EP0888299A1

EP0888299A1 - Sulphur derivatives with a retroamide bond as endothelin-converting enzyme inhibitors

Info

Publication number: EP0888299A1
Application number: EP97907159A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pierre Deprez; Jacques Dumas; Jacques Guillaume
Original assignee: Hoechst Marion Roussel; Hoechst Marion Roussel Inc
Current assignee: Aventis Pharma SA
Priority date: 1996-03-04
Filing date: 1997-03-03
Publication date: 1999-01-07
Also published as: TR199801750T2; IL125961A0; CA2248188A1; FR2745570A1; US20020161030A1; KR19990087485A; BR9707908A; FR2745570B1; NO984048D0; AU1930797A; NO984048L; CN1217713A; PL328705A1; RU2215526C2; AU722680B2; US6420341B1; JP2000506156A; WO1997032849A1

Abstract

Products of formula (I), wherein R1 is particularly phenyl or biphenyl optionally substituted by halogen, n1 and n2 are 0 or 1, R2 is particularly hydrogen or methyl substituted by phenyl, which may in turn be substituted, and A is particularly carboxy or alkyl substituted particularly by phenoxy, as well as all isomers and organic and inorganic base addition salts thereof, are disclosed.

Description

SULFUR DERIVATIVES HAVING A RETRO-AMID BINDING AS ENDOTHELIN CONVERSION ENZYME INHIBITORS

The present invention relates to new sulfur derivatives comprising a retroamide bond, their preparation process, the new intermediates obtained, their application as medicaments, the pharmaceutical compositions containing them and the new use of such derivatives.

The subject of the present invention is the products of formula (I):

HS "(CHgJn, ^• NH — C" (NH) n ₂ A

© O

in which :

R. ^ represents a phenyl or biphenyl radical optionally substituted by one or more radicals chosen from halogen atoms, optionally protected hydroxyl radicals, linear or branched alkoxy containing at most 4 carbon atoms, cyano, free carboxy, salified, esterified or amidified, benzyloxy and the dioxol radical, ni and n2, identical or different, represent the whole 0 or 1, R ₂ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical substituted by a phenyl, phenylthio or indolyl radical and optionally by a second phenyl radical, these phenyl, phenylthio and indolyl radicals being optionally substituted by one or more radicals chosen from halogen atoms, optionally protected hydroxyl radicals, linear or branched alkoxy containing at most 4 carbon atoms, cyano, carboxy free, salified, esterified or amidi¬ fied, benzyloxy, thienyl, naphthyl and phenyl, these last three radicals being themselves possibly substituted by one or more radicals chosen from halogen atoms, optionally protected hydroxyl radicals, linear or branched alkoxy containing at most 4 carbon atoms, cyano and free, salified, esterified or amidated carboxy, A represents the free carboxy radical , salified, esterified or amidified, the free or salified tetrazolyl radical, or an alkyl radical, containing at most 10 carbon atoms and substituted by a radical chosen from free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radicals, optionally protected hydroxyl radicals, alkoxy containing at most 4 carbon atoms, phenoxy, phenyl, naphthyl, thienyl, indolyl and pyridyl, these radicals being optionally substituted by one or more radicals chosen from halogen atoms, optionally protected hydroxyl radicals, linear or branched alkoxy at most 4 carbon atoms, cyano and carboxy free, salified, esterified or amidified, (T) and (2 ) I ⁿ diquant centers, if any, asymmetrical products of formula (I), said products of formula (I) being in all possible racemic isomers, enantiomers and diastereoisomers possi¬ ble, as well as the addition salts with mineral and organic acids or with the mineral and organic bases of said products of formula (I).

In the products of formula (I) and in the following: - the term linear or branched alkyl radical designates the methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobu¬ tyle, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl radicals , hexyl, isohexyl and also heptyl, octyl, nonyl and decyl as well as their linear or branched position isomers, - the term linear or branched alkoxy radical designates the methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, linear butoxy, secondary or tertiary, pentoxy radicals or hexoxy as well as their linear or branched position isomers, - the term halogen atom preferably designates the chlorine atom, but can also represent a fluorine, bromine or iodine atom.

The hydroxyl radical may in particular be in the form of a trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy radical. The carboxy radical (s) of the products of formula (I) can be salified or esterified by various groups known to those skilled in the art, among which there may be mentioned, for example: - among the salification compounds, mineral bases those which, for example, an equivalent of sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium or ammonium or organic bases such as, for example, methylamine, propylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, tri- ethylamine, N, N-dimethylethanolamine, tris (hydroxy-methyl) amino methane, ethanolamine, pyridine, picoline, dicyclohexylamine, morpholine, benzylamine, procaine, lysine, arginine, histidine, N-methyl-glucamine. The sodium or potassium salts are preferred,

- among the esterification compounds, the alkyl radicals to form alkoxy carbonyl or arylalkoxycarbonyl groups, such as, for example, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, n-propoxy- and isopropoxy-carbonyl, n-butoxy-, isobutoxy- and tert-butoxycarbonyl or benzyloxycarbonyl, these alkyl radicals being able to be substituted by radicals chosen for example from halogen atoms, hydroxyl, alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, alkylthio, amino or aryl radicals as, for example, in chloromethyl, hydroxypropyl, methoxymethyl, propionyloxymethyl, methylthiomethyl, dimethylaminoethyl, benzyl or phenethyl groups.

Mention may also be made of radicals formed with easily cleavable ester residues such as the methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl radicals; acyloxyalkyl radicals such as pivalσyloxymethyl, pivaloyloxyethyl, acetoxy-methyl or acetoxyethyl; alkylalkylcarbonyloxyalkyl radicals such as methoxycarbonyloxy methyl or ethyl radicals, isopropyloxycarbonyloxy methyl or ethyl radicals. A list of such ester radicals can be found, for example, in European patent EP 0 034 536.

