Sulfonamide derivatives

The invention relates to compounds of general formula

wherein

5 R1 is aryl or heteroaryi, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents, selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl> lower alkyl substituted by halogen, -O-lower alkyl substituted by halogen, NO2 or CN;

R2- R4 and R2 - R4 are hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl or lower alkyl substituted by halogen;

0 R5 is aryl or heteroaryi, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents, selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyloxy, CN, nitro, amino, hydroxy, lower alkyl substituted by hydroxy, lower alkyl substituted by halogen, or are substituted by -C(O)-NR"2, 5 -(CRa)1n-C(O)-R', -(CH2)m-heterocycloalkyl, -(CH2)m-heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted by -(CH^m-lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, -(CH2)m-O-benzyl or CH2OH, -O-C(O)-lower alkyl, 0 -0-C(O)-NR2, -O-(CH2)m-C(O)OH, -O-lower alkinyl, -O-lower alkyl substituted by halogen, -O-(CH2)m-heterocydyl,

Pop/02.05.2005 -O-(CH2)m-phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxy, -O-(CH2)m-heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl, -(CH2)m-NH-C(O)R', -(CH2)^-NH-S(O)2-R', -S(O)2-lower alkyl, -S(O)2-heterocyclyl, -S(O)2NH-cycloalk7l, or is cycloalkyl;

R' is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkinyloxy, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents, selected from COOH, -C(O)O-lower alkyl -CH2C(O)O-lower alkyl, halogen or lower alkyl, or is phenyl, benzyl, heteroaryl, -(CH2)m-lower alkoxy or -(CHR)m-C(O)O-lower alkyl;

R" is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents, selected from halogen, or is lower alkyl, lower alkyl substituted by halogen, lower alkyl substituted by hydroxy, -(CH2)m-heterocycloalkyl, -NR2, heteroaryl, benzyl or -(CHR)m-C(O)O-lower alkyl;

R is hydrogen or lower alkyl;

R6 is hydrogen or lower alkyl;

X is -CHR-;

m is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

and to pharmaceutically suitable acid addition salts, optically pure enantiomers, racemates or diastereomeric mixtures thereof.

As used herein, the term "lower alkyl" denotes a saturated straight- or branched- chain group containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, 2-butyl, t-butyl and the like. Preferred alkyl groups are groups with 1 - 4 carbon atoms.

As used herein, the term "lower alkinyl" denotes a straight- or branched-chain group containing from 2 to 7 carbon atoms, wherein at least one bond is a triple bond for example, ethinyl, propinyl, isopropinyl, n-butinyl, i-butinyl and the like.

The term "lower alkoxy" or lower alkinyloxy" denotes a group wherein the alkyl or alkinyl residues is as defined above, and which is attached via an oxygen atom. The term "halogen" denotes chlorine, iodine, fluorine and bromine.

The term "aryl" denotes a monovalent cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical consisting of one or more fused rings in which at least one ring is aromatic in nature, and wherein the fused ring may contain one or two heteroatoms, for example phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, indanyl, benzo[l,3]dioxolyl or benzofuranyl. The preferred aryl group is phenyl.

The term "heteroaryl" denotes a monovalent aromatic carbocyclic radical, for example pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, triazinyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, isothiazolyl, tetrazolyl, [ 1,2,4] triazolyl, [ 1,2,4] oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, or isoxazolyl. Preferred heteroaryl groups are pyridyl, thienyl, triazinyl, furyl or thiazolyl.

The term "heterocycloalkyl" denotes a non aromatic hydrocarbon radical, for example oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl or thiomorpholinyl. Preferred heterocycloalkyl groups are morpholinyl, piperidinyl or pyrrolidinyl.

The term "cycloalkyl" denotes a saturated carbocyclic ring, containing 3 - 7 carbon atoms.

The term "pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts" embraces salts with inorganic and organic acids, such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, methane-sulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and the like.

It has been found that the compounds of general formula I are γ-secretase inhibitors and the related compounds maybe useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease or common cancers including but not limited to cervical carcinomas and breast carcinomas and malignancies of the hematopoietic system.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in later life. Pathologically AD is characterized by the deposition in the brain of amyloid in extracellular plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. The amyloid plaques are mainly composed of amyloid peptides (Abeta peptides) which originate from the β- Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) by a series of proteolytic cleavage steps. Several forms of APP have been identified of which the most abundant are proteins of 695, 751 and 770 amino acids length. They all arise from a single gene through differential splicing. The Abeta peptides are derived from the same domain of the APP but differ at their N- and C- termini, the main species are of 40 and 42 amino-acid length.

Abeta peptides are produced from APP through the sequential action of 2 proteolytic enzymes termed β- and γ-secretase. β-Secretase cleaves first in the extracellular domain of APP just outside of the trans-membrane domain (TM) to produce a C-terminal fragment of APP containing the TM- and cytoplasmatic domain (CTFβ). CTFβ is the substrate for γ-secretase which cleaves at several adjacent positions within the TM to produce the Aβ peptides and the cytoplasmic fragment. The majority of Abeta peptides is of 40 amino acids length (Aβ40), a minor species carries 2 additional amino acids at its C-terminus. The latter is supposed to be the more pathogenic amyloid peptide.

The β-secretase is a typical aspartyl protease. The γ-secretase is a proteolytic activity consisting of several proteins, its exact composition is incompletely understood. However, the presenilins are essential components of this activity and may represent a new group of atypical aspartyl proteases which cleave within the TM of their substates and which are themselves polytopic membrane proteins. Other essential components of γ-secretase maybe presenilin, nicastrin and the products of the aphl and pen-2 genes. Proven substrates for γ-secretase are the APP and the proteins of the Notch receptor family, however, γ-secretase has a loose substrate specificity and may cleave further membrane proteins unrelated to APP and Notch. It was demonstrated by genetic means, i.e., ablation of either the presenilin 1 and 2 genes or the nicastrin gene, that γ-secretase is absolutely required for Notch signaling. This was subsequently confirmed by treatment with specific γ-secretase inhibitors.

Notch receptors are not only essential in embryonal development but also play a critical role in several tissues of the adult organism which continue to undergo proliferation and differentiation, e.g., hematopoietic cells and epithelia of the gut and skin. The signaling of Notch receptors occurs through an ordered sequence of events: binding to a ligand of the Delta or Jagged group, cleavage of the extracellular domain by an ADAM protease (TACE) and subsequent cleavage by the γ-secretase within the Notch transmembrane domain. The latter cleavage results in the liberation of the cytoplasmic domain which then translocates to the nucleus where it acts with other proteins as a regulator of a specific group of genes. A role for Notch in human oncogenesis was most clearly established for T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL). Some rare cases of T-ALL show a (7:9) chromosomal translocation which leads to a constitutive activation of Notchl. Recently it was reported that ca. 50% of all T-ALL cases have point mutation in the Notchl receptor which also cause over-activation. It was shown that growth of some cell lines derived from such leukemias were sensitive to treatment with γ-secretase inhibitors which confirmed an essential role for Notchl signaling. A broader role for Notch in oncogenesis is discussed in several recent paper which descibe that its signaling is required for maintaining the neoplastic phenotype in ras-transformed cells. Deregulation of the ras-signaling pathway is found in a number of common cancers including cervical carcinomas and breast carcinomas.

The γ-secretase activity is absolutely required for the production of Abeta peptides. This has been shown both by genetic means, i.e., ablation of the presenilin genes and by low-molecular-weight inhibitory compounds. Since according to the amyloid hypothesis of AD the production and deposition of Abeta is the ultimate cause for the disease, it is thought that selective and potent inhibitors of γ-secretase will be useful for the prevention and treatment of AD.

Thus, the compounds of this invention will be useful treating AD or common cancers by blocking the activity of γ-secretase and reducing or preventing the formation of the various amyloidogenic Abeta peptides and furthermore, by blocking the Notch signaling pathways they can interfere with cancer pathogenesis.

Numerous documents describe the current knowledge on γ-secretase inhibition, for example the following publications: The EMBO Journal (2204), 23, 483-488, Biochemistry (2004), 43 (30), 9774-9789, Nature Reviews/Neuroscience, Vol. 3, April 2002/281, Biochemical Society Transactions (2002), Vol. 30. part 4, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 2002, 2, 371-383, Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2002, Vol. 9, No. 11, 1087-1106, Drug Development Research, 56, 211-227, 2002, Drug Discovery Today, Vol. 6, No. 9, May 2001, 459-462, FEBS Letters, 483, (2000), 6-10, Science, Vol. 297, 353-356, July 2002, Journ. of Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 44, No. 13, 2001, 2039-2060, Nature Cell Biology 2, 461-462, 2000, Nature 398, 518-522, 1999, Nature Cell Biology 3, 1129-1132, 2001, PNAS 98, 7487-7491, 2001, Cancer Cell 1, 75-87, 2002, Science 306, 269-271, 2004, MoI Cell Biol 23, 655-664, 2003, Nature Medicine 8, 979-986, 2002 and Oncogene 22, 6598-6608, 2003.

Objects of the present invention are the compounds of formula I per se, the use of compounds of formulas I and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts for the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment of diseases, related to the γ-secretase inhibition, their manufacture, medicaments based on a compound in accordance with the invention and their production as well as the use of compounds of formula I in the control or prevention of Alzheimer's disease or common cancers including but not limited to cervical carcinomas and breast carcinomas. . A further object of the invention are all forms of optically pure enantiomers, recemates or diastereomeric mixtures for compounds of formula I. The invention relates also to compounds, encompassed by the general formula

wherein

R1 is aryl or heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents, selected from the group consisting of halogen, CF3, OCF3, NO2 or CN;

R2- R4 and R2>- R4> are hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF3;

R5 is cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, wherein cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl are unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents, selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl, CHO, CN, hydroxy, lower alkyloxy, lower alkinyloxy, -OCF3, OCHF2, OCH2F, -OC(0)-lower alkyl, -OC(O)-NR3R", -O-(CH2)n-heterocycloalkyl, -O-(CH2)n-heteroaryl, which maybe substituted by lower alkyl, or is -O-(CH2)n-aryL -(CH2)n-C(O)NR'R", -(CH2)n-C(O)O-lower alkyl, -(CH2)n-C(O)OH, -(CH2)n-C(O)O-lower alkinyl, -C(O)-heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted by COOH5 or is -C(O)-cycloalkyl, -C(O)-aryl, -NR'R", nitro, -S(O)2-lower alkyl, -S(O)2-cycloalkyl, -S(O)2-lieterocycloalkyl, -S(O)2-aryl, -S(O)2-NR5R", or is

^- / or ^-^ ;

RVR" are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, di-lower alkylamino, -CH2CF3, -CH2CHF2, - CH2CH2F, -C(O)-lower alkyl, -C(O)O-lower alkyl or -C(O)-cycloalkyl;

X is a bond, lower alkyl or lower alkenyl;

n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and to pharmaceutically suitable acid addition salts, optically pure enantiomers, racemates or diastereomeric mixtures thereof.

The most preferred compounds of formula I are those, wherein R1 is phenyl, substituted by halogen and R5 is phenyl, substituted by -C(0)-NR"2, for example the following compounds:

4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-benzamide, 4-{ [ (4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-a mino] -methyl}- benzamide, rac-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-cyclopropyl-benzamide, rac-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesuifonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-N- cyclopropyl-benzamide, 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-phenyl-azepan-3-yl)- amino]-methyl}-N- cyclopr opyl-b enzamide, 5-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-y l)-amino]-methyl}- pyridine-2-carboxylic acid cyclopropylamide, N-cyclopropyl-4-{ [((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-bromo-benzenesulfonyl)-amino] - methyl} -b enzamide, 4-{[(5-tert-but7l-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-chloro-benzenesulfon yl)-amino]-methyl}-iY- cyclopr opyl-b enzamide, 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-amino]-methyl}-iV- cyclopropyl-b enzamide, 4-{ [ (4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azepan-3 -yl)-amino] -methyl}- N-cydopropyl-benzamide, rac-4-{ [(4-cUoro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino] -methyl}- N-(2-fluoro-ethyl)-benzamide, rac-4-{ [ (4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino] -methyl}- N-(2,2,2-trmuoro-ethyl)-benzamide, rac-4-{ [ (4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl) - (5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl) -amino] -methyl} - N-(( lR,2S)-2-fluoro-cyclopropyl)-benzamide, rac-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}- N- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) -benzamide, rac-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-cyclopentyl-benzamide, rac-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-methyl-benzamide, rac-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- benzamide, rac-N-benzyl-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2- oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino] -methyl} -benzamide, rac-(4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azep an-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- benzoylamino)-acetic acid methyl ester, rac-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-benzamide, 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- iST-cyclopropyl-benzamide, 4-chloro-N-[4-(isr,Λr-dimethyl-hydrazinocarbonyl)-2-fluoro- benzyl]-N-((R)-5,5- dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl) -benzenesulfonamide or 4-chloro-N-[4-(N',N'-dimethyl-hydrazinocarbonyl)-benzyl]-N-( 2-oxo-5- trifluoromethyl-azepan-3-yl) -benzenesulfonamide.

Further preferred are compounds, wherein R1 is phenyl, substituted by halogen or lower alkyl substituted by halogen and R5 is phenyl, substituted by halogen or lower alkyl substituted by halogen, or halogen and lower alkoxy or CH2OH, for example the following compounds:

rac-4-chloro-N-(4-chloro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-be nzenesulfonamide, rac-4-chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)- benzenesulfonamide, rac-4-chloro-N-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benz enesulfonamide, rac-4-Chloro-N-(3,4-dichloro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-b enzenesulfonamide, 4-cHoro-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)- benzenesulfonamide, rac-4-bromo-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyi)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)- benzenesulfonamide, 4-chloro-N-(2-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)- benzenesulfonamide, 4-chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide, N-(2,3-difluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- 4-trifluorometb.yl- benzenesulfonamide, Rac-4-chloro-N-(4-difluoromethyl-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-y l)-benzenesulfonamide 4-chloro-iV-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(2-fluoro -4-methoxy-benzyl)- benzenesulfonamide, 4-chloro-N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(2-fluoro- 4-hydroxymethyl- benzyl) -benzenesulfonamide, 4-chloro-iV-(2-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-5-trifluoro methyl-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide or 4-chloro-N-(2,3-difluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azep an-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide.

Further preferred are compounds, wherein R1 is phenyl, substituted by halogen and R5 is phenyl, substituted by -(CR2)m-C(O)-R' or -(CR2)m-C(O)-R5 and halogen, for example the following compounds:

4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-m ethyl}-3-fluoro- benzoic acid methyl ester, 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid ethyl ester, 4-{l-[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-ethyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester, rac-4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester, 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-y l)-amino]-methyl}- benzoic acid methyl ester, Rac-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5)5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-arnino]-methyl}- benzoic acid methyl ester, 4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl) -amino] -methyl} - benzoic acid, 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- 3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester, 3-(4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-az epan-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester, 3-(4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-az epan-3-yl)-amino]- methyl} -phenyl) -propionic acid, 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- 3-fluoro-benzoic acid, 3-(4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfon7l)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azepan- 3-yl)-amino] - methyl} -phenyl) -propionic acid, 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azep an-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- 3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester, 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azep an-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- 3-fluoro-benzoic acid, 3-(4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- propionic acid, rac-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-3-fluoro- benzoic acid methyl ester, 3-(4-{ [(4-cnloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2~oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ammo] -methyl}-phenyl)-3- methyl-butyric acid or 3-(4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid.

