, the organic layers were combined, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure to yield 3.85 of product.

ESI-MS: 222.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.2-7.4 (m, 5H), 4.15 (m, 1 H), 3.65-3.8 (m, 3H), 3.35-3.5 (m, 2H), 3.1 (broad, 1 H), 2.15 (m, 1 H), 2.05 (m, 1 H), 1.5 (s, 9H).

94.3 (2S,4S)-2-Methanesulfonyloxymethyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-1-ca rboxylic acid tert- butyl ester

To 2.5 g of (2S,4S)-2-Hydroxymethyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (9.01 mmol) in 70 ml dichloromethane were added 1.92 g of triethylamine (18.02 mmol) and 1.03 g of methanesulfonylchloride (9.01 mmol), dissolved in 5 ml dichloro-

methane. The reaction was stirred for 16 h at room temperature and yielded 3.4 g of product after standard workup.

ESI-MS: 300.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

94.4 (2R,4S)-2-Methyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester

3.4 g of (2S,4S)-2-Methanesulfonyloxymethyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-1-ca rboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (9.56 mmol) were dissolved in 50 ml tetrahydrofurane. After addition of 15.1 ml lithium-dimethylaminoborohydride (14.34 mmol; 1 M in tetrahydrofurane), 1.93 ml triethylborane (1 M in tetrahydrofurane) were added and the reaction mixture stirred under reflux for 20 min. Standard workup gave 2.7 g of crude product which was purified via silica gel chromatography using a ISCO Companion instrument, yielding 1.69 g of purified product.

ESI-MS: 206.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.2-7.35 (m, 5H), 3.9-4.0 (m, 1 H), 3.7 (m, 1 H),

3.5 (m, 1 H), 3.15 (m, 1 H), 2.3 (d, 3H), 2.15 (m, 1 H), 1.9 (m, 1 H), 1.4 (s, 9H).

94.5 (2R,4S)-2-Methyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine

1.68 g of (2R,4S)-2-Methyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (6.42 mmol) were dissolved in 40 ml dichloromethane and 19.2 ml (38.56 mmol) 2N HCI in diethylether dropwise added. After stirring at room temperature for 16 h, the solvents were evaporated, the residue was dissolved in water, the pH was adjusted to pH 9 with aqueous sodium hydroxide, and the aqueous phase was extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The organic phases were combined, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to yield 1.05 g of product.

ESI-MS: 162.2 [M+H] ⁺

94.6 (2R,4S)-2-Methyl-4-phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

1.05 g of (2R,4S)-2-Methyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine (6.51 mmol) were dissolved in 30 ml dichloromethane, 0.58 g of acetic acid, 0.56 g of propionic aldehyde (9.76 mmol) and 2.07 g of sodium triacetoxyborohydride (9.76 mmol) were slowly added in portions.

After stirring at room temperature for 90 min., the solvent was evaporated, water was added and the pH was adjusted to pH 6. The aqueous phase was extracted three times with ethyl acetate, the organic phases were combined, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to yield 1.48 g of product.

ESI-MS: 204.1 [M+H] ⁺

Nitration followed by reduction of the nitro group with stannous dichloride and coupling of the aniline with 3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl sulfonyl chloride was performed as already described for other examples to yield 0.088 g of N-[4-((3S,5R)-5-Methyl-1-propyl- pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamid e hydrochloride.

ESI-MS: 427.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.65 (broad, 1 H), 10.5 (1 H), 7.95-8.1 (m, 3H), 7.8 (t, 1 H), 7.25 (d, 2H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 3.8 (m, 1 H), 3.65 (m, 1 H), 3.5 (m, 1 H), 3.25 (m, 1 H), 3.0 (m, 1 H), 2.95 (m, 1 H), 2.2 (m, 1 H), 2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 2H), 1.4 (d, 3H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 95 N-[4-(trans-4-Fluoromethyl-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl] -3-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide

The product was prepared via the following intermediates:

propanal SnCI, sodium triacetoxy bo ro hydride

95.1 trans-S-Fluoromethyl^-phenyl-pyrrolidine-i-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester

