NZ614883B2 - Pyrazolidin-3-one derivatives - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to ethynyl derivatives of formula I wherein X is N or CH; G is N or CH; with the proviso that maximum one of X or G can be nitrogen; R1 is phenyl or pyridyl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R4 a C3-C6-cycloalkyl; R3, R3', R4, R4' are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF; or to a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, to a racemic mixture, or to its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof. It has now surprisingly been found that the compounds of general formula I are positive allosteric modulators (PAM) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). Examples of compounds of formula (I) are: 2-[6-(2,5-difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridazin-3-yl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidin-3-one; 5,5-dimethyl-2-(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidin-2-yl)-pyrazolidin-3-one; (RS)-1-(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidin-2-yl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazol-2-one; 5,5-dimethyl-2-(5-phenylethynyl-pyridin-2-yl)-pyrazolidin-3-one and (RS)-5-isopropyl-2-(5-phenylethynyl-pyridin-2-yl)-pyrazolidin-3-one. rm together with R4 a C3-C6-cycloalkyl; R3, R3', R4, R4' are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF; or to a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, to a racemic mixture, or to its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof. It has now surprisingly been found that the compounds of general formula I are positive allosteric modulators (PAM) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). Examples of compounds of formula (I) are: 2-[6-(2,5-difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridazin-3-yl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidin-3-one; 5,5-dimethyl-2-(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidin-2-yl)-pyrazolidin-3-one; (RS)-1-(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidin-2-yl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazol-2-one; 5,5-dimethyl-2-(5-phenylethynyl-pyridin-2-yl)-pyrazolidin-3-one and (RS)-5-isopropyl-2-(5-phenylethynyl-pyridin-2-yl)-pyrazolidin-3-one.

Description

PYRAZOLIDINONE DERIVATIVES The present invention relates to ethynyl derivatives of formula I wherein X is N or CH; G is N or CH; with the proviso that maximum one of X or G can be nitrogen; R is phenyl or pyridyl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R a C -C -cycloalkyl; 3 3’ 4 4’ R /R /R /R are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF ; or to a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, to a racemic mixture, or to its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof.

It has now surprisingly been found that the compounds of general formula I are positive allosteric modulators (PAM) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5).

In the central nervous system (CNS) the transmission of stimuli takes place by the interaction of a neurotransmitter, which is sent out by a neuron, with a neuroreceptor.

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and plays a unique role in a variety of central nervous system (CNS) functions. The glutamate-dependent stimulus receptors are divided into two main groups. The first main group, namely the ionotropic receptors, forms ligand-controlled ion channels. The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) belong to the second main group and, furthermore, belong to the family of G-protein coupled receptors.

Pop/21.02.2012 At present, eight different members of these mGluR are known and of these some even have sub-types. According to their sequence homology, signal transduction mechanisms and agonist selectivity, these eight receptors can be sub-divided into three sub-groups: mGluR1 and mGluR5 belong to group I, mGluR2 and mGluR3 belong to group II and mGluR4, mGluR6, mGluR7 and mGluR8 belong to group III.

Ligands of metabotropic glutamate receptors belonging to the first group can be used for the treatment or prevention of acute and/or chronic neurological disorders such as psychosis, epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive disorders and memory deficits, as well as chronic and acute pain.

Other treatable indications in this connection are restricted brain function caused by bypass operations or transplants, poor blood supply to the brain, spinal cord injuries, head injuries, hypoxia caused by pregnancy, cardiac arrest and hypoglycaemia. Further treatable indications are ischemia, Huntington's chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), dementia caused by AIDS, eye injuries, retinopathy, idiopathic parkinsonism or parkinsonism caused by medicaments as well as conditions which lead to glutamate-deficiency functions, such as e.g. muscle spasms, convulsions, migraine, urinary incontinence, nicotine addiction, opiate addiction, anxiety, vomiting, dyskinesia and depressions.

Disorders mediated full or in part by mGluR5 are for example acute, traumatic and chronic degenerative processes of the nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s disease, senile dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis, psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and anxiety, depression, pain and drug dependency (Expert Opin. Ther. Patents (2002), 12, (12)).

A new avenue for developing selective modulators is to identify compounds which act through allosteric mechanism, modulating the receptor by binding to site different from the highly conserved orthosteric binding site. Positive allosteric modulators of mGluR5 have emerged recently as novel pharmaceutical entities offering this attractive alternative. Positive allosteric modulators have been described, for example in WO2008/151184, WO2006/048771, WO2006/129199 and WO2005/044797 and in Molecular Pharmacology, 40, 333 – 336, 1991; The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Vol 313, No. 1, 199-206, 2005; Positive allosteric modulators are compounds that do not directly activate receptors by themselves, but markedly potentiate agonist-stimulated responses, increase potency and maximum of efficacy. The binding of these compounds increase the affinity of a glutamate-site agonist at its extracellular N-terminal binding site. Positive allosteric modulation is thus an attractive mechanism for enhancing appropriate physiological receptor activation. There is a scarcity of selective positive allosteric modulators for the mGluR5 receptor. Conventional mGluR5 receptor modulators typically lack satisfactory aqueous solubility and exhibit poor oral bioavailability. Therefore, there remains a need for compounds that overcome these deficiencies and that effectively provide selective positive allosteric modulators for the mGluR5 receptor.

