The invention relates to specific carboxamides, to processes for their preparation, to medicaments comprising these compounds and to the use of these compounds in the preparation of medicaments.

The treatment of pain, in particular of neuropathic pain, is of great importance in medicine. There is a worldwide need for effective pain therapies. The urgent need for action for a target-orientated treatment of chronic and non-chronic states of pain appropriate for the patient, by which is to be understood the successful and satisfactory treatment of pain for the patient, is also documented in the large number of scientific works which have recently been published in the field of applied analgesics and of fundamental research into nociception.

A pathophysiological feature of chronic pain is the overexcitability of neurons. Neuronal excitability is influenced decisively by the activity of K ⁺ channels, since these determine decisively the resting membrane potential of the cell and therefore the excitability threshold. Heteromeric K ⁺ channels of the molecular subtype KCNQ2/3 (Kv7.2/7.3) are expressed in neurons of various regions of the central (hippocampus, amygdala) and peripheral (dorsal root ganglia) nervous system and regulate the excitability thereof. Activation of KCNQ2/3 K ⁺ channels leads to a hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and, accompanying this, to a decrease in the electrical excitability of these neurons. KCNQ2/3- expressing neurons of the dorsal root ganglia are involved in the transmission of nociceptive stimuli from the periphery into the spinal marrow (Passmore er a/., J. Neurosci. 2003; 23(18): 7227-36).

It has accordingly been possible to detect an analgesic activity in preclinical neuropathy and inflammatory pain models for the KCNQ2/3 agonist retigabine (Blackburn-Munro and Jensen, Eur J Pharmacol. 2003; 460(2-3); 109-16; Dost et al., Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2004; 369(4): 382-390).

The KCNQ2/3 K ⁺ channel thus represents a suitable starting point for the treatment of pain; in particular of pain selected from the group consisting of chronic pain, neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain and muscular pain (Nielsen ef a/., Eur J Pharmacol. 2004; 487(1-3): 93-103), in particular of neuropathic and inflammatory pain.

Moreover, the KCNQ2/3 K ⁺ channel is a suitable target for therapy of a large number of further diseases, such as, for example, migraine (US2002/0128277), cognitive diseases (Gribkoff, Expert Opin Ther Targets 2003; 7(6): 737-748), anxiety (Korsgaard er a/., J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2005, 14(1 ): 282-92), epilepsy (Wickenden ef a/., Expert Opin Ther Pat 2004; 14(4): 457-469; Gribkoff, Expert Opin Ther Targets 2008, 12(5): 565-81 ; Miceli et al., Curr Opin Pharmacol 2008, 8(1 ): 65-74), urinary incontinence (Streng et al., J Urol 2004; 172: 2054-2058), dependency (Hansen et al., Eur J Pharmacol 2007, 570(1 - 3): 77-88), mania/bipolar disorders (Dencker et al., Epilepsy Behav 2008, 12(1 ): 49-53), dystonia- associated dyskinesias (Richter ef a/., Br J Pharmacol 2006, 149(6): 747-53).

CONFIRSV3ATSOM COPY There is a need for further compounds with comparable or better properties, not only in respect of affinity for KCNQ2/3 as such (potency, efficacy).

For example, it can be advantageous to improve the metabolic stability, the solubility in aqueous media or the permeability of the compounds. These factors can have a positive effect on the oral bioavailability or can change the PK PD (pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic) profile, which can lead, for example, to a more advantageous duration of action.

A weak or non-existent interaction with transporter molecules, which are involved in the uptake and excretion of medicaments, is also to be categorized as an indication of improved bioavailability and low medicament interactions. Further, interactions with the enzymes that are involved in the degradation and excretion of medicaments should also be as low as possible, because such test results likewise indicate that low or no medicament interactions at all are to be expected.

It can also be advantageous for the compounds to exhibit a high selectivity in respect of other receptors of the KCNQ family (specificity), for example in respect of KCNQ1 , KCNQ3/5 or KCNQ4. A high selectivity can have a positive effect on the side-effect profile. For example, it is known that compounds ' which (also) bind to KCNQ1 involve a high risk of cardiac side-effects, for which reason high selectivity in respect of KCNQ1 can be desirable. However, a high selectivity in respect of other receptors can also be advantageous. A low affinity for the hERG ion channel or for the L-type calcium ion channel

(phenylalkylamine, benzothiazepine, dihydropyridine binding sites) can be advantageous because those receptors are associated with the occurrence of cardiac side-effects. Overall, an improved selectivity in respect of the binding to other endogenous proteins (i.e. e.g. receptors or enzymes) can lead to an improvement in the side-effect profile and hence to improved tolerability.

An object of the invention was, therefore, to provide novel compounds which have advantages over the compounds of the prior art. The compounds should be suitable in particular as pharmacological active ingredients in medicaments, especially in medicaments for the treatment of disorders or diseases that are mediated at least in part by KCNQ2/3 K ⁺ channels.

That object is achieved by the subject-matter of the patent claims.

Substituted aryl- or heteroaryl-amides which are suitable as antagonists of the EP ₄ receptor are known from the prior art (WO 2005/105733). Also known are compounds which are suitable as inhibitors of the DPP-IV enzyme (WO 2007/015767) and of the Ι Ι -β-HSDI enzyme (WO 2008/012532). 2-substituted nicotinamides are known as KCNQ modulators from WO2009/036938 and WO2010/102809.

It has been found, surprisingly, that carboxamides of the general formula (I) below are suitable for the treatment of pain. It has further been found, surprisingly, that carboxamides of the general formula (I) below also have an excellent affinity for the KCNQ2/3 K ⁺ channel and are therefore suitable for the treatment of disorders or diseases that are mediated at least in part by KCNQ2/3 ⁺ channels. The carboxamides thereby act as modulators, that is to say agonists or antagonists, of the KCNQ2/3 K ⁺ channel.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a compound of the general formula (I)

(I),

wherein

A ¹ represents CR ¹⁰ R ¹¹ or S;

A ² represents CR ¹² R ¹³ , C(=0), O, S, S(=0) or S(=0) ₂ ;

A ³ , A ⁴ and A ⁵ independently of each other represent CR ⁷ , N, O, S or NR ⁸ ,

A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ or N, and

n denotes 0 or 1 ,

with the proviso, that

if n denotes 0, then precisely one of A ³ , A ⁴ and A ⁵ represents O, S or NR ⁸ , or

if n denotes 1 , then A ³ , A ⁴ and A ⁵ independently of each other represent CR ⁷ or N;

and with the proviso, that if n denotes 1 and A ³ , A ⁴ and A ⁵ each represent CR ⁷ , then A ⁶ does not represent N;

R ¹ represents

C _! o-aliphatic residue, unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted;

C ₃ . ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue or 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted and in each case optionally linked via a C^-aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted;

aryl or heteroaryl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted and in each case optionally linked via a C^e-aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted;

R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ² and R ¹³ each independently of the others represents

H; F; CI; Br; I; N0 ₂ ; CF ₃ ; CN; OH; OCF ₃ ; SH; SCF ₃ ; C _1-10 -aliphatic residue, O-d.io-aliphatic residue or S-Ci_ ₀ -aliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted;

or C3. ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted; or R ² and R ³ or R ⁴ and R ⁵ or R ¹⁰ and R ¹ or R ¹² and R ¹³ or R ² and R ¹¹ or R ² and R ⁴ or R ² and R ¹³ or R ⁴ and R ¹³ or R ⁴ and R ¹ or R ¹¹ and R ¹³ , together with the carbon atom(s) joining them, form a C^o-cycloaliphatic residue or a 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted; wherein the remaining substituents R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³ in each case have the meaning given above;

R ⁶ represents

C ₃ . ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue or 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted;

or represents an aryl or a heteroaryl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted; each R ⁷ is selected independently from the group consisting of

H, F; CI; CN; CF ₃ ; CHF ₂ ; CH ₂ F; OCF ₃ ; OCHF ₂ ; OCH ₂ F; SCF ₃ ; O-C^-aliphatic residue, C _1-4 - aliphatic residue or S(=0) ₂ -C . ₄ -aliphatic residue, wherein the C _1-4 -aliphatic residue in each case may be saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted; and R ⁸ represents H or C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, wherein the aliphatic residue may be saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted; in which an "aliphatic group" and "aliphatic residue" may in each case be branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, in which a "cycloaliphatic residue" and a "heterocycloaliphatic residue" may in each case be saturated or unsaturated, in which "mono- or polysubstituted" with respect to an "aliphatic group", an "aliphatic residue", a

"cycloaliphatic residue" and a "heterocycloaliphatic residue" relates, with respect to the corresponding residues or groups, to the substitution of one or more hydrogen atoms each independently of one another by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , Nh^C^-aliphatic residue), N^C^-aliphatic residue) ₂ , NH-C^C -C^ aliphatic residue, N(Ci_ ₄ aliphatic residue)-C(=0)-C . ₄ aliphatic residue, NH-S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ . ₄ aliphatic residue, N(Ci- ₄ aliphatic residue S^O^-C^ aliphatic residue =0, OH, OCF ₃ , 0-d. -aliphatic residue, 0-C(=0)-C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, SH, SCF ₃ , S-C,. - aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ OH, S^O^-C^-aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ -0-C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ - NhKC^-aliphatic residue), S(=0) ₂ -N(C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , CN, CF ₃ , CHO, COOH, C^-aliphatic residue, C(=0)-C . ₄ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)-0-C-|. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C^e-cycloaliphatic residue, 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, benzyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C(=0)NH ₂ , a

residue) and residue) ₂ ; in which "mono- or polysubstituted" with respect to "aryl" and a "heteroaryl" relates, with respect to the corresponding residues, to the substitution of one or more hydrogen atoms each independently of one > another by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(d.4-aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , NH-C(=0)-C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, N(d. ₄ aliphatic residue)-C(=0)-C ₁ . ₄ aliphatic residue, NH-S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ . ₄ aliphatic residue, N(Ci_ ₄ aliphatic residue, SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ OH, S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ -O-C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, residue) ₂ , CN, CF ₃ , C(=0)H,

C(=0)OH, d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)-C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)-0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C^- cycloaliphatic residue, 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, benzyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C(=0)NH ₂ , C(=0)-NH(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) and C(=0)-N(C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ ; in the form of an individual single stereoisomer or a mixture of the stereoisomers in any mixing ratio, and/or in the form of a free compound, a solvate and and/or a physiologically acceptable salt.

Within the scope of this invention, the terms "aliphatic residue" or "aliphatic group" include acyclic saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals, which can be branched or unbranched as well as unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted, having from 1 to 10 or from 1 to 8 or from 1 to 6 or from 1 to 4 or from 1 to 2 or from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, that is to say d. ₁₀ -alkanyls, C ₂ -i ₀ -alkenyls and C ₂ . ₁₀ -alkynyls or d. ₈ -alkanyls, C ₂ . ₈ -alkenyls and C ₂ . ₈ -alkynyls or d. ₆ -alkanyls, C ₂ _ ₆ -alkenyls and C ₂ -e-alkynyls or d„ ₄ - alkanyls, C ₂ . ₄ -alkenyls and C ₂ . ₄ -alkynyls or d_ ₂ -alkanyls, C ₂ -alkenyls and C ₂ -alkynyls or C ₂ - ₆ -alkanyls, C ₂ . ₆ -alkenyls and C ₂ . ₆ -alkynyls. Alkenyls contain at least one C-C double bond and alkynyls contain at least one C-C triple bond. Alkyl is preferably selected from the group comprising methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 2-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n- nonyl, n-decyl, ethenyl (vinyl), ethynyl, propenyl (-CH ₂ CH=CH ₂ , -CH=CHCH ₃ , -C(=CH ₂ )CH ₃ ), propynyl (- CH ₂ C≡CH, -C≡CCH ₃ ), butenyl, butynyl, pentenyl, pentynyl, hexenyl and hexynyl, heptenyl, heptynyl, octenyl, octynyl, nonenyl, nonynyl, decenyl and decynyl.

