Bridged bicyclic aryl and bridged bicyclic heteroaryl substituted triazoles useful as axl inhibitors

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and a therapeutically effective amount of compound of formula (I):

• wherein:
• R1, R4 and R5 are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, —C(O)R9 or —C(O)N(R6)R7;
• R2 and R3 are each independently a bridged bicyclic aryl or a bridged bicyclic heteroaryl of formula (II):
• where:
• m and n are independently 1 to 4;
• q and r are independently 0 to 3;
• A1, A3 and each A4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C(R8)2, O, S(O)p (where p is 0, 1 or 2), P(O)p (where p is 0, 1 or 2) and N(R9);
• each A2 is independently selected from the group consisting of C(R8) and N;
• B1, B2, B3 and B4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C(R13) and N, provided that one of B1, B2, B3 and B4 is a carbon directly bonded to the nitrogen to which its corresponding R2 or R3 is attached;
• or R2 is selected from the group consisting of bridged bicyclic aryl of formula (II) and a bridged bicyclic heteroaryl of formula (II), as defined above, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl wherein the aryl and the heteroaryl are each optionally substituted by one or more substitutents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, halo, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, oxo, thioxo, cyano, nitro, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted aralkenyl, optionally substituted aralkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkynyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkenyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkenyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkynyl, —R15OR14, —R15—C(O)—R14, —R15—N(R14)2, —R15C(O)R14, —R5—C(O)OR14, —R15—C(O)N(R14)2, —R15—N(R14)C(O)OR14, —R15—N(R14)C(O)R14, —R15—N(R14)S(O)tR14 (where t is 1 or 2), —R15—S(O)tOR14 (where t is 1 or 2), —R15—S(O)pR14 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), and —R15—S(O)tN(R14)2 (where t is 1 or 2), where each R14 is independently hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, and each R15 is independently a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene or alkenylene chain;
• or R2 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted by one or more substitutents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, halo, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, oxo, thioxo, cyano, nitro, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted aralkenyl, optionally substituted aralkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkynyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkenyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkenyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkynyl, —R15—OR14, —R15—OC(O)—R14, —R15—N(R14)2, —R15—C(O)R14, —R15—C(O)OR14, —R15—C(O)N(R14)2, —R15—N(R14)C(O)OR14, —R15—N(R14)C(O)R14, —R15—N(R14)S(O)tR14 (where t is 1 or 2), —R15—S(O)tOR14 (where t is 1 or 2), —R15—S(O)pR14 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), and —R15—S(O)tN(R14)2 (where t is 1 or 2), where each R14 is independently hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, and each R15 is independently a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene or alkenylene chain, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of bridged bicyclic aryl of formula (II) and a bridged bicyclic heteroaryl of formula (II), as defined above;
• each R6 and R7 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, hydroxyalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted aralkenyl, optionally substituted aralkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkynyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkenyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkenyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkynyl, —R11—OR9, —R11—CN, —R11—NO2, —R11—N(R9)2, —R11—C(O)OR9 and —R11—C(O)N(R9)2, or any R6 and R7, together with the common nitrogen to which they are both attached, form an optionally substituted N-heteroaryl or an optionally substituted N-heterocyclyl;
• each R8 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, cyano, nitro, halo, haloalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, —R10—OR9, —R10—O—R11—OR9, —R10—O—R11—O—R11—OR9, —R10—O—R11—CN, —R10—O—R11—C(O)OR9, —R10—O—R11—C(O)N(R6)R7, —R10—O—R11—S(O)pR9 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), —R10—O—R11—N(R6)R7, —R10—O—R11—C(NR12)N(R12)H, —R10—OC(O)—R9, —R10—N(R6)R7, —R10—C(O)R9, —R10—C(O)OR9, —R10—C(O)N(R6)R7, —R10—N(R6)C(O)OR14, —R10—N(R6)C(O)R9, —R10—N(R6)S(O)tR9 (where t is 1 or 2), —R10—S(O)tOR9 (where t is 1 or 2), —R10—S(O)pR9 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), and —R10—S(O)tN(R6)R7 (where t is 1 or 2), or two R8's on adjacent carbons can combine to form a double bond;
