DERIVATIVES

This invention concerns l-(l,2-disubstituted piperidinyl)-4- substituted piperazine derivatives having tachykinin antagonistic activity, in particular substance P antagonistic activity, and their preparation; it further relates to compositions comprising them, as well as their use as a medicine.

Substance P is a naturally occurring neuropeptide of the tachykinin family. There are ample studies showing that substance P and other tachykinins are involved in a variety of biological actions, and therefore, play an essential role in various disorders (Regoli et al., Pharmacological Reviews 46(4), 1994, p. 551-599, "Receptors and Antagonists for Substance P and Related Peptides"). The development of tachykinin antagonists has led to date to a series of peptide compounds of which might be anticipated that they are metabolically too labile to be employed as pharmaceutically active substances (Longmore J. et al., DN&P 8(1), February 1995, p. 5-23, "Neurokinin Receptors"). The present invention concerns nonpeptide tachykinin antagonists, in particular nonpeptide substance-P antagonists, which in general are metabolically more stable, and hence, may be more appropriate as pharmaceutically active substances.

Several nonpeptide tachykinin antagonists are disclosed in the art. For instance, EP-0,532,456-A, published on March 17, 1993 by Ciba-Geigy Corp., discloses 1 -acylpiperidine compounds, in particular 2-arylalkyl- 1 -arylcarbonyl-4-piperidinamine derivatives, and their use as substance-P antagonists. EP-0,655,442-A, published on May 31, 1995 by Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., discloses piperazine derivatives having tachykinin antagonistic activity.

The present compounds differ therefrom in that they invariably contain a 4-substituted- (piperazine or homopiperazine)-moiety in the 4-position of a piperidine- or homopiperidine group or in the 3-position of a pyrrolidine group, and by their favourable farmacological properties.

The present invention concerns compounds of formula

the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein n is 0, 1 or 2; m is 1 or 2, provided that if m is 2, then n is 1 ; p is 1 or 2;

=Q is =O or =ΝR ³ ;

X is a covalent bond or a bivalent radical of formula -O-, -S-, -NR ³ -; ¹ i.: Λr ¹ , ₆ ιυup is optionally substituted with hydroxy, Ci^alkyloxy, oxo or a ketalized oxo substituent of formula -O-CH2-CH2-O- or -O-CH2-CH2-CH2-O-;

R ³ is hydrogen or C _\ ^alkyl;

L is hydrogen; Ar ³ ; Ci-6alkyl; Ci-6alkyl substituted with 1 or 2 substituents selected from hydroxy, Ci-6alkyloxy, Ar ³ , Ar ³ Cι^alkyloxy and Het ² ;

C3-6alkenyl; Ar ³ C3^alkenyl; di(Ar ³ )C3-6alkenyl or a radical of formula

O — (CHR ⁴ ) _q -NR ⁵ -C-R ⁶ (a-1);

O

II

-(CHR ⁴ ) _r — C-Y' -R (a-2);

wherein each q independently is 2, 3 or 4; each r is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; each Y ¹ independently is a covalent bond, -O- or NR ³ ; Y ² is a covalent bond, Ci- ₄ alkanediyl or -C alkylNR ³ -;

each -A=B- independently is a bivalent radical of formula -CH=CH-, -N=CH- or

-CH=N-; each R ⁴ independently is hydrogen, Ci-βalkyl, Ar ² or Ar ² Ci-6alkyl; R ⁵ is hydrogen, CMalkyl or Ar ³ ; R ⁶ is Ci-βalkyl, Ar ³ , Ar ³ Cι.6alkyl, di(Ar ³ )Ci-6alkyl, Ar ³ C3-7Cycloalkyl, or indolyl; R ⁷ is Ar ³ ; Ar ³ Ci-6alkyl; di(Ar ³ )Ci-6alkyl; Ci^alkyl; C3- ₇ cycloalkyl;

C3-7cycloalkyl substituted with Ar ³ ; oxazolyl; oxazolyl substituted with halo or CMalk l; rhiazol l; thiazclyl substituted with halo or Cj-o lkyl, imidazolyl; imidazolyl substituted with Ar ³ , Ci-6alkyl, Ar ³ Cι^alkyl or halo; indolinyl; indolinyl substituted with CMalkyl; 2,3,4-trihydroquinolinyl; pyrrolidinyl or furanyl; each R ⁸ independently is hydrogen, CMalkyl, C3-7cycloalkyl or a radical of formula -Alk-R ^{1 1} (b-l) or

-Alk-Z-R ¹² (b-2); wherein Alk is Ci-6alkanediyl;

Z is a bivalent radical of formula -O-, -S- or -NR ³ -; R ^{1 1} is phenyl; phenyl substituted with 1 or 2 substituents selected from halo, Ci-6alkyl or Ci-6alkyloxy; furanyl; furanyl substituted with

1 or 2 substituents selected from Ci-6alkyl or hydroxyCi^alkyl; thienyl; thienyl substituted with 1 or 2 substituents selected from halo or Ci-βalkyl; oxazolyl; oxazolyl substituted with 1 or 2 Ci-6alkyl substituents; thiazolyl; thiazolyl substituted with 1 or 2 Ci-6alkyl substituents; pyridinyl or pyridinyl substituted with 1 or

2 substituents;

R ¹² is or Ci-6alkyl substituted with hydroxy, carboxyl or Ci-6alkyloxycarbonyl; Ar ¹ is phenyl; phenyl substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents each independently selected from halo, Ci^alkyl, haloCMalkyl, cyano, aminocarbonyl,

Ci-4alkyloxy or haloCι- ₄ alkyloxy; Ar ² is naphtalenyl; phenyl; phenyl substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, halo, cyano, nitro, amino, mono- or di(C].4alkyl)amino, CMalkyl, haloCMalkyl, Cj alkyloxy, haloCi- ₄ alkyloxy, carboxyl, Cι_ ₄ alkyloxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl and mono- or di(C i _ ₄ alkyl)aminocarbony 1 ;

Ar ³ is phenyl or phenyl substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxy, amino, nitro, aminocarbonyl, Ci-6alkyl, haloCj-όalkyl or Cι_6alkyl- oxy;

Het ¹ is a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, furanyl, thienyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl and pyridazinyl; or a bicyclic heterocycle selected from quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzisothiazolyl, benzofuranyl and Ir j oiii .iiyl, e h niou ύv and bicyclic heierocycie may optionally be substituted on a carbon atom by 1 or 2 substituents selected from halo,

Cι_4alkyl or mono-, di- or tri(halo)methyl; and

Het ² is a heterocycle selected from l,4-dihydro-5-oxo-tetrazol-l-yl, imidazo[l,2-a]- pyridinyl, oxazolyl or imidazolyl; each of said heterocycles may be substituted with 1 or where possible 2 substituents selected from and Ar ³ .

The heterocycles in the definition of Het ¹ are preferably connected to the rest of the molecule, i.e. X, -C(=O or Chalky!, by a carbon atom.

As used in the foregoing definitions and hereinafter, halo is generic to fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo; C2-4alkyl defines straight and branched chain saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms such as, for example, ethyl, propyl, butyl, 1-methylethyl, 2-methylpropyl and the like; Cj._ ₄ alkyl is meant to include C2-4alkyl and methyl; Ci-salkyl is meant to include C^an yl and the higher homologues thereof having 5 carbon atoms such as, for example, pentyl, 2-methylbutyl and the like; Cj..6alkyl is meant to include Ci.salkyl and the higher homologues thereof having 6 carbon atoms such as, for example, hexyl, 2-methylpentyl and the like; .4alkanediyl defines bivalent straight and branched chain saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as, for example, methylene, 1,2-ethanediyI, 1,3-propanediyl, 1,4-butanediyl, and the like; Ci-6alkanediyl is meant to include C alkanediyI and the higher homologues thereof having form 5 to 6 carbon atoms such as, for example,

1,5-pentanediyl, 1,6-hexanediyl and the like; C3-6alkenyl defines straight and branched chain hydrocarbon radicals containing one double bond and having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms such as, for example, 2-propenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-hexenyl and the like; and the carbon of said C3-6alkenyl connected to the nitrogen atom of the piperazine or homopiperazine preferably is saturated.

As used in the foregoing definitions and hereinafter, haloCi^alkyl is defined as mono- or polyhalosubstituted Cj alkyl, in particular Cj alkyl substituted with 1 to 6 halogen

atoms, more in particular difluoro- or trifluoromethyl.

The pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts as mentioned hereinabove are meant to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic acid addition salt forms which the compounds of formula (I) arc able to form. Said salts can conveniently be obtained by treating the base form of the compounds of formula (I) with appropriate acids such as, for example, inorganic acids such as hydrohalic acids, e.g. hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid; sulfuric; nitric; phosphoric and the like acids; or organic acids such as, for example, acetic, propanoic, hydroxyacetic, lactic, pyruvic, oxalic, malonic, succinic, maleic, fumaric, malic, tartaric, citric, methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, cyclamic, salicylic, /7-aminosalicylic, pamoic and the like acids.

The pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts as mentioned hereinabove are also meant to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic base, in particular, a metal or amine addition salt forms which the compounds of formula (I) are able to form. Said salts can conveniendy be obtained by treating the compounds of formula (I) containing acidic hydrogen atoms with appropriate organic and inorganic bases such as, for example, the ammonium salts, the alkali and earth alkaline metal salts, e.g. the lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium salts and the like, salts with organic bases, e.g. the benzathine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, hydrabamine salts, and salts with amino acids such as, for example, arginine, lysine and the like.

Conversely said salt forms can be converted by treatment with an appropriate base or acid into the free acid or base form.

