The invention relates to carboxamide derivatives as defined in the specification and claims, to a process for their preparation, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and to their use as mGluR1 enhancers in the treatment and prevention of neurological disorders and diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Small molecule mGluR1 enhancers, which are 9H-xanthene-9-carboxylic acid [ 1,2,4] oxadiazol-3-yl- and (2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amides, have been previously reported. Fluorinated 9H-xanthene-9-carboxylic acid oxazol-2-yl-amides with improved pharmacokinetic properties have been designed and synthesized as useful pharmacological tools for the study of the physiological roles mediated by mGlu1 receptors. The synthesis and the structure-activity relationship of this class of positive allosteric modulators of mGlu1 receptors will be discussed in detail. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.