Use of and some novel imidazopyridines

A compound of formula (Id)

• wherein:
• R3 represents halogen, CN, C1 to 3 alkyl or C1 to 3 alkoxy;
• Ar represents phenyl, a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring or an indole ring;
• said
• heteroaromatic ring incorporating 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N and S;
• R1 represents H, halogen, CN, C1 to 6 alkyl, NO2, SO2Me, C1 to 6 alkynyl, CH2OH, OR2, (CH2)nNR4R5 or phenyl optionally substituted by NH2;
• m represents an integer 1 or 2;
• and when m represents 2, each R1 may be selected independently;
• n represents an integer 0 or 1;
• R2 represents H or C1 to 4 alkyl;
• said C1 to 4 alkyl being optionally further substituted by a group selected from Ar1, CONH2, CO2Et, OH, NR6R7, halogen and epoxy;
• and when substituted by NR6R7 or halogen, said alkyl is optionally further substituted by OH;
• R4 represents H, C1 to 4 alkyl or CH2Ar2;
• R5 represents H, C1 to 6 alkyl, C2 to 6 alkanoyl, SO2—Ar5 or CH2Ar2;
• said alkyl group
• being optionally further substituted by a 5 to 7 membered saturated azacyclic ring optionally incorporating one additional heteroatom selected from O, S and NR8;
• or the group —NR4R5 together represents a 5 to 7 membered saturated azacyclic ring optionally incorporating one additional heteroatom selected from O, S and NR8;
• R6 represents H, C1 to 4 alkyl or CH2CH2OCH3;
• R7 represents H, C1 to 6 alkyl, C3 to 6 cycloalkyl, Ar3, a 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring incorporating 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected independently from O, N and S and optionally substituted by Me, Et or CO2Et;
• said C1 to 6 alkyl being optionally substituted by one or more groups selected independently from OH, CN, CONMe2, CONHMe, C1 to 4 alkoxy, halogen, NMe2, Ar4, and a 5 or 6 membered saturated heterocyclic ring incorporating 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected independently from O, N and S and optionally also incorporating a carbonyl group;
• said C3 to 6 cycloalkyl being optionally substituted by OH or CN;
• or the group —NR6R7 together represents a 5 to 7 membered saturated azacyclic ring optionally incorporating 1 additional heteroatom selected from O and NR9;
• and
• optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected independently from OH, NMe2, CONH2, CH2OH, CH2CH2OH, phenyl, pyridyl, piperidinyl or methoxyphenyl;
• R8 represents H, C1 to 6 alkyl or CH2Ph;
• R9 represents CH2CH2OH, COCH3, Me, CO2Et, CH2CH2OMe or a six membered aromatic or azaaromatic ring optionally further substituted by one or more substituents selected independently from Cl, CN, OMe and CF3;
• R10 represents halogen, CN, C1 to 4 alkyl, C1 to 4 alkoxy, NR14R15 or a group —X—Y—Z;
• R14 and R15 independently represent H or C1 to 4 alkyl;
• said alkyl being optionally further substituted by OH;
• X represents O, S, a bond or NR16 wherein R16 represents H or C1 to 4 alkyl;
• said alkyl being optionally further substituted by OH;
• Y represents C1 to 4 alkyl or a bond;
• Z represents:
• i) phenyl, naphthyl or a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring system containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, N and S;
• or
• ii) a five- or six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, N and S;
• said ring optionally being benzo fused;
• or
• iii) C3 to 6 cycloalkyl;
• said ring Z being optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, OH, C1 to 4 alkyl, C1 to 4 alkoxy, hydroxymethyl, methylsulphonyl and NR17R18;
• R17 and R18 independently represent H, C1 to 4 alkyl, formyl or C2 to alkanoyl;
• or the group NR17R18 together represents a saturated 5 to 7 membered azacyclic ring optionally containing one further heteroatom selected from O, N and S;
• Ar1 represents phenyl, thiazolyl or thiadiazolyl, optionally further substituted by halogen;
• Ar2 represents phenyl, a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring or a benzimidazole ring;
• said heteroaromatic ring incorporating 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N and S;
• said phenyl or heteroaromatic or benzimidazole ring being optionally further substituted by one or two groups independently selected from halogen, C1 to 4 alkyl, CN, CH2OH, C1 to 4 alkoxy, CO2Me, CH2OAc and pyridyl;
• Ar3 represents thiazolyl, triazolyl or tetrazolyl;
• Ar4 represents phenyl, a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring or an indole ring;
• said heteroaromatic ring incorporating 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N and S;
• said phenyl, heteroaromatic or indole ring being optionally further substituted by one or two groups independently selected from halogen and OMe;
• Ar5 represents phenyl, a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring or a quinoline ring;
• said heteroaromatic ring incorporating 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N and S;
• said phenyl or heteroaromatic or quinoline ring being optionally further substituted by halogen, C1 to 4 allyl, CN, C1 to 4 alkoxy, and OCH2CH2CN;
• with the proviso that when R10 represents halogen, C1 to 4 alkyl, C1 to 4 alkoxy or NH2;
• and Ar represents phenyl;
• then said phenyl is not substituted at the 4-position by C1 to 2 alkoxy, OH, halogen or C1 to 4 alkyl.