Fused heterocyclic derivatives and methods of use   

Abstract: Selected compounds are effective for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, such as HGF mediated diseases. The invention encompasses novel compounds, analogs, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and other maladies or conditions involving, cancer and the like. The subject invention also relates to processes for making such compounds as well as to intermediates useful in such processes.

This application is a Continuation U.S. patent application of and claims benefit to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/287,791 filed Oct. 14, 2008, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/009,123 filed Jan. 15, 2008, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/879,034 filed Jul. 13, 2007 which claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/830,882 filed Jul. 14, 2006, the entirety of which each is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of pharmaceutical agents and specifically relates to compounds, compositions, uses and methods for treating cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protein kinases represent a large family of proteins, which play a central role in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular processes, maintaining control over cellular function. A partial list of such kinases includes ab1, Akt, bcr-ab1, Blk, Brk, Btk, c-kit, c-Met, c-src, c-fms, CDK1, CDK2, CDK3, CDK4, CDK5, CDK6, CDK7, CDK8, CDK9, CDK10, cRaf1, CSF1R, CSK, EGFR, ErbB2, ErbB3, ErbB4, Erk, Fak, fes, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, FGFR5, Fgr, flt-1, Fps, Frk, Fyn, Hck, IGF-1R, INS-R, Jak, KDR, Lck, Lyn, MEK, p38, PDGFR, PIK, PKC, PYK2, ros, tie, tie2, TRK, Yes, and Zap70 Inhibition of such kinases has become an important therapeutic target.

The hepatocyte growth factor receptor (“c-Met”) is a unique receptor tyrosine kinase shown to be overexpressed in a variety of malignancies. c-Met typically comprises, in its native form, a 190-kDa heterodimeric (a disulfide-linked 50-kDa α-chain and a 145-kDa β-chain) membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase protein (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84:6379-6383 (1987)). c-Met is mainly expressed in epithelial cells and stimulation of c-Met leads to scattering, angiogenesis, proliferation and metastasis. (See Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews, 13:41-59 (2002)).

The ligand for c-Met is hepatocyte growth factor (also known as scatter factor, HGF and SF). HGF is a heterodimeric protein secreted by cells of mesodermal origin (Nature, 327:239-242 (1987); J. Cell Biol., 111:2097-2108 (1990)).

Various biological activities have been described for HGF through interaction with c-met (Hepatocyte Growth Factor-Scatter Factor (HGF-SF) and the c-Met Receptor, Goldberg and Rosen, eds., Birkhauser Verlag-Basel, 67-79 (1993). The biological effect of HGF/SF may depend in part on the target cell. HGF induces a spectrum of biological activities in epithelial cells, including mitogenesis, stimulation of cell motility and promotion of matrix invasion (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 122:1450-1459 (1984); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 88:415-419 (1991)). It stimulates the motility and invasiveness of carcinoma cells, the former having been implicated in the migration of cells required for metastasis. HGF can also act as a “scatter factor”, an activity that promotes the dissociation of epithelial and vascular endothelial cells (Nature, 327:239-242 (1987); J. Cell Biol., 111:2097-2108 (1990); EMBO J., 10:2867-2878 (1991); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90:649-653 (1993)). Therefore, HGF is thought to be important in tumor invasion (Hepatocyte Growth Factor-Scatter Factor (HGF-SF) and the C-Met Receptor, Goldberg and Rosen, eds., Birkhauser Verlag-Basel, 131-165 (1993)).

HGF and c-Met are expressed at abnormally high levels in a large variety of solid tumors. High levels of HGF and/or c-Met have been observed in liver, breast, pancreas, lung, kidney, bladder, ovary, brain, prostate, gallbladder and myeloma tumors in addition to many others. The role of HGF/c-Met in metastasis has been investigated in mice using cell lines transformed with HGF/c-Met (J. Mol. Med., 74:505-513 (1996)). Overexpression of the c-Met oncogene has also been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of thyroid tumors derived from follicular epithelium (Oncogene, 7:2549-2553 (1992)). HGF is a morphogen (Development, 110:1271-1284 (1990); Cell, 66:697-711 (1991)) and a potent angiogenic factor (J. Cell Biol., 119:629-641 (1992)).

Recent work on the relationship between inhibition of angiogenesis and the suppression or reversion of tumor progression shows great promise in the treatment of cancer (Nature, 390:404-407 (1997)), especially the use of multiple angiogenesis inhibitors compared to the effect of a single inhibitor. Angiogenesis can be stimulated by HGF, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).