For the purposes of this invention, the terms "cycloaliphatic residue" or "C ₃ . ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue", "C ₃ _ 8-cycloaliphatic residue" and "C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue" denote cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons having 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 carbon atoms or having 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 carbon atoms or having 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms, wherein the hydrocarbons can be saturated or unsaturated (but not aromatic), unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted. The bonding of the cycloaliphatic residue to the general structure of higher order can take place via any desired and possible ring member of the cycloalkyl radical. The

cycloaliphatic residue can also be fused with further saturated, (partially) unsaturated, (hetero) cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems, that is to say with cycloaliphatic residue, heterocycloaliphatic residue, aryl or heteroaryl, which can themselves be unsubstituted or mono- or poly- substituted. The cycloaliphatic residue radicals can further be bridged one or more times, as, for example, in the case of adamantyl, bicyclo[2.2.1 ]heptyl or bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl. Cycloalkyl is preferably selected from the group comprising cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclo- heptyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctyl, cyclooctenyl cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, adamantyl as well as

The term "3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue" or "3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue" or "heterocycloaliphatic residue" includes aliphatic saturated or unsaturated (but not aromatic) heterocycloaliphatic residues having preferenially from three to ten, that is to say 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, ring members or from from three to seven, that is to say 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, ring members in which at least one carbon atom, optionally also two or three carbon atoms, has been replaced by a heteroatom or heteroatom group in each case selected independently of one another from the group consisting of O, S, S(=0), S(=0) ₂ , N, NH and N(C-,.8-alkyl), preferably N(CH ₃ ), wherein the ring members can be unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted. The bonding of the heterocycloaliphatic residue to the general structure of higher order can take place via any desired and possible ring member of the heterocycloaliphatic residue. The heterocycloaliphatic residues can also be fused with further saturated, (partially) unsaturated (hetero)cycloaliphatic or aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems, that is to say with cycloaliphatic residue, heterocycloaliphatic residue, aryl or heteroaryl, which can themselves be unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted. Heterocycloaliphatic residues are preferably selected from the group comprising azetidinyl, aziridinyl, azepanyl, azocanyl, diazepanyl, dithiolanyl, dihydroquinolinyl, dihydropyrrolyl, dioxanyl, dioxolanyl, dihydroindenyl, dihydropyridinyl, dihydrofuranyl, dihydroisoquinolinyl, dihydroindolinyl, dihydroisoindolyl, imidazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, oxiranyl, oxetanyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydropyrrolyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroindolinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyridinyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, tetrahydropyridoindolyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, tetrahydrocarbolinyl,

tetrahydroisoxazolopyridinyl, thiazolidinyl and thiomorpholinyl.

Within the scope of this invention, the term "aryl" denotes aromatic hydrocarbons having up to 14 ring members, inter alia phenyls and naphthyls. Each aryl radical can be unsubstituted or mono- or poly- substituted, it being possible for the aryl substituents to be identical or different and to be in any desired and possible position of the aryl. The aryl can be bonded to the general structure of higher order via any desired and possible ring member of the aryl radical. The aryl radicals can also be fused with further saturated, (partially) unsaturated, (hetero)cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems, that is to say with cycloaliphatic residue, heterocycloaliphatic residue, aryl or heteroaryl, which can themselves be unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted. Examples of fused aryl radicals are benzodioxolanyl and benzodioxanyl. Aryl is preferably selected from the group containing phenyl, 1 -naphthyl and 2-naphthyl, each of which can be unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted. A particularly preferred aryl is phenyl, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted.

The term "heteroaryl" denotes a 5- or 6-membered cyclic aromatic radical which contains at least 1 heteroatom, optionally also 2, 3, 4 or 5 heteroatoms, wherein the heteroatoms are in each case selected independently of one another from the group S, N and O and the heteroaryl radical can be unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted; in the case of substitution on the heteroaryl, the substituents can be identical or different and can be in any desired and possible position of the heteroaryl. Bonding to the general structure of higher order can take place via any desired and possible ring member of the heteroaryl radical. The heteroaryl can also be part of a bi- or poly-cyclic system having up to 14 ring members, wherein the ring system can be formed with further saturated, (partially) unsaturated, (hetero)- cycloaliphatic residue or aromatic or heteroaromatic rings, that is to say with cycloaliphatic residue, heterocycloaliphatic residue, aryl or heteroaryl, which can themselves be unsubstituted or mono- or poly- substituted. It is preferred for the heteroaryl radical to be selected from the group comprising benzo- furanyl, benzoimidazolyl, benzothienyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzotriazolyl, benzooxazolyl, benzooxadiazolyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, carbazolyl, quinolinyl, dibenzofuranyl, dibenzothienyl, furyl (furanyl), imidazolyl, imidazothiazolyl, indazolyl, indolizinyl, indolyl, isoquinolinyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, indolyl, naphthyridinyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, phthalazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl (2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl), pyrrolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, purinyl, phenazinyl, thienyl (thiophenyl), triazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl and triazinyl. Furyl, pyridyl and thienyl are particularly preferred.

Within the scope of the invention, the expressions "linked via C _1-4 -aliphatic group" in relation to aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycloaliphatic residue or cycloaliphatic residue is understood that d. ₄ -aliphatic group and aryl or heteroaryl or heterocycloaliphatic residue or cycloaliphatic residue have the meanings defined above and the aryl or heteroaryl or heterocycloaliphatic residue or cycloaliphatic residue is bonded to the general structure of higher order via a C^-aliphatic group. The aliphatic group can in all cases be saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted. The d-4- aliphatic group is preferably selected from C _1-4 -alkyl groups, preferably from the group comprising of - CH ₂ -,

-CH ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH(CH ₃ )-, -CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ -, -CH(CH ₂ CH ₃ )-, -CH ₂ (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₂ -,

-CH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ CH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ -, -CH(CH ₃ )CH(CH ₃ )-, -CH(CH ₂ CH ₃ )CH ₂ -,

-C(CH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH(CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ )-, -C(CH ₃ )(CH ₂ CH ₃ )-, -CH=CH-, -CH=CHCH ₂ -,

-C(CH ₃ )=CH ₂ -, -CH=CHCH ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ CH=CHCH ₂ -, -CH=CHCH=CH-, -C(CH ₃ )=CHCH ₂ -,

-CH=C(CH ₃ )CH ₂ -, -C(CH ₃ )=C(CH ₃ )-, -C(CH ₂ CH ₃ )=CH-, -C≡C-, -C≡CCH ₂ -, -C≡CCH ₂ CH ₂ -,

-C≡CCH(CH ₃ )-, -CH ₂ C≡CCH ₂ - and -C≡CC(CH ₃ ) ₂ -.

In relation with "aliphatic residue", "aliphatic group", "heterocycloaliphatic residue" and "cycloaliphatic residue", the expression "mono- or poly-substituted" is understood as meaning within the scope of this invention the substitution of one or more hydrogen atoms one or more times, for example two, three or four times, in each case independently of one another, by substituents selected from the group comprising F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(d-4-aliphatic residue) ₂ , NH-C(=0)-d-4 aliphatic residue, N(d-4-aliphatic residue)-C(=0)-C ₁ . ₄ aliphatic residue, NH-S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue)-S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue,=0, OH, OCF ₃ , O-d-4-aliphatic residue, 0-C(=0)- C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, SH, SCF ₃ , S-C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ OH, S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ -0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ -NH(C _1-4 -aliphatic residue), S(=0) ₂ -N(d-4-aliphatic residue) ₂ , CN, CF ₃ , CHO, COOH, C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, C(=0)-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)-0-C,. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C ₃ . 6-cycloaliphatic residue, 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, benzyl, aryl, heteroaryl,

C(=0)NH ₂ , a C(=0)-NH(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) and C(=0)-N(C ₁ _ ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ ; wherein polysubstituted radicals are to be understood as being radicals that are substituted several times, for example two, three or four times, either on different atoms or on the same atom, for example three times on the same carbon atom, as in the case of CF ₃ or CH ₂ CF ₃ , or at different places, as in the case of CH(OH)-CH=CH-CHCI ₂ . A substituent can itself optionally be mono- or poly-substituted. Polysubstitution can take place with the same or with different substituents.

Preferred substituents of "aliphatic residue", "aliphatic group", "heterocycloaliphatic residue" or

"cycloaliphatic residue" are selected from the group comprising F, CI, Br, NH ₂ , NH(d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , NH-C(=0)-C ₁ . ₄ aliphatic residue, NH-S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ _ ₄ -aliphatic residue, =0, OH, OCF ₃ , 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, 0-C(=0)-C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ . -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ - NH(Ci_4-aliphatic residue), S(=0) ₂ -N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , CN, CF ₃ , COOH, d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C3_ ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue, 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, C(=0)NH ₂ , residue) ₂ .

In relation with "aryl" and "heteroaryl", the term "mono- or poly-substituted" is understood within the scope of this invention as meaning the substitution of one or more hydrogen atoms of the ring system one or more times, for example two, three or four times, in each case independently of one another, by substituents selected from the group comprising

F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , _t NH(C,. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(d-4-aliphatic residue) ₂ , NH-

aliphatic residue, N(C _1-4 aliphatic residue)-S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ _ ₄ -aliphatic residue, OH, OCF ₃ , 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, 0-C(=0)-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ OH, S(=0) ₂ -d- ₄ - aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ -0-C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, S(=0) ₂ -NH(C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue), S(=0) ₂ -N(C ₁ - - aliphatic residue) ₂ , CN, CF ₃ , C(=0)H, C(=0)0H, residue, C(=0)-0-C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue, C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue, 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, benzyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C(=0)NH ₂ , C(=0)-NH(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) and C(=0)-N(C ₁ _ ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ ; on one atom or optionally on different atoms, wherein a substituent can itself optionally be mono- or polysubstituted. Polysubstitution is carried out with the same or with different substituents.

Preferred "aryl" and "heteroaryl" substituents are F; CI; Br; CF ₃ ; CN; C _-4 -aliphatic residue;

phenyl; naphthyl; pyridyl; thienyl; furyl; C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue; 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue; C(=0)-d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue; C0 ₂ H; C(=0)-0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue; C0NH ₂ ; C(=0)-NH(C _1-4 - aliphatic residue); C(=0)-N(d. -aliphatic residue) ₂ ; OH; 0-Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue; 0CF ₃ ; 0-C(=0)-C ₁ . ₄ - aliphatic residue; NH ₂ ; NH(d-4-aliphatic residue); N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ ; N(H)C(=0)-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue; S-C _1-8 -alkyl; SCF ₃ ; S(=0) ₂ C _1-4 -aliphatic residue; S(=0) ₂ -N(H)C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue.

The compounds according to the invention are defined by substituents, for example by R ^A , R ^B and R ^c (1 st generation substituents), which are themselves optionally substituted (2nd generation substituents). Depending on the definition, these substituents of the substituents can in turn themselves be substituted (3rd generation substituents). If, for example, R ^A = aryl (1 st generation substituent), aryl can itself be substituted, for example by d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue (2nd generation substituent). This yields the functional group ar l-C - -aliphatic residue. C^-aliphatic residue can then in turn itself be substituted, for example by CI (3rd generation substituent). Overall, this then yields the functional group aryl-C^-aliphatic residue- Cl.