The term addition salt as used hereinabove also comprises the solvates which the compounds of formula (I) as well as the salts thereof, are able to form. Such solvates are for example hydrates, alcoholates and the like.

For isolation and purification purposes, it is also possible to use pharmaceutically unacceptable salts. Only the pharmaceutically acceptable, non-toxic salts are used therapeutically and those salts are therefore preferred.

The term "stereochemically isomeric forms" as used hereinbefore defines all the possible isomeric as well as conformational forms which the compounds of formula (I) may possess. Unless otherwise mentioned or indicated, the chemical designation of compounds denotes the mixture, more in particular the racemic mixture, of all possible stereochemically and conformational ly isomeric forms, said mixtures containing all diastereomers, enantiomers and or conformers of the basic molecular structure. More in

particular, stereogenic centers may have the R- or S-configuration; substituents on bivalent cyclic saturated radicals may have either the cis- or trα/w-configuration; >C=NR ³ and C3-6alkenyl radicals may have the E- or Z-configuration. The compounds of formula (I) have at least two stereogenic centers; thus for compounds of which the actual stereochemical configuration is known, the relative stereodescriptors R* and S* may be used in accordance with the Chemical Abstracts rules (Chemical Substance Name Selection Manual (CA), 1982 Edition, Vol. Ill, Chapter 20). In those cases where the compounds of formula (I) were separated into its racemic cis and racemic trans isomers, or in those cases where the racemic cis or racemic trans isomers were separated into its pure enantiomeric forms, the stereochemically isomeric form which was first isolated was designated as "A" and the second as "B". All stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) both in pure form or mixtures thereof are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present invention.

Some of the compounds of formula (I) may also exist in their tautomeric form. Such forms although not explicitly indicated in the above formula are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. For instance, compounds of formula (I) wherein L is a radical of formula (a-1) wherein R ⁵ is hydrogen, or a radical of (a-2) or (a- 3) wherein Y ¹ is -NH-, or a radical of formula (a-5) wherein R ³ is hydrogen may exist in their corresponding tautomeric form. Also compounds of formula (I) wherein X is -NH- and =Q is =O may exist in their corresponding tautomeric form.

The N-oxide forms of the compounds of formula (I) are meant to comprise those compounds of formula (I) wherein one or several nitrogen atoms are oxidized to the so-called N-oxide, particularly those Ν-oxides wherein one or more of the piperazine- nitrogens are N-oxidized.

Whenever used hereinafter, the term "compounds of formula (I)" is meant to also include their Noxide forms, their pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, and their stereochemically isomeric forms.

A special group of compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein L is hydrogen; Ci-6alkyl; Ar ³ ; Ar ³ Cj-6alkyl; di(Ar ³ )Ci-6alkyl; Ar ³ C3-6alkenyl; di(Ar ³ )Cι^alkenyl; or a radical of formula (a-1), (a-2), (a-4) or (a-5) wherein

R ⁷ is Ar ³ ; Ar ³ C]-6alkyl; di(Ar ³ )Ci-6alkyl; Cj.-6alkyl; C3-7cycloalkyl; C3-7cycloalkyl substituted with Ar ³ ; oxazolyl; oxazolyl substituted with halo or Ci-6alkyl; thiazolyl;

thiazolyl substituted with halo or Ci-6alkyl; imidazolyl; imidazolyl substituted with Ar ³ , Ci^alkyl, Ar ³ Ci-6alkyl or halo; pyrrolidinyl or furanyl; Ar ³ is phenyl or phenyl substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxy, amino, aminocarbonyl, C]-6alkyl, haloCi-βalkyl or Ci-6alkyloxy; Het ¹ is a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, furanyl, thienyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl and pyridazinyl; or a bicyclic heterocycle selected from quinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzisothiazolyl, benzofuranyl and benzothienyl; each monocyclic and bicyclic heterocycle may optionally be substituted on a carbon atom by 1 or 2 substituents selected from halo,

C _h alky! or mono-, di- or tri(halo)methyl.

A first group of interesting compounds consists of those compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply : a) R ¹ is Ar'Ci-όalkyl; or

b) R ² is Ar ² , Ar ² Cι^alkyl or Het ¹ ; in particular, phenyl substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents each independently selected from halo, cyano, nitro, amino, Cι_ ₄ alkyl, haloCι_4alkyl, Cι_ ₄ alkyloxy and Ci- ₄ alkyloxycarbonyl, more in particular, phenyl substituted with 2 substituents selected from methyl and trifluoromethyl; or

c) n is 0 or 1, in particular n is 1; or

d) m is 1; or

e) p is 1 or 2, in particular p is 1; or

f) =Q is =O; or

g) X is a covalent bond, -O- or -NR ³ -, in particular a covalent bond.

A second group of interesting compounds consists of those compounds of formula (I) wherein L is hydrogen, Ar ³ ; Ar ³ Ci-6alkyl; di(Ar ³ )Cι.6alkyl; Ar ³ C3-6alkenyl; Cι.6alkyl substituted with hydroxy; or a radical of formula (a-2) wherein R ⁴ is hydrogen or Ar ² ; r is 0 or 1 ;

Y ¹ is a covalent bond, -O- or -NR ³ -; and

R ⁷ is Ar ³ , C3- ₇ cycloalkyl substituted with Ar ³ , di(Ar ³ )methyl, pyrrolidinyl or furanyl; or

a radical of formula (a-4) wherein

Y ² a covalent bond or methylene; -A=B- is -CH=CH- or -N=CH-; and

R ⁸ hydrogen, a radical of formula (b- 1 ) wherein R ¹ - is methyl substituted oxazolyl, or a radical of formula (b-2) wherein Z is -O- and R ¹² is a radical of formula (a-5) wherein R ⁴ is hydrogen; q 2; and R ³ is hydrogen.

A third group of interesting compounds consists of those compounds of formula (I) wherein q is 2 or 4; -A=B- is -CH=CH- or -N=CH-;

R ⁴ is hydrogen or Ar ² ;

R ⁵ is hydrogen;

R ⁶ is Ci-6alkyl orAr ³ ;

R ⁷ is Ar ³ ; di(Ar ³ )Ci-6alkyl; Ci-6alkyl; C3- ₇ cycloalkyl substituted with Ar ³ ; thiazolyl; imidazolyl substituted with Ci-6alkyl or Ar ³ Cι.6alkyl; indolinyl; indolinyl substituted with Ci-4alkyl; 2,3,4-trihydroquinolinyl; pyrrolidinyl or furanyl;

Zis -O-;

R ¹¹ is phenyl substituted with halo; oxazolyl substituted with Ci-6alkyl; or

R ¹² is Ci-6alkyl.

Of special interest are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R ¹ is Ar'Ci-βalkyl, R ² is phenyl substituted with 2 substituents selected from methyl or trifluorom ethyl, X is a covalent bond and =Q is =O.

Further of special interest are those compounds of formula (I) wherein n and m are 1 and p is 1 or 2.

Particular compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R ¹ is phenylmethyl; R ² is phenyl substituted with 2 substituents selected from methyl or trifluoromethyl; n, m and p are 1 ; X is a covalent bond; and

=Q is =O.

Also particular compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein L is a radical of formula (a-2) wherein R ⁴ is hydrogen or phenyl; r is O or l;

Y ¹ is a covalent bond, -O- or -NH-;

R ⁷ is pyrrolidinyl; furanyl; 1-phenylcyclohexanyl; diphenylmethyl; or phenyl substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents each independently selected from niciliyl, inciiiuxy υi chioro.

Preferred compounds are those particular compounds that have a trans configuration.

Other preferred compounds are those particular compounds that have a cis configuration.

Still other preferred compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein

R ¹ is phenylmethyl;

R ² is phenyl substituted with 2 substituents selected from methyl or trifluoromethyl; n, m and p are 1;

X is a covalent bond;

=Q is =O;

L is a radical of formula (a-2) wherein

R ⁴ is hydrogen; r is 1;

Y ¹ is -NH-; and

R ⁷ is phenyl substituted with 2 methyl substituents.

Most preferred are those compounds selected from 4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-pi peridinyl]-/V-(2,6-dimethyl- phenyl)- 1 -piperazine acetamide;

4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4 -piperidinyl]-Λ ^, -(l-phenyl- cyclohexyl)-l -piperazine acetamide; l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-[4-[� �-(l-pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)- benzyl]- l-piperazinyl]piperidine; l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-4-[4-[l-[(2-methyl-5-oxa zolyl)methyl]-lH- benzimidazol-2-yl]- 1 -piperazinyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)piperidine;

4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-[(4-trifluoromet hylphenyl)methyl]-4- piperidinyl]JV-(2,6-dimethylprιenyl)-l -piperazine acetamide;

4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)beπzoylJ-2-[(3,4-dichlorophen yl)methyl]-4-piperidinyl]- N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l -piperazine acetamide; the Noxides, the stereoisomeric forms and the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts thereof.

Particularly interesting stereoisomeric forms are

(+)-(B)-t α/w-4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl) -4-piperidinyI]- N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l -piperazine acetamide; and

(-)-(B)-cw-4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyI)-benzoyl]-2-(phe nylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]- N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l -piperazine acetamide, and the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salrε th reof, especially the (L) malic acid form.