Further preferred are compounds, wherein R1 is phenyl, substituted by halogen and R5 is phenyl, substituted by hydroxy, for example the following compounds:

rac- 4-chloro-N-(4-hydroxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenes ulfonamide or 4-chloro-N-(4-hydroxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benz enesulfonamide.

Further preferred are compounds, wherein R1 is heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents as described in formula I, for example the following compounds:

rac-4-chloro-N-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-[4-(2H- tetxazol-5-yl)-ben2yl]- b enzenesulfonamide, 4-chloro-iV-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-A'"-[4-(5-methyl -[l,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)- benzyl] -benzenesulfonamide, 4-chloro-JV-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)--V-[4-(3-methyl- [l,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl)- benzyl] -benzenesulfonamide, 4-cHoro-N-((R)-5,5-dimemyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4-isoxazol- 5-yl-benzyl)- benzenesulfonamide, 4-chloro-AT-(4-isoxazol-5-yl-benzyl)-iV-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide or 4-Chloro-N-[2-fluoro-4-(2H-[l,2,4]triazol-3-yl)-benzyl]-N-(( R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- b enzenesulfonamide.

Further preferred are compounds, wherein R1 is phenyl, substituted by halogen and R5 is phenyl, substituted by NH2, for example the following compound: N-(4-amino-benzyl)-4-chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzen esulfonamide.

Further preferred are compounds, wherein R1 is phenyl, substituted by halogen and R5 is phenyl, substituted by -(CH2)m-NH-C(O)R3 , for example the following compounds: rac-N-(4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-az epan-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl)-acetamide or Rac-N-(4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- malonamic acid ethyl ester.

Preferred are further those compounds, wherein X is -CH2-. Further preferred are compounds, wherein R1 is aryl and R5 is aryl.

The present compounds of formula I and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be prepared by methods known in the art, for example, by processes described below, which processes comprise

a) reacting a compound of formula

with a compound of formula R5X-hal in the presence of a base, or with a compound of formula R5XOH in the presence of diethylazodicarboxylate and tripenylphosphine to a compound of formula

wherein R -R and X have the meaning as described above, or b) reacting a compound of formula

with a compound of formula R^S(O)2-Cl in the presence of a base to a compound of formula

wherein R1 - R5 and X have the meaning as described above, and

if desired, converting the compounds obtained into pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. The detailed processes for preparing of compounds of formula I are described in schemes 1 and 2 and in Examples 1 - 223. The starting materials of formulae II, VI, R^-S(O)2Cl, R5Xhal, R5X-OH or HOSO3NH2 are known compounds or maybe prepared by methods well-known in the art.

R Xhal base or R5-X-OH, DIAD, Ph3 P

wherein R1 - R5 and X have the meaning as described above, DIAD is diethylazodicarboxylate and Ph3P is tripenylphosphine.

An amino-azepan-2-one of formula II is treated with an aldehyde and a suitable reducing reagent such as sodium triacetoxyborohydride or sodium cyanoborohydride to yield an amine compound of formula III. A solution of this amine in dichloromethane can be reacted with one equivalent of an aromatic sulfonyl chloride in the presence of a base such as Hϋnig's base or triethylamine and catalytic DMAP to yield after column chromatography a pure compound of formula IA. Alternatively, the compound of formula II can be reacted first with the sulfonyl chloride resulting in sulfonamide compounds of formula IV which are amenable to further derivatization using for example a Mitsunobu protocol whereby an alcohol R5XOH, triphenylphosphine and diisopropyl or diethyl azodicarboxylate are reacted at low temperature under an inert atmosphere in a dry solvent such as tetrahydrofuran. The reaction mixture is allowed to warm up and further stirred at room temperature for several hours to furnish after column chromatography compounds of formula I. Intermediates of formula IV can also be used in a reaction where a halide R5Xhal in the presence of excess potassium carbonate, catalytic potassium iodide in dry DMF solvent and at an elevated temperature are reacted. The reaction mixture is then filtered, acidified andpurified using column chromatography to give compounds of formula I.

An unsubstituted amino-azepan-2-one (II) can for example be prepared from the corresponding lysine hydrochloride in toluene under refiuxing conditions in the presence of a base such as hexamethyldisilazane. Ring-substituted 3-amino-azepan-2-ones can be prepared by numerous methods described in the literature and specifically by one approach outlined in Scheme 2.

Scheme 2

Pd-C, H.

wherein R1 - R5 and X have the meaning as described above, DIAD is diethylazodicarboxylate and Ph3P is tripenylphosphine.

A substituted cyclohexanone of formula VI can be reacted with hydroXylamine O-sulfonic acid in formic acid as solvent under refluxing conditions for several hours to yield a ring expansion product of formula VII. Such cyclic amides can be chlorinated using phosphorous pentachloride in xylenes by slowly warming the reaction mixture to 900C in an exothermic reaction whereby the evolution of HCl gas is also observed. After careful quenching with water at lower temperature the organic phase is isolated in an appropriate organic solvent such as chloroform, which is dried and a crude compound of formula VIII is isolated ready to be used in the next step. Monodechlorination of a compound of formula VIII can be achieved under conditions of controlled hydrogenation using palladium catalyst in acetic acid as solvent yielding compound of formula IX which can undergo substitution reaction with sodium azide as a nucleophile in preferably dry dimethylsulfoxide as solvent. Azides of compound formula X can be isolated in pure form following chromatographic purification on silica gel. Hydrogenation of azides X to the amine tend to proceed quantitatively, however owing to the instability of the amine on storage, we preferred to derivative in situ with an appropriate aryl sulfonyl chloride to yield stable sulfonamides of compound formula IV. These can be further subjected to a Mitsunobu protocol as described before to yield target compounds of formula I.

The detailed description can be found in Examples 1-223.

If compounds of Formula I are basic, they may be converted to a corresponding acid addition salt.

The conversion is accomplished by treatment with at least a stoichiometric amount of an appropriate acid, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid and the like, and organic acids suchas acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid and the like. Typically, the free base is dissolved in an inert organic solvent such as diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, ethanol or methanol and the like, and the acid added in a similar solvent. The temperature is maintained between 0 0C and 50 0C. The resulting salt precipitates spontaneously or may be brought out of solution with a less polar solvent.

The acid addition salts of compounds of formula I maybe converted to the corresponding free bases by treatment with at least a stoichiometric equivalent of a suitable base such as sodium or potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, ammonia, and the like.

The compounds of formula I and their pharmaceutically usable addition salts possess valuable pharmacological properties. Specifically, it has been found that the compounds of the present invention may inhibit the γ-secretase.

The compounds were investigated in accordance with the test given hereinafter.

Description of γ-secretase assay

The activity of test compounds can be evaluated in assays which measure the proteolytic cleavage of suitable substrates by γ-secretase activity. These can be cellular assays where e.g., a substrate of the γ-secretase is fused in its cytoplasmic domain to a transcription factor. Cells are transfected with this fusion gene and a reporter gene, e.g., firefly luciferase, which expression is enhanced by the transcription factor. Cleavage of the fused substrate by γ-secretase will lead to expression of the reporter gene which can be monitored in appropriate assays. The γ-secretase activity can also be determined in cell- free in vitro asays where e.g., a cell lysate containing the γ-secretase complex is incubated with a suitable APP-derived substrate which is cleaved to the Abeta peptides. The amount of produced peptides can be determined with specific ELISA assays. Cell lines of neuronal origin secrete Abeta peptides which can be measured with the specific ELISA assay. Treatment with compounds which inhibit γ-secretase leads to a reduction of secreted Abeta thus providing a measure of inhibition.

The in vitro assay of γ-secretase activity uses a HEK293 membrane fraction as a source of γ-secretase and a recombinant APP substrate. Latter consist of the C-terminal 100 amino acids of human APP fused to a βxHistidin tail for purification which is expressed in E.coli in a regulatable expression vector, e.g. pEtl5. This recombinant protein corresponds to the truncated APP fragment which results after γ-secretase cleavage of the extracellular domain and which constitutes the γ-secretase substrate. The assay principle is described in Li YM et al, PNAS 97(11), 6138-6143 (2000). Hek293 cells are mechanically disrupted and the microsomal fraction is isolated by differential centrifugation. The membranes are solubilized in detergent (0.25 % CHAPSO) and incubated with the APP substrate. The Abeta peptides which are produced by γ-secretase cleavage of the substrate are detected by specific ELISA assays as described (Brockhaus M et al, Neuroreport 9(7), 1481-1486 (1998).

The preferred compounds show a IC50< 0.3 μM. In the list below are described

some data to the γ-secretase inhibition:

The compounds of formula I and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of formula I can be used as medicaments, e.g. in the form of pharmaceutical preparations. The pharmaceutical preparations can be administered orally, e.g. in the form of tablets, coated tablets, dragέes, hard and soft gelatine capsules, solutions, emulsions or suspensions. The administration can, however, also be effected rectally, e.g. in the form of suppositories, parenterally, e.g. in the form of injection solutions.

The compounds of formula I can be processed with pharmaceutically inert, inorganic or organic carriers for the production of pharmaceutical preparations. Lactose, corn starch or derivatives thereof, talc, stearic acids or its salts and the like can be used, for example, as such carriers for tablets, coated tablets, dragees and hard gelatine capsules. Suitable carriers for soft gelatine capsules are, for example, vegetable oils, waxes, fats, semi-solid and liquid polyols and the like. Depending on the nature of the active substance no carriers are, however, usually required in the case of soft gelatine capsules. Suitable carriers for the production of solutions and syrups are, for example, water, polyols, glycerol, vegetable oil and the like. Suitable carriers for suppositories are, for example, natural or hardened oils, waxes, fats, semi-liquid or liquid polyols and the like.

The pharmaceutical preparations can, moreover, contain preservatives, solubilizers, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, sweeteners, colorants, flavorants, salts for varying the osmotic pressure, buffers, masking agents or antioxidants. They can also contain still other therapeutically valuable substances.

Medicaments containing a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a therapeutically inert carrier are also an object of the present invention, as is a process for their production, which comprises bringing one or more compounds of formula I and/ or pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and, if desired, one or more other therapeutically valuable substances into a galenical administration form together with one or more therapeutically inert carriers.

In accordance with the invention compounds of formula I as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are useful in the control or prevention of illnesses based on the inhibition of the γ-secretase, such as of Alzheimer's disease.

The dosage can vary within wide limits and will, of course, have to be adjusted to the individual requirements in each particular case. In the case of oral administration the dosage for adults can vary from about 0.01 mg to about 1000 mg per day of a compound of general formula I or of the corresponding amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The daily dosage may be administered as single dose or in divided doses and, in addition, the upper limit can also be exceeded when this is found to be indicated. Tablet Formulation (Wet Granulation^

Item Ingredients mg/tablet 5 mg 25 mg 100 mg 500

1. Compound of formula I 5 25 100 500 2. Lactose Anhydrous DTG 125 105 30 150 3. Sta-Rx 1500 6 6 6 30 4. Macrocrystalline Cellulos ee 30 30 30 150 5. Magnesium Stearate 1 1 1 1 Total 167 167 167 831

Manufacturing Procedure

1. Mix items 1, 2, 3 and 4 and granulate with purified water, 2. Dry the granules at 50 0C. 3. Pass the granules through suitable milling equipment. 4. Add item 5 and mix for three minutes; compress on a suitable press.

Capsule Formulation

Item Ingredients mg/capsule 5 mg 25 mg 100 mg 500

1. Compound of formula I 5 25 100 500 2. Hydrous Lactose 159 123 148 ___ 3. Corn Starch 25 35 40 70 4. Talc 10 15 10 25 5. Magnesium Stearate 1 2 2 5 Total 200 200 300 600

Manufacturing Procedure

1. Mix items 1, 2 and 3 in a suitable mixer for 30 minutes. 2. Add items 4 and 5 and mix for 3 minutes. 3. Fill into a suitable capsule. Numerous intermediates or reagents such as aldehydes, cyclic ketones, aromatic sulfonyl chlorides, alkyl halides, benzyl halides, benzyl alcohols are used to prepare compounds of formula I. These are typically commercially available, or accessable by literature routes. Representative syntheses are described below.

Preparation of intermediates

Example A 4-Chloromethyl-N-cyclopropyl-benzamide 4-Chloromethyl-benzoyl chloride (2.82 g, 15 mmol) and cyclopropylamine (1.26 ml, 18 mmol) were reacted in CH2Cl2 (30 ml) and in the presence of Hϋnig's base (3.1 ml, 18 mmol) for 1 h. A precipitate was formed which was resolubilzed by adding ethyl acetate. The reaction mixture was washed with a 5% KHSO4/10% K2SO4 solution, NaCl sat. solution and dried (Na2SO.*). The organic phase was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to yield a semi-solid which was triturated in hexanes: solid 3.1 g (95%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 0.60-0.64 (m, 2H), 0.85-0,90 (m, 2H), 2.89-2.92(m, IH), 4.60 (s, 2H), 6.20 (br, IH), 7.44 (d, 2H), 7.71-7.74 (m, 2H); MS: m/e = 210.2 (MH+)

Example B

(6-Methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-methanol

To lithium aluminium hydride (0.68 g, 18 mmol) suspended in dry THF (10 ml) was added dropwise a solution of methyl 6-methoxynicotinate (1 g, 6 mmol) in dry THF (5 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 h at r.t. then cooled (ice-bath) and quenched with water (2 ml) followed by the further addition of IN NaOH (6 ml) and water (2 ml). The cold-bath was removed and the mixture stirred for 30 min at r.t., filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3x). The combined organic extracts were washed with water, brine , dried (MgSO^, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a crude oil which was purified over silica gel (ethyl acetate/n-heptane 1:1): colorless oil 0.45 g (51%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.69 (t, IH), 3.94 (s, 3H), 4.62 (d, 2H), 6.75 (d, IH), 7.62 (dd, IH), 8.13 (d, IH); MS: m/e = 139.0(M+) Example C (5-Methoxy-pyridin-2-yl)-rnethanol 1) 5-Methoxy-2-methyl-pyridine 5-Hydroxy-2-methyl pyridine (16.4 g, 150.3 mmol) was added to a suspension of KOH (34.6 g, 616 mmol) in DMSO (250 ml) and stirred for 1 h at r.t. followed by the dropwise addition of methyl iodide (10.3 ml, 165 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for a further 16 h, poored onto ice-cold water (500 ml) and extracted with diethyl ether (4 x 350 ml). The combined ether extracts were washed with water (50 ml), brine (50 ml) and dried (MgSO4). Filtration and concentration of the filtrate under reduced pressure gave a crude oil which was purified over silica gel (ethyl acetate/n-heptane 1:2 to 1:1): light brown oil 10.5 g (54%); 1R NMR (CDCl3) δ 2.49 (s, 3H), 3.82 (s, 3H),7.04-7.10 (m, 2H), 8.20 (d, 2H); MS: m/e = 123.0 (M), 108.0 (M-1CH3).