Angiogenesis, the process of sprouting new blood vessels from existing vasculature and arteriogenesis, the remodeling of small vessels into larger conduit vessels are both physiologically important aspects of vascular growth in adult tissues. These processes of vascular growth are required for beneficial processes such as tissue repair, wound healing, recovery from tissue ischemia and menstrual cycling. They are also required for the development of pathological conditions such as the growth of neoplasias, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, certain forms of macular degeneration, and certain inflammatory pathologies. The inhibition of vascular growth in these contexts has also shown beneficial effects in preclinical animal models. For example, inhibition of angiogenesis by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor or its receptor has resulted in inhibition of tumor growth and in retinopathy. Also, the development of pathological pannus tissue in rheumatoid arthritis involves angiogenesis and might be blocked by inhibitors of angiogenesis.

The ability to stimulate vascular growth has potential utility for treatment of ischemia-induced pathologies such as myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. The sprouting of new vessels and/or the expansion of small vessels in ischemic tissues prevents ischemic tissue death and induces tissue repair. Certain diseases are known to be associated with deregulated angiogenesis, for example ocular neovascularization, such as retinopathies (including diabetic retinopathy), age-related macular degeneration, psoriasis, hemangioblastoma, hemangioma, arteriosclerosis, inflammatory disease, such as a rheumatoid or rheumatic inflammatory disease, especially arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis), or other chronic inflammatory disorders, such as chronic asthma, arterial or post-transplantational atherosclerosis, endometriosis, and neoplastic diseases, for example so-called solid tumors and liquid tumors (such as leukemias). Treatment of malaria and related viral diseases may also be mediated by HGF and cMet.

Elevated levels of HGF and c-Met have also been observed in non-oncological settings, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction and rheumatoid arthritis. It has been observed that levels of HGF increase in the plasma of patients with hepatic failure (Gohda et al., supra) and in the plasma (Hepatol., 13:734-750 (1991)) or serum (J. Biochem., 109:8-13 (1991)) of animals with experimentally induced liver damage. HGF has also been shown to be a mitogen for certain cell types, including melanocytes, renal tubular cells, keratinocytes, certain endothelial cells and cells of epithelial origin (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 176:45-51 (1991); Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 174:831-838 (1991); Biochem., 30:9768-9780 (1991); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:415-419 (1991)). Both HGF and the c-Met proto-oncogene have been postulated to play a role in microglial reactions to CNS injuries (Oncogene, 8:219-222 (1993)).

Metastatic SCC cells overexpress c-Met and have enhanced tumoregenesis and metastasis in vivo [G. Gong et al., Oncogene, 23:6199-6208 (2004)]. C-Met is required for tumor cell survival [N. Shinomiya et al., Cancer Research, 64:7962-7970 (2004)]. For a general review see C. Birchmeier et al., Nature Reviews/Molecular Biology 4:915-925 (2003).

In view of the role of HGF and/or c-Met in potentiating or promoting such diseases or pathological conditions, it would be useful to have a means of substantially reducing or inhibiting one or more of the biological effects of HGF and its receptor. Thus a compound that reduces the effect of HGF would be a useful compound. Compounds of the current invention have not been previously described as inhibitors of angiogenesis such as for the treatment of cancer.

Sugen application WO 05/010005 describes certain Triazolotriazine compounds that are c-met inhibitors. Diamon Shamrock Corp. application WO 83/00864 discloses certain Triazolotriazine compounds that are useful as anti-inflammatory agents. Yamanouchi applications EP 1481955 and US 2005/0261297 disclose certain nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds that are therapeutic agents having a bone formation-stimulating effect.

Compounds of the current invention are inhibitors of c-Met.

