Substituted imidazoles as selective modulators of bradykinin B2 receptors

Abstract

Disclosed are compounds of the formula: 1

Description

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/176,869, filed Jan. 18, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to certain imidazoles which, when appropriately substituted, are selective modulators of Bradykinin B2 receptors (BK-2 receptors). This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. It further relates to the use of such compounds in treating a variety of central and peripheral disorders. Additionally, compounds of this invention are useful as positive controls in assays for BK-2 receptor activity and when appropriately labeled as probes for the localization of BK-2 receptors in tissue sections.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Bradykinin (BK), a nonapeptide, and the closely related decapeptide kallidin (Lys-BK), are produced by proteolytic cleavage of high molecular weight kininogen by plasma kallikreins. The effects of bradykinin and kallidin are mediated by specific seven transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors.

[0004] The existence of two bradykinin receptor subtypes has been unequivocally confirmed within the last six years. The expression and cloning of a rat bradykinin receptor, now known to be a BK-2 receptor, was first reported followed by the cloning and pharmacological characterization of a human BK-2 receptor. The expression and cloning of a human bradykinin (B1) receptor has also been described.

[0005] Both BK and kallidin activate the B2 receptor while only kallidin is active at the B, receptor. However, both compounds are rapidly cleaved to produce B. receptor agonists, and then further degraded by kinases to produce inactive peptides. The instability of BK and kallidin suggests that these peptides act locally. Both receptors are expressed in a number of peripheral tissues as well as in the Central Nervous System (CNS).

[0006] The B2 receptor is expressed constitutively in a variety of tissues and accounts for the majority of the acute pharmacological effects of bradykinin. The B1 receptor is inducibly expressed and appears to act predominantly in pathophysiological conditions. The BK-1 receptor has been especially implicated in persistent hyperalgesia and chronic inflammation.

[0007] Bradykinin is an effector of a number of inflammatory responses including bronchoconstriction, plasma extravasation, release of prostaglandins/leukotrienes, smooth muscle contraction/relaxation and nociception. Bradykinin and the related peptide kallidin have been implicated in a number of disease conditions, including but not limited to pain, rhinitis, anaphylaxis, inflammatory bowel disease, vascular permeability, algesia, vasodilataion, inflammatory response, hypotension associated with sepsis, bronchopulmonary disorders including asthma, and increased cell proliferation. Antagonists of the BK-2 receptor are useful in treating these conditions. Additionally bradykinin has been implicated in increased glucose uptake, and decreased blood glucose concentration. Therefore agonists of the BK-2 receptor may be useful in the treatment of Type II diabetes. An increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier due to bradykinin has also been reported. Thus, agonists of the BK-2 receptor may also be used to increase the brain levels of pharmaceutical compounds used to treat central nervous system disorders when administered with these compounds. Therefore, compounds that modulate the bradykinin B2 (BK-2) receptor as agonists or antagonists would have considerable therapeutic benefit.

[0008] A number of tissues and cultured cell lines have been assessed for the presence of bradykinin receptors using radiolabeled bradykinin or a radiolabeled bradykinin analogue as a probe (See Hall, Gen. Pharma., 1997, 28: 1-6, for a compilation of such studies.). Although bradykinin and its analogues exhibit high affinity for bradykinin receptors there are some difficulties in using these ligands as receptor localization probes. Bradykinin binds to both BK-1 and BK-2 receptors and therefore cannot be used to distinguish receptor subtypes. Also bradykinin and many of its peptide analogues are susceptible to rapid degradation by kininases, leading to experimental difficulties. Nonpeptidic ligands are not susceptible to kininase activity. Therefore, small molecules that bind with high affinity and high selectivity to BK-2 receptors are especially desirable tools for BK-2 localization studies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0009] Various compounds have been prepared as modulators of BK-2 receptors. The following disclose non-peptidic compounds that modulate Bradykinin B2 receptors: EP-622361-A1, WO 98/42672, WO 97/41104, WO 97/28153, WO 96/13485, EP-596406-A1, EP-835659-A1, EP-808-838-A1, EP-796-848-A1, WO 98/03503, WO 97/24349, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,438,064, 5,216,165, 5,212,182, WO 97/30048, EP 790239-A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,380 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,756.

[0010] The compounds most closely related structurally to those of the present invention are a series of 2-[(methylamino)methyl]-4,5-dialkyl-1H-imidazoles described as vitronectin receptor antagonists and disclosed in international patent applications WO 99/06049 and WO 97/24119. These compounds are also discussed by Keenan et. al. (Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. (1998), 9(22): 3165-3170) and by Reader (Synlett (1998), (10): 1077-1078). The compounds described in these publications are not disclosed as bradykinin antagonists and they are not contained in the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] This invention provides novel compounds of Formula I (shown below) and pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I. Such compounds exhibit high selectivity for bradykinin B2 receptors. Compounds of Formula I also bind with high affinity to these receptors.

[0012] The invention further provides methods of treating patients suffering from certain inflammatory disorders and other conditions mediated by bradykinin. The invention also provides methods of treating patients (humans and non-humans) suffering from conditions in which agonism of the BK-2 receptor may prove beneficial. Treatment of humans, domesticated companion animals (pets) or livestock animals suffering such conditions with an effective amount of a compound of the invention is contemplated by the invention.

[0013] In a separate aspect, the invention provides methods of using compounds of this invention as positive controls in assays for BK-2 receptor activity and using appropriately labeled compounds of the invention as probes for the localization of BK-2 receptors in tissue sections.

[0014] A broad aspect of the invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: 2

[0015] or the pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic salts thereof wherein:

[0016] R1 is arylalkyl, preferably benzyl (with the proviso that R1 may not be 3-Fluorobenzyl), heteroarylalkyl preferably quinolinylmethyl or picolyl, or allyl, each of which which is optionally substituted directly or through a O(CH2)n linker (where n=1, 2, 3 or 4) with up to three substituents independently selected from:

[0017] (i) halogen (with the proviso that R1 may not be 3-Fluorobenzyl), nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, (wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl),

[0018] (ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8R9, NR8R9, NR8COR9, CONR8R9,

[0019]  wherein R8 and R9 are the same or different and represent hydrogen, straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8 and R9 form a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

[0020] (iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA wherein n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA, and CO2RA,

[0021]  wherein RA represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl,

[0022] (iv) SO2RA, NHSO2RA, SO2NHRA, SO2NHCORA, CONHSO2RA,

[0023]  wherein RA represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl,

[0024] (v) tetrazole, triazole, imidazole, thiazole, oxazole, thiophene, and pyridyl;

[0025] R2 and R3 are the same or different and represent

[0026] (i) halogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms, lower alkyl, amino methyl, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

[0027] (ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8′R9′, NR8′R9′, CONR8′R9′, NR8′COR9′,

[0028]  wherein R8′ and R9′ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8′ and R9′ is a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

[0029] (iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA′ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA′, or CO2RA′,

[0030]  wherein RA′ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl; or

[0031] R2 and R3 may be taken together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic saturated ring;

[0032] R4 represents straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

[0033] R5 represents halogen or trifluoromethyl;

[0034] R6, R7 and R7′ are the same or different and represent

[0035] (i) hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitrile, C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy (with the proviso that R6, R7, or R7′ may not be C1-C10 alkoxy when located ortho to Y), C1-C6alkylthio, halogen, aminomethyl, di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or diC1-C6alkylaminomethyl, or

[0036] (ii) C1-C6 alkoxyaminoalkyl where the amino is mono or disubstituted with straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

[0037] (iii) or any two adjacent R6, R7 or R7′ may be joined to form a 5 to 7 membered ring containing 1 or 2 oxygen atoms where the remaining ring members are carbon; or

[0038] R5 and R6 are joined to form a 5, 6, or 7 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic ring which is optionally substituted with up to four substituents selected from:

[0039] (i) halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, alkylaminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

[0040] (ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8″R9″, NR8″R9″, CONR8″R9″, NR8″COR9″, where R8″ and R9″ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8″ and R9″ can be a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, lower alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

[0041] (iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA″ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA″, or CO2RA″, wherein RA″ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl; and R7 and R7′ are as defined above; and

[0042] Y represents a bond or CH2, when Y═CH2 it may be mono or disubstituted with a straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or straight or branched chain lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The novel compounds of Formula I may be comprised of compounds of general Formula Ia: 3

[0044] or the pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic salts thereof wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, and Y are as defined above;

[0045] R5 represents halogen, hydrogen, or trifluoromethyl; and

[0046] R6, R7 and R7′ are the same or different and represent hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, nitro, lower alkyl having 1-10 carbon atoms, C1-C10 alkoxy (with the proviso that R6, R7, or R7′ may not be C1-C10 alkoxy when located ortho to Y in Formula Ia), halogen, aminomethyl, mono or dialkylaminomethyl where each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl, and C1-C6 alkoxyaminoalkyl where the amino is mono or disubstituted with straight or branched chain lower alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms.

[0047] Preferred compounds of the invention are comprised of compounds of Formula I or Formula Ia, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R4, R5, R6, R7, R7′ and Y are as defined for Formula I or Formula Ia with the restriction that R2 and R3 do not form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring.