2) 5-Methoxy-2-methyl-pyridine 1-oxide 5-Methoxy-2-methyl-pyridine (10.3 g, 83.6 mmol) was dissolved in CHCl3 (250 ml), and reacted with methyltrioxorhenium (0.2 g, 0.83 mmol) and hydrogen peroxide (30% in water, 14.6 ml). The resultant mixture was stirred overnight at r.t and then cooled (ice- water bath). Small portions of MnO2 were added until no further O2 gas evolved. The reaction mixture was further stirred at r.t. and then diluted with water (140 ml). The organice layer was collected and the aqueous phase was extracted with CHCl3 (2x). The combined CHCl3 fractions were dried (MgSO4), filtered and evaporated. The resultant white solid was stirred for ca. 1 h in n-pentane, filtered and dried under vacuum: solid 9.31 g (76%); 1K NMR (CDCl3) δ 2.45 (s, 3H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 6.83 (dd, IH), 7.12 (d, IH), 8.03 (d, IH); MS: m/e = 139.0 (M), 122.0 (M-OH)

3) Acetic acid 5-methoxy-pyridin-2-ylmethyl ester 5-Methoxy-2-methyl-pyridine 1-oxide (9.25 g, 66.5 mmol) was suspended in acetic anhydride (31 ml) under an argon atmosphere. The mixture was heated to ca.H5°C and this temperature was maintained for a further 5 h and the mixture turned black. Ethanol (2.5 ml) was added and the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was taken up in ethyl acetate and washed with 10% K2CO3 and water. The aqueous phases were back extracted with ethyl acetate and the combined organic phases were dried (MgSO4) filtered and concentrate under reduced pressure. The crude oil was purified using Kugelrohr distillation (90°- 1000C/ 0.1 mbar) yielding a colorless oil: 10.7 g (80%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 2.13 (s, 3H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 5.16 (s, 2H), 7.18-7.31 (m, 2H), 8.30 (d, IH) MS: m/e = 181.2 (M), 138.0 (M-1COCH3)

4) (5-Methoxy-pyridin-2-yl)-methanol Acetic acid 5-methoxy-pyridm-2-ylmethyl ester (10.5 g, 58 mmol) was dissolved in HCl (25%, 30 ml) and the resultant reaction mixture was stirred at ca. 105 0C for 80 min under an argon atmosphere. Solid NaHCO3 was added in portions followed by aqueous K2CO3 solution to achieve an alkaline pH 10. This resultant mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (4x) and the combined organic extracts were washed with water, brine, dried (MgSO4) filtered and then concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude oil was purified over silica gel (ethyl acetate/n-heptane 1:1 to 2:1): yellow solid 4.8 g (56%); 1H NMR δ (CDCl3) δ 3.8 (br, IH), 3.86 (s, 3H), 7.21 (m, 2H), 8.24 (m, IH); MS: m/e = 138.0 (M), 110.0 (M-'CO). Example D 5-Hydroxymethyl-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid cyclopropylamide

1) 5-Hydroxymethyl-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid A suspension of L1BH4 (1.53 g, 70 mmol) in THF (30 ml) was slowly added to a solution of pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid 5-methyl ester (2.5 g, 14 mmol) in dry THF (30 ml) at 00C and under an argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred for a further 2 h at r.t, then chilled to 00C and treated with 2 N HCl (40 ml). The reaction mixture was filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure and crystallized from MeOH: 340 mg; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 4.73 (s, IH), 4.91 (s, 2H) 8.36 & 8.58 (dd, 2H), 8.72 (s, IH) MS: m/e = 152.0 (MH")

2) 5-Hydroxymethyl-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid cyclopropylamide 5-Hydroxyrmethyl-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (0.23 g, 1.5 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (3 ml) and activated with TPTU (0.45 g, 1.5 mmol), Hϋnig's base (0.51 ml, 3.0 mmol) and reacted with cyclopropyl amine (0.12 ml, 1.65 mmol) for 1 h at r.t during which a precipitate was formed. Solvent was removed and the residue dissolved in acetonitrile/water and purified by prep.RP(Ci8)HPLC: 60 mg; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 0.65-0.69 (m, 2H), 0.85-0.90 (m, 2H), 2.92-2.97 (m, IH), 4.81 (d, 2H), 7.84-7.86 (m, IH), 8.05 (br, IH), 8.19-8.21 (m, IH), 8.50 (s, IH) MS: m/e = 193.2 (MH+), 215.3 (MNa+) Example E [3-Fluoro-4- (2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl] -methanol 1) 3-Fluoro-4-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-benzoic acid ethyl ester 3-Fluoro-4-hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester (0.20 g, 1.1 mmol) and N- (2- chloroethyl)morpholine (0.22 g, 1.2 mmol) were dissolved in dry DMF (10 ml). Potassium carbonate ( 1.88 g, 5 mmol) was added and the turbid reaction mixture was stirred overnight at 4O0C under an argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and ethyl acetate was added to the residue followed by washing with NaHCO3 (1/2 sat., 3x), water, brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered. The crude oil was purified over silica gel (CH2Cl2/Me0H 39:1): colorless oil 0.16g (49%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.38 (t, 3H), 2.59-2.61 (m, 4H), 2,85 (t, 2H), 3.71-3.74 (m, 4H), 4.23 (t, 2H), 4.33 (q, 2H), 6.96-7.0 (m, IH), 7.73-7.81 (m, 2H); MS: m/e = 298.3 (MH+)

2) r3-Fluoro-4-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-phenyn -methanol To lithium aluminium hydride (0.03 g, 0.90 mmol) suspended in dry THF (1 ml) and cooled to 00C under an argon atmosphere was added a solution of 3-fluoro-4-(2- morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-benzoic acid ethyl ester (0.15 g, 0.5 mmol) in dry THF (1 ml). The cold bath was removed and the reaction mixture further stirred for 2 h at r.t. The reaction mixture was cooled (00C) and quenched with NaHCO3 (1/2 sat., 2 ml) and further stirred for 0.5 h at r.t., filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The filtrate was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with water (2x), brine, dried (MgSO4) filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure: 0.12 g (86%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.75 (br, IH), 2.60 (t, 4H), 2.83 (t, 2H), 3.73 (t, 4H), 4.17 (t, 2H), 4.62 (s, 2H), 6.93-7.13 (m, 3H); MS: m/e = 256.1 (MH+)

Example F 4-(2-Hydroxymethyl-phenyl)-butyric acid methyl ester To an ice cooled solution of methyl 3-butenoate (2.0 g, 20 mmol) in THF (20 ml) 9- borabicyclo(3,3,l)nonane (49 ml, 0.5M in tetrahydrofurane) was added within 1 hour. After additional stirring for 4.5 hours potassium carbonate (7.5 g, 54 mmol), 2- bromobenzyl alcohol (3.4 g, 18.2 mmol), dimethylformamide (60 ml) and palladium (dρpf)-dichloride (0.665 g, 0.91 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred at 600C overnight. After cooling the mixture was filtered over Celite and evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (eluent hexane/ ethyl acetate: 4:1 gradually to 1:1) to yield 2.46 g (65%) of product. 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.95 (m, 2H), 2.40 (t, 2H), 2.73 (dd, 2H), 3.66 (s, 3H), 4.72 (d, 2H), 7.20-7.25 (m, 3H), 7.35 (dd, IH).

Example G 4-(3-Hydroxymethyl-phenyl)-butyric acid methyl ester The title compound was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example E, using 3-bromobenzyl alcohol instead of using 2-bromobenzyl alcohol. 1R NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.96 (dt, 2H), 2.33 (t, 2H)5 2.66 (t, 2H), 3.66 (s, 3H), 4.67 (d, 2H), 7.10-7.30 (m, 4H).

Example 1 rac-S-Chloro-thiophene-l-sulfonic acid (3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-amide a) rac-3-(3-Fluoro-4-methoxy-benzylamino)-azepan-2-one Rac-amino-azepan-2-one (1.66 g, 128.2 mmol) and 3-fluoro-p-anisaldehyde (2.00 g) were dissolved in dry THF (26 ml). After stirring for 90 min at r.t, acetic acid ( 1.11 ml, 19.5 mmol) and sodium triacetoxyborohydride (4.58 g, 19.5 mmol) and a further 20 ml dry THF were added and the reaction was stirred overnight at r.t. The reaction mixture was diluted with 2 M K2CO3, and extracted with ethyl acetate (3x). The combined organic extracts were washed with water, brine, dried (MgSO4.2H2O) filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant solid was redissolved in ethyl acetate and extracted with 5% KHSO4/ 10% K2CO3 (3x). The pH of the combined aqueous fraction were adjusted to ca. 8.5-9 using solid K2CO3 and the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (3x). The combined organic fractions were washed as before, dried, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure: white solid 2.12 g (58%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.40-1.65 (m, 3H), 1.75-1.83 (m, IH)5 1.90-2.05 (m, 2H)5 2.35 (br, IH)5 3.19-3.22 (m, 2H)5 3.26-3.29 (m, IH)5 3.61 & 3.80 (dd, IH), 3.87 (s, 3H)5 5.95 (br, IH), 6.87-6.92 (m, IH)5 7.03-7.05 (m, IH), 7.10-7.13 (m, IH) MS: m/e = 267.5 (MH+)

b) rac-5-Chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-(2-oxo-azepan- 3-yl)-amide rac-3-(3-Fluoro-4-methoxy-benzylamino)-azepan-2-one (213 mg, 0.80 mmol) was dissolved in CH2Cl2 (7.7 ml) and treated with DMAP (30 mg, 0.24 mmol), Hϋnig's base ( 0.30ml, 1.76 mmol) and 1/8 of the cooled (O0C) reaction mixture was reacted with 5- chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride (48 mg, 0.22 mmol) and shaken overnight in a parallel reaction block. Solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in aqueous acetonitrile solution and purified using high throughput preparative RP(CiS) chromatography: lyophilisate 13 mg; MS: m/e = 447.2 (MH+), 464.2 (MNH4+).

Example 2 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzamide a) 3R-Amino-azepan-2-one D-Lysine hydrochloride (48 g, 0.26 mol) and hexamethyldisilazane (424.4 g, 2.6 mol) were suspended in toluene (1.1 litre) and refluxed for 1 week under an argon atmosphere, using a water-trap condenser. The reaction mixture was cooled to r.t. and slowly added to ice-cold MeOH (2.24 litre). The resultant clear solution was stirred for 30 min and concentrated under reduced pressure. The white, waxy solid was stirred in ethyl acetate, filtered and the filtrated concentrated under reduced pressure: white solid 5.4 g, (15%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.35-2.05 (m, 8H), 3.2-3.26 (m, 2H), 3.53 (dd, IH), 6.10 (br, IH) MS: m/e = 129.2 (MH+)

b) 4-CHoro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide 3R-Amino-azepan-2-one (3.02 g, 23.6 mmol) was dissolved in CH2Cl2 (50 ml), treated with Hϋnig's base (6.16 ml, 35.4 mmol) and cooled (00C) under an argon atmosphere. A solution of 4-chlorobenzenesulfonyl chloride (5.5 g, 26 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (15 ml) was added dropwise. The cold-bath was removed and the reaction mixture further stirred at r.t. for 2.5 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with CH2Cl2 and washed with NaHCO3 (1/2 sat, 3x), 5% KHSO4/ 10% K2CO3 (3x), brine, dried (MgSO4) filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The solid was recrystallized from ethyl acetate/n- heptane: 6.1 g (84%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.33-1.40 (m, IH), 1.57-1.69 (m, 2H), 1.78- 1.83 (m, IH), 1.84-2.15 (m, 2H), 3.04-3.21 (m, 2H), 3.81-3.85 (m, IH), 6.02 (br, IH) 6.21 (d, IH), 7.45-7.48 (m, 2H), 7.78-7.80 (m, 2H) MS: m/e = 301.3 (MH")

c) 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-meτhyl}- benzamide 4-Chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide (0.18 g, 0.60 mmol), 4- bromo-methyl-benzamide (0.19 g, 0.90 mmol), K2CO3 (0.83 g, 6 mmol), KI (0.02 g, 0,12 mmol) were added to dry DMF (15 ml) and the resultant reaction mixture was shaken overnight at 600C under an argon atmosphere. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in acetonitrile and purified using preparative RP(C18) chromatography: lyophilisate 52 mg; MS: m/e = 436.4 (MH+)

Example 3 4-Chloro-N-(6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yhnethyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide 4-Chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide (0.04 g, 0.12 mmol), (5- Methoxy-pyridin-2-yl)-methanol (0.04 g, 0.30 mmol), triphenyl phosphine (0.08 g , 0.30 mmol) were dissolved in dry CH2Cl2 (6 ml) under an argon atmosphere followed by the dropwise addition of diisopropyl azodicarboxylate (60 mg, 0.30 ml) in dry CH2Cl2 (2 ml). The reaction mixture was further stirred overnight at r.t. and then concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude yellow oil was purified over silica gel (ethyl acetate/n- heptane 3:2): colorless gum 0.23 g (43%); MS: m/e = 424.0 (MH+), 446.0 (MNa+).

