Pyrimidine compounds and their use

A compound of the formula (I):

• wherein
• Y and Z represent both nitrogen and X represents CH, forming a pyrimidine derivative, and wherein R1 and R2 are each, independently, selected from a group A consisting of
• or from a group B, consisting of aryl-C1-C6-alkyl, aryl-C1-C6-alkoxy, heteroaryl-C1-C6-alkoxy, aryloxy-C2-C6-alkoxy, heteroaryloxy-C2-C6-alkoxy, 1-indanyloxy, 2-indanyloxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, arylthio, heteroarylthio, C5-C6-cycloalkylthio, C5-C8-alkoxy, C5-C8-alkylthio, C3-C6-alkynyloxy, C3-C6-alkenyloxy, fluoro-C2-C4-alkoxy, C4-C8-cycloalkyloxy, C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkoxy, aryl-C1-C4-alkylthio, heteroaryl-C1-C4-alkylthio, aryl-C1-C4-alkylamino, heteroaryl-C1-C4-alkylamino, heteroaryl and aryl;
• with the proviso that:
• (i) R1 and R2 are different and are not both selected from group A or group B at the same time;
• (iii) when X is CH and Z and Y both are nitrogen in formula (I), forming a pyrirnidine derivative, and R2 is 1-piperazinyl, then R1 is other than phenoxy, phenyl or phenyl substituted by bromo, and C5-C8 alkoxy;
• and when R2 is 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl or 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl, then R1 is other than 5-nitro-2-furyl;
• (iv) when X is CH and Z and Y both are nitrogen in formula (I), forming a pyrimidine derivative, and R1 is 1-piperazinyl, then R2 is other than C5-C8 alkoxy;
• and where R3 is H or C1-4-alkyl, allyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-cyanoethyl, or a nitrogen protecting group;
• R4 is hydrogen, or C1-4 alkyl;
• and wherein any aryl or heteroaryl residue, alone or as part of another group, in R1 or R2 may be independently substituted in one or more positions, by C1-4-alkyl, C1-4-alkoxy, C1-4-alkylthio, C2-4-acyl, C1-4-alkylsulphonyl, cyano, nitro, hydroxy, C2-6-alkenyl, C2-6-alkynyl, fluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, halogen, —N(R5)(R6), aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, aryl-C1-4-alkyl, aryl-C2-4-alkenyl, aryl-C2-4-alkynyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxy, heteroarylthio or heteroaryl-C1-4-alkyl, aryl-C1-4-alkoxy, aryloxy-C1-4-alkyl, dimethylamino-C2-4-alkoxy;
• and
• wherein any aryl or heteroaryl residue as substituents on aryl or heteroaryl, alone or as part of another group, in R1 or R2 in turn may be substituted in one or more postions, independently of each other by C1-4-alkyl, C1-4-alkoxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxy or dimethylamino;
• and
• R5 and R6 independently of each other are hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, or together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound form a pyrrolidine, piperazine, morpholine, thiomorpholine or a piperidine ring;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, geometrical isomer, tautomer, optical isomer, or N-oxide form thereof.