[0048] Other novel compounds of Formula I may be comprised of compounds of general Formula Ib: 4

[0049] or the pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic salts thereof wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, and Y are as defined above;

[0050] R5 is part of an aromatic ring formed with R6;

[0051] R6 is part of an 5, 6, or 7 membered aromatic ring which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, or mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, alkylaminomethyl or mono or dialkylaminomethyl where each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

[0052] C1-C6 alkoxyaminoalkyl (for example OCH2CH2NR8″R9″), NR8″R9″, CONR8″R9″, NR8″COR9″, where R8″ and R9″ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms, additionally R8″ and R9″ can be a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which may be optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy;

[0053] O(CH2)nCO2R8″ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, COR8″, or CO2R8″, where R8″ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms; and

[0054] R7 and R7′ represent hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, cyano or nitro, lower alkyl having 1-10 carbon atoms, C1-C10alkoxy (with the proviso that R6 R7, or R7′ may not be C1-C10 alkoxy when located ortho to Y in Formula Ib), halogen, aminomethyl, mono or dialkylaminomethyl where each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl, or C1-C6 alkoxyaminoalkyl where the amino is mono or disubstituted with straight or branched chain lower alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms.

[0055] Preferred compounds of Formula Ib include those compound in which R1, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R7′ are as defined for Formula Ib and R2 and R3 are defined as for Formula Ib with the restriction that R2 and R3 do not form a ring.

[0056] One preferred embodiment of the present invention encompasses compounds of Formula II and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; 5

[0057] wherein R1 and R4 are as defined above.

[0058] In a more preferred embodiment the invention encompasses compounds of Formula II and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein R4 is isoamyl or n-pentyl, and R1 is as defined above.

[0059] In another preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses compounds of Formula III, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; 6

[0060] wherein R1 and R4 are as defined above.

[0061] In a more preferred embodiment the invention encompasses compounds of Formula III and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein R4 is isoamyl or n-pentyl, and R1 is as defined above.

[0062] In certain situations, the compounds of Formula I may contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms, so that the compounds can exist in different stereoisomeric forms. These compounds can be, for example, racemates or optically active forms. In these situations, the single enantiomers, i.e., optically active forms, can be obtained by asymmetric synthesis or by resolution of the racemates. Resolution of the racemates can be accomplished, for example, by conventional methods such as crystallization in the presence of a resolving agent, or chromatography, using, for example a chiral HPLC column.

[0063] Representative compounds of the present invention, which are encompassed by Formula I, include, but are not limited to the compounds described in the Examples and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. In addition, if the compound of the invention is obtained as an acid addition salt, the free base can be obtained by basifying a solution of the acid salt. Conversely, if the product is a free base, an addition salt, particularly a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt, may be produced by dissolving the free base in a suitable organic solvent and treating the solution with an acid, in accordance with conventional procedures for preparing acid addition salts from base compounds.

[0064] Non-toxic pharmaceutical salts include salts of acids such as hydrochloric, phosphoric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfinic, formic, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, nitric, benzoic, citric, tartaric, maleic, hydroiodic, alkanoic such as acetic, HOOC—(CH2)n—COOH where n is 0-4, and the like. Those skilled in the art will recognize a wide variety of non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts.

[0065] The present invention also encompasses the acylated prodrugs of the compounds of Formula I. Those skilled in the art will recognize various synthetic methodologies which may be employed to prepare non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and acylated prodrugs of the compounds encompassed by Formula I.

[0066] When any variable occurs more than one time in any constituent or formula for a compound, its definition at each occurrence is independent of its definition at every other occurrence. Thus, for example, if a group is shown to be substituted with 0-2 R*, then said group may optionally be substituted with up to two R* groups and R* at each occurrence is selected independently from the definition of R*. Also, combinations of substituents and/or variables are permissible only if such combinations result in stable compounds.

[0067] The term “aryl” in the present invention means a monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic group having preferably 6 to 10 carbon atoms, such as, for example, phenyl or naphthyl.

[0068] By “arylalkyl” or “heteroarylalkyl” in the present invention is meant a branched or straight-chain alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and substituted on one of the carbon atoms by an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl ring, such as, for example, benzyl, phenethyl, methylpyridyl, ethylpyridyl, and the like.

[0069] By “alkyl” in the present invention is meant C1-C10 alkyl, i.e., straight or branched chain alkyl groups having 1-10 carbon atoms, preferably 1-6 carbon atoms (C1-C6 alkyl), such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, 2-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, 2-hexyl, 3-hexyl, and 3-methylpentyl. Preferred C1-C10 alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclopropyl or cyclopropylmethyl.

[0070] By “lower alkyl” in the present invention is meant C1-C6 alkyl, i.e., straight or branched chain alkyl groups having 1-6 carbon atoms.

[0071] By “alkoxy” or “lower alkoxy” in the present invention is meant C1-C6 alkoxy, i.e., straight or branched chain alkoxy groups having 1-6 carbon atoms, such as, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, pentoxy, 2-pentyl, isopentoxy, neopentoxy, hexoxy, 2-hexoxy, 3-hexoxy, and 3-methylpentoxy.

[0072] By “halogen” in the present invention is meant fluorine, bromine, chlorine, and iodine.

[0073] By “(hetero) cyclic ring” is meant a ring that is either aliphatic or aromatic and optionally contains at least one hetero atom. Hetero atoms include nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. Examples of such (hetero) cyclic rings are cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, etc.

[0074] By “heteroaryl” (aromatic heterocycle) in the present invention is meant one or more aromatic ring systems of 5-, 6-, or 7-membered rings containing at least one and up to four hetero atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Such heteroaryl groups include, for example, thienyl, furanyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, (is)oxazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, imidazolyl, (iso)quinolinyl, naphthyridinyl, benzimidazolyl, and benzoxazolyl.

[0075] Specific examples of heteroaryl groups are the following: 7

[0076] wherein:

[0077] L is nitrogen or —CR11;

[0078] T is —NR19, oxygen, or sulfur;

[0079] R11 and R11′ are the same or different and are selected from: hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, amino, or mono- or di(C1-C6)alkylamino;

[0080] R12, R12′, and R13 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, amino, mono- or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, hydroxy, or trifluoromethyl; and

[0081] R19 is hydrogen, or lower alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms.

[0082] The structure of Formula I as shown in the specification and as used in the claims includes all possible tautomers and rotamers.

[0083] The invention also provides pharmaceutical composition comprising compounds of the invention.

[0084] The invention also provides packaged pharmaceutical compositions comprising pharmaceutical compositions of the invention in a container and instructions for using the composition to treat a patient in need thereof. In one embodiment, the instructions are for using the composition for treating a patient suffering from a physiological disorder associated with an excess of or insufficient amount of bradykinin. The patient may be suffering, for example, from renal disease, heart failure, hypertension, Meniere's disease, vaginal inflammation and pain, peripheral circulatory disorders, climacteric disturbance, retinochoroidal circulatory disorders, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, postinyocardial infarction syndrome, angina pectoris, restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, ileus, diabetes, diabetic complications, male infertility or glaucoma, asthma, rhinitis, brain cancer, or a brain tumor.

[0085] The invention further provides methods of treating patients in suffering from an inflammatory disorder with an amount of a compound of the invention sufficient to alter the symptoms of the inflammatory disorder. Inflammatory disorders that may be treated with a selective antagonist of the BK-2 receptor include restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, rhinitis, inflammation associated with brain trauma, stroke, sepsis, anaphylaxis, Meniere's disease, pancreatitis, ileus, inflammatory bowel disease, and bronchopulmonary disorders including asthma. The invention also provides methods of treating patients suffering from pain with a pain-reducing amount of a compound of the invention. Painful conditions that may be treated with an antagonist of the BK-2 receptor, include, but are not limited to inflammatory pain, postoperative pain, and vaginal inflammation and pain. The invention further provides a method of treating patients suffering from hypertension with an amount of compound of the invention sufficient to reduce blood pressure. Selective antagonists of the BK-2 receptor are useful as anti-hypertensives.

[0086] In a further aspect the invention provide a method of treating a patient suffering from Type II (adult-onset) diabetes with an amount of a compound of the invention sufficient to alter the symptoms. Selective agonists of the BK-2 receptor are useful for treating type II diabetes. The invention also provides methods of treating patients suffering from circulatory or cardiovascular disorders with an amount of a compound of the invention, that is a selective agonist of the BK-2 receptor, sufficient to reduce the symptoms of the circulatory of cardiovascular disorder. Such circulatory or cardiovascular disorders include, but are not limited to heart failure, peripheral circulatory disorders, myocardial infarction, postmyocardial infarction syndrome, angina pectoris, retinochoroidal circulatory disorders, and myocardial ischemia. Selective agonists of the BK-2 stimulate NO release and as such are useful for treating climacteric disturbance and male infertility. The invention provides methods of treating patients suffering from such disorders with an amount of a compound of the invention sufficient to reduce the symptoms of disorder.

[0087] Bradykinin has been shown to increase the permeability of blood-brain barrier and blood-brain tumor barrier. The invention provides a method of increasing the brain concentration of a CNS active compounds which comprises administering a patient in need of such treatment a compound of the invention, that is a selective agonist of the BK-2 receptor, along with a CNS active compound, and thereby increasing the brain concentration of the CNS active compound. In a particularly preferred embodiment the invention provides a method of increasing the brain concentration of anti-cancer and anti-tumor agents which comprises administering a patient suffering from brain cancer or a brain tumor a compound of the invention, that is a selective agonist of the BK-2 receptor, along with a anti-cancer and anti-tumor agent, and thereby increasing the brain concentration of the anti-cancer or anti-tumor agent.

[0088] Patients include human and non-human animals, such as domestic pets and farm animals (for example, dogs, cats, swine, sheep, horses, cattle, etc.).