In a preferred embodiment, however, the 3rd generation substituents cannot themselves be substituted, that is to say there are no 4th generation substituents.

In another preferred embodiment, the 2nd generation substituents cannot themselves be substituted, that is to say there are not even any 3rd generation substituents. In other words, in this embodiment, for example in the case of the general formula (I), the functional groups for R ¹ to R ¹⁴ can in each case optionally be substituted, but the substituents in each case cannot themselves be substituted.

In some cases, the compounds according to the invention are defined by substituents which are or carry an aryl or heteroaryl radical, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted, or which, together with the carbon atom(s) or heteroatom(s) joining them as ring member(s), form a ring, for example an aryl or heteroaryl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted. Both these aryl or heteroaryl radicals and the aromatic ring systems so formed can optionally be fused with C ₃ .i ₀ -cycloaliphatic residue or heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated, that is to say with a C ₃ .i ₀ -cyclo- aliphatic residue such as cyclopentyl or with a heterocycloaliphatic residue such as morpholinyl, it being possible for the C ₃ _ ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue or heterocycloaliphatic residue radicals so fused to be unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted.

In some cases, the compounds according to the invention are defined by substituents which are or carry a C ₃ . ₁₀ -heterocycloaliphatic residue or heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted, or which, together with the carbon atom(s) or heteroatom(s) joining them as ring member(s), form a ring, for example a C^o-cycloaliphatic residue or heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted. Both these C ₃ . ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic or heterocycloaliphatic residue and the aliphatic ring systems formed can optionally be fused with aryl or heteroaryl, that is to say with an aryl such as phenyl or with a heteroaryl such as pyridyl, it being possible for the aryl or heteroaryl radicals so fused to be unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted.

Within the scope of the present invention, the symbol

used in formulae denotes a linking of a corresponding radical to the general structure of higher order.

The expression "salt formed with a physiologically acceptable acid" is understood within the scope of this invention as meaning salts of the active ingredient in question with inorganic or organic acids that are physiologically acceptable - in particular when used in humans and/or mammals. The hydrochloride is particularly preferred. Physiologically acceptable salts with cations or bases are salts of the compound in question - in the form of the anion with at least one, preferably inorganic cation - that are physiologically acceptable - in particular when used in humans and/or mammals.

One embodiment of the first aspect of the invention is a compound of the general formula (I),

characterized in that

A ¹ represents CR ¹⁰ R ¹¹ or S;

A ² represents CR ¹² R ¹³ , C(=0), 0, S, S(=0) or S(=0) ₂ ;

A ³ , A ⁴ and A ⁵ independently of each other represent CR ⁷ , N, O, S or NR ⁸ ,

A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ or N, and

n denotes 0 or 1 ,

with the proviso, that

if n denotes 0, then precisely one of A ³ , A ⁴ and A ⁵ represents O, S or NR ⁸ , or

if n denotes 1 , then A ³ , A ⁴ and A ⁵ independently of each other represent CR ⁷ or N;

and with the proviso, that if n denotes 1 and A ³ , A ⁴ and A ⁵ each represent CR ⁷ , then A ⁶ does not represent N;

R ¹ denotes a residue, unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , Nh^C^-aliphatic residue), N{C _1-4 -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, O-C^-aliphatic residue, 0CF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C^-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C _1-4 -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH,

wherein the C^-aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and O-C^-aliphatic residue,

or denotes a C ₃ . ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue or a 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue), NiC^-aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)OH, C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue and a 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue,

wherein the Ci_ ₄ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, and

wherein the C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue and the 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(C ₁ _ ₄ - aliphatic residue), N(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C,. -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH, and wherein the C _3-10 -cycloaliphatic residue or the 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case optionally linked via a C _1-4 -aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , N^C^-aliphatic residue), N^C^-aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C^-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C^-aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH,

or denotes aryl or heteroaryl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N C^-aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C^-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C^-aliphatic residue, C(=0)OH, C(=0)CH ₃ , C(=0)C ₂ H ₅ , C(=0)OCH ₃ ,

C(=0) C ₃ . ₆ cycloaliphatic residue, 3 to 6 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, _t

, , benzyl, phenyl, thienyl, pyridyl, furyl, thiazolyl and oxazolyl,

wherein the Ci _-4 -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and O-C^-aliphatic residue, and

wherein benzyl, phenyl, thienyl, pyridyl, furyl, thiazolyl and oxazolyl may in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH^^-aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ - aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , 0CH ₂ CH ₂ 0H, OCH ₂ OCH ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)OH, C(=0)CH ₃ , C(=0)C ₂ H ₅ , C(=0)OCH ₃ , C(=0)0C ₂ H ₅ , and

wherein the C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue and the 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(C _1-4 - aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C,. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, d. ₄ -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH, and wherein the aryl or the heteroaryl residue may in each case be optionally linked via a C _1-4 -aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(d_ 4-aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, O-d^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C,. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN and C(=0)OH,

R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³

each independently of the others represents H; F; CI; Br; I; N0 ₂ ; CF ₃ ; CN; OH; OCF ₃ ; SH; SCF ₃ ; C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue or S-Ci _-4 -aliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched,

wherein the C _1-4 -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and 0-C ₁ _ ₄ -aliphatic residue,

or a C ₃ . ₀ -cycloaliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH^^-aliphatic residue), N(d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d_ ₄ - aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH,

wherein the d. ₄ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and O-C^-aliphatic residue, and wherein the C ₃ .i ₀ -cycloaliphatic residue may in each case optionally linked via a C-i _-4 -aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(d. -aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C _1-4 -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH,

or R ² and R ³ or R ⁴ and R ⁵ or R ¹⁰ and R ¹¹ or R ² and R ¹³ or R ² and R ¹¹ or R ² and R ⁴ or R ² and R ¹³ or R ⁴ and R ³ or R ⁴ and R ¹ or R and R ¹³ , together with the carbon atom(s) joining them, form a C ₃ . ₁₀ - cycloaliphatic residue or a 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated and in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(Ci_ ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, d_ ₄ - aliphatic residue and C(=0) OH,

wherein the d. ₄ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue,

and wherein the C ₃ . ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue or the 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case optionally linked via a Ci. ₄ -aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(C _lJ( -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, d. ₄ -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH,

and wherein the remaining substituents R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³ in each case have the meaning given above;

R ⁶ represents a C^o-cycloaliphatic residue or a 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated and in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(d_ ₄ - aliphatic residue), N(C _1- -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S- d-4-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)OH, C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue and 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue,

wherein the d. ₄ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and 0-d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue, and

wherein the C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue and the 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(C _1- - aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C _1-4 -atiphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C _-4 -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH,

and wherein the C^o-cycloaliphatic residue or the 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case optionally linked via a d. -aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C^-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH, or

represents aryl or heteroaryl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C ₁ _ ₄ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)OH, C(=0)CH ₃ , C(=0)C ₂ H ₅ , C(=0)OCH ₃ , '°> )OC H -cycloaliphatic residue, 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, ^ ^"" 0 , benzyl, phenyl, thienyl, pyridyl, furyl, thiazolyl and oxazolyl,

wherein the d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and O-C^-aliphatic residue, and wherein benzyl, phenyl, thienyl, pyridyl, furyl, thiazolyl and oxazolyl may in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(C _-4 - aliphatic residue), N(d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, 0-d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , OCH ₂ CH ₂ OH, OCH ₂ OCH ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C _1-4 - aliphatic residue, C(=0)OH, C(=0)CH ₃ , C(=0)C ₂ H ₅ , C(=0)OCH ₃ and C(=0)OC ₂ H ₅ , and

wherein the C3. ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue and the 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d.4-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-Ci.4-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C _1-4 -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH,

and wherein the aryl or the heteroaryl residue may in each case be optionally linked via a C _1-4 -aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN and C(=0)OH, each R ⁷ independently of each other represents H, F; CI; CN; CF ₃ ; CHF ₂ ; CH ₂ F; OCF ₃ ; OCHF ₂ ;

OCH ₂ F; SCF ₃ ; a 0-C-|. ₄ -aliphatic residue, a C _-4 -aliphatic residue or a S(=0) ₂ -C _-4 - aliphatic residue, wherein the C _-4 -afiphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and O-d.4-aliphat.ic residue, and R ⁸ represents H or C _-4 -aliphatic residue,

wherein the C^-aliphatic residue may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and O-Ci-4-aliphatic residue.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the general formula (I) is characterized in that

A ¹ represents S and

A ² represents CR ² R ¹³ , S or S(=0) ₂ .

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound of the general formula (I) is characterized in that

A ¹ represents S and

A ² represents S(=0) ₂ .

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound of the general formula (I) is

characterized in that

A ¹ represents S and

A ² represents CR ¹² R ¹³ .

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound of the general formula (I) is

characterized in that

A ¹ represents S and

A ² represents CR ¹² R ¹³ , wherein R ¹² and R ¹³ both represent H or both represent F.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound of the general formula (I) according to the invention has the general formula (la), (lb), (lc), (Id), (le) or (If):

Compounds of the general formulae (la), (lb) and (Ic) are particularly preferred. Compounds of the general formula (la) are especially preferred.

Particularly, compounds of the general formula (la) are preferred, wherein R ¹² and R ¹³ both represent H. Particularly, compounds of the general formula (la) are preferred, wherein R ¹² and R ¹³ both represent F. Within the scope of the present invention, the central structural element of general formula (I),

represents a 5-membered (for n = 0) or a 6-membered aryl or heteroaryl residue (for n = 1 ). The residue is aromatic as depicted by the dashed bond presentation.

If n represents 1 , then central structural element in general formula (I) represents a 6-membered heteroaryl residue (1-1):

If n represents 0, then the partial structure in general formula (I) represents a 5-membered heteroaryl residue (I-2) or (I-3) or (I-4):

To retain aromaticity of the 5-membered heterocycle, it is understood within the scope of the invention, that, if n denotes 0 and A ³ represents O or S or NR ⁸ , the compound according to general formula (I) is represented by formula (I-2),

that, if n denotes 0 and A ⁵ represents O or S or NR ⁸ , the compound according to general formula (I) is represented by formula (I-3), and

that, if n denotes 0 and A ⁴ represents O or S or NR ⁸ , the compound according to general formula (I) is represented by formula (I-4).

