Beta-agonists, methods for the preparation thereof and their use as pharmaceutical compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to new beta-agonists of general formula (I) wherein the groups R 1 to R 7 have the meanings given in the claims and specification, the tautomers, the enantiomers, the diastereomers, the mixtures thereof, the prodrugs thereof and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids or bases, processes for preparing these compounds and their use as pharmaceutical compositions.

1 . A compound of the formula  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein 
 R 1  denotes an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group,  
 R 2  denotes an optionally substituted heteroaryl or heterocyclyl group, where R 2  contains at least one nitrogen atom,  
 R 3  and R 4  independently of one another denote a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted group selected from among C 1 -C 5 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl and heteroaryl, or  
 R 3  and R 4  together represent a 2- to 7-membered alkylene bridge,  
 R 5 , R 6  and R 7  independently of one another denote a hydrogen atom or a group selected from among optionally substituted C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, C 6 -C 10 -aryl, heterocyclyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, —NR 8 —C 1 -C 5 -alkyl, —NR 8 -aryl, halogen, CN, —NR 8 CO—(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —NR 8 CO-aryl, —NR 8 SO 2 —(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —NR 8 SO 2 -aryl, —CO 2 R 8 , —SO 2 R 8 , —CONHR 8 , —SO 2 NHR 8  and —OR 8 , while the above-mentioned alkyl groups may be substituted in each case, and  
 R 8  denotes a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 5 -alkyl group,  
 or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
 
   
   
       2 . A compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 R 2  to R 7  are defined as in  claim 1 , and    R 1  denotes an optionally substituted phenyl group,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       3 . A compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 R 1  and R 3  to R 7  are defined as in  claim 1 , and    R 2  denotes a group selected from among the optionally substituted groups of formulae:                        while the above-mentioned groups may each be substituted by one or more groups R 10  and    R 10  denotes OH, NO 2 , CN, —OCHF 2 , —OCF 3 , —NH 2 , —NH-alkyl, —N(-alkyl)-alkyl, —NH-aryl, —N(-alkyl)-aryl, —NHCO-alkyl, —NHCO 2 -alkyl, —NHCO-aryl, —N(-alkyl)-CO-alkyl, —N(-alkyl)-CO-aryl, —NHSO 2 -alkyl, —NHSO 2 -aryl, —N(-alkyl)-SO 2 -alkyl, —N(-alkyl)-SO 2 -aryl, —CO 2 -alkyl, —SO 2 -alkyl, —SO 2 -aryl, —CON H-alkyl, —CONH-aryl, —CON(-alkyl)-alkyl, —CON(-alkyl)-aryl, —SO 2 NH-alkyl, —SO 2 NH-aryl, —SO 2 N(-alkyl)-alkyl, —SO 2 N(-alkyl)-aryl, —O-alkyl, —O-aryl, —S-alkyl, —S-aryl, halogen, C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, —O—(C 1 -C 3 -alkyl), —COOH, —CONH 2 , —CON(-alkyl)-SO 2 -alkyl, —CONHSO 2 -alkyl, —CONHOH, 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3-yl, 2,5-dihydro-2-oxo-3H-1,2,4,5-oxathiadiazol-4-yl, 1-acetyl-2-amino-propen-1-yl, tetrazolyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl,    and wherein X denotes an oxygen atom or an —NR 9 — group and    Y denotes an oxygen or sulphur atom,    and R 9  denotes a hydrogen atom or a group selected from among C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl, while the groups mentioned for R 9  hereinbefore may each be substituted by one of the groups mentioned for R 10 ,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.      
   