Compounds of formula I are distinguished by having valuable therapeutic properties. They can be used in the treatment or prevention of disorders, relating to positive allosteric modulators for the mGluR5 receptor.

The most preferred indications for compounds which are positive allosteric modulators are schizophrenia and cognition.

The present invention relates to compounds of formula I and to their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, to these compounds as pharmaceutically active substances, to the processes for their production as well as to the use of the compounds for the manufacture of medicaments for use in the treatment or prevention of disorders, relating to positive allosteric modulators for the mGluR5 receptor, such as schizophrenia, tuberous sclerosis, and cognition, and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of formula I.

The following definitions of the general terms used in the present description apply irrespective of whether the terms in question appear alone or in combination.

As used herein, the term "lower alkyl" denotes a saturated, i.e. aliphatic hydrocarbon group including a straight or branched carbon chain with 1 – 4 carbon atoms. Examples for “alkyl” are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and isopropyl.

The term “alkoxy” denotes a group -O-R’ wherein R’ is lower alkyl as defined above.

The term “halogen” denotes fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo.

The term "pharmaceutically acceptable salt" or “pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt” embraces salts with inorganic and organic acids, such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, methane-sulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and the like.

One embodiment of the invention are compounds of formula IA wherein R is phenyl or pyridyl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R a C -C -cycloalkyl; 3 3’ 4 4’ R /R /R /R are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF ; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, a racemic mixture, or its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof, for example the following compounds 5,5-dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone (RS)isopropyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone 1,5,5-trimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone 1,5,5-trimethyl(5-m-tolylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-chloro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (RS)(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone 2-[5-(2-chloro-pyridinylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(2,5-difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone 1-ethyl-5,5-dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone 1-ethyl[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (RS)ethylisopropyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone or (RS)Methyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)trifluoromethyl-pyrazolidinone.

One further embodiment of the invention are compounds of formula IB wherein R is phenyl or pyridyl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R a C -C -cycloalkyl; 3 3’ 4 4’ R /R /R /R are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF ; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, a racemic mixture, or its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof, for example the following compounds 5,5-dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-pyrazolidinone (RS)(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (RS)[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (RS)[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone 1,5,5-trimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone or 2-[5-(2,5-difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone.

One further embodiment of the invention are compounds of formula IC wherein X is N or CH; G is N or CH; with the proviso that maximum one of X or G can be nitrogen; R is phenyl or pyridyl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R a C -C -cycloalkyl; 3 3’ 4 4’ R /R /R /R are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF ; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, a racemic mixture, or its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof, for example the following compound 2-[6-(2,5-difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridazinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone.

One further embodiment of the invention are ethynyl derivatives of formula II wherein X is N or C-R , wherein R is hydrogen, methyl or halogen; G and A are independently N or CH; with the proviso that maximum one of X, G or A can be nitrogen; R is phenyl or heteroaryl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R a C -C -cycloalkyl; 3 3’ 4 4’ R /R /R /R are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl, CH -lower alkoxy; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, a racemic mixture, or its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof.

The preparation of compounds of formula I of the present invention may be carried out in sequential or convergent synthetic routes. Syntheses of the compounds of the invention are shown in the following scheme 1. The skills required for carrying out the reaction and purification of the resulting products are known to those skilled in the art. The substituents and indices used in the following description of the processes have the significance given herein before.

The compounds of formula I can be manufactured by the methods given below, by the methods given in the examples or by analogous methods. Appropriate reaction conditions for the individual reaction steps are known to a person skilled in the art. The reaction sequence is not limited to the one displayed in the schemes, however, depending on the starting materials and their respective reactivity the sequence of reaction steps can be freely altered. Starting materials are either commercially available or can be prepared by methods analogous to the methods given below, by methods described in references cited in the description or in the examples, or by methods known in the art.

The present compounds of formula I and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be prepared by methods, known in the art, for example by the process variants described below, which process comprises a) reacting a compound of formula 5 with a compound of formula to a compound of formula I-1 wherein the substituents are described above or b) reacting a compound of formula with a compound of formula R -X’ wherein X’ is Br or I, to form a compound of formula wherein the substituents are described above or c) reacting a compound of formula N X' wherein Y is Br, I, F, or Cl, with a compound of formula to a compound of formula I wherein the substituents are described above, or if desired, converting the compounds obtained into pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts.

The preparation of compounds of formula I is further described in more detail in schemes 1 to 4 and in examples 1 – 24.

Scheme 1 1. SOCl , DCM N N O 2-16h, rt NH N 4 4' 3. Bis-(tpp)-Pd(II)Cl2 G NH Et3N, TPP, CuI, THF or DMF, 2-16h, 70° X=Br, I 2. Et N, THF, 1-2h, reflux An ethynyl-pyridine or ethynyl-pyrimidine compound of formula I-1 can be obtained for example by reacting an appropriate α-β-unsaturated acid 1 with benzotriazole 2 in presence of a chlorinating agent such as SOCl in a solvent like dichloromethane to yield the corresponding benzotriazole amide 3. Reaction of benzotriazole amide 3 with a 5-iodo- or 5-bromohydrazino heterocyclic derivative 4 in the presence of a base such as triethylamine in a solvent like THF yields the corresponding pyrazolidinone derivatives 5. Sonogashira coupling of the pyrazolidinone derivatives 5 with an appropriately substituted arylacetylene 6 yield the desired ethynyl compounds of general formula I-1 (scheme 1).