[0089] The present invention also pertains to methods of inhibiting the binding of bradykinin to the bradykinin receptors, especially BK-2 receptors which methods involve contacting a compound of the invention with cells expressing bradykinon receptors, (preferably BK-2 receptors) wherein the compound is present at a concentration sufficient to inhibit the binding of bradykinin to bradykinin receptors in vitro. This method includes inhibiting the binding of bradykinin to bradykinin receptors in vivo, e.g., in a patient given an amount of a compound of formula I or any of the subformulae thereof, that would be sufficient to inhibit the binding of bradykinon to BK-2 receptors in vitro. The amount of a compound that would be sufficient to inhibit the binding bradykinin to the BK-2 receptor may be readily determined via a BK-2 receptor binding assay, such as the assay described in Example 8. The BK-2 receptors used to determine in vitro binding may be obtained from a variety of sources, for example from preparations of rat brain or from cells expressing cloned human BK-2 receptors.

[0090] The present invention also pertains to methods for altering the signal-transducing activity of bradykinin receptors, said method comprising exposing cells expressing such receptors to an effective amount of a compound of the invention. This method includes altering the signal-transducing activity of BK-2 receptors in vivo, e.g., in a patient given an amount of a compound of formula I, or the subformulae thereof, that would be sufficient to alter the signal-transducing activity of BK-2 receptors in vitro. The amount of a compound that would be sufficient to alter the signal-transducing activity of bradykinin receptors may be determined via a bradykinin receptor signal transduction assay, such as the assay described in Example 9.

[0091] The bradykinin receptor ligands (i.e. the compounds of the invention) provided by this invention and labeled derivatives thereof are also useful as standards and reagents in determining the ability of a potential pharmaceutical to bind to the BK-2 receptor.

[0092] Isotopically-labeled compounds of this invention, which are identical to those recited in formula I, or the subformulae thereof, but for the fact that one or more atoms are replaced by an atom having an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number usually found in nature, are also useful for mapping the location of bradykinin receptors (e.g., in tissue sections via autoradiography) and as radiotracers for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), and the like, to characterize such receptors in living subjects. Examples of isotopes that can be incorporated into compounds of the invention include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, fluorine and chlorine, such as 2H, 3H, 11C, 13C, 14C, 15N, 18O, 17O, 31P, 32P, 35S, 18F, and 36Cl, respectively. Compounds of the present invention, prodrugs thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of said compounds or of said prodrugs which contain the aforementioned isotopes and/or other isotopes of other atoms are within the scope of this invention. In addition, substitution with heavy isotopes such as deuterium, i.e., 2H, can afford certain therapeutic advantages resulting from greater metabolic stability, for example increased in vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements and, hence, may be preferred in some circumstances. Isotopically labeled compounds of formula Ia, or the subformulae thereof, of this invention and prodrugs thereof can generally be prepared by carrying out the procedures disclosed in the Schemes and/or in the examples below, by substituting a readily available isotopically labeled reagent for a non-isotopically labeled reagent.

[0093] Pharmaceutical Preparations

[0094] The compounds of general Formula I may be administered orally, topically, parenterally, by inhalation or spray or rectally in dosage unit formulations containing conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants and vehicles. The term parenteral as used herein includes percutaneous, subcutaneous, intravascular (e.g., intravenous), intramuscular, or intrathecal injection or infusion techniques and the like. In addition, there is provided a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compound of general Formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. One or more compounds of general Formula I may be present in association with one or more non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents and/or adjuvants and if desired other active ingredients. The pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of general Formula I may be in a form suitable for oral use, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsion, hard or soft capsules, or syrups or elixirs.

[0095] Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preservative agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients that are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be for example, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, corn starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques. In some cases such coatings may be prepared by known techniques so as to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monosterate or glyceryl distearate may be employed.

[0096] Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin or olive oil.

[0097] Aqueous suspensions contain the active materials in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Such excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydropropylmethylcellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example, lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethyleneoxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose or saccharin.

[0098] Oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredients in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oily suspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents and flavoring agents may be added to provide palatable oral preparations. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid.

[0099] Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and one or more preservatives. Suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above. Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloring agents, may also be present.

[0100] Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil or a mineral oil or mixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents may be naturally-occurring gums, for example gum acacia or gum tragacanth, naturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean, lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol, anhydrides, for example sorbitan monoleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoleate. The emulsions may also contain sweetening and flavoring agents.

[0101] Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, glucose or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative and flavoring and coloring agents. The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspension. This suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents that have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation may also be sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parentally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono-or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.

[0102] The compounds of general Formula I may also be administered in the form of suppositories, e.g., for rectal administration of the drug. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient that is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials are cocoa butter and polyethylene glycols.

[0103] Compounds of general Formula I may be administered parenterally in a sterile medium. The drug, depending on the vehicle and concentration used, can either be suspended or dissolved in the vehicle. Advantageously, adjuvants such as local anesthetics, preservatives and buffering agents can be dissolved in the vehicle.

[0104] Dosage levels of the order of from about 0.1 mg to about 140 mg per kilogram of body weight per day are useful in the treatment of the above-indicated conditions (about 0.5 mg to about 7 g per patient per day). The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated and the particular mode of administration. Dosage unit forms will generally contain between from about 1 mg to about 500 mg of an active ingredient.

[0105] It will be understood, however, that the specific dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion, drug combination and the severity of the particular disease undergoing therapy.

[0106] Preferred compounds of the invention will have certain pharmacological properties. Such properties include, but are not limited to oral bioavailability, low toxicity, low serum protein binding and desirable in vitro and in vivo half-lives. Penetration of the blood brain barrier for compounds used to treat CNS disorders is necessary, while low brain levels of compounds used to treat peripheral disorders are often preferred.

[0107] Assays may be used to predict these desirable pharmacological properties. Assays used to predict bioavailability include transport across human intestinal cell monolayers, including Caco-2 cell monolayers. Toxicity to cultured hepatocytes may be used to predict compound toxicity. Penetration of the blood brain barrier of a compound in humans may be predicted from the brain levels of the compound in laboratory animals given the compound intravenously.

[0108] Serum protein binding may be predicted from albumin binding assays. Such assays are described in a review by Oravcová, et al. (Journal of Chromatography B 1996, 677, 1-27).

[0109] Compound half-life is inversely proportional to the frequency of dosage of a compound. In vitro half-lives of compounds may be predicted from assays of microsomal half-life as described by Kuhnz and Gieschen (Drug Metabolism and Disposition 1998, 26, 1120-1127).

[0110] As discussed above, preferred compounds of the invention exhibit good activity in in vitro Bradykinin receptor binding assays, especially BK-2 receptor binding assays, and specifically the assay as specified in Example 8, which follows. References herein to “in vitro BK-2 receptor binding assay” are intended to refer to that protocol as defined in Example 8 which follows.

[0111] For administration to non-human animals, the composition may also be added to the animal feed or drinking water. It will be convenient to formulate these animal feed and drinking water compositions so that the animal takes in an appropriate quantity of the composition along with its diet. It will also be convenient to present the composition as a premix for addition to the feed or drinking water.

EXAMPLES

[0112] Compounds of the invention can be prepared using the reactions depicted in Schemes 1 to 3. 8

[0113] In Scheme 1, L represents an appropriate leaving group such as chloride, bromide, iodide or mesylate. The groups R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R7′ and Y are as defined as Formula I.

[0114] Alternatively, appropriately protected forms of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R7′ may be employed. In such cases, an additional deprotection step is employed to obtain the final product. Suitable protecting groups and conditions are readily available (e.g. “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” by T. W. Greene). Suitable conditions for carrying out the transformations in Scheme 1 are exemplified but not limited to those given in Example 1. Those skilled in the art will realize that alternate synthetic methods may be employed to accomplish the reactions in Scheme 1. 9

[0115] In Scheme 2, L represents an appropriate leaving group such as chloride, bromide, iodide or mesylate. The groups R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R7′ and Y are as defined as Formula I.

[0116] Alternatively, appropriately protected forms of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R7′ may be employed. In such cases, an additional deprotection step is employed to obtain the final product. Suitable protecting groups and conditions are readily available (e.g. “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” by T. W. Greene). Suitable conditions for carrying out the transformations in Scheme 2 are exemplified but not limited to those given in Example 2. Those skilled in the art will realize that alternate synthetic methods may be employed to accomplish the reactions in Scheme 2. 10

[0117] In Scheme 3, Z represents hydrogen, bromine, chorine or other substituents consistent with the definition of R1 in Formula I. The groups R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R7′ and Y are as defined as Formula I. Alternatively, appropriately protected forms of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R7′ may be employed. In such cases, an additional deprotection step is employed to obtain the final product. Suitable protecting groups and conditions are readily available (e.g.

[0118] “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” by T. W. Greene). The compound R1L is an electrophile chosen so as to produce substitution in compound 11 that is consistent with Formula I. In some cases R1 in 11 may be further modified by a chemical transformation. Examples include but are not limited to hydrolysis of ester or cyano groups in R1. Suitable conditions for carrying out the transformations in Scheme 3 are exemplified in Example 3. Those skilled in the art will realize that alternate synthetic methods may be employed to accomplish the reactions in Scheme 3.

[0119] Those having skill in the art will recognize that the starting materials may be varied and additional steps employed to produce compounds encompassed by the present invention, as demonstrated by the following examples.

[0120] The following examples illustrate the general procedures for the preparation of compounds of the invention using the reactions outlined above in Schemes 1-3. These examples are not to be construed as limiting the invention in scope or spirit to the specific procedures and compounds described in them.