The compounds of formula (I) can be prepared by reductively N-alkylating an inter¬ mediate of formula (III) with an intermediate of formula (II). Said reductive N-alkylation may be performed in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, dichloromethane, ethanol, toluene or a mixture thereof, and in the presence of an appropriate reducing agent such as, for example, a borohydride, e.g. sodium borohydride, sodium cyano- borohydride or triacetoxy borohydride. In case a borohydride is used as a reducing agent, it may be convenient to use a complex-forming agent such as, for example, titanium(IV)isopropylate as described in J. Org. Chem, 1990, 55, 2552-2554. Using said complex-forming agent may also result in an improved cis/trans ratio in favour of the trans isomer. It may also be convenient to use hydrogen as a reducing agent in combination with a suitable catalyst such as, for example, palladium-on-charcoal or platinum-on-charcoal. In case hydrogen is used as reducing agent, it may be advantageous to add a dehydrating agent to the reaction mixture such as, for example, aluminium /ert-butoxide. In order to prevent the undesired further hydrogenation of certain functional groups in the reactants and the reaction products, it may also be advantageous to add an appropriate catalyst-poison to the reaction mixture, e.g., thiophene or quinoline-sulphur. Stirring and optionally elevated temperatures and/or pressure may enhance the rate of the reaction. reductive (CHj) _m tf-alkylation

R ² -X-C-Ν )=0 + H-N N— L - (I) cHri _n (CH ₂ ) _p

(D) (m)

In this and the following preparations, the reaction products may be isolated from the reaction medium and, if necessary, further purified according to methodologies generally known in the art such as, for example, extraction, crystallization, trituration and

chromatography.

The compounds of formula (I) can also be prepared by reacting an intermediate of formula (IV) wherein W ¹ is an appropriate leaving group such as, for example, a halogen, e.g. chloro or bromo, or a sulfonyloxy leaving group, e.g. methanesulfonyloxy or benzenesulfonyloxy, with an intermediate of formula (V). The reaction can be performed in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, e.g. dichloromethane, an alcohol, e.g. ethanol, or a ketone, e.g. methyl isobutylketone, and in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, sodium carbonate, sodium ^ U hydi g ii aϊb n i ύi ϋieiii laiuine. Stirring may enhance the rate of the reaction. The reaction may conveniendy be carried at a temperature ranging between room temperature and reflux temperature.

(TV) v) 5

The compounds of formula (I) may also be converted into each other following art- known transformations. In particular, the compounds of formula (I) wherein L is other than hydrogen, said L being represented by L' and said compounds being represented by formula (I-a), can also be prepared by reacting a compound of formula (I) wherein L is hydrogen, said compounds being represented by formula (I-b), with an intermediate of formula (VI) wherein W ² is an appropriate leaving group such as, for example, a halogen, e.g. chloro or bromo, or a sulfonyloxy leaving group, e.g. methanesulfonyloxy or benzenesulfonyloxy, at reaction conditions which are similar to those for the reaction between intermediates of formula (IV) and (V).

(I-b) (VI) (I-a)

Compounds of formula (I-b) may be prepared by reductively N-alkylating a piperazine derivative of formula (VII) wherein P ¹ is a protective group such as, for example, benzyl, with an intermediate of formula (II). Said reaction may be performed in a similar way as described hereinabove for the reductive A/-alkylation using intermediates (II) and (III). The thus formed compound of formula (I-c) may then be deprotected using art-

known deprotection techniques. Depending on the nature of the protective group P ¹ , compounds of formula (I-c) may be part of the scope of the compounds of formula (I).

Alternatively, compounds of formula (I-b) may be prepared by first rcductively N-alkylating a piperazine derivative of formula (VII) wherein P ¹ is a protective group such as, for example, halo, with an intermediate of formula (VIII) using the same procedure as described hereinabove for the reductive N-alkylation using intermediates (II) and (III). The thus formed intermediate of formula (XI) may then be reacted with an intermediate of formula (IV) in a reaction-inert solvent and optionally in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, triethylamine, to form a compound of formula (I-c), which may then be deprotected using art-known deprotection techniques.

(I<)

The compounds of formula (I-b) are deemed to be of particular use in the synthesis of other compounds of formula (I).

The compounds of formula (I) may also be converted to the corresponding N-oxide

forms following art-known procedures for converting a trivalent nitrogen into its N-oxide form. Said A/-oxidation reaction may generally be carried out by reacting the starting material of formula (I) with an appropriate organic or inorganic peroxide. Appropriate inorganic peroxides comprise, for example, hydrogen peroxide, alkali metal or earth alkaline metal peroxides, e.g. sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide; appropriate organic peroxides may comprise peroxy acids such as, for example, benzenecarboperoxoic acid or halo substituted benzenecarboperoxoic acid, e.g. 3-chlorobenzenecarboperoxoic acid, peroxoalkanoic acids, e.g. peroxoacetic acid, alkylhydroperoxides, e.g. tert-bu yl hydroperoxide. Suitable solvents are, for example, water, lower alkanols, e.g. ethanol and the like, hydrocarbons, e.g. toluene, ketones, e.g. 2-butanone, halogenated hydro¬ carbons, e.g. dichloromethane, and mixtures of such solvents.

The starting materials and some of the intermediates are known compounds and are commercially available or may be prepared according to conventional reaction procedures generally known in the art. For example, intermediates of formula (III), (IV) and (VI) may be prepared according to art-known procedures.

Intermediates of formula (II) may be prepared by condensing an intermediate of formula (IV) with an intermediate of formula (VIII) analogous to the procedure described in EP-0.532.456-A.

(IV) (VIII)

The preparation of intermediates of formula (VIII) is also described in EP-0,532,456-A. However, intermediates of formula (VIII) wherein R ¹ is optionally substituted said R ¹ being represented by -CH(R ^la )2 and said intermediates being represented by formula (Vlll-a), may also be prepared as depicted in scheme 1.

Scheme 1

I cyclizaiion

reducuon

(Vm-a) (TX-d) (K-c)

In scheme 1, the intermediates of formula (IX-b) may be prepared by reacting an intermediate of formula (EX-a) with an aldehyde or a ketone of formula (X). The Ci-^alkylcarbamate moiety in the intermediates of formula (IX-b) may be converted into a fused oxazolone which in turn may be reduced to an intermediate of formula (D -d). Said intermediate (IX-d) may in turn be deprotected, thus forming an intermediate of formula (Vlll-a). Subsequendy, intermediates of formula (Vlll-a) may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (IV) to prepare intermediates of formula (II) wherein R ¹ is defined as -CH(R ^la )2, said intermediates being represented by formula (Il-a).

Said intermediates of formula (U-a) may also be prepared by first reacting intermediate (IX-d) with intermediate (IV) in the presence of a suitable base to form an intermediate of formula (XII), which may subsequendy be deprotected. These reactions and those performed in scheme 1 may all be conducted following conventional methods that are generally known in the art.

(IV) (K-d) (XII)

(H-a)

Intermediates of formula (V) may suitably be prepared by reacting an intermediate of formula (VIH-l), being a protected intermediate of formula (VUl) with a protecting group P ² such as, for example, a Ci-6alkyloxycarbonyl group, with an intermediate of formula (III) according to the previously described reductive N-alkylation procedure, and subsequently deprotecting the thus formed intermediate.

(vπi-i) OH) (V)

In particular, intermediates of formula (V) wherein R ¹ is -CH(R ^la )2, said intermediates being represented by formula (V-a), may be prepared as is depicted in scheme 2.

Scheme 2

reduction

(V-a)

The ketalized intermediate of formula (IX-c) may be transformed to the corresponding ketone of formula (IX-e) which subsequently may be reductively aminated with a piperazine- or homopiperazine derivative of formula (III). The thus obtained intermediate may then be reduced with a suitable reducing agent to an intermediate of formula (V-a).

Pure stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) may be obtained by the application of art- known procedures. Diastereomers may be separated by physical methods such as selective crystallization and chromatographic techniques, e.g., counter- current distribution, liquid chromatography and the like.

The compounds of formula (I) as prepared in the hereinabove described processes are generally racemic mixtures of enantiomers which can be separated from one anomer following art-known resolution procedures. The racemic compounds of formula (I) which are sufficiently basic or acidic may be convened into the corresponding diastereomeric salt forms by reaction with a suitable chiral acid, respectively chiral base. Said diastereomeric salt forms are subsequently separated, for example, by selective or fractional crystallization and the enantiomers are liberated therefrom by alkali or acid. An alternative manner of separating the enantiomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) involves liquid chromatography, in particular liquid chromatography using a chiral stationary phase. Said pure stereochemically isomeric forms may also be derived from the corresponding pure stereochemically isomeric forms of the appropriate starring materials, provided that the reaction occurs stereospecifically. Preferably if a specific stereoisomer is desired, said compound will be synthesized by stereospecific methods of preparation. These methods will advantageously employ enantiomerically pure starting materials.

The compounds of formula (I) have valuable pharmacological properties in that they interact with tachykinin receptors and they antagonize tachykinin-induced effects, especially substance P-induced effects, both in vivo and in vitro and are thus of use in the treatment of tachykinin-mediated diseases, and in particular in substance P-mediated diseases.

Tachykinins, also referred to as neurokinins, are a family of peptides among which substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neurokinin B (NKB) and neuropeptide K

(NPK) may be identified. They are naturally occurring in mammals, including human beings, and are distributed tiiroughout the central and peripheral nervous system, where they act as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators. Their actions are mediated through several subtypes of receptors, such as, for example, NKi, NK2 and NK3 receptors. Substance P displays highest affinity for NKi receptors, whercas NKA preferentially binds to NK2 receptors and NKB preferentially binds to NK3 receptors. However, the selectivity of these tachykinins is relatively poor and under physiological conditions die action of any of these tachykinins might be mediated by activation of more than one receptor type.