1.5 g trans-S-hydroxymethyM-phenyl-pyrrolidine-i-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (5.41 mmol) were dissolved in 20 ml dichloromethane and 1.31 g of diethylaminosul- furtrifluoride (DAST, 8.1 mmol) in 2 ml dichloromethane were added at 0°C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 72 h at room temperature, further dichloromethane and wa- ter were added, the organic phase was separated, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to dryness to yield 1.7 g of a light yellowish oil. The crude product was purified via silica gel chromatography using n-heptane/ethyl acetate (6:4) as eluent to yield 1.08 g product.

ESI-MS: 224.1 (-Boc) [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.2-7.4 (m, 5H), 4.45 (m, 0.5H), 4.35 (m, 1 H), 4.25 (m, 0.5H), 3.9 (m, 1 H), 3.8 (m, 1 H), 3.3-3.5 (m, 2H), 3.2 (m, 1 H), 2.5-2.7 (m, 1 H), 1.45 (s, 9H).

95.2 trans-3-Fluoromethyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 180.1 [M+H] ⁺

95.3 trans-3-Fluoromethyl-4-phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 222.1 [M+H] ⁺

95.4 trans-3-Fluoromethyl-4-(4-nitro-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 267.1 [M+H] ⁺

95.5 trans-3-Fluoromethyl-4-(4-amino-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 237.1 [M+H] ⁺

Coupling of trans-3-fluoromethyl-4-(4-amino-phenyl)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine with 3- trifluoromethyl-phenyl sulfonyl chloride using methods already described for other e- xamples yielded 0.155 g of N-[4-(trans-4-fluoromethyl-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl] - 3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide.

ESI-MS: 445.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-Ci ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.6 (broad, 1 H), 8.0-8.1 (m, 2H), 7.95 (s, 1 H), 7.8 (t, 1 H), 7.25 (d, 2H), 7.05 (d, 2H), 4.4 (m, 1 H), 4.3 (m, 1 H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.2 (m, 1 H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.9 (m, 2H), 2.75 (m, 2H), 2.55 (m, 1 H), 1.5-1.6 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 96

3-(5-Methyl-[1 ,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phe nyl]- benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

0.047 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide (Example 1 ) using commercially available 3-(5-Methyl- [1 ,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)-benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 427.0 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.4 (s, 1 H), 8.2 (d, 1 H), 7.9 (d, 1 H), 7.55 (t, 1 H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 7.0 (d, 2H), 3.35 (m, 1 H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.9 (m, 1 H), 2.8 (m, 1 H), 2.6 (s, 3H), 2.55 (m, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.85 (m, 1 H), 1.6 (m, 2H), 0.95 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 97 3-Fluoro-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzenesulfonamide trifluoroacetate

0.0065 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-pheny l]- benzenesulfonamide (Example 1 ) using commercially available 3-fluoro- benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 363.1 [M+H] ⁺

EXAMPLE 98 3-Chloro-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-benzene sulfonamide

0.1 18 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-pheny l]- benzenesulfonamide using commercially available 3-chloro-benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 379.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.75 (s, 1 H), 7.6 (d, 1 H), 7.5 (d, 1 H), 7.35 (t, 1 H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 7.0 (d, 2H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.0 (m, 1 H), 2.8 (m, 1 H), 2.7 (m, 1 H), 2.4-2.55 (m, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.8 (m, 1 H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 0.95 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 99 3-(2-Methyl-thiazol-4-yl)-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl )-phenyl]-benzenesulfonamide

0.1 13 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide (Example 1 ) using commercially available 3-(2-Methyl-thiazol-4- yl)-benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 442.0 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.4 (s, 1 H), 8.05 (d, 1 H), 7.7 (d, 1 H), 7.4 (m, 2H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 7.05 (d, 2H), 3.55 (m, 2H), 3.2-3.5 (m, broad, 2H), 2.9-3.0 (m, 3H), 2.7 (s, 3H), 2.35 (m, 1 H), 2.0-2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.75-1.9 (m, 2H), 0.95 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 100 N-[4-((S)-1 -Allyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesul fonamide