In another embodiment of the invention, the compound according to general formula (I) is characterized in that

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (1-1 a)),

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents N, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (M b)),

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents N, A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (1-1 c)),

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents N and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula ( d)),

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents N, A ⁴ represents N, A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (I- 1e)),

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents N, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents N and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (I- 1f)),

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents N, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents N (formula (I- 1g)). (l-lg); or

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents N, A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents N (formula (I- 1 )),

(1-1 h); or

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents N, A ⁵ represents N and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (I-

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents N and A ⁶ represents N (formula (I-

n denotes 0 and A ³ represents S, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ (formula (l-3a)),

n denotes 0 and A ³ represents S, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁵ represents N (formula (l-3b)),

n denotes 0 and A ³ represents O, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ (formula (l-3c)),

n denotes 0 and A ³ represents O, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁵ represents N (formula (l-3d)),

n denotes 0 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁵ represents S (formula (l-2a)),

n denotes 0 and A ³ represents N, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁵ represents S (formula (l-2b)), (l-2b); or

n denotes 0 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁵ represents O (formula (l-2c)),

n denotes 0 and A ³ represents N, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁵ represents O (formula (l-2d)),

In preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound according to general formula (I) is characterized in that

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (1-1 a)); or

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents N, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (1-1 b)); or

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents N, A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (l-1c»; or

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents N and A ⁶ represents CR ⁷ (formula (l-1d)); or

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents N, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents N (formula (I- ig)); or

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents N, A ⁵ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁶ represents N (formula (I- 1 h)); or

n denotes 1 and A ³ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ , A ⁵ represents N and A ⁶ represents N (formula (I- 1j)); or

n denotes 0 and A ³ represents S, A ⁴ represents CR ⁷ and A ⁵ represents N (formula (l-3b)). In a further preferred embodiment, the radical R ¹ represents

C^o-aliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NFKC^-aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d. ₄ - aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C _1- -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C^-aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH, wherein the d. ₄ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and O-C^-aliphatic residue,

wherein the d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and 0-d„ ₄ -aliphatic residue;

C ₃ - ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue or 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-C _1- -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C _-4 -aliphatic residue, C(=0)OH, C ₃ . _e -cycloaliphatic residue and a 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue,

wherein the d_ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and 0-Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue, and

wherein the C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue and the 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(C _-4 - aliphatic residue), N(C-|. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d_ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C,. ₄ -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH, and wherein the C^o-cycloaliphatic residue or the 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case optionally linked via a d_ ₄ -aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(Ci_ ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-d- ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, d. ₄ -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH,

or aryl or heteroaryl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(Ci_ ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, 0-d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-d- -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, d_ -aliphatic residue, C(=0)OH, C(=0)CH ₃ , C(=0)C ₂ H ₅ , C(=0)OCH ₃ , C(=0)OC ₂ H ₅ , C ₃ . ₆ cycloaliphatic residue, 3 to 6

¾°> ¾°) ^

membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, _ ^ ^' 0 _{t t} ^ ^' -^ , benzyl, phenyl, thienyl, pyridyl, furyl, thiazolyl and oxazolyl,

wherein the d_ ₄ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and 0-d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, and

wherein benzyl, phenyl, thienyl, pyridyl, furyl, thiazolyl and oxazolyl may in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , Nh^C^-aliphatic residue), N(d. ₄ - aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , OCH ₂ CH ₂ OH, OCH ₂ OCH ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C^-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, C^-aliphatic residue, C(=0)OH, C(=0)CH ₃ , C(=0)C ₂ H ₅ , C(=0)OCH ₃ , C(=0)OC ₂ H ₅ , and

wherein the C ₃ . ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue and the 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue may in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(C _1-4 - aliphatic residue), N^C^-aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-Ci_ ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C _ ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN, Ci _-4 -aliphatic residue and C(=0)OH,

and wherein the aryl or the heteroaryl residue may in each case be optionally linked via a C-i-4-aliphatic group, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, N0 ₂ , NH ₂ , NH(C _! _ 4-aliphatic residue), NtC^-aliphatic residue) ₂ , OH, =0, 0-Ci. -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , SH, SCF ₃ , S-C^-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , CN and C(=0)OH.

In a further preferred embodiment, the substituent R ¹ represents the partial structure (T1 )

wherein

R ^14a and R ^{1 b} each independently of another represent

H; F; CI; Br; CF ₃ ; CN; OH; OCF ₃ ; NH ₂ ; C _1-4 -a!iphatic residue, O-C^-aliphatic residue, N(H)d.4-aliphatic residue, N(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ ,

wherein the C^-aliphatic residue in each case is saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OH and OCF ₃ ;

C ₃ -io-cycloaliphatic residue or 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OH, =0, O-d. 4-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , NH ₂ , N(H)C ₁ _ ₄ -aliphatic residue and N(Ci.4-aliphatic residue) ₂ ; m represents 0, 1 , 2 or 3;

Y represents O or NR ¹⁵ ,

wherein R ¹⁵ represents H or

Ci_ ₄ -aliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, d-4-aliphatic residue, OH, 0-d- ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , NH ₂ , N(H)d. ₄ -aliphatic residue and N(d. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ ; or

C ₃ . ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , NH ₂ , N(H)C-|. ₄ - aliphatic residue and NKC^-aliphatic residue) ₂ ; o represents 0 or 1 ,

B represents C _1-8 -aliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched,

unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, CN, OH, =0, 0-Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C(=0)OH, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NH(C _1- -aliphatic residue) and N C^-aliphatic residue) ₂ ; or C ₃ _ ₁₀ -cycloaliphatic residue or 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C - -aliphatic residue, C0 ₂ H, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NI- C^-aliphatic residue), N C^-aliphatic residue) ₂ or SCF ₃ ;

or

aryl or heteroaryl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, N0 ₂ , CN, OH, 0-C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C^-aliphatic residue, C0 ₂ H, CF ₃ , NH ₂ ,

NH(C _1-4 -aliphatic residue), N(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ , S-C^-aliphatic residue, SCF ₃ , phenyl, pyridyl and thienyl,

wherein benzyl, phenyl, pyridyl, thienyl can in each case be unsubstituted or mono- or poly- substituted by one or more substituents selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, N0 ₂ , CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C,. ₄ -aliphatic residue, C0 ₂ H, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NH(C . ₄ -aliphatic residue), N(C _1-4 -aliphatic residue) ₂ , S-C^-aliphatic residue and SCF ₃ .

Preferably,

R ^{1 a} and R ^14b each independently of another represent

H; F; CI; Br; CF ₃ ; CN; OH; OCF ₃ ; NH ₂ ; C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, O-C^-aliphatic residue, N(H)d. ₄ -aliphatic residue, N(C _1-4 -aliphatic residue) ₂ ,

wherein the C - -aliphatic residue in each case is saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, O-C^-aliphatic residue and OH;

C ₃ . ₀ -cycloaliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, OH and O-C^-aliphatic residue;

m represents 0, 1 , 2 or 3;

Y represents O or NR ¹⁵ ;

wherein R ¹⁵ represents H; or

C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted; or

C ₃ .io-cycloaliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted;

o represents 0 or 1 ; B represents

C^e-aliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NF C^-aliphatic residue), NiC^-aliphatic residue) ₂ ; or

C ₃ -io-cycloaliphatic residue or 3 to 7 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C _-4 -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NHiC^-aliphatic residue) and NKC^-aliphatic residue) ₂ ; or

aryl or heteroaryl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , Ci_ ₄ -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NH^^-aliphatic residue) and N(C ₁ . -aliphatic residue) ₂ .

Particularly preferably,

R ^{1 a} and R ^14b each independently of the other represents H; F; CI; CF ₃ ; CN; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ;

CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; cyclopropyl; (CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ CH ₃ ; C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ; CH ₂ CF ₃ ; OH; OCH ₃ ; OCH ₂ CH ₃ ;

0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OCH ₃ or O(CH ₂ ) ₂ OH; OCF ₃ ; NH ₂ ; N(H)CH ₃ ; N(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; N(H)CH ₂ CH ₃ ; N(CH ₂ CH ₃ ) ₂ ; or

N(CH ₃ )(CH ₂ CH ₃ );

m represents 0, 1 or 2;

o represents 0; and

B represents

C _1- -aliphatic residue, saturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly- substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, OH, 0-Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ and CF ₃ ;

Cs-10-cycloaliphatic residue, saturated, unsubstituted; or

phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, thienyl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or di- or tri-substituted by one, two or three substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C _1- -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NH^^-aliphatic residue) and N(d.4-aliphatic residue) ₂ .

Most particularly preferably,

R ^4a and R ^14b each independently of another represent H; F; CI; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ;

(CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ CH ₃ ; C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ; OH; OCH ₃ ; OCH ₂ CH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OCH ₃ or 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OH; m represents 0, 1 or 2;

o represents 0; and

B represents CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; (CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ CH ₃ ; C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ;

cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl; cyclopentyl; cyclohexyl; cycloheptyl; adamantyl; bicyclo[2.2.1 ]heptyl; bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl; phenyl, pyridyl or thienyl,

in each case unsubstituted or mono-, di- or tri-substituted by one, two or three substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C^-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NHiC^-aliphatic residue) and N(Ci- ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ . structure (T-1 ) for R ¹ yields the partial structure (T1 -1 ):

In a preferred embodiment for n = 0, R ^4a and R ^4b each independently of the other represents H; F; CI; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; (CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ CH ₃ ; C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ; OH; OCH ₃ ; OCH ₂ CH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OCH ₃ ; or 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OH.

In a preferred embodiment for m = 0, 1 or 2, particularly preferred for m = 0, B represents phenyl, pyridyl or thienyl, mono- or di- or tri-substituted by one, two or three substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C _1- -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NHiC^-aliphatic residue) and N(C _-4 -aliphatic residue) ₂ .

In a preferred embodiment for m = 1 or 2, B represents cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl; cyclopentyl; cyclohexyl; cycloheptyl; adamantyl; bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl or bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl.

In a preferred embodiment for m = 0, 1 or 2, B represents CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ;

(CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ CH ₃ or C(CH ₃ ) ₃ .

A further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound of the general formula (I) has the general formula (II):

(II).

In a further embodiment of the invention, each radical R ⁷ , independently of another, represents

H, F; CI; CN; CF ₃ ; CHF ₂ ; CH ₂ F; OCF ₃ ; OCHF ₂ ; OCH ₂ F; SCF ₃ ; O-C^-aliphatic residue, d. ₄ -aliphatic residue or S(=0) ₂ -C ₁ . ₄ -aliphatic residue,

wherein the C ₁ _ ₄ -aliphatic residue in each case may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and O-C^-aliphatic residue.

Preferably, each radical R ⁷ , independently of another, represents H, F; CI; CN; CF ₃ ; CHF ₂ ; CH ₂ F; OCF ₃ ; OCHF ₂ ; OCH ₂ F; SCF ₃ ; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; (CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ CH ₃ ; C(CH ₃ ); CH ₂ CF ₃ ; OCH ₃ ; OCH ₂ CH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; OCH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; OCH(CH ₃ )CH ₂ CH ₃ ; OC(CH ₃ ); 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OCH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OH; S(=0) ₂ CH ₃ S(=0) ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ , S(=0) ₂ CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ or S(=0) ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ ;

Particularly preferably, each radical R ⁷ , independently of another, represents

H, F; CI; CN; CF ₃ ; OCF ₃ ; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ or OCH ₃ .

Most preferably, each radical R ⁷ , independently of another, represents

H; F; CI; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; OCH ₃ or CF ₃ ; in particular H.

In a further embodiment of the invention,

R ⁸ represents H or Ci- -aliphatic residue,

wherein the C _-4 -aliphatic residue may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ and 0-C _-4 -aliphatic residue.

Preferably, R ⁸ represents H; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ or CF ₃ .

Particularly preferably, R ⁸ represents H or CH ₃ or CH ₂ CH ₃ or CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ .

Most preferably, R ⁸ represents H or CH ₃ .

In a further preferred embodiment,

the radicals R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³ each independently of another represent

H; F; CI; Br; I; N0 ₂ ; CF ₃ ; CN; OH; OCF ₃ ; SH; SCF ₃ ; C _1- -aliphatic residue; O-C^-aliphatic residue or S-

C _1-4 -aliphatic residue,

wherein the C _1-4 -aliphatic residue in each case may be saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH and 0-Ci_ ₄ - aliphatic residue; or

C ₃ - ₆ -cycloaliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, =0 and 0-Ci- ₄ -aliphatic residue; or R ² and R ³ or R ⁴ and R ⁵ or R ¹⁰ and R ¹¹ or R ² and R ¹³ or R ² and R ¹¹ or R ² and R ⁴ or R ² and R ¹³ or R ⁴ and R ¹³ or R ⁴ and R ¹¹ or R ¹¹ and R ¹³ together with the carbon atom(s) joining them, form a cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, pyrrolidinyl or piperidinyl,

in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH, =0 and O-C^- aliphatic residue; wherein the remaining substituents R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³ in each case have the meaning given above. Preferably, the radicals R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ³ each independently of the others represents H; F; CI; CF ₃ ; CN; OH; OCF ₃ ; SCF ₃ ; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; (CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; CH(CH) ₃ CH ₂ CH ₃ ; C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ; OCH ₃ ; OCH ₂ CH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OCH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OH; SCH ₃ ; SCH ₂ CH ₃ ; cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl;

cyclopentyl; cyclohexyl;

or R ² and R ³ or R ⁴ and R ⁵ or R ¹⁰ and R or R ¹² and R ¹³ or R ² and R ¹¹ or R ² and R ⁴ or R ² and R ¹³ or R ⁴ and R ¹³ or R ⁴ and R ¹¹ or R ¹¹ and R ¹³ , together with the carbon atom(s) joining them, form a cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl, in each case unsubstituted; wherein the remaining substituents R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³ in each case have the meaning given above.