Scheme 2 1. R -X, K CO ACN, 1-16h, reflux N N R X X = Br, I An ethynyl-pyridine or ethynyl-pyrimidine compound of formula I-2 can be obtained for example by reacting a ethynyl compound of general formula I-1 with an appropriate substituted alkylating agent in the presence of a base such as K CO in a solvent like acetonitrile (ACN) to yield the desired ethynyl compounds of general formula I-2 (scheme 2).

Scheme 3 1. Cs CO , xantphos Pd (dba) , toluene, N X O 3h, 100° R N N X' R X = Br, I, F, Cl X' = Br, I 2. Bis-(tpp)-Pd(II)Cl2 Et3N, TPP, CuI THF or DMF, 2-16h, 70° 4 An ethynyl compound of formula I can also be obtained by substitution of an appropriate para dihalosubstituted heterocyclic derivative 7 such as 2-bromoiodopyridine, 5-iodo fluoro-pyridine, 5-iodobromopyrimidine, 2-chloroiodopyridazine or 2-bromo iodopyrazine or the like and an appropriate pyrazolidinone 8 in presence of a base such as cesium carbonate (X=Cl, F), or using palladium catalysed coupling conditions (X=Br,I) with appropriate ligands such as Xantphos and Pd (dba) in a solvent like toluene to yield the corresponding 2-heteroaryl-pyrazolidinone derivatives 9. Sonogashira coupling of 9 with an appropriately substituted arylacetylene 6 yields the desired ethynyl compounds of general formula I (scheme 3).

Generally speaking, the sequence of steps used to synthesize the compounds of formula I-1, I-2 or I can also be modified in certain cases, for example by first running the Sonogashira coupling to form an appropriately substituted aryl- or heteroaryl-ethynyl derivative 10 followed by reaction with pyrazolidinone 8 using procedures similar to those described in schemes 1 to 3 (scheme 4).

Scheme 4 1. Bis-(tpp)-Pd(II)Cl Et N, TPP, CuI N X R N X 3 G THF or DMF, 2-16h, 70° R X = Br, I, F, Cl 8 X' = Br, I 2. Cs CO , xantphos Pd (dba) , toluene 3h, 100° Biological Assay and Data: Intracellular Ca mobilization assay A monoclonal HEK-293 cell line stably transfected with a cDNA encoding for the human mGlu5a receptor was generated; for the work with mGlu5 Positive Allosteric Modulators (PAMs), a cell line with low receptor expression levels and low constitutive receptor activity was selected to allow the differentiation of agonistic versus PAM activity. Cells were cultured according to standard protocols (Freshney, 2000) in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium with high glucose supplemented with 1 mM glutamine, 10% (vol/vol) heat-inactivated bovine calf serum, Penicillin/Streptomycin, 50 μg/ml hygromycin and 15 μg/ml blasticidin (all cell culture reagents and antibiotics from Invitrogen, Basel, Switzerland).

About 24 hrs before an experiment, 5x10 cells/well were seeded in poly-D-lysine coated, black/clear-bottomed 96-well plates. The cells were loaded with 2.5 µM Fluo-4AM in loading buffer (1xHBSS, 20 mM HEPES) for 1 hr at 37°C and washed five times with loading buffer.

The cells were transferred into a Functional Drug Screening System 7000 (Hamamatsu, Paris, France), and 11 half logarithmic serial dilutions of test compound at 37°C were added and the cells were incubated for 10-30 min. with on-line recording of fluorescence. Following this pre- incubation step, the agonist L-glutamate was added to the cells at a concentration corresponding to EC (typically around 80 μM) with on-line recording of fluorescence; in order to account for day-to-day variations in the responsiveness of cells, the EC of glutamate was determined immediately ahead of each experiment by recording of a full dose-response curve of glutamate.

Responses were measured as peak increase in fluorescence minus basal (i.e. fluorescence without addition of L-glutamate), normalized to the maximal stimulatory effect obtained with saturating concentrations of L-glutamate. Graphs were plotted with the % maximal stimulatory using XLfit, a curve fitting program that iteratively plots the data using Levenburg Marquardt algorithm. The single site competition analysis equation used was y = A + ((B-A)/(1+((x/C)D))), where y is the % maximal stimulatory effect, A is the minimum y, B is the maximum y, C is the EC , x is the log10 of the concentration of the competing compound and D is the slope of the curve (the Hill Coefficient). From these curves the EC (concentration at which half maximal stimulation was achieved), the Hill coefficient as well as the maximal response in % of the maximal stimulatory effect obtained with saturating concentrations of L-glutamate were calculated.

Positive signals obtained during the pre-incubation with the PAM test compounds (i.e. before application of an EC concentration of L-glutamate) were indicative of an agonistic activity, the absence of such signals were demonstrating the lack of agonistic activities. A depression of the signal observed after addition of the EC concentration of L-glutamate was indicative of an inhibitory activity of the test compound.

In the table below are shown the prepared compounds 1 – 24 with corresponding results (EC in nM).