Example 4 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azeρan-3- yl)-amino]-methyl}- benzamide a) 5-Isopropyl-azepan-2-one To a solution of hydroxylamine-0-sulfonic acid ( 60.5 g, 535 mmol) in formic acid (320 ml) was added dropwise a solution of 4-isopropyl cyclohexanone ( 50.0 g, 357 mmol) in formic acid (110 ml) at r.t. under an argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 3 h, cooled to r.t. and slowly treated with ice-water (550 ml). 10 N NaOH (1.1 litre) was added to adjust the pH to 8 and the resultant mixture was extracted with CHCI3 (4x). The combined organic extracts were washed with water, brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The light-brown solid was crystallized from n-heptane: 42.4 g (75%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 0.87 (d, 6H), 1.35-1.39 (m, 3H), 1.60 1.68 (m, IH), 1.76-1.80 (m, 2H), 2.43-2.49 (m, 2H), 3.20-3.24 (m, 2H), 6.25 (br, IH) MS: m/e = 155.1 (M)

b) 3,3-Dichloro-5-isopropyl-azepan-2-one 5-Isopropyl-azepan-2-one (39.5 g, 254.4 mmol) was dissolved in xylenes (1.1 litre) and phosphorus pentachloride (159.0 g, 763.3 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture slowly warmed to 900C. HCl(g) accompanied the slow dissolution of phosphorus pentachloride and after 30 min a clear yellow solution resulted. After a further 90 min at 900C the reaction mixture was allowed to cool (ice-water bath) and water (500 ml) was added dropwise. The emulsion was stirred for a further 90 min at r.t and the aqueous layer was washed with CHCl3 (3x). The xylene fraction was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in CHCI3. The combined organic fractions were washed with water (3x), brine and dried (MgSO4) filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude brown oil was purified over silica gel (ethyl acetate/n-heptane 1:2): white solid 39.8 g (58%); 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 0.93 (d, 6H), 1.32-1.36 (m, IH), 1.68-1.72 (m, IH), 2.00-2.01 (m, IH), 2.27-2.34 (m, IH), 2.66-2.70 (m, IH), 3.23-3.27 (m, IH), 3.51-3.55 (m, IH), 6.30 (br, IH) MS: m/e = 224.1 (MH+)

c) 3-Chloro-5-isopropyl-azepan-2-one 3,3-Dichloro-5-isopropyl-azepan-2-one (5.00 g, 22.3 mmol) was dissolved in acetic acid (125 ml) and sodium acetate (anhydrous, 2.38 g, 29.0 mmol), 10% Pd-c catalyst (0.22 g) were added. The degassed mixture was hydrogenated at r.t. and atmospheric pressure for 90 min. The reaction mixture was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified over silica gel (ethyl acetate/n-heptane 1:1): 3.49 g (74%) 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 0.88-0.90 (m, 6H), 1.26-1.29 (m, IH), 1.63-1.67 (m, 2H), 1.76-1.94 (m, 2H), 2.16-2.21 (m, IH), 3.19-3.23 (m, IH), 3.30-3.36 (m, IH), 4.64 & 4.67 (dd, IH)5 6.45 (br, IH) MS: m/e = 190.3 (MH+), 207.2 (MNH4+)

d) 3-Azido-5-isopropyl-azepan-2-one 3-Chloro-5-isopropyl-azepan-2-one (3.4 g, 18 mmol) and sodium azide (3.51 g, 53.9 mmol) were reacted in dry dimethyl sulfoxide (50 ml) overnight at 800C under an argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to r.t. diluted with water (200 ml) and extrated with CH2Cl2 (4x). The combined organic fractions were washed with water (3x), brine and dried (MgSO4) filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude yellow oil was purified over silica gel (ethyl acetate/n-heptane 1:2): yellow oil 2.6 g (70%); MS: m/e = 197.4 (MH+)

e) 4-Chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamid e 3-Azido-5-isopropyl-azepan-2-one (70 mg, 0.36 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol/water (2:1 v/v) and hydrogenated over 10% Pd-c (5 mg) for 2 h. The reaction mixture was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was taken up in dry CH2Cl2 (5 ml) and Hϋnig's base (0.09 ml, 0.54 mmol) was added and this mixture was cooled (ice-bath) followed by the dropwise addition of 4-chlorobenzylsulfonyl chloride (90.3 mg, 0.43 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (0.5 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred at r.t. for 1 h and then diluted with CH2Cl2 and washed with NaHCO3 (1/2 sat., 3x), 5% KHSO4/ 10% K2SO4 (3x) , water, brine, dried (MgSO4) and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and the crude product was purified over silica gel (ethyl acetate/n- heptane 1:2 to 1:1): white solid 0.08 g (75%); MS: m/e = 343.0 (MH')

f) 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-('5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-amino1-methyl}- benzamide 4-Chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamid e (0.06 g, 0.17 mmol), 4-bromo-methyl-benzamide (0.06 g, 0.25 mmol), K2CO3 (0.24 g, 1.7 mmol), KI (0.01 g, 0.06 mmol) were added to dry DMF (5 ml) and the resultant reaction mixture was shaken overnight at 65°C under an argon atmosphere. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue taken up in ethyl acetate and washed with 5% KHSO4/ 10% K2SO4 (2x) , water, brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure and purified using preparative RP(Ci8) chromatography: lyophilisate 23 mg; MS: m/e = 478.3 (MH+), 495.4 (MNH4+) Example 5 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-pyridin-3-ylmethyl-benz enesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 393.9 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3 using 3-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine as the alcohol.

Example 6 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-fluoro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 411.0 (MH+), 433.1 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 4- fluorobenzylalcohol as the alcohol. Example 7 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-chloro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 427.0 (MH+), 448.8 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 4- chlorobenzylalcohol as the alcohol.

Example 8 rac-4-Chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 441.0 (MH+), 463.0 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (3-Fluoro- 4-methoxy-phenyl) -methanol as the alcohol. Example 9 rac-4-Chloro-N-(3,4-difluoro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-b enzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 429.0 (MH+), 450.9 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 3,4- difiuorobenzyl alcohol as the alcohol. Example 10 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benz enesulfonaraide The title compound, MS: m/e = 422.9 (MH+), 445.0 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 4- methoxybenzyl alcohol as the alcohol. Example 11 4-Chloro-N-(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azep an-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 459.3 (MH+), 476.3 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (2,6- difluoro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-methanol as the alcohol.

Example 12 rac-4-Chloro-N-(3,4-dichloro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-b enzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 460.8 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 3,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol as the alcohol.

Example 13 rac-Dimethyl-carbamic acid 6-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino]-methyl}-pyridin-3-yl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 480.9 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using dimethyl-carbamic acid 6- hydroxymethyl-pyridin-3-yl ester as the alcohol.

Example 14 rac-4-Chloro-N-(6-chloro-pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 428.0 (MH+), 449.8 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (6-chloro- pyridin-3-yl)-methanol as the alcohol. Example 15 rac-4-Chloro-N-(6-fluoro-pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 412.0 (MH+), 434 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (6-fluoro-pyridin-3-yl)- methanol as the alcohol. Example 16 rac-4-Chloro-N-(5-chloro-pyridin-2-yhnethyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 428.0 (MH+), 449.9 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (5-chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-methanol as the alcohol. Example 17 rac- Acetic acid 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-me thyl}- phenyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 450.8 (MH+), 473.0 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using acetic acid 4-hydroxymethyl-phenyl ester as the alcohol.

Example 18 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4-prop-2-ynyloxy-benzy l)-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 447.0 (MH+), 469.0 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (4-prop-2- ynyloxy-phenyl) -methanol as the alcohol. Example 19 rac-4-Chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-methyl-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 424.9 (MH+), 447.0 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (3-fluoro-4- methyl-phenyl) -methanol as the alcohol.

Example 20 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-chloro-3-fluoro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = MS: m/e = 445.0 (MH+), 466.9 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 4-chloro-3- fluorobenzylalcohol as the alcohol. Example 21 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-dmuoromethoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl )- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 459.0 (MH+),481.1 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- (difluoromethoxy)benzyl bromide as the benzylating reagent.

Example 22 rac-4-Chloro-N-[3-fluoro-4-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-benzyl] -N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 540.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using [3-fluoro-4-(2-morphoh'n-4~ yl-ethoxy) -phenyl] -methanol as the alcohol.

Example 23 rac-4- { [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)- (2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] ~methyl}-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 436.3 (MH+), 458.0 (MNa+), was obtained analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4-bromomethyl-benzamide as the benzylating reagent. Example 24 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-chloro-3-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 457.1 (MH+), 478.9 (MNa+), was obtained analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4-bromomethyl-l-chloro-2-methoxy- benzene as the benzylating reagent. Example 25 4-Chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 441.3 (MH+), 463.0 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3-fluoro- 4-methoxybenzyl bromide as the benzylating reagent.

Example 26 4-Chloro-N-(3,4-dichloro-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-b enzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 461.0 (MH+), 484.9 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (3,4- dichloro-phenyl) -methanol as the alcohol. Example 27 Acetic acid 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}- phenyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 451.0 (MH+), 473.1 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using acetic acid 4-hydroxymethyl-phenyl ester as the alcohol.

Example 28 rac-4-Bromo-N~(3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N~(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 486.8 (MH+),503.7 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3-fluoro-4- methoxybenzyl bromide as the benzylating reagent and the analogous 4-bromophenyl sulfonamide. Example 29 rac-4-Chloro-N-(3-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benz enesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 423.2 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 3-methoxybenzyl alcohol as the alcohol.

Example 30 rac-4-Chloro-N-(5,6-dichloro-pyridin-3-yknethyl)-N-(2-oxo-az epan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 462.2 (MH+), 479.2 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 5,6- dichloro-pyridin-3-ylmethanol as the alcohol. Example 31 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-ethoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 437.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 4-ethoxybenzyl alcohol as the alcohol. Example 32 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2,5-difluoro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-b enzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 429.4 (MH+),446.2 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 2,5- difluorobenzyl bromide as the benzylating reagent.

Example 33 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(2,4,5-trifiuoro-benzyl )-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 447.3 (MH+), 464.2 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 2,4,5- trifluorobenzyl bromide as the benzylating reagent.

Example 34 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-3-fluoro- benzoic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 469.2 (MH+), 486.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- brornorαethyl-3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester as the benzylating reagent.

Example 35 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid ethyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 465.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4-bromomethyl-benzoic acid ethyl ester as the benzylating reagent. Example 36 (3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amin o]-methyl}-phenyl)- acetic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 465.0 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using (3-chloromethyl-phenyl)- acetic acid methyl ester as the benzylating reagent. MS: m/e = 465.0 (MH+). Example 37 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R,S)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-methyl}-benzoic acid 4-{ [(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl} -benzoic acid ethyl ester (0.08 g, 0.17 mmol) was saponified with 1 N NaOH (0.25 ml) in ethanol ( 2 ml) for 48 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with acetic acid (0.7 ml) concentrated under reduced pressure and purified directly using preparative RP(C18) chromatography: lyophilisate 27 mg; MS: m/e = 435.0 (MH+).

Example 38 3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid prop-2-ynyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 474.9 (MH+), 492.0 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3- chloromethyl-benzoic acid prop-2-ynyl ester as the benzylating reagent.

Example 39 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- propionic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 478.9 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3-(4-chloromethyl-phenyl)- propionic acid methyl ester as the benzylating reagent.

Example 40 4-Chloro-N-(6-chloro-pyridin-3-yhnethyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 427.9 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (6-chloro-ρyridin-3-yl)- methanol as the alcohol. Example 41 4-{l-[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-ethyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 465.0 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using methyl 4-(l-hydroxyethyl) benzoate as the alcohol. Example 42 rac-4-Chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(6-methoxy- pyridin-3-yhnethyl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 466.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)- methanol and 4-chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamid e from Example 4e. Example 43 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-cyclopropyl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 518.3 (MH+), 535.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using A- chloromethyl-N-cyclopropyl-benzamide and 4-chloro-N-(5~isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide from Example 4e.

Example 44 rac-4-Chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(6-methyl-p yridin-3-ylmethyl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 450.1 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 5-chloromethyl-2-methyl- pyridine and 4-chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamid e from Example 4e.

Example 45 rac~4-Chloro-N-(4-difluoromethoxy-benzyl)-N-(5-isopropyl-2-o xo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 501.3 (MH+), 518.3 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- (difluoromethoxy)benzyl bromide and 4-chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide from Example 4e.

Example 46 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-methyl-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 407.3 (MH+), 429.4(MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using l-bromomethyl-2- methyl-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 47 rac-4-Chloro-N-(3-methyl-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 407.3 (MH+), 429.4(MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using l-bromomethyl-3- methyl-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 48 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-methyl-ben2yl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 407.4 (MH+), 429.4(MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using l-bromomethyl-4- methyl-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 49 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-chloro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 427.3 (MH+), 449.2 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 1- bromomethyl-2-chloro-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 50 rac-4-Chloro-N-(3-chloro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 427.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using l-bromomethyl-3-chloro- benzene as the benzylating reagent. Example 51 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 411.3 (MH+), 433.3 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 1- bromomethyl-2-fiuoro-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 52 rac-4-Chloro-N-(3-fluoro-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 411.3 (MH+), 433.3 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 1- bromomefhyl-3-fiuoro-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 53 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(3-trifluoromethoxy-ben zyl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 477.2 (MH+), 499.2 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 1- bromomethyl-3-trifluoromethoxy-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 54 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4-trifluoromethoxy-ben zyl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 477.2 (MH+), 499.2 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 1- bromomethyl-4-trifluorornethoxy-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 55 4-Chloro-N-(4-cyano-2-fluoro-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-y l)-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 436.1 (MH+), 453.0 (MNH4+) was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- bromomethyl-3-fluoro-benzonitrile as the benzylating reagent.

Example 56 4-Chloro-N-[2-fluoro-4-(2H-[l,2,4]triazol-3-yl)-benzyl]-N-(( R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(fR)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino 1-methyl}-3-fluoro- benzimidic acid ethyl ester hydrochloride salt Dry HCl gas was slowly bubbled through a solution of 4-chloro-N~(4-cyano-2-fiuoro- benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide (0.09 g, 0.20 mmol) in dry ethanol (3 ml) for 30 min at 0°C. The reaction mixture wa allowed to stir for a further 20 h at r.t. and then concentrated under reduced pressure. Trituration of the residue in diethyl ether yielded the HCl salt: 0.09 g ; MS: m/e = 482.2 (MH+).

4-Chloro-N-l"2-fluoro-4-C2H-[L2,4ltriazol-3-yl)-benzyn-N- ((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- b enzenesulfonamide The HCl salt (0.08 g, 0.15 mmol) and formyl hydrazine (0.01 g, 0.17 mmol) were dissolved in pyridine (1.5 ml) and further stirred for 4 h to give the N- formyl amidrazone intermediate. Solvent was removed under reduced pressure was refluxed in xylenes (5 ml) for 30 min. Solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified using preparative RP(C18) chromatography: lyophilisate 0.016 mg; MS: m/e = 477.9 (MH+), 495.1 (MNH4+). Example 57 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 451.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4-bromomethyl-benzoic acid methyl ester. Example 58 rac-N-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- acetamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 450.4 (MH+), 472.2 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using N- (4- chloromethyl-phenyl)-acetamide. Example 59 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-methanesulfonyl-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 471.3 (MH+), 493.3 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 1- bromomethyl-4-methanesulfonyl-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 60 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-N,N-diethyl- benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 492.3 (MH+), 509.3 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- bromomethyl-NjN-diethyl-benzamide as the benzylating reagent.

Example 61 rac- 4-Chloro-N-(4-hydroxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenes ulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 409.2 (MH+), 426.2 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using butyi- carbamic acid 4-chloromethyl-phenyl ester as the benzylating reagent.

Example 62 rac-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amin o]-methyl}-phenyl)- carbamic acid ethyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 497.3 (MNEU+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using (4-chloromethyl-phenyl)- carbamic acid ethyl ester as the benzylating reagent.

Example 63 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N- [4- (piperidine- l-carbonyl)-benzyl] - benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 504.4 (MH+), 526.23 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using (4- cHoromethyl-phenyl)-piperidin-l-yl-methanone as the benzylating reagent.