• each R9 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted aralkenyl, optionally substituted aralkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkynyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkenyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkenyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkynyl;
• each R10 is independently selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, an optionally substituted straight or branched alkylene chain, an optionally substituted straight or branched alkenylene chain and an optionally substituted straight or branched alkynylene chain;
• each R11 is independently selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted straight or branched alkylene chain, an optionally substituted straight or branched alkenylene chain and an optionally substituted straight or branched alkynylene chain;
• each R12 is hydrogen, alkyl, cyano, nitro or —OR9;
• and
• each R13 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, cyano, nitro, halo, haloalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, —R10—OR9, —R10—OC(O)—R9, —R10—N(R6)R7, —R10—C(O)R9, —R10—C(O)OR9, —R10—C(O)N(R6)R7, —R10—N(R6)C(O)OR14, —R10—N(R6)C(O)R9, —R10—N(R6)S(O)tR9 (where t is 1 or 2), —R10—S(O)tOR9 (where t is 1 or 2), —R10—S(O)pR9 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), and —R10—S(O)tN(R6)R7 (where t is 1 or 2);
• as an isolated stereoisomer or a mixture thereof, or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method of treating a disease or condition associated with Axl activity in a mammal, wherein the method comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

• wherein:
• R1, R4 and R5 are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, —C(O)R9 or —C(O)N(R6)R7;
• R2 and R3 are each independently a bridged bicyclic aryl or a bridged bicyclic heteroaryl of formula (II):
• where:
• m and n are independently 1 to 4;
• q and r are independently 0 to 3;
• A1, A3 and each A4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C(R8)2, O, S(O)p (where p is 0, 1 or 2), P(O)p (where p is 0, 1 or 2) and N(R9);
• each A2 is independently selected from the group consisting of C(R8) and N;
• B1, B2, B3 and B4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C(R13) and N, provided that one of B1, B2, B3 and B4 is a carbon directly bonded to the nitrogen to which its corresponding R2 or R3 is attached;
• or R2 is selected from the group consisting of bridged bicyclic aryl of formula (II) and a bridged bicyclic heteroaryl of formula (II), as defined above, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl wherein the aryl and the heteroaryl are each optionally substituted by one or more substitutents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, halo, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, oxo, thioxo, cyano, nitro, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted aralkenyl, optionally substituted aralkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkynyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkenyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkenyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkynyl, —R15—OR14, —R15—OC(O)—R14, —R15—N(R14)2, —R15—C(O)R14, —R15—C(O)OR14, —R15—C(O)N(R14)2, —R15—N(R14)C(O)OR14, —R15—N(R14)C(O)R14, —R15—N(R14)S(O)tR14 (where t is 1 or 2), —R15—S(O)tOR14 (where t is 1 or 2), —R15—S(O)pR14 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), and —R15—S(O)tN(R14)2 (where t is 1 or 2), where each R14 is independently hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, and each R15 is independently a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene or alkenylene chain;
• or R2 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted by one or more substitutents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, halo, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, oxo, thioxo, cyano, nitro, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted aralkenyl, optionally substituted aralkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkynyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkenyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkenyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkynyl, —R15—OR14, —R15—OC(O)—R14, —R15—N(R14)2, —R15—C(O)R14, —R15—C(O)OR14, —R15—C(O)N(R14)2, —R15—N(R14)C(O)OR14, —R15—N(R14)C(O)R14, —R15—N(R14)S(O)tR14 (where t is 1 or 2), —R15—S(O)tOR14 (where t is 1 or 2), —R15—S(O)pR14 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), and —R15—S(O)tN(R14)2 (where t is 1 or 2), where each R14 is independently hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, and each R15 is independently a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene or alkenylene chain, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of bridged bicyclic aryl of formula (II) and a bridged bicyclic heteroaryl of formula (II), as defined above;
