Benzoimidazole compounds

A compound of formula (II):

• wherein
• X is CH;
• Y is O, NR12, or CR12R13;
• Z is CR14;
• n is 1;
• each of R1-4 is, independently from other substituent assignments, H, C1-4alkyl, C2-5alkenyl, C2-5alkynyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, —C1-4alkoxy, —C1-4alkylamino, —C1-4alkylthio, —C1-4alkylsulfonyl, —OC3-6cycloalkyl, —OCH2Ph, cyano, —CF3, F, Cl, Br, I, nitro, —OCF3, —SCF3, —ORc, —SRc, —S(O)Rc, —SO2Rc, —C(O)RcC, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, —C(O)NRaRb, —C(O)ORc, —NRaRb, —CH2NRaRb or —CH2ORc;
• wherein each of Ra, Rb and Rc is, independently from other substituent assignments, selected from H, C1-4alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, phenyl, (C3-6cycloalkyl)C1-2alkyl-, benzyl and phenethyl, or Ra and Rb taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, form a 4-7 membered heterocyclic ring HetCyc1, wherein said ring HetCycl has 0 or 1 additional heteroatoms selected from O, S, >NH and >NC1-6alkyl, and wherein any phenyl, phenethyl, benzyl, alkyl or cycloalkyl moiety in any of said R1-4, Ra, Rb, Rc, and said ring HetCyc1 is optionally, and independently from other substituent assignments, substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from C1-3alkyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, and C1-3alkoxy;
• each of R5-7 is, independently from other substituent assignments, H, C1-6alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, —OCF3, —ORc, —SRc, —S(O)Rc, —SO2Rc, C1-4alkoxy, cyano, nitro, —C(O)NRaRb, —C(O)phenyl, —C(O)C1-6alkyl, —S(O)C1-4alkyl, or —SO2C1-4alkyl;
• or, R7 and R6 for a compound of formula (II) taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a cyclic structure Cyc2 selected from aryl, heteroaryl, 5- or 6-membered carbocycle, and 5- or 6-membered heterocycle with 1 or 2 heteroatoms, wherein said cyclic structure Cyc2 is, independently from other substituent assignments, substituted with 0, 1, or 2 substituents selected from C1-3alkyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, and C1-3alkoxy;
• R8 is H, C1-6alkyl, C1-4alkoxy, or OH;
• each of R9 and R10 is, independently from other substituent assignments, H or C1-6alkyl, or R9 and R10 taken together form a 5-6 membered cyclic structure Cyc3, wherein said cyclic structure Cyc3 is a 5- or 6-membered carbocycle or a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle with 1 or 2 heteroatoms, and wherein said cyclic structure Cyc3 is, independently from other substituent assignments, substituted with 0, 1, or 2 substituents selected from C1-3alkyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, and C1-3alkoxy;
• R11 is H, C1-4alkyl;
• each of R12 and R13 is, independently from other substituent assignments, H or C1-4alkyl;
• or, when Y is CR12R13, R12 and R13 taken together with the carbon member to which they are attached form an optionally substituted cyclic structure Cyc4, wherein said cyclic structure Cyc4 is a 3- to 6-membered carbocycle or a 3- to 6-membered heterocycle with 0 or 1 additional heteroatoms, or CR12R13 is C═O;
• R14 is H, C1-4alkyl, OH, or C1-4alkoxy;
• an enantiomer, diastereomer, racemate thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, amide or ester thereof;
• provided that:
• when Y is O or NR12, then R8 is not OH or C1-4alkoxy;
• and
• neither R1 nor R4 is C(O)NH2.