2-substituted benzimidazoles as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS)

A method of treating

• a condition selected from the group consisting of prostate carcinoma, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), hirsutism, alopecia, anorexia nervosa, breast cancer, acne, cachexia, diminished libido, male contraception, and male performance,
• comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I)
• wherein
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or lower alkyl,
• R2 and R3 are halogen;
• R4 is alkenyl or alkynyl,
• wherein the alkenyl or alkynyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, carboxy, cyano, nitro, NRERF, NRE—C(O)-lower alkyl and phenyl;
• wherein RE and RF are each independently selected from hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• and wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxy, cyano, nitro, amino, (lower alkyl)amino and di(lower alkyl)amino;
• R5 is OH;
• alternatively, R4 and R5 are taken together with the atom to which they are bound to form a ring structure selected from the group consisting of 2-pyrrolidinyl, 2-tetrahydro-furanyl, 2-(2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrolyl), 2-(2,5-dihydro-furanyl), 2-imidazolidinyl, 2-oxazolidinyl, 2-[1,3]-dioxolanyl, 2-piperidinyl, 6-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyridinyl), 2-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyridinyl), 2-tetrahydropyranyl, 6-(3,6-dihydro-2H-pyranyl), 2-(3,6-dihydro-2H-pyranyl), 2-(hexahydro-pyrimidinyl), 2-[1,3]oxazinanyl, 2-imidazolyl, and 2-[1,3]dioxanyl;
• wherein the ring structure is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, -(lower alkyl)-OH and -(lower alkyl)-(halogen);
• and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.