Particularly preferably, the radicals R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³ each independently of another represent H; F; CI; CN; CF ₃ ; OCF ₃ ; SCF ₃ ; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; cyclopropyl; OCH ₃ ; SCH ₃ ; or

R ² and R ⁴ form a cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl ring substituted as desired by H, F, CI, CH ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₃ , OCH ₃ , preferably an unsubstituted cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl ring.

Most preferably, the radicals R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ³ each independently of another represent H; F; CI; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; cyclopropyl; in particular H; F; CH ₃ or CH ₂ CH ₃ .

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound according to formula (I) is characterized in that

the readicals R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ each represent H.

In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound according to formula (I) is characterized in that

the readicals R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ each represent H and

the radicals R ² and R ¹³ each represent H.

In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound according to formula (I) is characterized in that

the readicals R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ each represent H and

the radicals R ¹² and R ¹³ each represent F.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound according to formula (I) is characterized in that

the radicals R ¹² and R ¹³ each independently of another represent H, F or CH ₃ .

More preferably, the radicals R ¹² and R ¹³ each independently of another represent H or F.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention,

the radical R ⁶ represents

C ₃ .io-cycloaliphatic residue or 3 to 10 membered heterocycloaliphatic residue, in each case saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , CN, OH, =0, 0-Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C^-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , SH, S-C^-aliphatic residue and SCF ₃ ; or

aryl or heteroaryl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, N0 ₂ , CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C _1- -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NHfC^-aliphatic residue),

NKC^-aliphatic residue) ₂ , SH, S-C _-4 -aliphatic residue and SCF ₃ .

Preferably,

R ⁶ represents

C ₃ .6-cycloaliphatic residue, saturated or unsaturated; or

pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-methylpiperazinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl,

in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, OH,

O-C^- aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C^-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , SH, S-C - -aliphatic residue and SCF ₃ ; or

phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl or thienyl,

in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, CN, OH, 0-C _1-4 -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C _-4 -aliphatic residue, CF ₃ , SH, S-C^-aliphatic residue and SCF ₃ .

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention,

the radical R ⁶ is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, pyridyl or thienyl,

in each case unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, CN, OH, O-C^-aliphatic residue,

OCF ₃ , d.4-aliphatic residue, CF ₃ and SCF ₃ .

In most particularly preferred embodiment of the invention,

R ⁶ represents phenyl, pyridyl and thienyl, in each unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, CN, CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; (CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; (CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; CH(CH) ₃ CH ₂ CH ₃ ; C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ; OCH ₃ ; OCH ₂ CH ₃ ; OH, OCF ₃ , CF ₃ , and SCF ₃ .

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound according to formula (I) is characterized in that

A ¹ represents S; represents S(=0) ₂ or CR ¹² R ¹³ ,

wherein R ¹² and R ¹³ both represent H or both represent F; represents the partial structure (T1 -1 ) - -(-CR ^4a R ^14b -)— B wherein

R ^{1 a} and R ^14b each independently of the other represents H; F; CI; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ;

(CH ₂ ) ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; (CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ; CH(CH) ₃ CH ₂ CH ₃ ; C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ; OH; OCH ₃ ;

OCH ₂ CH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OCH ₃ ; or 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OH;

m represents 0, 1 or 2 and

B represents phenyl or naphthyl or pyridyl or thienyl, in each case unsubstituted or mono- or di- or tri-substituted by one, two or three substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, CN, OH, 0- _1- -aliphatic residue, OCF ₃ , C _1-4 -aiiphatic residue, C(=0)-OH, CF ₃ , NH ₂ , NH(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue) and N(Ci. ₄ -aliphatic residue) ₂ ;

R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³

each independently of the others represent H; F; CI; Br; I; N0 ₂ ; CF ₃ ; CN; OH; OCF ₃ ; SH; SCF ₃ ; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH) ₃ CH ₂ CH ₃ ;

CH ₂ CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ; OCH ₃ ; OCH ₂ CH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OCH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OH; SCH ₃ ; SCH ₂ CH ₃ ; cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl; cyclopentyl; cyclohexyl; or R ² and R ³ or R ⁴ and R ⁵ or R ¹⁰ and R ¹¹ or R ¹² and R ¹³ or R ² and R ¹¹ or R ² and R ⁴ or R ² and R ³ or R ⁴ and R ¹³ or R ⁴ and R ¹ or R ¹¹ and R ¹³ , together with the carbon atom(s) joining them, form a cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl, in each case unsubstituted;

wherein the remaining substituents R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ³ in each case have the meaning given above;

R ⁶ represents phenyl,

unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by one or more substituents each selected independently of one another from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, I, CN, OH, OCH ₃ , OCH ₂ CH ₃ , OCF ₃ , CH ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₃ , CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ and CF ₃ ; each R ⁷ represents H, F; CI; CN; CF ₃ ; CHF ₂ ; CH ₂ F; OCF ₃ ; OCHF ₂ ; OCH ₂ F; SCF ₃ ; CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH ₃ ;

CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ ; CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ ; CH(CH) ₃ CH ₂ CH ₃ ; CH ₂ CH(CH ₃ )2; C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ; OCH ₃ ;

OCH ₂ CH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OCH ₃ ; 0(CH ₂ ) ₂ OH; S(=0) ₂ CH ₃ S(=0) ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ , S(=0) ₂ CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ or

S(=0) ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ ;

and

R ⁸ represents H or CH ₃ or CH ₂ CH ₃ or CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ .

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the compound according to formula (I) is seleced from the group consisting of

1 2-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-benzamide,

2 N-(3,3-Dimethyl-butyl)-2-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propylsulfanyl] -benzamide, 3 3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-p^

acid amide,

4 3-[2-(Benzenesulfonyl)-ethylsulfanyl]-N-(thiophen-2-yl-methy l)-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid amide,

5 4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid amide,

6 4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-f luorophenyl)-methyl]-pyridine-3- carboxylic acid amide,

7 3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-pyridine-4-carboxylic acid amide,

8 3-[2-(Benzenesulfonyl)-ethylsulfanyl]-N-(thiophen-2-yl-methy l)-pyridine-4-carboxylic acid amide,

9 3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid amide,

10 4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-pro

acid amide,

11 4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-pro

carboxylic acid amide,

12 3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-pro

acid amide,

13 3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-f luorophenyl)-methyl]-pyridazine-4^ carboxylic acid amide,

14 4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-f luorophenyl)-methyl]-thiazole-^^ carboxylic acid amide,

15 4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-f luorophenyl)-methyl]-2-methyl- thiazole-5-carboxylic acid amide, or physiologically acceptable salts thereof.

The specific carboxamides according to the invention and in each case the corresponding acids, bases, salts and solvates are suitable as pharmaceutical active ingredients in medicaments.

In another aspect, the invention therefore further provides a medicament comprising at least one carboxamide of the general formula (I) according to the invention wherein the radicals R ¹ to R ¹⁴ have the meaning given above and, optionally, one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances.

In addition to at least one compound according to the invention, the medicaments according to the invention optionally comprise suitable additives and/or auxiliary substances, that is to say also carriers, fillers, solvents, diluents, colorings and/or binders, and can be administered as liquid medicament forms in the form of injection solutions, drops or juices, as semi-solid medicament forms in the form of granules, tablets, pellets, patches, capsules, plasters/spray-on plasters or aerosols. The choice of auxiliary substances etc. and the amounts thereof to be used are dependent on whether the medicament is to be administered orally, perorally, parenterally, intravenously, intraperitoneal^, intradermal^, intramuscularly, intranasally, buccally, rectally or locally, for example to the skin, the mucosa or into the eyes.

Preparations in the form of tablets, dragees, capsules, granules, drops, juices and syrups are suitable for oral administration, and solutions, suspensions, readily reconstitutable dry preparations and sprays are suitable for parenteral, topical and inhalatory administration. Compounds according to the invention in a depot, in dissolved form or in a plaster, optionally with the addition of agents that promote penetration through the skin, are suitable percutaneous forms of administration. Forms of preparation for administration orally or percutaneously can release the compounds according to the invention in a delayed manner. The compounds according to the invention can also be administered in parenteral long- term depot forms such as, for example, implants or implanted pumps. In principle, other further active ingredients known to the person skilled in the art can be added to the medicaments according to the invention.

The medicaments according to the invention are suitable for influencing KCNQ2/3 channels and exert an agonistic or antagonistic action, in particular an agonistic action.

The medicaments according to the invention are preferably suitable for the treatment of disorders or diseases that are mediated at least in part by KCNQ2/3 channels.

The medicaments according to the invention are suitable preferably for the treatment of one or more diseases selected from the group consisting of pain, especially pain selected from the group consisting of acute pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, muscular pain and inflammatory pain; epilepsy, urinary incontinence, anxiety, dependency, mania, bipolar disorders, migraine, cognitive diseases, dystonia- associated dyskinesias and/or urinary incontinence.

The medicaments according to the invention are suitable particularly preferably for the treatment of pain, most particularly preferably of chronic pain, neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain and muscular pain.

The medicaments according to the invention are also particularly preferably suitable for the treatment of epilepsy.

In another aspect of the invention, the invention further provides the use of at least one carboxamide according to the invention, and optionally one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of disorders or diseases that are mediated at least in part by KCNQ2/3 channels.

Preference is given to the use of at least one carboxamide according to the invention, and optionally one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of pain, especially pain selected from the group consisting of acute pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, muscular pain and inflammatory pain; epilepsy, urinary incontinence, anxiety, dependency, mania, bipolar disorders, migraine, cognitive diseases, dystonia-associated dyskinesias and/or urinary incontinence. Particular preference is given to the use of at least one carboxamide according to the invention, and optionally one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of pain, most particularly preferably chronic pain, neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain and muscular pain.

Particular preference is given also to the use of at least one carboxamide according to the invention, and optionally one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of epilepsy.

In another aspect of the invention, the invention further provides at least one carboxamide according to the invention, and optionally one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, for the treatment of disorders or diseases that are mediated at least in part by KCNQ2/3 channels.

In another aspect of the invention, the invention further provides at least one carboxamide according to the invention, and optionally one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, for the treatment of pain, especially pain selected from the group consisting of acute pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, muscular pain and inflammatory pain; epilepsy, urinary incontinence, anxiety, dependency, mania, bipolar disorders, migraine, cognitive diseases, dystonia-associated dyskinesias and/or urinary incontinence.

Particular preference is given to at least one carboxamide according to the invention, and optionally one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, for the treatment of pain, most particularly preferably of chronic pain, neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain and muscular pain.

Particular preference is given also to at least one carboxamide according to the invention, and optionally one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, for the treatment of epilepsy.

The effectiveness against pain can be shown, for example, in the Bennett or Chung model (Bennett, G.J. and Xie, Y.K., A peripheral mononeuropathy in rat that produces disorders of pain sensation like those seen in man, Pain 1988, 33(1 ), 87-107; Kim, S.H. and Chung, J.M., An experimental model for peripheral neuropathy produced by segmental spinal nerve ligation in the rat, Pain 1992, 50(3), 355-363). The effectiveness against epilepsy can be demonstrated, for example, in the DBA/2 mouse model (De Sarro et al., Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 2001 , 363, 330-336).

