2-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-7-amine derivates useful as inhibitors of mammalian tyrosine kinase ror1 activity

A method of treatment of a malignant hyperproliferative disorder by administering, to a mammal in need of such treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I′) or (I″)

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein
• x is an integer of from 0 to 4;
• each Ra is independently selected from C1-C3 alkyl;
• m is 1 or 2;
• R1 is C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl-C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkyl-C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy-C1-C6 alkyl, cyano-C1-C6 alkyl, or a moiety of formula (II)
• ring A is phenyl or 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl;
• g is an integer of from 0 to 3;
• each R1a is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl, R1bO, and R1cR1dN;
• each R1b is independently selected from H and C1-C6 alkyl;
• each R1c is independently selected from H and C1-C6 alkyl;
• each R1d is independently selected from H and C1-C6 alkyl;
• or two R1a, attached to adjacent atoms of ring A form, together with the atoms to which they are attached, a 5- or 6-membered ring optionally containing one or more heteroatoms;
• R2 is Cl or Br;
• p is an integer of from 0 to 3;
• each R3 is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl;
• y is an integer of from 0 to 3;
• Rb is selected from halogen, C1-C3 alkyl, and C1-C3 alkoxy;
• Z is N or CH;
• W is >Q-R4, —O— or —N(R5)C(O)—;
• Q is N or CH;
• n is 1 or 2 when W is >Q-R4 or —O—;
• n is 0 or 1 when W is —N(R5)C(O)—;
• R4 is C1-C6 alkyl, R4a[O(CH2)q]r—Y, R4bS(O)2, R4cC(O), cyano-C1-C6 alkyl, or a moiety of formula (III)
• each q is independently selected from 1, 2, 3 and 4;
• r is 1 or 2;
• h is an integer of from 0 to 3;
• Y is a direct bond or C(O);
• L is a direct bond, C1-C4 alkylene, or -L1-L2-;
• L1 is a direct bond or C1-C4 alkylene;
• L2 is C(O) or NH;
• R4a is H or C1-C6 alkyl;
• R4b is C1-C6 alkyl;
• R4c is C1-C6 alkyl;
• R4d is C1-C6 alkyl;
• ring B is selected from phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl;
• R5 is H, C1-C6 alkyl, R5a[O(CH2)u]v, or a moiety of formula (IV)
• R5a is H or C1-C6 alkyl;
• each u is independently selected from 1, 2, 3 and 4;
• v is 1 or 2;
• M is a direct bond or C1-C4 alkylene;
• ring C is selected from phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl;
• R5b is C1-C6 alkyl;
• and
• j is an integer of from 0 to 3.