Substance P and other neurokinins are involved in a variety of biological actions such as pain transmission (nociception), neurogenic inflammation, smooth muscle contraction, plasma protein extravasation, vasodilation, secretion, mast cell degranulation, and also in

activation of the immune system. A number of diseases are deemed to be engendered by activation of neurokinin receptors, in particular the NK] receptor, by excessive release of substance P and otiier neurokinins in particular cells such as cells in the neuronal plexi of die gastrointestinal tract, unmyelinated primary sensory afferent neurons, sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons and nonneuronal cell types (DN&P 8(1), February 1995, p. 5-23, "Neurokinin Receptors" by Longmore J. et al.; Pharmacological Reviews 46(4), 1994, p. 551-599, "Receptors and Antagonists for Substance P and Related Peptides" by Regoli et al.).

Th com ound* of A iusαu mv uiuii αic potent inhibitors of neurυkinin-mediated effects, in particular those mediated via the NKi receptor, and may ώerefore be described as tachykinin antagonists, especially as substance P antagonists, as indicated in vitro by the antagonism of substance P-induced relaxation of pig coronary arteries which is described hereinafter. The binding affinity of die present compounds for the human, guinea-pig and gerbil neurokinin receptors may be determined in vitro in a receptor binding test using ³ H-substance-P as radioligand. The subject compounds also show substance-P antagonistic activity in vivo as may be evidenced by, for instance, the antagonism of substance P-induced plasma extravasation in guinea-pigs, or the antagonism of drug-induced emesis in ferrets (Watson et al., Br. J. Pharmacol. 115, 84- 94, 1995).

In view of their capability to antagonize the actions of tachykinins by blocking the tachykinin receptors, and in particular antagonizing the actions of substance P by blocking die NKi receptor, the subject compounds are useful in the prophylactic and dierapeutic treatment of tachykinin-mediated diseases such as, for example,

- pain, in particular traumatic pain such as postoperative pain; traumatic avulsion pain such as brachial plexus; chronic pain such as arthritic pain such as occurring in osteo-, rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis; neuropathic pain such as post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, segmental or intercostal neuralgia, fibromyalgia, causalgia, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, chemomerapy-induced neuropathy,

AIDS-related neuropathy, occipital neuralgia, geniculate neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, phantom limb pain; various forms of headache such as migraine, acute or chronic tension headache, temperomandibular pain, maxillary sinus pain, cluster headache; odontalgia; cancer pain; pain of visceral origin; gastrointestinal pain; nerve entrapment pain; sport's injury pain; dysmennorrhoea; menstrual pain; meningitis; arachnoiditis; musculoskeletal pain; low back pain e.g. spinal stenosis; prolapsed disc; sciatica; angina; ankylosing

spondyolitis; gout; burns; scar pain; itch; and tiialamic pain such as post stroke thalamic pain;

- respiratory and inflammatory diseases, in particular inflammation in asdima, influenza, chronic bronchitis and rheumatoid arthritis; inflammatory diseases of me gastrointestinal tract such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced damage; inflammatory diseases of die skin such as herpes and eczema; inflammatory diseases of the bladder such as cystitis and urge incontinence; and eye and dental inflammation;

- emesis, i.e. nausea, retching and vomiting, including acute emesis, delayed emesis and anticipatory emesis, no matter how emesis is induced, for example, emesis may be induced by drugs such as cancer chemomerapeutic agents such as alkylating agents, e.g. cyclophosphamide, carmustine, lomustine and chlorambucil; cytotoxic antibiotics, e.g. dactinomycin, doxorubicin, mitomycin-C and bleomycin; anti- metabolites, e.g. cytarabine, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil; vinca alkaloids, e.g. etoposide, vinblastine and vincristine; and omers such as cisplatin, dacarbazine, procarbazine and hydroxyurea; and combinations diereof; radiation sickness; radiation therapy, e.g. irradiation of the thorax or abdomen, such as in the treatment of cancer; poisons; toxins such as toxins caused by metabolic disorders or by infection, e.g. gastritis, or released during bacteria or viral gastrointestinal infection; pregnancy; vestibular disorders, such as motion sickness, vertigo, dizziness and Meniere's disease; post-operative sickness; gastrointestinal obstruction; reduced gastrointestinal motility; visceral pain, e.g. myocardial infarction or peritonitis; migraine; increased intercranial pressure; decreased intercranial pressure (e.g. altitude sickness); opioid analgesics, such as morphine; and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, acid indigestion, over-indulgence of food or drink, acid stomach, sour stomach, waterbrash/regurgitation, heartburn, such as episodic heartburn, nocturnal heartburn, and meal-induced heartburn and dyspepsia;

- central nervous system disorders, in particular psychoses such as schizophrenia, mania, dementia or other cognitive disorders e.g. Alzheimer's disease; anxiety; AIDS-related dementia; diabetic neuropathy; multiple sclerosis; depression;

Parkinson's disease; and dependence on drugs or substances of abuse;

- allergic disorders, in particular allergic disorders of the skin such as urticaria, and allergic disorders of die airways such as rhinitis;

- gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome; - skin disorders, such as psoriasis, pruritis and sunburn;

- vasospastic diseases, such as angina, vascular headache and Reynaud's disease;

- cerebral ischaemia, such as cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage;

- stroke, epilepsie, head trauma, spinal cord trauma and ischemic neuronal damage;

- fibrosing and collagen diseases, such as scleroderma and eosinophilic fascioliasis;

- disorders related to immune enhancement or suppression, such as systemic lupus erydiematosus; - rheumatic diseases, such as fibrositis;

- neoplastic disorders;

- cell proliferation; and

- cough.

The compounds cf the present invention ha e a favourable metabolic stability and exhibit good oral availability. They also have an advantageous onset and duration of action.

The compounds of formula (I) also have the ability to penetrate the central nervous system as may be demonstrated in vivo by their inhibitory effect on the change in behaviour induced by intracerebroventricular-applied substance P in the gerbil.

In view of the utility of the compounds of formula (I), there is provided a method of treating warm-blooded animals, including humans, suffering from tachykinin-mediated diseases as mentioned hereinabove, in particular, pain, emesis or asthma. Said rnediod comprises ώe systemic administration of an effective tachykinin antagonizing amount of a compound of formula (I), a N-oxide form, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt or a possible stereoisomeric form thereof, to warm-blooded animals, including humans.

Hence, the use of a compound of formula (I) as a medicine is provided, and in particular a medicine to treat pain, emesis or asthma.

For ease of administration, die subject compounds may be formulated into various pharmaceutical forms for administration purposes. To prepare the pharmaceutical compositions of mis invention, a therapeutically effective amount of the particular compound, optionally in addition salt form, as the active ingredient is combined in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of prcparation desired for administration. These pharmaceutical compositions are desirably in unitary dosage form suitable, preferably, for administration orally, rectally, percutaneously, or by parenteral injection. For example, in preparing the compositions in oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed, such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations such as suspensions, syrups, elixirs and solutions; or solid carriers such as starches, sugars, kaolin, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like in the case of powders, pills, capsules and tablets. Because of their ease in administration, tablets and capsules represent the most

advantageous oral dosage unit form, in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. For parenteral compositions, die carrier will usually comprise sterile water, at least in large pan, though other ingredients, for example, to aid solu¬ bility, may be included. Injectable solutions, for example, may be prepared in which die carrier comprises saline solution, glucose solution or a mixture of saline and glucose solution. Injectable solutions containing compounds of formula (I) may be formulated in an oil for prolonged action. Appropriate oils for this purpose are, for example, peanut oil, sesame oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, soy bean oil, synthetic glycerol esters of long chain fatty acids and mixtures of these and oώer oils. Injectable suspensions may also be prepared in which case appropriate liquid carriers, suspending agents and the like may be employed. In the compositions suitable for percutaneous administration, e carrier optionally comprises a penetration enhancing agent and/or a suitable wettable agent, optionally combined widi suitable additives of any nature in minor proportions, which additives do not cause any significant deleterious effects on the skin. Said additives may facilitate the administration to the skin and/or may be helpful for preparing the desired compositions. These compositions may be administered in various ways, e.g., as a transdermal patch, as a spot-on or as an ointment. Acid or base addition salts of compounds of formula (I) due to their increased water solubility over the corresponding base or acid form, are obviously more suitable in the prcparation of aqueous compositions.

In order to enhance the solubility and/or the stability of the compounds of formula (I) in pharmaceutical compositions, it can be advantageous to employ α-, f$- or γ-cyclo- dextrins or dieir derivatives, in particular hydroxyalkyl substituted cyclodextrins, e.g. 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. Also co-solvents such as alcohols may improve the solubility and/or the stability of the compounds of formula (I) in pharmaceutical compositions.

It is especially advantageous to formulate the aforementioned pharmaceutical com- positions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used in the specification and claims herein refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active ingredient calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect, in association widi die required pharmaceutical carrier. Examples of such dosage unit forms are tablets (including scored or coated tablets), capsules, pills, powder packets, wafers, injectable solutions or suspensions, teaspoonfuls, tablespoonfuls and the like, and segregated multiples thereof.

Those of skill in the treatment of tachykinin mediated diseases could determine die effective dierapeutic daily amount from the test results presented hereinafter. An effective therapeutic daily amount would be from about 0.001 mg kg to about 40 mg/kg body weight, more preferably from about 0.01 mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg body weight. It may be appropriate to administer the therapeutically effective dose once daily or as two, three, four or more sub-doses at appropriate intervals throughout the day. Said sub-doses may be formulated as unit dosage forms, for example, containing 0.05 mg to 500 g, and in particular, 0.5 mg to 50 mg of active ingredient per unit dosage form.

