Prodrugs of imidazole derivatives, for use as proton pump inhibitors in the treatment of e.g. peptic ulcers

An imidazole compound represented by the formula (I):

• wherein
• ring A is a pyridine ring optionally having substituents selected from
• (1) C1-6 alkyl group, and
• (2) C1-6 alkoxy group optionally substituted by substituent(s) selected from halogen atom(s) and C1-6 alkoxy group,
• ring B is a benzene ring optionally having substituents selected from
• C1-6 alkoxy group optionally substituted by halogen atom(s),
• X1 and X2 are each an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom,
• W is a C1-6 alkylene group optionally having substituents selected from C1-6 alkyl-carbonyloxy and ethoxycarbonyloxy or a divalent group represented by the formula:
• —W1-Z-W2—
• wherein W1 and W2 are each a C1-6 alkylene group or a bond, Z is C6-14 arene, an oxygen atom, SOn wherein n is 0, 1 or 2, or >N-E wherein E is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkanoyl group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group, an aralkyloxycarbonyl group, a thiocarbamoyl group, a lower alkylsulfinyl group, a lower alkylsulfonyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a mono-lower alkylsulfamoyl group, a di-lower alkylsulfamoyl group, an arylsulfamoyl group, an arylsulfinyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, an arylcarbonyl group or a carbamoyl group, and when Z is an oxygen atom, SOn or >N-E, W1 and W2 are each C1-6 alkylene group,
• R is a group selected from
• (1) C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by C1-6 alkyl-carbonyloxy,
• (2) C3-10 cycloalkyl group, and
• (3) C6-14 aryl group optionally substituted by a group represented by —CO—NR2R3 (wherein R2 and R3 are each C1-6 alkyl group),
• D1 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or >NR1,
• D2 is a bond, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or >NR1 wherein each R1 is independently C1-6 alkyl group, and
• Y is a group selected from
• (1) C1-6 alkyl group optionally having substituent(s) selected from C1-6 alkoxy group, ethoxycarbonyloxy group, C6-14 aryl group and a group represented by —NR2R3 (wherein R2 and R3 are each C1-6 alkyl group),
• (2) C3-10 cycloalkyl group,
• (3) C6-14 aryl group optionally having substituent(s) selected from (i) halogen atom and (ii) C1-6 alkoxy group optionally having halogen atom(s), and
• (4) tetrahydropyran,
• or a salt thereof.