Compounds for the reduction of β-amyloid production

A compound of formula (I)

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein
• A is a nitrile group;
• B is selected from phenyl and pyridinyl, wherein the phenyl and pyridinyl are optionally substituted with one or two substituents independently selected from C1-6alkoxy, C1-6alkyl, C1-3alkylamino-C1-6alkoxy, cyano, C1-3dialkylamino-C1-6alkoxy, halo, haloC1-6alkoxy, haloC1-6alkyl, hydroxy, methylamino, and amino;
• D is selected from the group of:
• “” denotes the point of attachment to the nitrogen atom of the parent molecule;
• “” denotes the point of attachment to the ‘E’ moiety;
• Ra is selected from hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, and hydroxy;
• Rb is —NRxRy, wherein Rx and Ry are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-4alkoxy, C1-4alkoxyC1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyl, C3-7cycloalkyl, (C3-7cycloalkyl)C1-4alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, and trideuteromethyl, wherein the alkyl part of the (C3-7cycloalkyl)C1-4alkyl can be optionally substituted with a C1-4alkoxy group;
• or, Rx and Ry, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a four- to seven-membered monocyclic or bicyclic ring optionally containing one double bond and optionally containing one additional heteroatom selected from O, NRZ, and S;
• wherein Rz is selected from hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, and
• C1-4alkoxycarbonyl;
• and wherein the ring is optionally substituted with one or two substituents independently selected from C1-6alkoxy, C1-6alkyl, halo, haloC1-4alkyl, hydroxy, —NRfRg, oxo, spirocyclic dioxolanyl;
• wherein Rf and Rg are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-4alkoxycarbonyl, and C1-6alkyl;
• Rc is selected from hydrogen, C1-4alkylsulfonyl, C1-4alkylsulfonylamido, amino, C1-6alkylamino, C1-6dialkylamino, C3-7cycloalkylamino, hydroxy, and
• C1-4alkoxy;
• Rd is selected from hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-4alkoxyC1-4alkylcarbonyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, C1-6alkylsulfonyl, C3-7cycloalkylsulfonyl, C3-7cycloalkylcarbonyl, C1-6dialkylaminoC1-4alkylcarbonyl, and haloC1-4alkyl, wherein the alkyl part of the alkoxycarbonyl, the alkylcarbonyl, and the alkylsulfonyl are optionally substituted with one substituent selected from C1-4dialkylamino, and C1-4alkoxy;
• and
• E is selected from C1-6alkyl, C4-6cycloalkyl, (C4-7cycloalkyl)C1-4alkyl, benzyl, phenyl, and a five- to six-membered heteroaromatic ring containing one or two nitrogen atoms, wherein the phenyl, the phenyl part of the benzyl, and the heteroaromatic ring are each optionally substituted with one, two, or three substituents independently selected from C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, cyano, halo, halo C1-6alkoxy, and haloC1-6alkyl.