Imidazole compounds having pharmaceutical activity towards the sigma receptor

A method for the treatment of neuropathic pain, said method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I

• wherein
• R1 represents H, F, Cl, Br, I, OH, CF3, methyl or ethyl;
• R2 represents H, F, Cl, Br, I, OH, CF3, methyl or ethyl;
• R3 represents an optionally substituted tert-butyl;
• an unsubstituted, mono- or disubstituted cyclohexyl;
• an unsubstituted, mono- or di-substituted phenyl or an unsubstituted, mono- or di-substituted naphthyl group with substituents independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, NH2, SH, OH, SO2, and CF3;
• R4 represents H;
• R5 and R6, identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom;
• an unbranched or branched, optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group with substituents independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, NH2, SH, OH, SO2, and CF3;
• a saturated cycloalkyl group which is optionally substituted with substituents independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, NH2, SH, OH, SO2, and CF3;
• a branched or unbranched alkyl-aryl group which is optionally substituted with substituents independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, NH2, SH, OH, SO2, and CF3;
• or
• form together with the bridging nitrogen atom a piperidine;
• morpholine;
• pyrrolidine;
• azepane or piperazine group which is optionally substituted with substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, NH2, SH, OH, SO2, optionally substituted C1-6-Alkyl, optionally substituted O—C1-6-Alkyl, optionally substituted C(O)—C1-6-Alkyl, and optionally substituted C3-6-Cycloalkyl;
• preferably with substituents independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, C(O)—CH3, F, Cl, Br, I, NH2, SH, OH, SO2, CF3, and cyclohexyl;
• most preferably with substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C(O)—CH3, methyl, and cyclohexyl;
• X represents a C═O— group;
• Y represents a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, or an SO2 group;
• m is selected from 0 and 1;
• n is selected from 0 and 1;
• p is selected from 1, 2, 3, and 4;
• optionally in form of one of the stereoisomers, preferably enantiomers or diastereomers, a racemate or in form of a mixture of at least two of the stereoisomers, preferably enantiomers and/or diastereomers, in any mixing ratio, or a corresponding salt thereof.