QUINOLINE COMPOUNDS HAVING AN ACTIVITY AGAINST THE GABAB

RECEPTOR

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to novel compounds having a positive allosteric GABA _B receptor (GBR) modulator effect, methods for the preparation of said compounds and their use for the inhibition of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations, for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Background of the invention

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is prone to relaxing intermittently. As a consequence, fluid from the stomach can pass into the esophagus since the mechanical barrier is temporarily lost at such times, an event hereinafter referred to as "reflux".

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most prevalent upper gastrointestinal tract disease. Current pharmacotherapy aims at reducing gastric acid secretion, or at neutralizing acid in the esophagus. The major mechanism behind reflux has been considered to depend on a hypotonic lower esophageal sphincter. However, recent research (e.g. Holloway & Dent (1990) Gastroenterol. Clin. N. Amer. 19, pp. 517- 535) has shown that most reflux episodes occur during transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESR), i.e. relaxations not triggered by swallows. It has also been shown that gastric acid secretion usually is normal in patients with GERD.

Consequently, there is a need for a therapy that reduces the incidence of TLESR and thereby prevents reflux.

GABAβ-receptor agonists have been shown to inhibit TLESR, which is disclosed in WO 98/11885 Al.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, can be defined in accordance with Thompson WG, Longstreth GF, Drossman DA, Heaton KW, Irvine EJ, Mueller-Lissner SA. C. Functional Bowel Disorders and Functional Abdominal

Pain. In: Drossman DA, Talley NJ, Thompson WG, Whitehead WE, Coraziarri E, eds. Rome II: Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Diagnosis, Pathophysiology and Treatment. 2 ed. McLean, VA: Degnon Associates, Inc.; 2000:351-432 and Drossman DA, Corazziari E, Talley NJ, Thompson WG and Whitehead WE. Rome II: A multinational consensus document on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. Gut 45(Suppl.2), II1-II81.9-1-1999.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be defined in accordance with Thompson WG, Longstreth GF, Drossman DA, Heaton KW, Irvine EJ, Mueller-Lissner SA. C. Functional Bowel Disorders and Functional Abdominal Pain. In: Drossman DA, Talley NJ, Thompson WG, Whitehead WE, Coraziarri E, eds. Rome II: Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Diagnosis, Pathophysiology and Treatment. 2 ed. McLean, VA: Degnon Associates, Inc.; 2000:351-432 and Drossman DA, Corazziari E, Talley NJ, Thompson WG and Whitehead WE. Rome II: A multinational consensus document on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. Gut 45(Suppl.2), II1-II81.9-1- 1999.

GABA _B receptor agonists

GABA (4-aminobutanoic acid) is an endogenous neurotransmitter in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Receptors for GABA have traditionally been divided into GABA _A and GABA _B receptor subtypes. GABA _B receptors belong to the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs).

The most studied GABA _B receptor agonist baclofen (4-amino-3-(p- chlorophenyl)butanoic acid; disclosed in CH 449046) is useful as an antispastic agent. EP 356128 A2 describes the use of the GABA _B receptor agonist (3- aminopropyl)methylphosphinic acid for use in therapy, in particular in the treatment of central nervous system disorders.

EP 463969 Al and FR 2722192 Al disclose 4-aminobutanoic acid derivatives having different heterocyclic substituents at the 3-carbon of the butyl chain. EP 181833 Al discloses substituted 3-aminopropylphosphinic acids having high affinities towards GABA _B receptor sites. EP 399949 Al discloses derivatives of (3- aminopropyl)methylphosphinic acid, which are described as potent GABA _B receptor

agonists. Still other (3-aminopropyl)methylphosphinic acids and (3- aminopropyl)phosphinic acids have been disclosed in WO 01/41743 Al and WO 01/42252 Al, respectively. Structure-activity relationships of several phosphinic acid analogues with respect to their affinities to the GABA _B receptor are discussed in J Med. Chem. (1995), 38, 3297-3312. Sulphinic acid analogues and their GABA _B receptor activities are described in Bioorg. & Med. Chem. Lett. (1998), 8, 3059-3064. For a more general review on GABA _B ligands, see Curr. Med. Chem. -Central Nervous System Agents (2001), 1, 27-42.

Positive allosteric modulation of GABA _B receptors

2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-(3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropyl)phenol (CGP7930) and 3-(3,5-di- tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpropanal (disclosed in US 5,304,685) have been described to exert positive allosteric modulation of native and recombinant GABA _B receptor activity (Society for Neuroscience, 30 ^th Annual Meeting, New Orleans , La., Nov. 4-9, 2000: Positive Allosteric Modulation of Native and

Recombinant GABA _B Receptor Activity, S. Urwyler et ah; Molecular Pharmacol. (2001), 60, 963-971).

N,N-Dicyclopentyl-2-methylsulfanyl-5-nitro-pyrimidine-4,6-di amine has been described to exert positive allosteric modulation of the GABA _B receptor (The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 307 (2003), 322-330).

Quinoline derivatives

Chemistry Letters, 2005, 34(3), 314-315, discloses a Friedlaender synthesis of quinolines by using SnCl ₂ ^H ₂ O.

US20060094754 Al (Hoffmann La Roche) discloses the preparation of quinolines as allosteric enhancers of the GABA _B receptors.

US20050080105 Al (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, USA) discloses the preparation of 3-thia-4-arylquinolin-2-ones for treating conditions affected by abnormal potassium channel activity.

JP2005060247 (Takeda) discloses the preparation of isoquinolines and their use as selective c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors and (pro)drugs.

WO 2004/014860 A2 (Takeda) discloses fused heterocyclic compounds as having peptidase-inhibitory activity being useful as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent against diabetes and the like.

Outline of the invention

The present invention provides a compound of the formula

wherein

X is -CO-R ⁶ or a group CH(R ³ )-R ²

R ¹ is selected from phenyl substituted by one or more of halogen;

R is selected from aryloxy substituted by one or more of Ci-Ci o-alkyl, Ci-Cio-alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, cyano, Ci-Cio-alkylsulfonyl, di-Ci-Cio-alkylamino, or carbamoyl; heteroaryloxy; heteroaryl substituted by one or more of oxo;

R ³ is selected from hydrogen or Ci -Ci o-alkyl;

R >4 is selected from Ci -Ci o-alkyl;

R ⁵ is selected from halogen or heterocyclyl unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of Ci -Ci o-alkyl;

R is O-C(R )(R )(R ), wherein R , R ⁸ and R ⁹ are each independently Ci-Cio-alkyl, provided that R ⁶ is Ci-Cio-alkoxy;

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

For R ⁶ it is understood that to O-C three Ci-Cio-alkyl chains are bound. Furthermore, the lowest number of Ci-Ci o-alkoxy for R ⁶ is C4-alkoxy.

In another embodiment:

R ¹ is selected from 4-fiuorophenyl;

R ² is selected from phenoxy substituted by one or more of isopropyl, methoxy, hydroxy, chloro, cyano, methanesulfonyl, dime thy lamino, or carbamoyl; pyridinyloxy; 2-pyridin-2(lH)-onyl;

R ³ is selected from hydrogen or methyl;

R ⁴ is selected from methyl;

R ⁵ is selected from bromo, 1-piperidinyl or 4-methyl-l-piperazinyl;

R ⁶ is selected from tert-butoxy.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to the compounds as denoted in Examples 2, 4-20, 22, and 25.

The general terms used in the definition of formula (I) have the following meanings:

Ci-Cio alkyl is a straight or branched alkyl group, having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, for example methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, secondary butyl, tertiary butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, hexyl or heptyl.

Ci-Cio alkoxy is an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, for example methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, n-butoxy, isopropoxy, isobutoxy, secondary butoxy, tertiary butoxy, pentoxy, hexoxy or a heptoxy group.

The term aryl is herein defined as an aromatic ring having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms including both single rings and polycyclic compounds, such as phenyl, benzyl or naphthyl. Analogously, examples of aryloxy are phenoxy, benzyloxy and naphthyloxy.

The term heteroaryl is herein defined as an aromatic ring having 3 to 14 carbon atoms, including both single rings and polycyclic compounds in which one or several of the ring atoms is either oxygen, nitrogen or sulphur, such as pyrazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzothiazolyl, thienyl, imidazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyridinyl and pyrrolyl. Analogously, examples of heteroaryloxy are pyrazolyloxy, benzothiadiazolyloxy, benzothiazolyloxy, thienyloxy, imidazolyloxy, isoxazolyloxy, pyridinyloxy and pyrrolyloxy.

An example of heteroaryl substituted by one or more of oxo is 2-pyridin-2(lH)-onyl.

Halogen as used herein is selected from chlorine, fluorine, bromine or iodine.

The term heterocyclyl is herein defined as a saturated ring having 3 to 14 carbon atoms, including both single rings and polycyclic compounds in which one or several of the ring atoms is either oxygen, nitrogen or sulphur, such as pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, and thiomorpholinyl.

When two or more groups are used in connection with each other, it means that each group is substituted by the immediately preceding group. For instance, C ₁ -C ₁₀ - alkylsulfonyl means a sulfonyl group substituted by a Ci-Ci ₀ alkyl group.

When a group is substituted by two or more further groups, these further groups need not be the same. For instance, in di-Ci-Ci ₀ -alkylamino, the Ci-Ci ₀ alkyl groups may be the same or different Ci-Ci ₀ alkyl groups.