Example 64 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid prop-2-ynyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 475.3 (MH+), 497.2 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- chloromethyl-benzoic acid prop-2-ynyl ester as the benzylating reagent.

Example 65 rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-formyl-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 421.3 (MH+), 443.2 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- bromomethyl-benzaldehyde as the benzylating reagent.

Example 66 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-[4-(ρyrrolidine-l-sulf onyl)-benzyl]- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 526.2 (MH+), 548.3 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using l-(4- bromomethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-pyrrolidine as the benzylating reagent.

Example 67 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 441.4 (MH+) 458.4 (MNH4+),, was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (2-fluoro-4- methoxy-phenyl) -methanol as the alcohol.

Example 68 4-Chloro-N-(2-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 441.4 (MH+) 458.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (2-fluoro-4- methoxy-phenyl) -methanol as the alcohol and the corresponding chiral sulfonamide.

Example 69 4-Chloro-N-(4-hydroxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benz enesulfonamide The title compound, MS-: m/e = 409.2 (MH+), 426.3 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using butyl- carbamic acid 4-chloromethyl-phenyl ester. The title compound was unexpectedly, the main product. Example 70 4-Chloro-N- [4- (4-hydroxy-benzyloxy)-benzyl]-N- ( (R)-2-oxo-azepan-3~yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 515.3 (MH+), 532.3 (MNH4+), was obtained as a side product when following the procedure described for Example 2c, and using butyl- carbamic acid 4-chloromethyl-phenyl ester as the benzylating reagent.

Example 71 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester (0.95 g, 2.10 mmol) in a mixture of MeOH/ CH3CN (50 ml, 1:1 v/v) was treated with 1 N NaOH (2.5 ml) for 24 h. Solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with 5% KHSO4/ 10% K2SO4 (2x). The aqueous washes were extracted with ethyl acetate and the combined organic fractions were washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure and lyophilized from water/CH3CN: lyophilisate, 0.87 g; MS: m/e = 435.2 (MH")

Example 72 rac-N-Benzyl-4-chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonami de The title compound, MS: m/e = 393.1 (MH+), 410.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using bromomethyl-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 73 rac-4-CHoro-N-[4-(l-cyano-cyclopropyl)-benzyl]-N-(2-oxo-azep an-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 458.4 (MH+), 475.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using l-(4- bromomethyl-pheny^-cyclopropanecarbonitrile.

Example 74 rac-l-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- cyclopropanecarboxylic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 491.4 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using l-(4-bromomethyl-phenyl)- cyclopropanecarboxylic acid methyl ester.

Example 75 rac-4- { [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)- (2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-N- cydopropyl-benzamide rac-4-{ [(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyty-benzoic acid ( 0.70 g, 1.6 mmol) was dissolved in DMF and activated with the coupling reagent TPTU (0.48 g, 1.6 mmol) and Hϋnig's base (0.55 ml, 3.2 mmol) for 2 min. 1/8 of this activated mixture was delivered to a reaction tube on a parallel synthesizer containing cyclopropylamine (0.013 g, 0.22 mmol) and a further amount of Hϋnig's base (0.04 ml, 0.22 mmol) in DMF (3 ml). The reaction mixture was shaken for 2 h, concentrated under reduced pressure and purified directly using preparative RP(C1S) chromatography: lyophilisate 40 mg; MS: m/e = 476.1(MH+), 493.1 (MNH4+).

Example 76 rac-4-{[(4-Cmoro-benzenesmfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-arnino] -methyl}-N-rnethyl- benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 450.3 (MH+), 467.1 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using methylamine in the coupling step. Example 77 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenestιlfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ain ino]-methyl}-N-(2,2,2- txifluoro-ethyl)-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 518.3 (MH+), 535.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 2,2,2- trifluoro-ethylamine in the coupling step.

Example 78 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-N- morpholin-4-yl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 521.4 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example75, using morpholin-4-ylamme in the coupling step. Example 79 rac-4-Chloro-N-[4-(N',N'-dimethyl-hydrazinocarbonyl)-benzyl] -N-(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl) -benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 479.1 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using N,N-dimethyl-hydrazine in the coupling step. Example 80 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-N-pyrrolidin- 1-yl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 505.4 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using pyrrolidin-1-ylamine in the coupling step. Example 81 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-N-piperidin- 1-yl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 519.5 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using piperidin-1-ylamine in the coupling step. Example 82 l-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- cydopropanecarboxylic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 491.3 (MH+), 508.5 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using l-(4- bromomethyl-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid methyl ester.

Example 83 (4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amin o]-methyl}-phenyl)- acetic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 465.3 (MH+), 482.5 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using (4- bromomethyl-phenyl)- acetic acid methyl ester.

Example 84 4-Chloro-N-(4-nitro-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzen esulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 438.3 (MH+), 455.5 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 1- bromomethyl-4-nitro-benzene. Example 85 rac-Thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 413.3 (MH+), 435.3 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example Ib, using thiophene- 2-sulfonyl chloride. Example 86 rac-5-Bromo-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 491.2 (MH+), 508.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example Ib, using 5-bromo- thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride. Example 87 rac-4,5-Dichloro-thioρhene-2-sulfonic acid (3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-(2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 481.2 (MH+), 503.2 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example Ib, using 4,5- dichloro-thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride. Example 88 rac5-Chloro-4-nitro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-(2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 492.2 (MH+), 509.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example Ib, using 5-chloro- 4-nitro-thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride. Example 89 rac-3-Bromo-5-chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid (3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-(2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 525.1 (MH+), 542.1 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example Ib, using 3-bromo- 5-chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride.

Example 90 rac-5-Methyl-2-trifluoromethyl-furan-3-sulfonic acid (3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)- (2- oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 479.4 (MH+), 496.3 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example Ib, using 5-methyl- 2-trifluoromethyl-furan-3 -sulfonyl chloride.

Example 91 rac-2,5-Dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonic acid (3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)- (2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)- amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 481.3 (MH+), 498.1 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example Ib, using 2,5- dichloro-thiophene-3-sulfonyl chloride. Example 92 N-(4-Amino-benzyl)-4-chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzen esulfonamide 4-Chloro-N-(4-nitro-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzen esulfonamide (0.10 g, 0.22 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (15 ml) and treated with SnCl2 (0.42 g, 2.2. mmol) overnight at 700C. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and purified directly using preparative RP(C18) chromatography: lyophilisate 27 mg; MS: m/e = 408.2 (MH+), 425.3 (MNH4+). Example 93 l-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- cyclopropanecarboxylic acid l-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- cyclopropanecarboxylic acid methyl ester ( 0.03 g, 0.06 mmol) was dissolved in MeOH (1 ml) and treated with 1 N NaOH (0.07 ml) for 24 hr at 500C. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and purified directly using preparative RP(C1S) chromatography: lyophilisate 8 mg; MS: m/e = 475.0 (MH+).

Example 94 Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesιύfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino]-methyl}-phenyl)-amide N-(4-Amino-benzyl)-4-chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzen esulfonamide (0.024 g, 0.06 mmol) was dissolved in CH2Cl2 (1 ml) and Hϋnig's base ( 0.01 ml, 0.07 mmol) and cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride ( 0.007 ml, 0.07 mmol) were added. After 30 min at r.t. the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with 5% KHSO4/ 10% K2SO4, brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered and concentrated. The crude was purified using preparative RP(Cis) chromatography: lyophilisate 9 mg; MS: m/e = 493.4 (MNH4+).

Example 95 rac-N-Benzo[l,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl-4-chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 436.9(MH+), 459.0 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using piperonyl alcohol and rac-4-chloro-N-( 2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide.

Example 96 rac-4-Chloro-N-(6-methoxy-pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 423.9 (MH+), 445.9 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (6- methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-methanol and rac-4-chloro-N-( 2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide. Example 97 rac-4-Chloro-N-{3-methoxy-4-[2-(4-methyl-thiazol-5-yl)-ethox y]-benzyl}-N-(2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 565.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using [3-methoxy-4-(2-(4-methyl- thiazol-5-yl)~ethoxy) -phenyl] -methanol (synthesized according to the procedure described for intermediate [3-Fluoro-4-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl] -methanol using 5-(2-cHoroethyl)-4-methylthiazole) and rac-4-chloro-N-( 2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide. Example 98 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-N- [l,2,4]triazol-4-yl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 503.3 (MH+), 525.3 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using [l,2,4]triazol-4-ylamme in the coupling step.

Example 99 rac-4-(2-{l-[(4-CUoro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-a mino]-ethyl}-phenyl)- butyric acid a) rac-4-(2-{l-[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- aminol-ethyll-phenyl)- butyric acid methyl ester rac-4-(2-{l-[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino]-ethyl}-phenyl)- butyric acid methyl ester, MS: m/e = 524.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using rac-2-(l-hydroxyethyl)- benzenebutanoic acid methyl ester as the alcohol.

b) rac-4-(2-{l-[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- aminol-ethyl}- phenyl) -butyric acid, MS: m/e = 491.1 (M-H+), was obtained by the following: Rac-4-(2- {l-[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ammo]-eth yl}-phenyl)-butyric acid methyl ester (40 mg) was dissolved in methanol (1 ml) and treated with a solution of aqueous lithiumhydroxide (10 mg in 0.5 ml) for 1 hour. After evaporation of the methanol the pH is adjusted to 6 with IN hydrochloric acid and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate to yield 31 mg of a solid. After chromatography (hexane/ethylacetate = 1:1) 25 mg of the title compound were obtained.

Example 100 rac-N-(3-Fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-4-tr ifluoromethoxy- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 491.3 (MH+), 508.5 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example Ib, using 4- trifluoromethoxybenzenesulfonyl chlorid instead of 5-chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride. Example 101 rac-N-(3-Fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-4-cy ano- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 432.4 (MH+), 449.3 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example Ib, using 4- cyanobenzenesulfonyl chlorid instead of 5-chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride.

Example 102 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(6,6-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-amino]-methyl}-N- cyclopropyl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 504.4 (MH+), 521.0 (MNH4+X was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- chloromethyl-N-cyclopropyl-benzamide and 4-chloro-N-(6,6-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e using 3- azidohexahydro-6,6-dimethyl-2H-azepin-2-one.

Example 103 rac-4-Chloro-N-[l-(2,3-dihydro-benzo[l,4]dioxin-6-yl)-allyl] -N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 532.1 (M-H+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 99, using l-(alpha-hydroxy-o- toluoyl)-proline-tert-butyl ester as the alcohol in step a) followed by the ester cleavage.

Example 104 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-phenyl-azepan-3-yl)- amino]-methyl}-N- cyclopropyl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 552.2 (MH+), 569.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- chloromethyl-N-cyclopropyl-benzamide and 4-chloro-N-(5-phenyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e starting with 4- phenylcyclohexanone in Example 4a. Example 105 5-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-y l)-amino]-methyl}- pyridine-2-carboxylic acid cyclopropylamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 519.0 (MH+), 541.1 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 5- hydroxymethyl-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid cyclopropylamide and 4-chloro-N-(5- isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide in the Mitsunobu protocol.

Example 106 N-Cyclopropyl-4-{[((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-trifluoromethyl -benzenesulfonyl)- amino] -methyl}-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 510.1 (MH+), 531.9 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- chloromethyl-N-cyclopropyl-benzamide and 4-trifluoromethyl-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide. Example 107 N-Cyclopropyl-4-{[((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-bromo-benzenesu lfonyl)-amino]- methyl}-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 520.0 (MH+), 541.9 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- chloromethyl-N-cyclopropyl-benzamide and 4-bromo-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide. Example 108 4-{[(5-tert-Butyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-chloro-benzenesulfon yl)-amino]-methyl}-N- cyclopropyl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 532.0 (MH+), 554.0 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- chloromethyl-N-cycloρropyl-benzamide and 4-chloro-N-(5-tert-but7l-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e starting with 4- tert-butyl cyclohexanone in Example 4a. Example 109 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-amino]-methyl}-iV- cyclopropyl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 504.0 (MH+), 526.0 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- chloromethyl-N-cyclopropyl-benzamide and 4-chloro-N- (5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e starting with 4,4- dimethyl cyclohexanone in Example 4a. Example 110 4-Chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-pyridin-4-yhnethyl-benz enesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 394.2(MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using pyridin-4-yl-methanol.

Example 111 4-Chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-JV-(4-methoxy-ben zyl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 465 (MH+), 488.1 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4-methoxybenzyl chloride and 4-chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamid e from Example 4e. Example 112 4-Chloro-N- (5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ΛT- (3-methoxy-benzyl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 465 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3-methoxybenzyl chloride and 4- chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide from Example 4e.

Example 113 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-y l)-amino]-methyl}- benzoic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 493 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using Methyl 4-(bromomethyl)-benzoate and 4-chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamid e from Example 4e.

Example 114 4-Chloro-N:-(3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-iV-(5-isopropyl-2-ox o-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 483.0 (MH+), 505.1(MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3-fluoro-4- methoxybenzyl bromide and 4-chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide from Example 4e. Example 115 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azep an-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-!^ cyclopropyl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 543.9 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4-chloromethyl-N- cyclopropyl-benzamide and 4-chloro-N-(5-trifluoromethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e starting with 4- trifluoromethyl cyclohexanone in Example 4a.

Example 116 4-Chloro-JV-(2-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N:-(5-isopropyl-2-ox o-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 483.0 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (2-fluoro-4-methoxy- phenyl) -methanol and 4-chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide from Example 4e.

Example 117 4- (2- { [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl) - (2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-phenyl)~ butyric acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 493.4 (MH+), 510.5 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 4-(2- hydroxymethyl-phenyl) -butyric acid methyl ester as the alcohol in the Mitsunobu protocol. Example 118 4-(3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-phenyl)- butyric acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 493.4 (MH+), 510.5 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 4-(3- hydroxymethyl-phenyl) -butyric acid methyl ester as the alcohol in the Mitsunobu protocol. Example 119 4- (3- { [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl) - (2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ammo] -methyl}-phenyl)- butyric acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 477.1 (M-H+) was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 99b from 4-(2-{[(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl) - (2-oxo-azepan-3-yl) -amino] -methyl} -phenyl) -butyric acid methyl ester. Example 120 4-(3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ammo]- methyl}-phenyl)- butyric acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 477.1 (M-H+), 537.1 (M+CH3COO') was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 99b from 4-(3-{[(4- chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-p henyl)-butyric acid methyl ester. Example 121 rac-3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 450.4 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using methyl 3- (bromomethyl)benzoate as the benzylating reagent.