[0121] To a solution of 7 ml (60 mmol) of isoamylamine in 3 ml of acetonitrile is added slowly a solution of 1-(2′-chlorobenzyl)-4,5-dimethyl-2-chloromethylimidazole in 10 ml of acetonitrile followed by added 1.5 g (10.8 mmol) of potassium carbonate powder. The reaction mixture is stirred overnight at room temperature under nitrogen and excess isoamylamine is evaporated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in 50 ml of ethyl acetate and 25 ml of water. The ethyl acetate layer is separated, washed with brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The crude product is purified by preparative TLC [silica gel, chloroform-methanol-ammonium hydroxide (90:10:1)] to give 1.39 g (46%) of N-[(4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-(3-methylbutyl)amine as a yellow oil. MS m/z (M++1) 320; 1H-NMR 400 MHz (&dgr;, CDCl3): 0.81 (6H, d, J=6.4 Hz), 1.25 (2H, m), 1.51 (1H, m), 1.96 (3H, s), 2.17 (3H, s), 2.56 (2H, m), 3.68 (2H, s), 5.21 (2H, s), 6.39 (1H, d, J=7.6 Hz), 7.13 (1H, m), 7.19 (1H, m), 7.37 (1H, m) ppm.

[0122] To a solution of 210 mg (0.66 mmol) of N-[(4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-(3-methylbutyl)amine in 5 ml of chloroform (stabilized with amylenes) is added 170 mg (0.84 mmol) of 2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxybenzoyl chloride and 1 ml of triethylamine. The reaction mixture is stirred at RT under nitrogen overnight and evaporated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in 20 ml of ethyl acetate and 10 ml of water. The ethyl acetate layer is separated, washed with brine (5 ml×2), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent is evaporated in vacuo. The crude product is purified by preparative TLC [silica gel, chloroform-methanol-ammonia hydroxide (95:4.5:0.5)] to give the title compound as a colorless oil. MS m/z (M++1) 518; 1H-NMR 400 MHz (&dgr;, CDCl3): 0.61 and 0.88 (6H, d, J=6 Hz, the ratio of two peaks is 4/1), 1.26 (2H, m), 1.36 (1H, m), 1.89 and 1.94 (3H, s, the ratio of two peaks is 1/4), 2.14 and 2.17 (3H, s, the ratio of two peaks is 1/4), 3.04 (2H, br), 3.74 and 3.80 (3H, s, the ratio of two peaks is 1/4), 3.78 and 3.82 (3H, s, the ratio of two peaks is 1/4), 4.72, 4.84, 5.17, 5.47 (4H, 4br), 6.30 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 6.67 (11H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 7.15 (11H, td, J=7.2, 1.2 Hz), 7.21 (11H. td, J=7.2, 1.2 Hz), 7.38 (11H, dd, J=7.2, 1.2 Hz) ppm.

Example 1

General Procedure for the Preparation of Substituted Imidazoles as Outlined in Scheme 1

Preparation of (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-({1-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl}methyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide

[0123] 11

[0124] To a solution of 4.89 g (0.027 mol) of 4,5-dimethylimidazole hydrobromide and 5.7 g (0.028 mol) of 2-chlorobenzyl bromide in 20 ml of DMF is added 6 ml of 50% potassium hydroxide aqueous solution dropwise. Then the reaction mixture is stirred at RT under nitrogen overnight. The reaction mixture is poured into ether (100 ml)/water (50 ml). The ether layer is separated, washed with water (10 ml×2), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The raw material is subjected to chromatography on silica gel using dichloromethane-methanol (10:1) as eluent to give 2.67 g (44%) of 1-(2′-chlorobenzyl)-4,5-dimethylimidazole as a pale yellow oil. MS m/z (M++1) 221; 1H-NMR 400 MHz (&dgr;, CDCl3): 2.00 (3H, s), 2.20 (3H, s), 5.07 (2H, s), 6.59 (1H, dd, J=9.2, 2 Hz), 7.17 (1H, td, J=8, 1.2 Hz), 7.23 (1H, td, J=8, 1.6 Hz), 7.38 (2H, dd, J=7.2, 1.6 Hz) ppm.

[0125] To a solution of 10 ml of glacial acetic acid and 10 ml of 37% formaldehyde is added 2.67 g (0.012 mol) of 1-(2′-chlorobenzyl)-4,5-dimethylimidazole. The mixture is stirred and heated in a sealed tube at 125-130° C. (oil bath temperature) overnight. After cooling, the solvent is evaporated in vacuo. The residue is subjected to chromatography on silica gel using dichloromethane-methanol (10:1) as eluent to give 2.39 g (79%) of 1-(2′-chlorobenzyl)-4,5-dimethyl-2-hydroxymethylimidazole as colorless powder. MS m/z (M++1) 251; 1H-NMR 400 MHz (&dgr;, CDCl3): 1.94 (3H, s), 2.11 (3H, s), 4.53 (2H, s), 5.26 (2H, s), 6.42 (1H, dd, J=8, 1.2 Hz),7.14(1H,td,J=8, 1.2 Hz),7.21 (1H,td,J=7.4, 1.61 Hz),7.39(1H,dd,J=8, 1.21 Hz)ppm.

[0126] To 3 ml of thionyl chloride is added 2.39 g (9.5 mmol) of 1-(2′-chlorobenzyl)-4,5-dimethyl-2-hydroxymethyl-imidazole. The mixture is heated at 50° C. for about 5 min., and the thionyl chloride is evaporated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in 10 ml of dichloromethane, then evaporated in vacuo. This is repeated twice to give 1-(2′-chlorobenzyl)-4,5-dimethyl-2-chloromethylimidazole as a cream colored foam which is used in next step without further purification.

Example 2

General Procedure for the Preparation of Substituted Imidazoles as Outlined in Scheme 2

[0127] Preparation of (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-({1-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl}methyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide 12

[0128] A mixture of 3.35 g (27 mmol) of 4,5-dimethyl-2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde, 9.0 mL (77 mmol) of isoamylamine, 200 mL of ethanol, and 0.20 g of platinum dioxide is hydrogenated under 50 psi of pressure at 22° C. for 24 h. The solution is filtered, and the volatiles are evaporated under reduced pressure to give 5.17 g (98%) of N-[(4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-(3-methylbutyl)amine. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 196.

[0129] A mixture of 4.50 g (20 mmol) of 2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid, 5 mL of chloroform, 0.2 mL of pyridine, and 5.8 mL (80 mmol) of thionyl chloride is stirred at 40° C. for 1 h. The volatiles are thoroughly evaporated. A solution of the residue in 10 mL of chloroform is added dropwise to a solution of 2.73 g (14 mmol) of N-[(4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-3-methylbutylamine in 20 mL of anhydrous pyridine stirred under nitrogen at −20° C. The obtained mixture is allowed to warm up slowly, and it is stirred then at 20° C. for 20 h.

[0130] The reaction mixture is poured into 50 mL of water and extracted with 50 mL of chloroform. The extract is washed with 50 mL of 5% NaCO3, and the solvent is evaporated. The residue is dissolved in 20 mL of ethanol, treated with 2 mL of 10 N NaOH, and stirred at 60° C. for 1 h. The mixture is poured into 50 mL of 5% NaCO3 and extracted with 50 mL of chloroform. The solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product is purified by column chromatography on 100 g of silica gel using chloroform-methanol-28% ammonium hydroxide (95:4.5:0.5, v/v/v) as an eluent to give 2.42 g (44%) of (2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 394.

[0131] A mixture of 0.74 g (1.9 mmol) of (2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3,4-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide, 0.94 g (6.0 mmol) of 2-methoxybenzyl chloride, 10 mL of dimethylformamide and 0.63 mL (8.0 mmol) of 50% KOH is stirred vigorously under nitrogen at 40° C. for 20 h. The reaction mixture is poured into 100 mL of water and extracted with 50 mL of chloroform. The extract is washed with 100 mL of water, and the solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue is diluted with 50 mL of xylenes, and the volatiles are thoroughly evaporated under reduced pressure. Column chromatography of the residue on 30 g of silica gel using chloroform-diethyl ether (98:2, v/v) as an eluent afforded 646 mg (67%) of the title compound as a cream colored foam. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 514.

Example 3

General Procedure for the Preparation of Substituted Imidazoles as Outlined in Scheme 3

Preparation of (2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide

[0132] 13

[0133] A mixture of 1.89 g (4.8 mmol) of (2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3,4-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide, 0.74 g (6.0 mmol) of 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 50 mL of toluene, 0.10 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate, and 15 g of molecular sieves 5A is gently stirred and heated under nitrogen at 100° C. for 24 h. Another portion of 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (0.37 g, 3.0 mmol) is added, and heating at 100° C. is continued for additional 24 h. The molecular sieves are filtered off and washed with 20 mL of ethyl acetate-methanol (4:1). The filtrate and washings are combined, and the solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude material is purified by column chromatography on 75 g of silica gel using chloroform-methanol-acetic acid (96:3:1) as an eluent to give 1.74 g (72%) of the title compound. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 500.

Preparation of Ethyl {2-[(2-{[(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carbonylamino]methyl}-4,5-dimethylimidazol-1-yl)methyl]phenoxy}acetate

[0134] 14

[0135] A mixture of 0.55 g (1.1 mmol) of (2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)-methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide, 0.24 mL (2.2 mmol) of ethyl bromoacetate, 0.69 g (5.0 mmol) of K2CO3, and 5 mL of anhydrous dimethylformamide is stirred under nitrogen at 22° C. for 20 h. The reaction mixture is poured onto 50 g of crushed ice, acidified to pH 6 with 1M HCl, and extracted with hexanes—ethyl acetate (25 mL of each). The extract is washed with water (2×50 mL), dried over MgSO4, and the solvents are evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue is purified by column chromatography on 30 g of silica gel using ethyl acetate as an eluent to give 0.51 g (79%) of the title compound. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 586.