Amidified carboxy means groups of the type -CON (Rg) (R ₇ ) in which the radicals R ₆ and R _{7 are} identical or different represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl radicals. Among the -CON (Rg) (R ₇ ) groups defined above, those in which the radical -N (Rg) (R ₇ ) represents the amino, mono or dimethylamino radical are preferred.

The radical N (Rg) (R ₇ ) can also represent a heterocycle which may or may not contain an additional heteroatom. Mention may be made of the pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, indolyl, piperidino, morpholino, piperazinyl radicals. The piperidino or morpholino radicals are preferred.

Examples of protecting group of the protected hydroxyl radical are given in particular in the usual book of a person skilled in the art: Protective Groups in Organic

Synthesis, Theodora W. Greene, Harvard University, printed in 1981 by Wiley-Interscience Publishers, John Wiley & Sons.

The addition salts with mineral or organic acids of the products of formula (I) can be, for example, the salts formed with hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, nitric, sulfuric, phosphoric, propionic, acetic or formic acids, benzoic, maleic, fumaric, succinic, tartaric, citric, oxalic, glyoxylic, aspartic, ascorbic, alkylmonosulphonic acids such as for example methanesulphonic acid, ethanesulphonic acid, propanesulphonic acid, such as alkylsulphonic acids example methanedisulfonic acid, alpha acid, beta-ethanedisulfonic acid, arylmonosulfonic acids such as benzenesulfonic acid and aryldisulfonic acids.

Mention may more particularly be made of the salts formed with hydrochloric or methanesulfonic acids for example.

It may be recalled that stereoisomerism can be defined in its broad sense as the isomerism of compounds having the same developed formulas, but whose different groups are arranged differently in space.

It is understood that the definition of the products of formula (I) as defined above includes all the stereo- possible isomers, all racemic modifications, all optical isomers and all mixtures of these products which would have the activity indicated below.

The products of formula (I) have in particular two centers (T) and (2). (T) being asymmetrical and (g) being asymmetrical

stick when R ₂ does not represent a hydrogen atom.

The subject of the present invention is in particular the products of formula (I) in which the first asymmetrical center <^ p) is preferably in R form, the second center

(2) can be in racemic form or R or S enantiomer.

The present invention particularly relates to the products of formula (I) as defined above, in which R ^, R ₂ , and n2 have the meanings indicated above, nor represents the integer 1, and A represents the free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radical or an alkyl radical containing at most 10 carbon atoms and substituted by a radical chosen from free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radicals, optionally protected hydroxyl radicals, alkoxy containing plus 4 carbon atoms and phenoxy, said products of formula (I) being in all the racemic isomeric, enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric forms possible, as well as the addition salts with mineral and organic acids or with mineral bases and organic of said products of formula (I).

The present invention more particularly relates to the products of formula (I) as defined above, in which R ^ represents a phenyl or biphenyl radical, optionally substituted by a halogen atom, or by a hydroxyl radical optionally in the form of a trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy radical, or represents the integer 1, n2 represents the integer 0,

R ₂ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical substituted by a phenyl radical, itself optionally substituted by a thienyl or phenyl radical itself itself optionally substituted by a cyano radical,

A represents the free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radical or an alkyl radical containing at most 10 carbon atoms substituted by a phenoxy radical, said products of formula (I) being in all the racemic isomeric, enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric forms possi¬ wheat, as well as the addition salts with mineral and organic bases of the said products of formula (I).

In particular, R- ^ may represent a phenyl or biphenyl radical, optionally substituted by a bromine atom. The present invention particularly relates to the products of formula (I) as defined above, the names of which follow:

- [S- (R *, S *)] N- [l- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl] -alpha-

[[(phenylmethoxy) carbonyl] amino] -IH-indole-3-propanamide, - 2 'acid -cyano-alpha- [[[1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] (l, l' - biphenyl) -4-propanoic,

- (R) N- (1-mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) -11-phenoxy-undecanide, said products of formula (I) being in all the racemic isomeric, enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric forms possible, as well as the addition salts with mineral and organic bases of the said products of formula (I).

Another subject of the present invention is the process for preparing the products of formula (I), as defined above, characterized in that a product of formula (II) is subjected:

in which ni has the meaning indicated above and R ^ has the meaning indicated above for R ₁ in which the possible reactive functions are optionally protected, or by the action of a compound of formula (III):

in which R ' ₂ has the meaning indicated above for R ₂ in which the possible reactive functions are optionally protected, and R represents an alkyl or arylalkyl radical, to obtain the product of formula (IV):

CH

in which ni, R '^, R' ₂ and R have the meanings indicated above, or to the action of an acid halide of formula (V):

^J in which n2 has the meaning indicated above, Hal represents a halogen atom, R ' ₂ has the meaning indicated above and A' has the meaning indicated above for A in which the possible reactive functions are optionally protected, such that in particular A ′ does not represent a free carboxy radical, in order to obtain a product of formula (VI): R "

CH, -C- - (CH,) _nι -NH — C- - (NH) rv (vi;

II II o o

in which ni, n2, R \, R ' ₂ and A' have the meanings indicated above, products of formulas (IV) and (VI) that, to obtain products of formula (I) or to transform products of formula (I) in other products of formula (I), one can be treated, if desired and if necessary, with one or more of the following reactions, in any order:

- a saponification reaction of ester function in acid function,

- a reaction of transformation of cyano function or of amide function into acid or tetrazolyl function, - a reaction of transformation of alkoxy function into hydroxyl function,

an esterification, salification or amidification reaction of acid function,

- a reaction for the release of the thiol function from the CHU — C — S radical

a reaction for eliminating the protective groups which the protected reactive functions can carry,

- A salification reaction with an acid or a mineral or organic base to obtain the corresponding salt, said products of formula (I) thus obtained being in all the possible isomeric forms racemics, enantiomers and diastereoisomers.

