HEPATITIS C VIRUS INHIBITORS

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/372,999 filed on August 12, 2010. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to novel antiviral agents. More specifically, the present invention relates to compounds which can inhibit the function of the NS5A protein encoded by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), compositions comprising such compounds, methods for inhibiting HCV viral replication, methods for treating or preventing HCV infection, and processes for making the compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Infection with HCV is a major cause of human liver disease throughout the world. In the U.S., an estimated 4.5 million Americans are chronically infected with HCV.

Although only 30% of acute infections are symptomatic, greater than 85% of infected individuals develop chronic, persistent infection. Treatment costs for HCV infection have been estimated at $5.46 billion for the US in 1997. Worldwide over 200 million people are estimated to be infected chronically. HCV infection is responsible for 40-60% of all chronic liver disease and 30% of all liver transplants. Chronic HCV infection accounts for 30%) of all cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the number of deaths due to HCV will minimally increase to 38,000 per year by the year 2010.

Due to the high degree of variability in the viral surface antigens, existence of multiple viral genotypes, and demonstrated specificity of immunity, the development of a successful vaccine in the near future is unlikely. Alpha-interferon (alone or in combination with ribavirin) has been widely used since its approval for treatment of chronic HCV infection. However, adverse side effects are commonly associated with this treatment: flu- like symptoms, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, depression from interferon, as well as anemia induced by ribavirin (Lindsay, K. L. (1997) Hepatology 26 (suppl 1): 71S-77S). This therapy remains less effective against infections caused by HCV genotype 1 (which constitutes -75% of all HCV infections in the developed markets) compared to infections caused by the other 5 major HCV genotypes. Unfortunately, only -50-80%) of the patients respond to this treatment (measured by a reduction in serum HCV R A levels and normalization of liver enzymes) and, of responders, 50-70% relapse within 6 months of cessation of treatment. Recently, with the introduction of pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN), both initial and sustained response rates have improved substantially, and combination treatment of Peg-IFN with ribavirin constitutes the gold standard for therapy. However, the side effects associated with combination therapy and the impaired response in patients with genotype 1 present opportunities for improvement in the management of this disease.

First identified by molecular cloning in 1989 (Choo, Q-L et al (1989) Science 244:359-362), HCV is now widely accepted as the most common causative agent of posttransfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) (Kuo, G et al (1989) Science 244:362-364). Due to its genome structure and sequence homology, this virus was assigned as a new genus in the Flaviviridae family. Like the other members of the Flaviviridae, such as flaviviruses (e.g. yellow fever virus and Dengue virus types 1-4) and pestiviruses (e.g. bovine viral diarrhea virus, border disease virus, and classic swine fever virus) (Choo, Q-L et al (1989) Science 244:359-362; Miller, R.H. and R.H. Purcell (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:2057-2061), HCV is an enveloped virus containing a single strand RNA molecule of positive polarity. The HCV genome is approximately 9.6 kilobases (kb) with a long, highly conserved, noncapped 5' nontranslated region (NTR) of approximately 340 bases which functions as an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) (Wang CY et al 'An RNA pseudoknot is an essential structural element of the internal ribosome entry site located within the hepatitis C virus 5' noncoding region' RNA - A Publication of the RNA

Society. 1(5): 526-537, 1995 Jul). This element is followed by a region which encodes a single long open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of -3000 amino acids comprising both the structural and nonstructural viral proteins.

Upon entry into the cytoplasm of the cell, this RNA is directly translated into a polypeptide of -3000 amino acids comprising both the structural and nonstructural viral proteins. This large polypeptide is subsequently processed into the individual structural and nonstructural proteins by a combination of host and virally-encoded proteinases (Rice, CM. (1996) in B.N. Fields, D.M.Knipe and P.M. Howley (eds) Virology 2 ^nd Edition, p931-960; Raven Press, N.Y.). There are three structural proteins, C, El and E2. The P7 protein is of unknown function and is comprised of a highly variable sequence. There are several non- structural proteins. NS2 is a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase that functions in conjunction with a portion of the NS3 protein. NS3 incorporates two catalytic functions (separate from its association with NS2): a serine protease at the N-terminal end, which requires NS4A as a cofactor, and an ATP-ase-dependent helicase function at the carboxyl terminus. NS4A is a tightly associated but non-covalent cofactor of the serine protease. NS5A is a membrane-anchored phosphoprotein that is observed in basally phosphorylated (56 kDa) and hyperphosphorylated (58 kDa) forms. While its function has not fully been elucidated, NS5A is believed to be important in viral replication. The NS5B protein (591 amino acids, 65 kDa) of HCV (Behrens, S.E. et al (1996) EMBO J. 151 2-22), encodes an R A-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity and contains canonical motifs present in other RNA viral polymerases. The NS5B protein is fairly well conserved both intra- typically (-95-98% amino acid (aa) identity across lb isolates) and inter-typically (-85% aa identity between genotype la and lb isolates). The essentiality of the HCV NS5B RdRp activity for the generation of infectious progeny virions has been formally proven in chimpanzees (A. A. Kolykhalov et al, (2000) Journal of Virology, 74(4): 2046-2051).

Thus, inhibition of NS5B RdRp activity (inhibition of RNA replication) is predicted to be useful to treat HCV infection.

Following the termination codon at the end of the long ORF, there is a 3' NTR which roughly consists of three regions: an -40 base region which is poorly conserved among various genotypes, a variable length poly(U)/polypyrimidine tract, and a highly conserved 98 base element also called the "3' X-tail" (Kolykhalov, A. et al (1996) J. Virology 70:3363-3371; Tanaka, T. et al (1995) Biochem Biophys. Res. Commun.

215744-749; Tanaka, T. et al (1996) J. Virology 70:3307-3312; Yamada, N. et al (1996) Virology 223:255-261). The 3' NTR is predicted to form a stable secondary structure which is essential for HCV growth in chimps and is believed to function in the initiation and regulation of viral RNA replication.

Compounds useful for treating HCV-infected patients are desired which selectively inhibit HCV viral replication. In particular, compounds which are effective to inhibit the function of the NS5A protein are desired. The HCV NS5A protein is described, for example, in Tan, S.-L., Katzel, M.G. Virology 2001, 284, 1; and in Rice, C. M. Nature 2005, 435, 374.

Based on the foregoing, there exists a significant need to identify compounds with the ability to inhibit HCV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel antiviral compounds represented herein below, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral (particularly HCV) infection in a subject in need of such therapy with said compounds. Compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents.

In its principal aspect the present invention provides a compound of Formula (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

A is absent or a monocyclic or polycyclic group independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, and C ₃ -C ₈

cycloalkenyl, each optionally substituted; preferably, A is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

B is absent or a monocyclic or polycyclic group independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, and C ₃ -C ₈

cycloalkenyl, each optionally substituted; preferably, B is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

L is absent or an aliphatic group; when present, L is preferably selected from the group consisting of O, NH, C(O), C(0)NH, C ₁ -C4 alkyl, C ₂ -C ₄ alkenyl, and C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl, (C1-C4 alkyl)-NH-(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), and heterocyclic, each optionally substituted;

wherein at least one of A, B and L is present;

W is -C(0)NH- or an optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen or an optionally substituted 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl, wherein the 5-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl contains one or more nitrogen atoms and is attached to the carbon atom to which R ^3a is also attached, and wherein the 6- membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl is attached to one of groups B, L, and A and is aryl or heteroaryl; preferably, W is an optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen or optionally substituted 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl, wherein the 5-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl contains one or more nitrogen atoms and is attached to the carbon atom to which R ^3a is also attached, and wherein the 6-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl is attached to one of groups B, L, and A and is aryl or heteroaryl; more preferably W is an optionally substituted imidazolyl, optionally substituted benzimidazolyl or optionally substituted imidazopyridyl;

Alternatively groups W and B are taken together to form a fused tricyclic system;