When the compounds of formula (I) have at least one asymmetric carbon atom, they can exist in several stereochemical forms. The present invention includes the mixture of isomers as well as the individual stereoisomers. The present invention further

includes geometrical isomers, rotational isomers, enantiomers, racemates and diastereomers.

Where applicable, the compounds of formula (I) may be used in neutral form, e.g. as a carboxylic acid, or in the form of a salt, preferably a pharmaceutically acceptable salt such as the sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium or magnesium salt of the compound at issue.

The compounds of formula (I) are useful as positive allosteric GBR (GABA _B receptor) modulators. A positive allosteric modulator of the GABA _B receptor is defined as a compound which makes the GABA _B receptor more sensitive to GABA and GABA _B receptor agonists by binding to the GABA _B receptor protein at a site different from that used by the endogenous ligand. The positive allosteric GBR modulator acts synergistically with an agonist and increases potency and/or intrinsic efficacy of the GABA _B receptor agonist. It has also been shown that positive allosteric modulators acting at the GABA _B receptor can produce an agonistic effect. Therefore, compounds of formula (I) can be effective as full or partial agonists.

The compounds may be used as a positive allosteric GABA _B receptor modulator. Also envisaged is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound above as an active ingredient and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

A further aspect of the invention is a compound of the formula (I) above for use in therapy.

As a consequence of the GABA _B receptor becoming more sensitive to GABA _B receptor agonists upon the administration of a positive allosteric modulator, an increased inhibition of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESR) for a GABA _B agonist is observed. Consequently, the present invention is directed to the use of a positive allosteric GABA _B receptor modulator according to formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the preparation of a medicament for the inhibition of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs).

A further aspect of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention of reflux.

Also envisaged is a compound of formula (I) for use in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Also envisaged is a compound of formula (I) for use in the prevention of reflux.

Also envisaged is a compound of formula (I) for use in the inhibition of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs).

Also envisaged is a compound of formula (I) for use in the treatment of a functional gastrointestinal disorder. The functional gastrointestinal disorder could be e g functional dyspepsia.

Also envisaged is a compound of formula (I) for use in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Said IBS could be e g constipation predominant IBS, diarrhea predominant IBS, or alternating bowel movement predominant IBS.

Still a further aspect of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Effective management of regurgitation in infants would be an important way of preventing, as well as curing lung disease due to aspiration of regurgitated gastric contents, and for managing failure to thrive, inter alia due to excessive loss of ingested nutrient. Thus, a further aspect of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of lung disease.

Another aspect of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the management of failure to thrive.

Another aspect of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of asthma, such as reflux-related asthma.

A further aspect of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of laryngitis or chronic laryngitis.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method for the inhibition of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs), whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to subject in need of such inhibition.

Another aspect of the invention is a method for the prevention of reflux, whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such prevention.

Still a further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of regurgitation, whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment.

Yet another aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of regurgitation in infants, whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment.

Still a further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment, prevention or inhibition of lung disease, whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment. The lung disease to be treated may inter alia be due to aspiration of regurgitated gastric contents.

Still a further aspect of the invention is a method for the management of failure to thrive, whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment.

A further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of asthma, such as reflux-related asthma, whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment.

A further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of laryngitis or chronic laryngitis, whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment.

A further embodiment is the use of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGD). Another aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment of a functional gastrointestinal disorder, whereby an effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination

with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject suffering from said condition.

A further embodiment is the use of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of functional dyspepsia. Another aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, whereby an effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject suffering from said condition.

Functional dyspepsia refers to pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen. Discomfort may be characterized by or combined with upper abdominal fullness, early satiety, bloating or nausea. Etiologically, patients with functional dyspepsia can be divided into two groups: 1- Those with an identifiable pathophysiological or microbiologic abnormality of uncertain clinical relevance (e.g. Helicobacter pylori gastritis, histological duodenitis, gallstones, visceral hypersensitivity, gastroduodenal dysmotility) 2- Patients with no identifiable explanation for the symptoms.

Functional dyspepsia can be diagnosed according to the following:

At least 12 weeks, which need not be consecutive within the preceding 12 months of

1- Persistent or recurrent dyspepsia (pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen) and

2- No evidence of organic disease (including at upper endoscopy) that is likely to explain the symptoms and

3- No evidence that dyspepsia is exclusively relieved by defecation or associated with the onset of a change in stool frequency or form.

Functional dyspepsia can be divided into subsets based on distinctive symptom patterns, such as ulcer-like dyspepsia, dysmotility-like dyspepsia and unspecified (non-specific) dyspepsia.

Currently existing therapy of functional dyspepsia is largely empirical and directed towards relief of prominent symptoms. The most commonly used therapies still include antidepressants.

A further aspect of the invention is the use of a compound according to formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), such as constipation predominant IBS, diarrhea predominant IBS or alternating bowel movement predominant IBS.

A further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment.

IBS is herein defined as a chronic functional disorder with specific symptoms that include continuous or recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort accompanied by altered bowel function, often with abdominal bloating and abdominal distension. It is generally divided into 3 subgroups according to the predominant bowel pattern: 1- diarrhea predominant

2- constipation predominant

3- alternating bowel movements.

Abdominal pain or discomfort is the hallmark of IBS and is present in the three subgroups.

IBS symptoms have been categorized according to the Rome criteria and subsequently modified to the Rome II criteria. This conformity in describing the symptoms of IBS has helped to achieve consensus in designing and evaluating IBS clinical studies. The Rome II diagnostic criteria are: 1- Presence of abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 weeks (not necessarily consecutively) out of the preceding year 2- Two or more of the following symptoms: a) Relief with defecation b) Onset associated with change in stool frequency

c) Onset associated with change in stool consistency

A further aspect of the invention is the use of a compound according to formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention CNS disorders, such as anxiety.

A further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of CNS disorders, such as anxiety, whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment.

A further aspect of the invention is the use of a compound according to formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of depression.

A further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of depression, whereby a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is administered to a subject in need of such treatment.

For the purpose of this invention, the term "agonist" should be understood as including full agonists as well as partial agonists, whereby a "partial agonist" should be understood as a compound capable of partially, but not fully, activating GABA _B receptors.

The wording "TLESR", transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations, is herein defined in accordance with Mittal, R.K., Holloway, R.H., Penagini, R., Blackshaw, LA. , Dent, J., 1995; Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. Gastroenterology 109, pp. 601-610.

The wording "reflux" is defined as fluid from the stomach being able to pass into the esophagus, since the mechanical barrier is temporarily lost at such times.

The wording "GERD", gastroesophageal reflux disease, is defined in accordance with van Heerwarden, MA. , Smout A.J.P.M., 2000; Diagnosis of reflux disease. Bailliere's Clin. Gastroenterol. 14, pp. 759-774.

A "combination" according to the invention may be present as a "fix combination" or as a "kit of parts combination".

A "fix combination" is defined as a combination wherein (i) a compound of formula (I); and (ii) a GABA _B receptor agonist are present in one unit. One example of a "fix combination" is a pharmaceutical composition wherein (i) a compound of formula (I) and (ii) a GABA _B receptor agonist are present in admixture. Another example of a "fix combination" is a pharmaceutical composition wherein (i) a compound of formula (I) and (ii) a GABA _B receptor agonist; are present in one unit without being in admixture.

A "kit of parts combination" is defined as a combination wherein (i) a compound of formula (I) and (ii) a GABA _B receptor agonist are present in more than one unit. One example of a "kit of parts combination" is a combination wherein (i) a compound of formula (I) and (ii) a GABA _B receptor agonist are present separately. The components of the "kit of parts combination" may be administered simultaneously, sequentially or separately, i.e. separately or together.

The term "positive allosteric modulator" is defined as a compound which makes a receptor more sensitive to receptor agonists by binding to the receptor protein at a site different from that used by the endogenous ligand.

The term "therapy" and the term "treatment" also include "prophylaxis" and/or prevention unless stated otherwise. The terms "therapeutic" and "therapeutically" should be construed accordingly.

Pharmaceutical formulations

The compound of formula (I) can be formulated alone or in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist.

For clinical use, the compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is in accordance with the present invention suitably formulated into pharmaceutical formulations for oral administration. Also rectal, parenteral or any other route of administration may be contemplated to the skilled man in the art of formulations. Thus, the compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, is formulated with a pharmaceutically and pharmacologically acceptable carrier or adjuvant. The carrier may be in the form of a solid, semi-solid or liquid diluent.

In the preparation of oral pharmaceutical formulations in accordance with the invention, the compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, to be formulated is mixed with solid, powdered ingredients such as lactose, saccharose, sorbitol, mannitol, starch, amylopectin, cellulose derivatives, gelatin, or another suitable ingredient, as well as with disintegrating agents and lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate and polyethylene glycol waxes. The mixture is then processed into granules or compressed into tablets.

Soft gelatine capsules may be prepared with capsules containing a mixture of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, with vegetable oil, fat, or other suitable vehicle for soft gelatine capsules. Hard gelatine capsules may contain a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, in combination with solid powdered ingredients such as lactose, saccharose, sorbitol, mannitol, potato starch, corn starch, amylopectin, cellulose derivatives or gelatine.

Dosage units for rectal administration may be prepared (i) in the form of suppositories which contain the active substance(s) mixed with a neutral fat base; (ii) in the form of a gelatine rectal capsule which contains a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, in a mixture with a vegetable oil, paraffin oil, or other suitable vehicle for gelatine rectal capsules; (iii) in the form of a ready-made micro enema; or (iv) in the form of a dry micro enema formulation to be reconstituted in a suitable solvent just prior to administration.