Example 122 rac-l-(3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-benzoyl)- piperidine-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester Rac-3-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methylj-benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 576.2 (MH+) , 593.4 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{ [(4- chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-b enzoic acid as the acid and piperidine-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 123 rac-[l-(3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-a mino]-methyl}-benzoyl)- piperidin-4-yl] -acetic acid ethyl ester Rac-3-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methy l}-benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 590.5 (MH+) , 607.3 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{ [(4- chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-b enzoic acid as the acid and piperidin-4-yl-acetic acid ethyl ester as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 124 (3S)-2-(3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((3RS)-2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)-amino]-meth7l}- benzoylamino)-3-methyl-butyric acid tert-butyl ester Rac-3-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methy l}-benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 609.4 (MH-NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{ [(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and L- valin-tert.-butylester hydrochloride as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 125 rac-(3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amin o]-methyl}- benzoylamino)-acetic acid tert-butyl ester Rac-3-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 567.4 (M+NH4"1") was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{ [(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and glycine tert-butylester hydrochloride as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 126 rac-3-(3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}- benzoylamino)-propionic acid tert-butyl ester Rac-3-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 581.3 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{[(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo~azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and beta-alanine tert-butylester hydrochloride as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 127 Rac-(3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amin o]-methyl}-phenoxy)- acetic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 467.4 (MH+), 484.5 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3- bromomethyl phenoxyacetic acid ethyl ester as the benzylating reagent followed by saponification of the ester according to the procedure described in example 99b.

Example 128 Rac-4-Chloro-N-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4-trifluo romethyl-benzyl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 489.1 (MH+), 506.1 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- (trifluoromethyl)benzyl bromide as the benzylating reagent and 4-chloro-N-(6,6- dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e using 3-azidohexahydro-6,6-dimefhyl-2H-azepin-2-one.

Example 129 Rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-cyano-benzyl)-N-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 446.0 (MH+), 463.0 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4- (bromomethyl)benzonitrile as the benzylating reagent and 4-chloro-N-(6,6-dimethyl-2- oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e using 3-azidohexahydro-6,6-dimethyl-2H-azepin-2-one.

Example 130 Rac-4-Chloro-N-(6-chloro-pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-N-(5,5-dimethyl -2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 456.2 (MH+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 2-chloro-5- chloromethylpyridine as the alkylating reagent and 4-chloro-N-(6,6-dimethyl-2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e using 3- azidohexahydro-6,6-dimethyl-2H-azepin-2-one.

Example 131 rac-3-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-N- cyclopentyl-benzamide Rac-3-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl} -benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 504.2 (MH+), 521.3 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{ [(4- chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-b enzoic acid as the acid and cyclop entylamine as the amine in the coupling step. Example 132 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-[3-(piperidine-l-carbon yl)-benzyl]- benzenesulfonamide Rac-3-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl} -benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 504.2 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{ [(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and piperidine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 133 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-[3-(4,4-difluoro-piperi dine-l-carbonyl)- benzyl] -benzenesulfonamide Rac-3-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 540.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{ [(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)~(2-oxo~azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 4,4- difluoropiperidine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 134 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-[3-(2,6-dimethyl-piperi dine-l-carbonyl)- benzyl] -benzenesulfonamide Rac-3-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl} -benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 532.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{[(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ammo]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 2,6- dimethylperidine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 135 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-[3-(4-fluoro-piperidine -l-carbonyl)-benzyl]- benzenesulfonamide Rac-3-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl} -benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 522.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{[(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 4- fluoropiperidine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 136 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-[3-(3,3-difluoro-piperi dine-l-carbonyl)- benzyl] -benzenesulfonamide Rac-3-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 540.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{[(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 3,3- difluoropiperidine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 137 rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-[3-(3,3-difluoro-pyrrol idine-l-carbonyl)- benzyl] -benzenesulfonamide Rac-3-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester was converted into the corresponding acid according to example 99b. Then the title compound, MS: m/e = 526.1 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using rac-3-{[(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 3,3- difluoropyrrolidine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 138 Rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 479.1 (MH+), 496.1 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using methyl 4- (chloromethyl)benzoate as the benzylating reagent and 4-chloro-N-(6,6-dimethyl-2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e using 3- azidohexahydro-6,6-dimethyl-2H-azepin-2-one. Example 139 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-amino]-methyl}- benzoic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 463.4 (M-H+) was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 99b from 4-{ [(4-Chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-met hyl}-benzoic acid methyl ester. Example 140 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-(2-fluoro~ethyl)-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 510.4 (MH+), 527.2 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{ [(4- Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 2-fluoroethyIamine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 141 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethyl)-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 546.3 (MH+), 563.3 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{ [(4- Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 2,2,2-trifluoroethylamine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 142 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N~((lR,2S)-2-fluoro-cyclopropyl)-benzarnide The title compound, MS: m/e = 522.3 (MH+), 539.4 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{ [(4- Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amm o]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 2-fluorocyclopropylamine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 143 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N- (2-hydr oxy-ethyl) -b enzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 508.3 (MH+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{ [(4-Chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-met hyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 2-aminoethanol as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 144 rac-4-{[(4-CMoro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)-ainino]-methyl}- N-cyclopentyl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 532.2 (MH+), 549.4 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{ [(4- Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and cyclopentylamine as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 145 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-methyl-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 478.2 (MH+), 495.3 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{ [(4- Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and methylamine hydrochloride as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 146 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 464.2 (MH+), 481.2 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{ [(4- Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5)5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and ammonia in methanol (7M solution) as the amine in the coupling step. Example 147 rac-N-Benzyl-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2- oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino] -methylj-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 554.3 (MH+), 571.3 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{[(4- Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and benzylamine as the amine in the coupling step. Exanαple 148 rac- (4-{ [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)- (5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-arnino] - methyl}-benzoylamino)-acetic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 536.3 (MH+), 553.3 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{ [(4- Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ami no]-methyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and glycine methylester hydrochloride as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 149 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 577.4 (MH+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 75, using 4-{[(4-Chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-met hyl}-benzoic acid as the acid and 2-(morphoh'n-4-yl)-ethylamine hydrochloride as the amine in the coupling step.

Example 150 rac-4-Chloro-N-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-[4-(2H-tet razol-5-yl)-benzyl]- benzenesulfonamide Rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-cyano-benzyl)-N-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide (80 mg, 0.18 mmol) was dissolved in dimethylformamide (1 ml). Then ammonium chloride (11 mg, 0.2 mmol) and sodium azide (13 mg, 0.2 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred overnight at 1200C. After cooling the mixture was distributed 3 times between ethyl acetate (10 ml) and hydrochloric acid (10 ml IN). The combined organic layers were dried and evaporated. The residue was purified on silica gel (eluent hexane/ethyl acetate) to yield 79 mg (89%). MS: m/e = 506.1 (M+NH4+).

Example 151 rac-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azep an-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl)-carbamic acid ethyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 446.0 (MH+), 463.0 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using (4- chloromethyl-phenyl)-carbamic acid ethyl ester as the benzylating reagent and 4-chloro- N-(6,6-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e using 3-azidohexahydro-6,6-dimethyl-2H-azepin-2-one. Example 152 rac-N-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-az epan-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl)-acetamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 495.2 (M+NH4+) was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4-acetamido benzylchloride as the benzylating reagent and 4-chloro-N-(6,6-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide which was prepared analogous to Example 4e using 3- azidohexahydro-6,6-dimethyl-2H-azepin-2-one.

Example 153 rac-Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (4-{[(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-methyl}-phenyl)-amide a) rac-4-Trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonic acid (4-nitro-benzyD-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yD- amide rac-4-Trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonic acid (4-nitro-benzyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amide was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 1, using 4-nitrobenzaldehyde instead of 3-fluoro-p-anisaldehyde in step Ia and trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride instead of 5-chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride in step Ib).

b) rac-4-Trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonic acid (4-amino-benzyP- (2-oxo-azepan-3~yQ- amide Rac-4-trifl.uoromethyl-benzenesulfonic acid (4-nitro-benzyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amide (2.08 g, 4.4 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (50 ml), palladium on charcoal (200 mg, 10%) was added and the mixture was hydrogenated at room temperature for 2 hours. The catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was recrystallised from heptane/ethyl acetate to yield a yellowish solid (1.2 g, 61%).

c) rac-Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (4-{r(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-aminol-methyl}-phenyl)-amide Rac-4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonic acid (4-amino-benzyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amide (75 mg, 0.17 mmol) is dissolved in dichloromethane (2 ml), then pyridine (80 mg, 1 mmol) and cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride (21 mg, 0.2 mmol) were added. After shaking the mixture at room temperature for 1 hour hydrochloric acid (5 ml, 0.1M) was added. The organic layer was separated evaporated and the residue was redissolved in 1 ml of dimethylformamide for preparative HPLC separation (RP-Qs, eluent acetonitrile/water) to yield 12 mg (14% of the final product). MS: m/e = 510.4 (MH+), 527.2 (M+NH4+).

Example 154 rac-Cyclohexanecarboxytic acid (4-{ [ (2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- (4-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-methyl}-phenyl)-amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 552.3 (MH+), 569.5 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 153, using cyclohexanecarbonyl chloride instead of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride in step 153c).

Example 155 rac-2-Methoxy-N- (4-{ [ (2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- (4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)- amino] -methyl}-phenyl)-acetamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 514.3 (MH+), 531.2 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 153, using methoxyacetyl chloride instead of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride in step 153c).

Example 156 rac-N- (4- { [ (2-Oxo-azepan-3-yl)- (4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino] -rnethyl}- phenyl) -malonamic acid ethyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 556.2 (MH+), 573.3 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 153, using ethyl malonyl chloride instead of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride in step 153c).

Example 157 rac-N-(4-{[(2-Oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesul fonyl)-arnino]-methyl}- phenyl)-2-phenyl-acetamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 560.2 (MH+), 577.4 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 153, using phenylacetyl chloride instead of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride in step 153c).

Example 158 rac-Isoxazole-5-carboxylic acid (4-{[(2~oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-trifluoromethyl~ benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-methyl}-phenyl)-amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 537.2 (MH+), 554.4 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 153, using isoxazole-5-carbonyl chloride instead of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride in step 153c).

Example 159 rac-N-(4-{[(2-Oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesul fonyl)-amino]-methyl}- phenyl)-benzamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 546.3 (MH+), 563.3 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 153, using benzoyl chloride instead of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride in step 153c).

Example 160 Rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-N- cyclopropyl)-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 512.1 (MH+), 529.1 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 1, using N- cyclopropyl-4-formyl-benzenesulfonamide instead of 3-fkxoro-p-anisaldehyde in step Ia). Example 161 rac-N- (3-Amino-benzyl)-4-chloro-N- (2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 408.0 (MH+), 425.1 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 92, using 4-chloro- N-(3-nitro-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonam ide instead of 4-chloro- N-(4-nitro-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonam ide.

Example 162 rac~4-Chloro-N-(4-methanesulfonylamino-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azep an-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 484.2 (M-H+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 94, using methanesulfonyl chloride instead of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride.

Example 163 rac-Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (3-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino] -methyl}-phenyl)-amide The title compound, MS: m/e = 476.0 (MH+), 493.1 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 94, using N-(3- amino-ben2yl)-4-chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulf onamide instead of N- (4-amino-benzyl)-4-chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenes ulfonamide.

Example 164 rac-4-Chloro-N-(3-methanesulfonylainino-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-aze pan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 484.10 (M-H+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 94, using N-(3-amino-benzyl)-4- chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide instead of N-(4-amino-benzyl)- 4-chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide and methanesulfonyl chloride instead of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride.

Example 165 Rac-N-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- malonamic acid ethyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 522.1 (MH+), 539.3 (M+NH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 94, using ethyl malonyl chloride instead of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride.

Example 166 N-(2>3-Difluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-y l)-4-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 493.1 (MH+), 510.3 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2, using 4- trifl.uoromethyl-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamid e instead of 4-chloro-N- ((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide and l-bromomethyl-2,3-difluoro-4- methoxy-benzene as the benzylbromide in step 2c, which was previously prepared from 2, 3-difluoro-4-methylanisole analogous to the bromination protocol described in Example 185.

Example 167 3-Methyl-3-(4-{[((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-trifluoromethyl-b enzenesulfonyl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl)-butyric acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 558.2 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2, using 4-trifluoromethyl-N-((R)-2- oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide instead of 4-chloro-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide and 3-(4-bromomethyl-phenyl)-3-methyl-butyric acid methyl ester as the benzyl bromide in step 2c, which was previously prepared from 3-methyl-3- phenyl-butyric acid analogous to the bromomethylation and esterifaction sequence described in Example 190 and from the literature ( US patent 4,032,533).

Example 168 N-(2-Fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-4-tr ifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 475.0 (MH+), 492.0 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 4- trifluoromethyl-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide instead of 4-chloro-N- ((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide and (2-fluoro-4-methoxy-phenyl)- methanol in the Mitsunobu protocol.

Example 169 3-Methyl-3-(4-{[((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-trifluoromethyl-b enzenesulfonyl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl)~butyric acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 525.1 (M-H+), 585.1 (M+CH3COO") was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 99b from 3-methyl- 3-(4-{[((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-(4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesul fonyl)-amino]-methyl}- phenyl) -butyric acid methyl ester.

Example 170 Rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4-pyrazol-l-yl-benzyl) -benzenesulfonamide 4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide (0.16 g, 0.52 mmol), l-[4- (bromomethyl)phenyl]-lH-pyrazole (0.26 g, 1.03 mmol), potassium carbonate (0.72 g, 5.17 mmol) and potassium iodide (0.02 g, 0.10 mmol) in 5 ml dimethylformamide were stirred at 65°C for 5 hours. Extraction with water/ethylacetate and chromatography on silicagel with ethylacetate/heptane (90/10 to 1/0) yielded 0.20 g (87%) 4-chloro-N-(2- oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4-pyrazol-l-yl-benzyl)-benzenesulfonamid e as light yellow solid, MS: m/e (%) = 459.1 (MH+, 100).