The specific carboxamides according to the invention preferably have an EC ₅₀ value of not more than 5 μΜ or not more than 3 μΜ, more preferably not more than 2 μΜ or not more than 1 μΜ, yet more preferably not more than 0.9 μΜ or not more than 0.6 μΜ, most preferably not more than 0.5 μΜ or not more than 0.3 μΜ and especially not more than 0.2 μΜ or not more than 0.1 μΜ. Methods for determining the EC ₅₀ value are known to the person skilled in the art. The EC ₅₀ value is preferably determined by fluorimetry, particularly preferably as described under "Pharmacological Experiments". In another aspect of the invention, the invention further provides processes for the preparation of the carboxamides according to the invention.

The term "compounds according to the invention" or "carboxamides according to the invention" in foregoing aspects of the invention encompasses all possible stereoisomers and tautomers as well as the respective corresponding acids, bases, salts and solvates.

The embodiments and in particular the preferred embodiments of any aspect of the present invention apply to all other aspects of the inventions respectively.

The chemicals and reaction components used in the reactions described hereinbelow are available commercially or can in each case be prepared by conventional methods known to the person skilled in the art.

General reaction schemes

General reaction scheme I (synthesis of precursors SM01 and SM02) .

SM01 SM02

A plurality of syntheses of and synthesis paths to compounds of the general formulae SM01 and SM02 with a very broad substitution pattern for residues A ³ to A ⁶ are known in the current specialist literature. Previously unknown intermediates of the general formulas SM01 and S 02 with similar substitution patterns for residues A ³ to A ⁶ as outlined thereafter and whose syntheses are not described in greater detail can be produced by the person skilled in the art according to these known methods or by combination of the known methods.

IM02

IM04

In stageOI and stage04, haloarenes of the general formulae SM01 and IM02 can be converted to yield compounds of the general formulae IM01 and I with compounds of the general formula R ⁶ -A ² -(CR ⁴ R ⁵ )- (CR ² R ³ )-A -H according to methods known to the person skilled in the art, example by treating with a suitable base, for example caesium carbonate.

In stage02, stage03, stage06, and stage07 esters of the general formulae SM01 , IM01 , SM02, and IM03 can be converted to yield amides of the general formulae I 02, IM04, and I with amines of the general formula R ¹ -CH ₂ -NH ₂ according to methods known to the person skilled in the art, for example by the addition of trimethyl aluminium, or by ester hydrolysis to yield the corresponding carboxylic acid followed by reaction with amines of the general formula R ¹ -CH ₂ -NH ₂ according to methods known to the person skilled in the art, for example using a suitable coupling reagent, for example 0-(7-azabenzotriazol-1 -yl)- Ν,Ν,Ν',Ν'-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate.

In stageOS and stage08, thiols of the general formulae SM02 and IM04 can be converted to yield compounds of the general formulae IM03 and I (in which A ¹ denotes sulphur) with compounds of the general formula R ⁶ -A ² -(CR R ⁵ )-(CR ² R ³ )-X, in which X denotes halogen or a sulfonic acid ester, for example mesylate, according to methods known to the person skilled in the art, for example by treating with a suitable base, for example potassium carbonate.

Thus obtained compounds of the general formula I can be further transformed to introduce and/or exchange one or more of the substituents A ¹ , A ² , A ³ , A ⁴ , A ⁵ , A ⁶ , R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , and R ⁶ by simple derivatization reactions known to the person skilled in the art, for example esterification, ester formation, amide formation, etherification, ether cleavage, oxidation, reduction, hydrogenation, substitution or cross- coupling reactions.

The invention will be described hereinafter with the aid of a number of examples. This description is intended merely by way of example and does not limit the general idea of the invention .

Description of the syntheses Abbreviations

AcOH acetic acid

aq. aqueous

d days

DCM dichloromethane

DMF N,N-dimethylformamide

EtOAc ethyl acetate

EtOH ethanol

sat. saturated

h hour(s)

sol. solution

M mol/L

m/z mass-to-charge ratio

MeOH methanol

min minutes

MS mass spectrometry

RT room temperature 23 ± 7°C

THF tetrahydrofuran

TLC thin layer chromatography

v/v ratio by volume

The yields of the compounds prepared were not optimized. All temperatures are uncorrected. All starting materials which are not explicitly described were either commercially available (the details of suppliers such as for example Acros, Avocado, Aldrich, Bachem, Fluka, Lancaster, Maybridge, Merck, Sigma, TCI, Oakwood, etc. can be found in the Symyx® Available Chemicals Database of MDL, San Ramon, US or the SciFinder® Database of the ACS, Washington DC, US, respectively, for example) or the synthesis thereof has already been described precisely in the specialist literature (experimental guidelines can be found in the Reaxys® Database of Elsevier, Amsterdam, NL or the SciFinder® Database of the ACS, Washington DC, US, respectively, for example) or can be prepared using the conventional methods known to the person skilled in the art. The mixing ratios of solvents or eluents for chromatography are specified in v/v.

All the intermediate products and exemplary compounds were analytically characterised by means of ¹ H- NMR spectroscopy. In addition, mass spectrometry tests (MS, m/z for [M+H] ⁺ ) were carried out for all the exemplary compounds and selected intermediate products.

Synthesis of exemplary compounds

Synthesis of example 1 : 2-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)- benzamide

a) Synthesis of acetic acid [3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-oxo-propyl] ester

To a solution of 3-chloro-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-propan-1 -one (4.0 g, 21.5 mmoi) in AcOH (30 ml) in a sealed tube are added sodium acetate (8.64 g, 105.4 mmoi) and potassium iodide (0.36 g, 2.15 mmoi) at RT. The reaction mixture is stirred at 130 °C for 16 h. After completion of reaction, the mixture is diluted with water (60 ml) and neutralized with aqueous sodium carbonate at 0 °C. The aqueous layer is extracted with DCM (3 x 100 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with water (200 ml), brine (200ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to get the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 10% EtOAc/hexane) to yield acetic acid [3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-oxo- propyl] ester (3.00 g, 14.3 mmoi, 66%). b) Synthesis of acetic acid 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-[1 ,3]dithiolan-2-yl]-ethyl ester

To a solution of acetic acid [3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-oxo-propyl] ester (2.0 g, 9.52 mmoi) in dry

dichloromethane (40 ml) are added 1 ,2-ethanedithiol (1.79 g, 19.0 mmoi) and boron trifluoride diethyl ether complex (0.68 g, 4.76 mmoi) at 0 °C. The resulting reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 6 h. After completion of reaction, the mixture is neutralized with 10M aqueous sodium hydroxide and extracted with DCM (3 x 100 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with water ( 00 ml), brine (100 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to get the crude, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 5% ethyl acetate/hexane) to yield acetic acid 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)- [1 ,3]dithiolan-2-yl]-ethyl ester (1.80 g, 6.29 mmoi, 66%). c) Synthesis of acetic acid [3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl] ester

To a solution of 1 ,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (5.96 g, 20.8 mmoi) in dry DCM (25 ml) is added 30% hydrogen fluoride pyridine (21 ml) at -78 °C followed by the addition of acetic acid 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)- [1 ,3]dithiolan-2-yl]-ethyl ester (1.50 g, 5.24 mmoi) in dry DCM (25 ml) at the same temperature. The reaction mixture is stirred at -78 °C for 1.5 h and then allowed to warm to RT over a period of 1 h. The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 1 h. After completion of reaction, the mixture is neutralized with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and the aqueous layer is extracted with DCM (3 x 60 ml). The organic layer is washed with 20% hydrochloric acid (50 ml), water (120 ml), brine (120 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to yield acetic acid [3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)- propyl] ester (1.10 g, 4.74 mmoi, 90%), which is used in the next step without further purification. d) Synthesis of 3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propan-1 -ol

To a solution of acetic acid [3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl] ester (5.50 g, 23.7 mmoi) in ethanol (70 ml) is added 35% aqueous sodium hydroxide (20 ml) at 0 °C and the reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 1 h. After completion of reaction, the solvent is evaporated and the residue is diluted with water (150 ml) and acidified with aqueous hydrochloric acid before extraction with EtOAc (3 x 100 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with water (150 ml), brine (150 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to get the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 10% EtOAc/hexane) to yield 3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propan-1 -ol (4.30 g, 22.6 mmol, 95%). e) Synthesis of 1 -(3-bromo-1 ,1 -difluoro-propyl)-4-fluoro-benzene

To a stirred solution of 3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propan-1-ol (5.10 g, 26.8 mmol) in dry DCM (50 ml) is added tetrabromomethane (16.0 g, 48.3 mmol) followed by addition of triphenylphosphine (12.6 g, 48.3 mmol) at 0 °C. The reaction mixture is allowed to stir at RT for 1 h. After completion of reaction, the solvent is evaporated to get the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 5% EtOAc/hexane) to yield compound 1 -(3-bromo-1 ,1 -difluoro-propyl)-4-fluoro-benzene (4.80 g, 19.6 mmol, 71 %). f) Synthesis of 2-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-benzoic acid

To a solution of 2-mercapto-benzoic acid (0.10 g, 0.65 mmol) in acetone (30 ml) are added 1 -(3-bromo- 1 ,1 -difluoro-propyl)-4-fluoro-benzene (0.16 g, 0.65 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.27 g, 1.95 mmol) at RT. The reaction mixture is stirred at 70 °C for 2.5 h. The reaction mixture is diluted with water (20 ml), acidified with 2M hydrochloric acid and the aqueous layer is extracted with EtOAc (3 x 20 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with water (15 ml), brine (15 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The crude product is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 80%

EtOAc/hexane) to yield 2-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-benzoic acid (0.08 g, 0.24 mmol, 37%). g) Synthesis of 2-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-benzamide

To a stirred solution of 2-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-benzoic acid (0.24 g, 0.73 mmol) in dry tetrahydrofuran (10 ml) are added 0-(7-azabenzotriazol-1 -yl)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (0.30 g, 0.80 mmol) and triethylamine (0.38 ml, 2.2 mmol) at RT. The reaction mixture is stirred for 5 min at RT followed by the addition of 3-methyl-butyl-amine (0.1 ml, 0.88 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 2 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is distilled off and the residue is diluted with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (20 ml) before extraction with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The organic layer is washed with saturated ammonium chloride solution (30 ml), water (30 ml), brine (30 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to get the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 50% EtOAc/hexane) to yield 2-[[3,3- difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-methyl-but yl)-benzamide (example 1 ) (0.16 g, 0.41 mmol, 56%). [Μ+Η 396.1.