0.01 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]- benzenesulfonamide (Example 1 ) using commercially available 3-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 411.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.95 (s, 1 H), 7.9 (d, 1 H), 7.8 (d, 1 H), 7.6 (t, 1 H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 6.95 (d, 2H), 5.9 (m, 1 H), 5.2 (d, 1 H), 5.1 (d, 1 H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.1-3.2 (m, 2H), 3.0 (m, 1 H), 2.8 (m, 1 H), 2.65 (m, 1 H), 2.45 (m, 1 H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.8 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 101

N-((S)-4-Pyrrolidin-3-yl-phenyl)-3-trifluoromethyl-benzen esulfonamide

0.071 g of tris-(dibenzylidenaceton)-dipalladium(0) (0.08 mmol) and 0.033 g of 1 ,3-bis- (diphenylphosphino)-butane (0.08 mmol) were dissolved in 20 ml tetrahydrofurane and stirred for 30 min. 0.32 g of N-[4-((S)-1-allyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl - benzenesulfonamide (0.78 mmol), dissolved in 5 ml tetrahydrofurane, were added to the solution, followed by 0.129 g 2-mercaptobenzoic acid (0.84 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 72 h, the solvent was evaporated, and di- chloromethane and 1 N aqueous hydrochloric acid were added. The aqueous phase was adjusted to basic pH, extracted with dichlormethane and the combined organic layers were washed with aqueous sodium chloride solution, dried over sodium sul- phate, filtered and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The crude product

was purified via silica gel chromatography using a ISCO companion instrument to yield 0.01 g of product.

ESI-MS: 371.1 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 8.0 (d, 1 H), 7.95 (s, 1 H), 7.8 (d, 1 H), 7.7 (t, 1 H), 6.95 (d, 2H), 6.85 (d, 2H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.05-3.2 (m, 2H), 3.0 (m, 1 H), 2.7 (m, 1 H), 2.1 (m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 1 H).

EXAMPLE 102 4-Fluoro-N-[4-((S)-1 -propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide

0.253 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-pheny l]- benzenesulfonamide(Example 1 ) using commercially available 3-trifluoromethyl-4- fluoro-benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 431.2 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.5 (broad, 1 H), 8.1 (m, 1 H), 8.05 (d, 1 H), 7.75 (t, 1 H), 7.25 (d, 2H), 7.05 (d, 2H), 3.2-3.6 (m, 5H), 3.0 (m, 2H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.9 (m, 1 H), 1.65 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 103

3-Fluoro-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-5-tr ifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

0.080 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-pheny l]- benzenesulfonamide (Example 1 ) using commercially available 3-fluoro-5- trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 431.4 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSO-de, 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.55 (broad), 8.1 (d, 1 H), 7.9 (d, 1 H), 7.8 (s, 1 H), 7.3 (d, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 3.2-3.6 (m, 5H), 3.1 (m, 2H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.95 (m, 1 H), 1.7 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 104

2-Fluoro-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-5-tr ifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide

0.103 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-pheny l]- benzenesulfonamide(Example 1 ) using commercially available 2-fluoro-5- trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylchloride.

ESI-MS: 431.1 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.7 (very broad, 1 H), 8.1 (m, 1 H), 8.05 (d, 1 H), 7.7 (t, 1 H), 7.25 (d, 2H), 7.05 (d, 2H), 3.1-3.6 (m, 5H), 2.9-3.0 (m, 2H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.85 (m, 1 H), 1.6 (m, 2H), 0.9 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 105 3-Morpholin-4-yl-N-[4-((S)-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl] -benzenesulfonamide

0.033 g of the desired product were obtained following the same synthetic procedure as described for N-[4-((S)-1 -Propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-pyrrolidin-1 -yl- benzenesulfonamide (Example 71 ) using morpholine as amine.