Example 171 Rac-4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4-[l,2)4]triazol-l-yl- benzyl)- benzenesulfonamide 4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide (0.16 g, 0.52 mmol), l-[4- (bromomethyl)phenyl]-lH-l,2,4-triazol (0.25 g, 1.03 mmol), potassium carbonate (0.72 g, 5.17 mmol) and potassium iodide (0.02 g, 0.10 mmol) in 5 ml dimethylformamide were stirred at 65°C for 5 hours. Extraction with water/ethylacetate and chromatography on silicagel with ethylacetate yielded 0.15 g (64%) 4-chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4- [l,2,4]triazol-l-yl-benzyl)-benzenesulfonamide as white solid, MS: m/e (%) = 460.1 (MH+, 100). Example 172 Rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-difluoromethyl-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-y l)-benzenesulfonamide a) 1 -Bromomethyl-4-difluoromethyl-benzene alpha-Bromo-p-tolualdehyde (1.0Og, 5.02 mmol) was suspended in 60 ml dichloromethane. Bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride (5.9 ml, 30.5 mmol) and 58 μl (1.01 mmol) ethanol were added. The mixture was stirred at 400C for 8 hours. After evaporation of the solvent the residue was added drop-wise to cold saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. Extraction with ethylacetate, washing with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate and brine, drying with sodium sulfate and removal of the solvent by distillation yielded 0.81 g (73%) l-bromomethyl-4-difluoromethyl-benzene, MS: m/e (%) = 141.0 (M-Br, 100), 220/222 (M, 6).

b) 4-Chloro-N-(4-difluoromethyl-benzyl')-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide 4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide (0.45 g, 1.50 mmol), 1- bromomethyl-4-difluoromethyl-benzene (0.66 g, 3.00 mmol), potassium carbonate (2.09 g, 15.0 mmol) and potassium iodide (0.05 g, 0.20 mmol) inl5 ml dimethylformamide were stirred at 65°C for 5 hours. Extraction with water/ethylacetate and chromatography on silicagel with ethylacetate/heptane (90/10 to 1/0) yielded 0.63 g (94%) 4-chloro-N-(4- difluoromethyl-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonam ide as white solid, MS: m/e (%) = 443.0 (MH+, 100). Example 173 Rac-4-Chloro-N-(4-cyano-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzen esulfonamide 4-Chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide (1.21 g, 4.00 mmol), 4- (bromomethyl)-benzonitrile (0.79 g, 4.00 mmol), potassium carbonate (5.58 g, 40.0 mmol) and potassium iodide (0.13 g, 0.80 mmol) in 200 ml dimethylformamide were stirred at 65°C for 16 hours. Extraction with water/ethylacetate and chromatography on silicagel with ethylacetate yielded 1.05 g (63%) 4-chloro-N-(4-cyano-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide as white solid, MS: m/e (%) = 418.1 (MH+, 100). Example 174 Rac-4-Chloro-N-[4-(5-methoxymethyl-[l,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-be nzyl]-N-(2-oxo-azepan- 3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide a) 4-{ [C4-Chloro-benzenesulfonγl)-f2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-aminol -methyll-N-hydroxy- benzamidine 4-Chloro-N-(4-cyano-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesul fonamide (2.09 g, 5.00 mmol), sodium bicarbonate (0.52 g, 6.15 mmol) and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (0.43 g, 6.15 mmol) in a mixture of 20 ml ethanol and 4 ml water were refluxed for 11 hours. The solvents were removed by distillation and the residue was recrystalized from water. The solid was then suspended in dichloromethane, refluxed, cooled to room temperature and filtered to yield 1.74g (77%) 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino]-methyl}-N-hydroxy-benzamidme as white solid, MS: m/e (%) = 451.0 (MH+, 100). b) 4-CMoro-N-[4-(5-methoxymethyl- [1,2,41 oxadiazol-3-yl) -benzyl! -N- (2-oxo-azepan- 3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide To a solution of methoxyacetic acid (86 μl, 1.10 mmol) in 5 ml dimethylformamide were added l,l'-carbonyl-diimidazole (0.18g, 1.10 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes, heated to 400C for a few minutes and cooled to room temperature. 4-{ [(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl) -amino] -methyl}-N- hydroxy-benzamidine (0.45 g, 1.00 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 100°C for 5 hours and then poured into water. Filtration and chromatography on silicagel with ethylacetate/heptane (1/1 to 4/1) yielded 0.46 g (90%) 4-chloro-N-[4-(5- methoxymethyl-[l,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-benzyl]-N-(2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide as white solid, MS: m/e (%) = 505.0 (MH+, 100).

Example 175 Rac-4-Chloro-N-[4-(5-methyl-[l,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-benzyl]-N -(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide To a solution of acetic acid (63 μl, 1.10 mmol) in 5 ml dimethylformamide were added ljl'-carbonyl-diimidazole (0.18g, 1.10 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes, heated to 400C for a few minutes and cooled to room temperature. 4-{ [(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azeρan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-N- hydroxy-benzamidine (0.45 g, 1.00 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 1000C for 5 hours and then poured into water. Filtration and chromatography on silicagel with ethylacetate/heptane (1/1 to 4/1) yielded 0.43 g (91%) 4-chloro-N- [4-(5-methyl- [l,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-benzyl]-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzene sulfonamide as white solid, MS: m/e (%) = 474.9 (MH+, 100).

Example 176 Rac-N- [4- (5-Benzyloxymethyl- [ 1 ,2,4] oxadiazol-3-yl)-benzyl] -4-chloro-N- (2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide To a solution of benzyloxyacetic acid (162 μl, 1.10 mmol) in 5 ml dimethylformamide were added l,l'-carbonyl-diimidazole (0.18g, 1.10 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes, heated to 400C for a few minutes and cooled to room temperature. 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-me thyl}-N- hydroxy-benzamidine (0.45 g, 1.00 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 1000C for 5 hours and then poured into water. Filtration and chromatography on silicagel with ethylacetate/heptane (1/1 to 4/1) yielded 0.51 g (87%) N-[4-(5-benzyloxymethyl- [1,2,4] oxadiazol-3-yl)-benzyl]-4-chloro-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benze nesulfonamide as white solid, MS: m/e (%) = 581.1 (MH+, 100).

Example 177

4-Chloro-N-[4-(5-hydroxymethyl-[l,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-ben zyl]-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide a) Acetic acid 3-(4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-γl)-amino T-methyll- phenyl)-[l,2,4ioxadiazol-5-ylmethyl ester To a solution of acetoxyacetic acid (0.13 g, 1.10 mmol) in 5 ml dimethylformamide were added l,l'~carbonyl-diimidazole (0.18g, 1.10 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes, heated to 400C for a few minutes and cooled to room temperature. 4-{ [(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] ~methyl}-N- hydroxy-benzamidine (0.45 g, 1.00 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 1000C for 5 hours and then poured into water. Filtration and chromatography on silicagel with ethylacetate/heptane (3/1) yielded 0.15 g (29%) acetic acid 3-(4-{[(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl) -amino] -methyl} -phenyl)- [1,2,4] oxadiazol-5- ylmethyl ester as white solid, MS: m/e (%) = 533.0 (MH+, 100).

b) 4-Chloro-N-[4-(5-hydroxymethyl-[l,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-benzyl 1-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide A solution of 0.03 g (0.05 mmol) acetic acid 3-(4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-phenyl)-[l,2,4]oxadiazol-5-ylmet hyl ester in 1 ml tetrahydrofuran was stirred with 0.2 ml (0.2 mmol) 1 molar aqueous sodium hydroxide for 3 hours at room temperature. Water and aqueous hydrochloric acid was added to reach pH 1. Extraction with ethylacetate, drying with sodium sulfate, filtration and removal of the solvent by distillation yielded 0.02 g (98%) 4-chloro-N-[4-(5- hydroxymethyl-[l,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-benzyl]-N-(2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide as white solid, MS: m/e (%) = 491.0 (MH+, 100).

Example 178 4-Chloro-IV-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-IV-pyridin-4-ylm ethyl- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 436.0 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using 4-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine and 4-chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamid e from Example 4e.

Example 179 4-Chloro-JV-[4-(3-fluoro-propoxy)-benzyl]-iV-(5-isopropyl-2- oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 511.0 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using [4-(3-fluoropropoxy) phenyl] methanol and 4-chloro-N-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamid e from Example 4e. Example 180 4-Chloro-iST-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-iV-[4-(5-methyl -[l,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)- benzyl] -benzenesulfonamide 4-{ [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-a mino] -methyl}- benzoic acid methyl ester (0.30 g, 0.60 mmol) was treated with hydrazine monohydrate (1.1 g, 22.4 mmol) in methanol (20 ml) for 48 h at r.t. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, diluted with water and extracted with CH2Cl2 (3x), The combined organic extracts were washed with water, dried (MgSO4) , filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to yield a crude foam (0.29 g). 0.10 g of this crude hydrazide was dissolved in pyridine (1.4 ml) treated with ethylacetimidate hydrochloride (0.08 g, 0.66 mmol) under reflux for 1 h. The cooled reaction mixture was concentrated and extracted with ethyl acetate and washed with 1 N HCl (Ix) , NaHCO3 satd(lx), brine, dried (MgSO^ and filtered. The concentrated, crude product was purified using preparative RP(Ci8) chromatography: lyophilisate 25 mg; MS: m/e = 517.4 (MH+). Example 181 4-Chloro-N"-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-]Nr-[4-(3-methyl -[l,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl)- benzyl] -benzenesulfonamide

4-{ [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-a mino] -methyl}- benzoic acid methyl ester (0.30 g, 0.60 mmol) was saponified to the acid using LiOH1H2O (0.04 g, 0.90 mmol). The acid (0.10 g, 0.21 mmol) was dissolved in THF (3 ml) and added dropwise to a solution of 1,1-carbonyl diimidazole (CDI, 0.04 g, 0.23 mmol) in THF (0.5 ml). After 30 min, N-hydroxy-acetamidine (0.04 g, 0.23 mmol) was added. A further two equivalents each of CDI and N-hydroxy-acetamidine were added during a further 48 h stirring at r.t. The reaction mixture was concentrated and crude, coupled amidine was purified over silica gel (gradient ethyl acetate to ethyl acetate/methanol 15%): white solid 0.09 g (73%); MS: m/e = 535.5 (MH+). Purified amidine (0.08 g, 0.15 mmol) cyclised in the presence of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (I M , THF 5 ml) over 36 h at r.t. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3x) . The combined organice extracts were washed with water, brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The concentrated, crude product was purified using preparative RP(C18) chromatography: lyophilisate 15 mg; MS: m/e = 517.4 (MH ).

Example 182 3- (4- { [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)- (5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}- phenyl) -propionic acid 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan- 3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- phenyl) -propionic acid methyl ester was prepared according to alkylation protocol Example 2c using 3-(4-bromomethyl-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester (prepared analogous to lit. route: US patent 4,032,533 ). The methyl ester (0.21 g, 0.40 mmol) was saponified using NaOH (0.2 g) in THF (4 ml) for 4 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and acidified (KHSO4/K2SO4) to pH 2-3, extracted with ethyl acetate (2x). The combined organice extracts were washed with water, brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude was crystallised from ethyl acetate to yield 3-(4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(5-isopropyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino] - methyl} -phenyl) -propionic acid: 0.04 g; MS: m/e = 505.1 (MH+).

Example 183 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N- cyclopropyl-b enzamide 4-Chloro-N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfo namide was obtained following chiral preparative chromatography [Chiralpak AD; isocratic 20%isopropanol/ heptane] ofracemic 4-chloro-N-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonami de intermediate prepared according to Example 4e starting with 4,4-dimethyl cyclohexanone and then alkylated as previously described for Example 2c to give 4-{ [(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5)5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-iV- cyclopropyl-benzamide MS: m/e = 504.3 (MH+).

Example 184 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((S)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-cyclopropyl-benzamide 4-Chloro-N-((S)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfo namide was obtained following chiral preparative chromatography [Chiralpak AD; isocratic 20%isopropanol/ heptane] of racemic 4-chloro-N-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonami de intermediate prepared according to Example 4e starting with 4,4-dimethyl cyclohexanone and then alkylated as previously described for Example 2c to give 4-{ [(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-((S)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-N'-cyclopropyl- benzamide MS: m/e = 504.3 (MH+).

Example 185 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- 3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester 4-Bromomethyl-3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester

3-Fluoromethyl benzoic acid methyl ester (4.2 g, 25 mmol) , N-bromosuccinimide (4.90 g, 27.50 mmol) and dibenzoyl peroxide (0.18 g, 0.75 mmol) were dissolved in CCLj (100 ml) and the mixture was irradiated with a 150 W lamp and refluxed under an argon atmosphere for 5 h. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to r.t. and then filtered. The concentrated filtrate was purified over silica gel (isopropyl ether/ n-heptane 1:10 v/v): colourless oil 4.6 g (75%); MS: m/e = 248.0 (M), 167.1 (M-Br, 100%) .

4-{r(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-az epan-3-yl)-amino1 -methyl}- 3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester 4-Chloro-N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfo namidewas alkylated using 4-bromomethyl-3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester analogous to Example 2c to yield 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester: MS: m/e = 497.4 (MH+). Example 186 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-az epan-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl) -propionic acid methyl ester 4-Chloro-N-((R)-5,5-diπiethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesul fonamide was alkylated using 3-(4-bromomethyl-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester analogous to Example 2c to yield 3-(4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)- amino]-methyl}-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester: MS: m/e = 507.6 (MH+).

Example 187 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-az epan-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl)-propionic acid 3-(4-{ [(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)-amino]- methyl} -phenyl) -propionic acid methyl ester (0.06 g, 0.11 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (4 ml) and treated with 1 N NaOH (0.2 ml) overnight. The mixture was diluted with water and the methanol removed under reduced pressure. The residue was acidified (KHSO4/IQSO4) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3x). The combined extracts were concentrated and the crude residue was purified using preparative RP(C18) chromatography: lyophilisate 15 mg; MS: m/e = 491.1 (MH+).

Example 188 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- 3-fluoro-benzoic acid 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester (0.52 g, 1.1 mmol) was dissolved in THF (20 ml) and treated with 1 N NaOH (2.1 ml) for 2 h. Work-up as for Example 187 yielded crude which was crystallised from acetonitrile to give 4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)- ((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-3-fluoro -benzoic acid: 0.38 g; MS: m/e = 481.1 (MH+).

Example 189 4-Chloro-iV-[4-(iV,iV-dimethyl-hydrazinocarbonyl)-2-fiuoro-b enzyl]-iY-((R)-5>5- dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide 4-{ [(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3 -yl)-amino] -methyl}- 3-fluoro-benzoic acid (0.15 g, 0.30 mmol) was dissolved in DMF(20 ml) and treated with 2-(2-pyridon-l-yl)-l,l,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TPTU) (0.1 g, 0.33 mmol), Hiinig's base (0.15 ml, 0.90 mmol) and N,N- dimethyl hydrazine (0.07 ml, 0.90 mmol). After 1 h the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with NaHCO3 , KHSCVK2SO4, brine , dried (Na2SO4) filtered anconcentrated under reduced pressure. Crystallisation from isopropyl acetate yielded 4-chloro-W-[4-(N',N1-dimethyl-hydrazinocarbonyl)-2-fluoro- benzyl]-N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfon amide as a crystalline solid: : 0.12 g; MS: m/e = 525.4 (MH+).