Preparation of {2-[(2-{[(2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carbonylamino]methyl}-4,5-dimethylimidazol-1-yl)methyl]phenoxy}acetic Acid

[0136] 15

[0137] A solution of 58 mg of {2-[(2-{[(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carbonylamino]methyl}-4,5-dimethylimidazol-1-yl)methyl]phenoxy}acetate in 2 mL of 5N HCl is heated under reflux for 15 min. The volatiles are evaporated under reduced pressure, and the residue is dried in a vacuum oven at 90° C. to give 59 mg of the title compound as the hydrochloride salt. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 558.

Example 4

[0138] Alternate Alkylation Conditions for Substituted Imidazoles Prepared in Scheme 2

Preparation of (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(2-cyanophenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide

[0139] 16

[0140] A mixture of 197 mg (0.50 mmol) of (2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3,4-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide, 147 mg (0.75 mmol) of &agr;-bromo-o-tolunitrile, 3 mL of DMF, and 415 mg (3 mmol) of K2CO3 is stirred under nitrogen at 22° C. for 24 h. The reaction mixture is poured into 30 mL of water and extracted with 30 mL of diethyl ether. The extract is washed with water (2×20 mL), and the solvent is evaporated. The residue is dissolved in 20 mL of xylenes, and the volatiles are thoroughly evaporated in vacuo. The crude product is purified by column chromatography on 24 g of silica gel using chloroform-diethyl ether (85:15) as an eluent to give 181 mg (71% yield) of the title compound. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 509.

Example 5

Preparation of 2-{2-{[(2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carbonylamino}methyl]-4,5-dimethylimidazol-1-yl)methyl}benzoic Acid

[0141] 17

[0142] A mixture of 140 mg (0.27 mmol) of (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(2-cyanophenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide, 2.0 mL of ethanol and 1.0 mL of 50% KOH is stirred under nitrogen at 80° C. for 18 h. The reaction mixture is poured into 30 g of ice-water, acidified to pH 5 with 1 M HCl, and extracted with 20 mL of ethyl acetate. The extract is washed with 10 mL of water, and the solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue is triturated with 2 mL of acetone, and the crystals are separated by decantation to give 112 mg (78%) of the title compound. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 528.

Example 6

Preparation of (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(2-[cyanomethoxy]phenyl)methyl]imidazol-2yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide

[0143] 18

[0144] A mixture of 250 mg (0.50 mmol) of (2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3,4-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide, 52 &mgr;L of chloroacetonitrile (0.75 mmol), 276 mg (2.0 mmol) of K2CO3, and 3 mL of anhydrous DMF is stirred under nitrogen at 22° C. for 24 h and poured into 10% NaCl. The mixture is extracted with 20 mL of ethyl acetate. The extract is concentrated under reduced pressure, diluted with 20 mL of xylenes, and the volatiles are thoroughly evaporated. The crude product is purified by chromatography on 30 g of silica gel using chloroform-methanol-28% ammonium hydroxide (98:1.8:0.2, v/v/v) for elution to afford 113 mg (42% yield) of the title compound. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 539.

[0145] Using the above procedures, the following compounds were prepared according to Schemes 1, 2 and 3:

[0146] (a) (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{[1-benzyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl]methyl}-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 484. 19

[0147] (b) (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-N-({4,5-dimethyl-1-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl]}imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 498. 20

[0148] (c) (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-N-[(4,5-dimethyl-1-{[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl}imidazol-2-yl)methyl]-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 552. 21

[0149] (d) N-{[4,5-Dichloro-1-benzylimidazol-2-yl]methyl}(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 524. 22

[0150] (e) N-({4,5-Dichloro-1-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl)(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 560. 23

[0151] (f) N-({4,5-Dichloro-1-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl)(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 540. 24

[0152] (g) (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-diethyl-1-[(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 513. 25

[0153] (h) 2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(quinolin-2-yl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 535. 26

[0154] (i) (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{4,5-diethyl-1-[(5-ethyl-2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z(M++1)570. 27

[0155] (j) (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 579. 28

[0156] (k) (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 534. 29

[0157] (l) (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-({3-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl](3,4,5,6,7-pentahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)}methyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide. Mass Spec m/z (M++1) 544. 30

Example 7

[0158] Additional Compounds of the Invention

[0159] Additional Compounds of the invention which may be prepared by the methods outlined in Reaction Schemes 1, 2, and 3 are shown in Table I. 1 31 Ex # R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 1 32 33 34 35 36 2 37 38 39 40 41 3 42 43 44 45 46 4 47 48 49 50 51 5 52 53 54 55 6 56 57 58 59 7 60 61 62 63 8 64 65 66 67 9 68 69 70 71 10 72 73 74 75 11 76 77 78 79 12 80 81 82 83 13 84 85 86 14 87 88 89 15 90 91 92 16 93 94 95 17 96 97 98 18 99 100 101 19 102 103 104 20 105 106 107 21 108 109 110 111 22 112 113 114 115 23 116 117 118 119 24 120 121 122 123 25 124 125 126 127 26 128 129 130 131 27 132 133 134 135 28 136 137 138 139 29 140 141 142 143 144 30 145 146 147 148 149 31 150 151 152 153 154 32 155 156 157 158 159 33 160 161 162 163 34 164 165 166 167 35 168 169 170 171 36 172 173 174 175 37 176 177 178 179 38 180 181 182 183 39 184 185 186 187 40 188 189 190 191 41 192 193 194 195 42 196 197 198 199 43 200 201 202 203 44 204 205 206 207 45 208 209 210 211 212 46 213 214 215 216 217 47 218 219 220 221 222 48 223 224 225 226 227 49 228 229 230 50 231 232 233 51 234 235 236 52 237 238 239 53 240 241 54 242 243 55 244 245 56 246 247 57 248 249 250 58 251 252 253 59 254 255 256 60 257 258 259 61 260 261 262 62 263 264 265 63 266 267 268 64 269 270 271 65 272 273 274 66 275 276 277 67 278 279 280 68 281 282 283 69 284 285 286 70 287 288 289 71 290 291 292 72 293 294 295 73 296 297 298 74 299 300 301 75 302 303 304 76 305 306 307 77 308 309 310 78 311 312 313 79 314 315 316 80 317 318 319 81 320 321 322 82 323 324 325 83 326 327 328 84 329 330 331 85 332 333 334 335 86 336 337 338 339 87 340 341 342 343 88 344 345 346 347 89 348 349 350 351 90 352 353 354 355 91 356 357 358 359 92 360 361 362 363 93 364 365 366 367 94 368 369 370 371 95 372 373 374 375 96 376 377 378 379 97 380 381 382 383 98 384 385 386 387 99 388 389 390 391 100 392 393 394 395 101 396 397 398 399 102 400 401 402 403 103 404 405 406 407 104 408 409 410 411 105 412 413 414 106 415 416 417 107 418 419 420 108 421 422 423 109 424 425 426 110 427 428 429 111 430 431 432 112 433 434 435 113 436 437 438 114 439 440 441 115 442 443 444 116 445 446 447 117 448 449 450 451 118 452 453 454 455 119 456 457 458 459 120 460 461 462 463 121 464 465 466 467 122 468 469 470 471 123 472 473 474 475 124 476 477 478 479 125 480 481 482 483 126 484 485 486 487 127 488 489 490 491 128 492 493 494 495 129 496 497 498 499 130 500 501 502 503 131 504 505 506 507 132 508 509 510 511 133 512 513 514 134 515 516 517 135 518 519 520 136 521 522 523 137 524 525 526 138 527 528 529 139 530 531 532 140 533 534 535 141 536 537 538 142 539 540 541 143 542 543 544 144 545 546 547 145 548 549 550 551 146 552 553 554 555 147 556 557 558 559 148 560 561 562 563 149 564 565 566 567 150 568 569 570 571 151 572 573 574 575 152 576 577 578 579 153 580 581 582 583 154 584 585 586 587 155 588 589 590 591 156 592 593 594 595 157 596 597 598 599 158 600 601 602 603 159 604 605 606 607 160 608 609 610 611 161 612 613 614 162 615 616 617 163 618 619 620 164 621 622 623 165 624 625 626 166 627 628 629 167 630 631 632 168 633 634 635 169 636 637 638 170 639 640 641 171 642 643 644 172 645 646 647 173 648 649 650 174 651 652 653 175 654 655 656 176 657 658 659 177 660 661 662 178 663 664 665 179 666 667 668 180 669 670 671 181 672 673 674 182 675 676 677 183 678 679 680 184 681 682 683 185 684 685 686 186 687 688 689 187 690 691 692 188 693 694 695 189 696 697 698 699 190 700 701 702 703 191 704 705 706 707 192 708 709 710 711 193 712 713 714 715 194 716 717 718 719 195 720 721 722 723 196 724 725 726 727 197 728 729 730 731 198 732 733 734 735 199 736 737 738 739 200 740 741 742 743 201 744 745 746 747 748 202 749 750 751 752 753 203 754 755 756 757 758 204 759 760 761 762 763 205 764 765 766 206 767 768 769 207 770 771 772 208 773 774 775 209 776 777 778 210 779 780 781 211 782 783 784 212 785 786 787 213 788 789 790 214 791 792 793 215 794 795 796 216 797 798 799 217 800 801 802 218 803 804 805 219 806 807 808 220 809 810 811 221 812 813 814 222 815 816 817 223 818 819 820 224 821 822 823 225 824 825 826 827 226 828 829 830 831 227 832 833 834 835 228 836 837 838 839 229 840 841 842 843 230 844 845 846 847 231 848 849 850 851 232 852 853 854 855 233 856 857 858 859 234 860 861 862 863 235 864 865 866 867 236 868 869 870 871 237 872 873 874 875 238 876 877 878 879 239 880 881 882 883 240 884 885 886 887 241 888 889 890 891 242 892 893 894 895 243 896 897 898 899 244 900 901 902 903 245 904 905 906 907 246 908 909 910 911 247 912 913 914 915 248 916 917 918 919 249 920 921 922 923 250 924 925 926 927 251 928 929 930 931 252 932 933 934 935 253 936 937 938 939 254 940 941 942 943 255 944 945 946 947 256 948 949 950 951 257 952 953 954 258 955 956 957 259 958 959 960 260 961 962 963 261 964 965 966 262 967 968 969 263 970 971 972 264 973 974 975 265 976 977 978 266 979 980 981 267 982 983 984 268 985 986 987 269 988 989 990 991 270 992 993 994 995 271 996 997 998 999 272 1000 1001 1002 1003 273 1004 1005 1006 1007 274 1008 1009 1010 1011 275 1012 1013 1014 1015 276 1016 1017 1018 1019 277 1020 1021 1022 1023 278 1024 1025 1026 1027 279 1028 1029 1030 1031 280 1032 1033 1034 1035 281 1036 1037 1038 1039 282 1040 1041 1042 1043 283 1044 1045 1046 1047 284 1048 1049 1050 1051 285 1052 1053 1054 1055 286 1056 1057 1058 1059 287 1060 1061 1062 1063 288 1064 1065 1066 1067 289 1068 1069 1070 290 1071 1072 1073 291 1074 1075 1076 292 1077 1078 1079 293 1080 1081 1082 294 1083 1084 1085 295 1086 1087 1088 296 1089 1090 1091 297 1092 1093 1094 298 1095 1096 1097 299 1098 1099 1100 300 1101 1102 1103 301 1104 1105 1106 302 1107 1108 1109 303 1110 1111 1112 304 1113 1114 1115 305 1116 1117 1118 306 1119 1120 1121 307 1122 1123 1124 308 1125 1126 1127 309 1128 1129 1130 310 1131 1132 1133 311 1134 1135 1136 312 1137 1138 1139 313 1140 1141 1142 314 1143 1144 1145 315 1146 1147 1148 316 1149 1150 1151 317 1152 1153 1154 318 1155 1156 1157 319 1158 1159 1160 320 1161 1162 1163 321 1164 1165 1166 322 1167 1168 1169 323 1170 1171 1172 324 1173 1174 1175 325 1176 1177 1178 326 1179 1180 1181 327 1182 1183 1184 328 1185 1186 1187 329 1188 1189 1190 1191 330 1192 1193 1194 1195 331 1196 1197 1198 1199 332 1200 1201 1202 1203 333 1204 1205 1206 1207 334 1208 1209 1210 1211 335 1212 1213 1214 1215 336 1216 1217 1218 1219 337 1220 1221 1222 1223 1224 338 1225 1226 1227 1228 1229 339 1230 1231 1232 1233 1234 340 1235 1236 1237 1238 1239 341 1240 1241 1242 1243 1244 342 1245 1246 1247 1248 1249 343 1250 1251 1252 1253 1254 344 1255 1256 1257 1258 1259 345 1260 1261 1262 346 1263 1264 1265 347 1266 1267 1268 348 1269 1270 1271 349 1272 1273 1274 350 1275 1276 1277 351 1278 1279 1280 352 1281 1282 1283 353 1284 1285 1286 354 1287 1288 1289 355 1290 1291 1292 356 1293 1294 1295 357 1296 1297 1298 358 1299 1300 1301 359 1302 1303 1304 360 1305 1306 1307 361 1308 1309 1310 1311 362 1312 1313 1314 1315 363 1316 1317 1318 1319 364 1320 1321 1322 1323 365 1324 1325 1326 1327 366 1328 1329 1330 1331 367 1332 1333 1334 1335 368 1336 1337 1338 1339 369 1340 1341 1342 370 1343 1344 1345 371 1346 1347 1348 372 1349 1350 1351 373 1352 1353 1354 374 1355 1356 1357 375 1358 1359 1360 376 1361 1362 1363 377 1364 1365 1366 378 1367 1368 1369 379 1370 1371 1372 380 1373 1374 1375 381 1376 1377 1378 382 1379 1380 1381 383 1382 1383 1384 384 1385 1386 1387 385 1388 1389 1390 386 1391 1392 1393 387 1394 1395 1396 388 1397 1398 1399 389 1400 1401 1402 390 1403 1404 1405 391 1406 1407 1408 392 1409 1410 1411 393 1412 1413 1414 394 1415 1416 1417 395 1418 1419 1420 396 1421 1422 1423 397 1424 1425 1426 398 1427 1428 1429 399 1430 1431 1432 400 1433 1434 1435 401 1436 1437 1438 402 1439 1440 1441 403 1442 1443 1444 404 1445 1446 1447