ESI-MS: 430.5 [M+H] ⁺

¹ H-NMR (CDCI ₃ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 7.2-7.35 (m, 2H), 7.1-7.2 (m, 3H), 6.95-7.05 (m, 3H), 3.8 (t, 4H), 3.3 (m, 1 H), 3.1 (t, 4H), 3.05 (m, 1 H), 2.85 (m, 1 H), 2.7 (m, 1 H), 2.4-2.6 (m, 3H), 2.3 (m, 1 H), 1.8 (m, 1 H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 0.95 (t, 3H).

EXAMPLE 106

N-[4-(cis-2-Methyl-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-tr ifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

0.015 g of the product were prepared as described for the synthesis of N-[4-((3S,5R)-5- methyl-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-b enzenesulfonamide (Example 94) from commercially available Boc-cis-3-phenyl-pyrrolidin-2-carboxylic acid:

106.1 cis-3-Phenyl-pyrrolidine-1 ,2-dicarboxylic acid 1 -tert-butyl ester 2-methyl ester

ESI-MS: 206.1 (-Boc), 250.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

106.2 cis^-Hydroxymethyl-S-phenyl-pyrrolidine-i-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester

ESI-MS: 222.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

106.3 cis^-Methanesulfonyloxymethyl-S-phenyl-pyrrolidine-i-carboxy lic acid tert-butyl ester

ESI-MS: 256.2 (-Boc), 299.9 (-.Bu) [M+H] ⁺

106.4 cis^-Methyl-S-phenyl-pyrrolidine-i-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester

ESI-MS: 206.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

106.5 cis-2-Methyl-3-phenyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 162.1 [M+H] ⁺

106.6 cis-2-Methyl-3-phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 204.1 [M+H] ⁺

106.7 cis-2-Methyl-3-(4-nitro)phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 249.1 [M+H] ⁺

106.8 cis-2-Methyl-3-(4-amino)phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 219.1 [M+H] ⁺

Coupling of the aniline with 3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl sulfonyl chloride was performed as already described for other examples to yield 0.015 g of the final product.

ESI-MS: 427.1 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.3 (very broad), 8.0 (d, 1 H), 7.95 (d, 1 H), 7.85 (s, 1 H), 7.75 (t, 1 H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 7.0 (d, 2H), 3.8 (m, 1 H), 3.65 (m, 1 H), 3.3-3.6 (m, 2H), 3.1 (m, 1 H), 2.9 (m, 1 H), 2.2 (m, 2H), 1.65 (m, 2H), 0.85 (t, 3H), 0.7 (d, 3H).

EXAMPLE 107 N-[4-((3S,5S)-5-Methyl-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-t rifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride

0.053 g of the product were prepared as described for the synthesis of N-[4-((3S,5R)-5- methyl-1-propyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-phenyl]-3-trifluoromethyl-b enzenesulfonamide (Example 94) from commercially available (2R,4S)-Boc-4-phenyl-pyrrolidin-2-carboxylic acid:

107.1 (2R,4S)-4-Phenyl-pyrrolidine-1 ,2-dicarboxylic acid 1 -tert-butyl ester 2-methyl ester

ESI-MS: 206.0 (-Boc), 250.0 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

107.2 (2R,4S)-2-Hydroxymethyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester

ESI-MS: 222.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

107.3 (2R,4S)-2-Methanesulfonyloxymethyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-1 -carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester

ESI-MS: 256.1 (-Boc), 300.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

107.4 (2S,4S)-2-Methyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-1 -carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester

ESI-MS: 206.1 (-tBu) [M+H] ⁺

107.5 (2S,4S)-2-Methyl-4-phenyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 162.1 [M+H] ⁺

107.6 (2R,4S)-2-Methyl-4-phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 204.1 [M+H] ⁺

107.7 (2S,4S)-2-Methyl-4-(4-nitro)phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 249.1 [M+H] ⁺

107.8 (2S,4S)-Methyl-4-(4-amino)phenyl-1 -propyl-pyrrolidine

ESI-MS: 219.1 [M+H] ⁺

Coupling of the aniline with 3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl sulfonyl chloride was performed as already described for other examples to yield 0.053 g of the final product.

