| abstract |
Compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are disclosed: n n nwherein A is optionally substituted phenyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, quinazolinyl, indazolyl or isoquinolinyl; X is carbon, Y is CH and ═ is a double bond; or X is CH, Y is CH 2 or oxygen and ═ is a single bond; or X is nitrogen, Y is CH 2 and ═ is a single bond; R 1 is halogen, cyano, nitro, C 1-6 alkyl, haloC 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, C 3-7 heterocyclylC 1-6 alkyl, C 3-7 heterocyclyl C 1-6 alkoxy; a is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; R2 is either: halogen, —CN, an optionally substituted C 3-7 cycloalkyl, an optionally substituted aryl or an optionally substituted C-linked 3-7 membered heterocyclic group; or a group -(Z)b-B wherein: (i) Z is oxygen, CH 2 , C═O, SO 2 or C═N—OR3 wherein R3 is hydrogen or C 1-6 alkyl; b is 1, 2, or 3; and B is hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy or NR4R5 wherein R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, C 1-6 alkanoyl, fluoroC 1-6 alkanoyl, C 1-6 alkylsulfonyl, fluoroC 1-6 alkylsulfonyl, carbamoyl or C 1-6 alkylcarbamoyl, or R4 and R5, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form part of an optionally substituted 3 to 7 membered heterocyclic group; or (ii) Z is oxygen, CH or CH 2 , b is 1, and B forms the rest of an aryl or a C 3-7 heterocyclic group fused to the phenyl ring; excluding 1-[2-[2-(phenylmethyl)phenoxy]ethyl]-4-[(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-piperazine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and nN-[4-[2-[4-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-1-piperazinyl]ethoxy]phenyl]-ethanesulfonamide and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Methods of preparing the compounds and uses of the compounds in therapy, in particular for CNS disorders such as depression and anxiety, are also disclosed. |