Trie exact dosage and frequency of administration αepenύs on the particular compound of formula (I) used, the particular condition being treated, die severity of the condition being treated, e age, weight and general physical condition of the particular patient as well as other medication die patient may be taking, as is well known to those skilled in die art. Furthermore, it is evident that said effective daily amount may be lowered or increased depending on the response of the treated patient and/or depending on the evaluation of the physician prescribing die compounds of the instant invention. The effective daily amount ranges mentioned hereinabove are therefore only guidelines.

The following examples are intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the present invention.

Experimental Part

Hereinafter "RT" means room temperature, "THF" means tetrahydrofuran, "DIPE" means diisopropylether, "DCM" means dichloromethane and "DMF" means VN- dimediylformamide.

A. Preparation of the intermediate compounds

Example AJ a) A mixture of (±)- 1 , 1 -dimethyl 7-(phenylmethyl)- 1 ,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4,5]decane-8- carboxylate (13 g; prepared according to the method described in EP-A-532,456) in HCI (6Ν; 130 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled, alkalized with aqueous NaOH (50 %) and extracted with DCM. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered, and the filtrate, which contained (±)-2-(phenylmethyl)-4- piperidinone (intermediate 1), was used in next reaction step. b) A mixture of the filtrate obtained in the previous reaction step, 3,5-dimedιylbenzoyl chloride (7.4 g) and triethylamine (11 ml) was stirred overnight at RT. The reaction mixture was extracted with dilute NaOH solution. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was crystallized from DIPE. The

precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 7.44 g (58%) of (±)-l-(3,5-dimedιyl- benzoyl)-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinone (intermediate 2; mp. 107.8°C).

Example A.2 a) A mixture of (±)- 1,1 -dimethyl 7-(phenylmethyl)-l,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4,5]decane-8- carboxylate (33.34 g; prepared according to the metiiod described in EP-A-532,456) in HCI (6N; 250 ml) was stirred at 70 °C for 1 hour and 30 minutes. The mixture was cooled, alkalized with NaOH while cooling to 25°C, and extracted widi DCM (100 ml). The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH2CI2. Tric i _/ Iaruine (20.2 g), fallowed by j,5-ϋib(uifluυrυπιethyi)benzoyi chloride {11.1 g) dissolved in a little DCM were added and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours. The mixture was extracted with water, and the layers were separated. The organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was crystallized from DIPE, die precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 18.34 g product. The mother layer was evaporated and the residue was crystallized from DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 6.51 g of product. The two fractions were put togedier and taken up in water and DCM, NaOH was added and the mixture was extracted. The organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated, yielding 16.14 g (38%) of (±)-l-[3,5-bis- (trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinone (intermediate 3; mp.l02.5°C).

Example A.3

A mixture of pyrrolidine (2.13 g) and triethylamine (6.06 g) in DCM (100 ml) was stirred at -10°C. 2-chloro-2-phenylacetylchloride (5.67 g) was added slowly and dropwise. The mixture was allowed to warm to RT and was then stirred overnight. The mixture was extracted with water and K2CO3. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from DIPE and the precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 3.25 g (48 %) of fraction 1. The modier layer was separated and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from DDPE and the precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.29 g (5 %) of fraction 2. Both fractions were combined, tiius yielding 3.54 g (53 %) of (±)-l-(2-chloro-2-phenyl- acety pyrrolidine (intermediate 4; mp. 88.5 °C).

Example A.4 Sodium hydride (2 g) was added portionwise to a solution of 3,5-dimethylphenol (6.1 g) in DMF (50 ml). The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and added dropwise at a temperature below 30 °C to a solution of 2-chloro-2-phenylacetylchloride (9.45 g) in DMF (50 ml). The mixture was stirred overnight, decomposed with water (5 ml) and

the solvent was evaporated. Water was added and the mixture was extracted widi DCM. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent : hexane/DIPE 100/0, 98/2 and 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated [residue; yielding 10.82 g (79%) ]. A small amount of the obtained residue was crystallized from DIPE, die precipitate was filtered off and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1 g of (±)-3,5-dimedιylphenyl α-chlorobenzeneacetate (intermediate 5; mp. 79.0 °C).

Example A.5 a) A rnbuUi'C of (J)-l-[3,5- ii(Lriflijoι iιιeιlι I) eιi-;υ l]-2-(piιeiιyiπιedιyi)-4-

(l-piperazinyl)piperidine (0.0127 mol), chloroacetonitrile (0.013 mol) and sodium carbonate (0.013 mol) in methylisobutyl keton (100ml) was stirred and refluxed. The mixture was cooled and water was added. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 100/0, 99.5/0.5 and 99/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 3.64g (53%) of (±)-c«-l-[3,5-bis- (trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-4-[4-(cyanomethyl)-l-piperazinyl]- 2-(phenylmethyl)piperidine (intermediate 6). b) A mixture of intermediate 6 (0.0067 mol) in THF (150 ml) was hydrogenated at 20°C with Raney Nickel (1 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen, the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated, yielding 3.77 g of (±)-cw-4-[4-(2-aminoethyl)-l- piperazinyl]-l-[3,5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethy l)piperidine (intermediate 7).

Example A.6

A mixture of l-(phenylmedιyl)-4-piperidinone (0.2 mol) and 1-medιylpiperazine (0.2 mol) in methanol (500 ml) was hydrogenated for 8 hours with palladium on activated carbon (10%, 2.5 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen, the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. A mixture of di-tert -butyl dicarbonate (0.2 mol) in THF (500 ml) was added to the residue and hydrogenated again with palladium on activated carbon (10%, 2.5 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen, die catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 45.3 g (80%) of 1,1-dimethylethyl 4-(4-medιyl- 1 -piperazinyl)- 1 -piperidinecarboxylate (intermediate 8).

Example A.7 a) A mixture of 4-methoxypyridine (0.4 mol) in THF (1000 ml) was stirred and cooled in

a 2-propanol/Cθ2 bath. Ethyl chloroformate (0.4 mol) was added dropwise and d e mixture was stirred for 3 hours while cooling (mixture I). In another round-bottom flask, the Grignard-reagent was prepared: Mg (0.44 mol) was stirred in a small amount of (C2H5)2O. Some I2 was added. A small amount of l,2-dichloro-4-(chloromedιyl)- benzene was added. Then, l,2-dichloro-4-(chloromethyl)benzene (0.4 mol) in

(C2H5)2O (600 ml) was added dropwise at reflux temperature. The mixture was stirred for one hour (mixture II). The Grignard-reagent was decanted off, added to mixture I at < -40 °C, and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred, allowing die temperature to reach RT. The reaction mixture was stirred for one hour at RT. HCI (10 %, 800 ml) was added and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, then CH2CI2 was added. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated, yielding 57.8 g (44%) of (±)-ethyl 6-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)methy 1]- 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydro-4-oxo- 1 -pyridine- carboxylate (intermediate 9). b) Intermediate 9 (0.176 mol) in THF (880 ml) was stirred under a N2 flow, and cooled to -78 °C. L-selectride (0.264 mol) was added dropwise at -78 °C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour, then poured out into water. DIPE was added. The organic layer was separated, washed with an aqueous NaHCO3 solution, with an aqueous NaCl solution, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 90/10). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 20.2 g (34.8%) of (±)-ethyl 2-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl]-4-oxo-l-piperidinecarboxylate (intermediate 10). c) Titanium (I V)isopropoxide (0.0269 mol) was added to a mixture of intermediate 10 (0.0224 mol) and intermediate 10 (0.0224 mol) in DCM (1 1 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT for 3 hours. Sodium cyanoborohydride (0.0224 mol) and then edianol (10 ml) were added. The mixture was stirred at RT for 48 hours. Water was added and die mixture was stirred. CH2CI2 was added and the mixture was stirred. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 100/0 and 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and die solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by reversed phase chromatography (eluent: NH ₄ OAc(0.5% in H2O)/CH3OH 20/80). Two pure fractions were collected and their solvents were evaporated. The residue was dried and ground, yielding 2 g (16%) of (±)-ethyl trα/ι^-2-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl]-4-[4-[2- [(2,6-dimethylphenyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl]-l-piperazinyl]-l-pip eridinecarboxylate (intermediate 1 1) and 3.5g (28%) of (±)-ethyl cw-2-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl]-4-f4- [2-[(2,6-dimethylphenyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl]- l-piperazinyl]-l-piperidinecarboxylate (intermediate 12).

d) A mixture of intermediate 11 (0.0034 mol) and potassium hydroxide (0.034 mol) in 2-propanol (150 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 4 days. The solvent was evaporated. The rcsidue was taken up in CH2Cl2/water. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromato- 5 graphy over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2ΛCH3OH/NH3) 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.5 g (30%) of (±)-trα/w-4-[2-[(3,4- dichlorophenyl)methyl]-4-piperidinyl]-V-(2,6-dimethylphenyI) -l-piperazineacetamide (intermediate 13).

