Novel compounds of
structural formula (I) are antagonists and / or inverse agonists of the
Cannabinoid-1 (CB1)
receptor and are useful in the treatment, prevention and suppression of diseases mediated by the CB1
receptor. The compounds of the present invention are useful as psychotropic drugs in the treatment of
psychosis, memory deficits, cognitive disorders,
migraine, neuropathy, neuro-inflammatory disorders including
multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barre syndrome and the inflammatory sequelae of
viral encephalitis, cerebral vascular accidents, and
head trauma,
anxiety disorders, stress,
epilepsy, Parkinson's
disease,
movement disorders, and
schizophrenia. The compounds are also useful for the treatment of
substance abuse disorders, the treatment of
obesity or
eating disorders, as well as, the treatment of
asthma,
constipation, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and
cirrhosis of the liver.