Method of treating neurodegenerative disorders via inhibition of amyloid beta peptide binding

The method of treating dementia in an Alzheimer's disease patient which comprises administering to the patient an amount of the compound of the formula I

• wherein
• R1 is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl;
• R2 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, aryl or C7-C10 aralkyl;
• R3 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C10 alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkylC1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxycarbonylC1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkylthio, heteroarylC1-C4 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl or unsubstituted or substituted C7-C10 aralkyl wherein the substituent on the aryl or aralkyl are one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl and unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkoxy wherein the substituents on the alkoxy are one or more substituents independently selected from amino, C1-C6 alkylamino, C1-C6 dialkylamino, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azepinyl or morpholinyl;
• or
• R2 and R3, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, form a five or six-membered heterocyclic ring selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl or piperazinyl;
• R4 is C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, or C7-C10 aralkyl;
• and
• R5 and R6 are each independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C10 alkenyl, C1-C8 alkylcarbonyl, or diphenylphosphinyl;
• or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;
• effective to inhibit the binding of an amyloid beta peptide with human alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

The method of improving memory or halting the progression of mental deterioration in an Alzheimer's disease patient which comprises administering to the patient an amount of the compound of the formula I

• wherein
• R1 is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl;
• R2 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, aryl or C7-C10 aralkyl;
• R3 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C10 alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkylC1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxycarbonylC1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkylthio, heteroarylC1-C4 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl or unsubstituted or substituted C7-C10 aralkyl wherein the substituent on the aryl or aralkyl are one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl and unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkoxy wherein the substituents on the alkoxy are one or more substituents independently selected from amino, C1-C6 alkylamino, C1-C6 dialkylamino, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azepinyl or morpholinyl;
• or
• R2 and R3, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, form a five or six-membered heterocyclic ring selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl or piperazinyl;
• R4 is C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, or C7-C10 aralkyl;
• and
• R5 and R6 are each independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C10 alkenyl, C1-C8 alkylcarbonyl, or diphenylphosphinyl;
• or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;
• effective to inhibit the binding of an amyloid beta peptide with human alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

The method of treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula I

• wherein
• R1 is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl;
• R2 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, aryl or C7-C10 aralkyl;
• R3 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C10 alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkylC1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxycarbonylC1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkylthio, heteroarylC1-C4 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl or unsubstituted or substituted C7-C10 aralkyl wherein the substituent on the aryl or aralkyl are one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl and unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkoxy wherein the substituents on the alkoxy are one or more substituents independently selected from amino, C1-C6 alkylamino, C1-C6 dialkylamino, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azepinyl or morpholinyl;
• or
• R2 and R3, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, form a five or six-membered heterocyclic ring selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl or piperazinyl;
• R4 is C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, or C7-C10 aralkyl;
• and
• R5 and R6 are each independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C10 alkenyl, C1-C8 alkylcarbonyl, or diphenylphosphinyl;
• or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.