Examples 18, 20 – 22 have been tested on human mGluR5 receptor using the following method: For binding experiments, cDNA encoding human mGlu 5a receptor was transiently transfected into EBNA cells using a procedure described by Schlaeger and Christensen [Cytotechnology :1-13 (1998)]. Cell membrane homogenates were stored at -80°C until the day of assay where upon they were thawed and resuspended and polytronised in 15 mM Tris-HCl, 120 mM NaCl, 100 mM KCl, 25 mM CaCl , 25 mM MgCl binding buffer at pH 7.4 to a final assay concentration of 20 μg protein/ well.

Saturation isotherms were determined by addition of twelve [ H]MPEP concentrations (0.04-100 nM) to these membranes (in a total volume of 200 µl) for 1 h at 4°C. Competition experiments were performed with a fixed concentration of [ H]MPEP (2nM) and IC values of test compounds evaluated using 11 concentrations (0.3-10,000nM). Incubations were performed for 1 h at 4° C.

At the end of the incubation, membranes were filtered onto unifilter (96-well white microplate with bonded GF/C filter preincubated 1 h in 0.1% PEI in wash buffer, Packard BioScience, Meriden, CT) with a Filtermate 96 harvester (Packard BioScience) and washed 3 times with cold 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 buffer. Nonspecific binding was measured in the presence of 10 μM MPEP. The radioactivity on the filter was counted (3 min) on a Packard Top-count microplate scintillation counter with quenching correction after addition of 45 µl of microscint 40 (Canberra Packard S.A., Zürich, Switzerland) and shaking for 20 min.

For functional assays, [Ca ]i measurements were performed as described previously by Porter et al. [Br. J. Pharmacol. 128:13-20 (1999)] on recombinant human mGlu 5a receptors in HEK-293 cells. The cells were dye loaded using Fluo 4-AM (obtainable by FLUKA, 0.2μM final concentration). [Ca ]i measurements were performed using a fluorometric imaging plate reader (FLIPR, Molecular Devices Corporation, La Jolla, CA, USA). Antagonist evaluation was performed following a 5 min preincubation with the test compounds followed by the addition of a submaximal addition of agonist.

The inhibition (antagonists) curves were fitted with a four parameter logistic equation giving IC , and Hill coefficient using an iterative non linear curve fitting software (Xcel fit).

For binding experiments the Ki values of the compounds tested are given. The Ki value is defined by the following formula: K = IC / [1 + L / K ] i 50 d in which the IC values are those concentrations of the compounds tested which cause 50 % inhibition of the competing radioligand ([ H]MPEP). L is the concentration of radioligand used in the binding experiment and the K value of the radioligand is empirically determined for each batch of membranes prepared.

List of Examples: Ex. Structure Name EC (nM) Eff. (%) mGlu5PA ,5-Dimethyl(5- 1 phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)- 7 60 pyrazolidinone (RS)Isopropyl(5- 2 phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)- 24 73 pyrazolidinone 1,5,5-Trimethyl(5- 3 phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)- 30 96 pyrazolidinone 1,5,5-Trimethyl(5-m- 4 tolylethynyl-pyridinyl)- 72 72 pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)- pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl- 13 31 pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)- 6 pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl- 36 109 pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-Chloro-phenylethynyl)- 7 pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl- 90 55 pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(4-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)- 8 pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl- 13 38 pyrazolidinone ,5-Dimethyl(5- 9 phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)- 46 39 pyrazolidinone (RS)(5-Phenylethynyl- pyridinyl)-tetrahydro- 35 73 pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (RS)(5-Phenylethynyl- 11 pyrimidinyl)-tetrahydro- 60 55 pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (RS)[5-(3-Fluoro- phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]- 12 22 59 tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2- b]pyrazolone (RS)[5-(4-Fluoro- phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]- 13 41 58 tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2- b]pyrazolone 1,5,5-Trimethyl(5- 14 phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)- 33 66 pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)- pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl- 34 61 pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(4-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)- 16 pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl- 56 69 pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(2,5-Difluoro- phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]- 17 35 47 1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidin 2-[5-(2-Chloro-pyridin Human mGluR5 18 ylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5- Ki [nM] = 103 nM trimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[6-(2,5-Difluoro- 19 phenylethynyl)-pyridazinyl]- 86 86 ,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(2,5-Difluoro- Human mGluR5 phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]- Ki [nM] = 69.7 nM ,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone pKi = 7.157 1-Ethyl-5,5-dimethyl(5- Human mGluR5 21 phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)- Ki [nM] = 53.5 nM pyrazolidinone pKi = 7.272 1-Ethyl[5-(4-fluoro- Human mGluR5 22 phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]- Ki [nM] = 54.3 nM ,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone pKi = 7.266 (RS)Ethylisopropyl(5- 23 phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)- 106 46 pyrazolidinone (RS)Methyl(5- phenylethynyl-pyridinyl) 24 71 92 trifluoromethyl-pyrazolidin The compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof can be used as medicaments, e.g. in the form of pharmaceutical preparations. The pharmaceutical preparations can be administered orally, e.g. in the form of tablets, coated tablets, dragées, hard and soft gelatine capsules, solutions, emulsions or suspensions. However, the administration can also be effected rectally, e.g. in the form of suppositories, or parenterally, e.g. in the form of injection solutions.

The compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof can be processed with pharmaceutically inert, inorganic or organic carriers for the production of pharmaceutical preparations. Lactose, corn starch or derivatives thereof, talc, stearic acid or its salts and the like can be used, for example, as such carriers for tablets, coated tablets, dragées and hard gelatine capsules. Suitable carriers for soft gelatine capsules are, for example, vegetable oils, waxes, fats, semi-solid and liquid polyols and the like; depending on the nature of the active substance no carriers are, however, usually required in the case of soft gelatine capsules. Suitable carriers for the production of solutions and syrups are, for example, water, polyols, sucrose, invert sugar, glucose and the like. Adjuvants, such as alcohols, polyols, glycerol, vegetable oils and the like, can be used for aqueous injection solutions of water-soluble salts of compounds of formula (I), but as a rule are not necessary. Suitable carriers for suppositories are, for example, natural or hardened oils, waxes, fats, semi-liquid or liquid polyols and the like.

In addition, the pharmaceutical preparations can contain preservatives, solubilizers, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, sweeteners, colorants, flavorants, salts for varying the osmotic pressure, buffers, masking agents or antioxidants. They can also contain still other therapeutically valuable substances.

As mentioned earlier, medicaments containing a compound of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and a therapeutically inert excipient are also an aspect of the present invention, as is a process for the production of such medicaments which comprises bringing one or more compounds of formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and, if desired, one or more other therapeutically valuable substances into a galenical dosage form together with one or more therapeutically inert carriers.

As further mentioned earlier, the use of the compounds of formula (I) for the preparation of medicaments useful in the prevention and/or the treatment of the above recited diseases is also an aspect of the present invention.

The dosage can vary within wide limits and will, of course, be fitted to the individual requirements in each particular case. In general, the effective dosage for oral or parenteral administration is between 0.01-20 mg/kg/day, with a dosage of 0.1-10 mg/ kg/day being preferred for all of the indications described. The daily dosage for an adult human being weighing 70 kg accordingly lies between 0.7-1400 mg per day, preferably between 7 and 700 mg per day.

Preparation of pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of the invention: Example A Tablets of the following composition are produced in a conventional manner: mg/Tablet Active ingredient 100 Powdered. lactose 95 White corn starch 35 Polyvinylpyrrolidone 8 Na carboxymethylstarch 10 Magnesium stearate 2 Tablet weight 250 Experimental Section: Example 1 5,5-Dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 1-Benzotriazolylmethyl-butenone 1H-Benzotriazole (2.14 g, 18.0 mmol, 4 equiv.) was dissolved in dichloromethane (25 ml) and thionyl chloride (330 µl, 4.5 mmol, 1 equiv.) was added at room temperature. (450 mg, 4.5 mmol) 3-Methyl-butenoic acid [CAS 5419] was added and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. The suspension was filtered and the filtrate was extracted once with 2N NaOH solution and twice with dichloromethane. The organic extracts were combined, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography on a silica gel column eluting with an ethyl acetate:cyclohexane gradient 0:100 to 50:50. The desired 1-benzotriazolylmethyl-butenone (810 mg, 90 % yield) was obtained as a light yellow solid, MS: m/e = 202.1 (M+H ).

Step 2: 2-(5-Bromo-pyridinyl)-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (400 mg, 2.0 mmol) 1-Benzotriazolylmethyl-butenone (Example 1, step 1), (5- bromo-pyridinyl)-hydrazine (410 mg, 2.2 mmol, 1.1 equiv.) and Et N (1.95 ml, 14.0 mmol, 7 equiv.) were dissolved together in THF (2 ml) and stirred for 90 minutes at reflux temperature.

The reaction mixture was cooled and extracted with saturated Na CO solution and two times with ethyl acetate. The organic extracts were extracted with brine, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography on a silica gel column eluting with an ethyl acetate:cyclohexane gradient 0:100 to 50:50. The desired 2-(5- bromo-pyridinyl)-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (230 mg, 43 % yield) was obtained as a yellow oil, MS: m/e = 270.2/272.2 (M+H ).

Step 3: 5,5-Dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone Bis-(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(II)dichloride (27 mg, 39 µmol, 0.05 equiv.) was dissolved in 2 ml THF. (210 mg, 770 µmol) 2-(5-Bromo-pyridinyl)-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 1, step 2) and phenylacetylene (130 mg, 1.24 mmol, 1.6 equiv.) were added at room temperature. Triethylamine (325 µl, 2.33 mmol, 3 equiv.), triphenylphosphine (6 mg, 23.3 µmol, 0.03 equiv.) and copper(I)iodide (4 mg, 23.3 µmol, 0.03 equiv.) were added and the mixture was stirred for 16 hours at 65°C. The reaction mixture was cooled and extracted with saturated NaHCO solution and two times with a small volume of dichloromethane. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography by directly loading the dichloromethane layers onto a silica gel column eluting with an ethyl acetate:heptane gradient 0:100 to 100:0. The desired 5,5- dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone (102 mg, 45 % yield) was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 292.1 (M+H ).

Example 2 (RS)Isopropyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone Step 1: (E/Z)Benzotriazolylmethyl-pentenone The title compound was obtained as a colorless liquid, MS: m/e = 215 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 1 from 4-methyl-pentenoic acid [CAS 10321 8] and 1H-benzotriazole.

Step 2: (RS)(5-Bromo-pyridinyl)isopropyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light yellow oil, MS: m/e = 284.0/286.0 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 2 from (E/Z)benzotriazolyl methyl-pentenone (Example 2, step 1) and (5-bromo-pyridinyl)-hydrazine.

