Discovery of imidazo[1,5-c]imidazol-3-ones:: Weakly basic, orally active factor Xa inhibitors

The coagulation enzyme factor Xa (FXa) has been recognized as a promising target for the development of new antithrombotic agents. We previously found compound I to be an orally bioavailable FXa inhibitor in fasted monkeys; however, I showed poor bioavailability in rats and fed monkeys. To work out the pharmacokinetic problems, we focused our synthetic efforts on the chemical conversion of the 4-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-5-yl)piperazine moiety of 1 to imidazolylpiperidine derivatives (fused and nonfused), which resulted in the discovery of the weakly basic imidazo[1,5-c]imidazol-3-one 3q as a potent and selective FXa inhibitor. Compound 3q showed favorable oral bioavailability in rats and monkeys under both fasted and fed conditions and antithrombotic efficacy in a rat model of venous thrombosis after oral administration, without a significant increase in bleeding time (unlike warfarin). On the basis of these promising properties, compound 3q was selected for further evaluation.