A class of compounds useful in treating cancer and angiogenesis is defined by Formulae I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII

enantiomers, diastereomers, salts and solvates thereof wherein J is N or CR3; W is N or CR2b; W* is N or CR2b; X is O or S; Z and Z* are independently —O—, —S(O)v—, or —NR5—; Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd are each independently H, halo, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl, —NO2, —CN, —NR5R5a, —OR4, —C(═O)R4, —C(═O)OR4; —C(═O)NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═O)NR5R5a, —OC(═O)NR5R5a, —S(O)vR4, —S(O)2NR5R5a, —N(R5)SO2R4 any of which may be optionally independently substituted with one or more R10 groups as allowed by valance; or Ra and Rb together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded may combine to form a 3-10 membered cycloalkyl, a 3-10membered cycloalkenyl ring, or a heterocyclo ring, any of which may be optionally substituted with one or more R10 groups as allowed by valance; or Rc and Rd together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded may combine to form a 3-10 membered cycloalkyl, a 3-10membered cycloalkenyl ring, or a heterocyclo ring, any of which may be optionally substituted with one or more R10 groups as allowed by valance; or Ra and/or Rb may combine with any Rc or Rd to form a partially or fully saturated 3-8 membered cycloalkyl ring or heterocyclo ring, either of which may be optionally substituted with one or more R10 groups as allowed by valance; or Ra and Rb may combine to form a carbonyl group; or Rc and Rd attached to the same carbon atom may combine to form a carbonyl group; R1 is aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclo any of which may be optionally independently substituted with one or more R10 groups as allowed by valance; R2 is (i) H, halo, cyano, nitro, or (ii) alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, —OR4, —S(O)vR4, —NR5R5a, —C(═O)R4, —C(═S)R4, —C(═O)OR4, —C(═S)OR4, —C(═O)NR5R5a, —C(═S)NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═O)NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═S)NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═O)R4, —N(R5)C(═S)R4, —OC(═O)NR5R5a, —OC(═S)NR5R5a, —SO2NR5R5a, —N(R5)SO2R4, —N(R5)SO2NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═O)OR4, —N(R5)C(═S)OR4, —N(R5)SO2R4, any of which may be optionally independently substituted with one or more R10 as allowed by valance, provided that in compounds of formula I when W and J are both N, R2 is other than (a) —NR5R5a where R5 and R5a are independently H, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and cycloalkylalkyl; and (b) phenyl substituted with a group

where G1 and G2 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, or G1 and G2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached combine to form a 5- to 8-membered heterocyclo ring; R2a, R2b and R3 are independently selected at each occurrence from H, halo, cyano, nitro, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, —OR4, —S(O)vR4, —NR5R5a, —C(═O)R4, —C(═S)R4, —C(═O)OR4, —C(═S)OR4, —C(═O)NR5R5a, —C(═S)NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═O)NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═S)NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═O)R4, —N(R5)C(═S)R4, —OC(═O)NR5R5a, —OC(═S)NR5R5a, —SO2NR5R5a, —N(R5)SO2R4, —N(R5)SO2NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═O)OR4, —N(R5)C(═S)OR4, —N(R5)SO2R4, any of which may be optionally independently substituted with one or more R10 groups as allowed by valance; R4 is independently selected at each occurrence from H, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and cycloalkylalkyl, any of which may be optionally independently substituted as allowed by valance with one or more R10 groups; R5 and R5a are independently selected at each occurrence from H, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and cycloalkylalkyl, any of which may be optionally substituted as allowed by valance with one or more R10; or R5 and R5a may combine to form a heterocyclo ring optionally substituted with one or more R10; R10 at each occurrence is independently, halo, cyano, nitro, oxo, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, -(alkylene)m-OR4, -(alkylene)m-S(O)vR4, -(alkylene)m-NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═S)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)OR4, -(alkylene)m-OC(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═S)OR4, -(alkylene)mC(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)mC(═S)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═S)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═S)R4, -(alkylene)m-OC(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-OC(═S)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-SO2NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)SO2R4, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)SO2NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)OR4, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═S)OR4, or -(alkylene)m-N(R5)SO2R4; wherein said alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclo, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, and heterocycloalkyl groups may be further independently substituted with one or more -(alkylene)m-OR4, -(alkylene)m-S(O)vR4, -(alkylene)m-NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═S)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)OR4, -(alkylene)m-OC(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═S)OR4, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-C(═S)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═S)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═S)R4, -(alkylene)m-OC(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-OC(═S)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-SO2NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)SO2R4, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)SO2NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)OR4, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═S)OR4, or -(alkylene)m-N(R5)SO2R4; and further wherein any two R10 groups attached to the same atom or attached to adjacent atoms may combine to form an optionally substituted 3- to 8 membered ring system; m is 0 or 1; n is 0, 1 or 2; q and t are each independently 0 or 1; v is 0, 1 or 2.