Under preferential conditions for implementing the invention, the process described above can be carried out as follows: above with the product of formula (III) as defined above is preferably carried out with a coupling agent such as for example EDC in methylene chloride or else BOP in methyl cyanide in presence of triethylamine, or DDC,

- The reaction of the product of formula (II) as defined above with the product of formula (V) as defined above is preferably carried out in methylene chloride in the presence of pyridine. In the compound of formula (V), the halogen atom is preferably a chlorine atom. Depending on the values of R \, R ' ₂ and A', the products of formulas (IV) and (VI) constitute or not products of formula (I) and can give products of formula (I), or be transformed into other products of formula (I) by being subjected to one or more of the reactions indicated above which can be carried out, for example, as indicated below.

The various reactive functions which certain compounds of the reactions defined above can carry, if necessary, can be protected: these are, for example, free hydroxyl or carboxy radicals which can be protected by the appropriate protective groups.

The following non-exhaustive list of examples of protection of reactive functions can be cited: - the amino groups can be protected in the form of other carbamates, as known in peptide chemistry,

- The hydroxyl groups can be protected for example by alkyl radicals such as tert-butyl, trimethylsilyl, tert-butyldimethylsilyl, methoxymethyl, tetrahydropyrannyl, benzyl or acetyl.

The products described above can, if desired, be the subject, on any carboxy functions, of esterification, salification or amidation reactions, which can be carried out according to the usual methods known to those skilled in the art. .

The acid functions of the products described above can be, if desired, amidified with a primary or secondary amine, for example in methylene chloride in presence, for example, of 1-ethyl-3- (dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride at room temperature.

The acid functions can be protected, for example, in the form of esters formed with easily cleavable esters such as benzyl or tert-butyl esters or esters known in the chemistry of peptides.

The possible saponification reactions of ester function according to acid function of the products described above can be, if desired, carried out under the usual conditions known to those skilled in the art, in particular by acid or alkaline hydrolysis, for example with sodium hydroxide or potash in an alcoholic medium such as, for example, in methanol or also with hydrochloric acid or sulfuri¬ that. The possible cyano functions of the products described above can, if desired, be transformed into an acid function under the usual conditions known to those skilled in the art, for example by double hydrolysis carried out in an acid medium such as, for example, in a mixture of sulfuric acid, glacial acetic acid and water, these three compounds preferably being in equal proportions, or alternatively in a mixture of soda, ethanol and water at reflux.

The possible cyano functions of the products described above can, if desired, be transformed into tetrazolyl under the usual conditions known to a person skilled in the art such as for example by cycloaddition of a metal azide such as for example the azide of sodium or a trialkyltin azide on the nitrile function as indicated in the method described in the article referenced as follows:

J. Organometallic Chemistry., 3_3_, 337 (1971) KOZIMA S. & coll.

The acid functions can be transformed into tetrazole as indicated in the publication Bio. Med. Chem. Leh. 1995, 145. Any alkoxy functions such as in particular methoxy of the products described above can be, if desired, transformed into a hydroxyl function under the usual conditions known to those skilled in the art, for example by boron tribromide in a solvent such as for example methylene chloride, with pyridine hydrobromide or hydrochloride or also with hydrobromic or hydrochloric acid in water or trifluoro acetic acid at reflux.

The possible hydroxyl functions of the products described above can, if desired, be transformed into an acid function by oxidation under the usual conditions known to a person skilled in the art, such as for example by the action of the Jones reagent to access the acids.

The removal of protective groups such as, for example, those indicated above can be carried out under the usual conditions known to those skilled in the art, in particular by acid hydrolysis carried out with an acid such as hydrochloric acid, benzene sulfonic or para- toluene sulfonic, fσrmic or trifluoroacetic or by catalytic hydrogenation.

The phthalimido group can be eliminated by hydrazine. A list of different protective groups can be found, for example, in patent BF 2,499,995.

The products described above can, if desired, be the subject of salification reactions for example with a mineral or organic acid or with a mineral or organic base according to the usual methods known to those skilled in the art.

Any optically active forms of the products described above can be prepared by splitting the racemics according to the usual methods known to those skilled in the art. Illustrations of such reactions defined above are given in the preparation of the examples described below.

The structures and properties of endothelin and its precursor Big Endothelin are described in the literature, for example in document WO 93/11154.

The products of formula (I) of the present invention have been found to have an inhibiting activity of the endothelin converting enzyme which makes it possible to obtain from Big Endothelin, endothelin itself, which is therefore an extremely powerful vasoconstrictor.

The products of formula (I) of the present invention may therefore be useful in the treatment of conditions resulting from abnormally high amounts of endothelin.

The compounds of formula (I) as defined above as well as their addition salts as defined above have interesting pharmacological properties. The products of formula (I) as defined above, endowed with inhibitory properties of the endothelin converting enzyme, can thus in particular reduce the quantities and thus the effects of endothelin, in particular vasoconstrictor and hypertensive effects. induced by endothelin. There is in particular an antiischemic effect.

The products of formula (I) thus also have the effect of reducing the stimulating effects of endothelin at the level of all cell types, in particular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, neuronal cells and bone cells.

These properties justify their application in therapeutics and the invention particularly relates to medicaments, the products of formula (I), said products of formula (I) being in all the possible racemic, enantiomeric and diastereomeric isomer forms. isomers, as well as addition salts with mineral and organic acids or with pharmaceutically acceptable mineral and organic bases of said products of formula (I). A more particular subject of the invention is therefore, as medicaments, the products as defined by formula (I) above, in which

R- ^ represents a phenyl or biphenyl radical, optionally substituted by a halogen atom, nor represents the integer 1, n2 represents the integer 0,

R ₂ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical substituted by a phenyl radical, itself optionally substituted by a thienyl or phenyl radical itself optionally substituted by a cyano radical,

A represents the free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radical or an alkyl radical containing at most 10 carbon atoms substituted by a phenoxy radical, said products of formula (I) being in all the isomeric, racemic or optically active forms, thus as addition salts with mineral and organic acids or with pharmaceutically acceptable mineral and organic bases of said products of formula (I).

The subject of the invention is very particularly, as medicaments, the products described below in the examples and in particular the products of formula (I) as defined above, the names of which follow: - [S- (R *, S *)] N- [1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl] -alpha- [[(phenylmethoxy) carbonyl] amino] -IH-indole-3-propanamide,

- 2 '-cyano-alpha- [[[1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] (1,1' -biphenyl) -4-propanoic acid,

- (R) N- (i-mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) -11-phenoxy-undecanamide, as well as their addition salts with pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic bases of the said products of formula (I).

The drugs which are the subject of the invention thus find their use in the treatment, by the use of an agent inhibiting the endothelin-converting enzyme, of conditions such as, for example, vascular spasms, vasospasm following cerebral hemorrhage, coronary spasms, peripheral vascular spasms as well as renal failure. These drugs can also be used in the treatment of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, in the prevention of post-angioplasty restenosis, cardiac and vascular fibrosis, in the treatment of atherosclerosis, certain forms of hypertension such as pulmonary hypertension, as well as in the treatment of asthma.

The drugs which are the subject of the invention can also find application in the treatment of osteoporosis, prostatic hypertrophy and as neuronal protectors.

The invention extends to pharmaceutical compositions containing, as active principle, at least one of the medicaments as defined above.

These pharmaceutical compositions can be administered by the oral, rectal, parenteral or local route by topical application to the skin and the mucous membranes or by injection by intravenous or intramuscular route.

These compositions can be solid or liquid and can be presented in all the pharmaceutical forms commonly used in human medicine such as, for example, simple or coated tablets, capsules, granules, suppositories, injections, ointments, creams, gels and aerosol preparations; they are prepared according to the usual methods. The active principle can be incorporated therein into excipients usually used in these pharmaceutical compositions, such as talc, gum arabic, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, cocoa butter, aqueous vehicles or not, fatty substances of animal or vegetable origin, paraffinic derivatives, glycols, various wetting agents, dispersants or emulsifiers, preservatives.

The usual dosage, which varies according to the product used, the subject treated and the condition in question, can be, for example, from 1 to 300 mg per day in adults, orally or from 1 to 100 mg per day. intravenously. Certain starting materials of formulas (II), (III) and (V) are known, can be commercial or prepared according to the usual methods known to a person skilled in the art or for example as indicated in European patent EP 0465369. may also in particular prepare certain products of formula (II) from other products of formula (II) for example by subjecting them to one or more of the reactions described above, carried out under the conditions also described above. Preparations of compounds of formula (II) are indicated in the examples described below.

It should be noted that the compound of formula (II) can be in racemic or optically pure form and that, consequently, the product of formula (IV) obtained can also be in racemic or optically pure form.

The compound of formula (II) in which ni represents the integer 1 and R ' _χ represents the phenyl radical can be prepared as indicated in preparation IE of EP 0465369, either from the amino acid L-phenylalamine to give the product of formula (II) of form S, either from the amino acid D-phenylalamine to give the product of formula (II) of form R, or from a mixture of the amino acids L- and D-phenyl - alamine to give the product of formula (II) of racemic form: these compounds of formula (II) thus obtained give respectively, after reaction with the compound of formula (III), a product of formula (IV) which will be respecti¬ vely in (Jp) in form S (example 1), in form R (example-

pie 2) or in racemic form (example 5).

Other compounds of formula (II) can be obtained in the same way from other amino acids.

One can in particular obtain from tyrosine the products of formula (II) in which R ′ - ^ represents the biphenyl radical.

Such a reaction is indicated in the preparation of Example 7, described below.

Other compounds of formula (II), in which ni represents the integer 0 can be prepared from the corresponding acid to give, by a Curtius reaction described in the literature, the desired amine.

The compounds of formula (III) represent amino acids which can be substituted on nitrogen: such compounds of formula (III) can be commercial or prepared according to the usual methods known to those skilled in the art. The compounds of formula (V) are preferably acid chlorides prepared from the corresponding acid itself commercial or prepared according to the usual methods known to those skilled in the art, such as by condensation of an alkyl halide on a malonate.

The present invention finally relates, by way of new industrial products, to the compounds of formulas (IV) and (VI) as defined above.

A particular subject of the invention is the use of the products of formula (I) as defined above, for the preparation of an agent inhibiting the endothelin conversion enzyme.

The invention therefore particularly relates to the use of the products of formula (I) as defined above, for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions intended for treatment, by inhibition of the enzyme of conversion of the endothelin, of conditions such as in particular hypertension induced by endothelin, vascular spasms, the consequences of a cerebral hemorrhage, renal insufficiency, myocardial infarction, heart failure as well as prevention of post-angioplasty restenosis and cardiac and vascular fibrosis.

The following examples illustrate the invention without, however, limiting it.

EXAMPLE 1: [SN- (1-mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) -2- (((phenylmethoxy) carbonyl) amino) -indole-3-propanamidβ STAGE 1: [S- (R *, R *)] N- [1- [(acetylthio) methyl] -2-phenylethyl] -alpha- [[(phenylmethoxy) carbonyl] amino] -IH-indole-3-propanamide

183 mg of 1- (3-dimethylamino propyl) 3-ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride are introduced into 10 ml of methylene chloride and 120 μl of triethylamine are added. The mixture is stirred for 10 min at room temperature and 300 mg of N-carbobenzyloxy triptomane (NCBz Trp) are added. The mixture is again left at room temperature for 10 minutes and then 200 mg of amine hydrochloride in S form, prepared as indicated in preparation IE of EP 0465369, with L-phenylalamine as starting material, are added at once. The reaction is stirred for 4 hours at room temperature. Evaporated, taken up in 30 ml of ethyl acetate and washed with 0.1N hydrochloric acid twice, then at salt water (2 times). After chromatography on silica with ethyl acetate-hexane as eluent: 50-50, 270 mg of expected product is obtained.

STAGE 2: [S-N- (1-mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) -2- (((phenylmethoxy) carbonyl) amino) -indole-3-propanamide

120 mg of the product obtained in step 1 above are introduced into 3 ml of methanol. Then 0.34 ml of IN sodium hydroxide solution is added and the mixture is left for 1 hour at 0 ° C. It is taken up in 4 ml of water, acidified with IN hydrochloric acid to pH = 1/2 and the precipitate formed is filtered. After drying, 120 mg of expected product is obtained. Mp 164 ° C.

Rotary power QJ _D at the concentration of 0.5 in methanol = -20.8 °. IR ANALYSIS (CHCI3) cm ^"1 = C-NH 3477 - 3420

> = 0 1716 - 1673

SH 2570

Aromatic C≈C 1620 - 1578 - 1585 - 1497 Amide II

0.81 (t, 1H, SH); 2.09 to 2.37 (m, CHCH ₂ -SH) - 2.64 (d, 2H, CH ₂ ); 3.11 (dd, 1H, £ H ₂ ); 3.32 (dd, 1H); 4.20 (m 1H); 4.45 (n, 1H); 5.12 (s, 2H, 0-CH ₂ - ph); 5.43 (d, 1H, NH); 5.75 (d, 1H, NH); 6.96 to 7.66 (n, 14H); 8.07 (si, 1H, NH indole). EXAMPLE 2: [(R *, S *)] -N- [1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl] - alpha- [[(phenylmethoxy) carbonyl) amino) -IH-indole-3-propanamide

The procedure is as in Example 1 using in stage 1 the amine hydrochloride in R form prepared as indicated in preparation IE of EP 0465369 with D-phenylalamine as starting material. 120 mg of expected product are thus obtained.

Rotary power CU _D at a concentration of 0.75 in chloroform = + 8.5 ° ANALYSIS

NMR (1H, CDC1 ₃ , 250 MHz, δ ppm) 1.04 (t, 1H, SH); 2.3-2.7 (m, 4H, 2xCH ₂ ); 3.11 (dd, 1H); 3.34 (dd, 1H); 4.18 (m, 1H, CH-CH ₂ ); 4.44 (m, 1H, CJl-NHCHO);

5.11 (s, 2H, Cϋ ₂ ph); 5.40 (d, 1H, NH); 5.75 (d, 1H, NH);

8.02 (s, 1H, NH indole); 6.95 (n, 3H, aromatic H); 7.10 to

7.4 (n, 11H, aromatic H); 7.66 (dl, 1H, aromatics). EXAMPLE 3: [S- (R *, R *) 3 -2- ((((1, 1-dimethylethoxy) carbonyl) amino) -N- (1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) -indole-3-propana - mide

STAGE 1: [S- (R *, R *)] -N- [1- [(acetylthio) methyl] -2-phenylethyl] -alpha- [[(1, 1-dimethylethoxy) carbonyl] amino] - 1H- indole-3-propanamide

The procedure is carried out as in stage 1 of Example 1 using N-BOC-tryptophan (N-terbutyloxycarbonyl-Trp) instead of

N-CBZ-tryptophan (N-carbobenzyloxy-Trp). We thus obtain

270 mg of expected product. STAGE 2: [S- (R *, R *)] -2- (((1, 1-dimethylethoxy) carbonyl) amino) -N- (1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) -indole-3-propana ¬ mide

The procedure is carried out as in stage 2 of Example 1 and thus obtains 120 mg of the expected product. Mp 77 ° C. Rotary power α _D at a concentration of 0.5 in methanol = -22.4 °

ANALYZES

NMR (IH, CDC1 ₃ , 250 MHz, δ ppm)

0.87 (t, 1H, SH); 1.44 (s, 9H, tbu); 2.26 (m, CH ₂ , 2H); 2.65 (m, 2H, CH ₂ -ph); 3.10 (dd, 1H, CH ₂ ); 3.30 (dd, 1H, CH ₂ ); 4.22

(m, 1.1H, CH); 4.39 (m, CH, 1H); 5.13 (d, 1H, NH); 5.84 (d,

1H, NH); 6.99 (s, 1H, H ₂ indole); 7 to 7.22 (m, 7H); 7.36 (d, 1H, Ar); 7.67 (s, 1H, Ar); 8.04 (si, 1H, NHindole).

IR (CHC1 ₃ ) cm ^"1 = C-NH 3477 - - 3420

> = 0 1706 - - 1672

SH 2570

Syst. conjugate

Amide II + 1620 - ^• 1605 - • 1513 ^• - 1496 - - 1490 Aromatic

Me from tBu 1368

EXAMPLE 4 Acid 2 • -cyano-alpha- [[[1- (mercaptomethyl) -2- phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] - (1,1 * -biphenyl) -4-propanoic STAGE 1: 2 '-cyano-alpha- (ethoxycarbonyl) - (1,1' - biphenyl) -4-propanoyl chloride

105 mg of 60% sodium hydride are introduced into the oil, previously washed twice with pentane, in 15 ml of tetrahydrofuran and placed at 0 ° C. under argon. A solution of 0.5 ml of terbutyl ethyl malonate in 1 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise, the mixture is left at room temperature for 30 min then replaced at 0 ° C and a solution of 410 mg of 4 '- (bromomethyl) is added dropwise ) - (1,1 '- biphenyl) -2-carbonitrile prepared as indicated in

EP 0465368 (example 49). The solution is stirred 1 h at 0 ° C and 3 h at room temperature, then acidified with IN hydrochloric acid to pH ~ 2. Then extracted with ethyl acetate and dried. After chromatography on silica with ethyl acetate - cyclohexane: 25-75 as eluent, 400 mg of an oil is obtained which is taken up in 10 ml of methylene chloride. 10 ml of trifluoro acetic acid are added and the mixture is left for 3 h at room temperature and then evaporated. The oily residue is taken up in 10 ml of thionyl chloride and left stirring overnight. After evaporation of the thionyl chloride, the expected acid chloride is obtained, used as it is in the following stage.