Example 190 3- (2- { [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)- ((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] - methyl}-5-fluoro-phenyl)-propionic acid HBr gas was passed through a suspension of 3-(3-fluorophenyl)propionic acid (5.1 g, 30 mmol), paraformaldehyde (1.2 g) in aqueous HBr (48%, 20 ml). After 3.5 h at 55°C the suspension was extracted with ethyl acetate (3x) and the combined orgaic extracts were washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4) filtered and evaporated. The crude was recrystallized from CCLi-n-hexane to yield crystalline 3-(2-bromomethyl-5-fluoro-phenyl)-propionic acid: 2.7 g; MS: m/e =260 (M), 181 (M-Br). The acid (2.6 g, 10 mmol) was added to a mixture of sulfuric acid (0.60 ml, 11 mmol) in methanol (30 ml) . After 1 h at r.t. the reaction mixture was diluted with watere and solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with NaHCO3, brine , dried (Na2SO4) filtered anconcentrated under reduced pressure to yield 3-(2-bromomethyl-5-fluoro-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester as a colourless oil: : 2.6 g; MS: m/e = 276 (M), 195 (M-Br). 4-Chloro-N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfo namide was alkylated using 3-(2-bromomethyl-5-fluoro-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester analogous to Example 2c and then saponified to give 3-(2-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5- dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-5-fluoro-phenyl)- propionic acid. MS: m/e = 509.3 (MH"). Example 191 4-Chloro-N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4-isoxazo l-5-yl-benzyl)- benzenesulfonamide 4-Chloro-N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfo namide was alkylated using 5~(4-bromomethyl-phenyl)-isoxazole analogous to Example 2c to afford 4-chloro- N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(4-isoxazol-5-yl-be nzyl)- benzenesulfonamide MS: m/e = 488.1 (MH+). Example 192 4-Chloro-N"-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-jNr-(2-fl.u oro-4-methoxy-ben2yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 469.4 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3, using (2-fiuoro-4-methoxy- phenyl)-methanol and 4-chloro-N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide from Example 4e.

Example 193 4-Chloro-N-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-N-(2-fluoro- 4-hydroxymethyl- benzyl) -benzenesulfonamide 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- 3-fluoro-benzoic acid (0.05 g, 0.10 mmol) was dissolved in THF (2 ml) and added dropwise to a suspension of LiAfflU (0.04 g, 1 mmol) in THP (2 ml). After 6 h to the reaction mixture was added water (0.5 ml) , 1 N NaOH (0.2 ml) and after 15 min of vigorous stirring it was filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and purified using preparative RP(Ci8) chromatography: lyophilisate 5 mg; MS: m/e = 469.1 (MH+). Example 194 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-a zepan-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl) -propionic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 531.1 (MH"), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 182 using 4-chloro-N-(5- trifluoromethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide and 3-(4-bromomethyl- phenyl) -propionic acid methyl ester in the alkylation step.

Example 195 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azep an-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-benzoic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 505.1 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 182 using 4-chloro-N-(5- trifluorometh7l-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide and 4-bromomethyl-benzoic acid methyl ester in the alkylation step.

Example 196 4-Chloro-N- [4- (N' ,N'-dimethyl-hydrazinocarbonyl)-benzyl] -N- (2-oxo-5- trifl.uoromethyl-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 547.2 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 189 using 4-{[(4-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trinuoromethyl-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-benzoic acid as the precursor to hydrazide formation.

Example 197 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azep an-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 537.5 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 185 using 4-chloro~N-(5- trinuoromethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide and 4-bromomethyl-3-fluoro- benzoic acid methyl ester in the alkylation step.

Example 198 4-Chloro-N-(2-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-iV-(2-oxo-5-trifluoro methyl-azepan-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 509.2 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 3 using 4-chloro-N-(5- trifluoromethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide and (2-fluoro-4-methoxy- phenyl) -methanol in the Mitsunobu reaction.

Example 199 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azep an-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-3-fiuoro-benzoic acid 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azep an-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-3-fiuoro-benzoic acid methyl ester (0.03 g, 0.06 mmol) was dissolved in THF (2 ml) and 1 N NaOH (4 ml) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 6 h at pH 10 . A KHSO4/K2SO4 aqueous buffer was added to adjust the pH to 3. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate and the combined organic extracts were dried (Na2SO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure and lyophilised yielding a solid: 11 mg; MS: m/e = 521.2 (MH"). Example 200 4-Chloro-N-(2-fluoro-4-hydroxymethyl-benzyl)-JV-(2-oxo-5-tri fluoromethyl-azepan-3- yl) -benzenesulfonamide 4-{ [(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azepan- 3-yl)-amino] - methyl}-3-fiuoro-benzoic acid methyl ester (0.05 g, 0.09 mmol) in THF( 1 ml) was added dropwise to a cooled (ice-bath) suspension OfLiAJH4 (0.02 g, 0.44 mmol) in THF (1 ml) under an argon atmosphere. The cold bath was removed and the reaction mixture was further stirred for 3.5 h. Ethyl acetate and a KHSO4/K2SO4 buffer was added to the reaction mixture . The organic fraction was further washed with a KHSO4ZK2SO4 (2x) , water, brine , dried (Na2SO4), filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure and purified using preparative RP(C18) chromatography to give 4-chloro-N-(2-fluoro-4- hydrox7methyl-benzyl)-N-(2-oxo-5-trifluoromethyl-azepan-3-yl )-benzenesulfonamide as a lyophilisate: 13 mg; MS: m/e = 509.4 (MH+).

Example 201 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- propionic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 465.3 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 187 from its corresponding methyl ester. Example 202 4-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- butyric acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 510.6 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4-(4-bromomethyl-phenyl)- butyric acid methyl ester as the benzylating reagent.

Example 203 rac-4- { [ (4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)- (2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-3-fluoro- benzoic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 469.4 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 4-bromomethyl-3-fluoro- benzoic acid methyl ester as the benzylating reagent and the achiral sulfonamide.

Example 204 4-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- butyric acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 496.4 (MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield from 4-(4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}-phenyl)- butyric acid methyl ester analogous to the procedure described for Example 182. Example 205 (4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amin o]-methyl}-phenyl)- acetic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 449.1 (MH"), was obtained in comparable yield from (4- {[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]- methyl}-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester analogous to the procedure described for Example 182.

Example 206 4-Chloro-N-(4-oxazol-5-yl-benzyl)-iV-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl) -benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 460.1 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 5-(4-bromomethyl-phenyl)- oxazole as the benzylating reagent.

Example 207 N- [2-(4-{ [(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-ammo]-me thyl}- phenyl)-ethyl] -acetamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 478.0 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using N-[2-(4-chloromethyl- phenyl)- ethyl] -acetamide as the benzylating reagent.

Example 208 4-Chloro--V-(4-isoxazol-5-yl-benzyl)-JV-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl)-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 460.1 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 5-(4-bromomethyl- phenyl) -isoxazole as the benzylating reagent.

Example 209 4-Chloro-N-(4-hydroxymethyl-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl )-benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 423.0 (MH+), 440.3(MNH4+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 193.

Example 210 4-Chloro-N-(2,5-difluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azep an-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 459.1 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using l-bromomethyl-2,5- difluoro-4-methoxy-benzene as the benzylating reagent.

Example 211 4-CHoro-N-(2,3-difluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl)-N-((R)-2-oxo-azepa n-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 459.0 (MH+), 479.0 (MNH4+) was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 1- bromomethyl-2,3-difluoro-4-methoxy-benzene which was previously prepared from 2, 3-dmuoro-4-methylanisole analogous to the bromination protocol described in Example 185. Example 212 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)-3- methyl-butyric acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 507.3 (MH+), 524.2 (MNH4+) was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3-(4- bromomethyl~phenyl)-3-methyl~butyric acid methyl ester which was previously prepared from 3-methyl-3-phenyl-butyric acid analogous to the bromomethylation and esterifaction sequence described in Example 190 and from the literature ( US patent 4,032,533). Example 213 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 507.2 (MH+), 524.1 (MNH4+) was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3-(4- bromomethyl-phenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid methyl ester which was previously prepared from 2,2-dimethyl-3-phenyl-propionic acid analogous to the bromomethylation and esterifaction sequence described in Example 190 and from the literature ( US patent 4,032,533). Example 214 3-(3-Chloro-4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan -3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- phenyl) -propionic acid methyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 513.1 (MH+), 530.1 (MNH4+) was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 3-(4- bromomethyl-3-chloro-phenyl) -propionic acid methyl ester which was previously prepared from 3~(3-chloro-phenyl)-propionic acid analogous to the bromomethylation and esterifaction sequence described in Example 190 and from the literature ( US patent 4,032,533). Example 215 5-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-benzofuran- 2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester The title compound, MS: m/e = 505.2 (MH+), 522.2 (MNH4+) was obtained in comparable yield analogous to the procedure described for Example 2c, using 5- cMoromethyl-benzofuran-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester.

Example 216 rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-3-fluoro- benzoic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 453.2 (MH"), 522.2 (MOAc") was obtained in comparable yield by saponification of rac-4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfbnyl)-(2-oxo- azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester analogous to the procedure described for Example 199.

Example 217 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino ]-methyl}-3-fiuoro- benzoic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 453.1(MH"), 513.1 (MOAc") was obtained in comparable yield by saponification of 4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)~((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino]-methyl}-3-fluoro-benzoic acid methyl ester analogous to the procedure described for Example 199. Example 218 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)-3- methyl-butyric acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 491.1(MH"), 551.1 (MOAc") was obtained in comparable yield by saponification 3-(4~{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)~ amino] -methyl}-phenyI)-3-methyI-butyric acid methyl ester analogous to the procedure described for Example 199.

Example 219 3-(4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-am ino]-methyl}-phenyl)- 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 491.0(MH"), 551.0 (MOAc") was obtained in comparable yield by saponification 3-(4-{ [(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)- amino] -methyl} -phenyl) -2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid methyl ester analogous to the procedure described for Example 199.

Example 220 3- (3-Chloro-4-{ [ (4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino] -methyl}- phenyl) -propionic acid The title compound, MS: m/e = 497.0(MH"), 557.0 (MOAc") was obtained in comparable yield by saponification 3-(3-chloro-4-{ [(4-chloro~benzenesulfonyl)-((R)-2-oxo-azepan- 3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester analogous to the procedure described for Example 199. Example 221

rac-4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-az epan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}- N-cyclopropyl-benzamide

a) {l-[Allyl-(2,4-dimethoxy-benzyl')-carbamoγll-2,2-dimethγl- but-3-enγl}-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester 2-[[(l,l-Dimethylethoxy)carbonyl]amino]-3,3-dimethyl-4-pente noic acid (322 mg, 1.32 mmol ; Synthesis see Bartlett, Paul A.; Barstow, James F. Journal of Organic Chemistry (1982), 47(20), 3933-41) was dissolved in dimethylformarnide (6 ml) and activated with the coupling reagent TATU (469 mg, 1.46 mmol) and Hϋnig's base (376 mg, 2.91 mmol) for 2 min. Allyl-(2,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)-amine (274 mg, 1.32 mmol) dissolved in dimethylforrnamide (2ml) was added and the mixture was stirred overnight. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, washed with saturated NaHCO3 solution, 1 M KHSO4 solution and brine. After drying with magnesiumsulfate the organic layer was concentrated and purified by flash chromatography (heptane/ethyl acetate = 2:1) to yield 510 mg (89%) of {HaUy^^-dimethoxy-benzyO-carbamoyll^^- dimethyl-but-S-enyll-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester; MS: m/e = 433.6 (MH+), 450.6 (M+NH4+).

b) [ l-(2,4-Dimethoxy-benzyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,3,4,7-tetrahvd ro-lH-azepin-3-yn - carbamic acid tert-butyl ester

{l-[AUyl-(2,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)-carbamoyl]-2,2-dimethyl-b ut-3-enyl}-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (0.5 g, 1.16 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (400 ml), bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)benzylidine ruthenium dichloride (145 mg, 0.17 mmol) was added and the purple solution was refluxed for 48 hours. The solvent was evaporated, the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with NaHCO3 solution, IM KHSO4 solution and brine. After drying with magnesiumsulfate the organic layer was concentrated and purified by flash chromatography (heptane/ethyl acetate = 4:1) to yield 295 mg (63%) of [l-(2,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)-4)4-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,3,4,7-tetrahy dro-lH- azepin-3-yl]-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester; MS: m/e = 405.5 (MH+).

c) ri-(2,4-Dimethoxy-benzyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yn-car bamic acid tert-butyl ester

[l-(2>4-Dimethoxy-benzyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,3,4,7-t etrahydro-lH-azepin-3-yl]- carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (260 mg, 0.64 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (10 ml). Palladium on charcoal (30 mg, 10%) was added and the mixture was hydrogenated at room temperature for 90 minutes. The catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (heptane/ethyl acetate = 1:1) to yield 220 mg (84%) of [l-(2,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3- yl] -carbamic acid tert-butyl ester as a colourless oil; MS: m/e = 407.4 (MH+).

d) 4-({(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-[l-(2,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)-4,4 -dimethyl-2-oxo- azepan-3-yll-aminol-methyl)-N-cyclopropyl-benzamide

For Boc-deprotection [l-(2,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)-4,4-dimemyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl]- carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (210 mg, 0.52 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (2 ml) and trifluoroacetic acid (0.5 ml) was added dropwise. After stirring for 90 minutes the solvent and excess trifluoroacetic acid was evaporated and the residue was dried under high vacuum. Then it was dissolved in tetrahydrofurane (3 ml), 4- chlorobenzenesulfonyl chloride (121 mg, 0.57 mmol) and Hϋnig's base (202 mg, 1.56 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred overnight. The mixture was diluted with dichloromethane and washed with 0.1N hydrochloric acid and water. The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated. Flash chromatography (heptane/ ethyl acetate = 2:1) yielded 150 mg (60%) sulfonamide that was then dissolved in dimethylformamide (5 ml) for the alkylation step. To this solution 4-chloromethyl-N- cydopropyl-benzamide (157 mg, 0.75 mmol), potassium carbonate (862 mg, 6.24 mmol) and potassium iodide (10 mg) were added and the mixture was stirred for 48 hours at 8O0C. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was distributed between ethyl acetate and water. The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated. Flash chromatography (heptane/ ethyl acetate gradient) yielded 99 mg (48%) of the title compound as a foam; MS: m/e = 654.4 (MH+), 671.3 (M+NH4+). e) 4-{[(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl')-(r4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan- 3-yl)-ammoT-inethyll- N-cyclopropyl-benzamide

4-({(4-Chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-[l-(2,4-dimethox7-benzyl)- 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan- 3-yl]-amino}-methyl)-N-cyclopropyl-benzamide (95 mg) was dissolved in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid/trifluoromethanesulfonic acid/dichloromethane= 40:1:59 (2 ml) and stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. After evaporation flash chromatography (heptane/ ethyl acetate gradient) yielded 65 mg (90%) of 4-{[(4-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)- (4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-amino]-methyl}-N-cyclopropy l-benzamide as a foam; MS: m/e = 504.2 (MH+), 521.3 (M+NH4+).

Example 222 rac-4-Chloro-N-cycloρropylmethyl-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benz enesulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 357.2 (MH+), 379.3 (MNa+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using bromomethyl-cyclopropane as the alkylating reagent.

Example 223 rac-4-Chloro-N-cyclobutylmethyl-N-(2-oxo-azepan-3-yl)-benzen esulfonamide The title compound, MS: m/e = 371.2 (MH+), was obtained in comparable yield according to the procedure described for Example 2c, using bromomethyl-cyclobutane as the alkylating reagent.