Preferred compounds include compounds wherein R1 is phenyl, naphthyl, benzodioxolyl, benzooxazolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazidinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinolinyl, quinazolinyl, quinazolinonyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, benzotriazinyl, triazolopyridinyl, triazolopyrimidinyl, triazolopyridazinyl, imidazopyridinyl, imidazopyrimidinyl, imidazopyridazinyl, pyrrolopyridinyl, pyrrolopyrimidinyl, pyrrolopyridazinyl, pyrazolopyridinyl, pyrazolopyrimidinyl, pyrazolopyridazinyl, cinnolinyl, thienopyridinyl, thienopyrimidinyl, thienopyridazinyl, furopyridinyl, furopyrimidinyl, furopyrazidinyl, benzofuranyl, benzoimidazolyl, indolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoisothiazolyl, pyridopyrimidinyl, oxazolopyridinyl, thiazolopyridinyl, pyrazolopyrazinyl, triazolopyrazinyl and triazolopyridinyl any of which may be optionally independently substituted with one or more R10 groups as allowed by valance.

Preferred R1 groups include

where m* is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, as allowed by valence.

Especially preferred R1 groups include

where R10a, R10b, R10y and R10z are independently absent, halo, cyano, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, -(alkylene)m-OR4, -(alkylene)m-NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)OR4, -(alkylene)m-OC(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-OC(═O)NR5R5a, or -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)OR4; or where R10a and R10b combine to form an optionally substituted 3- to 8-membered ring system.

Preferred R1 groups further include

wherein a is a bond or is absent;

m+ is 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Most preferred R1 groups include moieties that are either unsubstituted or independently substituted as allowed by valance with one or more halo, cyano, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, -(alkylene)m-OR4, -(alkylene)m-NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)OR4, -(alkylene)m-OC(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-C(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)NR5R5a, -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)R4, -(alkylene)m-OC(═O)NR5R5a, or -(alkylene)m-N(R5)C(═O)OR4.

Preferred compounds of the present invention further include compounds wherein R2 is H, halo, cyano, alkynyl, —C(═O)NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═O)R4, —N(R5)C(═O)OR4, phenyl, naphthyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, thienyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyridinyl, tetrahydropyridinyl, pyridinonyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, indolinonyl, isoidolinyl, isoindolinonyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydroisobenzofuranyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinazolinyl, quinazolinonyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, dihydroquinolinonyl, dihydroisoquinolinonyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrahydroquinoxalinyl, benzomorpholinyl, dihydrobenzodioxinyl, imidazopyridinyl, naphthyridinyl, benzotriazinyl, triazolopyridinyl, triazolopyrimidinyl, triazolopyridazinyl, imidazopyridinyl, imidazopyrimidinyl, imidazopyridazinyl, pyrrolopyridinyl, pyrrolopyrimidinyl, pyrrolopyridazinyl, pyrazolopyridinyl, pyrazolopyrimidinyl, pyrazolopyridazinyl, cinnolinyl, thienopyrrolyl, tetrahydrothienopyrrolyl, dihydrothienopyrrolonyl, thienopyridinyl, thienopyrimidinyl, thienopyridazinyl, furopyridinyl, furopyrimidinyl, furopyrazidinyl, benzofuranyl, benzoimidazolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, or benzoisothiazolyl any of which may be optionally independently substituted with one or more R10 groups as allowed by valance.

Preferred R2 groups include (a) halo, alkynyl, —C(═O)NR5R5a, —N(R5)C(═O)R4 or —N(R5)C(═O)OR4 any of which may be optionally independently substituted with one or more R10 groups as allowed by valance; and (b) an aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclo ring system selected from

where m* is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, as allowed by valence.

Preferred compounds of the present invention include compounds having either or both of preferred R1 groups and preferred R2 groups either alone or in any combination thereof.

Preferred compounds of the present invention include compounds wherein Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd groups are independently hydrogen, alkyl (especially methyl), and halogen (especially fluorine).

Preferred compounds within the scope of formula I and II include compounds of the following formualae IA, IB, IC, ID and IIA

enantiomers, diastereomers, salts and solvates thereof, wherein variables Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R1, R2, R2a, R2b, R3, Z, Z*, n, q and t are as previously defined above. Preferred compounds of formulae IA, IB, IC, ID and IIA include compounds having any of the preferred R1 groups and R2 groups, either alone or in any combination thereof.