Synthesis of example 3: 3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-pyridine- 2-carboxylic acid amide

a) Synthesis of ethanethioic acid S-[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl] ester

To a stirred solution of 1 -(3-bromo-1 ,1 -difluoro-propyl)-4-fluoro-benzene (synthesized according to the methods described in sections a) to e) of example 1) (0.25 g, 1.2 mmol) in dry D F (1 ml) is added potassium thioacetate (0.41g, 3.60 mmol) at RT. The reaction mixture is heated at 60 °C for 1.5 h. After completion of the reaction, the mixture is diluted with water (30 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The organic layer is washed with water (30 ml), brine (30 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to get the crude. product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 1 %

EtOAc/hexane) to yield ethanethioic acid S-[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl] ester (0.26 g, 1.05 mmol, 88%). b) Synthesis of 3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propane-1 -thiol

To a solution of ethanethioic acid S-[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl] ester (0.26 g, 1 .05 mmol) in EtOH (3 ml) is added 35% aqueous sodium hydroxide (3 ml) at 0 °C and the reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 1 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is distilled off and the residue is diluted with water (10 ml) before acidification with 2N hydrochloric acid to pH 2. The aqueous layer is extracted with EtOAc (3 x 15 ml) and the combined organic layers are washed with water (20 ml), brine (20 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to get 3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propane-1 -thiol (0.20 g, 0.97 mmol, 92%), which is used in the next step without further purification. c) Synthesis of 3-fluoro-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid

To a solution of 1 ,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (1.15 g, 10.3 mmol) in diethylether (50 ml) is added n- butyllithium (2.6M in hexane) (3.95 ml, 10.3 mmol) at -78 °C. The reaction mixture is stirred at -20 °C for 1 h followed by the addition of a solution of 3-fluoro-pyridine (1.00 g, 10.29 mmol) in diethylether (30 ml) at -78 °C. The yellow suspension is stirred at -60 °C for 1 h and then cooled to -78 °C followed by the addition of excess dry ice. The resulting solution allowed to warm to to -10 °C over 20 min. The precipitate is filtered and the residue is washed with ether which yields pure 3-fluoro-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (1.20 g, 8.51 mmol, 83%). d) Synthesis of 3-fluoro-N-(3-methyl-butyl)-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid amide

To a solution of 3-fluoro-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (0.50 g, 3.54 mmol) in dimethylformamide (6 ml) are added 0-(benzotriazol-1 -yl)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (3.41 g, 10.63 mmol) and N- methylmorpholine (1.56 ml, 14.2 mmol) at 0 °C followed by the addition of 3-methyl-butyl-amine (0.61 ml, 5.32 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 2 h. After completion of the reaction, the mixture is poured onto ice-water, extracted with EtOAc (3 x 50 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with brine (50 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to yield the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 50% EtOAc/hexane) affording 3-fluoro-N-(3-methyl-butyl)- pyridine-2-carboxylic acid amide (0.31 g, 1.47 mmol, 42%). e) Synthesis of 3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid amide

To a solution of 3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propane-1 -thiol (0.19 g, 0.92 mmol) in DMF (5 ml) in sealed tube are added 3-fluoro-N-(3-methyl-butyl)-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid amide (0.19 g, 0.92 mmol) and cesium carbonate (1.50 g, 4.60 mmol). The reaction mixture is heated at 90 °C for 2 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture is poured onto ice-water, extracted with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with brine (50 ml), water (30 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to yield the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 30% EtOAc/hexane) affording 3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)- pyridine-2-carboxylic acid amide (example 3) (0.15 g, 0.37 mmol, 41 %). [M+H] ⁺ 397.1.

Synthesis of example 5: 4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-pyridine- -carboxylic acid amide

a) Synthesis of 4-chloro-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester

A suspension of 4-chloro-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid (5.0 g, 31.7 mmol) in thionyl chloride (100 ml) is heated at 80 °C for 1.5 h. The reaction mixture is cooled to RT and excess thionyl chloride is distilled off. The crude product is azeotropped with toluene (3 x 30 ml) to afford a solid, which is added in portions to a mixture of ethanol (40 ml) and diisopropylethylamine (25 ml) at 0 °C. The resulting reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 4 h. After completion of the reaction, the mixture is evaporated to dryness; the residue is diluted with water (20 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 25 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with water (30 ml), brine (30 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to get 4-chloro- pyridine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (4.50 g, 24.3 mmol, 77%), which is used in the next step without further purification. b) Synthesis of 4-(2-methoxycarbonyl-ethylsulfanyl)-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester

To a stirred solution of 4-chloro-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (4.30 g, 23.2 mmol) in dry tetrahydrofuran (45 ml) is added potassium tert-butoxide (3.12 g, 27.9 mmol) portion wise at 0 °C, followed by the addition of methyl 3-mercaptopropanoate (3.35 g, 27.9 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 2 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is distilled off and the residue is diluted with water (30 ml). The aqueous layer is extracted with EtOAc (3 x 40 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with water (40 ml), brine (40 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to get the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 30% EtOAc/hexane) to get 4- (2-methoxycarbonyl-ethylsulfanyl)-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (3.0 g, 1 1.2 mmol, 48%). c) Synthesis of 4-mercapto-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl/methyl ester

Pieces of metallic sodium (0.77 g, 33.5 mmol) are added portion wise to MeOH (70 ml) at 0 °C. After complete dissolution of all sodium pieces a solution of 4-(2-methoxycarbonyl-ethylsulfanyl)-pyridine-3- carboxylic acid ethyl ester (3.00 g, 1 1.1 mmol) in MeOH (10 ml) is added to the solution at RT and the reaction mixture is stirred at 70 °C for 1.5 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is distilled off and the residue is diluted with water (30 ml) and washed with EtOAc (40 ml). The washing is rejected. The aqueous layer is acidified with 1 M hydrochloric acid and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 40 ml). The organic layer is washed with water (30 ml), brine (30 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to get mixture of compounds the corresponding methyl and ethyl esters respectively (1.0 g), which is used in the next step without further purification. d) Synthesis of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridin e-3-carboxylic acid ethyl/methyl ester

To a stirred solution of 4-mercapto-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl/methyl ester (1.00 g, ~5.46 mmol) in acetone (30 ml) is added potassium carbonate (1.50 g, 10.9 mmol) at RT followed by the addition of 1 -(3- bromo-1 , 1 -difluoro-propyl)-4-fluoro-benzene (synthesized according to the methods described in sections a) to e) of example 1 ) (1.38 g, 5.46 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at 70 °C for 2.5 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is distilled off and the residue is diluted with water (30 ml) before extraction with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with water (50 ml), brine (50 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to get mixture of ethyl and methyl esters of 4- [[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridine- 3-carboxylic acid respectively, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 15% EtOAc/hexane) affording 0.6 g material. e) Synthesis of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridin e-3-carboxylic acid

To a stirred solution of compound 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridin e-3-carboxylic acid ethyl/methyl ester (0.60 g, ~1.69 mmol) in EtOH (20 ml) is added a solution of sodium hydroxide (0.13 g, 3.38 mmol) in water (20 ml) at RT. The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 2 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is distilled off; the residue is diluted with water (15 ml) and washed with EtOAc (20 ml). The aqueous layer is acidified with 1 M hydrochloric acid to pH 4 and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The combined organic layers is washed with water (30 ml), brine (30 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to get 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridin e-3- carboxylic acid (0.40 g, 1.22 mmol, 11%, 3 steps), which is used in the next step without further purification. f) Synthesis of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid amide

To a stirred solution of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridin e-3-carboxylic acid (0.15 g, 0.46 mmol) in dry tetrahydrofuran (6 ml) are added 0-(7-azabenzotriazol-1 -yl)-N,N,N',N'- tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (0.35 g, 0.91 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.32 ml, 1.82 mmol) at RT. The reaction mixture is stirred for 5 min at RT followed by the addition of 3-methyl-butyl- amine (0.06 ml, 0.50 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 2 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is distilled off and the residue is diluted with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (20 ml) before extraction with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The organic layer is washed with saturated ammonium chloride solution (30 ml), water (30 ml), brine (30 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to get the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 15% acetone/hexane) to yield of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)- pyridine-3-carboxylic acid amide (example 5) (0.13 g, 0.33 mmol, 71 %). [M+H]+ 397.1 .

Synthesis of example 7: 3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-pyridine- -carboxylic acid amide

a) Synthesis of 3-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridin e-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester To a solution of 3-chloro-pyridine-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (0.28 g, 1.65 mmol) in DMF (10 ml) are added cesium carbonate (2.68 g, 8.25 mmol) and 3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propane-1 -thiol (synthesized according to the methods described in sections a) and b) of example 3) (0.34 g, 1.65 mmol) in a sealed tube. The reaction mixture is stirred at 90°C for 1 h. After completion of the reaction, the mixture is diluted with water (15 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 20 ml). The organic layer is washed with water (20 ml), brine (20 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to get the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 10% acetone/hexane) to yield 3-[[3,3- difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridine-4-carb oxylic acid methyl ester (0.19 g, 0.56 mmol, 34%). b) Synthesis of 3-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridin e-4-carboxylic acid

To a solution of 3-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridin e-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (0.33 g, 0.96 mmol) in EtOH (10 ml) are added sodium hydroxide (0.15 g, 3.87 mmol) and water (10 ml). The reaction mixture is stirred at 80°C for 1 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is evaporated and the residue is diluted with water (10 ml). The aqueous layer is acidified with 2M hydrochloric acid to pH 3 and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 20 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with water (20 ml), brine (20 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to get the crude 3-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4- fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridine-4-carboxylic acid (0.26 g, 0.8 mmol, 82%), which is used in the next step without further purification. c) Synthesis of 3-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-me thyl-butyl)-pyridine-4-carboxylic acid amide To a stirred solution of 3-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-pyridin e-4-carboxylic acid (0.26 g, 0.79 mmol) in DCM (10 ml) are added 0-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (0.60 g, 1.60 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.55 ml, 3.18 mmol) at 0 °C. The reaction mixture is stirred for 5 min at 0 °C followed by the addition of 3-methyl-butyl-amine (0.11 ml, 0.95 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 3 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is distilled off and the residue is diluted with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (20 ml) before extraction with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The organic layer is washed with saturated ammonium chloride solution (30 ml), water (30 ml), brine (30 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to get the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 20% acetone/hexane) to yield of 3- [[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-(3-meth yl-butyl)-pyridine-4-carboxylic acid amide

(example 7) (0.22 g, 0.55 mmol, 70%). [M+H]+ 397.1.

Synthesis of example 14: 4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-f luorophenyl)-methyl]- thiazole-5-carboxylic acid amide

a) Synthesis of 4-(2-methoxycarbonyl-ethylsulfanyl)-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester

A solution of 2-isocyano-acetic acid ethyl ester (10.0 g, 88.4 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (80 ml) is added to a suspension of potassium tert-butoxide (10.9 g, 97.2 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (70 ml) at -40 °C. The mixture is cooled to -60 °C followed by drop wise addition of carbon disulfide (5.3 ml). The mixture is warmed to 10 °C and methyl 3-bromo-propionic acid methyl ester (9.7 ml, 88.4 mmol) is added. The resulting mixture is allowed to warm to RT, stirred for 2 h and then concentrated. 4-(2-Methoxycarbonyl- ethylsulfanyl)-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester is obtained by crystallization of the crude mixture from DCM/hexane (15.2 g, 58.2 mmol, 66%). b) Synthesis of 4-mercapto-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester

Sodium hydroxide (0.29 g, 7.27 mmol) is added to a solution of 4-(2-methoxycarbonyl-ethylsulfanyl)- thiazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester (2.0 g, 7.27 mmol) in MeOH (30 ml). The mixture is refluxed at 70- 80 °C for 1 h and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in EtOAc/water (1 :1 ) (80 ml) and the pH is adjusted to 2 with 2M hydrochloric acid. The organic layer is dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated yielding 4-mercapto-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester (0.82 g, 4.67 mmol, 46%). c) Synthesis of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-thiazol e-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester 4-Mercapto-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester (0.41 g, 2.16 mmol) is dissolved in DMF (6 ml) and triethylamine (0.45 ml, 3.24 mmol) and 1 -(3-bromo-1 ,1 -difluoro-propyl)-4-fluoro-benzene (synthesized according to the methods described in sections a) to e) of example 1 ) (0.55 g, 2.16 mmol) are added successively. The resulting mixture is stirred at RT for 16 h. After completion of the reaction, the mixture is poured onto water (20 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with brine (20 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to dryness. The crude is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 20% EtOAc/hexane) yielding 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)- propyl]sulfanyl]-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester (0.42 g, 1.2 mmol, 56%). d) Synthesis of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-thiazol e-5-carboxylic acid

4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-thia zole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester (0.88 g, 2.54 mmol) is taken in EtOH/water (1 :1 ) (4ml) powdered KOH (0.36 g, 6.34 mmol) is added. The mixture is refluxed vigorously at 120 °C for 16 h. After completion of the reaction, EtOH is evaporated. The residue is diluted with water (20 ml), acidified with 2M hydrochloric acid to pH 3, and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The combined organic layers are dried over sodium sulfate, evaporated to dryness yielding 4-[[3,3- difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-thiazole-5-carb oxylic acid (0.7 g, 2.09 mmol, 83%). e) Synthesis of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-f luorophenyl)-methyl]-thiazole-5- carboxylic acid amide

To a solution of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-thiazol e-5-carboxylic acid (0.15 g, 0.45 mmol) in DMF (3 ml) are added 0-(benzotriazol-1 -yl)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (216 mg, 0.68 mmol) and N-methylmorpholine (0.01 ml, 0.9 mmol) at 0 °C followed by the addition of 4- fluorobenzyl amine (67 mg, 0.54 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 3 h. After completion of the reaction, the mixture is poured onto ice-water, extracted with EtOAc (3 x 50 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with brine (50 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to yield the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 15% acetone/hexane) affording 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-f luorophenyl)-methyl]-thiazole-5- carboxylic acid amide (example 14) (93 mg, 0.21 mmol, 47%). [M+H]+ 441.1.

