Use of thiazole derivatives for preparing a medicament intended to protect the mitochondria

The method of claim 11, wherein:

• A is
• wherein R5 is hydrogen or methyl, R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy, R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy and R8 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl cycloalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy, R9 and R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl and alkoxy, R11 is hydrogen or methyl and R12 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl and alkoxy;
• B is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl and ethyl;
• n is an integer from 0 to 3;
• R1 and R2 are independenily hydrogen or alkyl;
• R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or alkyl, or R3 and R4 form together with the nitrogen atom which carries them a heterocycle containing in total 1 to 2 heteroatoms and 5 to 7 ring members, the missing members of which heterocycle are selected from the group consisting of —CHR13—, —NR14—, —O— and —S—, R13 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —OH, methyl and methoxy and R14 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, —COR15, —COOR15 and
• —CONR16R17, R15 is alkyl and R16 and R17 are independently hydrogen or alkyl.

The method of claim 11, wherein:

• A is
• wherein R5 is hydrogen, R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy, R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy and R8 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy radical,
• B is hydrogen or methyl;
• n is an integer from 0 to 2;
• one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, the other is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and cycloalkyl;
• R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or alkyl, or R3 and R4 form together with the nitrogen atom which carries them a heterocycle of 6 members containing in total 1 to 2 heteroatoms, the missing members of which heterocycle are selected from the group consisting of 13 CHR13—, —NR14—, —O— and —S—, R13 is hydrogen, —OH and methyl and R14 is hydrogen or alkyl.

The method of claim 11, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of

• 4-[3 ,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)4-hydroxyphenyl]-N-methyl-2-thiazolemethanamlne;
• N-methyl[4-(10H-phenothiazin-2-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]methanamine;
• 2,6-ditert-butyl4-{2-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-1,3-thiazol-4-yl}phenol;
• 4-[2-(aminomethyl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]-2,6-di(tert-butyl)phenol;
• 2,6-ditert-butyl4-{2-[1-(methylamino)ethyl]-1,3-thiazol-4-yl}phenol;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method of treating Leber's syndrome cirrhosis of the liver in warm-blooded animals comprising administering to warm-blooded animals in need thereof an amount of a compound of the formula

• in the form of a racemic mixture, of an enantiomer of any mixture thereof wherein:
• A is
• wherein R5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or alkyl, R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy, R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy and R8 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy,
• B is hydrogen or alkyl;
• n is an integer from 0 to 5;
• R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and cycloalkyl;
• R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or alkyl, or R3 and R4 form together with the nitrogen atom which carries them a heterocycle containing in total 1 to 2 heteroatoms and 5 to 7 ring members, the missing members of which heterocycle are selected from the group consisting of —CH13—, —NR14—, —O— and —S—, R13 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —OH, alkyl and alkoxy and R14 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, —COR15, —COOR15 and —CONR16R17, R15 is alkyl and R16 and R17 are independently hydrogen or alkyl;
• it being understood that alkoxy or alkyl, unless specified otherwise, has 1 to 6 carbon atoms and that cycloalkyl, unless specified otherwise, has 3 to 7 carbon atoms;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof sufficient to treat Leber's syndrome.