Example 8

[0160] Ligand Binding Assay on S/9 Cell Membranes Expressing the BK-2 Receptor

[0161] This assay is used to determine the high affinity of compounds of this invention for the BK-2 (bradykinin B2) receptor.

[0162] Binding Buffer: 50 mM Tris 7.0 (cold), 0.14 grams per liter bacitracin (approx. 50,000 units of activity/liter, lot# 103746 from Amersham), and 10−6 M captopril. Captopril is purchased from Sigma C-4042, 2.17 mg in 10 ml of milli-Q water produces a 10−3 M stock. Stock can be stored for 3 weeks in the refrigerator. 1.0 ml of stock per liter buffer=10−6 M final concentration.

[0163] Ligand Preparation: 0.25 nM 3H-Bradykinin is used. 10 &mgr;l of stock+100 ml of binding buffer gives approximately 600 cpm/5 &mgr;l aliquot.

[0164] Non-Specific Preparation: NS binding is defined by unlabeled bradykinin at 1 &mgr;M final concentration. Aliquots are stored at −20° C. in 0.5% BSA at a concentration of 10−3 M. Aliquots are then diluted 1:100 for an intermediate concentration of 10−5 M.

[0165] Baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells expressing recombinant human bradykinin B2 receptors are harvested 48 hours post infection via centrifugation at 3000× g. Cells are washed with ice-cold PBS and stored at −70° C. until needed. Frozen cell pellets are resuspended in ice cold Washing Buffer (50 mM Tris pH 7.0) and homogenized via POLYTRON for 30 seconds at setting 5. Membranes are centrifuged at 40,000× g for 10 min. Pellets are resuspended in Washing Buffer with the aid of a polytron and centrifuged again. Membranes are resuspended in binding buffer at a concentration of 133 &mgr;g/ml. This corresponds to 20 &mgr;g of protein per 150 &mgr;l.

[0166] When measuring non-specific binding, incubations contain 150 &mgr;l of Sf9 cell membranes prepared as described above, 50 &mgr;l 3H—Bradykinin (0.25 nM), 25 &mgr;l unlabeled bradykinin at 1 &mgr;M final concentration and 2 &mgr;l DMSO. Incubations for determining test compound binding contain 175 &mgr;l of Sf9 cell membranes, 50 &mgr;l 3H-Bradykinin (0.25 nM), and test compound in 2 &mgr;l DMSO. The concentration of the test compound is generally 1 &mgr;M for displacement studies. The binding reaction components are incubated for 2 hrs at 4° C. in Falcon U bottom plates. Plates are harvested on the microbeta harvester onto 0.5% PEI pretreated unifilters. After harvesting, the filters are dried overnight. 17 &mgr;l of beta-scint is added to each well before the unifilters are counted in the microbeta counters. Data are collected in duplicate determinations, averaged and % inhibition of total specific binding is calculated. Total Specific Binding=Total-Nonspecific. In some cases, the amounts of unlabeled drug is varied and total displacement curves of binding are carried out. Data are converted to a form for the calculation of IC50 and Hill Coefficient (nH). Ki's are subsequently determined by the Cheng-Prusoff equation (Cheng, Y. C.; Prusoff, W. C. Biochem. Pharmacol. 1972, 22, 3099-3108). In the described assay, preferred compounds of the invention have Ki's of less than 1 &mgr;M, more preferred compounds of the invention exhibit Ki values of less than 500 nM and even more preferred compounds of the invention exhibit Ki values of less than 100 nM.

Example 9

BK-2 Receptor Mediated Calcium Mobilization

[0167] The agonist and antagonist properties of the compounds of the invention can be evaluated by the following assay.

[0168] CHO cells stably expressing the BK-2 receptor are grown in Ham's F-12 media supplemented with 250 &mgr;g/ml G418, 1 &mgr;g/ml tetracycline, 7 &mgr;g/ml puromycin, 10% fetal bovine serum and 25 mM Hepes, pH=7.4. Forty eight hours prior to assay, the cell growth media is replaced with another medium that does not contain the tetracycline. Twenty four hours prior to experiment sodium butyrate is added to a final concentration of 10 mM. On the day of assay, cells, grown to 70-90% confluency in 96-well plates, are washed with Krebs-Ringer buffer (25 mM HEPES, 5 mM KCl, 0.96 mM NaH2PO4, 1 mM MgSO4, 2 mM CaCl2, 5 mM glucose, and 1 mM probenecid, pH 7.4) and are then incubated for 1-2 hours in the above buffer supplemented with Fluo3-AM (2.5 ñ 10 (g/ml; Teflabs) at 37° C. in an environment containing 5% CO2. The wells are then washed twice with Krebs-Ringers buffer. Agonist-induced (bradykinin) calcium mobilization is monitored using either Fluoroskan Ascent (Labsystems) or FLIPR (Molecular Devices) instruments. The agonists, either bradykinin or drug candidates, are added to the cells and fluorescence responses are continuously recorded for up to 5 min. For the examination of antagonist drug candidates, compounds, at a concentration of 1 &mgr;M in DMSO, are preincubated with the cells for up to 30 minutes prior to administration of the bradykinin agonist. Bradykinin agonist is generally applied at a concentration sufficient to induce 50% maximal activity. Responses are recorded for up to 5 min. Kaleidagraph software (Synergy Software, Reading, Pa.) is utilized to fit the data to the equation y=a*(1/(1+(b/x)c)) to determine the EC50 value or IC50 value for the response. In this equation, y is the maximum fluorescence signal, x is the concentration of the agonist or antagonist, a is the Emax, b corresponds to the EC50 or IC50 value, and, finally, c is the Hill coefficient.