Preferred compounds within the scope of formula I and II also include compounds having the following formula IE, IF, IIB and IIC

enantiomers, diastereomers, salts and solvates thereof wherein variables Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R2, R2a, R2b, and Z*, are as previously defined above, provided that in compounds of formula IE R2 is not phenyl substituted with a group

where G1 and G2 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, or G1 and G2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached combine to form a 5- to 8-membered heterocyclo ring; and further wherein q is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n* is 0, 1 or 2; t* is 0 or 1 U1, U2, U3 and U4 are each independently C, or N; and R10c at each occurrence is independently selected from the groups listed in the definition of R10 previously described above. Preferred compounds of formulae IE, IF, IIB and IIC include compounds having any of the preferred R2 groups described above.

Preferred compounds within the scope of formulae IE and IF include compounds of the following formula IEi, IEii, IEiii, IEiv, IFi, IFii, IFiii and IFiv

enantiomers, diastereomers, salts and solvates thereof.

Preferred compounds within the scope of formula I further include compounds of the following formula IEA and IFA

enantiomers, diastereomers, salts and solvates thereof wherein variables Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R2, R2a, R2b, R10c, U1, U2, U3, Z*, n*, q, and t*are as previously defined above provided that in compounds of formula IEA R2 is not phenyl substituted with a group

where G1 and G2 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, or G1 and G2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached combine to form a 5- to 8-membered heterocyclo ring. Preferred compounds of formulae IEA and IFA include compounds having any of the preferred R2 groups described above.

Preferred compounds of formulae IEA and IFA include compounds of formulae IEAi, IEAii, IEAiii, IFAi, IFAii and IFAiii

enantiomers, diastereomers, salts and solvates thereof.

Preferred compounds within the scope of formula I further include compounds of the following formula IG or IH

Wherein U is CR10c or N, and variables Ra, Rb, R2, R2a, R2b, R10a, R10b, R10c, and Z*, are as previously defined above, provided that in compounds of formula IG R2 is not phenyl substituted with a group

where G1 and G2 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, or G1 and G2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached combine to form a 5- to 8-membered heterocyclo ring. Preferred compounds of formulae IG and IH include compounds having any of the preferred R2 groups described above.

Preferred compounds within the scope of formula I further include compounds of the following formula IG or IH

Where a is a bond or is absent; U5 is C or N; U6 is NH, O or S; and m+ is 0, 1, 2 or 3. Preferred compounds of formulae IJ and IK include compounds having any of the preferred R2 groups described above.

Preferred compounds of the present invention include the compounds exemplified herein.

The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the above compounds, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or carrier.

The invention also relates to a method of treating cancer in a subject using the above compounds.

The invention also relates to a method of reducing tumor size in a subject using the above compounds.

The invention also relates to a method of reducing metastasis in a tumor in a subject, using the above compounds.

The invention also relates to a method of treating HGF-mediated disorders in a subject using the above compounds.

Compounds of the present invention would be useful for, but not limited to, the prevention or treatment of angiogenesis related diseases. The compounds of the invention have c-Met inhibitory activity. The compounds of the invention are useful in therapy as antineoplasia agents or to minimize deleterious effects of HGF.

Compounds of the invention would be useful for the treatment of neoplasia including cancer and metastasis, including, but not limited to: carcinoma such as cancer of the bladder, breast, colon, kidney, liver, lung (including small cell lung cancer), esophagus, gall-bladder, ovary, pancreas, stomach, cervix, thyroid, prostate, and skin (including squamous cell carcinoma); hematopoietic tumors of lymphoid lineage (including leukemia, acute lymphocitic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, T-cell-lymphoma, Hodgkin\'s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma, hairy cell lymphoma and Burkett\'s lymphoma); hematopoietic tumors of myeloid lineage (including acute and chronic myelogenous leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome and promyelocytic leukemia); tumors of mesenchymal origin (including fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, and other sarcomas, e.g. soft tissue and bone); tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system (including astrocytoma, neuroblastoma, glioma and schwannomas); and other tumors (including melanoma, seminoma, teratocarcinoma, osteosarcoma, xenoderoma pigmentosum, keratoctanthoma, thyroid follicular cancer and Kaposi\'s sarcoma).

Preferably, the compounds are useful for the treatment of neoplasia selected from lung cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer.

The compounds also would be useful for treatment of ophthalmological conditions such as corneal graft rejection, ocular neovascularization, retinal neovascularization including neovascularization following injury or infection, diabetic retinopathy, retrolental fibroplasia and neovascular glaucoma; retinal ischemia; vitreous hemorrhage; ulcerative diseases such as gastric ulcer; pathological, but non-malignant, conditions such as hemangiomas, including infantile hemaginomas, angiofibroma of the nasopharynx and avascular necrosis of bone; and disorders of the female reproductive system such as endometriosis. The compounds are also useful for the treatment of edema, and conditions of vascular hyperpermeability.

