AROMATIC SULFONES AND THEIR MEDICAL USE

摘要

The invention provides compounds of formula (I): wherein A and B represent the groups -(CH₂)_m- and -(CH₂)_n- respectively; R¹ represents hydrogen or C_1-6alkyl; R² represents hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, hydroxy C_1-6alkyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, C_1-6alkyl, C_1-6alkoxy, C_1-6fluoroalkoxy, -(CH₂)_pC_3-6cycloalkyl, -(CH₂)_pOC_3-6cycloalkyl, -COC_1-6alkyl, -SO₂C_1-6alkyl, -SOC_1-6alkyl, -S-C_1-6alkyl, -CO₂C_1-6alkyl, -CO₂NR⁵R⁶, -SO₂NR⁵R⁶, -(CH₂)_pNR⁵R⁶, -(CH₂)_pNR⁵COR⁶, optionally substituted aryl ring, optionally substituted heteroaryl ring or optionally substituted heterocyclyl ring; R³ represents optionally substituted aryl ring or optionally substituted heteroaryl ring; R⁴ represents hydrogen, hydroxy, C_1-6alkyl, C_1-6alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, halogen, -OSO₂CF₃, -(CH₂)_pC_3-6cycloalkyl, -(CH₂)_qOC_1-6alkyl or -(CH₂)_pOC_3-6cycloalkyl; R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent hydrogen, C_1-6alkyl or, together with the nitrogen or other atoms to which they are attached, form an azacycloalkyl ring or an oxo-substituted azacycloalkyl ring; Z represents -(CH₂)_rX- wherein the -(CH₂)_r- group is attached to R³, or -X(CH₂)_r- wherein X is attached to R³, and wherein any of the -CH₂- groups may be optionally substituted by one or more C_1-6alkyl groups; X represents oxygen, -NR⁷ or -CH₂- wherein the -CH₂- group may be optionally substituted by one or more C_1-6alkyl groups; R⁷ represents hydrogen or C_1-6alkyl; m and n independently represent an integer selected from 1 and 2; p independently represents an integer selected from 0, 1, 2 and 3; q independently represents an integer selected from 1, 2 and 3; r independently represents an integer selected from 0, 1, and 2; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. The compounds are useful in therapy, in particular as antipsychotic agents.