| abstract |
Compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are disclosed:wherein 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 CH2 or oxygen and is a single bond; or X is nitrogen, Y is CH2 and is a single bond; R1 is halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-6 alkyl, haloC1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C3-7 heterocyclylC1-6 alkyl, C3-7 heterocyclyl C1-6 alkoxy; a is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; R2 is either: halogen, -CN, an optionally substituted C3-7 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, CH2, C=O, SO2 or C=N-OR3 wherein R3 is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; b is 1, 2, or 3; and B is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, C3-7 cycloalkyl, C1-6 alkoxy or NR4R5 wherein R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, C3-7 cycloalkyl, C1-6 alkanoyl, fluoroC1-6 alkanoyl, C1-6 alkylsulfonyl, fluoroC¿1-6 alkylsulfonyl, carbamoyl or C1-6 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 CH2, b is 1, and B forms the rest of an aryl or a C3-7 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 N-[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. |