Compounds and methods useful for treating or preventing cancers

A method of treating a cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of formula (I), or a salt or N-oxide thereof:

• wherein:
• “j” is 0;
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of N, C—H, C—F and C—OH, where at least one of R1 and R2 is N;
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of N, C—F, C—OH, and C;
• R3 is selected from the group consisting of N, CH, CF and COH;
• R5 is selected from the group consisting of N(H), N(C1-C6 alkyl), C(H)—NH2, C(H)—NH(C1-C6 alkyl), C(H)—(C1-C6 alkyl)-NH2, C(H)—C(═O)—NH2, and C(H)—N(C1-C6 alkyl)(C1-C6 alkyl);
• one of R6 or R13 is absent and the other of R6 or R13 is selected from the group consisting of —C(H)(CN)—, —C(H)(C≡CH)—, —CH2—, —C(H)(CH3)—, —C(CH3)(CN)—, —N(CN)—, and —NH—;
• where R7 is hydrogen when R6 is absent, and where R14 is hydrogen when R13 is absent;
• R7 and R14 are is independently selected from the group consisting of —C(═O)OR8, —C(═O)N(R9)R8, —C(═O)N(H)R8, —NHC(═O)R8, —C(═O)C(R9)═C(R9)(R9), N1—R8-1H-imidazol-2-yl, —CH2OR8, and 2-R8-1,3,5-oxadiazol-5-yl;
• R10 and R20 are independently selected from the group consisting of C(H)(R12), C(R12)(R12), and C(═O);
• each occurrence of R8 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl-(C1-C3)alkyl, C3-C8 heterocycloalkyl-(C1-C3)alkyl, aryl-(C1-C3)alkyl, (C1-C6) hydroxyalkyl, imidazol-2-yl optionally substituted with methyl, and oxadiazol-5-yl optionally substituted with methyl or benzyl;
• each occurrence of R9 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, and halogen;
• each occurrence of R12 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, (C1-C6) hydroxyalkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl-(C1-C3)alkyl, —C(═O)O—(C1-C6)alkyl;
• moiety “A” is selected from the group consisting of:
• wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected from the group consisting of N, C—H, C—F, and C—R17;
• Ω1 and Ω2 are independently selected at each occurrence from C, CH, and N and the dashed (“”) bond” is a double bond or single bond;
• R15, R16, and R17 are independently selected at each occurrence from hydrogen, aryl, halo, amino, and nitro;
• and
• each alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, and/or cycloalkyl group is independently optionally substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl, halo, hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, monoalkylamino, dialkylamino, aminocarbonyl, acylamino, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, and sulfonamide;
• and,
• each aryl and/or aryl(C1-C3)alkyl group is independently optionally substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, halo, haloalkyl (including trifluoromethyl), —SR, —S(═O)(C1-C6 alkyl), —S(═O)2(C1-C6 alkyl), —S(═O)2NRR, —OH, —OR, —C(═O)R, —O—C(═O)R, —C(═O)OR, —OC(═O)O(C1-C6 alkyl), —NRR, —C(═O)NRR, —N(R)C(═O)R, —C(═NR)NRR, —P(═O)(OR)2, cyano and nitro;
• wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, and heteroaryl;
• wherein said cancer is characterized by overexpression, hyperactivation and/or uncontrolled activation of casein kinase 1 and selected from hematological cancer and colorectal cancer.