The compounds of the invention are useful in therapy of proliferative diseases. These compounds can be used for the treatment of an inflammatory rheumatoid or rheumatic disease, especially of manifestations at the locomotor apparatus, such as various inflammatory rheumatoid diseases, especially chronic polyarthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis or psoriasis arthropathy; paraneoplastic syndrome or tumor-induced inflammatory diseases, turbid effusions, collagenosis, such as systemic Lupus erythematosus, poly-myositis, dermato-myositis, systemic sclerodermia or mixed collagenosis; postinfectious arthritis (where no living pathogenic organism can be found at or in the affected part of the body), seronegative spondylarthritis, such as spondylitis ankylosans; vasculitis, sarcoidosis, or arthrosis; or further any combinations thereof. An example of an inflammation related disorder is (a) synovial inflammation, for example, synovitis, including any of the particular forms of synovitis, in particular bursal synovitis and purulent synovitis, as far as it is not crystal-induced. Such synovial inflammation may for example, be consequential to or associated with disease, e.g. arthritis, e.g. osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis deformans. The present invention is further applicable to the systemic treatment of inflammation, e.g. inflammatory diseases or conditions, of the joints or locomotor apparatus in the region of the tendon insertions and tendon sheaths. Such inflammation may be, for example, consequential to or associated with disease or further (in a broader sense of the invention) with surgical intervention, including, in particular conditions such as insertion endopathy, myofasciale syndrome and tendomyosis. The present invention is further especially applicable to the treatment of inflammation, e.g. inflammatory disease or condition, of connective tissues including dermatomyositis and myositis.

These compounds can be used as active agents against such disease states as arthritis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, hemangiomas, myocardial angiogenesis, coronary and cerebral collaterals, ischemic limb angiogenesis, wound healing, peptic ulcer Helicobacter related diseases, fractures, cat scratch fever, rubeosis, neovascular glaucoma and retinopathies such as those associated with diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. In addition, some of these compounds can be used as active agents against solid tumors, malignant ascites, hematopoietic cancers and hyperproliferative disorders such as thyroid hyperplasia (especially Grave\'s disease), and cysts (such as hypervascularity of ovarian stroma, characteristic of polycystic ovarian syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome)) since such diseases require a proliferation of blood vessel cells for growth and/or metastasis.

Further, some of these compounds can be used as active agents against burns, chronic lung disease, stroke, polyps, anaphylaxis, chronic and allergic inflammation, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, brain tumor-associated cerebral edema, high-altitude, trauma or hypoxia induced cerebral or pulmonary edema, ocular and macular edema, ascites, and other diseases where vascular hyperpermeability, effusions, exudates, protein extravasation, or edema is a manifestation of the disease. The compounds will also be useful in treating disorders in which protein extravasation leads to the deposition of fibrin and extracellular matrix, promoting stromal proliferation (e.g. fibrosis, cirrhosis and carpal tunnel syndrome).

The compounds of the present invention are also useful in the treatment of ulcers including bacterial, fungal, Mooren ulcers and ulcerative colitis.

The compounds of the present invention are also useful in the treatment of conditions wherein undesired angiogenesis, edema, or stromal deposition occurs in viral infections such as Herpes simplex, Herpes Zoster, AIDS, Kaposi\'s sarcoma, protozoan infections and toxoplasmosis, following trauma, radiation, stroke, endometriosis, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, systemic lupus, sarcoidosis, synovitis, Crohn\'s disease, sickle cell anemia, Lyme disease, pemphigoid, Paget\'s disease, hyperviscosity syndrome, Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, chronic inflammation, chronic occlusive pulmonary disease, asthma, and inflammatory rheumatoid or rheumatic disease. The compounds are also useful in the reduction of subcutaneous fat and for the treatment of obesity.

The compounds of the present invention are also useful in the treatment of ocular conditions such as ocular and macular edema, ocular neovascular disease, scleritis, radial keratotomy, uveitis, vitritis, myopia, optic pits, chronic retinal detachment, post-laser complications, glaucoma, conjunctivitis, Stargardt\'s disease and Eales disease in addition to retinopathy and macular degeneration.