• each R6 and R7 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, hydroxyalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted aralkenyl, optionally substituted aralkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkynyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkenyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkenyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkynyl, —R11—OR9, —R11—CN, —R11—NO2, —R11—N(R9)2, —R11—C(O)OR9 and —R11—C(O)N(R9)2, or any R6 and R7, together with the common nitrogen to which they are both attached, form an optionally substituted N-heteroaryl or an optionally substituted N-heterocyclyl;
• each R8 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, cyano, nitro, halo, haloalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, —R10—OR9, —R10—O—R11—OR9, —R10—O—R11—O—R11—OR9, —R10—O—R11—CN, —R10—O—R11—C(O)OR9, —R10—O—R11—C(O)N(R6)R7, —R10—O—R11—S(O)pR9 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), —R10—O—R11—N(R6)R7, —R10—O—R11—C(NR12)N(R12)H, —R10—OC(O)—R9, —R10—N(R6)R7, —R10—C(O)R9, —R10—C(O)OR9, —R10—C(O)N(R6)R7, —R10—N(R6)C(O)OR14, —R10—N(R6)C(O)R9, —R10—N(R6)S(O)tR9 (where t is 1 or 2), —R10—S(O)tOR9 (where t is 1 or 2), —R10—S(O)pR9 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), and —R10—S(O)tN(R6)R7 (where t is 1 or 2), or two R8's on adjacent carbons can combine to form a double bond;
• each R9 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted aralkenyl, optionally substituted aralkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkynyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkenyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkenyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkynyl;
• each R10 is independently selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, an optionally substituted straight or branched alkylene chain, an optionally substituted straight or branched alkenylene chain and an optionally substituted straight or branched alkynylene chain;
• each R11 is independently selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted straight or branched alkylene chain, an optionally substituted straight or branched alkenylene chain and an optionally substituted straight or branched alkynylene chain;
• each R12 is hydrogen, alkyl, cyano, nitro or —OR9;
• and
• each R13 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, cyano, nitro, halo, haloalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, —R10—OR9, —R10—OC(O)—R9, —R10—N(R6)R7, —R10—C(O)R9, —R10—C(O)OR9, —R10—C(O)N(R6)R7, —R10—N(R6)C(O)OR14, —R10—N(R6)C(O)R9, —R10—N(R6)S(O)tR9 (where t is 1 or 2), —R10—S(O)tOR9 (where t is 1 or 2), —R10—S(O)pR9 (where p is 0, 1 or 2), and —R10—S(O)tN(R6)R7 (where t is 1 or 2);
• as an isolated stereoisomer or a mixture thereof, or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A process for preparing a compound of formula (i):

• wherein:
• u is 0, 1 or 2;
• Ra is independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted aryl and optionally substituted heteroaryl;
• and
• each Rb is independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aralkyl and optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl;
• or
• one Rb forms an optionally substituted C2-C4 alkylene chain connecting the nitrogen to which it is attached to a carbon in the pyridine ring adjacent to the carbon bearing the —N(Rb)2 group and the other Rb is independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aralkyl and optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl;
• or
• one Rb forms an optionally substituted C2-C4 alkylene chain connecting the nitrogen to which it is attached to a carbon in the pyridine ring adjacent to the carbon bearing the —N(Rb)2 group and the other Rb forms an optionally substituted C1-C3 alkylene chain connecting the nitrogen to which it is attached to a carbon in the C2-C4 alkylene chain, or
• both Rb's together with the nitrogen to which they are both attached, form an optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl;
• wherein any carbon in an Rb group which is directly attached to the nitrogen in the —N(Rb)2 group is not optionally substituted with oxo;
• the process comprising:
• a) combining a reactant of formula (ii):
• where u, Ra and Rb are each as defined above, with thionyl chloride to form a reaction mixture;
• and
• b) heating the reaction mixture to a suitable temperature for a suitable period of time to form the compound of formula (i).