Example 10

Preparation of Radiolabeled Probe Compounds of the Invention

[0169] The compounds of the invention are prepared as radiolabeled probes by carrying out their synthesis using precursors comprising at least one atom that is a radioisotope. The radioisotope is preferably selected from of at least one of carbon (preferably 14C), hydrogen (preferably 3H), sulfur (preferably 35S), or iodine (preferably 125I). Such radiolabeled probes are conveniently synthesized by a radioisotope supplier specializing in custom synthesis of radiolabeled probe compounds. Such suppliers include Amersham Corporation, Arlington Heights, Ill.; Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc. Andover, Mass.; SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif.; Wizard Laboratories, West Sacramento, Calif.; ChemSyn Laboratories, Lexena, Kans.; American Radiolabeled Chemicals, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.; and Moravek Biochemicals Inc., Brea, Calif.

[0170] Tritium labeled probe compounds are also conveniently prepared catalytically via platinum-catalyzed exchange in tritiated acetic acid, acid-catalyzed exchange in tritiated trifluoroacetic acid, or heterogeneous-catalyzed exchange with tritium gas. Such preparations are also conveniently carried out as a custom radiolabeling by any of the suppliers listed in the preceding paragraph using the compound of the invention as substrate. In addition, certain precursors may be subjected to tritium-halogen exchange with tritium gas, tritium gas reduction of unsaturated bonds, or reduction using sodium borotritide, as appropriate.

Example 11

Use of Compounds of the Invention as Probes for BK-2 Receptors in Cultured Cells and Tissue Samples

[0171] The presence of BK-2 receptors in cultured cells or tissue samples may be ascertained by the procedures described by Hall and Morton in the chapter entitled “Immunopharmacology of the Bradykinin Receptor” of The Handbook of Immunopharmacology—The Kinin Systems (1997) Academic Press, S. C. Farmer, editor, using radiolabeled compounds of the invention prepared as described in the preceding Example 9.

[0172] The invention and the manner and process of making and using it, are now described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, to make and use the same. It is to be understood that the foregoing describes preferred embodiments of the present invention and that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims. To particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter regarded as invention, the following claims conclude this specification.

Claims

1. A compound of the formula

1448

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof, wherein:

R1 is arylalkyl (with the proviso that R1 may not be 3-Fluorobenzyl), heteroarylalkyl, allyl, each of which which is optionally substituted directly or through a O(CH2)n linker (where n=1, 2, 3 or 4) with up to three substituents independently selected from:

(i) halogen (with the proviso that R1 may not be 3-Fluorobenzyl), nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, (wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl),

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8R9, NR8R9, NR8COR9, CONR8R9,

 wherein R8 and R9 are the same or different and represent hydrogen, straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8 and R9 form a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA wherein n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA, and CO2RA,

 wherein RA represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl,

(iv) SO2RA, NHSO2RA, SO2NHRA, SO2NHCORA, CONHSO2RA,

 wherein RA represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl,

(v) tetrazole, triazole, imidazole, thiazole, oxazole, thiophene, and pyridyl;

R2 and R3 are the same or different and represent

(i) halogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms, lower alkyl, amino methyl, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8′R9′, NR8′R8′, CONR8′R8′, NR8′COR8′,

 wherein R8′ and R8′ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8′ and R8′ is a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA′ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA′, or CO2RA′,

 wherein RA′ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl; or

R2 and R3 may be taken together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic saturated ring;

R4 represents straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

R5 represents halogen or trifluoromethyl;

R6, R7 and R7′ are the same or different and represent

(i) hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitrile, C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy (with the proviso that R6, R7, or R7′ may not be C1-C10 alkoxy when located ortho to Y), C1-C6alkylthio, halogen, aminomethyl, di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or diC1-C6alkylaminomethyl, or

(ii) C1-C6 alkoxyaminoalkyl where the amino is mono or disubstituted with straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

(iii) or any two adjacent R6, R7 or R7′ may be joined to form a 5 to 7 membered ring containing 1 or 2 oxygen atoms where the remaining ring members are carbon; or

R5 and R6 are joined to form a 5, 6, or 7 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic ring which is optionally substituted with up to four substituents selected from:

(i) halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, alkylaminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8″R9″, NR8″R9″, CONR8″R9″ NR8″COR9″, where R8″ and R9″ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8″ and R9″ can be a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, lower alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA″ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA″, or CO2RA″, wherein RA″ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl; and R7 and R7′ are as defined above; and

Y represents a bond or CH2, when Y═CH2 it may be mono or disubstituted with a straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or straight or branched chain lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms.

2. A compound of the formula

1449

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof, wherein:

R1 is benzyl, each of which which is optionally substituted directly or through a O(CH2)n linker (where n=1, 2, 3 or 4) with up to three substituents independently selected from:

(i) halogen (with the proviso that R1 may not be 3-Fluorobenzyl), nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, (wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl),

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8R9, NR8R9, NR8COR9, CONR8R9,

 wherein R8 and R9 are the same or different and represent hydrogen, straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8 and R9 is a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA wherein n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA, and CO2RA, wherein RA represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl,

(iv) SO2RA, NHSO2RA, SO2NHRA, SO2NHCORA, CONHSO2RA,

 wherein RA represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl,

(v) tetrazole, triazole, imidazole, thiazole, oxazole, thiophene, and pyridyl;

R2 and R3 are the same or different and represent

(i) halogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms, lower alkyl, amino methyl, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8′R9′, NR8′R9′, CONR8′R9′, NR8′COR9′, wherein R8′ and R9′ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8′ and R9′ is a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA′ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA′, or CO2RA′,

 wherein RA′ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl; or

R2 and R3 may be taken together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic saturated ring;

R4 represents straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

R5 represents halogen or trifluoromethyl;

R6, R7 and R7′ are the same or different and represent

(i) hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitrile, C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy (with the proviso that R6, R7, or R7′ may not be C1-C10 alkoxy when located ortho to Y), C1-C6alkylthio, halogen, aminomethyl, di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or diC1-C6alkylaminomethyl, or

(ii) C1-C6 alkoxyaminoalkyl where the amino is mono or disubstituted with straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

(iii) or any two adjacent R6, R7 or R7′ may be joined to form a 5 to 7 membered ring containing 1 or 2 oxygen atoms where the remaining ring members are carbon; and

Y represents a bond or CH2, when Y═CH2 it may be mono or disubstituted with a straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or straight or branched chain lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms.

3. A compound of the formula

1450

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof, wherein:

R1 is allyl, 2, 3, or 4 picolyl, or quinolinylmethyl, each of which is optionally substituted with up to three substituents independently selected from

(i) halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, (wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl),

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8R9, NR8R9, NR8COR9, CONR8R9, wherein R8 and R9 are the same or different and represent hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8 and R9 form a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA wherein n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA, and CO2RA, wherein R8 represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

R2 and R3 are the same or different and represent

(i) halogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms, lower alkyl, amino methyl, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8′R9′, NR8′R9′, CONR8′R9′, NR8′COR9′, wherein R8′ and R9′ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8′ and R9′ is a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA′ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA′, or CO2RA′,

 wherein RA′ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl; or

R2 and R3 may be taken together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic saturated ring,

R4 represents straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

R5 represents halogen or trifluoromethyl; and

R6, R7 and R7′ are the same or different and represent

hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitrile, C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy (with the proviso that R6, R7, or R7′ may not be C1-C10 alkoxy when located ortho to Y), C1-C6alkylthio, halogen, aminomethyl, di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or diC1-C6alkylaminomethyl, or C1-C6alkoxyaminoalkyl where the amino is mono or disubstituted with straight or branched chain lower alkyl; and

Y represents a bond or CH2, when Y═CH2 it may be mono or disubstituted with a straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or straight or branched chain lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms.