Step 3: (RS)Isopropyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light yellow oil, MS: m/e = 306.1 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from (RS)(5-bromo-pyridinyl) isopropyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 2, step 2) and phenylacetylene.

Example 3 1,5,5-Trimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone (35 mg, 120 µmol) 5,5-Dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone (Example 1, step 4) was dissolved in ACN (2 ml). K CO (33 mg, 240 µmol, 2 equiv.) and iodomethane (22 mg, 156 µmol, 1.3 equiv.) were added and the mixture was stirred for 16 hours at 80°C. The reaction mixture was evaporated and extracted with water and two times with ethyl acetate. The organic layers were extracted with brine, dried with sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The crude product was purified by reverse phase column chromatography. The desired 1,5,5-trimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone (18 mg, 49 % yield) was obtained as a colorless oil, MS: m/e = 306.2 (M+H ).

Example 4 1,5,5-Trimethyl(5-m-tolylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 5,5-Dimethyl(5-m-tolylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a brown oil, MS: m/e = 306.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyridinyl)-5,5-dimethyl- pyrazolidinone (Example 1, step 2) and m-tolylacetylene.

Step 2: 1,5,5-Trimethyl(5-m-tolylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 320.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 3 from 5,5-dimethyl(5-m-tolylethynyl-pyridinyl)- pyrazolidinone (Example 4, step 1).

Example 5 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light yellow solid, MS: m/e = 310.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyridinyl)-5,5- dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 1, step 2) and 1-ethynylfluoro-benzene.

Example 6 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a colorless oil, MS: m/e = 324.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 3 from 2-[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5- dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 5).

Example 7 2-[5-(3-Chloro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 2-[5-(3-Chloro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a yellow soild, MS: m/e = 326.1/328.1 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyridinyl)-5,5- dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 1, step 2) and 1-ethynylchloro-benzene.

Step 2: 2-[5-(3-Chloro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 340.1/342.1 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 3 from 2-[5-(3-chloro-phenylethynyl)-pyridin yl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 7, step 1).

Example 8 2-[5-(4-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 310.1 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyridinyl)-5,5-dimethyl- pyrazolidinone (Example 1, step 2) and 1-ethynylfluoro-benzene.

Example 9 ,5-Dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 2-(5-Bromo-pyrimidinyl)-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light yellow solid, MS: m/e = 271.2/273.1 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 2 from 1-benzotriazolylmethyl-but- 2-enone (Example 1, step 1) and (5-bromo-pyrimidinyl)-hydrazine.

Step 2: 5,5-Dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light grey solid, MS: m/e = 293.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyrimidinyl)-5,5- dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 9, step 1) and phenylacetylene.

Example 10 (RS)(5-Phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone Step 1: 2-Bromophenylethynyl-pyridine N Br The title compound was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 258/260 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-bromoiodopyridine and phenylacetylene.

Step 2: (RS)(5-Phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (150 mg, 0.58 mmol) 2-Bromophenylethynyl-pyridine (Example 10, step 1) was dissolved in toluene (2 ml) and (RS)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone [CAS 11590916] (73 mg, 0.58 mmol, 1.0 equiv.), cesium carbonate (280 mg, 0.87 mmol, 1.5 equiv.), xantphos [CAS 1612658] (14 mg, 0.02 mmol, 0.04 equiv.) and Pd (dba) (11 mg, 0.01 mmol, 0.02 equiv.) were added under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred for 3 hours at 100°C. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography by directly loading the toluene mixture onto a silica gel column and eluting with an ethyl acetate:heptane gradient 0:100 to 100:0. The desired (RS)(5- phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (17 mg, 9 % yield) was obtained as a light brown solid, MS: m/e = 304.1 (M+H ).

Example 11 (RS)(5-Phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone Step 1: 2-Bromophenylethynyl-pyrimidine N Br The title compound was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 259.0/261.0 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-bromoiodopyrimidine (CAS 9058564) and phenylacetylene.

Step 2: (RS)(5-Phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone The title compound was obtained as a brown solid, MS: m/e = 305.1 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 10, step 2 from 2-bromophenylethynyl-pyrimidine (Example 11, step 1) and (RS)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (CAS 11590916).

Example 12 (RS)[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazol Step 1: (RS)(5-Bromo-pyrimidinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone The title compound was obtained as a yellow solid, MS: m/e = 283.0/285.0 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 10, step 2 from 2-iodobromopyrimidine and (RS)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (CAS 11590916).

Step 2: (RS)[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazol The title compound was obtained as a light yellow solid, MS: m/e = 323.1 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from (RS)(5-bromo-pyrimidinyl)- tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (Example 12, step 1) and 3-fluorophenylacetylene.

Example 13 (RS)[5-(4-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazol The title compound was obtained as a yellow solid, MS: m/e = 323.1 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from (RS)(5-bromo-pyrimidinyl)-tetrahydro- pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (Example 12, step 1) and 4-fluorophenylacetylene.

Example 14 1,5,5-Trimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a brown solid, MS: m/e = 307.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 3 from 5,5-dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)- pyrazolidinone (Example 9, step 2) and iodomethane.

Example 15 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 5,5-Dimethyloxo-pyrazolidinecarboxylic acid tert-butyl ester The title compound was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 215.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in the Literature Tetrahedron 66 (2010) Page 8992-9008 from 5,5- dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (CAS 245726).