Synthesis of example 15: 4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-f luorophenyl)-methyl]- 2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid amide

a) Synthesis of 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester

A mixture of ethyl 2-bromo-propanedioic acid diethyl ester (32.0 g, 133.2 mmol) and thioacetamide (10.0 g, 133.2 mmol) in toluene (130 ml) is refluxed for 4 h and then cooled. The insoluble material is filtered off and the filtrate is concentrated. The residue is suspended in diisopropyl ether and collected by filtration to give the 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (7.2 g, 38.5 mmol, 29%). b) Synthesis of 4-(dimethyl-carbamothioyl)oxy-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester To a mixture of 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (7.2 g, 37.4 mmol) and 1 ,8- diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (1 1.2 ml, 74.8 mmol) in DMF (50 ml) is added N,N-dimethyl- carbamothioyl chloride (6.94 g, 56.1 mmol). The mixture is stirred at RT for 14 h and at 60 °C for 3 h, poured onto water ( 00 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 50 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with water (2 x 50 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue is

chromatographed (silica gel, 10% EtOAc/hexane) to give 4-(dimethyl-carbamothioyl)oxy-2-methyl- thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (5.7 g, 20.7 mmol, 55%). c) Synthesis of 4-[(dimethyl-carbamoyl)sulfanyl]-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxy lic acid ethyl ester

A mixture of 4-(dimethyl-carbamothioyl)oxy-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (1.8 g, 6.57 mmol) and diphenyl ether (12 mL) is heated at 190°C for 6 h, cooled, and chromatographed (silica gel, 45% EtOAc/hexane) to afford 4-[(dimethyl-carbamoyl)sulfanyl]-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxy lic acid ethyl ester (0.85 g, 3.08 mmol, 47%). d) Synthesis of 4-mercapto-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester

To a mixture of 4-[(dimethyl-carbamoyl)sulfanyl]-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxy lic acid ethyl ester (0.84 g, 3.06 mmol) in MeOH (30 ml) is added sodium hydride (60% oil dispersion) (0.4 g, 10.1 mmol). The mixture is refluxed for 1 h under an atmosphere of nitrogen and concentrated. The residue is treated with 1 M hydrochloric acid and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with brine (30 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 4-mercapto-2-methyl-thiazole-5- carboxylic acid ethyl ester (0.58 g, 2.83 mmol, 94%), which is used in the next step without further purification. e) Synthesis of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-2-methy l-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester

To a solution of give 4-mercapto-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (0.58 g, 2.83 mmol) in acetone (10 ml) are added 1 -(3-bromo-1 ,1-difluoro-propyl)-4-fluoro-benzene (synthesized according to the methods described in sections a) to e) of example 1) (0.72 g, 2.83 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.78 g, 5.66 mmol) an the mixture is heated at 80 °C for 16 h. Acetone is evaporated, diluted with water (40 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 30 ml). The crude product is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 10% EtOAc/hexane) yielding 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-2-methy l- thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (0.6 g, 1.6 mmol, 56%). f) Synthesis of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-2-methy l-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid To a solution of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-2-methy l-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (0.6 g, 1 .6 mmol) in EtOH (1 .5 ml) is added an aqueous solution (1.5 ml) of potassium carbonate (0.22 g, 4.0 mmol) and the mixture is stirred at RT for 16 h. After completion of the reaction, the solvent is evaporated and the residue is diluted with water (30 ml), acidified with 2M hydrochloric acid to pH 3 and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 40 ml) yielding 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-2- methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid (0.41 g, 1.19 mmol, 74%). g) Synthesis of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-f luorophenyl)-methyl]-2-methyl- thiazole-5-carboxylic acid amide

To a solution of 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-2-methy l-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid (0.25 g, 0.72 mmoi) in DMF (4 ml) are added 0-(benzotriazol-1 -yl)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (347 mg, 1.08 mmoi) and N-methylmorpholine (0.16 ml, 1.44 mmoi) at 0 °C followed by the addition of 4-fluorobenzyl amine (0.01 ml, 0.86 mmoi). The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 3 h. After completion of the reaction, the mixture is poured onto ice-water, extracted with EtOAc (3 x 15 ml). The combined organic layers are washed with brine (20 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to yield the crude product, which is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 5% acetone/hexane) followed by preparative HPLC affording 4-[[3,3-difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)- propyl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-fluorophenyl)-methyl]-2-methyl-thiazo le-5-carboxylic acid amide (example 15) (0.2 g, 0.42 mmoi, 36%). [M+H]+ 455.1.

Synthesis of further examples

The synthesis of further examples was carried out according to the methods already described. TaWe 1 shows which compound were produced according to which method. It is evident to the person skilled in the art which educts and reagents were used in each case.

Table 1:

Preparation

MS m/z

Example Chemical name according to

[M+H] ⁺ example

N-(3,3-Dimethyl-butyl)-2-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-

2 1 374.1

propylsulfanyl]-benzamide

3-[2-(Benzenesulfonyl)-ethylsulfanyl]-N-(thiophen-2-yl-

4 1 419.1

methyl)-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid amide

4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-

6 [(4-fluorophenyl)-methyl]-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid 5 435.0

amide

3-[2-(Benzenesulfonyl)-ethylsulfanyl]-N-(thiophen-2-yl-

8 1 419.1

methyl)-pyridine-4-carboxylic acid amide

3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-

9 1 398.1

(3-methyl-butyl)-pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid amide

4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-

10 5 398.1

(3-methyl-butyl)-pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid amide

4-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-

11 [(4-fluorophenyl)-methyl]-pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid 5 436.0

amide

3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-

12 7 398.1

(3-methyl-butyl)-pyridazine-4-carboxylic acid amide

3-[[3,3-Difluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl]sulfanyl]-N-

13 [(4-fluorophenyl)-methyl]-pyridazine-4-carboxylic acid 7 436.0

amide Pharmacological experiments

Fluorescence assay using a voltage sensitive dye (fluorimetry)

Human CHO-K1 cells expressing KCNQ2/3 channels are cultivated adherently at 37°C, 5% C0 ₂ and 95% humidity in cell culture bottles (e.g. 80 cm ² TC flasks, Nunc) with DMEM-high glucose (Sigma Aldrich, D7777) including 10% FCS (PAN Biotech, e.g. 3302-P270521 ) or alternatively MEM Alpha Medium (1 x, liquid, Invitrogen, #22571 ), 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) (Invitrogen, #10270-106, heat-inactivated) and the necessary selection antibiotics.

Before being sown out for the measurements, the cells are washed with 1 x DPBS buffer Ca ²⁺ /Mg ²⁺ -free (e.g. Invitrogen, #14190-094) and detached from the bottom of the culture vessel by using Accutase (PAA Laboratories, #L11 -007) (incubation with Accutase for 15 min at 37°C). The cell number is determined using a CASY™ cell counter (TCC, Scharfe System). Depending on the optimal density for each individual cell line, 20,000-30,000 cells/well/100 μΙ are seeded onto 96-well Corning™ CellBIND™ assay plates (Flat Clear Bottom Black Polystyrene Microplates, #3340). Freshly seeded cells are then left to settle for one hour at room temperature, followed by incubation for 24 hours at 37°C, 5% C0 ₂ and 95% humidity.

The voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye from the Membrane Potential Assay Kit (Red™ Bulk format part R8123 for FLIPR, MDS Analytical Technologies™) is prepared by dissolving the contents of one vessel Membrane Potential Assay Kit Red Component A in 200 ml of extracellular buffer (ES buffer, 120 mM NaCI, 1 mM KCI, 10 mM HEPES, 2 mM CaCI ₂ , 2 mM MgCI ₂ , 10 mM glucose; pH 7.4). After removal of the nutrient medium, the cells are washed once with 200 μΙ of ES buffer, then loaded for 45 min at room temperature in 1.00 μΙ of dye solution in the dark.

Fluorescence measurements are carried out in a BMG Labtech FLUOstar™, BMG Labtech NOVOstar™ or BMG Labtech POLARstar™ instrument (525 nm excitation, 560 nm emission, Bottom Read mode). After incubation with the dye, 50 μΙ of the test substances in the desired concentrations, or 50 μΙ of ES buffer for control purposes, are applied to the wells of the assay plate and incubated for 30 min at room temperature while being shielded from light. The fluorescence intensity of the dye is then measured for 5 min and the fluorescence value of each well is thus determined at a given, constant time. 15 μΙ of a KCI solution are then added to each well (final concentration of potassium ions 92 mM). The change in fluorescence intensity is subsequently monitored until all the relevant values have been obtained (mainly 5-30 min). At a given time post KCI application, a fluorescence value F ₂ is determined, in this case at the time of the fluorescence peak.

For calculation, the fluorescence intensity F ₂ is corrected for the fluorescence intensity F^ and the activity (AF/F) of the target compound on the potassium channel is determined as follows: In order to determine whether a substance has agonistic activity, - ^F can be related to i ^ ) ^Jk of control wells. ίτ) ^Jk is determined by adding to the well only the buffer solution instead of the test substance, determining the value F _{1 K} of the fluorescence intensity, adding the potassium ions as described above, and measuring a value F _2K of the fluorescence intensity. F _2K and F _{1 K} are then calculated as follows:

^:ioo -( l ^<%

A substance has an agonistic activity on the potassium channel if - ^F is greater than [ ^ ] ^)κ :

AF_ fAF)

F { F ) _K

Independently of the comparison of - ^F with i ^f) ^Jk it is possible to conclude that a target compound has

AF

agonistic activity if ^F increases dose dependency.

Calculations of EC ₅₀ and IC ₅₀ values are carried out with the aid of ^' Prism v4.0 ^' software (GraphPad Software™).

Pharmacological data

The pharmacological effects of the compounds according to the invention were determined as described hereinbefore (pharmacological experiments).

The corresponding pharmacological data are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2:

Fluorimetry

Fluorimetry

Example % Efficacy

EC ₅₀ / IC ₅₀ [nM]

(retigabine = 100%)

1 203 156

2 186 501

3 1 18 1588

5 228 849

6 121 563

7 197 1399

9 199 521

10 21 1 61

11 1 12 51

12 203 427

13 100 264

15 83 231