Liquid preparations for oral administration may be prepared in the form of syrups or suspensions, e.g. solutions or suspensions, containing a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, and the remainder of the formulation consisting of sugar or sugar alcohols, and a mixture of ethanol, water, glycerol, propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. If desired, such liquid preparations may contain colouring agents, flavouring agents, saccharine and carboxymethyl cellulose or other thickening agents. Liquid preparations for oral administration may also be prepared in the form of a dry powder to be reconstituted with a suitable solvent prior to use.

Solutions for parenteral administration may be prepared as a solution of a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, in a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent. These solutions may also contain stabilizing ingredients and/or buffering ingredients and are dispensed into unit doses in the form of ampoules or vials. Solutions for parenteral administration may also be prepared as a dry preparation to be reconstituted with a suitable solvent extemporaneously before use.

In one aspect of the present invention, a compound of formula (I), optionally in combination with a GABA _B receptor agonist, may be administered once or twice daily, depending on the severity of the patient's condition. A typical daily dose of the compounds of formula (I) is from 0.1 to 100 mg per kg body weight of the subject to be treated, but this will depend on various factors such as the route of administration, the age and weight of the patient as well as of the severity of the patient's condition.

Methods of preparation

Hereinbelow, Scheme 1 denote methods for preparation of the compounds according to the present invention

Scheme 1:

X1

Step 1 d Example 2

X2

Step f-h

Example 3

Step 1 e

Step f: Example 4 Step 1 i Step g: Example 5-16 Example 19 Step h: Example 17-18

1

X3 *" Example 21

Step 1 m Step 1 n

Example 20 *- Example 22 *-

X4

Step o: Ex 23 - R3: NR Step p: Ex 24 - R3: OR Step q: R3: OMe

Example 25

Examples

Abbreviations

DBU 2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10-octahydropyrimido[l,2-a]azepine

DCM dichloromethane

DIPEA N, 7V-diisopropylethylamine

DMF N, λ^-dimethylfbrmamide

DMSO dimethylsulfoxide

EDC 1 -ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride

EtOAc ethyl acetate

EtOH ethanol

FA formic acid

HOAt 1 -hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole

HPFC high performance flash chromatography

HPLC high performance liquid chromatography

LC-MS liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy

MeCN acetonitrile

MeOH methanol

NMR nuclear magnetic resonanc

PyBOP benzotriazol- 1 -yl-oxytripyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate

TBTU O-(benzotriazol- 1 -yl)-N,N,N ' ,N ' -tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate

TEA triethylamine

TFA trifiuoroacetic acid

THF tetrahydrofuran

UV ultra violet atm atmosphere rt room temperature h hour(s) min minutes br broad

S singlet d doublet t triplet q quartet m multiplet sep septett dd double doublet dt double triplet td triple doublet

General Experimental Procedures

Phase Separator from 1ST was used. Flash column chromatography employed normal phase silica gel 60 (0.040-0.063 mm, Merck) or 1ST Isolute®SPE columns normal phase silica gel or Fluorous SPE cartridges (FluoroFlash®SPE-cartridges) from

Fluorous Technologies inc. or Biotage Horizon™ HPFC System using silica FLASH+™ HPFC™ Cartridges. HPLC purifications were performed on either a Gilson preparative HPLC system with gradient pump system 333/334, GX-281 injector, UV/VIS detector 155. Trilution LC v.1.4 software. In acidic system equipped with an Kromasil C8 10 μm 250x20 ID mm column or Kromasil C8 10 μm 250x50 ID mm column and as gradient: mobile phase (buffer): H ₂ θ/MeCN/FA 95/5/0.2 and mobile phase (organic): MeCN. In neutral system equipped with an Kromasil C8 10 μm 250x20 ID mm column or Kromasil C8 10 μm 250x50 ID mm column and as gradient: mobile phase (buffer): MeCN/0,lM NH ₄ OAc 5/95 and mobile phase (organic): MeCN. In basic system system equipped with an XBridge C18 10 μm 250x19 ID mm column or XBridge Cl 8 10 μm 250x50 ID mm column and as gradient: mobile phase (buffer): H ₂ OZMeCNZNH ₃ 95Z5Z0.2 and mobile phase (organic): MeCN. Or on a Waters preparative HPLC system equipped with a Kromasil C 8 10 mm 250 mm x 21.2 mm column and a gradient mobile phase (buffer): MeCNZO, IM NH ₄ OAc 5Z95 and mobile phase (organic): MeCN or on a

Waters FractionLynx HPLC system with a mass triggered fraction collector, equipped with a Xbridge Prep C18 5μ 19 mm x 150 mm column using MeCNZNH ₃ buffer system with a gradient from 95% mobile phase A (0,2% NH ₃ in water, pHIO) to 95% mobile phase B (100% MeCN) unless otherwise stated. ¹ H NMR and ¹³ C NMR measurements were performed on a BRUKER ACP 300 or on a Varian Inova 400, 500 or 600 spectrometer, operating at ¹ H frequencies of 300, 400, 500, 600 MHz, respectively, and ¹³ C frequencies of 75, 100, 125 and 150 MHz, respectively. Chemical shifts are given in δ values (ppm) with the solvents used as internal standard, unless otherwise stated. Microwave heating was performed using single node heating in a Smith Creator or Emrys Optimizer from Personal Chemistry, Uppsala, Sweden. Mass spectral data were obtained using a Micromass LCT or Waters Q-Tof micro system and, where appropriate, either positive ion data or negative ion data were collected.

Compound names generated by ACDZName Release 9.0. Product Version: 9.04 (Build 6210, 20 JuI 2005)

Explanation to plate-NMR:

*The solutions are taken from a concentrated sample dissolved in (CHs) ₂ SO and are diluted with (CDs) ₂ SO. Since a substantial amount of (CHs) ₂ SO is present in the sample, first a pre-scan is run and analysed to automatically suppress the (CHs) ₂ SO (2.54 ppm) and H ₂ O (3.3 ppm) peaks. This means that in this so-called wetlD experiment the intensity of peaks that reside in these areas around 3.3 ppm and 2.54 ppm are reduced. Furthermore impurities are seen in the spectrum which give rise to a triplet at 1.12 ppm, a singlet at 2.96 ppm and two multiplets between 2.76-2.70 ppm and 2.61-2.55 ppm. Most probably these impurities are dimethylsulfone and diethylsulfoxide.

Hereinbelow, it should be noted that Examples 1, 3, 21, 23, and 24 are for reference purposes only.

Example 1: Synthesis of l-[6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinolin-3- yljethanone was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

Step Ia: Synthesis of (2-amino-5-bromophenyl)(4-fluorophenyl)methanone

To a stirred solution of 79.24 g (0.594 mol) AlCl ₃ in 300 ml anhydrous 1,2- dichloroethane were slowly added 119 g (0.594 mol) 4-bromoaniline in 100 ml 1,2- dichloroethane at 0 ⁰ C. Then 63.81 g (0.545 mol) BCl ₃ were added dropwise to the reaction mixture at -10 ⁰ C followed by addition of 60 g (0.495 mol) 4-bromo benzonitrile. The reaction mixture was warmed up to rt and refiuxed for 18 h. The mixture was cooled to 0 ⁰ C and hydrolyzed by slowly adding water and subsequent heating at 80 ⁰ C for 1 h. The aq. layer was extracted with DCM and the combined organic layers were washed with water, brine, dried with Na ₂ SO ₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography using 5% ethyl acetate in petrol ether as eluent to afford 13 g (44.2 mmol, 9%) of (2-amino-5- bromophenyl)(4-fluorophenyl)methanone as a yellow solid.

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 5.98 (br s, 2H), 6.63 (d, 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.14 (t, 8.7 Hz, IH), 7.34 (dd, 8.8 Hz, 2.3 Hz, IH), 7.49 (d, 2.3 Hz, IH), 7.62-7.68 (m, 2H).

MS m/z 295.0 (M+H) ⁺ .

Step Ib:

Example 1: Synthesis of l-[6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinolin-3- yljethanone

5 g (0.017 mol) of (2-amino-5-bromophenyl)(4-fluorophenyl)methanone, ref. step Ia product in Example 1, in 10 ml 2-propanol, were added to a solution of 3 g (0.0306 mol) 2,4 pentanedione and 100 mg (0.26 mmol) sodium tetrachloroaurate (III) dihydrate in 50 ml 2-propanol at rt. The mixture was heated to reflux for 18h. The solvent was evaporated and the crude product purified by flash column chromatography with 4% ethyl acetate in petrol ether as eluent to afford 4.2 g (0.012 mol, 70%) of l-[6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinolin-3-yl]ethanone as a pale yellow solid.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 2.01 (s, 3H), 2.64 (s, 3H), 7.19-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.28-7.33 (m, 2H), 7.67 (d, 2.1 Hz, IH), 7.77 (dd, 8.9 Hz, 2.2 Hz, IH), 7.92 (d, 9 Hz, IH).