Step 2: 2-(5-Bromo-pyrimidinyl)-5,5-dimethyloxo-pyrazolidinecarboxylic acid tert- butyl ester Br O The title compound was obtained as a yellow solid, MS: m/e = 371.1/373.0 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 10, step 2 from 2-iodobromopyrimidine and ,5-dimethyloxo-pyrazolidinecarboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (Example 15, step 1).

Step 3: 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-5,5-dimethyloxo-pyrazolidine carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester The title compound was obtained as a brown solid, MS: m/e = 411.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyrimidinyl)-5,5-dimethyl oxo-pyrazolidinecarboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (Example 15, step 2) and 3- fluorophenylacetylene.

Step 4: 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (118 mg, 0.29 mmol) 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-5,5-dimethyloxo- pyrazolidinecarboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (Example 15, step 3) was dissolved in dichloromethane (2ml) and TFA (0.55 ml, 7.2 mmol, 25 equiv.) was added at room temperature and stirred for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was extracted with saturated Na CO solution and a small amount of dichloromethane. The organic extract was loaded directly to a silica gel column. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography on a silica gel column eluting with an ethyl acetate:heptane gradient 0:100 to 100:0. The desired 2-[5-(3-fluoro- phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (61 mg, 69 % yield) was obtained as a light yellow solid, MS: m/e = 311.2 (M+H ).

Step 5: 2-[5-(3-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light brown solid, MS: m/e = 325.3 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 3 from 2-[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidin- 2-yl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 15, step 4) and iodomethane.

Example 16 2-[5-(4-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 2-[5-(4-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-5,5-dimethyloxo-pyrazolidine carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester The title compound was obtained as an orange solid, MS: m/e = 411.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyrimidinyl)-5,5-dimethyl oxo-pyrazolidinecarboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (Example 15, step 2) and 4- fluorophenylacetylene.

Step 2: 2-[5-(4-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light yellow soild, MS: m/e = 311.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 15, step 4 from 2-[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)- pyrimidinyl]-5,5-dimethyloxo-pyrazolidinecarboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (Example 16, step 1).

Step 3: 2-[5-(4-Fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light yellow solid, MS: m/e = 325.3 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 3 from 2-[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidin- 2-yl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 16, step 2) and iodomethane.

Example 17 2-[5-(2,5-Difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 2-(5-Bromo-pyrimidinyl)-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a yellow solid, MS: m/e = 271.1/273.1 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 10, step 2 from 2-iodobromopyrimidine and ,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (CAS 245726).

Step 2: 2-(5-Bromo-pyrimidinyl)-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light yellow solid, MS: m/e = 285.0/286.9 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyrimidinyl)-5,5-dimethyl- pyrazolidinone (Example 17, step 1) and iodomethane.

Step 3: 2-[5-(2,5-Difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 343.3 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyrimidinyl)-1,5,5-trimethyl- pyrazolidinone (Example 17, step 2) and 2,5-difluorophenylacetylene (CAS 9563862).

Example 18 2-[5-(2-Chloro-pyridinylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 2-Bromophenylethynyl-pyrimidine N Br The title compound, a yellow solid, MS: m/e = 293.2/295.2 (M+H ), can be obtained using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-bromoiodopyridine and 2- chloroethynyl-pyridine (CAS 9457179).

Step 2: 2-[5-(2-Chloro-pyridinylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a yellow solid, MS: m/e = 327.4/329.4 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 10, step 2 from 2-bromophenylethynyl- pyrimidine (Example 18, step 1) and 5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (CAS 245726).

Step 3: 2-[5-(2-Chloro-pyridinylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 341.4/343.3 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 3 from 2-[5-(2-chloro-pyridinylethynyl)- pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 18, step 2) and iodomethane.

Example 19 2-[6-(2,5-Difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridazinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 2-(6-Chloro-pyridazinyl)-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a yellow oil, MS: m/e = 227.1/229.3 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 2 from 1-benzotriazolylmethyl-but- 2-enone (Example 1, step 1) and (6-chloro-pyridazinyl)-hydrazine (CAS 172848).

Step 2: 2-[6-(2,5-Difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridazinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light yellow solid, MS: m/e = 329.2 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(6-chloro-pyridazinyl)-5,5- dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 19, step 1) and 2,5-difluorophenylacetylene (CAS 956386- 38-2).

Example 20 2-[5-(2,5-Difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound, a brown oil, MS: m/e = 328.1 (M+H ), can be obtained using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 2-(5-bromo-pyridinyl)-5,5-dimethyl- pyrazolidinone (Example 1, step 2) and 2,5-difluorophenylacetylene (CAS 9563862).

Example 21 1-Ethyl-5,5-dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a yellow oil, MS: m/e = 320.4 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 10, step 2 from 2-bromophenylethynyl-pyridine (Example 10, step 1) and 1-ethyl-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (CAS 264852).

Example 22 1-Ethyl[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone Step 1: 1-Ethyl(5-iodo-pyridinyl)-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (200 mg, 0.90 mmol) 2-Fluoroiodopyridine was dissolved in toluene (1 ml) and 1-ethyl-5,5- dimethyl-pyrazolidinone [CAS 264852] (128 mg, 0.90 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) and cesium carbonate (440 mg, 1.35 mmol, 1.5 equiv.) were added under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred for 4 hours at 100°C. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography by directly loading the toluene mixture onto a silica gel column and eluting with an ethyl acetate:heptane gradient 0:100 to 50:50. The desired 1-ethyl(5-iodo-pyridinyl)-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidin one (88 mg, 28 % yield) was obtained as a yellow oil, MS: m/e = 346.3 (M+H ).