STAGE 2: [R- (R *, R *)] and [R- (R *, S *)] alpha- [[[1- [(acetylthio) methyl] -2-phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] -2 ethyl '-cyano- (1,1'- biphenyl) -4-propanoate

10 ml of methylene chloride are added to the product obtained in stage 1 above and, after bringing to reflux, 377 mg of amine hydrochloride obtained in preparation IE of EP 0465369. A few drops of pyridine are then added to obtain a pH i 4-6 and stir at reflux for 4 h. The solution is then evaporated and after chromatography on silica with ethyl acetate - cyclohexane - methylene chloride as eluent: 25-25-50, 400 mg of expected product is obtained. Analyzes

NMR (IH, CDC1 ₃ , 200 MHz)

1.2 (2t, 3H, CH ₃ ); 2.4 and 2.45 (2s, 3H, SAc); 2.7 - 3.5 (m,

7H); 4.2 (m, 2H, C0 ₂ CH ₂ ); 4.4 (m, 1H, OC-CH-CO); 6.55 and 6.65 (2d, 1H, NH); 7.1 to 7.6 (m, 11H); 7, 7 (d, 1H, Ar);

7, 9 (d, 1H, Ar).

STAGE 3: 2 '-cyano-alpha- [[[1- (mercaptomethyl) -2- phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] - - (1, l -biphenyl) -4-propanoic acid 400 mg of the product obtained is introduced 2 above in 5 ml of tetrahydrofuran and add 2.5 ml of water.

115 mg of lithium hydroxide are then added at room temperature and the mixture is left stirring for 2 hours.

The reaction is then acidified by adding IN hydrochloric acid to pH z 2, then, after adding 5 ml of H ₂ O, it is extracted three times with methylene chloride +

10% methanol.

After drying and evaporation, chromatography is carried out on silica with methylene chloride-methanol: 90-10 as eluent and 280 mg of expected product (white foam) is obtained in the form of a mixture of 2 diastereoisomers.

Tgomme ~ 130 ° C

Analyzes :

NMR (DMSO, 300 MHz, δ ppm) 1.98 (m, SH); 2.4 to 3.3 (m, 7H);

3.93 and 4.02 (m, 1H, OC-CH-CO); 7.08 to 7.32 (m, 7H, Ar);

7.41 (m, 2H, Ar); 7.55 (m, 2H, Ar); 7.77 (m, 1H); 7.92 (d,

1H, Ar); 8.32 and 8.38 (dl, 1H, CONH).

EXAMPLE 5 Acid (S) alpha- (((1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) amino) carbonyl) benzenepropanoxgue

STAGE 1: alpha- (ethoxycarbonyl) -benzenepropanoyl chloride The procedure is carried out as in stage 1 of Example 4 using instead of 4 '- (bromo-methyl) (1,1 * -biphenyl) 2-carbonitrile, benzyl bromide (commercial) and thus obtains the expected product.

STAGE 2: [S- (R *, S *)] and [S- (R *, S *)] alpha- [[[1- [(acetylthio) methyl] -2-phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] -benzenepropanoate ethyl

The procedure is carried out as in stage 2 of Example 4 and thus obtains the expected product.

STAGE 3: (S) alpha- (((1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) amino) carbonyl) benzenepropanoic acid

We proceed as in stage 3 of Example 4 and obtain thus the expected product. Mp 65-70 ° C; Analyzes :

NMR (DMSO, 300 MHz, δ ppm) Mixture of 2 diastereoisomers (S, R) and {S, S)

1.75 and 2.22 (tl, SH); 2.3-4.5 (m, 8H); 7 to 7.30 (m, 10H); 8.09 and 8.56 (d, 1H, CONH); 12.52 (m wide, COOH). EXAMPLE 6: (R) N- (1-mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) -11- phenoxy-undecanamide STAGE 1: 11-phenoxy-undecanoyl chloride

250 mg of 11-phenoxy undecanoic acid (commercial) are mixed with 2 ml of pure thionyl chloride and left overnight at room temperature. 265 mg of expected product are thus obtained. STAGE 2: (R) N- [1- [(acetylthio) methyl] -2-phenylethyl] -11- phenoxy-undecanamide

The procedure is carried out as in stage 2 of example 4 starting from 265 mg of the product obtained in stage l above and 120 mg of amine hydrochloride (form R) obtained in the preparation IE of EP 0465369. 150 are thus obtained mg of expected product. STAGE 3: N- (1-mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) 11-phenoxy- undecanamide

100 mg of the product obtained in stage 2 above are introduced into 4 ml of methanol and 120 μl of 2N sodium hydroxide are added at 0 ° C. The whole is stirred for 1 hour at 0 ° C. We then add

10 ml of water, filters the white precipitate which forms and dries.

70 mg of expected product are thus obtained. Mp 65 ° C.

NMR (CDC1 ₃ , 300 MHz, δ ppm)

1.20 to 1.82 (m, 17H); 2.14 (t, C0CH ₂ ); 2.66 (m, sys / AB split, CH, CH ₂ SH); 2.88 (m, ph-H ₂ , CH); 3.95 (t, CH ₂ -CH ₂ - OPh); 4.37 (m, CH ₂ -CH (NH) CH ₂ ); 5.55 (d, NHCO); 6.85 to 6.97 (m, 2H); 7.16 to 7.35 (m, 8H).

EXAMPLE 7 2 '-cyano-alpha- [[[1- (mercaptomethyl) 2-biphenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] - (1,1 * -biphenyl) -4-propanoic acid

The procedure is as in Example 4, taking as starting material, instead of the amine hydrochloride in which R- represents phenyl, the amine hydrochloride in which R-, represents biphenyl, prepared using as starting material the product (R) - a- [[(1,1-dimethylethoxy) carbonyl] amino] [1,1 '-biphenyl] -4-propanoic acid, which is here in the form R and which is prepared as its S-form enantiomer, the preparation of which is described in the following reference: Journal of Medecinal Chemistry, 1995, Vol. 38, 1689, then by preparing the corresponding hydrochloride as indicated in stage D of EP 0465369. The product of Example 7 thus obtained is thus obtained. By proceeding as in Examples 4 and 7 described above, using, where appropriate, instead of 4 '- (bromomethyl) (1, l--biphenyl) 2-carbonitrile, 4'-2 bromide - thienyl benzyl, prepared according to the method described in the following reference: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 38, 2357, 1995, using as arylboronic 2-thienyl boron, the following products of Examples 8, 9 and 10 are thus obtained:

EXAMPLE 8 Acid ^' [[[1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-biphenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] - (1,1' -thienylphenyl) -4-propanoic Analyzes:

SM: (M-C0 ₂ ) H ⁺ : 458

EXAMPLE 9 [[[1- (Mercaptomethyl) 2-phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] (1,1-thienylphenyl) 4-propanoic acid

EXAMPLE 10 2--cyano-alpha- [[[1- (mercaptomethyl) 2- (paratrifluoromethylsulfonyloxy) phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] (1,1 '-biphenyl) 4-propanoic acid Analyzes: NMR (DMSO) 2.6 at 3.2 (7H); 3.92 and 4.04 (m, 1H); 7.06 to 7.95 (Ar); 8.25 and 8.4 (1H, NH).

EXAMPLE 11 OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION:

Tablets corresponding to the following formula were prepared: Product of Example 4 50 mg Excipient for a tablet terminated at 200 mg

(detail of excipient: lactose, talc, starch, magnesium stearate). PHARMACOLOGICAL RESULTS

Determination of the inhibitory effect of the endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) A test is used, in which the product (2,3- ³ H) propionyl-b-ET-1 (19-35) prepared as indicated below in a) is cleaved by ECE into the product (2,3- ³ H) propionyl-b-ET- 1 (19-21) in the presence of product P whose activity is to be determined ECE inhibitor as indicated below in b): the ECE inhibitor activity of product P will therefore be all the greater as the quantity of product of formula (II) formed, determined by counting the radioactivity , will be weaker. We proceed as follows:

a) - Preparation of the tritiated peptide (2,3- ³ H) propionyl-b-ET-1 (19-35)

The N-succinimidyl- (2,3- ³ H) -propionate (Amersham code TRK.556) is in solution in 5 ml of toluene at 1 mCi / ml, 99 mCi / mmol ==> 5 mCi and 50 nmol. The toluene is evaporated until a solution of

10 μl then add 25 μl of a DMSO solution containing 0.2 mg of b-ET-1 (19-35), the b-ET-1 (19-35) (MW = 2014.2) having been previously dried on potash overnight. It is continued to evaporate for 10 min and then the solution is stirred under a stream of nitrogen for 15 min in order to remove the residual toluene.

Then stir gently for 4 days.

To purify, add 225 μl of phosphate buffer pH 6.5 and 50 μl of acetonitrile, then stir for 10 min and the radioactive solution obtained is separated into 2 injections of 150 μl on a column of Nucleosil C ₁₈ (150 x 4.6 mm).

Elution is carried out with a flow rate of 0.8 ml / min by a gradient of 0 to 20% acetonitrile in 20 min then 20 to 35% in 50 min. Analyzes: The analysis of the fractions is carried out by counting the tritium on the liquid scintillation counter (1 μl in 5 ml of HiSafe3 scintillant) for 60 seconds.

The radioactive fractions are combined and fractionated in 200 μl samples in silicone eppendorf tubes which can be stored at -80 ° C or -20 ° C. Characteristics of the product obtained: dpm = 1,067,274,560 corresponding to 0.5 mCi. Radioactive yield: 10%.

Specific activity: (99 x 10) / 30.5 = 32.5 Ci / mmol. b) - Determination of the inhibitory activity of the endothelin converting enzyme (ΞCΞ)

10 μl of ECE or 1 to 2 μg of purified ECE are pre-incubated for 30 minutes at 37 ° C., in 400 μl of a 50 mM Tris maleate buffer pH = 6.5, 20 μl of sodium chloride 5M and 5 μl of product P of which we want: to test the inhibitory activity, in solution at different concentrations (between 1 μM to 100 mM) (ie final concentrations of product P from 10 nM to 1 mM).

The reaction is initiated by adding 10 μl of (2,3- ³ H) propionyl-b-ET-1 (19-35) prepared as indicated above in a), at the final concentration of 1.8 × 10 ⁻¹² Mr.

After one hour of incubation at 37 ° C, the reaction is stopped by adding 600 μl of ethyl acetate and the (2,3- ³ H) propionyl-b-ET-1 (19-21) is extracted by mechanical agitation for 2 minutes.

300 μl of the organic phase are taken and 5 ml of scintillating liquid are added and the radioactivity is counted for 1 minute on the liquid scintillation counter.

Each measurement is carried out in triplicate except for the ECE control (enzyme control, without product of which one wants to test the inhibiting activity of the ECE), for which the measurement is carried out in sextuplet. The percentage of inhibition is calculated by making the report: product tested - white enzyme control - white

The blank is made from the solution obtained without enzyme.

The test was validated by its application to known inhibitors, ie Pl which is phosphoramidon and P2 which is N- (phenylethylphosphonyl) -Leu-Trp (TAKEDA). The table below gives the results obtained by using, as products P, products in examples in the present invention, for which it is desired to test the inhibitory activities of ECE. From the cpm obtained and by plotting the graph of the percentage of inhibition relative to the inhibitor concentration (nM), the IC ₅₀ is calculated donci therefore corresponds to the concentration causing inhibition of 50% of the ECE.