MS m/z 359.0 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 2: Synthesis of 6-bromo-3-[l-(4-chlorophenoxy)ethyl]-4-(4- fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinoline was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

Step Ic: Synthesis of l-[6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinolin-3- yljethanol

183 mg (0.51 mmol) of l-[6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinolin-3- yljethanone, ref Example 1, were suspended in 20 ml methanol and 39 mg (1.02 mmol) sodium borohydride was added portionwise. The solution became clear after stirring at rt for 3h. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was partioned between DCM and water. The aq. phase was extracted with DCM and the combined organic layers were dried by filtration through a phase separator. The solvent was evaporated and the crude product could be used without further purification for the next step. 180.0 mg (0.50 mmol, 98%) l-[6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methylquinolin-3-yl]ethanol was isolated as a white solid.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.50 (d, 7.0 Hz, 3H), 2.99 (s,3H), 4.97-5.05 (m, IH), 7.11-7.17 (m, IH), 7.19-7.26 (m, 3H), 7.27-7.30 (m, IH), 7.68 (dd, 8.9 Hz, 2.0 Hz, IH), 7.85-7.95 (m, IH).

MS m/z 361.0 (M+H) ⁺ .

Step Id:

Example 2: Synthesis of 6-bromo-3-[l-(4-chlorophenoxy)ethyl]-4-(4- fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinoline

65 mg (0.18 mmol) of l-[6-bromo-4-(4-fiuorophenyl)-2-methylquinolin-3-yl]ethanol, ref step Ic product in Example 2, were dissolved in 1 ml anhydrous THF, then 52 mg (0.20 mmol) of triphenyl phosphine and 35 mg (0.27 mmol) of 4-chlorophenol were added and the solution was cooled to 0 ⁰ C. 0.04 ml (0.208 mmol) diisopropyl azodicarboxylate were added dropwise and the mixture was allowed to warm up to rt. After stirring at rt for 4 h, the solvent was evaporated and the residue was purified by HPFC with pentane:MTBE=8:las eluent. 62 mg (0.13 mmol, 73%) l-[6-bromo-4-(4- fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinolin-3-yl]ethanol was isolated as colorless oil.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.66-1.72 (m, 3H), 2.96 (s, 3H), 5.22-5.30 (m, IH), 6.50-6.57 (m, 2H), 7.03-7.09 (m, 2H), 7.09-7.19 (m, 2H), 7.19-7.30 (m, 3H), 7.65- 7.72 (m, IH), 7.83-7.89 (m, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₄ Hi ₈ BrClFNO+H] ⁺ : 470.0323. Found: 470.0318.

Step Ie:

Example 3: Synthesis of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin-

3-yl]ethanol was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

50 mg (0.054 mmol) of tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) and 68 mg (0.11 mmol) of 2,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-l,l-binaphtyl were dissolved in 4 ml anhydrous dioxane and 0.4 ml anhydrous tert-butanol under nitrogen atmosphere and were stirred at rt for 15min. 390 mg (1.08 mmol) of l-[6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methylquinolin-3-yl]ethanol, ref. step Ic product in Example 2, 182 mg (1.62 mmol) potassium tøt-butoxide and 0.16 ml (1.62 mmol) piperidine were placed in a microwave reaction vessel under nitrogen atmosphere. The palladium catalyst solution was added and the vessel sealed and heated in the microwave oven at 130 ⁰ C for Ih. The vessel was opened, the content was filtered and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by HPFC with pentane:ethyl acetate=l:2 gradient as eluent. 177 mg (0.49 mmol, 45%) l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6- piperidin-l-ylquinolin-3-yl]ethanol was isolated as a yellow solid.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.49 (d, 6.8 Hz, 3H), 1.50-1.55 (m, 2H), 1.59-1.66 (m, 4H), 2.93 (s, 3H), 2.98-3.03 (m, 4H), 4.98 (q, 6.8 Hz, IH), 6.31 (d, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.12- 7.25 (m, 4H), 7.40 (dd, 9.1 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.82-7.92 (m, IH).

MS m/z 365.0 (M+H) ⁺ .

Step If:

Example 4: Synthesis of 3-[l-(4-chlorophenoxy)ethyl]-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

75 mg (0.21 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin-3- yljethanol, ref. Example 3, were dissolved in 0.5 ml anhydrous THF and 59 mg (0.23

mmol) triphenyl phosphine and 37 mg (0.29 mmol) 4-chlorophenol were added. The mixture was cooled to 0 ⁰ C and 0.048 ml (0.25 mmol) diisopropyl azodicarboxylate were added dropwise. The mixture was warmed up to rt and stirred at rt for 2h. The solvent was evaporated and the crude product purified by HPFC with a gradient of pentane:ethyl acetate=5:l to 3:1 as eluent. 68 mg (0.143 mmol, 70%) 3-[l-(4- chlorophenoxy)ethyl]-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin - 1 -ylquinoline was isolated as a yellow oil.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.47-1.55 (m, 2H), 1.58-1.65 (m, 4H), 1.68 (d, 6.8 Hz, 3H), 2.91 (s, 3H), 2.98-3.03 (m, 4H), 5.24 (q, 6.7 Hz, IH), 6.29-6.32 (d, 2.5 Hz, IH), 6.55 (d, 8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.05 (d, 8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.08-7.14 (m, IH), 7.15-7.27 (m, 3H), 7.41 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.86 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₉ H ₂₈ ClFN ₂ C^H] ⁺ : 475.1952. Found: 475.1943.

Step Ig:

Example 5: Synthesis of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-yl-3-[l-

(pyridin-2-yloxy)ethyl]quinoline was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin-3- yl]ethanol, ref. Example 3, 163 mg (0.23 mmol) diphenyl-[4-(lH,lH,2H,2H- perfiuorodecyl)phenyl]phosphine and 22 mg (0.23 mmol) 2-hydroxypyridine were dissolved in 1 ml anhydrous THF and cooled to 0 ⁰ C. 100 mg (0.23 mmol) of a solution of diethylazodicarboxylate (40% in toluene) were added and the mixture was warmed up to rt and stirred at rt for 14h. The solvent was evaporated and the residue dissolved in 0.4 ml DMF. This solution was applied on a Fluorous SPE cartridge (2g,

preconditioned with 1 ml DMF and 4 ml MeOH:H ₂ θ=8:2). The product was eluted withlO ml MeOHiH ₂ O=S :2, the solvents were evaporated and the residue purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC. 21 mg (0.026 mmol, 32%) of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-yl-3-[l-(pyridin-2-yloxy)ethyl]quinolin e was isolated as a light yellow solid.

¹ H NMR (OOO MHz, DMSO-de) δ 1.42-1.57 (m, 2H), 1.49-1.54 (m, 4H), 1.57 (d, 6.9 Hz, 3H), 2.79 (s, 3H), 2.94-2.97 (m, 4H), 5.94 (q, 7.0 Hz, IH), 6.20 (d, 2.5 Hz, IH), 6.73 (d, 8.3 Hz, IH), 6.84 (dd, 6.8 Hz, 5.4 Hz, IH), 7.23-7.27 (m, IH), 7.36 (dt, 8.7 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.42 (dt, 8.9 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.47 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.1 Hz, IH), 7.50- 7.53 (m, IH), 7.60-7.63 (m, IH), 7.69 (d, 9.3 Hz, IH), 7.98 (dd, 5.0 Hz, 1.8 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂ 8H ₂₈ FN ₃ O+H] ⁺ : 442.2295. Found: 442.2283.

The following Examples 6-16 were synthesized according to Example 5 (employing the appropriate phenol-derivative):

Example 6: Synthesis of 4-{l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinolin-3-yl]ethoxy}benzonitrile

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 12 mg (0.026 mmol, 17%) of the title compound was isolated.

1H NMR (600 MHz, DMSO-de) δ 1.43-1.48 (m, 2H), 1.49-1.54 (m, 4H), 1.69 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.76 (s, 3H), 2.97-3.00 (m, 4H), 5.31 (q, 6.7 Hz, IH), 6.22 (d, 2.3 Hz, IH),

6.75 (d, 9.0 Hz, 2H), 7.26-7.31 (m, IH), 7.39 (dt, 8.7 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.45 (dt, 8.7 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.49-7.55 (m, 2H), 7.63 (d, 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.72 (d, 9.3 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₃ oH ₂₈ FN ₃ 0+H] ⁺ : 466.2295. Found: 466.2303.

Example 7: Synthesis of 3-{l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinolin-3-yl]ethoxy}benzonitrile

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 27 mg (0.058 mmol, 38%) of the title compound was isolated.

1H NMR (600 MHz, DMSOd ₆ ) δ 1.43-1.47 (m, 2H), 1.48-1.54 (m, 4H), 1.69 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.79 (s, 3H), 2.96-3.00 (m, 4H), 5.28 (q, 6.7 Hz, IH), 6.22 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 6.95 (dd, 8.5 Hz, 2.2 Hz, IH), 6.99-7.00 (m, IH), 7.29 (d, 7.7 Hz, IH), 7.31-7.38 (m, 3H), 7.39-7.45 (m, 2H), 7.51 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.5 Hz, IH), 7.72 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₃₀ H ₂₈ FN ₃ O+H] ⁺ : 466.2295. Found: 466.2277.

Example 8: Synthesis of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-3-{l-[4- (methylsulfonyl)phenoxy]ethyl}-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 5.3 mg (0.01 mmol, 7%) of the title compound was isolated.

¹ H NMR (OOO MHz, DMSOd ₆ ) δ 1.43-1.48 (m, 2H), 1.49-1.54 (m, 4H), 1.71 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.76 (s, 3H), 2.97-3.00 (m, 4H), 3.04 (s, 3H), 5.30 (q, 6.6 Hz, IH), 6.23 (d, 2.7 Hz, IH), 6.81 (d, 8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.30-7.36 (m, IH), 7.41 (dt, 8.6 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.47 (dt, 8.7 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.51 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.57-7.61 (m, IH), 7.70- 7.74 (m, 3H).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₃₀ H ₃ IFN ₂ O ₃ S-HH] ⁺ : 519.2117. Found: 519.2114.