ESI-MS: 427.1 [M+H] ^{+ 1} H-NMR (DMSOd ₆ , 400 MHz): δ [ppm] 10.6 (very broad), 8.05 (m, 1 H), 8.0 (m, 2H), 7.8 (m, 1 H), 7.3 (m, 2H), 7.05 (m, 2H), 3.3-3.6 (m, 4H), 3.2 (broad, 1 H), 2.9 (broad, 1 H), 2.4 (broad, 1 H), 1.75 (broad, 2H), 1.65 (broad, 1 H), 1.4 (broad, 3H), 0.9 (broad, 3H).

III. Examples of galenic administration forms

A) Tablets

Tablets of the following composition are pressed on a tablet press in the customary manner:

40 mg of substance from Example 8 120 mg of corn starch

13.5 mg of gelatin

45 mg of lactose

2.25 mg of Aerosil® (chemically pure silicic acid in submicroscopically fine dispersion)

6.75 mg of potato starch (as a 6% paste)

B) Sugar-coated tablets

20 mg of substance from Example 8 60 mg of core composition 70 mg of saccharification composition

The core composition consists of 9 parts of corn starch, 3 parts of lactose and 1 part of 60:40 vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer. The saccharification composition consists of 5 parts of cane sugar, 2 parts of corn starch, 2 parts of calcium carbonate and 1 part of talc. The sugar-coated tablets which had been prepared in this way are subsequently provided with a gastric juice-resistant coating.

IV. Biological investigations

Receptor binding studies:

The substance to be tested was either dissolved in methanol/Chremophor® (BASF- AG) or in dimethyl sulfoxide and then diluted with water to the desired concentration.

Human 5HT ₆ receptor:

Characterization of the compounds of this invention to the human 5-HT6 receptor in the binding assay and the functional adenylyl cyclase assay

The compounds were dissolved in a concentration of 10 ^"2 M or 10 ^"3 M in DMSO. Fur- ther dilutions were performed in incubation buffer.

Binding assays

The procedure for the binding assay was based on the method of Monsma et al. (1993) MoI Pharmacol 43: 320-327. The binding reaction was carried out in a total volume of 0.250 ml for 60 min at 37°C. Membranes from HEK-293 cells stably expressing the human 5-HT6 receptor were incubated with 2 nM ³ H-LSD in the presence or absence of various concentrations of test compound for 60 min at 37 C. Non-specific binding was defined with 100 μM Serotonin (5-HT). Assays were performed in duplicate. Bound and free radioligand was separated by filtration and bound radioactivity determined by liquid scintillation counting.

Evaluation:

The specific ligand binding to the receptors was defined as the difference between the total binding and the nonspecific binding determined in the presence of an excess of unlabelled 5-HT. The results are expressed as a percent of control specific binding obtained in the presence of compound. The IC ₅₀ values (concentration causing a half- maximal inhibition of control specific binding) and Hill coefficients (nH) were determined by non-linear regression analysis of the competition curves using Hill equation curve fitting.

The inhibition constants (K,) were calculated from the Cheng Prusoff equation (K, = IC50/(1 +(L/KD)), where L = concentration of radioligand in the assay, and KD = affinity of the radioligand for the receptor).

Functional adenylyl cyclase assay

Membranes of human HeIa cells stably expressing human 5-HT6 receptors were incubated for 20 min at 37 ⁰ C in HBSS, 1 mM MgCI2, 1 mM CaCI2, 100 MM IBMX, pH 7.4 in

the presence and absence of test compounds. For agonistic effect, compounds were incubated alone. For antagonistic effects inhibition of 0.3 μM serotonin (5-HT)-induced cAMP increase was determined.

Evaluation: cAMP accumulation was determined by EIA quantification.

