The invention provides compounds and methods, for example, to carry out organocatalytic Michael additions of aldehydes to cyclically constrained nitroethylene compounds catalyzed by a proline derivative to provide cyclically constrained α-substituted-γ-nitro-aldehydes. The reaction can be rendered enantioselective when a chiral pyrrolidine catalyst is used, allowing for Michael adducts in nearly optically pure form (e.g., 96 to >99% e.e.). The Michael adducts can bear a single substituent or dual substituents adjacent to the carbonyl. The Michael adducts can be efficiently converted to cyclically constrained protected γ-amino acid residues, which are essential for systematic conformational studies of γ-peptide foldamers. New methods are also provided to prepare other γ-amino acids and peptides. These new building blocks can be used to prepare foldamers, such as α/γ-peptide foldamers, that adopt specific helical conformations in solution and in the solid state.

Provided herein are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds to treat diseases or disorders associated with HDAC1 and/or HDAC2 activity.

The invention provides for compounds of formula I: wherein Z is absent or (CR.sub.AR.sub.B).sub.nW; each RA and RB is independently (i) H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, haloalkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted; (ii) OH, ORc, NH2, NHR.sub.c, NR.sub.cR.sub.c, SH, S(O).sub.mR.sub.c; or (iii) R.sub.A and R.sub.B together form C(O); W is absent, C(O), C(O)O, C(O)NR.sub.cR.sub.c, O, S(O).sub.m, or NR.sub.cR.sub.c; Y is an optionally substituted heterocyclic, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, or NR.sub.XR.sub.Y; wherein R.sub.x and R.sub.y are each independently H, alkyl or aryl; X.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of halogen, methyl, and hydroxyl; X2 is a halogen; each R.sub.c is independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or heteroaralkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted; m is O, 1, or 2; and n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. ##STR00001##

The invention provides for compounds of formula I: wherein Z is absent or (CR.sub.AR.sub.B).sub.nW; each RA and RB is independently (i) H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, haloalkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted; (ii) OH, ORc, NH2, NHR.sub.c, NR.sub.cR.sub.c, SH, S(O).sub.mR.sub.c; or (iii) R.sub.A and R.sub.B together form C(O); W is absent, C(O), C(O)O, C(O)NR.sub.cR.sub.c, O, S(O).sub.m, or NR.sub.cR.sub.c; Y is an optionally substituted heterocyclic, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, or NR.sub.XR.sub.Y; wherein R.sub.x and R.sub.y are each independently H, alkyl or aryl; X.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of halogen, methyl, and hydroxyl; X2 is a halogen; each R.sub.c is independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or heteroaralkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted; m is O, 1, or 2; and n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. ##STR00001##

The present disclosure is directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of disorders associated with fluid retention or salt overload, such as heart failure (in particular, congestive heart failure), chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, liver disease, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonist-induced fluid retention. The present disclosure is also directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of hypertension. The present disclosure is also directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders, including the treatment or reduction of pain associated with gastrointestinal tract disorders.

The present disclosure is related to an improved and efficient process for preparation of (3R,4R)-(1-benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-yl)-methylamine which comprises:

(a) N-acylation of 3-Amino-4-methyl pyridine; (b) Quarternization of 3-Acetylamino-4-methyl pyridine using benzyl halide; (c) Partial reduction of quarternized 3-Acetylamino-4-methyl pyridine by Sodium borohydride in Methanol or water; (d) Hydrolysis of partially reduced product to 1-Benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-one in presence of acid; (e) Reductive amination of 1-Benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-one using Methanolic methylamine in presence of Titanium(IV) isopropoxide in Methanol; (f) Resolution of 1-Benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-yl)-methylamine using Ditoluoyl (L) tartaric acid to get (3R,4R)-(1-benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-yl)-methylamine. The disclosure is also related to novel intermediates:

##STR00001##

wherein R, R′ and X are as described in the specification.

The present disclosure is related to an improved and efficient process for preparation of (3R,4R)-(1-benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-yl)-methylamine which comprises:

(a) N-acylation of 3-Amino-4-methyl pyridine; (b) Quarternization of 3-Acetylamino-4-methyl pyridine using benzyl halide; (c) Partial reduction of quarternized 3-Acetylamino-4-methyl pyridine by Sodium borohydride in Methanol or water; (d) Hydrolysis of partially reduced product to 1-Benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-one in presence of acid; (e) Reductive amination of 1-Benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-one using Methanolic methylamine in presence of Titanium(IV) isopropoxide in Methanol; (f) Resolution of 1-Benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-yl)-methylamine using Ditoluoyl (L) tartaric acid to get (3R,4R)-(1-benzyl-4-methylpiperidin-3-yl)-methylamine. The disclosure is also related to novel intermediates:

##STR00001##

wherein R, R′ and X are as described in the specification.

The present disclosure is directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of disorders associated with fluid retention or salt overload, such as heart failure (in particular, congestive heart failure), chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, liver disease, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonist-induced fluid retention. The present disclosure is also directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of hypertension. The present disclosure is also directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders, including the treatment or reduction of pain associated with gastrointestinal tract disorders.

The present invention is directed to compounds of the formula (I) wherein all substituents are defined herein, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising compounds of the invention and methods of using said compositions in the treatment of various disorders.

##STR00001##

Provided is a substituted piperidine compound having an orexin type 2 receptor agonist activity. A compound represented by the formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein each symbol is as described in the DESCRIPTION, or a salt thereof has an orexin type 2 receptor agonist activity, and is useful as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for narcolepsy.