Example 9: Synthesis of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-yl-3-[l- (pyridin-3-yloxy)ethyl]quinoline

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 29 mg (0.066 mmol, 44%) of the title compound was isolated.

1H NMR (600 MHz, DMSO-de) δ 1.42-1.47 (m, 2H), 1.48-1.53 (m, 4H), 1.69 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.79 (s, 3H), 2.96-2.99 (m, 4H), 5.26 (q, 6.8 Hz, IH), 6.21 (d, 2.7 Hz, IH), 6.94-6.97 (m, IH), 7.27-7.30 (m, IH), 7.26-7.36 (m, IH), 7.34-7.40 (m, 2H), 7.44 (dt, 8.6 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.51 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.72 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH), 8.00 (d, 3.0 Hz, IH), 8.05 (dd, 4.5 Hz, 1.2 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₈ H ₂₈ FN ₃ O+H] ⁺ : 442.2295. Found: 442.2286.

Example 10: Synthesis of 3-[l-(2-chlorophenoxy)ethyl]-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 23 mg (0.048 mmol, 32%) of the title compound was isolated.

¹ R NMR (600 MHz, DMSOd ₆ ) δ 1.42-1.47 (m, 2H), 1.49-1.54 (m, 4H), 1.69 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.85 (s, 3H), 2.96-2.99 (m, 4H), 5.22 (q, 6.7 Hz, IH), 6.21 (d, 2.7 Hz, IH), 6.50 (dd, 8.3 Hz, 1.3 Hz, IH), 6.87 (dt, 7.6 Hz, 1.3 Hz, IH), 7.08-7.11 (m, IH), 7.23- 7.27 (m, IH), 7.29-7.33 (m, IH), 7.30-7.40 (m, 3H), 7.51 (dd, 9.3 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.73 (d, 9.3 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₉ H ₂₈ ClFN ₂ C^H] ⁺ : 475.1952. Found: 475.1955.

Example 11: Synthesis of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[l-(4-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl]-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 30 mg (0.064 mmol, 43%) of the title compound was isolated.

¹ H NMR (OOO MHz, DMSOd ₆ ) δ 1.42-1.47 (m, 2H), 1.48-1.53 (m, 4H), 1.62 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.80 (s, 3H), 2.95-2.98 (m, 4H), 3.58 (s, 3H), 5.07 (q, 6.9 Hz, IH), 6.19 (d, 2.7 Hz, IH), 6.54 (d, 9.1 Hz, 2H), 6.71 (d, 9.1 Hz, 2H), 7.25-7.28 (m, IH), 7.29-7.32 (m, IH), 7.37-7.44 (m, 2H), 7.49 (dd, 9.3 Hz, 2.4 Hz, IH), 7.71 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for 471.2448. Found: 471.2439.

Example 12: Synthesis of (3-{l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinolin-3-yl]ethoxy}phenyl)dimethylamine

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 35 mg (0.073 mmol, 49%) of the title compound was isolated.

1H NMR (600 MHz, DMSOd ₆ ) δ 1.42-1.47 (m, 2H), 1.48-1.53 (m, 4H), 1.61 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.75 (s, 6H), 2.81 (s, 3H), 2.95-2.98 (m, 4H), 5.17 (q, 6.7 Hz, IH), 5.83 (dd, 8.1 Hz, 2.2 Hz, IH), 5.96-5.98 (m, IH), 6.19-6.22 (m, 2H), 6.89 (t, 8.2 Hz, IH), 7.28- 7.33 (m, 2H), 7.36-7.44 (m, 2H), 7.49 (dd, 9.3 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.71 (d, 9.3 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₃ iH ₃₄ FN ₃ O+H] ⁺ : 484.2764. Found: 484.2768.

Example 13: Synthesis of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[l-(2-isopropylphenoxy)ethyl]-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 31 mg (0.064 mmol, 43%) of the title compound was isolated.

¹ R NMR (600 MHz, DMSOd ₆ ) δ 1.05 (d, 6.8 Hz, 3H), 1.08 (d, 6.9 Hz, 3H), 1.42- 1.48 (m, 2H), 1.49-1.54 (m, 4H), 1.66 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.82 (s, 3H), 2.96-2.99 (m, 4H), 3.12-3.19 (m, IH), 5.11 (q, 6.7 Hz, IH), 6.21 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 6.34 (d, 8.2 Hz, IH), 6.82 (t, 7.6 Hz, IH), 6.89-6.93 (m, IH), 7.13 (dd, 7.6 Hz, 1.6 Hz, IH), 7.25-7.29 (m, 2H), 7.33-7.38 (m, 2H), 7.51 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.74 (d, 9.3 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₃₂ H ₃₅ FN ₂ O-HH] ⁺ : 483.2812. Found: 483.2832.

Example 14: Synthesis of 3-{l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinolin-3-yl]ethoxy}benzamide

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 39 mg (0.081 mmol, 54%) of the title compound was isolated.

1H NMR (600 MHz, DMSOd ₆ ) δ 1.43-1.48 (m, 2H), 1.48-1.54 (m, 4H), 1.67 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.77 (s, 3H), 2.96-2.99 (m, 4H), 5.21 (q, 6.9 Hz, IH), 6.20 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 6.81 (dd, 8.1 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.15-7.17 (m, IH), 7.22 (t, 7.8 Hz, IH), 7.26 (br s, IH), 7.33 (d, 7.7 Hz, 2H), 7.38-7.42 (m, 2H), 7.49 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.8 Hz, IH), 7.57-7.61 (m, IH), 7.70 (d, 9.3 Hz, IH), 7.84 (br s, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₃₀ H ₃ oFN ₃ 0 ₂ +H] ⁺ : 484.2400. Found: 484.2400.

Example 15: Synthesis of 2-{l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinolin-3-yl]ethoxy}benzonitrile

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 24 mg (0.052 mmol, 34%) of the title compound was isolated.

¹ H NMR (OOO MHz, DMSOd ₆ ) δ 1.43-1.48 (m, 2H), 1.49-1.55 (m, 4H), 1.72 (d, 6.5 Hz, 3H), 2.82 (s, 3H), 2.97-3.00 (m, 4H), 5.37 (q, 6.8 Hz, IH), 6.22 (d, 2.7 Hz, IH), 6.56 (d, 8.7 Hz, IH), 6.99 (t, 7.5 Hz, IH), 7.26-7.30 (m, IH), 7.38 (dt, 8.6 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.42 (dt, 8.6 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.45-7.48 (m, 2H), 7.52 (dd, 9.3 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.66 (dd, 7.6 Hz, 1.7 Hz, IH), 7.73 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₃₀ H ₂₈ FN ₃ O+H] ⁺ : 466.2295. Found: 466.2290.

Example 16: Synthesis of l-{l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinolin-3-yl]ethyl}pyridin-2(lH)-one

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, 4 mg (0.009 mmol, 6%) of the title compound was isolated.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.45-1.52 (m, 2H), 1.55-1.63 (m, 4H), 1.66 (d, 7.5 Hz, 3H), 2.74 (s, 3H), 2.92-2.97 (m, 4H), 5.82 (q, 7.41 Hz, IH), 5.89 (dt, 6.9 Hz, IH), 6.12 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 6.39 (dd, 9.1 Hz, 0.8 Hz, IH), 6.79-6.85 (m, IH), 6.91-6.97 (m, 2H), 7.14-7.23 (m, 2H), 7.34-7.42 (m, 2H), 7.83 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₈ H ₂₈ FN ₃ O+H] ⁺ : 442.2295. Found: 442.2277.

Example 17 : Synthesis of 3-[l-(4-chlorophenoxy)ethyl]-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-(4-methylpiperazin-l-yl)quinoline was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

Step Ie: Synthesis of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-(4-methylpiperazin-l- yl)quinolin-3-yl]ethanol was prepared as step Ie in Example 4 .

From 116 mg (0.322 mmol) of l-[6-bromo-4-(4-fiuorophenyl)-2-methylquinolin-3- yljethanol, ref step Ic product in Example 2, 66 mg (0.174 mmol, 54%) of l-[4-(4- fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-(4-methylpiperazin-l-yl)quinolin-3- yl]ethanol was isolated as a yellow solid. The reaction mixture was heated at 120 ⁰ C for 30 min. The crude was purified by HPFC with a gradient of DCM:MeOH:NH ₃ (26% in water)=20: 1:0.05 to 10:1:0.05 as eluent.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.45 (d, 6.8 Hz, 3H), 2.25 (s, 3H), 2.43-2.48 (m, 4H), 2.89 (s, 3H), 2.97-3.02 (m, 4H), 4.93 (q, 6.8 Hz, IH), 6.27 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.01-7.19 (m, 4H), 7.32 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.81 (d, 9.1 Hz, IH).

MS m/z 380.0 (M+H) ⁺ .

