Heterocyclyl-3-sulfonylazaindole or-azaindazole derivatives as 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 ligands

A method for the treatment of a central nervous system disorder related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor in a patient in need thereof which comprises providing to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I

• 25
• wherein
• W is N or CR2;
• X is N or CR4;
• Y is N or CR5;
• Z is N or CR6;
• Q is N or CR7 with the proviso that at least one and not more than two of X, Y, Z and Q must be N;
• R1 is an optionally substituted C1-C6alkyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group or an optionally substituted 8- to 13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring system having a N atom at the bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional heteroatoms selected from N, O or S;
• R2 is H, halogen, or a C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, C3-C7cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• R3 is H or a C1-C6alkyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently H, halogen, CN, COR8, OCO2R9, CO2R10, CONR11R12, SOnR13, NR14R15, OR16 or a C1-C6alkyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted or a group M having the structure
• 26
• with the proviso that at least one of R4, R5, R6 or R7 must be a group M and with the further proviso that when W is CR2 and X or Z is N, then R7 must be other than a group M;
• R8, R9, R10 and R13 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• R11, R12, R14 and R15 are each independently H or an optionally substituted C1-C4alkyl group or R11 and R12 or R14 and R15 may be taken together with the atom to which they are attached to form a 5- to 7-membered ring optionally containing another heteroatom selected from O, NR22 or SOn;
• R16 is H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• n is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2;
• R17 is H or a C1-C6alkyl or C3-C7cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted;
• R18, R19, R20, R21 and R23 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl or C3-C7cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted;
• m is 1 or2;
• and
• R22 is H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• or
• the stereoisomers thereof or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

A pharmaceutical composition which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an effective amount of a compound of formula I

• 27
• wherein
• W is N or CR2;
• X is N or CR4;
• Y is N or CR5;
• Z is N or CR6;
• Q is N or CR7 with the proviso that at least one and not more than two of X, Y, Z and Q must be N;
• R1 is an optionally substituted C1-C6alkyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group or an optionally substituted 8- to 13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring system having a N atom at the bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional heteroatoms selected from N, O or S;
• R2 is H, halogen, or a C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, C3-C7cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• R3 is H or a C1-C6alkyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently H, halogen, CN, COR8, OCO2R9, CO2R10, CONR11R12, SOnR13, NR14R15, OR16 or a C1-C6alkyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted or a group M having the structure
• 28
• with the proviso that at least one of R4, R5, R6 or R7 must be a group M and with the further proviso that when W is CR2 and X or Z is N, then R7 must be other than a group M;
• R8, R9, R10 and R13 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• R11, R12, R14 and R15 are each independently H or an optionally substituted C1-C4alkyl group or R11 and R12 or R14 and R15 may be taken together with the atom to which they are attached to form a 5- to 7-membered ring optionally containing another heteroatom selected from O, NR22 or SOn;
• R16 is H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• n is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2;
• R17 is H or a C1-C6alkyl or C3-C7cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted;
• R18, R19, R20, R21 and R23 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl or C3-C7cycloalkyl group each optionally substituted;
• m is 1 or 2;
• and
• R22 is H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
• or
• the stereoisomers thereof or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.