4. A compound of the formula:

1451

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof, wherein:

R1 is benzyl which is optionally substituted directly or through a O(CH2)n linker (where n=1, 2, 3 or 4) with up to three substituents independently selected from:

(i) halogen (with the proviso that R1 may not be 3-Fluorobenzyl), nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, (wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl),

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8R9, NR8R9, NR8COR9, CONR8R9, wherein R8 and R9 are the same or different and represent hydrogen, straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8 and R9 form a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA wherein n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA, and CO2RA, wherein RA represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl,

(iv) SO2RA, NHSO2RA, SO2NHRA, SO2NHCORA, CONHSO2RA, wherein RA represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, and

(v) tetrazole, triazole, imidazole, thiazole, oxazole, thiophene, and pyridyl;

R2 and R3 are the same or different and represent

(i) halogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms, lower alkyl, amino methyl, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8′R9′, NR8′R9′, CONR8′R9′, NR8′COR9′, wherein R8′ and R9′ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8′ and R9′ is a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA′ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA′, or CO2RA′, wherein RA′ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl; or

R2 and R3 may be taken together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic saturated ring;

R4 represents straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

R5 is part of an aromatic ring formed with R6;

R6 is part of a 5, 6, or 7 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic ring formed with R5 which is optionally substituted with up to four substituents selected from:

(i) halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, alkylaminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8″R9″, NR8″R9″, CONR8″R9″ NR8″COR9″, where R8″ and R9″ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8″ and R9″ can be a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, lower alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA″ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA″, or CO2RA″, wherein RA″ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl; and

R7 and R7′ represent

hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitrile, C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy (with the proviso that R6, R7, or R7′ may not be C1-C10alkoxy when located ortho to Y), C1-C6alkylthio, halogen, aminomethyl, di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or diC1-C6alkylaminomethyl, or C1-C6alkoxyaminoalkyl where the amino is mono or disubstituted with straight or branched chain lower alkyl; and

Y represents a bond or CH2, when Y═CH2 it may be mono or disubstituted with a straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or straight or branched chain lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms.

5. A compound of the formula:

1452

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof, wherein:

R1 is allyl, 2, 3, or 4 picolyl, or quinolinylmethyl, each of which is optionally substituted with up to three substituents independently selected from

(i) halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, (wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl),

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8R9, NR8R9, NR8COR9, CONR8R9, wherein R8 and R9 are the same or different and represent hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8 and R9 form a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy, and

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA wherein n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA, and CO2RA, wherein RA represents hydrogen, or straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

R2 and R3 are the same or different and represent

(i) halogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms, lower alkyl, amino methyl, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8′R9′, NR8′R9′, CONR8′R9′, NR8′COR9′, wherein R8′ and R9′ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8′ and R9′ form a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA′ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA′, or CO2RA′, wherein RA′ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl; or

R2 and R3 may be taken together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic saturated ring;

R4 represents straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

R5 is part of an aromatic ring formed with R6;

R6 is part of a 5, 6, or 7 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic ring formed with R5 which is optionally substituted with up to four substituents selected from:

(i) halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, amino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aminomethyl, alkylaminomethyl, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or dialkylaminomethyl, wherein each alkyl is independently lower (C1-C6) alkyl,

(ii) C1-C6alkoxyNR8″R9″, NR8″R9″, CONR8″R9″ NR8″COR9″, where R8″ and R9″ are the same or different and represent hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or R8″ and R9″ can be a 5, 6, or 7 membered heterocyclic ring, which is optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxyl, lower alkyl, amino, mono or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, or C1-C6 alkoxy,

(iii) O(CH2)nCO2RA″ where n=1, 2, 3, 4, CORA″, or CO2RA″, wherein RA″ represents hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl;

R7 and R7′ represent

hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitrile, C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy (with the proviso that R6, R7, or R7′ may not be C1-C10 alkoxy when located ortho to Y), C1-C6alkylthio, halogen, aminomethyl, di(C1-C6)alkylamino, mono or diC1-C6alkylaminomethyl, or C1-C6alkoxyaminoalkyl where the amino is mono or disubstituted with straight or branched chain lower alkyl; and

Y represents a bond or CH2, when Y═CH2 it may be mono or disubstituted with a straight or branched chain lower alkyl, or straight or branched chain lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms.

6. A compound according to claim 2 where R2 and R3 do not form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring.

7. A compound according to claim 3 where R2 and R3 do not form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring.

8. A compound according to claim 4 where R2 and R3 do not form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring.

9. A compound according to claim 5 where R2 and R3 do not form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring.

10. A compound according to claim 2 of the formula

1453

wherein R1 and R4 are as defined in claim 2.

11. A compound according to claim 10 wherein R4 is isoamyl or n-pentyl.

12. A compound according to claim 3 of the formula

1454

wherein R1 and R4 are as defined in claim 3.

13. A compound according to claim 12 wherein R4 is isoamyl or n-pentyl.

14. A compound according to claim 2 of the formula

1455

wherein R1 and R4 are as defined in claim 2.

15. A compound according to claim 14 wherein R4 is isoamyl or n-pentyl.

16. A compound according to claim 3 of the formula

1456

wherein R1 and R4 are as defined in claim 3.

17. A compound according to claim 16 wherein R4 is isoamyl or n-pentyl.

18. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-({1-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl}methyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

19. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-({1-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl}methyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

20. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

21. A compound according to claim 1, which is Ethyl {2-[(2-{[(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carbonylamino]methyl}-4,5-dimethylimidazol-1-yl)methyl]phenoxy}acetate.

22. A compound according to claim 1, which is {2-[(2-{[(2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carbonylamino]methyl}-4,5-dimethylimidazol-1-yl)methyl]phenoxy}acetic acid.

23. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(2-cyanophenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

24. A compound according to claim 1, which is 2-{2-{[(2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carbonylamino}methyl]-4,5-dimethylimidazol-1-yl)methyl}benzoic acid.

25. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(2-[cyanomethoxy]-phenyl)methyl]imidazol-2yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

26. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{[1-benzyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl]methyl}-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

27. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-N-({4,5-dimethyl-1-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl]}imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

28. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-N-[(4,5-dimethyl-1-{[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl}imidazol-2-yl)methyl]-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

29. A compound according to claim 1, which is N-{[4,5-Dichloro-1-benzylimidazol-2-yl]methyl}(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

30. A compound according to claim 1, which is N-({4,5-Dichloro-1-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl)(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

31. A compound according to claim 1, which is N-({4,5-Dichloro-1-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl)(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

32. A compound according to claim 3, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-diethyl-1-[(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl) carboxamide.

33. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(quinolin-2-yl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl) carboxamide.

34. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{4,5-diethyl-1-[(5-ethyl-2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

35. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

36. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-{3,4-dimethyl-1-[(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

37. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-({3-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl](3,4,5,6,7-pentahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)}methyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

38. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-({1-[(2-carboxamidophenyl)methyl]-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl}methyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

39. A compound according to claim 1, which is N-({4,5-Dichloro-1-[(2-carboxamidophenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl)(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

40. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-({1-[(2-sulfonamidophenyl)methyl]-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl}methyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

41. A compound according to claim 1, which is N-({4,5-Dichloro-1-[(2-sulfonamidophenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl)(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

42. A compound according to claim 1, which is (2-Chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-({1-[(2-(1H-1,2,3,4-tetraazol-5-yl)phenyl)methyl]-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl}methyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

43. A compound according to claim 1, which is N-({4,5-Dichloro-1-[(2-(1H-1,2,3,4-tetraazol-5-yl)phenyl)methyl]imidazol-2-yl}methyl)(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(3-methylbutyl)carboxamide.

44. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1, together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

45. A packaged pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical composition of claim 44 in a container and instructions for using the composition to treat a patient in need thereof.

46. The packaged pharmaceutical composition of claim 45, wherein said patient is suffering from renal disease, heart failure, hypertension, Meniere's disease, vaginal inflammation and pain, peripheral circulatory disorders, climacteric disturbance, retinochoroidal circulatory disorders, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, postmyocardial infarction syndrome, angina pectoris, restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, ileus, diabetes, diabetic complications, male infertility, glaucoma, asthma, rhinitis, brain cancer, or a brain tumor.

47. A method for the treatment of physiological disorders associated with excess of or insufficient amount of bradykinin, which method comprises administration to a patient in need thereof a bradykinin reducing amount of a compound according to 1 or a bradykinin enhancing amount of a compound according to claim 1.

48. A method for the treatment of a patient suffering from renal disease, heart failure, hypertension, Meniere's disease, vaginal inflammation and pain, peripheral circulatory disorders, climacteric disturbance, retinochoroidal circulatory disorders, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, postmyocardial infarction syndrome, angina pectoris, restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, ileus, diabetes,. diabetic complications, male infertility, glaucoma, asthma, or rhinitis, which comprises administering a sufficient amount of a compound according to claim 1 to alter the symptoms of such disease.

49. A method of increasing the permeability of the blood brain barrier which comprises administering a compound according to claim 1 to a patient.

50. A method of increasing the brain concentration of a CNS active compound which comprises administering a compound according to any one of claim 1 and the CNS active compound to a patient.

51. A method for localizing bradykinin receptors in tissue section samples comprising:

contacting with a sample of tissue a detectably-labeled compound of claim 1, under conditions that permit binding of the compound to the sample of tissue; washing the tissue sample to remove unbound compound; and detecting the bound compound.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the compound is radiolabeled.

53. A method of inhibiting the binding of bradykinin to the BK-2 receptor, which method comprises contacting, in the presence of bradykinin, a solution comprising a compound of claim 1, with cells expressing the BK-2 receptor, wherein the compound is present in the solution at a concentration sufficient to reduce levels of bradykinin binding to cells expressing the BK-2 receptor in vitro.

54. A method for altering the signal-transducing activity of a cell surface BK-2 receptor, said method comprising contacting cells expressing such a receptor with a solution comprising a compound according to claim 1, wherein the compound is present in the solution at a concentration sufficient to reduce levels of NPY binding to cells expressing the NPY5 receptor in vitro.

55. A compound according to any one of claim 1, wherein in an assay of BK-2 binding the compound exhibits an K1 of 1 micromolar or less.

56. A compound according to any one of claim 1, wherein in an assay of BK-2 binding the compound exhibits an K1 of 100 nanomolar or less.

57. A compound according to any one of claim 1, wherein in an assay of BK-2 binding the compound exhibits an K1 of 10 nanomolar or less.