I f! F amnlp A 5? a) Sec-butyllithium (0.066 mol) was added to a mixture of 1,1-dimetfιylethyl 1,4-dioxo- 8-azaspiro[4.5]-8-carboxylate (0.06 mol) in /V,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (22.6 ml) and HshO (100 ml). The mixture was stirred at -70°C for 3 hours. 3,5-difluorobenzaldehyde (0.07 mol) was added dropwise at -70°C. The mixture was

15 allowed to warm to RT. Water (50 ml) and DIPE were added. The aqueous layer was separated and extracted with CH2CI2. The combined organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. Toluene was added and evaporated again, yielding 23 g of (±)- 1 , 1 -dimethylethyl 7-[(3,5-difluorophenyl)hydroxymethyl]- 1 ,4-dioxo-8- azaspiro[4.5]-8-carboxylate (intermediate 14) 0 b) A mixture of intermediate 14 (0.06 mol) and 2-methyl-2-propanol, potasssium salt (0.72 g) in toluene (110 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 2 hours. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in petroleum ether and a small amount of water, and decanted. The residue was dissolved in CH2CI2, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The rcsidue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: 5 CH2CI2 CH3OH 100/0, 99/1 and 98/2). Two pure fractions were collected and their solvents were evaporated, yielding 9.2 g (49%) of (±)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)tetrahydro- spiro[l,3-dioxolan-2,5'(3'H)-lH-oxazolo[3,4-a]pyridin]-l-one (intermediate 15) c) A mixture of intermediate 15 (0.03 mol) in medianol (250 ml) was hydrogenated at 50°C with palladium on activated carbon (10%, 2 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of 0 hydrogen, the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 100/0, 98/2 and 95/5 and CH2Cl2/(CH3θH ΝH3) 95/5). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.9 g (39 %) of (±)-7-[(3,5-difluorophenyl)methyl]-l,4-dioxo- 8-azaspiro[4.5]decane (intermediate 16). 5 d) A mixture of intermediate 16 (0.012 mol) in HCI 6N (30ml) was stirred at 75°C for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled, poured out into ice and a NaOH solution and extracted with CH2CI ₂ . The organic layer was separated, dried and filtered, yielding

2.7 g of (±)-2-[(3,4-difluorophenyl)methyl]-4-piperidinone (intermediate 17). e) A mixture of 3,5-trifluoromethylbenzoyl chloride (0.012 mol) in a small amount of CH2CI2 was added dropwise to a stirred mixture of intermediate 17 (0.012 mol) and NN-diediylethanamine (0.024 mol). The mixture was stirred at RT for 1 hour and water was added. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH_Cl_/ CH3OH 100/0 and 99.5/0.5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2.7g (48%) of (±)-l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]- 2-[(3,5-difluorophenyl)methyl]-4-piperidinone (intermediate 18). in

Example A.9

Sc?c-butyllithium (0.63 mol) was added at -78°C under Ν2 flow to a solution of 1,1-dimethylethyl l ,4-dioxo-8-azaspiro[4.5]-8-carboxylate (0.57 mol) and N,N,N'N'- tetramediylethylenediamine (1.14 mol) in ^HstøO (1000 ml). One hour after complete

15 addition, a mixture of 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde (0.57 mol) in (C2Hs)2O (200 ml) was added. The mixture was allowed to warm to RT and then stirred at RT for 16 hours. The solvent was evaporated. A mixture of 2-methyl-2-propanol, potassium salt (0.2 mol) in toluene (500 ml) was added. The mixture was stirred at 80°C for 5 hours. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was heated widi a saturated ΝH4CI solution and 0 extracted with CH2CI2. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was suspended in DIPE, filtered off and dried. This fraction was dissolved in CH3OH (250 ml) and the mixture was hydrogenated with palladium on activated carbon (10%, 3 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen, the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified over 5 silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. This fraction was dissolved in HCI (6N, 100 ml) and CH3OH (100 ml) and the mixture was stirred at 50°C for 8 hours. The organic solvent was evaporated. The concentrate was washed with a saturated K2CO3 solution and extracted with CH2CI2. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the 0 solvent was evaporated. The rcsidue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and die solvent was evaporated, yielding 48.5 g (70 %) of (±)-2-[[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl]-4- piperidinone (intermediate 19).

5 Example AJO a) A mixture of ethyl β-oxobenzenebutanoate (0.5 mol) and benzenemethanamine

(0.5 mol) in toluene (500 ml) was hydrogenated at 120°C (pressure = 100 kg) overnight in the presence of Cu2Cr2θ5 (5 g) and CaO (10 g). After uptake of hydrogen, the

catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated, yielding 29.7 g of (±)-ethyl N,2-bis(phenylmethyl)-β-alanine (intermediate 20). b) Ethyl chloroacetate (0.3 mol) was added to a mixture of intermediate 20 (0.2 mol) in DMF (250 ml). The mixture was stirred and triethylamine (0.4 mol) was added. The mixture was stirred at 60°C overnight. The solvent was evaporated and the rcsidue was taken up in water/CH2θ2. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and die solvent was evaporated, yielding 76.6 g of (±)-edιyl 3-[(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)(phenyl- methyl)amino]benzenebutanoate (intermediate 21). c) Intermediate 21 (0.2 mol) was heated to 80°C under Ν2 flow. NaOCH3 (44 g) was added. I ^" he mixture was stirred at 80 ^U C for 30 minutes. The solvent was evaporated and water (170 ml) and HCI (6N, 60 ml) were added. The mixture was stirred and refluxed for 1 hour, then cooled, alkalized with NaOH and extracted widi CH2CI2. The organic layer was separated, washed with water and a saturated NaCl solution, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3CN 100/0 to 96/4). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 7.8 g of (±)-l,5-bis(phenylmethyl)-3-pyrrolidinone (intermediate 22). d) A mixture of intermediate 22 (0.027 mol) and CH3SO3H (0.03 mol) in THF (200 ml) was hydrogenated widi palladium on activated carbon (10%, 2 g) as a catalyst After uptake of hydrogen, the catalyst was filtered off, yielding (±)-5-(phenylmethyl)-3- pyrrolidinone methanesulfonate(l : 1 ) (intermediate 23). e) 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride (0.03 mol) was added to intermediate 23 (0.027 mol). The mixture was stirred and triethylamine (0.1 mol) was added. The mixture was stirred at RT for 18 hours and then washed with water, NaOH and a saturated NaCl solution. The organic layer was separated, washed with a saturated NaCl solution, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.4 g of (±)-l-[3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-5-(phenylmethyl)-3-pyrrolidinon e (intermediate 24).

B. Preparation of the compounds of formula (I)

Example BJ a) Titanium(IV)isopropoxide (16.5 g) was added to a mixture of intermediate 3 (21.5 g) and l-(phenylmethyl)piperazine (8.81 g) in DCM (35 ml). The mixture was stirred for 3 hours at RT. Sodium cyanoborohydride (2.85 g) and ethanol (70 ml) were added and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred overnight at RT. Water (5 ml) and DCM were added. The biphasic mixture was filtered over dicalite, and the filter residue was washed

with DCM. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from CH3CN and die precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 7.93 g (26.9 %) of (±)- -l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2- (phenylmethyl)-4-[4-(phenylmethyl)- l-piperazinyl]piperidine (compound 16; mp. 143.8 °C). b) The mother liquor was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromato¬ graphy over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 100/0, then 99/1, 98/2, 97/3). The desired fractions ((A) and (B)) were collected and their solvent was evaporated. The A-isomer was crystallized from CH3CN, filtered off and dried, yielding 1.11 g (4 %) of compound 16. The pure fractions of the B-isomer were concentrated, yielding 5.9 g (20%) of (±)-trans- l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-[4-(p henyl- methyl)-l-piperazinyl]piperidine. The impure fractions of the B-isomer were collected and die solvent was evaporated. The residue was converted into the fumaric acid salt (1:2) in ethanol. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.89 g (±)-trans-l- [3,5-bis(trifluoromedιyl)benzoyI]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-[4-(ph enylmethyl)-l-piperazinyl]- piperidine (E)-2-butenedioate(l:2) (compound 17; mp. 240.3 °C).

Example B.2

A mixture of compound 16 (8.4 g) in methanol (250 ml) was hydrogenated at 50 °C with palladium on activated carbon (10 %) (2 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of H2, the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated, yielding 7 g (100 %) of (±)-l-[3,5-bis- (trifluoromethyl)beπzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-(l-piperazinyl )piperidine (compound 15).

Example B.3 a) Titanium(IV)isopropoxide (13.2 g) was added to a mixture of intermediate 3 (17.16 g) andN-(2,6-dimedιylphenyl)-l-piperazineacetamide (9.88 g) in DCM (20 ml). This mixture was stirred for 3 hours at RT. Sodium cyanoborohydride (2.52 g) in ethanol (20 ml) was added and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred overnight at RT. Water (10 ml) was added and die reaction mixture was extracted with DCM (800 ml). The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up into water and this mixture was extracted with DCM. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered, and the solvent evaporated. The residue was pre- purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent : CH2CI2/CH3OH 97/3). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, giving 4 g of the trans- racemate. Resolution was obtained by purification over stationary phase Chiralcel OD (eluent: CH3OH 100%). Two desired trαAtf-fraction groups were collected and their solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.75 g fraction 1 and 2 g fraction 2. Fraction 1 was dissolved in DCM, filtered and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was dried,

yielding 1.55 g (6%) (-)-(A)-trα w-4-[ l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromedιyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenyl- methyl)-4-piperidinyl]-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l -piperazine acetamide (compound 26;

20 mp. 97.4 °C; [αjp = -5.81° (c = 1 % in DMF)). Fraction 2 was dissolved in DCM, filtered and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was dried, yielding 1.70 g (6%) (+)- (B)-tra/ts-4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylm ethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-N-

20 (2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l -piperazine acetamide (compound 27; mp. 96.8°C; [α]r _j =

+5.71° (c = 1 % in DMF)). b) Compound 27 was dissolved in warm 2-propanol and converted into the (L)-malic ac?d salt vith a solution of (L) malic acid in 2 prcpancl. The mixture v. s stLied for 2 hours and the precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding bis(trifluoromedιyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl ]-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l- piperazine acetamide ( )-malic acid (1 : 1) (compound 95).

Example B.4 A mixture of compound 15 (2.5 g), intermediate 5 (1.65 g) and sodium carbonate (0.64 g) in methylisobutylketon (50 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was washed and the separated organic layer was dried, filtered and die solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 100/0 and 99.5/0.5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.59 g (43%) of (+)-3,5-dimethylphenyl cw-4-[l-[3,5-bis- (trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-α -phenyl-l-piperazineacetate (compound 43; mp. 88J °C).