   
       4 . A compound of the formula I, according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 R 3  and R 4  independently of one another represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group or    R 3  and R 4  together represent a 2- to 5-membered alkylene bridge,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       5 . A compound of the formula I, according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 R 3  and R 4  independently of one another represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group or    R 3  and R 4  together represent a 2- to 5-membered alkylene bridge,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       6 . A compound of the formula I, according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 R 3  and R 4  independently of one another represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group or    R 3  and R 4  together represent a 2- to 5-membered alkylene bridge,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       7 . A compound of the formula I, according to  claim 1  wherein, 
 R 5 , R 6  and R 7  independently of one another represent hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, halogen, CN, —NR 8 CO—(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —NR 8 SO 2 —(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —CO 2 R 8 , —SO 2 R 8 , —CONHR 8 , —SO 2 NHR 8  or —OR 8  and    R 8  denotes a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 5 -alkyl group,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       8 . A compound of the formula I, according to  claim 2 , wherein, 
 R 5 , R 6  and R 7  independently of one another represent hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, halogen, CN, —NR 8 CO—(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —NR 8 SO 2 —(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —CO 2 R 8 , —SO 2 R 8 , —CONHR 8 , —SO 2 NHR 8  or —OR 8  and    R 8  denotes a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 5 -alkyl group,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       9 . A compound of the formula I, according to  claim 3 , wherein, 
 R 5 , R 6  and R 7  independently of one another represent hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, halogen, CN, —NR 8 CO—(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —NR 8 SO 2 —(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —CO 2 R 8 , —SO 2 R 8 , —CONHR 8 , —SO 2 NHR 8  or —OR 8  and    R 8  denotes a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 5 -alkyl group,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       10 . A compound of the formula I, according to  claim 4 , wherein, 
 R 5 , R 6  and R 7  independently of one another represent hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, halogen, CN, —NR 8 CO—(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —NR 8 SO 2 —(C 1 -C 5 -alkyl), —CO 2 R 8 , —SO 2 R 8 , —CONHR 8 , —SO 2 NHR 8  or —OR 8  and    R 8  denotes a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 5 -alkyl group,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       11 . A compound of the formula I, according to  claim 1 , wherein, 
 R 1  denotes a phenyl group optionally substituted by a halogen atom or a cyano or nitro group,    R 2  denotes a group selected from among the optionally substituted groups of formulae                        while the above-mentioned groups may each be substituted by one or more groups R 10  and    R 10  denotes OH, NO 2 , CN, —OCHF 2 , —OCF 3 , —NH 2 , —NH-alkyl, —N(-alkyl)-alkyl, —NH-aryl, —N(-alkyl)-aryl, —NHCO-alkyl, —NHCO 2 -alkyl, —NHCO-aryl, —N(-alkyl)CO-alkyl, —N(-alkyl)-CO-aryl, —NHSO 2 -alkyl, —NHSO 2 -aryl, —N(-alkyl)-SO 2 -alkyl, —N(-alkyl)-SO 2 -aryl, —CO 2 -alkyl, —SO 2 -alkyl, —SO 2 -aryl, —CONH-alkyl, —CONH-aryl, —CON(alkyl)-alkyl, —CON(-alkyl)-aryl, —SO 2 NH-alkyl, —SO 2 NH-aryl, —SO 2 N(-alkyl)-alkyl, —SO 2 N(-alkyl)-aryl, —O-aryl, —S-alkyl, —S-aryl, halogen, C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, —O—(C 1 -C 3 -alkyl), —COOH, —CONH 2 , —CON(-alkyl)-SO 2 -alkyl, —CONHSO 2 -alkyl, —CONHOH, 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3-yl, 2,5-dihydro-2-oxo-3H-1, 2,4,5-oxathiadiazol-4-yl, 1-acetyl-2-amino-propen-1-yl, tetrazolyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl,    and wherein X denotes an oxygen atom or an —NR 9 — group and    Y denotes an oxygen or sulphur atom,      R 3  and R 4  independently of one another each denote a methyl or ethyl group or    R 3  and R 4  together represent an ethylene bridge,    R 5 , R 6  and R 7  independently of one another each denote a hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine atom or a cyano, methoxy, methanesulphonylamino, methanesulphonyl, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl group,    R 9  denotes a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl group,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       12 . A compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 R 1  denotes a phenyl group optionally substituted by a fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom or a cyano or nitro group,    R 2  denotes a group selected from among the optionally substituted groups of general formulae (i)-(vi):                        where R 9  denotes a phenyl or pyridyl group optionally substituted by a fluorine atom or by an amino, nitro, hydroxy or methoxy group and the above-mentioned groups (i) to (vi) may each be substituted by one or two groups R 10  and    R 10  denotes OH, NO 2 , CN, —OCHF 2 , —OCF 3 , —NH 2 , —NH-alkyl, —N(alkyl)-alkyl, —NH-aryl, —N(alkyl)-aryl, —NHCO-alkyl, —NHCO 2 -alkyl, —NHCO-aryl, —N(-alkyl)-CO-alkyl, —N(-alkyl)-CO-aryl, —NHSO 2 -alkyl, —NHSO 2 -aryl, —N(-alkyl)-SO 2 -alkyl, —N(-alkyl)-SO 2 -aryl, —CO 2 -alkyl, —SO 2 -alkyl, —SO 2 -aryl, —CONH-alkyl, —CONH-aryl, —CON(alkyl)-alkyl, —CON(-alkyl)-aryl, —SO 2 NH-alkyl, —SO 2 NH-aryl, —SO 2 N(-alkyl)-alkyl, —SO 2 N(-alkyl)-aryl, —O-aryl, —S-alkyl, —S-aryl, halogen, C 1 -C 10 -alkyl, —O—(C 1 -C 3 -alkyl), —COOH, —CONH 2 , —CON(-alkyl)-SO 2 -alkyl, —CONHSO 2 -alkyl, —CONHOH, 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3-yl, 2,5-dihydro-2-oxo-3H-1,2,4,5-oxathiadiazol-4-yl, 1-acetyl-2-amino-propen-1-yl, tetrazolyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl,      R 3  and R 4  independently of one another denote a methyl or ethyl group or    R 3  and R 4  together represent an ethylene bridge and    R 5 , R 6  and R 7  represent a hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine atom or a cyano, methoxy, methanesulphonylamino, methanesulphonyl, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl group,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       13 . A compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 R 1  denotes a phenyl group optionally substituted by a fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom or by a cyano or nitro group,    R 2  denotes a group selected from among the groups of formulae (i)-(vi):                        where R 9  denotes a phenyl or pyridyl group optionally substituted by a fluorine atom or by an amino, nitro, hydroxy or methoxy group, and the above-mentioned groups (i) to (vi) may each be substituted by one or two groups R 10  and    R 10  denotes OH, —NO 2 , —CN, —NH 2 , —I, —N(CH 3 ) 2 , —NHCO 2 CH 3 , —NHSO 2 CH 3 , C 1 -C 3 -alkyl, —SO 2 N(CH 3 ) 2 , —CO 2 H, benzyloxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, methoxycarbonyl, —CONHOH, tetrazol-5-yl, pyridinyl, methoxy-pyridinyl, phenyl optionally substituted by hydroxy, fluorine, methoxy, amino, nitro, dimethylamino, methylcarbonylamino, methylsulphonylamino, dimethylamino-sulphonylamino, carboxy, ethoxycarbonyl, benzyloxy-carbonyl, hydroxyaminocarbonyl or tetrazol-5-yl, or thiophenyl, 5-methyl-thiophen-2-yl, 3,5-dimethyl-isoxazol-4-yl or 1-acetyl-2-amino-propenyl,      R 3  and R 4  each denote a methyl or ethyl group or    R 3  and R 4  together represent an ethylene bridge and    R 5 , R 6  and R 7  each denote a hydrogen atom,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       14 . A compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 R 1  denotes a phenyl group,    R 2  denotes a group selected from among the groups of formulae (i)-(iii) or (v):                        where R 9  denotes a phenyl or pyridyl group optionally substituted by a fluorine atom or by an amino, nitro, hydroxy or methoxy group, and the above-mentioned groups (i) to (iii) and (v) may each be substituted by a group R 10  and    R 10  denotes an iodine atom or a nitro, amino, methyl, carboxy, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, pyridin-4-yl, pyridin-2-yl, 6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl, thiophen-2-yl, 5-methyl-thiophen-2-yl, 3,5-dimethyl-isoxazol-4-yl, 1-acetyl-2-amino-propen-1-yl or a phenyl group, while the phenyl group may be substituted by a fluorine atom or by a hydroxy, methoxy, nitro, amino, dimethylamino, methylcarbonylamino, methylsulphonylamino, dimethylamino-sulphonylamino, carboxy, ethoxycarbonyl, benzyloxy-carbonyl, hydroxyaminocarbonyl or tetrazol-5-yl group,      R 3  and R 4  each denote a methyl group and    R 5 , R 6  and R 7  each denote a hydrogen atom,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       15 . A compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 14 , wherein 
 R 1  denotes a phenyl group,    R 2  denotes a group of formulae (Ia) or (v):                        while the above-mentioned group (i) may be substituted in the phenyl moiety by a fluorine atom or by a hydroxy, methoxy, nitro, amino, dimethylamino, methylcarbonylamino, methylsulphonylamino, dimethyl-amino-sulphonylamino, carboxy, ethoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, hydroxyaminocarbonyl or tetrazol-5-yl group and the above-mentioned group (v) may be substituted in the benzyl moiety by a nitro, amino, carboxy or C 1-2 -alkyloxy-carbonyl group,      R 3  and R 4  each denote a methyl group and    R 5 , R 6  and R 7  each denote a hydrogen atom,    or a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       16 . A compound selected from the group consisting of: 
 N-(3-{2-[1,1-dimethyl-3-(4-phenyl-imidazol-1-yl)-propylamino]-1-hydroxy-ethyl}-phenyl)-benzenesulphonamide,    N-(3-{2-[1,1-dimethyl-3-(3-methyl-1,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydro-1H-phthalazin-2-yl)-propylamino]-1-hydroxy-ethyl}-phenyl)-benzenesulphonamide,    N-(3-{2-[1,1-dimethyl-3-(2-oxo-3-phenyl-imidazolidin-1-yl)-propylamino]-1-hydroxy-ethyl}-phenyl)-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(2-{1,1-dimethyl-3-[4-(4-nitro-phenyl)-imidazol-1-yl]-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(2-{3-[3-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-2-oxo-imidazolidin-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-{3-[4-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-{3-[4-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(2-{3-[4-(4-amino-phenyl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-{3-[4-(4-methanesulphonylamino-phenyl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-(3-{1-hydroxy-2-[3-(4-iodo-imidazol-1-yl)-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino]-ethyl}-phenyl)-benzenesulphonamide,    methyl 1-{3-[2-(3-benzenesulphonylamino-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethylamino]-3-methyl-butyl}-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylate,    N-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-{3-[4-(4-N,N-dimethyl-sulphamoylamino-phenyl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-(3-{2-[1,1-dimethyl-3-(2-oxo-3-pyridin-2-yl-imidazolidin-1-yl)-propylamino]-1-hydroxy-ethyl}-phenyl)-benzenesulphonamide,    1-{3-[2-(3-benzenesulphonylamino-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethylamino]-3-methyl-butyl}-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylic acid,    N-(3-{2-[1,1-dimethyl-3-(4-pyridin-4-yl-imidazol-1-yl)-propylamino]-1-hydroxy-ethyl}-phenyl)-benzenesulphonamide,    benzyl 4-(1-{3-[2-(3-benzenesulphonylamino-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethylamino]-3-methyl-butyl}-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-benzoate,    4-(1-{3-[2-(3-benzenesulphonylamino-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethylamino]-3-methyl-butyl}-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-benzoic acid,    N-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-{3-[3-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-imidazolidin-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[4-(1-{3-[2-(3-benzenesulphonylamino-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethylamino]-3-methyl-butyl}-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-phenyl]-acetamide,    N-[3-(2-{3-[4-(3,5-dimethyl-isoxazol-4-yl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-{3-[4-(6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(2-{1,1-dimethyl-3-[4-(5-methyl-thiophen-2-yl)-imidazol-1-yl]-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(2-{3-[4-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-(3-{2-[1,1-dimethyl-3-(5-nitro-benzoimidazol-1-yl)-propylamino]-1-hydroxy-ethyl}-phenyl)-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-{3-[4-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-[1.2.3]triazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-(3-{2-[1,1-dimethyl-3-(4-thiophen-2-yl-imidazol-1-yl)-propylamino]-1-hydroxy-ethyl}-phenyl)-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(2-{3-[4-(4-dimethylamino-phenyl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    ethyl 4-(1-{3-[2-(3-benzenesulphonylamino-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethylamino]-3-methyl-butyl}-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-benzoate,    N-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-{3-[3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-imidazolidin-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(2-{1,1-dimethyl-3-[3-(4-nitro-phenyl)-2-oxo-imidazolidin-1-yl]-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-{3-[3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(2-{3-[3-(4-amino-phenyl)-2-oxo-imidazolidin-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-[3-(2-{3-[4-(1-acetyl-2-amino-propenyl)-imidazol-1-yl]-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino}-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-phenyl]-benzenesulphonamide,    N-(3-{2-[3-(5-amino-benzoimidazol-1-yl)-1,1-dimethyl-propylamino]-1-hydroxy-ethyl}-phenyl)-benzenesulphonamide,    1-{3-[2-(3-benzenesulphonylamino-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethylamino]-3-methyl-butyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid,    ethyl 1-{3-[2-(3-benzenesulphonylamino-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethylamino]-3-methyl-butyl}-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylate,    N-{3-[2-(1,1-dimethyl-3-{4-[4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-phenyl]-imidazol-1-yl}-propylamino)-1-hydroxy-ethyl]-phenyl}-benzenesulphonamide, and    4-(1-{3-[2-(3-benzenesulphonylamino-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethylamino]-3-methyl-butyl}-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-N-hydroxy-benzamide,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.    
   
   
       17 . The (R)-enantiomer of a compound according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  or  16 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
   
   
       18 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the formula I according to  claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.  
   
   
       19 . A method for treating a disease in which stimulation of beta-3-receptors is implicated which method comprises administering to a host in need of such treatment a compound of the formula I according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  or  16 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
   
   
       20 . A pharmaceutical composition containing as active substance a compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  or  16 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more active substances selected from the group consisting of antidiabetics, inhibitors of protein tyrosinephosphatase 1, substances which influence deregulated glucose production in the liver, lipid lowering agents, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, HDL-raising compounds, active substances for the treatment of obesity and modulators or stimulators of the adrenergic system via alpha 1 and alpha 2 as well as beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3 receptors.