Dopamine D ₃ receptor:

The assay mixture (0.250 ml) was composed of membranes derived from ~ 10 ⁶

HEK-293 cells possessing stably expressed human dopamine D ₃ receptors, 0.1 nM [ ¹²⁵ l]-iodosulpride and incubation buffer (total binding) or, in addition, test substance (inhibition curve) or 1 μM spiperone (nonspecific binding). Each assay mixture was run in triplicate.

The incubation buffer contained 50 imM tris, 120 mM NaCI, 5 mM KCI, 2 mM CaCI ₂ , 2 mM MgCI ₂ and 0.1 % bovine serum albumin, 10 μM quinolone and 0.1 % ascorbic acid (prepared fresh daily). The buffer was adjusted to pH 7.4 with HCI.

Dopamine D _2L receptor:

The assay mixture (1 ml) was composed of membranes from ~ 10 ⁶ HEK-293 cells possessing stably expressed human dopamine D _2L receptors (long isoform) and 0.01 nM [ ¹²⁵ I] iodospiperone and incubation buffer (total binding) or, in addition, test sub- stance (inhibition curve) or 1 μM haloperidol (nonspecific binding). Each assay mixture was run in triplicate.

The incubation buffer contained 50 mM tris, 120 mM NaCI, 5 mM KCI, 2 mM CaCI ₂ , 2 mM MgCI ₂ and 0.1 % bovine serum albumin. The buffer was adjusted to pH 7.4 with HCI.

Measurement and analysis:

After having been incubated at 25°C for 60 minutes, the assay mixtures were filtered through a Whatman GF/B glass fiber filter under vacuum using a cell collecting device. The filters were transferred to scintillation viols using a filter transfer system. After 4 ml of Ultima Gold ^® (Packard) have been added, the samples were shaken for one hour and the radioactivity was then counted in a Beta-Counter (Packard, Tricarb 2000 or 2200CA). The cpm values were converted into dpm using a standard quench series and the program belonging to the instrument.

The inhibition curves were analyzed by means of iterative nonlinear regression analysis using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) which is similar to the "LIGAND" program described by Munson and Rodbard.

The results of the receptor binding studies are expressed as receptor binding constants K,(5HT ₆ ), K ₁ (D ₃ ) and K ₁ (D ₂ ), respectively, as herein before described, and given in table 6.

In these tests, the compounds according to the invention exhibit very good affinities for the 5HT ₆ receptor (< 50 nM, or < 10 nM, frequently < 5 nM). Some of the compounds, in particular those having as 1 ,4-phenylene as group A, also exhibit very good affinities for the D ₃ receptor (< 50 nM, or < 10 nM, frequently < 5 nM) and bind selectively to the D ₃ receptor, as compared to the affinity for the D ₂ receptor.

The results of the binding tests are given in table 6.

Table 6:

^* Receptor binding constants obtained according to the assays as described herein before

Assay for testing the compatibility of dopamine D ₃ and 5HT ₆ receptor ligands

Microdialysis Studies

An increase in cholinergic function is widely believed to improve cognitive performance, an increase of cortical extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) can be regarded as a biochemical marker for potential pro-cognitive effects.

Therefore, microdialysis studies in freely moving rats were performed. The effects of 5- HT ₆ receptor ligands, selective D ₃ ligands or the combination of both principles, on acetylcholine release in the medial prefrontal cortex and in the hippocampus has been investigated: one guide cannula was implanted into the medial prefrontal cortex (AP = 2.5; ML = 0.6; DV = - 0.2) and the second into the hippocampus (AP = -5.5; ML = 4.5; DV = -4.5). 5 to 7 days after surgery, 2 microdialysis probes (CMA/12, 3 mm membrane length) were slowly lowered into the final position. On the day of the experiment, the test compound or its vehicle (2 ml/kg) was administered intraperitoneally. Microdi- alysate fractions (six 20-min fractions before and six fractions after compound administration) were analyzed for acetylcholine by high performance liquid chromatography in combination with electrochemical detection (for methods see Fox et al., J. Phamacol. Exp. Ther. 2005, 313, 176 to 190 and detailed description below).