Step Ih:

Example 17: Synthesis of 3-[l-(4-chlorophenoxy)ethyl]-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-(4-methylpiperazin-l-yl)quinoline

34 mg (0.089 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-(4-methylpiperazin-l- yl)quinolin-3-yl]ethanol, ref. step Ie product in Example 17, 14 mg (0.107 mmol) of

4-chlorophenol and 28 mg (0.107 mmol) of triphenyl phosphine were dissolved in 1 ml anhydrous THF. The mixture was cooled to 0 ⁰ C and 48 mg (0.107 mmol) diethylazodicarboxylate (40% solution in toluene) were added dropwise. The mixture was warmed up to rt and stirred for 3h. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC. 32 mg (0.065 mmol, 74%) of 3- [l-(4-chlorophenoxy)ethyl]-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-(4- methylpiperazin-l- yl)quinoline was isolated as a light yellow solid.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.68 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.29 (s, 3H), 2.47-2.51 (m, 4H), 2.91 (s, 3H), 3.04-3.08 (m, 4H), 5.24 (q, 6.8 Hz, IH), 6.32 (d, 2.5 Hz, IH), 6.55 (d, 8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.04 (d, 8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.08-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.26-7.33 (m, 2H), 7.39 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.86 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₉ H ₂₉ ClFN ₃ O-HH] ⁺ : 490.2061. Found: 490.2047.

Following Example 18 were synthesized according to Example 17 :

Example 18: Synthesis of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[l-(2-isopropylphenoxy)ethyl]-2- methyl-6-(4-methylpiperazin-l-yl)quinoline

From 32 mg (0.084 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-(4-methylpiperazin-l- yl)quinolin-3-yl]ethanol, ref. step Ie product in Example 17, 18 mg (0.036 mmol, 43%) of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[l-(2-isopropylphenoxy)ethyl]-2-methyl- 6-(4- methylpiperazin-l-yl)quinoline was isolated as a yellow solid.

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.10 (d, 7.0 Hz, 3H), 1.13 (d, 7.0 Hz, 3H), 1.68 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.61-2.66 (m, 4H), 2.97 (s, 3H), 3.08-3.13 (m, 4H), 3.16-3.27 (m, IH), 5.23 (q, 6.8 Hz, IH), 6.34 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 6.37 (dd, 7.8 Hz, 1.5 Hz, IH), 6.80-6.89 (m, 2H), 7.05-7.20 (m, 5H), 7.38 (dd, 9.3 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.92 (d, 9.4 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₃₂ H ₃₆ FN ₃ O-HH] ⁺ : 498.2921. Found: 498.2921.

Example 19: Synthesis of 4-{l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinolin-3-yl]ethoxy}phenol was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

Step Ig: Synthesis of 3-{l-[4-(benzyloxy)phenoxy]ethyl}-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline was prepared as in ref. Example 5.

From 55 mg (0.15 mmol) of l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin- 3-yl]ethanol, ref. Example 3, 39 mg (0.071 mmol, 47%) of the title compound was isolated.

¹ H NMR (OOO MHz, DMSOd ₆ ) δ 1.42-1.47 (m, 2H), 1.48-1.53 (m, 4H), 1.62 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.81 (s, 3H), 2.95-2.98 (m, 4H), 4.91 (s, 2H), 5.07 (q, 6.7 Hz, IH), 6.19 (d, 2.7 Hz, IH), 6.54 (d, 9.1 Hz, 2H), 6.79 (d, 9.2 Hz, 2H), 7.21-7.24 (m, IH), 7.24-7.28 (m, IH), 7.28-7.35 (m, 5H), 7.36-7.40 (m, 2H), 7.49 (dd, 9.3 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.71 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₃₆ H ₃₅ FN ₂ C^H] ⁺ : 547.2761. Found: 547.2773.

Step Ii: Example 19: Synthesis of 4-{l-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinolin-3-yl] ethoxy}phenol

19 mg (0.035 mmol) of 3-{l-[4-(benzyloxy)phenoxy]ethyl}-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline, ref step Ig product in Example 19, were dissolved in 3 ml methanol under a nitrogen atmosphere. 2 mg (0.014 mmol) Pd(OH) ₂ , 20 wt. % Pd (on dry basis) on carbon (wet) was added and the atmosphere was replaced by a hydrogen atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at atmospheric pressure and rt for Ih. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the solvent was evaporated. The crude product was purified by HPFC with pentane:ethyl acetate=3:2 as eluent. 12 mg (0.026 mmol, 76%) of 4- { 1 -[4-(4-fiuorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin- 1 -ylquinolin-3- yl]ethoxy}phenol was isolated as light yellow oil.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.45-1.53 (m, 2H), 1.56-1.62 (m, 4H), 1.63 (d, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 2.95 (s, 3H), 2.95-3.00 (m, 4H), 5.12 (q, 6.8 Hz, IH), 6.26 (d, 2.8 Hz, IH), 6.42 (d, 9.0 Hz, 2H), 6.47 (d, 9.0 Hz, 2H), 6.91-6.97 (m, IH), 7.03-7.09 (m, IH), 7.12-7.20 (m, 2H), 7.36 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.85 (d, 9.3 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₉ H ₂₉ FN ₂ C^H] ⁺ : 457.2291. Found: 457.2282. Step Ij:

Example 20: Synthesis of tert-bntyl 6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methylquinoline-3-carboxylate was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

5 g (0.017 mol) of (2-amino-5-bromophenyl)(4-fluorophenyl)methanone, ref. step Ia product in example 1, in 10 ml 2-propanol, were added to a solution of 4 g (2.5 mmol) tøt-butylacetylacetone and 169 mg (0.04 mmol) sodium tetrachloroaurate (III) dihydrate in 50 ml 2-propanol at rt and heated to reflux for 18h. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and purified by flash column chromatography with 4% ethyl acetate in petrol ether as eluent to afford 1.4 g (3.4 mmol, 20%) tert-butyl 6- bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinoline-3-carboxylate as a pale yellow solid.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.26 (s, 9H), 2.74 (s, 3H), 7.16-7.23 (m, 2H), 7.29-7.34 (m, 2H), 7.59 (d, 2.1 Hz, IH), 7.75 (dd, 8.9 Hz, 2.2 Hz, IH), 7.91 (d, 8.9 Hz, IH).

MS m/z 416.0 (M+H) ⁺ .

Example 21: Synthesis of 6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-3-(piperidin-l- ylcarbonyl)quinoline was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

Step Ik:

Synthesis of 6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinoline-3-carboxylic acid

141 mg (0.34 mmol) of tert-butyl 6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinoline-3- carboxylate, ref. example 20, were dissolved in 1 ml DCM and 1 ml TFA was added. The mixture was warmed up to 40 ⁰ C and stirred at that temperature for 3h. The solvents were removed in vacuo and excessive TFA was removed by co-evaporation with toluene. The crude product could be used in the next steps without further purification. 118 mg (0.328 mmol, 97%) of 6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methylquinoline-3-carboxylic acid was isolated as a colorless oil.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, DMSO- d ₆ ) δ 2.62 (s, 3H), 7.32-7.43 (m, 4H), 7.47 (d, 2.0 Hz, IH), 7.86 (dd, 8.9 Hz, 2.1 Hz, IH), 7.93 (d, 8.9 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [Ci ₇ Hi iBrFNO ₂ +H] ⁺ : 360.0035. Found: 360.0019.

Step 11:

Example 21: Synthesis of 6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-3-(piperidin-l- ylcarbonyl)quinoline

41 mg (0.114 mmol) of 6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinoline-3-carboxylic acid, ref. step Ik product in Example 21, were dissolved in 0.6 ml anhydrous DMF and 73 mg (0.23 mmol) TBTU and 0.04 ml (0.228 mmol) DIPEA were added. After stirring at rt for 10 min, 0.022 ml (0.23 mmol) piperidine were added and the mixture was stirred at rt for 3h. 0.1M aq. HCl solution was added and the aq. phase was extracted with DCM. The combined organic phases were washed with NaHCO ₃ solution and dried by filtration through a phase separator. The solvent was evaporated and the residue purified by HPFC with a gradient of pentane:ethyl acetate=2:3 to 1:2 as eluent. 37 mg (0.087 mmol, 76%) of 6-bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-3- (piperidin-l-ylcarbonyl)quinoline was isolated as a colorless oil.

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 0.95-1.06 (m, IH), 1.17-1.33 (m, 2H), 1.36-1.44 (m, IH), 1.44-1.54 (m, 2H), 2.67 (s, 3H), 2.73-2.80 (m, IH), 2.98-3.05 (m, IH), 3.29-3.37 (m, IH), 3.52-3.60 (m, IH), 7.14-7.29 (m, 3H), 7.50-7.57 (m, IH), 7.68 (d, 2.1 Hz, IH), 7.73 (dd, 8.9 Hz, 2.1 Hz, IH), 7.90 (d, 8.9 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₂ H ₂₀ BrFN ₂ C^H] ⁺ : 427.0821. Found: 427.0801.

Step Im:

Example 22: Synthesis of tert-bntyl 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinoline-3-carboxylate was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

55.5 mg (0.061 mmol) tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) and 76 mg (0.121 mmol) 2,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-l,l-binaphtyl were dissolved in 4 ml anhydrous dioxane and 0.4 ml anhydrous tert-butanol under nitrogen atmosphere and the mixture was stirred at rt for 15 min. 505 mg (1.21 mmol) of tert-butyl 6-bromo-4-(4- fluorophenyl)-2-methylquinoline-3-carboxylate, ref. Example 20, were placed into a microwave reaction vessel and 204 mg (1.82 mmol) potassium tert-butoxide and 0.24 ml (2.43 mmol) piperidine were added under nitrogen atmosphere. The vessel was sealed and the catalyst solution added with a syringe. The vessel was heated in the microwave oven at 120 ⁰ C for 30 min. The vessel was opened, the content filtrated and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by HPFC with pentane:ethyl acetate=5:l as eluent. 196 mg (0.47 mmol, 38%) tert-butyl 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline-3-carboxylate was isolated as a yellow oil.

