Heterocyclic compounds

The heterocyclic compound of claim 17, wherein Het is a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group of the formula [5]:

• 45
• wherein X is oxygen, sulfur or NR6;
• R6 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and R2 is hydrogen, alkyl or trihaloalkyl;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The heterocyclic compound of claim 17, wherein Het is a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group of the formula [5]:

• 46
• wherein X is oxygen, sulfur or NR6;
• R6 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and R2 is hydrogen, alkyl or trihaloalkyl;
• and D is alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene having 3-10 carbon atoms;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

23 (Amended). The heterocyclic compound of claim 21, wherein R1 is phenyl optionally substituted by one to two groups selected from alkyl, halogen and alkoxy;

• Het is a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group of the formula [5a] wherein X is oxygen, sulfur or NR6;
• R6 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• R15 is alkyl or trihaloalkyl;
• and D is alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene having 7 carbon atoms;
• E is a group of the formula [4] wherein Y is oxygen, R3 and R4 are the same or different and each being hydrogen or alkyl, and Z is carboxy or alkoxycarbonyl;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

26 (Amended). The heterocyclic compound of claim 17, which is selected from the group consisting of compounds (1) to (10) below:

• (1) c-5-[4-(5-Methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)butyl]-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acid,
• (2) 2-Isobutyl-c-5-[4-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)butyl]-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acid,
• (3) 2-Ethyl-c-5-[4-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)butyl]-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acid,
• (4) 2-Methyl-c-5-{4-[5-methyl-2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)oxazol-4-yl]butyl}-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acid,
• (5) 2-Methyl-c-5-[4-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)-(E)-3-butenyl]-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acid,
• (6) c-5-{4-[2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)-5-methyloxazol-4-yl]butyl}-2-methyl-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acid,
• (7) 2-Methyl-c-5-{4-[5-methyl-2-(p-tolyl)oxazol-4-yl]butyl}-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acid,
• (8) 2-Methyl-c-5-{4-[5-methyl-2-(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)oxazol-4-yl]butyl}-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acid,
• (9) 2-Methyl-c-5-{4-[5-methyl-2-(m-tolyl)oxazol-4-yl]butyl}-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acids and
• (10) 2-Methyl-c-5-{4-[5-methyl-2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-oxazol-4-yl]butyl}-1,3-dioxane-r-2-carboxylic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

(Added) A heterocyclic compound selected from the group consisting of compounds (1) to (11) below:

• (1) 2-Methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)hexyloxy]propionic acid,
• (2) Methyl 2-methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)hexyloxy]propionate,
• (3) 2-Methyl-2-{6-[5-methyl-2-(p-tolyl)oxazol-4-yl]hexyloxy}propionic acid,
• (4) Methyl 2-methyl-2-{6-[5-methyl-2-(p-tolyl)oxazol-4-yl]hexyloxy}propionate,
• (5) 2-Methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)-4-hexynyloxy]propionic acid,
• (6) Methyl 2-methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)-4-hexynyloxy]propionate,
• (7) 2-{6-[2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5-methyloxazol-4-yl]hexyloxy}-2-methylpropionic acid,
• (8) Methyl 2-{6-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methyloxazol-4-yl]hexyloxy}-2-methylpropionate,
• (9) 2-Methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)-(E)-4-hexenyloxy]propionic acid,
• (10) Methyl 2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)-(E)-4-hexenyloxy]-2-methylpropionate and
• (11) 2-Methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)hexyloxy]propanol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

28 (Added). The heterocyclic compound of claim 27 selected from the group consisting of compounds (1) to (6) below:

• (1) 2-Methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)hexyloxy]propionic acid,
• (2) 2-Methyl-2-{6-[5-methyl-2-(p-tolyl)oxazol-4-yl]hexyloxy}propionic acid,
• (3) 2-Methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)-4-hexynyloxy]propionic acid,
• (4) 2-{6-[2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5-methyloxazol-4-yl]hexyloxy}-2-methylpropionic acid,
• (5) 2-Methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)-(E)-4-hexenyloxy]propionic acid and
• (6) 2-Methyl-2-[6-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)hexyloxy]propanol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.