?2-adrenoceptor subtype c (alpha-2c) antagonists for the treatment of sleep apnea

A method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a sleep-related breathing disorder, comprising administering systematically and/or locally a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound to a subject in need thereof, wherein the compound is a compound of formula (I):

• wherein
• X is a group
• R1 is C1-C6-alkyl or C3-C5-cycloalkyl,
• wherein alkyl is substituted by 1 to 2 substituents independently of one another selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C1-C4-alkoxy and haloalkoxy
• and
• R2 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl,
• or
• R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 4- to 7-membered N-heterocycle,
• wherein the N-heterocycle may be substituted by 1 to 3 substituents independently of one another selected from the group consisting of oxo, hydroxy, monofluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, halogen and hydroxyalkyl,
• or
• wherein the N-heterocycle may have two substituents which, together with the carbon atom of the N-heterocycle to which they are jointly attached, form a 4- to 6-membered heterocycle,
• wherein this heterocycle for its part may be substituted by 1 to 3 substituents independently of one another selected from the group consisting of oxo, methyl and ethyl,
• R3 is hydrogen, fluorine, methoxy or ethoxy
• and
• R4 is hydrogen, fluorine, methoxy or ethoxy,
• or a salt, or a solvate, or a solvate of a salt thereof.