The quantified results obtained are indicated in the table below:

RESULTS:

Claims

1) Use, for the preparation of medicaments intended for the treatment of pathologies requiring inhibition of the endothelin converting enzyme, of products of formula (I):

^r He

in which :

R; ^ represents a phenyl or biphenyl radical optionally substituted by one or more radicals chosen from halogen atoms, optionally protected hydroxyl, linear or branched alkoxy radicals containing at most 4 carbon atoms, cyano, free carboxy, salified, esterified or amidified, benzyloxy and the dioxol radical, ni and n2, identical or different, represent the whole 0 or l,

R ₂ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical substituted by a phenyl, phenylthio or indolyl radical and optionally by a second phenyl radical, these phenyl, phenylthio and indolyl radicals being optionally substituted by one or more radicals chosen from atoms of halogen, optionally protected hydroxyl radicals, linear or branched alkoxy containing at most 4 carbon atoms, cyano, free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy, benzyloxy, thienyl, naphthyl and phenyl, these last three radicals being themselves same optionally substituted with one or more radicals chosen from halogen atoms, optionally protected hydroxyl radicals, linear or branched alkoxy containing at most 4 carbon atoms, cyano and carboxy free, salified, esterified or amidified,

A represents the free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radical, the free or salified tetrazolyl radical, or an alkyl radical, containing at most 10 carbon atoms and substituted by a radical chosen from free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radicals, optionally protected hydroxyl, alkoxy radicals containing at most 4 carbon atoms, phenoxy, phenyl, naphthyl, thienyl, indolyl and pyridyl, these radicals being optionally substituted by one or more radicals chosen from halogen atoms, optionally protected hydroxyl, linear or branched alkoxy radicals containing at most 4 carbon atoms, cyano and free, salified, esterified or amidated carboxy, (T) and (2) indicating the centers, if any, asymmetric

products of formula (I), said products of formula (I) being in all the racemic isomeric, enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric forms possible, as well as the addition salts with mineral and organic acids or with mineral and organic bases said products of formula (I).

2) Use as defined in claim 1, in which R _{1 #} R ₂ , and n2 have the meanings indicated in claim 1, nor represents the whole l, and A represents the free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radical or an alkyl radical, containing at most 10 carbon atoms and substituted by a radical chosen from free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radicals, optionally protected hydroxyl radicals, alkoxy containing at most 4 carbon atoms, and phenoxy, said products of formula (I) being in all the racemic isomeric, enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric forms possible, as well as the addition salts with mineral and organic acids or with mineral and organic bases of said products of formula (I).

3) Use as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein

RL represents a phenyl or biphenyl radical, optionally substituted by a halogen atom or by a hydroxyl radical optionally in the form of a trifluoromethylsulfony¬ loxy radical, ni represents the integer 1, n2 represents the integer 0, R ₂ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical substituted by a phenyl radical, itself optionally substituted by a thienyl or phenyl radical itself optionally substituted by a cyano radical,

A represents the free, salified, esterified or amidified carboxy radical or an alkyl radical containing at most 10 carbon atoms substituted by a phenoxy radical, said products of formula (I) being in all the racemic isomeric, enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric forms possi¬ wheat, as well as the addition salts with mineral and organic bases of the said products of formula (I). 4) Use as defined in claim 1, of products whose names follow: - [S- (R *, S *)] N- [1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl] -alpha- [[(phenylmethoxy ) carbonyl] amino] -IH-indole-3-propanamide,

- 2 '-cyano-alpha- [t [1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] (1,1' -biphenyl) -4-propanoic acid,

- (R) N- (1-mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) -11-phenoxy-undecanamide, the said products of formula (I) being in all the racemic isomeric, enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric forms possible, as well as the addition salts with mineral and organic bases of the said products of formula (I). 5) Process for preparing the products of formula (I) for the use as defined in claim 1, characterized in that a product of formula (II) is subjected:

in which ni has the meaning indicated in claim 1 and R ^ has the meaning indicated in claim 1 for RL in which the possible reactive functions are optionally protected, either to the action of a compound of formula (III)

II o

in which R ' ₂ has the meaning indicated in the claims 1 for R ₂ in which the possible reactive functions are optionally protected, and R represents an alkyl or arylalkyl radical, to obtain the product of formula (IV):

CH, -

in which ni, R '- ^ R' ₂ and R have the meanings indicated above, or to the action of an acid halide of formula (V):

in which n2 al ^I has the meaning indicated in claim 1, Hal represents a halogen atom, R ' ₂ has the meaning indicated above, and A' has the meaning indicated in claim 1 for A in which the possible reactive functions are optionally protected, such that in particular A ′ does not represent a free carboxy radical, in order to obtain a product of formula (VI):

in which ni, n2, R ' _] _, R' ₂ and A 'have the meanings indicated above, products of formulas (IV) and (VI) that, to obtain products of formula (I) or to transform products of formula (I) into other products of formula (I), one can be treated, if desired and if necessary, with one or more of the following reactions, in any order: - a saponification reaction of ester function in acid function,

- a conversion reaction from cyano function to acid or tetrazolyl function,

a reaction of transformation from alkoxy function to hydroxyl function,

an esterification, salification or amidification reaction of acid function,

- a reaction for the release of the thiol function from the radical CH, —C — S

II o

- A salification reaction with an acid or a mineral or organic base to obtain the corresponding salt, said products of formula (I) thus obtained being in all the possible isomeric forms racemics, enantiomers and diastereoisomers. 6) The following products:

- [S-R *, S *)] N- [1- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl] -alpha-

[[(phenylmethoxy) carbonyl] amino] -IH-indole-3-propanamide, - 2 '-cyano-alpha- acid [[[l- (mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl] amino] carbonyl] (1,1' - biphenyl) -4-propanoic, - (R) N- (1-mercaptomethyl) -2-phenylethyl) -11-phenoxy-undecanamide, said products being in all the isomeric, enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric forms, as well as the addition salts with pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic bases, of said products of formula (I).

7) Pharmaceutical compositions containing, as active principle, at least one of the products as defined in claim 6.

8) Use of the products of formulas (IV) and (VI) as defined in claim 5, for the preparation of an agent inhibiting the endothelin converting enzyme.

9) Use of the products of formula (I) as defined in claims 1 to 4 and 8, for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions intended for the treatment, by inhibi¬ tion of the converting enzyme of endothelin, conditions such as endothelin-induced hypertension, vascular spasms, cerebral hemorrhage, renal failure, myocardial infarction, heart failure as well as prevention of post-angioplasty restorations and cardiac and vascular fibrosis.