Step 2: 1-Ethyl[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 338.4 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 1, step 3 from 1-ethyl(5-iodo-pyridinyl)-5,5-dimethyl- pyrazolidinone (Example 22, step 1) and 4-fluorophenylacetylene.

Example 23 (RS)Ethylisopropyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone The title compound was obtained as a light yellow oil, MS: m/e = 334.4 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 10, step 2 from 2-bromophenylethynyl- pyridine (Example 10, step 1) and (RS)ethylisopropyl-pyrazolidinone (CAS 1185083- 91-3).

Example 24 (RS)Methyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)trifluoromethyl-pyrazolidinone N N F Step 1: (RS)Methyltrifluoromethyl-pyrazolidinone (300 mg, 1.65 mmol) 4,4,4-Trifluoromethyl-butenoic acid ethyl ester (CAS 244907) was dissolved in ethanol (3 ml) and hydrazine monohydrate 64% in ethanol (0.13 ml, 1.73 mmol, 1.05 equiv.) was added at room temperature and stirred in a sealed tube for 16 hours at 80°C.

The reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness. The desired (RS)methyltrifluoromethyl- pyrazolidinone (280 mg, quant.) was obtained as a white solid, MS: m/e = 169.2 (M+H ).

Step 1: (RS)Methyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)trifluoromethyl-pyrazolidinone N N F The title compound was obtained as a yellow oil, MS: m/e = 346.4 (M+H ), using chemistry similar to that described in Example 10, step 2 from 2-bromophenylethynyl-pyridine (Example 10, step 1) and (RS)methyltrifluoromethyl-pyrazolidinone (Example 24, step

Claims (14)

Claims 1.

1. A compound of formula 5 wherein X is N or CH; G is N or CH; with the proviso that maximum one of X or G can be nitrogen; R is phenyl or pyridyl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or 10 lower alkoxy; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R a C -C -cycloalkyl; 3 3’ 4 4’ R /R /R /R are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF ; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, a racemic mixture, or its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof.

2. A compound of formula IA according to claim 1 wherein 20 R is phenyl or pyridyl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R a C -C -cycloalkyl; 3 3’ 4 4’ R /R /R /R are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF ; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, a racemic mixture, or its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof.

3. A compound of formula IA according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the 5 compounds are 5,5-dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone (RS)isopropyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone 1,5,5-trimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone 1,5,5-trimethyl(5-m-tolylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone 10 2-[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-chloro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (RS)(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone 15 2-[5-(2-chloro-pyridinylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(2,5-difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone 1-ethyl-5,5-dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone 1-ethyl[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone (RS)ethylisopropyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)-pyrazolidinone or 20 (RS)Methyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyridinyl)trifluoromethyl-pyrazolidinone.

4. A compound of formula IB according to claim 1, 25 wherein R is phenyl or pyridyl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R a C -C -cycloalkyl; 3 3’ 4 4’ R /R /R /R are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF ; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, a racemic mixture, or its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof.

5. A compound of formula IB according to any one of claims 1 and 4, wherein the compounds 5 are 5,5-dimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-pyrazolidinone (RS)(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (RS)[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone (RS)[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyrazolone 10 1,5,5-trimethyl(5-phenylethynyl-pyrimidinyl)-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(3-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone 2-[5-(4-fluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone or 2-[5-(2,5-difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyrimidinyl]-1,5,5-trimethyl-pyrazolidinone. 15

6. A compound of formulas IC according to claim 1, wherein 20 X is N or CH; G is N or CH; with the proviso that maximum one of X or G can be nitrogen; R is phenyl or pyridyl, which are optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; 25 R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or may form together with R a C -C -cycloalkyl; 3 3’ 4 4’ R /R /R /R are independently from each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or CF ; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, a racemic mixture, or its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof.

7. A compound of formula IC according to any one of claims 1 and 6, wherein the compound is 2-[6-(2,5-difluoro-phenylethynyl)-pyridazinyl]-5,5-dimethyl-pyrazolidinone. 5

8. A process for preparation of a compound of formula I as described in any one of claims 1 - 7, comprising the variants a) reacting a compound of formula with a compound of formula 10 6 to a compound of formula wherein the substituents are described in claim 1 or b) reacting a compound of formula with a compound of formula R -X’ 20 wherein X’ is Br or I, to form a compound of formula wherein the substituents are described in claim 1 or c) reacting a compound of formula N X' 5 wherein Y is Br, I, F, or Cl, with a compound of formula to a compound of formula 10 I wherein the substituents are described in claim 1, or if desired, converting the compounds obtained into pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts.

9. A compound according to any one of claim 1 -7, whenever prepared by a process as 15 claimed in claim 8.

10. A compound according to any one of claims 1 –7 for use as therapeutically active substance.

11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound in accordance with any one of claims 1 –7 and a therapeutically active carrier. 5

12. The use of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1-7 for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of schizophrenia or cognitive diseases.

13. A compound according to any one of claims 1 –7 for the treatment of schizophrenia or cognitive diseases.

14. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 11 substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof.