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Title:
COMPOUNDS WHICH ARE MODULATORS OF THE PPAR-TYPE RECEPTORS AND THEIR USE IN COSMETIC OR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2004/072022
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to novel compounds which correspond to the following general formula (I): their method of preparation, and their use in pharmaceutical compositions intended for use in human or veterinary medicine (in dermatology and in the field of cardiovascular diseases, immune diseases and/or diseases linked to lipid metabolism), or in cosmetic compositions.

Inventors:
DIAZ PHILIPPE (FR)
THOREAU ETIENNE (FR)
VOEGEL JOHANNES (FR)
CARLAVAN ISABELLE (FR)
MAUVAIS PASCALE (FR)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2004/002199
Publication Date:
August 26, 2004
Filing Date:
February 10, 2004
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
GALDERMA RES & DEV (FR)
DIAZ PHILIPPE (FR)
THOREAU ETIENNE (FR)
VOEGEL JOHANNES (FR)
CARLAVAN ISABELLE (FR)
MAUVAIS PASCALE (FR)
International Classes:
A61P17/00; C07C323/62; (IPC1-7): C07C321/26; A61K31/222; A61K31/196; A61P17/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2001074771A12001-10-11
WO2001034094A22001-05-17
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Andral, Christophe (25-29 quai Aulagnier, Asnières, FR)
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. Compounds, characterized in that they correspond to the following formula (I) : in which Ar, represents an optionally substituted radical of formula : Z having the meaning given below, Z represents the substituent: it being understood that Z is at the meta position with respect to X on the ring Ar1 ; R1 and Y having the meanings given below, Ar2 represents an optionally substituted radical of formula : R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, an aralkyl radical, a polyether radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical or a polyhydroxyalkyl radical ; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, an aralkyl radical, a polyether radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical or a polyhydroxyalkyl radical ; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, an aralkyl radical, a polyether radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a radical COR5 or CSR5 ; R5 having the meanings given below, Y represents an oxygen or sulphur atom, or the radical NR4 ; R4 having the meanings given below, R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, a polyether radical, an aralkyl radical or forms, with R1 and the nitrogen atom of Y, a heterocycle or a heteroaryl ; R5 represents an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, an aralkyl radical, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a polyether radical, an alkoxy radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a radical R6NR7 or a radical OR8 ; R7 and R8 having the meanings given below, R6 and R7 may be identical or different and represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, an aralkyl radical or alternatively, taken together, form a heterocycle ; R8 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical or an aralkyl radical ; X represents an S atom, a radical S=O, a radical O=S=O, an Se atom, an O atom, a radical NR9, a radical C=O, a radical HOCR11 or a radical R10C R11 ; R9, R10 and R11 having the meanings given below, R9 represents a hydrogen atom, a radicalCOR12, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a polyether radical, an aryl radical or an aralkyl radical ; R12 having the meanings given below, R10 and R11, which are identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, an aralkyl radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a polyether radical, an alkoxy radical, or R10 and R11, taken together, can form a ring optionally interrupted by heteroatoms and preferably the rings are dithianyl, dioxanyl, dithiolanyl, dioxolanyl or cyclopropanyl radicals ; A represents an S, 0 or Se atom or a radical NR13 ; R13 having the meanings given below, R12 represents an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; R13 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a polyether radical, a heteroaryl radical or an aralkyl radical ; and the optical and geometric isomers of the said compounds of formula (I) and their salts.
2. Compounds according to Claim 1, characterized in that they are provided in the form of salts of an alkali or alkalineearth metal, zinc salts, or salts of an organic amine.
3. Compounds according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the alkyl radicals having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms are chosen from a hydrogenated or fluorinated, linear or cyclic, optionally branched radical containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms which may be interrupted by one or more heteroatoms, and preferably the alkyl radicals having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms are methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, butyl, tertbutyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl or cyclohexyl radicals.
4. Compounds according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the monohydroxyalkyl radicals are chosen from the radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and preferably having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, in particular a 2hydroxyethyl, 2hydroxypropyl or 3hydroxypropyl radical.
5. Compounds according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the polyhydroxyalkyl radicals are chosen from the radical containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 5 hydroxyl groups, such as 2,3 dihydroxypropyl, 2,3, 4trihydroxybutyl or 2,3, 4, 5tetrahydroxypentyl radicals, or the pentaerythritol residue.
6. Compounds according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polyether radicals are chosen from the polyether radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms interrupted by at least one oxygen atom such as methoxymethoxy, ethoxymethoxy or methoxyethoxymethoxy radicals.
7. Compounds according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alkoxy radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms is chosen from the group consisting of methoxy, ethoxy, isopropyloxy, tertbutoxy, hexyloxy, benzyloxy or phenoxy radicals, which may be optionally substituted with an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
8. Compounds according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aryl radical is chosen from a phenyl, biphenyl, cinnamyl or naphthyl radical which may be monoor disubstituted with a halogen atom, a radical CF3, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, a nitro functional group, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl radical optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino functional group optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
9. Compounds according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aralkyl radical is chosen from a benzyl, phenethyl or naphthalen2ylmethyl radical which may be monoor disubstituted with a halogen atom, a radical CF3, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, a nitro functional group, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl radical optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino functional group optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
10. Compounds according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heteroaryl radical is chosen from the group consisting of an aryl radical interrupted by one or more heteroatoms, such as the pyridyl, furyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, isothiazolyl, quinazolinyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzimidazole, indolyl or benzofuran radical, optionally substituted with at least one halogen, an alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a nitro functional group, a polyether radical, a heteroaryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino functional group optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
11. Compounds according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heterocyclic radical is chosen from the group consisting of a morpholino, piperidino, piperazino, 2oxopiperidin1yl and 2oxopyrrolidin 1yl radical optionally substituted with at least one alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a nitro functional group, a polyether radical, a heteroaryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino functional group optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
12. Compounds according to Claim 1, characterized in that they are chosen, alone or in the form of mixtures, from the group consisting of: 1 b. Ethyl [3 (4aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 1c. [3 (4Aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 2a. Ethyl [3 (3aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 2b. [3 (3Aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 3a. Ethyl [3 (3Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 3b. [3 (3Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 4a. Ethyl {3 [3 (3phenylpropylamino) phenylsulphanyl] phenyllacetate 4b. {3[3(3Phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 5a. Ethyl [3 (3heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 5b. [3 (3Heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 6a. Ethyl [3 (3butylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 6b. [3 (3Butylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 7a. Ethyl [3 (4heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 7b. [3 (4Heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 8a. Ethyl [3 (4butylaminophenyisulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 8b. [3 (4Butylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 9a. Ethyl [3 (4Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 9b. [3 (4Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 10a. Ethyl {3[4(3phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 10b. {3[4(3Phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl}phenyl}acetic acid 11a. Ethyl (3 {4 [3phenethyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 11b. (3{4[3Phenethyl1(3phenylpropyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phenyl) acetic acid 12a. Ethyl (3 4 [3benzyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl}phenyl) acetate 12b. (3 {4 [3Benzyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 13a. Ethyl (3 {4 [3cyclohexyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 13b. (3 {4 [3Cyclohexyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 14a. Ethyl (3 {4 [3butyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 14b. (3{4[3Butyl1(3phenylpropyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phenyl)acetic acid 15a. Ethyl (3 {4 (3hexyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 15b. (3{4[3Hexyl1(3phenylpropyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phenyl)acetic acid 16a. Ethyl {3[4(1,3diphenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 16b. {3 [4 (1, 3Diphenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 17a. Ethyl {3[4(3benzyl1phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 17b. 13 [4 (3Benzyllphenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 18a. Ethyl {3[4(3cyclohexyl1phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 18b. {3[4(3Cyclohexyl1phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} . acetic acid 19a. Ethyl [3[4(3butyl1phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 19b. {3 [4 (3Butyl1phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 20a. Ethyl {3 [4 (3hexyl1phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 20b. {3[4(3Hexyl1phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 21a. Ethyl {3 [4 (1heptyl3phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 21 b. {3 [4 (1Heptyl3phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 22a. Ethyl {3 [4 (lbutyl3phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 22b. {3 [4 (1Butyl3phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 23a. Ethyl {3 [3 (1, 3diphenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 23b. {3 [3 (1, 3Diphenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 24a. Ethyl (3 {3 [3phenethyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 24b. (3{3[3Phenethyl1(3phenylpropyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phenyl) acetic acid 25a. Ethyl {3 [3 (1heptyl3phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 25b. {3[3(1Heptyl3phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 26a. Ethyl {3 [3 (1butyl3phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 26b. {3 [3 (1Butyl3phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 27a. Ethyl {3[4(3benzyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 27b. {3[4(3Benzyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 28a. Ethyl {3[4(3benzyl1butylureido)phenylsulphanyl}phenyl} acetate 28b. {3[4(3Benzyl1butylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 29a. Ethyl {3[3(3benzyl1phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 29b. {3 [3 (3Benzyllphenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 30a. Ethyl (3{3[3benzyl1(3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 30b. (3 {3 [3Benzyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 31a. Ethyl {3[3(3benzyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 31b. {3[3(3Benzyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 32a. Ethyl {3 [3 (3benzyl1butylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 32b. {3[3(3Benzyl1butylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 33a. Ethyl {3[4(3cyclohexyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 33b. {3 [4 (3Cyclohexyl1heptylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> 34a. Ethyl {3 [4 (1butyl3cyclohexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 34b. {3[4(1Butyl3cyclohexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 35a. Ethyl {3 [3 (3cyclohexyl1phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 35b. {3[3(3Cyclohexyl1phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 36a. Ethyl (3{3[3cyclohexyl1(3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 36b. (3 {3 [3Cyclohexyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 37a. Ethyl {3[3(3cyclohexyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 37b. {3[3(3Cyclohexyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 38a. Ethyl {3[3(1butyl3cyclohexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 38b. {3[3(1Butyl3cyclohexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 39a. Ethyl {3[4(3butyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 39b. {3[4(3Butyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 40a. Ethyl {3[4(1,3dibutylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 40b. {3[4(1,3Dibutylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 41a. Ethyl {3[3(3butyl1phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 41 b. {3[3(3Btuyl1phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 42a. Ethyl (3 {3 [3butyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 42b. (3 {3 [3Butyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 43a. Ethyl {3[3(3butyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 43b. {3[3(3Btuyl1heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 44a. Ethyl {3[3(1,3dibutylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 44b. {3 [3 (1, 3Dibutylureido) phenyisulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 45a. Ethyl {3 [4 (1heptyl3hexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 45b. {3[4(1Heptyl3hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 4. 6a. Ethyl {3 [4 (1butyl3hexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 46b. {3 [4. (lButyl3hexylureido) phenyisulphanyl] phenyl) acetic acid 47a. Ethyl {3 [3 (3hexyl1phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 47b. {3 [3 (3Hexyl1phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 48a. Ethyl (3 {3 [3hexyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanylphenyl) acetate 48b. (3 {3 [3Hexyl1 (3phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 49a. Ethyl {3 [3 (1heptyl3hexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 49b. {3[3(1Heptyl3hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 50a. Ethyl {3[3(1butyl3hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 50b. {3[3(1Butyl3hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 51. 2{3[4(1Butyl3cyclohexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}N(2, 5 difluorobenzyl) acetamide 52. NBenzyl2 {3 [4 (1butyl3cyclohexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl}N methylacetamide 53. Ethyl {3 [4 (1butyl3cyclohexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate.
13. Cosmetic composition, characterized in that it comprises, in a physiologically acceptable carrier, at least one compound as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 12.
14. Composition according to Claim 13, characterized in that the concentration of compound (s) according to one of Claims 1 to 12 is between 0.001 and 3% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
15. Cosmetic use of a composition as defined in either of Claims 13 and 14 for body or hair care.
16. Compounds according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, as a medicament.
17. Use of a compound according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, in the manufacture of a composition intended for regulating and/or restoring skin lipid metabolism.
18. Use of a compound according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, in the manufacture of a composition intended for the treatment: of dermatological conditions linked to a keratinization disorder related to cell differentiation and proliferation, in particular to treat acne vulgaris, comedotype acne, polymorphic acne, acne rosacea, nodulocystic acne, acne conglobata, senile acne, secondary acne such as solar acne, acne medicamentosa or occupational acne, of ichthyosis, ichthyosiform states, Darrier's disease, keratosis palmais et plantais, leukoplasia and leukoplasiform states, cutaneous or mucosal (buccal) lichen, of dermatological conditions with an inflammatory immunoallergic component, with or without cell proliferation disorder, in particular cutaneous, mucosal or ungual psoriasis, psoriatic rheumatism, or cutaneous atopy, such as eczema or respiratory atopy or gingival hypertrophy, of dermal or epidermal proliferations whether benign or malignant, whether of viral origin or not, such as verruca vulgaris, verruca plana and epidermodysplasia verruciformis, oral or florid papillomatoses, T lymphom, of proliferations which may be induced by ultraviolet radiation, in particular baso and spinocellular epithelioma, of precancerous skin lesions, in particular keratoacanthomas, of immune dermatoses, in particular lupus erythematosus, of bullous immune diseases, of collagen diseases, in particular scleroderma, of dermatological or general conditions with an immunological component, of skin disorders due to exposure to UV radiation, skin ageing, photoinduced or chronological or actinic pigmentations and keratoses, or any pathologies associated with chronological or actinic ageing, in particular xerosis, of sebaceous function disorders, in particular acne hyperseborrhoea, simple seborrhoea or seborrhoeic dermatitis, of cicatrisation disorders or of stretch marks, of pigmentation disorders, such as hyperpigmentation, melasma, hypopigmentation or vitiligo, of lipid metabolism conditions such as obesity, hyperlipidaemia or noninsulin dependent diabetes or X syndrome, of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, of cancerous or precancerous states, of alopecia of different origins, in particular alopecia due to chemotherapy or to radiation, of immune system disorders such as asthma, diabetes mellitus type 1, multiple sclerosis, or other selective dysfunctions of the immune system, or of conditions of the cardiovascular system such as arteriosclerosis or hypertension.
19. Pharmaceutical composition, characterized in that it comprises, in a physiologically acceptable carrier, at least one of the compounds as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 12.
20. Composition according to Claim 19, characterized in that the concentration of compound (s) according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 is between 0.001 and 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
21. Composition according to Claim 19, characterized in that the concentration of compound (s) according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 is between 0.01 and 1 % by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
Description:
COMPOUNDS WHICH ARE MODULATORS OF THE PPAR-TYPE RECEPTORS AND THEIR USE IN COSMETIC OR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS The invention relates, as novel and useful industrial products, to a novel class of compounds which are modulators of the Peroxisome Proliferator- Activated Receptor (PPAR) type receptors. It also relates to their method of preparation and to their use in pharmaceutical compositions for use in human or veterinary medicine, or alternatively in cosmetic compositions.

The activity of the PPAR-type receptors has been the subject of numerous studies. There may be mentioned, as a guide, the publication entitled "Differential Expression of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Subtypes During the Differentiation of Human Keratinocytes", Michel Rivier et a/., J. Invest.

Dermatol 111, 1998, p. 1116-1121, in which a large number of bibliographic references relating to PPAR-type receptors is listed. There may also be mentioned, as a guide, the dossier entitled"The PPARs : From orphan receptors to Drug Discovery", Timothy M. Willson, Peter J. Brown, Daniel D. Sternbach, and Brad R. Henke, J. Med. Chem. , 2000, Vol. 43, p. 527-550.

The PPAR receptors activate transcription by binding to elements of DNA sequences, called peroxisome proliferator response elements (PPRE), in the form of a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptors (called RXRs).

Three human PPAR subtypes have been identified and described: PPARa, PPARy and PPAR5 (or NUC1).

PPARa is mainly expressed in the liver while PPAR6 is ubiquitous.

It is described in Patent Application W098/32444 that PPARa selective compounds play a role in the barrier function and the differentiation of the stratum corneum.

PPARy is the most widely studied of the three subtypes. All the

references suggest a critical role of the PPARy receptors in the regulation of differentiation of adipocytes, where it is highly expressed. It also plays a key role in systemic lipid homeostasis.

It has in particular been described in Patent Application WO 96/33724 that PPARy-selective compounds, such as prostaglandin-J2 or-D2, are potential active agents for treating obesity and diabetes.

One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a novel class of PPAR-modulating compounds.

Thus, the present invention relates to compounds corresponding to the following general formula (I) : in which -Ar1 represents an optionally substituted radical of formula :

- Z represents the substituent: it being understood that Z is at the meta position with respect to X on the ring Ar1 ; R1 and Y having the meanings given below, - Ar2 represents an optionally substituted radical of formula :

- R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, an aralkyl radical, a polyether radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical or a polyhydroxyalkyl radical ; - R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, an aralkyl radical, a polyether radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical or a polyhydroxyalkyl radical ; - R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, an aralkyl radical, a polyether radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a radical COR5 or CSR5 ; R5 having the meanings given below, - Y represents an oxygen or sulphur atom, or the radical N-R4; R4 having the meanings given below, - R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, a polyether radical, an aralkyl radical or forms, with R1 and the nitrogen atom of Y, a heterocycle or a heteroaryl ; - R5 represents an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, an aralkyl radical, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a polyether radical, an alkoxy radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a radical R6-N-R7 or a radical O-R8 ; R6, R7 and R8 having the meanings given below, - R6 and R7 may be identical or different and represent a hydrogen atom,

an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, an aralkyl radical or alternatively, taken together, form a heterocycle ; - R8 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical or an aralkyl radical ; - X represents an S atom, a radical S=O, a radical O=S=O, an Se atom, an 0 atom, a radical N-R9, a radical C=O, a radical HO-C-R11 or a radical R10-C- R11 ; R9, R10 and R11 having the meanings given below, - R9 represents a hydrogen atom, a radical-COR12, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a polyether radical, an aryl radical or an aralkyl radical ; R12 having the meanings given below, - R10 and R11, which are identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a heteroaryl radical, an aralkyl radical, a monohydroxyalkyl radical, a polyhydroxyalkyl radical, a polyether radical, an alkoxy radical, or R10 and R11, taken together, can form a ring optionally interrupted by heteroatoms and preferably the rings are dithianyl, dioxanyl, dithiolanyl, dioxolanyl or cyclopropanyl radicals ; - A represents an S, 0 or Se atom or a radical N-R13 ; R13 having the meanings given below, - R12 represents an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; - R13 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a polyether radical, a heteroaryl radical or an aralkyl radical ;

and the optical and geometric isomers of the said compounds of formula (I) and their salts.

In particular, when the compounds according to the invention are provided in the form of salts, they are salts of an alkali or alkaline-earth metal, zinc salts, or salts of an organic amine.

According to the present invention, the expression hydroxyl radical is understood to mean the-OH radical.

According to the present invention, the expression alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms is understood to mean a hydrogenated or fluorinated, linear or cyclic, optionally branched, radical containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms which may be interrupted by one or more heteroatoms, and preferably the alkyl radicals having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms are methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, butyl, tert-butyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl or cyclohexyl radicals.

The expression monohydroxyalkyl radical is understood to mean a radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and preferably having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, in particular a 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl or 3-hydroxypropyl radical.

The expression polyhydroxyalkyl radical is understood to mean a radical containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 5 hydroxyl groups, such as 2, 3-dihydroxypropyl, 2, 3, 4-trihydroxybutyl or 2,3, 4, 5-tetrahydroxypentyl radicals, or the pentaerythritol residue.

The expression polyether radical is understood to mean a polyether radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms interrupted by at least one oxygen atom such as methoxymethoxy, ethoxymethoxy or methoxyethoxymethoxy radicals.

The expression alkoxy radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms is understood to mean a radical containing from one to seven carbon atoms such as the methoxy, ethoxy, isopropyloxy, tert-butoxy, hexyloxy, benzyloxy or phenoxy radicals, which may be optionally substituted with an alkyl radical having from 1 to

12 carbon atoms.