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.25 (s, 9H), 1.50-1.56 (m, 2H), 1.61-1.68 (m, 4H), 2.70 (s, 3H), 3.04-3.10 (m, 4H), 6.63 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.14-7.20 (m, 2H), 7.30-7.36 (m, 2H), 7.46 (dd, 9.3 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.89 (d, 8.9 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₆ H ₂₉ FN ₂ C^H] ⁺ : 421.2291. Found: 421.2285.

Example 23: Synthesis of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-yl-3- (piperidin-l-ylcarbonyl)quinoline was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

Step In: Synthesis of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline-3- carboxylic acid

22 mg (0.052 mmol) of tert-butyl 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinoline-3-carboxylate, ref. Example 22, were dissolved in 0.5 ml DCM and 0.5 ml TFA were added. The mixture was heated to 50 ⁰ C and stirred for 30 min. The solvents were evaporated and excessive TFA was removed by co-evaporation with toluene. The crude product was used without further purification for the next steps. 19 mg (0.05 mmol, 96%) 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline-3- carboxylic acid was obtained as a light yellow oil.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, DMSO- d ₆ ) δ 1.45-1.60 (m, 6H), 2.65 (s, 3H), 3.07-3.17 (m, 4H), 6.58-6.65 (m, IH), 7.07-7.16 (m, IH), 7.18-7.24 (m, IH), 7.33-7.43 (m, 2H), 7.73 (d, 9.1 Hz, IH), 7.89 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

MS m/z 365.0 (M+H) ⁺ .

Step lo:

Example 23: Synthesis of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-yl-3-

(piperidin-l-ylcarbonyl)quinoline

19 mg (0.05 mmol) 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline-3- carboxylic acid, ref step In product in Example 23, was dissolved in 0.5 ml anhydrous DMF and 25 mg (0.078 mmol) TBTU and 0.014 ml (0.078 mmol) DIPEA were added. The mixture was stirred at rt for 10 min and 0.01 ml (0.104 ml) piperidine were added. After stirring at rt for 3 h, 0.1 M aq. HCl solution was added and the aq. phase was extracted with DCM. The combined organic layers were washed with NaHCO ₃ solution and dried by filtration through a phase separator. After evaporation of the solvent, the residue was purified by HPFC with a gradient of pentane:ethyl acetate=2:3 to 1:2 as eluent. 15 mg (0.035 mmol, 67%) of 4-(4-fiuorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-yl-3-(piperidin-l-ylcarbonyl)-quinoline was isolated as a yellow solid.

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.02-1.10 (m, IH), 1.22-1.36 (m, 2H), 1.38-1.48 (m, 2H), 1.49-1.60 (m, 3H), 1.65-1.72 (m, 4H), 2.67 (s, 3H), 2.82-2.86 (m, IH), 3.05-3.15 (m, 5H), 3.31-3.39 (m, IH), 3.57-3.64 (m, IH), 6.77 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.15-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.32-7.36 (m, IH), 7.50 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.56-7.60 (m, IH), 7.93 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₇ H ₃₀ FN ₃ C^H] ⁺ : 432.2451. Found: 432.2457.

Step Ip:

Example 24: Synthesis of 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6- piperidin-l-ylquinoline-3-carboxylate was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

29 mg (0.08 mmol) of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline-3- carboxylic acid, ref. step In product in Example 23, were dissolved in 2 ml DCM. 21 mg (0.11 mmol) EDC, 18 mg (0.143 mmol) 4-dimethylaminopyridine and 11 mg (0.095 mmol) 3,3,3-trifluoropropano-l-ol were added and the mixture was stirred at rt for 3 days. 0.1 M aq. HCl solution was added and the aq. phase was extracted with DCM. The combined organic layers were washed with NaHCO ₃ solution and dried by filtration through a phase separator. The solvent was evaporated and the crude product purified by HPFC with pentane:ethyl acetate=4:l as eluent. 26 mg (0.056 mmol, 71%) 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline-3- carboxylate was isolated as a light yellow oil.

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.50-1.57 (m, 2H), 1.61-1.68 (m, 4H), 2.10-2.22 (m, 2H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 3.05-3.11 (m, 4H), 4.18 (t, 6.4 Hz, 2H), 6.65 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.14- 7.20 (m, 2H), 7.29-7.34 (m, 2H), 7.50 (dd, 9.4 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.91 (d, 9.1 Hz, IH). HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₅ H ₂₄ F ₄ N ₂ C^H] ⁺ : 461.1852. Found: 461.1848.

Example 25: Synthesis of 3-[(4-chlorophenoxy)methyl]-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline was synthesized according to Scheme 1.

Step Iq: Synthesis of methyl 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinoline-3-carboxylate

55 mg (0.151 mmol) of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline-3- carboxylic acid, ref. Example 23 step In product, were dissolved in 5 ml DCM and 0.113 ml (0.23 mmol) of a 2 M solution of trimethylsilyldiazomethane in DCM were added. The mixture was stirred at rt for 3 h. 0.09 ml (1.5 mmol) acetic acid were added and the mixture was stirred for another hour at rt. The solvents were removed in vacuo and the crude product purified by HPFC with pentane:ethyl acetate=3: 1 as eluent. 51 mg (0.135 mmol, 89%) of methyl 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2 -methyl-6-piperidin- l-ylquinoline-3-carboxylate was isolated as a light yellow oil.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.49-1.56 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.67 (m, 4H), 2.67 (s, 3H), 3.05-3.09 (m, 4H), 3.56 (s, 3H), 6.67 (d, 2.6 Hz, IH), 7.12-7.18 (m, 2H), 7.28-7.34 (m, 2H), 7.47 (dd, 9.3 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.89 (d, 9.2 Hz, IH).

MS m/z 379.0 (M+H) ⁺ .

Step Ir: Synthesis of [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin-3- yl] methanol

50 mg (0.132 mmol) of methyl 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l- ylquinoline-3-carboxylate, ref. step Iq product in Example 25, were dissolved in 5 ml anhydrous THF under a nitrogen atmosphere. The solution was cooled to 0 ⁰ C and 0.66 ml (0.66 mmol) of a 1 M LiAlH ₄ solution in THF was added dropwise. The mixture was allowed to warm up to rt and was stirred at rt for 2 h. The mixture was cooled to 0 ⁰ C and water was slowly added. The organic phase was extracted with DCM and the combined organic layers were dried by filtration through a phase separator. The solvent was evaporated and the crude product purified by HPFC with ethyl acetate as eluent. 38 mg (0.108 mmol, 82%) of [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6- piperidin-l-ylquinolin-3-yl]methanol was isolated as a light yellow solid.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.48-1.58 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.68 (m, 4H), 2.87 (s, 3H), 3.02-3.08 (m, 4H), 3.69-3.75 (m, IH), 4.54 (s, 2H), 6.64 (d, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.18-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.26-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.44 (dd, 9.3 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.89-8.04 (m, IH).

MS m/z 351.0 (M+H) ⁺ .

Step Is:

Example 25: Synthesis of 3-[(4-chlorophenoxy)methyl]-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2- methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinoline

35 mg (0.1 mmol) of [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidin-l-ylquinolin-3- yljmethanol, ref. step Ir product in Example 25, were dissolved in 0.5 ml anhydrous THF and 19 mg (0.15 mmol) 4-chlorophenol and 37 mg (0.14 mmol) triphenyl phosphine were added. The mixture was cooled to 0 ⁰ C and 0.032 ml (0.15 mmol) diisopropylazodicarboxylate were added dropwise. The mixture was warmed up to rt and stirred at rt for 3 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the crude product was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC. 39 mg (0.085 mmol, 85%) of 3-[(4- chlorophenoxy)methyl]-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-6-piperidi n-l-ylquinoline was isolated as light yellow solid.

¹ R NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ 1.49-1.56 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.68 (m, 4H), 2.67 (s, 3H), 3.03-3.07 (m, 4H), 4.77 (s, 2H), 6.55 (d, 2.7 Hz, IH), 6.75 (d, 8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.10-7.21 (m, 4H), 7.23-7.30 (m, 2H), 7.46 (dd, 9.2 Hz, 2.7 Hz, IH), 7.92 (d, 9.2Hz, IH).

HRMS Calcd for [C ₂₈ H ₂₆ C1FN ₂ O+H] ⁺ : 461.1796. Found: 461.1782.

Biological evaluation

Effects of the compounds acting as GABA _B positive allosteric receptor modulators (PAM) or agonists in functional in vitro assays.

The effect of GABA in an automated GTPγS ³⁵ radioligand filtration-binding assay in CHO cells expressing the GABA _B(IA,2) receptor heterodimer was studied in the presence or absence of the positive allosteric modulator test compounds. The positive

allosteric modulator according to the invention increased both the potency and the efficacy of GABA.

The potency of the compounds i.e. the ability of the compounds to reduce the EC50 of GABA was revealed by the concentration required to reduce GABA's EC50 by 50 %. The potency and efficacy of the compounds acting as agonists at the GABA _B receptor was also determined in a automated GTPγS ³⁵ radioligand filtration-binding assay.

GTPγS35 Assay principle

The GABA _B receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor. Binding of a ligand activates the receptor leading to recruitment of G-protein and a substitution of the G-protein bound GDP to GTP. The G-protein becomes active. The G-protein is inactivated by hydrolysis of GTP to GDP. G-proteins are membrane bound and therefore present in membrane preparations.