G is absent, -C(0)NH-, an optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen atoms, or an optionally substituted 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl, wherein the 5-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl contains one or more nitrogen atoms and is attached to group Q, and wherein the 6-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl is attached to one of groups A, L and B and is aryl or heteroaryl; preferably, G is an optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen atoms or an optionally substituted 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl, wherein the 5-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl contains one or more nitrogen atoms and is attached to group Q, and wherein the 6-membered ring of said 5/6- membered fused heteroaryl is attached to one of groups A, L and B and is aryl or heteroaryl; more preferably, G is optionally substituted imidazolyl, optionally substituted benzimidazolyl or optionally substituted imidazopyridyl;

Alternatively grou s G and A are taken together to form a fused tricyclic system;

Q is hydrogen, ;

Alternatively, G and Q are taken together to form a group selected from:

D is independently a monocyclic or polycyclic group independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, and C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkenyl, each optionally substituted; preferably, B is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

E is independently an optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen atom; preferably, E is an optionally substituted imidazolyl;

X ¹ at each occurrence is independently N or C(R ^U ); preferably, X ¹ is N;

X ² at each occurrence is independently N(R ¹ ), O or S; preferably, X ² is NH; X ³ and X ⁴ are each independently selected from N or C(R ¹² ); preferably, X ³ and X ⁴ are each independently CH;

R ¹ at each occurence is independently hydrogen, hydroxy, 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl) or optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl;

R ¹¹ at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, halogen or optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl;

R ¹² at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, or optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl);

L ¹ and L ³ are each independently absent or an aliphatic group, wherein at least one of L ¹ and L ³ is present; when present ,preferably, L ¹ and L ³ at each occurence are each independently a linear aliphatic group;

L ⁴ and L ⁶ are each independently absent or an aliphatic group, wherein at least one of L ⁴ and L ⁶ is present; when present preferably, L ⁴ and L ⁶ at each occurence are each independently a linear aliphatic group;

L ⁷ and L ⁹ at each occurence are each independently absent or an aliphatic group, wherein at least one of L ⁷ and L ⁹ is present; when present, preferably, L ⁷ and L ⁹ at each occurence are each independently a linear aliphatic group;

L ² , L ⁵ , and L ⁸ at each occurence are each independently absent, or selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, and C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkenyl, each optionally substituted;

wherein 1 2 3 a linker; preferably, 1 2 3

-L -L -L - together forms -L -L -L - together forms a linker of from 6 to 16 bond lengths;

wherein -L ⁴ -L ⁵ -L ⁶ - together forms a linker; preferably, -L ⁴ -L ⁵ -L ⁶ - together forms a linker of from 8 to 18 bond lengths;

wherein -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ -R ⁶ - together forms a linker; preferably, -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ -R ⁶ - together forms a linker of from 8 to 18 bond lengths;

Y at each occurence is independently C(O) or S(0) ₂ ; preferably, Y is C(O);

R ^3a , R ³ and R ⁴ at each occurrence are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted Ci-C ₈ alkyl, optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, and optionally substituted C ₃ -C8 cycloalkyl; preferably hydrogen or optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; alternatively, R ^3a and L ⁷ or R ³ and R ⁴ are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form optionally substituted C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl or optionally substituted heterocyclic; R ⁵ at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted Ci-Cg alkyl, or optionally substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl; preferably hydrogen or optionally substituted C ₁ -C4 alkyl;

Alternatively R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ ar taken together with the carbon and nitrogen atom to

which they are attached to form

U is absent or selected from the group consisting of O, S, S(O), S0 ₂ , NC(0)-(Ci- C ₄ alkyl), C(O), protected carbonyl, OCH ₂ , OCH ₂ CH ₂ , SCH ₂ , SCH ₂ CH ₂ , C(R ⁷ ) ₂ ,

C(R ⁷ ) ₂ C(R ⁷ ) ₂ , and C=C(R ² ) ₂ ; preferably, U is CH ₂ , C=N-OMe, or C=CH ₂ ;

R ² at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, halogen, optionally substituted C ₁ -C4 alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R ⁷ at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, hydroxy, optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), S(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), amino optionally substituted with one or two C ₁ -C4 alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted C ₁ -C4 alkyl, and optionally substituted C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl; preferably, R ⁷ is hydrogen, halogen, methyl, or cyclopropyl;