5-HT ₆ receptor ligands and selective D ₃ receptor ligands increased dose-dependently extracellular ACh levels in the medial prefrontal cortex and in the hippocampus. The combination of both 5-HT ₆ receptor ligands and D ₃ receptor ligands resulted in an at least additive effect of both principles in the medial prefrontal cortex and in the hippocampus, suggesting thus that the combination of both principles may offer a therapeutic benefit in CNS disorders characterized by impaired cognitive functions, including dementia and schizophrenia.

Furthermore, mixed D ₃ /5-HT ₆ receptor ligands also increase microdialysate ACh levels in the medial prefrontal cortex and in the hippocampus. Based on dose comparisons, compounds combining D ₃ /5-HT ₆ within the molecule are more potent in increasing cortical cholinergic function than "pure" D ₃ receptor antagonists.

Microdialysis Experiments

Surgery

For pain prophylaxis, Rimadyl® (3 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered before surgery. Individual male Sprague-Dawley rats (290 - 320 g body weight) anesthetized with pentobarbital (60 mg/kg, i.p, Narcoren®, Rhone-Merieux GmbH, France) were mounted in a KOPF stereotaxic frame and two microdialysis guide cannula (CMA/12, Axel Semrau GmbH, Germany) were implanted into selected brain areas of the same animal: one guide cannula was implanted into the medial prefrontal cortex (AP = 2.5; ML = 0.6; DV

= - 0.2) and the second into the hippocampus (AP = -5.5; ML = 4.5; DV = -4.5). The guide cannula were secured with dental cement (Technovit powder, Product No 5071 , Technovit polymerization starter fluid, Product No 2060, Kulzer GmbH, Germany) and 4 anchor screws into the skull. The rats were allowed to recover from surgery for 5-7 days. The day before the experiment, each animal was transferred into a system allowing for free movement (CMA/120 Axel Semrau GmbH, Germany, consisting of a plastic bowl, wire attachment, counter-balance arm, swivel assembly connecting in-/outlet of the probe with the perfusion pump). Next, a CMA/12 microdialysis probe (3 mm membrane length) was slowly lowered into the final position. The probe was perfused with Ringer solution (147 mM NaCI, 4.0 mM KCI and 2.4 mM CaCI ₂ , containing 1 μM neostigmine), for about one hour (CMA/102 microdialysis pump, Axel Semrau GmbH, Germany; 1.5 μl/min). The probe was perfused again 24 hours later for at least 1 hour before microdialysate fractions were collected every 20 minutes. Six fractions before and six fractions after the intraperitoneally administration of the test compound or vehi- cle were analyzed for microdialysate levels of acetylcholine by HPLC with electrochemical detection.

Assay of Microdialysate Acetylcholine Levels

10 μl of each microdialysate fraction was injected onto a reversed phase column (MF- 8908 Acetylcholine SepStik Kit; microbore column, particle size 10 μm, 530 x 1.0 mm coupled to an immobilized enzyme reactor 50 x 1.0 mm, particle size 10 μm, containing acetylcholinesterase and choline oxidase; BAS, U.S.A.) using a refrigerated autosam- pler (HTC PAL twin injector autosampler system, Axel Semrau, Germany). The mobile phase consisted of 50 mmol/l Na ₂ HPO ₄ (pH 8.5) and 5 ml/l Kathon. Flow rate was 0.14 ml/min (Rheos Flux pump, Axel Semrau GmbH, Germany), and the sample run time was less than 15 minutes. Acetylcholine and choline were measured via an electrochemical detector (LC-4C, BAS, U.S.A.) with a platinum working electrode set at + 500 mV versus an Ag/AgCI reference electrode. The system was calibrated by standard solutions (acetylcholine, choline) containing 1 pmol/10 μl injection. Acetylcholine was identified by its retention time and peak height with an external standard method using chromatography software (Chrom Perfect®, version 4.4.22, Justice Laboratory Software, U.S.A.).

Microdialysis (area under curve 0 - 120 min) data were evaluated for significance using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett's pair-wise comparison post hoc test using GraphPad Prism v 4.0 software.