Example B.5 A mixture of intermediate 2 (3.2 g), l-(diphenylmethyl)piperazine (2.5 g) and aluminum tributoxide (2 g) in toluene (250 ml) was hydrogenated for 48 hours at 50 °C, with palladium on activated carbon (10 %; 2 g) as a catalyst in die presence of diiophene (4 % solution; 1 ml). After uptake of hydrogen (1 equiv), the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by high-performance liquid chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2 CH3OH 100/0, upgrading to 90/10). Two pure fractions were collected and their solvent was evaporated, resulting in residue 1 and residue 2. Residue 1 was suspended in DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.94 g (17%) of (±)-cw-l-(dimethylbenzoyl)-4-[4-(diphenylmethyl)-l- piperazinyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)piperidine (compound 12; mp. 100.8°C). Residue 2 was dried, yielding 0.2 g (3.6%) of (±)-trαrts-l-(dimethylbenzoyl)-4-[4-(diphenylmethyl)-l- piperazinyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)piperidine (compound 13).

Example B.6

A mixture of compound 15 (0.005 mol) and 1,2-epoxyethylbenzene (0.006 mol) in medianol (50 ml) was stirred at RT for 1 hour. The mixture was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours. The solvent was evaporated and die residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 100/0, 99/1 and 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and die solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 98/2 to 95/5). Two pure fractions were collected and their solvents were evaporated. Each residue was dried, yielding 0.7 g (23%) of (±)-cw-l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromedιyl)benzoyl]-4-[4-(2-hydroxy -2-phenylethyl)-l- pιperazinylJ-2-(phenylmethyl)piperidine (compound 60) and 0.23 g (7%) of (±)-αs- 1 -[3,5-bis(trifluoromethy l)benzoy l]-4-[4-(2-hydroxy- 1 -phenylethyl)- 1 - piperazinyι]-2-(phenylmethyl)piperidine (compound 61).

Example B.7 Compound 15 (0.005 mol), 2-chloro- l-[(2-methyl-5-oxazolyl)methyl]-lH- benzimidazole (0.005 mol) and Cupper (0.005 mol) were stirred at 140°C for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled, dissolved in CH2O2, filtered and washed widi CH2CI2 and a diluted NH ₄ OH solution. The organic layer was separated, washed widi a diluted NH4OH solution, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 1000, 99.5/0.5, 99/1 ,

98.5/1.5 and 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated.

The rcsidue was dried, yielding 1.42 g (40%) (±)-c j-l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)- benzoyl]-4-[4-[l-[(2-medιyl-5-oxazolyl)methyl]-lH-benzimida zol-2-yl]-l-piperazinyl]-

2-(phenylmethyl)piperidine (compound 70).

Example B.8

A mixture of intermediate 7 (0.0033 mol) and 3,5-dimethylbenzoyl chloride

(0.0035 mol) in DCM (50 ml) was stirred at RT for 15 minutes. Triethylamine

(0.007 mol) was added and the mixture was stirred at RT for 1 hour. Water was added. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was converted into the fumaric acid salt (1:1) with 2-propanol. The precipitate was filtered off and dried. The residue was converted into die free base with NaOΗ. The precipitate was filtered off and dried. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CΗ2CI2/CΗ3OΗ 100/0, 99.5/0.5, 99/1, 98/2 and 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The rcsidue was dried, yielding 0.8 g (36%) (±)-c 5-N-[2-[4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmed� �yl)-4- piperidinyl]-l-piperazinyl]ethyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzamide (compound 116).

Example B.9

A mixture of compound 74, prepared according to example B.4, (0.004 mol) in methanol (150 ml) was hydrogenated at 50°C with palladium on activated carbon (10 %; 1 g) as a catalyst in the presence of thiophene (4 % solution, 1ml). After uptake of hydrogen, the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with DIPE and dried. This fraction was dissolved in toluene. The mixture was filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was suspended in DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried. This fraction was converted into die fumaric acid salt (1:2) with a warm solution of fumaric acid (0.52g) in eihanoi. The mixture was stirrcα tor o hours. Ihe precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.91 g (25%) of (±)-cw-/V-(4-amino-2,6-dimethylphenyI)-4-[l-[3,5- (trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-l- piperazineacetamide (E)-2- butenedioate(l:2) (compound 129).

Example BJO

Sec-butyllithium (0.055 mol) was added at -78°C under N2 flow to a solution of 1,1-dimedιyledιyl 4-(4-methyl-l-piperazinyl)-l-piperidinecarboxylate (0.05 mol) and NNZ/'N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (0.1 mol) in (C2H5)2O (50 ml). 2 hours after complete addition, a mixture of benzaldehyde (0.05 mol) in (C2H5)2O (50 ml) was added. The mixture was allowed to warm to RT and tiien stirred at 25°C for 16 hours. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was washed with a saturated ΝH4CI solution and extracted with CH2CI2. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. A solution of 2-methyl-2-propanol, potassium salt (0.02 mol) in toluene (100 ml) was added to this fraction and the mixture was stirred at 100°C for 2 hours. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was washed with a saturated NH ₄ CI solution, extracted with CH2CI2 and decanted. The organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and die solvent was evaporated. This fraction was dissolved in methanol (150 ml) and hydrogenated with palladium on activated carbon (10%, 3g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen, die catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. This fraction was dissolved in DCM (20 ml) and Triethylamine (2 ml). 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride (0.0087 mol) was added at 0°C. 1 hour after complete addition, water was added and the mixture was extracted with CH2CI2. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent:

CH2CI2 CH3OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. This fraction was converted into the (E)-2-butenedioic acid salt (1:2) with edianol. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 4.7 g (74%) of (±)-cis-\- [3,5-bis(trifluoromedιyl)benzoyl]-4-(4-methyl-l-piperazinyl )-2-(phenylmethyl)piperidine (E)-2-butenedioate(l:2) (compound 130).

Example B.l l

A mixture of compound 15 (0.005 mol), V-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-[(methylsulfonyl)- oxy]butyl]-N-medιyl benza ide (0.0055 mol) and ΝaHCθ3 (0.0055 mol) in ethanol (50 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 6 hours. The sclvcr.: was evaporated, the rcsidue was taken up in water and extracted with CH2C12- The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH2CI2 CH3OH 100/0, 99/1, 98/2 and 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was converted into die fumaric acid salt (1:2) widi ethanol. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.42 g (27%) of (±)-c j-Λ'-[4-[4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2- (phenylmedιyl)-4-piperidinyl]-l-piperazinyl]-2-(3,4-dichlor ophenyl)butyl]-N-medιyl- benzamide (E)-2-butenedioate(l:2) (compound 93).

Example B.12

A mature of (±)- l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-[(3,5-difluorophenyl)m edιyl]-4- piperidinone (0.0058 mol), N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l-piperazineacetamide (0.0058 mol) and titanium(IV)isopropoxide (0.0064 mol) in 2-propanol (5 ml) was stirred at RT overnight. ΝaBKt (0.0116 mol) and ethanol (15 ml) were added. The mixture was stirred for 2 days. Water (5 ml) was added and the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes. CH2CI2 (200 ml) was added. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. This fraction was purified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 98/2 to 90/10 over a 30-minute period). Two pure fractions (Fl and F2) were collected and dieir solvents were evaporated. Fl was purified by column chromatography over RPl 8 (eluent: ΝH OAc (0.5% in H2OVCH3CN 40/60). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dried, yielding 0.33 g (8%) of (±)-cw-4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-[(3,5-diflu orophenyl)- methyl]-4-piperidinyl]-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l-piperazineac etamide (compound 132). F2 was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 100/0 to 92/8 over a 30-minute period). The pure fractions were collected and die solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in CH2CI2, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dried, yielding 0.24 g (6%) of (±)-trα/ts-4-[l-[3,5-bis- (trifluoromethyl)benzoyi]-2-[(3,5-difluorophenyl)methyl]-4-p iperidinyl]-/V-

(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l -piperazineacetamide (compound 133).

Example BJ3

3,5 di(trifluormethyl)benzoyl chloride (0.001 1 mol) was added to a mixture of (±)-trans- 4-[2-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl]-4-piperidinyl]-jV-(2,6-dim ethylphenyl)-l-piperazine- acetamide (0.001 mol) in DCM (20ml). The mixture was stirred for 5 minutes. Triethyl¬ amine (2ml) was added. The mixture was stirred at RT for 3 hours, washed with a diluted NaOH solution and with water, and then dried. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/ H"OH /4\ The pure fractions were collec e and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from CH3CN. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.32 g (44%) of (±)-trα/u-4-[ l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-[(3,4- dichlorophenyl)methyl]-4-piperidinyl]-/V-(2,6-dimethylphenyl )-l -piperazineacetamide

(compound 139).

Example BJ4

A mixture of compound 15 (0.01 mol) and imidazo[l,2-a]pyridin-2-carboxaldehyde

(0.01 mol) in methanol (250 ml) was hydrogenated at RT overnight widi palladium on activated carbon (10%, 2 g) as a catalyst in the presence of thiophene (4% solution, 2 ml). After uptake of hydrogen, the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent : CH2CI2/ CH3OH 100/0, 99/1, 98/2, 97/3 and 96/4). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was converted into the fumaric acid salt (1:2) from ethanol. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 2.8 g (32%) of (±)-c - l-[3,5-bis(rrifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-4-[4-(imidazo[l,2-a]pyri din-2-ylmethyl)-l- piperazinyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)piperidine (E)-2-butenedioate(l:2) (compound 111).