In the GTPγS ³⁵ assay, GTP is not present but instead GTPγS ³⁵ where one of the phosphate groups are substituted to a sulphur group which cannot be hydrolysed. Upon activation of the receptor, radiolabeled GTPγS ³⁵ replaces the GDP. The complex cannot be inactivated and the radiolabeled complex is accumulating. At the end of the assay, the reaction mixture is filtered through a membrane-binding filter. Excess GTPγS ³⁵ is removed by washing and the membrane bound S ³⁵ , which correlates to the degree of receptor activation, is measured with a β-Liquid Scintillation Counter.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

Materials and reagents

HEPES, GDP, Trizma-HCl, Trizma Base, and Saponin were from Sigma-Aldrich; EDTA, NaCl and MgCl ₂ x 6H ₂ O were from Merck; Sucrose was from BDH Laboratory supplies ; EDTA was from USB Corporation; GABA was from Tocris;

GTPγS ³⁵ was from Amersham Radiochemicals (GE Healthcare); OptiPhase Supermix was from PerkinElmer; 384 well PS-microplates were from Greiner; 1.2mL Square well storage plates, low profile were from Abgene; MultiScreen HTS 384 FB (1.0/0.65μm) filter plates were from Millipore; Biomek AP96 P20 pipette tips (non sterile) were from Beckman; Nut mix F- 12 (Ham), DMEM/F 12, OptiMEM, penicillin/streptomycin solution (PEST), Lipofectamine, Zeocin, Hygromycin and

Geneticin were from Invitrogen; FBS was from Hyclone. Accutase was from Innovative Cell Technologies.

Generation of cell lines expressing the GABA _B receptor

Cell line used for the determination of the test compounds PAM potency GABAβRla and GABA _B R2 were cloned from human brain cDNA and subcloned into pCI-Neo (Promega) and pALTER-1 (Promega), respectively.

In order to optimise the Kozak consensus sequence of GABA _B R2, in situ mutagenesis was performed using the Altered Sites Mutagenesis kit according to manufacturer's instruction (Promega) with the following primer, 5'-GAATTCGCACCATGGCTTCCC-S'. The optimised GABA _B R2 was then restricted from pALTER-1 with Xho I + Kpn I and subcloned into the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1(-)/Zeo (Invitrogen) to produce the final construct, pcDNA3.1 (-)/Zeo-GABA _B R2. For generation of stable cell lines, CHO-Kl cells were grown in Nut mix F- 12 (Ham) media supplemented with 10% FBS, 100 U/ml Penicillin and 100 μg/ml Streptomycin at 37° C in a humidified CCh-incubator. The cells were detached with 1 mM EDTA in PBS and 1 million cells were seeded in 100 mm petri dishes. After 24 hours the culture media was replaced with OptiMEM and incubated for 1 hour in a CO ₂ - incubator. For generation of a cell line expressing the GABA _B Rla/GABA _B R2 heterodimer,

GABA _B Rla plasmid DNA (4 μg) GABA _B R2 plasmid DNA (4 μg) and lipofectamine (24 μl) were mixed in 5 ml OptiMEM and incubated for 45 minutes at room temperature. The cells were exposed to the transfection medium for 5 hours, which then was replaced with culture medium. The cells were cultured for an additional 10 days before selection agents (300 μg/ml hygromycin and 400 μg/ml geneticin) were added. Twenty-four days after transfection, single cell sorting into 96-well plates by flow cytometry was performed using a FACS Vantage SE (Becton Dickinson, Palo Alto, CA). After expansion, the GABA _B receptor functional response was tested by measuring the GABA _B receptor dependent release of intracellular calcium in a fluorescence imaging plate reader (FLIPR). The clone with the highest functional response was collected, expanded and then subcloned by single cell sorting. The clonal cell line with the highest peak response in the FLIPR was used in the present study.

Cell line used for the determination of the test compounds agonist potency The human GABAβRla was subcloned into pIRESneo3 (Clontech) using GABAβRla construct as a template (refseqN NMOO 1470). GABAβR2 was subcloned into pCDNA5/FRT (Invitrogen) using GABAβR2 construct as a template (refseqN NM005458). The Kozak sequence GCCACC was introduced before the start codon in both constructs.

For generation of stable cell lines, CHO Kl FIp-In cells (Invitrogen) were grown in DMEM/F12 1:1 media supplemented with 10 % FBS at 37°C in a humidified CO ₂ - incubator. The cells were detached with Accutase and 1.5 million cells were seeded into T75 flasks. After 24 h, transfection of the cells were performed with the

GABA _B R2 construct. For generation of cell lines expressing GABA _B R2, GABA _B R2 plasmid (1 μg) and pOG44 from Invitrogen (9 μg) were mixed with 30 μl Lipofectamine 2000 in 600 μl OptiMEM for 20 minutes. The cells were exposed to transfection medium for 5 hours and was then replaced with culture medium. After 2 days 0.5 mg/ml Hygromycin were added to culture medium. The cells were cultured for an additional 10 days to establish a stable cell mix expressing GABAβR2. For generation of a cell line expressing the GABA _B Rla/ GABA _B R2 hetrodimer, GABAβRl a plasmid DNA (8 μg) and Lipofectamine (30 μl) were mixed in 600 μl OptiMEM and incubated for 20 minutes before added to CHO-FIp-In cells expressing GABAβR2. After 2 days additional selection agent was added (0.8 mg/ml Geneticin). The cells were cultured for another 10 days to generate a stable mixed population expressing the GABAβRla/ GABAβR2 heterodimer. The cell line was analyzed by GTPγS ³⁵ assay with GABA as agonist.

GTPγS ³⁵ assay for determination of PAM potency

GTPγS ³⁵ radioligand filtration-binding assays were performed using an automated workstation at 30 ⁰ C for 1 hour in assay buffer (5OmM HEPES, 4OmM NaCl, ImM MgCl ₂ x 6H ₂ O, 30μg/mL Saponin, pH 7.4 at RT) containing 0.025μg/μL of membrane protein (prepared from the cell line described above), lOμM GDP and 0.55nCi/μL GTPγS ³⁵ in a final volume of 60μL. The reaction was started by the addition of serially diluted GABA (final start concentration ImM dilution factor 3) in the presence or absence of four concentrations (final cone 10, 1, 0.1 and 0.0 lμM) of PAM . The reaction was terminated and membranes collected by addition of ice-cold

wash buffer (5OmM Tris-HCl, 5mM MgCl ₂ x 6H ₂ O, 5OmM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4°C) followed by rapid filtration under vacuum through a MultiScreen HTS 384 FB filter plate. Repeated washing of the filters with ice-cold wash buffer washed the unbound radioligand away. The filter plates were dried for I ¹ A - I hours at 50 ⁰ C, then 8μL scintillation liquid was added per well followed by incubation at RT for at least 20 minutes before bound radioactivity was determined using a β-Liquid Scintillation Counter (1450 Microbeta Trilux, Wallac, Finland)

GTPγS ³⁵ assay for determination of agonist potency

GTPγS ³⁵ radioligand filtration-binding assays were performed using an automated workstation at 30 ⁰ C for 1 hour in assay buffer (5OmM HEPES, 4OmM NaCl, ImM MgCl ₂ x 6H ₂ O, 30μg/mL Saponin, pH 7.4 at RT) containing 0.025μg/μL of membrane protein (prepared from the cell line described above), lOμM GDP and 0.55nCi/μL GTPγS ³⁵ in a final volume of 60μL. The reaction was started by the addition of compounds (GABA was always included as a positive control), start concentration lOOμM dilution factor 3. The reaction was terminated and membranes collected by addition of ice-cold wash buffer (5OmM Tris-HCl, 5mM MgCl ₂ x 6H ₂ O, 5OmM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4°C) followed by rapid filtration under vacuum through a MultiScreen HTS 384 FB filter plate. Repeated washing of the filters with ice-cold wash buffer washed the unbound radioligand away. The filter plates were dried for 1 ¹ A - 2 hours at 50 ⁰ C, then 8μL scintillation liquid was added per well followed by incubation at RT for at least 20 minutes before bound radioactivity was determined using a β-Liquid Scintillation Counter (1450 Microbeta Trilux, Wallac, Finland)

Calculation and Interpretation of Results

Controls 100% activation (max) is calculated as the mean value for wells containing ImM

GABA. 0% activation (min) is calculated as the mean value for the wells with DMSO added instead of compound.

Calculation of results

All values are calculated as Compound % activation =100*[(X-min)/(max-min)], where X is representing raw value for the compound.

Test compound PAM potency:

EC50, max, min and slope values were calculated from GABA dose-response curves in the presence and absence of PAM constructed using a 4 Parameter Logistic Model (A+((B-A)/(l+((C/x) ^D )))) with XLfit (Model 205, Version 4.2.2, IDBS Solutions), where C = EC50 and D = Slope Factor.

The potency (PAM EC50) of the PAM in GTPγS assays was determined by plotting the log EC50 for GABA against the four log concentrations of the positive allosteric modulator in the presence of which the measurement was performed, using the 4 Parameter Logistic Model described above (slope fixed to 1).

Test compound agonist potency:

EC50, max, min and slope values were calculated from compound (or GABA) concentration response curves constructed using a 4 Parameter Logistic Model (A+((B-A)/(l+((C/x) ^D )))) with XLfit (Model 205, Version 4.2.2, IDBS Solutions), where C = EC ₅₀ and D = Slope Factor.

Generally, the potency of the compounds of formula (I) ranges from EC50S between 40 μM and 0.001 μM. Hereinbelow, individual EC50 values are presented.