The expression aryl radical is understood to mean a phenyl, biphenyl, cinnamyl or naphthyl radical which may be mono-or disubstituted with a halogen atom, a radical CF3, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, a nitro functional group, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl radical optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino functional group optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

The expression aralkyl radical is understood to mean a benzyl, phenethyl or naphthalen-2-ylmethyl radical which may be mono-or disubstituted with a halogen atom, a radical CF3, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, a nitro functional group, a polyether radical, an aryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl radical optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino functional group optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

The expression heteroaryl radical is preferably understood to mean an aryl radical interrupted by one or more heteroatoms, such as the pyridyl, furyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, isothiazolyl, quinazolinyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzimidazole, indolyl or benzofuran radical, optionally substituted with at least one halogen, an alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a nitro functional group, a polyether radical, a heteroaryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl

group or an amino functional group optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

The expression heterocycle is preferably understood to mean the morpholino, piperidino, piperazino, 2-oxopiperidin-1-yl and 2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl radicals optionally substituted with at least one alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, a nitro functional group, a polyether radical, a heteroaryl radical, a benzoyl radical, an alkyl ester group, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or an amino functional group optionally protected by an acetyl or benzoyl group or optionally substituted with at least one alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

Among the compounds of formula (I) above falling within the scope of the present invention, the following compounds may be mentioned in particular (alone or as a mixture): 1 b. Ethyl [3- (4-aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 1c. [3-(4-Aminophenylsulphanylphenyl] acetic acid 2a. Ethyl [3- (3-aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 2b. [3- (3-Aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 3a. Ethyl [3- (3-Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 3b. [3- (3-Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 4a. Ethyl {3-[3-(3-phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 4b. {3- [3- (3-Phenylpropylamino) phenylsulphanyl] phenyllacetic acid 5a. Ethyl [3- (3-heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 5b. [3- (3-Heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 6a. Ethyl [3- (3-butylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 6b. [3- (3-Butylaminophenyisulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid

7a. Ethyl [3- (4-heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 7b. [3- (4-Heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 8a. Ethyl [3- (4-butylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 8b. [3- (4-Butylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 9a. Ethyl [3- (4-Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate 9b. [3- (4-Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetic acid 10a. Ethyl {3-[4-(3-phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 10b. {3-[4-(3-Phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 11a. Ethyl (3- {4- [3-phenethyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl)- ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 11b. (3-{4-[3-Phenethyl-1-(3-phenylpropyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 12a. Ethyl (3-{4-[3-benzyl-1-(3-phenylpropyl)ureido]- phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 12b. (3-{4-[3-Benzyl-1-(3-phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 13a. Ethyl (3- {4- [3-cyclohexyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl)- ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 13b. (3- {4- [3-Cyclohexyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido]- phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 14a. Ethyl (3- {4- [3-butyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] - phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 14b. (3-{4-[3-Butyl-1-(3-phenylpropyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phen yl)acetic acid 15a. Ethyl (3- {4- [3-hexyl-l- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] - phenylsulphanyl}phenyl) acetate 15b. (3- {4- [3-Hexyl-l- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 16a. Ethyl {3-[4-(1,3-diphenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate

16b. {3- [4- (1, 3-Diphenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyllacetic acid 17a. Ethyl {3-[4-(3-benzyl-1-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 17b. {3-[4-(3-Benzyl-1-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 18a. Ethyl {3- [4- (3-cyclohexyl-l-phenethylureido)- phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 18b. {3- [4- (3-Cyclohexyl-1-phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 19a. Ethyl {3- [4- (3-butyl-1-phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 19b. {3- [4- (3-Butyl-1-phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 20a. Ethyl {3- [4- (3-hexyl-l-phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl) acetate 20b. {3-[4-(3-Hexyl-1-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 21a. Ethyl {3-[4-(1-heptyl-3-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}ace tate 21b. {3- [4- (1-Heptyl-3-phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 22a. Ethyl {3- [4- (1-butyl-3-phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 22b. {3-[4-(1-Butyl-3-phenethyluredio)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acet ic acid 23a. Ethyl {3-[3-(1,3-diphenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 23b. {3- [3- (1, 3-Diphenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl) acetic acid 24a. Ethyl (3- {3- [3-phenethyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl)- ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 24b. (3- {3- [3-Phenethyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 25a. Ethyl {3-[3-(1-heptyl-3-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}ace tate 25b. {3- [3- (1-Heptyl-3-phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 26a. Ethyl {3-[3-(1-butyl-3-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 26b. {3-[3-(1-Butyl-3-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acet ic acid 27a. Ethyl {3- [4- (3-benzyl-1-heptylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 27b. {3-[4-(3-Benzyl-1-heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 28a. Ethyl {3-[4-(3-benzyl-1-butylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate

28b. {3- [4- (3-Benzyl-l-butylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl) acetic acid 29a. Ethyl {3-[3-(3-benzyl-1-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 29b. {3-[3-(3-Benzyl-1-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 30a. Ethyl (3- {3- [3-benzyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] - phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 30b. (3- {3- [3-Benzyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 31a. Ethyl {3- [3- (3-benzyl-1-heptylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 31b. {3-[3-(3-Benzyl-1-heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 32a. Ethyl {3- [3- (3-benzyl-1-butylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 32b. {3-[3-(3-Benzyl-1-butylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 33a. Ethyl {3- [4- (3-cyclohexyl-1-heptylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 33b. {3-[4-(3-Cyclohexyl-1-heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}ac etic acid 34a. Ethyl {3-[4-(1-butyl-3-cyclohexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}ace tate 34b. {3-[4-(1-Butyl-3-cyclohexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}ace tic acid 35a. Ethyl {3- [3- (3-cyclohexyl-1-phenethylureido)- phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 35b. {3- [3- (3-Cyclohexyl-l-phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl) acetic acid 36a. Ethyl (3- {3- [3-cyclohexyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl)- ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 36b. (3- {3- [3-Cyclohexyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] - phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 37a. Ethyl {3-[3-(3-cyclohexyl-1-heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 37b. {3- [3- (3-Cyclohexyl-1-heptylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyllacetic acid 38a. Ethyl {3-[3-(1-butyl-3-cyclohexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 38b. {3-[3-(1-Butyl-3-cyclohexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}ace tic acid 39a. Ethyl {3-[4-(3-butyl-1-heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate

39b. {3-[4-(3-Butyl-1-heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 40a. Ethyl {3-[4-(1,3-dibutylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 40b. {3-[4-(1,3-Dibutylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 41a. Ethyl {3-[3-(3-butyl-1-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 41b. {3-[3-(3-Butyl-1-phenethyluredio)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 42a. Ethyl (3- {3- [3-butyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] - phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 42b. (3- {3- [3-Butyl-1- (3-phenylpropyi) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 43a. Ethyl {3- [3- (3-butyl-1-heptylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 43b. {3-[3-(3-Butyl-1-heptylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetic acid 44a. Ethyl {3- [3- (1, 3-dibutylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 44b. {3-[3-(1,3-Dibutylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 45a. Ethyl {3- [4- (1-heptyl-3-hexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 45b. {3-[4-(1-Heptyl-3-hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 46a. Ethyl {3- [4- (1-butyl-3-hexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate 46b. {3-[4-(1-Butyl-3-hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 47a. Ethyl{3-[3-(3-hexyl-1-phenethylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl }acetate 47b. {3- [3- (3-Hexyl-1-phenethylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 48a. Ethyl (3- {3- [3-hexyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] - phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 43b. (3- {3- [3-Hexyl-1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido] phenylsulphanyl} phenyl) acetic acid 49a. Ethyl {3-[3-(1-heptyl-3-hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 49b. {3- [3- (1-Heptyl-3-hexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetic acid 50a. Ethyl {3-[3-(1-butyl-3-hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl} acetate 50b. {3-[3-(1-Butyl-3-hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 51. 2- {3- [4- (l-Butyl-3-cyclohexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl)-N- (2, 5- difluorobenzyl) acetamide

52. N-Benzyl-2- {3- [4- (l-butyl-3-cyclohexylureido) phenyisulphanyl] phenyl}-N- methylacetamide 53. Ethyl {3- [4- (1-butyl-3-cyclohexylureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate A general description of the preparation of the compounds of general formula of the appended Figure 1 is given below.

The reaction scheme described in Figure 1 is a general scheme allowing the production of the compounds according to the invention.

The compounds of general formula (I) may be obtained (Figure 1) by coupling a thiol, an alcohol, an amine or a seleniated derivate (depend on X value) with an aromatic iodinated compound, using a metal catalyst such as nickel or palladium derivatives, in the presence of a hydride donor such as sodium borohydride and if necessary a base. Concerning diaryl amine compounds, the copper or palladium catalyzed amination (Tetrahedron 58, (2002) 2041-2075) of the nitro aniline compound with aryl halogenide may be used, followed by the reduction of the nitro to the corresponding amino group. Concerning the preparation of diaryl ether coupling of the corresponding alkoxide catalyzed by palladium may be used. Concerning the preparation of diaryl ketone compounds, palladium catalysed conversion of halogenoaryl derivatives compound to the corresponding organotin derivatives followed by a palladium catalysed coupling with acyl chloride derivative may afford the target product. The ketone might be protected in order to avoid problem during reductive amination. The next step is a reductive amination of the preceding amine and of an aldehyde, which may be carried out with isolation of the intermediate imine or otherwise, followed by reduction of the latter by the action of a reducing agent such as NaBH3CN. The alkylated amine obtained can then be subjected to the action of an isocyanate or an isothiocyanate in a solvent such as dichloromethane to give the corresponding

urea or thiourea. It can also be further alkylated by reductive amination reaction in the presence of an aldehyde under the same conditions as above. The amide may also be formed by the action of an acid in the presence of a coupling agent such as 0- (7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N, N, N', N'-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) in the presence of a base such as DIEA or an acyl halide and a base. The derivatives obtained are then saponified by the action, for example, of a base such as NaOH to give the corresponding acids. The sulphate compounds (X: S) oxydated by the action of metachloroperbenzoic acid (MCPBA) in the presence of dichloromethane.

The compounds according to the invention have PPAR-type receptor modulating properties. This activity on the PPARA, and Y receptors is measured in a transactivation test and quantified by the dissociation constant Kdapp (apparent), as described in Example 51.

The preferred compounds of the present invention have a dissociation constant of less than or equal to 1 000 nM, and advantageously of less than or equal to 500 nM for at least one of the PPAR subtypes.

The subject of the present invention is also, as a medicament, the compounds of formula (I) as described above.

The subject of the present invention is the use of the compounds of formula (I) for manufacturing a composition intended for regulating and/or restoring the metabolism of skin lipids.

The compounds according to the invention are particularly suitable in the fields of the following treatments: 1) for treating dermatological conditions linked to a keratinization disorder related to cell differentiation and proliferation, in particular to treat acne vulgaris, comedo- type acne, polymorphic acne, acne rosacea, nodulocystic acne, acne conglobata,

senile acne, secondary acne such as solar acne, acne medicamentosa or occupational acne ; 2) for treating other types of keratinization disorders, in particular ichthyosis, ichthyosiform states, Darrier's disease, keratosis palmais et plantais, leukoplasia and leukoplasiform states, cutaneous or mucosal (buccal) lichen ; 3) for treating other dermatological conditions with an inflammatory immunoallergic component, with or without cell proliferation disorder, and in particular all the forms of psoriasis, whether cutaneous, mucosal or ungual, and even psoriatic rheumatism, or cutaneous atopy, such as eczema or respiratory atopy or gingival hypertrophy; 4) for treating any dermal or epidermal proliferations whether benign or malignant, whether of viral origin or not, such as verruca vulgaris, verruca plana and epidermodysplasia verruciformis, oral or florid papillomatoses, T lymphom, and proliferations which may be induced by ultraviolet radiation, in particular in the case of baso-and spinocellular epitheliomas, and any precancerous skin lesions such as keratoacanthomas ; 5) for treating other dermatological disorders such as immune dermatoses such as lupus erythematosus, bullous immune diseases and collagen diseases, such as scleroderma ; 6) in the treatment of dermatological or general conditions with an immunological component; 7) in the treatment of skin disorders due to exposure to UV radiation and for repairing or combating skin ageing, whether photoinduced or chronological or for reducing actinic keratoses and pigmentations, or any pathologies associated with chronological or actinic ageing, such as xerosis; 8) for combating sebaceous function disorders such as acne hyperseborrhoea, simple seborrhoea, or seborrhoeic dermatitis;

9) for preventing or treating cicatrization disorders, or for preventing or repairing stretch marks; 10) in the treatment of pigmentation disorders, such as hyperpigmentation, melasma, hypopigmentation or vitiligo ; 11) in the treatment of lipid metabolism conditions, such as obesity, hyperlipidaemia, non-insulin-dependent diabetes or X syndrome; 12) in the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis; 13) in the treatment or prevention of cancerous or precancerous states; 14) in the prevention or treatment of alopecia of different origins, in particular alopecia due to chemotherapy or to radiation; 15) in the treatment of immune system disorders, such as asthma, diabetes mellitus type 1, multiple sclerosis, or other selective dysfunctions of the immune system; and 16) in the treatment of conditions of the cardiovascular system such as arteriosclerosis or hypertension.

The subject of the present invention is also a pharmaceutical composition comprising, in a physiologically acceptable medium, at least one compound of formula (I) as defined above.

The administration of the composition according to the invention may be carried out enterally, parenterally, topically or ocularly. Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition is packaged in a form suitable for application by the topical route.

By the enteral route, the composition may be provided in the form of tablets, gelatin capsules, sugar-coated tablets, syrups, suspensions, solutions, powders, granules, emulsions, suspensions of lipid or polymeric microspheres or nanospheres or vesicles allowing controlled release. By the parenteral route, the composition may be provided in the form of solutions or suspensions for perfusion

or injection.

The compounds according to the invention are generally administered at a daily dose of about 0.001 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of body weight, in 1 to 3 doses.

The compounds are used by the systemic route at a concentration generally of between 0. 001 % and 10% by weight, preferably between 0. 01 % and 1 % by weight, relative to the weight of the composition.

By the topical route, the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is more particularly intended for the treatment of the skin and the mucous membranes and may be provided in the form of salves, creams, milks, ointments, powders, impregnated pads, syndets, solutions, gels, sprays, mousses, suspensions, lotions, sticks, shampoos or washing bases. It may also be provided in the form of suspensions of lipid or polymeric microspheres or nanospheres or vesicles or of polymeric patches and of hydrogels allowing controlled release. This composition for the topical route may be provided in anhydrous form, in aqueous form or in the form of an emulsion.

The compounds are used by the topical route at a concentration which is generally between 0. 001% and 10% by weight, preferably between 0. 01% and 1% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

The compounds of formula (I) according to the invention also find application in the cosmetics field, in particular in body and hair care, and more particularly for regulating and/or restoring skin lipid metabolism.

The subject of the invention is therefore also the cosmetic use of a composition comprising, in a physiologically acceptable carrier, at least one of the compounds of formula (I) for body or hair care.

The cosmetic composition according to the invention containing, in a cosmetically acceptable carrier, at least one compound of formula (I) or one of

its optical or geometric isomers or one of its salts, may be provided in particular in the form of a cream, a milk, a lotion, a gel, suspensions of lipid or polymeric microspheres or nanospheres or vesicles, impregnated pads, solutions, sprays, mousses, sticks, soaps, shampoos or washing bases.

The concentration of compound of formula (I) in the cosmetic composition is preferably between 0. 001 % and 3% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

The pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions as described above may in addition contain inert additives, or even pharmacodynamically active additives as regards the pharmaceutical compositions, or combinations of these additives, and in particular : - wetting agents; - flavour enhancers; - preservatives such as esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid; - stabilizers ; - moisture regulators ; - pH regulators; - osmotic pressure modifiers; - emulsifiers ; - UV-A and UV-B screening agents; - antioxidants, such as a-tocopherol, butylated hydroxyanisole or butylated hydroxytoluene, Super Oxide Dismutase, Ubiquinol or certain metal chelators ; - depigmenting agents such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, caffeic acid or kojic acid ; - emollients ; - moisturizing agents such as glycerol, PEG 400, thiamorpholinone, and its derivatives, or urea;

- antiseborrhoeic or anti-acne agents, such as S-carboxymethylcysteine, S- benzylcysteamine, their salts or their derivatives, or benzoyl peroxide; - antibiotics such as erythromycin and its esters, neomycin, clindamycin and its esters, tetracyclines ; - antifungal agents such as ketoconazole or 4, 5-polymethylene-3-isothiazolidones ; - agents promoting hair regrowth, such as Minoxidil (2,4-diamino-6- piperidinopyrimidine 3-oxide) and its derivatives, Diazoxide (7-chloro-3-methyl- 1,2, 4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide) and Phenytoin (5, 4-diphenylimidazolidine 2,4- dione); - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents; - carotenoids and, in particular, p-carotene ; - antipsoriatic agents such as anthralin and its derivatives; - 5, 8, 11,14-eicosatetraynoic and 5, 8, 11-eicosatriynoic acids, their esters and amides; - retinoids, that is to say ligands for the RAR or RXR receptors, which may be natural or synthetic; - corticosteroids or oestrogens ; - a-hydroxy acids and a-keto acids or their derivatives, such as lactic, malic, citric, glycolic, mandelic, tartaric, glyceric and ascorbic acids, and their salts, amides or esters, or ß-hydroxy acids or their derivatives, such as salicylic acid and its salts, amides or esters; - ion channel, such as potassium channel, blockers ; - or alternatively, more particularly for pharmaceutical compositions, in combination with medicaments known to interfere with the immune system (for example cyclosporine, FK 506, glucocorticoids, monoclonal antibodies, cytokines or growth factors, and the like).

Of course, persons skilled in the art will be careful to choose the

possible compound (s) to be added to these compositions such that the advantageous properties intrinsically attached to the present invention are not or not substantially impaired by the addition envisaged.

Several examples of production of active compounds of formula (I) according to the invention, results of biological activity thereof and various concrete formulations based on such compounds, will now be given by way of illustration and without being limiting in any manner.

EXAMPLES The products were analysed by HPLC/Mass. Column : 2. 1X5 mm, 3 pt, High purity C18 Hypersil.

Mobile phase: A (CH3CI10. 1 v/v HCO2H) ; B (H2O/0. 1 v/v HC02H), Waters Alliance 2790 LC Mobile Phase Solvents A% 35.0 Solvent A B% 65.0 Solvent B Flow rate (ml/min) 0. 450 Analytical time (min) 5.00 Column temperature (°C) 60 Maximum column temperature (°C) 10 Waters Alliance 2790 LC Rapid Equilibration System time (min) 0.30 Re-equilibration time (min) 0.50 The gradient contains 3 entries which are: Time A% B% Flow rate Curve 0.00 5.0 65.0 0. 450 1 3.00 95.0 5.0 0.450 6 5.00 95.0 5.0 0.450 6

EXAMPLE 1 : 3- (4-Aminophenylsulahanyl) phenyllacetic acid a) Ethyl3-mercaptophenylacetate 6. 5 ml (0.12 mol) of concentrated sulphuric acid are added dropwise over a mixture of 10 g (0. 06mol) of 3-mercaptophenylacetic acid in 200 ml of ethanol. The reaction medium is then heated under reflux for 4 h. 1 ml of concentrated sulphuric acid is added dropwise in order to complete the reaction.

The reaction medium is heated for 3 h under reflux and then concentrated in a rotary evaporator under vacuum. Water is added to the residue obtained. The solution is neutralized by adding sodium bicarbonate. The desired product is extracted by adding ethyl ether. The organic phase is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated in a rotary evaporator. The product is purified by chromatography on a silica column, eluted with dichloromethane. After evaporation of the solvents, 10. 15 g (86%) of the expected compound are recovered in the form of a yellow oil. b) Ethyl f3- (4-aminophenyisulphanvl) iphenyllacetate A solution of ethyl 3-mercaptophenylacetate (2. 5 g, 12. 7 mmol) in 10 ml of THF is added to a mixture of borohydride polymer supported Amberlite# IRA400 resin (2. 5 mmol/g) (Aldrich : 32864-2) (10.1 g, 25.4 mmol), bis (bipyridine) nickel (II) bromide (105. 3 mg) (Organometallics 1985,4, 657-661) and 4-iodoaniline (1.8 g, 8.5 mmol) in ethanol (90 ml). The mixture is stirred under reflux for 3 h. The reaction medium is filtered and the filtrate concentrated in a rotary evaporator under vacuum. The product is purified by chromatography on a silica column (dichloromethane). After evaporation of the solvents, the expected product 524 mg (73%) is isolated in the form of a yellow oil.

1H NMR (CDCI3, 400 MHz): 1.22 (3H, t), 3.50 (2H, s), 3.65 (2H, NH2, s), 4.11 (2H, q), 6.65 (2H, Ar, d), 6.99 (2H, Ar, t), 7.04 (1H, Ar, s), 7.14 (1H, Ar, t), 7.28 (2H, Ar, d).

c) [3-(4-Aminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetic acid A mixture of product 1 (b) (50 mg, 0.174 mmol), sodium hydroxide (50 mg), water (50 µl) and ethanol (50 lli) in THF (2.5 mi) is stirred for 24 h at room temperature. The reaction medium is acidified by adding a 2N hydrochloric acid solution and extracted with ethyl ether. The organic phase is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated in a rotary evaporator under vacuum. The product is obtained in the form of a yellow solid (44 mg), 98%.

EXAMPLE 2: [3-(3-Aminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetic acid a) Ethyl [3-(3-aminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetate In a manner similar to Example 1 (b), by reacting ethyl 3-mercaptophenylacetate (3 g, 15. 3 mmol), 10 ml of THF, borohydride polymer supported Amberlitee 1m400 resin (2. 5 mmol/g) (Aldrich : 32864-2) (12.24 g, 30.6 mmol), bis (bipyridine) nickel (II) bromide (127 mg) (Organometallics 1985,4, 657-661) and 3-iodoaniline (2. 2 g, 10. 2 mmol), 2. 38g (54%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a yellow oil.

1 NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) : 1.22 (3H, t), 3. 54 (4H, s), 4.12 (2H, q), 6. 50 (1H, Ar, d), 6.653 (1H, Ar, s), 6.71 (1H, Ar, d), 7.05 (1H, Ar, t), 7.10 to 7.20 (1H, Ar, m), 7.22 (2H, Ar, d) 7.27 (1 H, Ar, s). b) [3-(3-Aminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetic acid In a manner similar to Example 1 (c), by reacting ethyl [3-(3-aminophenylphenylsulphanyl)phenyl] acetate (50 mg, 0. 174 mmol), sodium hydroxide (50 mg), water (50 ti) and ethanol (50 Vtl) in THF (2.5 ml), 39 mg (87%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a yellow solid.

EXAMPLE 3: l3-(3-PhenethYlaminophenylsulphanvl) phenvllacetic acid a) Ethyl [3-(3-phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetate A solution of phenylacetaldehyde (163 mg, 1.357 mmol) and acetic acid (1 ml) is added to a solution of ethyl [3- (3-aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl]- acetate (Example 2 (a) ) (390,1. 36 mmol) in 15 ml of DMF. 170.54 mg of sodium cyanoborohydride (2.71 mmol) are added and the mixture is stirred for 12 h at room temperature. After extracting with ethyl ether, the organic phase is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated in a rotary evaporator under vacuum. The product is purified by chromatography on a silica column (dichloromethane 7/heptane 3). After evaporation of the solvents, the expected compound 170 mg (34%) is isolated in the form of a yellow oil.

'H NMR (CDCI3, 400 MHz) : 1.21 (3H, t), 2. 85 (2H, t), 3.32 (2H, t), 3.53 (2H, s), 4.09 (2H, q), 6. 46 (1H, Ar, d), 6.60 (1H, Ar, s), 6. 66 (1H, Ar, d), 7. 06 to 7.29 (10H, Ar, m). b) [ 3-Phenethylaminophenvlsulphanyl phenyllacetic acid A mixture of ethyl [3- (3-phenethylamino- phenylsulphanyl) phenylacetate (47 mg), a 35% sodium hydroxide solution (100 µl) and 50 psi of ethanol in THF (2 ml) is stirred at room temperature for 4 days. After acidifying with 5 ml of a 1 N hydrochloric acid solution, extracting with ethyl ether, the organic phase is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated in a rotary evaporator under vacuum. After evaporation of the solvent, the expected compound 40 mg (92%) is isolated in the form of a yellow oil.

EXAMPLE 4: {3-[3-(3-Phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid a) Ethyl {3-[3-(3-Phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate In a manner similar to Example 3 (a), by reacting 3-phenylpropionaldehyde (182 mg, 1. 357 mmol), acetic acid (1 ml), ethyl [3- (3-aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (Example 2 (a) ) (390,1. 36 mmol) in 15 ml of DMF, and 170.54 mg of sodium cyanoborohydride (2.71 mmol), 364 mg (66%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a colourless oil.

'H NMR (CDCI3, 400 MHz): 1.19 (3H, t), 1.18 to 1.88 (2H, m), 2.64 (2H, t), 3.03 (2H, t), 3.50 (2H, s), 4.09 (2H, q), 6.39 (1H, Ar, d), 6.54 (1H, Ar, s), 6. 64 (1H, Ar, d), 7.04 to 7.26 (10H, Ar, m). b) {3-[3-(3-Phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid In a manner similar to Example 3 (b), by reacting ethyl {3- [3- (3- phenylpropylamino) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl) acetate (25 mg, 0.062 mmol), a 35% sodium hydroxide solution (100 i) and 50 gel of ethanol in THF (2 ml), 17 mg (73%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a yellow oil.

EXAMPLE 5: f3- (3-Heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyllacetic acid a) Ethyl [3-(3-heptylaminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetatde In a manner similar to Example 3 (a), by reacting heptaldehyde (155 mg, 1. 357 mmol), acetic acid (1 ml), ethyl [3-(3-aminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetate (Example 2 (a) ) (390,1. 36 mmol) in 15 ml of DMF, and 170.54 mg of sodium cyanoborohydride (2.71 mmol), 217 mg (42%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a colourless oil.

'H NMR (CDCI3, 400 MHz): 0.88 (3H, t), 1.22 (3H, t), 1.27 to 1.31 (8H, m), 1.52 to 1.59 (2H, m), 3.03 (2H, t), 3.44 (1H, NH, s), 3.54 (2H, s), 4.12 (2H, q), 6.45 (1H, Ar, d), 6.58 (1H, Ar, s), 6.65 (1H, Ar, d), 7.07 (1H, Ar, t), 7.11 (1H, Ar, t), 7.21

(2H, Ar, d), 7.26 (1 H, Ar, s). b) [3-(3-Heptylaminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetic acid In a manner similar to Example 3 (b), by reacting ethyl [3- (3- heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (40mg, 0. 10mmol), a 35% sodium hydroxide solution (100 pI) and 50 lul of ethanol in THF (2 ml), 34 mg (93%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a yellow oil.

EXAMPLE 6 : [3- (3-Butylaminophenvlsulphanyl) phenyllacetic acid a) Ethyl [3-(3-butylaminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetate In a manner similar to Example 3 (a), by reacting butyraldehyde (97.9 mg, 1. 357 mmol), acetic acid (1 ml), ethyl [3-(3-aminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetate (Example 2 (a)) (390, 1. 36 mmol) in 15 ml of DMF, and 170.54 mg of sodium cyanoborohydride (2. 71 mmol), 319 mg (69%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a colourless oil.

'H NMR (CDCI3, 400 MHz) : 0.91 (3H, t), 1.21 (3H, t), 1.32 to 1.42 (2H, m), 1.49 to 1.56 (2H, m), 3.02 (2H, t), 3.52 (3H, s), 4. 11 (2H, q), 6.44 (1 H, Ar, d), 6.57 (1 H, Ar, s), 6.64 (1H, Ar, d), 7. 06 (1H, Ar, t), 7.11 (1H, Ar, t), 7. 18 (2H, Ar, d), 7.26 (1 H, Ar, s). b) [3-3-Butylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyllacetic acid In a manner similar to Example 3 (b), by reacting ethyl [3- (3- butylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (30 mg, 0.087 mmol), a 35% sodium hydroxide solution (100 lli) and 50 jus of ethanol in THF (2 ml), 19 mg (89%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a yellow oil.

EXAMPLE 7: f3- (4-Heptylaminophenvlsulphanvl) phenyllacetic acid a) Ethyl [ (4-heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyllacetate In a manner similar to Example 3 (a), by reacting heptaldehyde

(160.5 mg, 1. 15 mmol), acetic acid (1 ml), ethyl [3- (4-aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (Example 1b) (330 mg, 1.15 mmol) in 15 mi of DMF, and 144.5 mg of sodium cyanoborohydride (2.3 mmol) and adding 160. 5 lul of heptaldehyde after stirring for 4 h, 343 mg (77%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a colourless oil.

'H NMR (CDCI3, 400 MHz): 0.88 (3H, t), 1.22 (3H, t), 1.28 to 1.41 (6H, m), 1.58 to 1.63 (2H, m), 3.10 (2H, t), 3.50 (2H, s), 4.11 (2H, q), 6.58 (2H, Ar, d), 6.98 (2H, Ar, t), 7.03 (1H, Ar, s), 7.13 (1H, Ar, t), 7.32 (2H, Ar, d). b) [3 (4-Heptylaminophenylsulphanl) phenvl] acetic acid In a manner similar to Example 3 (b), by reacting ethyl [3- (4- heptylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (45 mg, 0. 12 mmol), a 35% sodium hydroxide solution (100 pI) and 50 lli of ethanol in THF (2 ml), 30 mg (72%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a yellow oil.

EXAMPLE 8: [3-(4-Butylaminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetic acid a) Ethyl [3-(4-butylaminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetate In a manner similar to Example 3 (a), by reacting butyraldehyde (103. 6 mg, 1. 15 mmol), acetic acid (1 ml), ethyl [3- (4-aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (Example 1b) (330 mg, 1. 15 mmol) in 15 ml of DMF, and 144. 5 mg of sodium cyanoborohydride (2.71 mmol), 223 mg (66%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a colourless oil.

'H NMR (CDCI3, 400 MHz): 0.95 (3H, t), 1.21 (3H, t), 1.37 to 1.46 (2H, m), 1.55 to 1.63 (2H, m), 3.10 (2H, t), 3.49 (2H, s), 3.76 (1H, NH, s), 4.105 (2H, q), 6.56 (2H, Ar, d), 6.95 (2H, Ar, t), 7.03 (1H, Ar, s), 7.12 (1H, Ar, t), 7.30 (2H, Ar, d). b) [3-(4-Butylaminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetic acid In a manner similar to Example 3 (b), by reacting ethyl [3- (4- butylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (20 mg, 0.06 mmol), a 35% sodium

hydroxide solution (100 lli) and 50 VLI of ethanol in THF (2 ml), 19 mg (100%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a yellow oil.

EXAMPLE 9: [3-(4-Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetic acid a) Ethyl [3-(4-phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl)phenyl] acetate In a manner similar to Example 3 (a), by reacting phenylacetaldehyde (115 mg, 1. 15 mmol), acetic acid (1 ml), ethyl [3- (4-aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (Example 1b) (330 mg, 1.15 mmol) in 15 ml of DMF, and 120.15 mg of sodium cyanoborohydride (2.3 mmol) and adding 33.5 ptl of phenylacetaldehyde, after stirring for 4 h, 503 mg of the expected derivative and of a residual amine are obtained. The mixture is solubilized in 15 ml of DMF, and 400 mg of PS-benzaldehyde resin, acetic acid (1 ml) and sodium cyanoborohydride (58 mg) are added. The solution is stirred for 48 h at room temperature. After extracting with ethyl ether, the organic phase is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated in a rotary evaporator under vacuum. The product is purified by filtration on a silica column (dichloromethane 8/heptane 2). After evaporation of the solvents, the expected compound 276 mg (34%) is isolated in the form of a yellow oil.

1H NMR (GDCI3, 400 MHz) : 1.18 (3H, t), 2. 86 (2H, t), 3.55 (2H, t), 3.47 (2H, s), 4. 08 (2H, q), 6.53 (2H, Ar, d), 6.96 (2H, Ar, t), 7.03 (1H, Ar, s), 7.11 (1H, Ar, t), 7.17 to 7.22 (3H, Ar, m), 7.39 (4H, Ar, t). b) [ (4-Phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyllacetic acid In a manner similar to Example 3 (b), by reacting ethyl [3- (4- phenethylaminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (24 mg, 0.06 mmol), a 35% sodium hydroxide solution (100 µl) and 50 gel of ethanol in THF (2 ml), 18 mg (81%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a yellow oil.

EXAMPLE 10: {3-[4-(3-Phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid a) Ethyl {3-[4-(3-phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate A suspension of molecular sieve (1 g), 3-phenylpropionaldehyde (280 mg, 2.1 mmol), in THF (5 ml) is added to a solution of ethyl [3- (4-aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (Example 1b) (500 mg, 1.74 mmol) in 20 ml of ethanol and 10 ml of THF. The mixture is stirred for 24 h at room temperature. After filtering, 98.7 mg of sodium borohydride (2.71 mmol) are added to the filtrate. After stirring for 24 h and extracting with ethyl ether, the organic phase is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated in a rotary evaporator under vacuum. The product is purified by chromatography on a silica column (dichloromethane 7/heptane 3). After evaporation of the solvents, the expected compound is isolated in the form of a yellow oil.

1H NMR (CDCI3, 400 MHz): 1.21 (3H, t), 1.91 to 1. 98 (2H, m), 2.72 (2H, t), 3.14 (2H, t), 3.49 (2H, s), 4.. 06 to 4. 13 (2H, m), 6.527 (2H, Ar, d), 7.00 (2H, Ar, t), 7.03 (1H, Ar, s), 7.13 (1H, Ar, t), 7. 18 to 7. 29 (3H, Ar, m), 7. 27 to 7. 31 (4H, Ar, m). b) {3-[4-(3-Phenylpropylamino)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid In a manner similar to Example 3 (b), by reacting ethyl {3- [4- (3- phenylpropylamino) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate (30 mg, 0. 07mol), a 35% sodium hydroxide solution (100 µl) and 50 lui of ethanol in THF (2 ml), 22 mg (96%) of the expected derivative are obtained in the form of a yellow oil.

Table 1: Results of analysis of the products of Examples 1 to 10 EXAMPLE HPLC Mass (% total of the Spectrometry surface area) (ES) (M+H+) 1b 92 260 2b 97 260 3b 87 364 4b 92 378 5b 93 358 6b 89 315 7b 90 358 8b 95 316 9b89364 10b 96 378

EXAMPLES 11 TO 20 : SYNTHESIS OF COMPOUNDS 11 TO 20 Examples 11 to 20 were obtained by parallel chemistry. The reactions of a starting amine and a starting isocyanate are performed in several reactors simultaneously according to the operating protocol described below.

A. Formation of urea for ethyl {3- [4- (3-phenylpropyl-<BR> amino) phenylsulphanyl] phenyllacetate (compound of Example 10a)

Operating protocol : 0.123 mmol (50 mg) of ethyl {3- [4- (3-phenyl- propylamino) phenylsulphanyl] phenyl} acetate (compound of Example 10a) is introduced into each 5 ml reactor. 2 ml of dichloromethane are added. Next, 0.247 mmol of isocyanate (see Table 2) are added. The reactors are stirred for 7 h at room temperature. 0.247 mmol of isocyanates is added if the starting amine has not completely disappeared (TLC monitoring). In this case, the stirring is

continued for 12 h at room temperature.

The reaction media are concentrated to dryness for 2 h at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The products are purified by filtration on silica cartridges (6 ml), 1: DCM, 2: DCM 80/AcOEt 20, and then concentrated to dryness, 2 h at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator (see Table 3 for the quantities obtained).

Table 2: Starting isocyanates CHEMISTRY Structure MW n (mmol) Mol m (mg) X2 2 eg e uivalent PHENETHYLISOCYANATE 147. 18 0. 247 2X2 36. 2 % N X N BENZYLISOCYANATE 133. 15 0. 247 2X2 32. 99 . : N N, CYCLOHEXYL ISOCYANATE N 125. 17 0. 247 2X2 30. 92 O 0 k N-BUTYL ISOCYANATE 99. 13 0. 247 2X2 24. 49 i 0 HEXYL ISOCYANATE 127. 19 0. 247 2X2 31. 42 - Table 3: Quantities obtained Example Name Isocyanate Quantity mg 11 a Ethyl (3- {4- [3-phenethyl- phenethyl 52 1- (3-phenylpropyl)- isocyanate ureido] phenylsulphanyl}- henyl acetate 12a Ethyl (3-14- [3-benzyl- benzyl 67 1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido]- isocyanate henylsulphanyl}phenyl acetate 13a Ethyl (3- {4- [3-cyclohexyl- cyclohexyl 34 1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido]- isocyanate henylsulphanyl}phenyl acetate 14a Ethyl (3- {4- [3-butyl- n-butyl 28 1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido]- isocyanate henylsulphanyl}phenyl acetate 15a Ethyl (3- {4- [3-hexyl- hexyl 52 1- (3-phenylpropyl) ureido]- isocyanate henylsulphanyl}phenyl)acetate

B. Formation of urea for ethyl [3- (4-phenethylamino- phenylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetate (compound of Example 9a)

Operating protocol : 0. 128 mmol (50 mg) of ethyl [3- (4-phenethyl- aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (compound of Example 9a) is introduced into each 5 ml reactor. 2 ml of dichloromethane is added. Next, 0.255 mmol of isocyanate (see Table 4) is added. The reactors are stirred for 7 h at room

temperature. 0.255 mmol of isocyanates is added if the starting amine has not completely disappeared (TLC monitoring). In this case, the stirring is continued for 12 h at room temperature.

The reaction media are concentrated to dryness for 2 h at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The products are purified by filtration on silica cartridges (6 ml), 1: DCM, 2: DCM 80/AcOEt 20, and then concentrated to dryness, 2 h at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator (see Table 5 for the quantities obtained).

Table 4: Starting isocyanates Chemistry Structure MW n (mmol) Mol m (mg) X2 2 eg e uivalent phenethyl isocyanate 147. 18 0. 255 2X2 37. 53 0 J benzyl isocyanate 133. 15 0. 255 2X2 31. 5 N, cyclohexyl isocyanate 125. 17 0. 255 2X2 32. 57 T 0 k n-butyl isocyanate 99. 13 0. 255 2X2 28. 73 0 0 hexyl isocyanate 127. 19 0. 255 2X2 37. 15 Table 5: Quantities obtained Example Name Isocyanate Quantity mg 16a Ethyl {3-[4-(1,3-diphen- phenethyl 52 ethylureido) phenylsulphanyl]- isocyanate phenyl} acetate 17a Ethyl (3- [4- (3-benzyl- benzyl 67 1-phenethylureido] phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 18a Ethyl {3-[4-(3-cyclohexyl- cyclohexyl 45 1-phenethylureido) phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyl]phenyl acetate 19a Ethyl {3- [4- (3-butyl- n-butyl 47 1-phenethylureido) phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyllphenyl} acetate 20a Ethyl {3- [4- (3-hexyl- hexyl 46 1-phenethylureido) phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyl] phenyI acetate

C. Saponification ponlftcaion f 3 g2>, < : C) 2Et > N ot I ,/, r'r1-IF I ll a° 33 NxOH O ; N SX J EtOH !" Et£-1 ETCH

The esters obtained above (Examples 11a to 20a of Tables 3 and 5) are solubilized in 2 ml of THF. 100 il of ethanol are then introduced. 100 lli of a sodium hydroxide solution at 35% are then added. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 48 hours. The progress of the reaction is monitored by thin-layer chromatography (DCM 80/AcOEt 20). After extracting with ether, acidifying with a 1 N hydrochloric acid solution, the organic phase is washed twice with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated to dryness in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The products are purified by filtration on silica cartridges (6 ml) if necessary, and then concentrated to dryness for 2 h at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The final products are analysed by mass-coupled HPLC (Table 6).

Table 6: Analyses of the products of Examples 11b to 20b Example Name Starting ester Quantity MW HPLC ES (mg) (% MASS total of (M+H+) the surface area) 11 b (3- {4- [3- Ethyl 45 524.68 95 525 Phenethyl- (3- {4- [3- 1- (3- phenethyl- phenylpropyl)-1- (3- ureido] phenyl- phenylpropyl)- sulphanyl}phenyl) ureido]phenyl- acetic acid sulphanyl}phenyl) acetate 12b (3-{4-[3-Benzyl- Ethyl (3-{4-[3- 57 510.66 96 511 1- (3- benzyl- phenylpropyl)-1- (3- ureido] phenyl- phenylpropyl)- sulphanyl} phenyl) ureido] phenyl- acetic acid sulphanyl}phenyl) acetate 13b (3- {4- [3- Ethyl 33 502.68 93 503 Cyclohexyl- (3- {4- [3- 1- (3- cyclohexyl- phenylpropyl)-1- (3- ureido] phenyl- phenylpropyl)- sulphanyl} phenyl) ureidoZphenyl- acetic acid sulphanyl} phenyl) acetate 14b (3-{4-[3-Butyl- Ethyl (3-{4-[3- 23 476.64 93 477 1- (3- butyl- phenylpropyl)-1- (3- ureido] phenyl- phenylpropyl)- sulphanyl}phenyl) ureido]phenyl- acetic acid sulphanyl}phenyl) acetate 15b (3- {4- [3-Hexyl- Ethyl (3- {4- [3-hexyl- 41 504.70 94 505 1- (3- 1- (3-phenylpropyl)- phenylpropyl)-ureido] phenyl- ureido] phenyl-sulphanyl} phenyl)- sulphanyl} phenyl) acetate acetic acid 16b {3-[4-(1,3-Di- Ethyl {3-[4-(1,3-di- 39 510.66 94 511 phenethylureido)-phenethylureido)- phenylsulphanyl]-phenylsulphanyl]- phenyl} acetic phenyl} acetate acid 17b {3-[4-(3-Benzyl- Ethyl {3-[4-(3-benzyl- 52 496.63 95 497 1-1-phenethylureido)- phenethylureido)-phenylsulphanyl]- phenylsulphanyl]- phenyl}acetate phenyl} acetic acid 18b {3- [4- (3- Ethyl 13- [4- (3-cyclo- 38 488.65 91 489 Cyclohexyl-hexyl-1-phenethyl- 1-ureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenethylureido)-phenyllacetate phenylsulphanyl]- phenyl}acetic acid 19b {3-[4-(3-Butyl- Ethyl {3-[4-(3-butyl- 37 462.62 93 463 1-1-phenethylureido)- phenethylureido)-phenylsulphanyl]- phenylsulphanyl]-phenyllacetate phenyl} acetic acid 20b {3-[4-(3-Hexyl- Exhyl {3-[4-(3-hexyl- 36 490.67 95 491 1-1-phenethylureido)- phenethylureido)-phenylsulphanyl]- phenylsulphanyl]- phenyl} acetate phenyl} acetic acid

EXAMPLES 21 TO 50: SYNTHESIS OF COMPOUNDS 21 TO 50 Examples 21 to 50 were obtained by parallel chemistry. The reactions of a starting amine and a starting isocyanate are performed in several reactors simultaneously according to the operating protocol described below. A. Formation of urea for the ethyl 13-(aminophenylsulphanyl) phenyliacetate derivatives

Operatina protocol : 0.077 mmol of amine (see Table 7) is introduced into each 5 ml reactor. 2 ml of dichloromethane are added. Next, 0.153 mmol of isocyanate (see Table8) is added. The reactors are stirred for 7 h at room temperature.

0.062 mmol of isocyanates is added if the starting amine has not completely disappeared (TLC monitoring). In this case, the stirring is continued for 12 h at room temperature.

The reaction media are concentrated to dryness for 2 h at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The products are purified by filtration on silica cartridges (6 ml), 1: DCM, 2: DCM 80/AcOEt 20, and then concentrated to dryness, 2 h at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator.

Table 7: Starting amines Example Name Molar Number Quantity/ No. mass of mol reactor (mmol) mg 7a Ethyl [3- (4-heptyl- 385. 57 0.0766 29.53 aminophenylsulphanyl)- henyllacetate 8a Ethyl [3- (4-butylamino- 343. 49 0.0766 26.31 henylsulphanyl)phenyl acetate 3a Ethyl [3- (3-phenethyl- 391. 53 0. 0766 29.99 aminophenylsulphanyl)- phenyl acetate 4a Ethyf {3- [3- (3-pheny)-405. 56 0.0766 31.07 propylamino) phenyl- sulphanyl]phenyl}acetate 5a Ethyl [3-(3-heptylamino#385. 57 0.0766 29.53 henylsulphanyl)phenyl]acetate 6a Ethyl [3- (3-butylamino- 343. 49 0.0766 26.31 henylsuphanyl)phenyl]acetate Table 8: Starting isocyanates CHEMISTRY Structure MW n (mmol) Mol m (mg) X2 2 eg e uivalent PHENETHYL ISOCYANATE 147. 18 0. 153 2 22. 5 o ruz N BENZYL ISOCYANATE 133. 15 0. 153 2 20. 4 . : N. CYCLOHEXYL ISOCYANATE, ~ 125. 17 0. 153 19. 2 o C o N-BUTYL ISOCYANATE 99. 13 0. 153 2 15. 2 - 0 O HEXYL ISOCYANATE 127. 19 0. 153 2 19. 5 owo/ B. Saponification R2 R2 i saponification COET--I', : 5 1 tuf Mas ? M EtOH Ri HO

Each of the esters obtained above is solubilized in 2 ml of THF.

100, ut of ethanol are then introduced. 100 jui of a sodium hydroxide solution at 35% are then added. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 48 h. The progress of the reaction is monitored by thin-layer chromatography (DCM 80/AcOEt 20). After extracting with ether, acidifying with a 1N hydrochloric acid solution, the organic phase is washed twice with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated to dryness in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum.

The products are purified by filtration on silica cartridges (6 ml) if necessary, and then concentrated to dryness for 2 h at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The final products are analysed by mass-coupled HPLC (Table 9).

Table 9: Analyses of the products of Examples 21b to 50b Example Final product Aminated Isocyanate Quantity MW HPLC ES MASS substrate obtained (% total of the (M+H+) mg surface area) 21b {3-[4-(1-Heptyl- 7a Phenethyl 31 504.69 92 505 3-phenethylureido)phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 22b {3-[4-(1-Butyl- 8a Phenethyl 34 462.61 92 463 3-phenethylureido)phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 23b {3-[3-(1,3-Diphenethyl- 3a Phenethyl 38 510.66 87 511 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 24b (3-{3-[3-Phenethyl-1-(3-phenyl- 4a Phenethyl 41 524.68 86 525 propyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phenyl)acetic isocyanate acid 25b {3-[3-(1-Heptyl- 5a Phenethyl 38 504.69 90 505 3-phenethylureido)phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 26b {3-[3-(1-Butyl- 6a Phenethyl 33 462.61 89 463 3-phenethylureido)phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 27b {3-[4-(3-Benzyl-1-heptyl- 7a Benzyl 33 490.67 96 491 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 28b {3-[4-(3-Benzyl-1-butyl- 8a Benzyl 32 448.58 95 449 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 29b {3-[3-(3-Benzyl- 3a Benzyl 35 496.63 91 497 1-phenethylureido)phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 30b (3-{3-[3-Benzyl-1-(3-phenyl- 4a Benzyl 38 510.66 91 511 propyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phenyl)acetic isocyanate acid 31b {3-[3-(3-Benzyl-1-heptyl- 5a Benzyl 33 490.67 95 491 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 32b {3-[3-(3-Benzyl-1-butyl- 6a Benzyl 35 448.58 93 449 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 33b {3-[4-(3-Cyclohexyl-1-heptyl- 7a Cyclohexyl 27 482.69 87 483 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 34b {3-[4-(1-Butyl-3-cyclo- 8a Cyclohexyl 25 440.61 81 441 hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic isocyanate acid 35b {3-[3-(3-Cyclohexyl- 3a Cyclohexyl 36 448.65 85 489 1-phenethylureido)phenyl- isocyanate sulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid 36b (3-{3-[3-Cyclohexyl-1-(3-phenyl- 4a Cyclohexyl 35 502.68 87 503 propyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phenyl)acetic isocyanate acid 37b {3-[3-(3-Cyclohexyl-1-heptyl- 5a Cyclohexyl 27 482.69 80 483 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 38b (3-[3-(1-Butyl-3-cyclo- 6a Cyclohexyl 27 440.61 87 441 hexylureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic isocyanate acid 39b {3-[4-(3-Butyl-1-heptyl- 7a Butyl 24 456.65 82 457 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 40b {3-[4-(1,3-Dibutylureido)- 8a Butyl 21 414.57 78 415 phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 41b {3-[3-(3-Butyl-1-phenethyl- 3a Butyl 29 462.61 83 463 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 42b (3-{3-[3-Butyl-1-(3-phenyl- 4a Butyl 25 476.64 81 477 propyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phenyl)acetic acid 43b {3-[3-(3-Butyl-1-heptyl- 5a Butyl 22 456.65 75 457 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 44b {3-[3-(1,3-Dibutylureido)phenylsulphanyl]- 6a Butyl 22 414.57 79 415 phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 45b {3-[4-(1-Heptyl-3-hexyl- 7a Hexyl 23 484.70 82 485 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 46b {3-[4-(1-Butyl-3-hexyl- 8a Hexyl 21 442.62 83 443 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 47b {3-[3-(3-Hexyl-1-phenethyl- 3a Hexyl 30 490.67 83 491 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 48b (3-{3-[3-Hexyl-1-(3-phenyl- 4a Hexyl 27 504.69 81 505 propyl)ureido]phenylsulphanyl}phenyl)acetic isocyanate acid 49b {3-[3-(1-Heptyl-3-hexyl- 5a Hexyl 29 484.70 82 485 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate 50b {3-[3-(1-Butyl-3-hexyl- 6a Hexyl 24 442.62 78 442 ureido)phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetic acid isocyanate

Compounds 21a to 50a are the esters corresponding to the acids 21 b to 50b before the saponification reaction.

EXAMPLES 51 and 52: SYNTHESIS OF COMPOUNDS 51 AND 52 Amidation aNH COH aNH $-0 ---- : X J HATU. OMF j NATl, I, IvIF PS-r. S 23 mg (52.3 simon) of {3- [4- (1-buty)-3-cyc) ohexy)- ureido) phenylsulphanyl] phenyllacetic acid obtained above in Example 34b are dissolved in 0.5 ml of DMF. 76 mg of carbodiimide supported on polystyrene (105 ; nmo !) and 30 mg (78. 4 µmol) of HATU (N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl- 0- (7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl) uronium hexafluorophosphate) are introduced into the solution. The mixture is stirred for 15 minutes at room temperature. A solution of 52.3 jumo) of the desired amine in 0.5 ml of dichloromethane is then added.

The reaction medium is stirred for 4 h at room temperature and then filtered and concentrated to dryness in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The products are purified by filtration on silica cartridges (2 g) (eluent : heptane/AcOEt 1/1), and then concentrated to dryness at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The final products are analysed by mass-coupled HPLC. Example Final product Name Amine HPLC ES MASS (% total of (M+H+) the surface area) 51 2- {3- [4- (l-Butyl-2, 5-difluoro- 94% 566. 3 -"-. j : 3-cyclohexylureido) phenyl- benzylamine , ^> < ö sulphanyllphenyl}- fN- (2, 5-difluorobenzyl) acetamide in 52 j N-Benzy !-2- {3- [4- (1-buty)-3- N-methy)-96% 544. 3 cyclohexylureido)-benzylamine r, ou~bt C o phenylsulphanyl] phenyl}- N-methylacetamide A 6

EXAMPLE 53: Ethyl f3-r4- (l-butyl-3-cyclohexylureido)- phenylsulphanyl]phenyl}acetate A mixture of 239 mg (697 limon) of ethyl [3- (4-butylaminophenyisulphanyl) phenyl] acetate (Example 8a), triethylamine (211 mg, 2. 09 mmol) and cyclohexyl isocyanate (174 mg, 1. 39 mmol) in 2 ml of dichloromethane is stirred for 8 h at room temperature. 174 mg of cyclohexyl isocyanate and 211 mg of triethylamine are added to the mixture and the stirring is continued for 14 h at room temperature. 0.3 ml of cyclohexyl isocyanate is added and the mixture is heated at 40°C for 3 h. The reaction medium is concentrated to dryness in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The expected product is purified by filtration on silica cartridges (8 g) (eluent : heptane/AcOEt 20/5), and then concentrated to dryness at 40°C in a centrifugal evaporator under vacuum. The final product is obtained in the form of a colourless oil and analysed by mass- coupled HPLC. HPLC (% total of the surface area): 100%, ES MASS (M+H+) : 469. 2. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) : 0.99 (3H, t), 1.25 to 1.33 (9H, m), 1.45 to 1.47 (2H, m), 1.45 to 1. 63 (3H, m), 1.85 (2H, m), 3.62 (2H, s), 3. 64 (2H, q), 4. 05 (1 H, d) 4.15 (2H, q), 7.11 (2H, Ar, d), 7. 28 to 7.30 (3H, Ar, m), 7.33 (2H, Ar, d), 7. 40 (1H, Ar, s).

EXAMPLE 54-CROSS CURVE PPAR TRANSACTIVATION TEST The activation of receptors with an agonist (activator) in HeLN cells leads to the expression of a reporter gene, luciferase, which, in the presence of a substrate, generates light. The modulation of the receptors is measured as quantity of luminescence produced after incubating the cells in the presence of a reference agonist. The ligands will displace the agonist from its site. The measurement of the activity is performed by quantification of the light produced. This measurement makes it possible to determine the modulator activity of the

compounds according to the invention by determining the constant which represents the affinity of the molecule for the receptor. Since this value can fluctuate according to the basal activity and the expression of the receptor, it is called apparent Kd (KdApp in nM).

To determine this constant, "cross curves"for the product to be tested against a reference agonist are produced in a 96-well plate : 10 concentrations of the test product plus a concentration 0 are placed in a line, and 7 concentrations of the agonist plus one concentration 0 are placed in a column. This represents 88 measurement points for 1 product and 1 receptor. The 8 remaining wells are used for repeatability controls.

In each well, the cells are in contact with a concentration of the product to be tested and a concentration of the reference agonist, 2- (4- {2- [3- (2, 4-difluorophenyl)-1-heptylureido] ethyllphenylsulphanyl)- 2-methylpropionic acid for PPARα, {2-methyl-4- [4-methyl- 2-(4-trifluoromethylphenylithiazol-5-ylmethylsulphanyl] phenoxy} acetic acid for PPAR5 and 5-44-[2-(rnethylpyridin-2-ylamino) ethoxybenzylethiazolidine-2, 4-dione for PPARy. Measurements are also carried out for the controls total agonist with the same products.

The HeLN cell lines used are stable transfectants containing the plasmids ERE-ßGlob-Luc-SV-Neo (reporter gene) and PPAR (α, ô, y) Gal-hPPAR.

These cells are inoculated into 96-well plates in an amount of 10 000 cells per well in 100 Ml of DMEM medium free of phenol red and supplemented with 10% lipid- free calf serum. The plates are then incubated at 37°C, 7% CO2 for 16 hours.

The various dilutions of the test products and of the reference ligand are added in an amount of 5 ; ni per well. The plates are then incubated for 18 hours at 37°C, 7% CO2. The culture medium is removed by turning over and 100 ul of a 1: 1 PBS/Luciferin mixture are added to each well. After 5 minutes, the

plates are read by the luminescence reader.

These cross curves make it possible to determine the AC50 values (concentrations at which 50% activation is observed) for the reference ligand at various concentrations of test product. These AC50 values are used to calculate the Schild regression by plotting a straight line corresponding to the Schild equation ("quantitation in receptor pharmacology"Terry P. Kenakin, Receptors and Channels, 2001, 7, 371-385) which leads to Kd app values being obtained (in nM).

Transactivation results: Compound PPAR alpha PPAR delta PPAR gamma Kd app (nM) Kd app (in nM) Kd app (in nM) Reference 1: 2-(4-{2-[3-(2,4-Difluorophenyl)- 200 n.a. n.a. 1-heptylureido]ethyl}phenylsulphanyl)-2-methyl . propionic acid Reference 2: {2-Methyl-4-[4-methyl-2-(4-tri- n.a. 10 n.a. fluoromethylphenyl)thiazol-5-ylmethylsulphanyl]phenoxy}aceti c acid Reference 3: 5-{4-[2-(Methylpyridin-2-ylamino)- n.a. n.a. 30 ethoxy]benzyl}thiazolidine-2,4-dione Example 18b 250 15 30 Example 25b n.a. 60 500 n.a. means not active

EXAMPLE 55-COMPOSITIONS Various concrete formulations based on the compounds according to the invention have been illustrated in this example.

A-ORAL ROUTE (a) 0.2 g tablet - Compound of Example 2b 0.001 g - Starch 0. 114g - Bicalcium phosphate 0.020 g - Silica 0.020 g - Lactose 0. 030 g - Talc 0. 010 g - Magnesium stearate 0.005 g (b) Oral suspension in 5 mi vials - Compound of Example 7a 0.001 g - Glycerine 0. 500 g - Sorbitol at 70% 0. 500 g - Sodium saccharinate 0.010 g - Methyl para-hydroxybenzoate 0.040 g - Flavouring qs -Purified water qs 5 ml (c) 0.8 g tablet - Compound of Example 1 b 0.500 g - Pregelatinized starch 0.100 g - Microcrystalline cellulose 0.115 g - Lactose 0. 075 g - Magnesium stearate 0. 010 g (d) Oral suspension in 10 ml vials

- Compound of Example 21 b 0.200 g - Glycerine 1.000 g - Sorbitol at 70% 1.000 g - Sodium saccharinate 0. 010 g - Methyl para-hydroxybenzoate 0.080 g -Flavouring qs - Purified water qs 10 ml B-TOPICAL ROUTE (a) Salve -Compound of Example 42b 0.020 g - Isopropyl myristate 81. 700 g - Fluid liquid paraffin 9.100 g -Silica ("Aerosil 200"sold by DEGUSSA) 9. 180 g (b) Salve -Compound of Example 37a 0.300 g - Petroleum jelly qs 100 g (c) Nonionio water-in-oil cream - Compound of Example 19b 0.100 g - Mixture of emulsifying lanolin alcohols, waxes and oils ("anhydrous eucerin"sold by BDF) 39.900 g - Methyl para-hydroxybenzoate 0.075 g - Propyl para-hydroxybenzoate 0.075 g - Sterile demineralized water qs 100 g

(d) Lotion - Compound of Example 7a 0.100 g - Polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) 69.900 g - Ethanol at 95% 30.000 g (e) Hydrophobic salve - Compound of Example 16b 0.300 g -Isopropyl myristate 36.400 g - Silicone oil ("Rhodorsil 47 V 300"sold by RHONE-POULENC) 36.400 g -Beeswax 13. 600 g - Silicone oil ("Abil 300,000 cst"sold by GOLDSCHMIDT) qs 100g (f) Nonionic oil-in-water cream - Compound of Example 31 b 1. 000 g - Cetyl alcohol 4. 000 g - Glyceryl monostearate 2. 500 g - PEG 50 stearate 2. 500 g - Shea butter 9. 200 g - Propylene glycol 2.000 g -Methyl para-hydroxybenzoate 0. 075 9 -Propyl para-hydroxybenzoate 0. 075 g - Sterile demineralized water qs 100 g