Example B.I 5

(+)-(B-tra/is)-4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyI)benzoyl]-2-( phenylmediyl)-4-piperidinyl]-N (2,6-dimethylphenyl)- 1 -piperazineacetamide (0.003 mol) was dissolved in edianol

(20 ml). A solution of fumaric acid (0.003 mol) in ethanol (15 ml) was added and the mixture was stood for 7 days. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.2 g of (B-trα«5)-4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenyl methyl)-4-piperidinyl]- V- (2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l -piperazineacetamide (E)-2-butenedioate(l :l) (compound 128).

Example BJ6

A mixture of (±)- 1 -[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-5-(phenylmethyl)-3-pyrrol idinone

(0.0037 mol) and /V-(2,6-dimethyIphenyl)- l -piperazineacetamide (0.0037 mol) in

memanol (150 ml) was hydrogenated at 50°C with palladium on activated carbon (10%, 1 g) as a catalyst in die presence of tiophene solution (1 ml). After uptake of hydrogen, the catalyst was filtered off and die filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 95/5). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dried and dien crystallized from DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.35 g (15 %) of (±)-cis-4-[ 1 -[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-5-(phenylmethyl)-3- pyrrolidinyl]-V-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l -piperazineacetamide (compound 131).

Example B.1 /

(±)-cw-l-(phenylmethyl)-4-[2-(phenyImethyl)-l-piperidiny l]piperazine (0.00043 mol) was added to 3,4-dichlorobenzeneacetic acid (± 0.0004 mol) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate (0.080 g) in DCM (5 ml). The mixture was stirred and cooled on an ice/ethanol- bath, under N2 flow. Triethylamine was added dropwise. A solution of l-(3-dimethyl- aminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (0.120 g) in DCM (5 ml) was added and the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to RT, under N2. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight. The mixture was diluted with CH2CI2, until a 15-ml total volume was obtained. Then, the compound was isolated and purified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH ₂ CI2 to CH2CI ₂ /CH3OH 90/10 over 20 minutes at 125 ml/minute). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.020 g of (±)-cw-l-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)acetyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-[4 -(phenylmethyl)-l- piperazinyljpiperidine (compound 181).

Example BJ8 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)-l-isocyanatobenzene (0.0025 mol) in DCM (10 ml) was added to a mixture of (±)-r/-fl«j- V-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-4-[2-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-l- piperazineacetamide (0.0025 mol) in DCM (15 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT overnight. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.66 g (40%) of (±)-trα/w- 4-[l-[[[3,5-bis(rrifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]-2-(ph enylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]- iV-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l-piperazineacetamide (compound 143).

Example BJ9

A mixture of (±)- l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-[[3-fluoro-5-(trifluor omethyl) phenyl]methyl]-4-piperidinone (0.01 mol) and /V-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-l-piperazine- acetamide (0.01 mol) in 2-propanol (150 ml) was hydrogenated at 50°C widi platinum on activated carbon (5 %; 2 g) as a catalyst in the presence of titanium (I V)isopropoxide (2.84 g) and thiophene solution (1 ml). After uptake of hyrogen, the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was taken up in CH2CI2 and H2O. The

organic layer was separated, washed several times with H2O, dried, filtered over dicalite and the solvent was evaporated. This fraction was purified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH2CI2/CH3OH 98/2). Two pure fractions were collected and dieir solvents were evaporated. The residue was dried, yielding 0.72 g (10 %) of (±)-cw-4-[l-[3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-[[3-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl )phenyl]methyl]-4- piperidinyl]-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)- l -piperazineacetamide (compound 140) and 0.88 g (12 %) of (±)-trαn5-4-[l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-[[3-flu oro-5-(trifluoro- methyl)phenyl]methyl]-4-piperidinyl]-/V-(2,6-dimethylphenyl) -l-piperazineacetamide (compound 141).

Tables 1 to 4 list compounds of formula (I) that were prepared according to one or more of the foregoing examples (Ex.).

Table

Table 2

Table 3

& c.b. = covalent bond

Table 5 lists bodi the experimental (column heading "Exp") and theoretical (column heading "Theor") elemental analysis values for carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen for the compounds as prepared in the experimental part hereinabove.

Table 5

C. Pharmacological example

Example CJ : Antagonism of substance-P induced relaxation of the pig coronary arteries Segments of coronary arteries taken from pigs (killed by injection of an overdose of sodium pentobarbital ) were inverted and mounted for recording of isometric tension in organ baths (volume 20 ml) with the endothelium at the outside. The preparations were badied in Krebs - Henseleit solution. The solution was kept at 37 °C and gassed with a mixture of O2 / CO2 (95/5). After stabilisation of the preparations, prostaglandin F2α (10"5 M) was administered to induce a contraction. This was repeated until contractile responses became stable. Then prostaglandin F2α was again administered and substance

P (3xl0 ^{~ 10} M and 10 ^"9 M cumulatively) was added. Substance P induced endothelium dependent relaxations. After washing away the agonists, a known concentration of a compound of formula (I) was added. After an incubation period of 30 minutes, prostaglandin F2α (10"^ M) and the same concentrations of substance P as described above were again administered in the presence of the compound to be tested. Relaxations caused by substance P were expressed as relaxations under control conditions, and percent inhibition of the response to 10 ^~ 9 M substance P was taken as a measure of die antagonistic activity of die compound to be tested. Table 6 lists the IC50 values (concentration at which 50 % of the response to 10"9 M substance P was inhibited by the test compound) for the tested compounds.

Table 6

Example C.2 : Antagonism of substance P induced plasma extravasation in guinea-pigs Plasma extravasation was induced by injection of substance P (2 mg/kg) in die femoral artery of female guinea-pigs. Evans Blue dye (30 mg/kg) was injected simultaneously. The test compound or solvent was administered 1 hour prior to substance P injection. 10 minutes after challenge, the animals were checked for blue colouring (a direct measure for plasma extravasation) of the nose, the forepaws, and the conjunctiva. 30 minutes after challenge, the animals were sacrificed by CO2 gas inhalation and checked for blue colouring of the trachea and the urinary bladder. Doses which actively inhibit substance

P- induced plasma extravasation are defined as thoses doses at which only 1/3 or less of the total surface area of the nose, forepaws, conjunctiva, trachea or urinary bladder are coloured blue by an intensive extravasation. Table 7 lists the lowest active doses fl-AD) in mg/kg for the tested compounds.

Table 7

"Active ingredient" (A.I.) as used throughout these examples relates to a compound of formula (I) a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof or a /V-oxide form thereof.

Example DJ : ORAL DROPS

500 Grams of the A.I. was dissolved in 0.5 1 of 2-hydroxypropanoic acid and 1.5 1 of the polyethylene glycol at 60~80°C. After cooling to 30~40°C there were added 35 1 of polyethylene glycol and die mixture was stinred well. Then there was added a solution of 1750 grams of sodium saccharin in 2.5 1 of purified water and while stirring tiiere were added 2.5 1 of cocoa flavor and polyethylene glycol q.s. to a volume of 50 1, providing an oral drop solution comprising 10 mg/ml of A.I. The resulting solution was filled into suitable containers.

Example D.2 : ORAL SOLUTION

9 Grams of methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate and 1 gram of propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate were dissolved in 4 1 of boiling purified water. In 3 1 of this solution were dissolved first 10 grams of 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid and thereafter 20 grams of the A.I. The latter solution was combined with the remaining part of the former solution and 12 1 1,2,3- propanetriol and 3 1 of sorbitol 70% solution were added thereto. 40 Grams of sodium saccharin were dissolved in 0.5 1 of water and 2 ml of raspberry and 2 ml of gooseberry essence were added. The latter solution was combined with the former, water was added q.s. to a volume of 201 providing an oral solution comprising 5 mg of the active ingredient per teaspoonful (5 ml). The resulting solution was filled in suitable containers.

Example D.3 : FILM-COATED TABLETS rep.ar5ij.on..o t3bJet.co.re

A mixture of 100 grams of the A.I., 570 grams lactose and 200 grams starch was mixed well and thereafter humidified with a solution of 5 grams sodium dodecyl sulfate and 10 grams polyvinylpyrrolidone in about 200 ml of water. The wet powder mixture was sieved, dried and sieved again. Then there was added 100 grams microcrystalline cellulose and 15 grams hydrogenated vegetable oil. The whole was mixed well and compressed into tablets, giving 10.000 tablets, each containing 10 mg of the active ingredient. .Coating

To a solution of 10 grams methyl cellulose in 75 ml of denaturated ethanol there was added a solution of 5 grams of ethyl cellulose in 150 ml of dichloromethane. Then there were added 75 ml of dichloromethane and 2.5 ml 1,2,3-propanetriol. 10 Grams of polyethylene glycol was molten and dissolved in 75 ml of dichloromethane. The latter solution was added to the former and then there were added 2.5 grams of magnesium octadecanoate, 5 grams of poly vinylpyrrolidone and 30 ml of concentrated colour suspension and the whole was homogenated. The tablet cores were coated with die tiius obtained mixture in a coating apparatus.

Example D.4 : INJECTABLE SOLUTION

1.8 Grams methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate and 0.2 grams propyl 4- hydroxy benzoate were dissolved in about 0.5 1 of boiling water for injection. After cooling to about 50°C mere were added while stirring 4 grams lactic acid, 0.05 grams propylene glycol and 4 grams of the A. I.. The solution was cooled to room temperature and supplemented with water for injection q.s. ad 1 1, giving a solution comprising 4 mg/ml of A. I.. The solution was sterilized by filtration and filled in sterile containers.