| abstract |
The present invention relates to 2-aminopyridine derivatives of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein A and B are each independently H, or together, A and B form a ring fused to the phenyl ring, said ring being satured or unsatured and containing from 5 to 7 ring member atoms, where said ring member atoms may optionally comprise from 1 to 2 heteroatoms selected independently from the group consisting of N, O or S, provided that no two adjacent ring members are heteroatoms; X is oxygen or a single bond; Y is (C1-C6)alkyl; R1 is hydrogen, (C¿1?-C6)alkyl or a (C1-C6 alkyl) group substituted with -NR?2R3¿ wherein R?2 and R3¿ are either selected independently from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or tetrahydronaphthalene, wherein said aryl group or said aryl moiety of said aralkyl group is phenyl or naphthyl, said alkyl group or said alkyl moiety of said aralkyl group contains from one to six carbon atoms and is straight-chained or branched, and said aryl group, said tetrahydronaphthalene or said aryl moiety of said aralkyl group is optionally substituted with from one to three of halogen, nitro, cyano, amino, (C¿1?-C4)alkoxy and (C1-C4)alkylamino moieties, or R?2 and R3¿ form, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a heterocyclic ring, or a cyclic or bicyclic ring which is saturated or unsaturated. The compounds of the invention have the ability to inhibit the activity of nitric oxide synthases (NOS), and hence, are useful in the treatment of diseases, conditions and disorders of the central nervous system, among others. |