Alternatively two geminal R ⁷ groups are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a spiro, optionally substituted 3- to 7-membered cyclic group selected from the group consisting of C3-C7 cycloalkyl, C ₃ -C ₇ cycloalkenyl or 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic; preferably, two geminal R ⁷ groups are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a spiro, optionally substituted cyclopropyl;

R ^7a and R ^7b at each occurrence are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted C ₁ -C4 alkyl, and optionally substituted C ₃ -Cg cycloalkyl; preferably, R ^7a and R ^7b at each occurrence are each independently hydrogen, cyclopropyl or methyl;

Alternatively, CHR ^7a -U or CHR ^7b -U are taken together to form a group selected from CH=CH, fused and optionally substituted C ₃ -Cg cycloalkyl, fused and optionally substituted aryl, or fused and optionally substituted heterocyclic; preferably, CHR ^7a -U or CHR ^7b -U are taken together to form a fused and optionally substituted cyclopropyl;

Yet alternatively, U, R ^a , and R are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a bridged, optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered cyclic group selected from the group consisting of C ₄ -C ₇ cycloalkyl, C ₄ -C ₇ cycloalkenyl and 4- to 7- membered heterocyclic; preferably, U, R ^a , and R are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a bridged cyclopentyl; and

R ⁶ at each occurence is independently selected from the group consisting of 0(Ci- C ₈ alkyl), amino, Ci-C ₈ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkenyl, heterocyclic, aryl, and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; preferably, R ⁶ at each occurence is independently optionally substituted Ci-C ₈ alkyl; more preferably, R ⁶ at each occurence is independently Ci-C ₈ alkyl optionally substituted with amino, halogen, hydroxy, aryl, heterocyclic, protected amino or optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl).

Each preferred group stated above can be taken in combination with one, any or all other preferred groups.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination of compounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting the replication of a RNA-containing virus comprising contacting said virus with a

therapeutically effective amount of a compound or a combination of compounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Particularly, this invention is directed to methods of inhibiting the replication of HCV.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing virus comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination of compounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Particularly, this invention is directed to methods of treating or preventing infection caused by HCV.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides the use of a compound or combination of compounds of the present invention, or a therapeutically acceptable salt thereof, as defined hereinafter, in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of infection caused by RNA-containing virus, specifically HCV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) as illustrated above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of the invention have utility in inhibiting the replication of RNA- containing virus, including, for example, HCV. Other compounds useful for inhibiting the replication of RNA-containing viruses and/or for the treatment or prophylaxis of HCV infection have been described in copending U.S. Application Serial No. 12/702,673 filed February 9, 2010 entitled "Linked Dibenzimidazole Antivirals"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/702,692 filed February 9, 2010 entitled "Linked Dibenzimidazole Derivatives"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/702,802 filed February 9, 2010 entitled "Linked

Dibenzimidazole Derivatives"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/707,190 filed February 17, 2010 entitled "Linked Diimidazole Antivirals"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/707,200 filed February 17, 2010 entitled "Linked Diimidazole Derivatives"; U.S. Application

Serial No. 12/707,210 filed February 17, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/714,583 filed March 1, 2010 entitled "Novel Benzimidazole Derivatives"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/714,576 filed March 1, 2010 entitled

"Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/816,148 filed June 15, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/816,171 filed June 15, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/879,025 filed September 10, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/879,026 filed September 10, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors";

U.S.Application Serial No. 12/879,027 filed September 10, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/879,028 filed September 10, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/879,029 filed September 10, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/879,031 filed September 10, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S.

Application Serial No. 12/851,350 filed August 5, 2010 entitled "Combination

Pharmaceutical Agents As Inhibitors Of HCV Replication"; U.S. Application Serial No. 12/967,486 filed December 14, 2010 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S.

Application Serial No. 13/013,212 filed January 25, 2011 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors"; U.S. Application Serial No. 13/082,621 filed April 8, 2011 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors" and U.S. Application Serial No. 13/152,377 filed June 3, 2011 entitled "Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors;" and the contents of each of which are expressly

incorporated by reference herein.

As discussed above, a general strategy for the development of antiviral agents is to inactivate virally encoded proteins, including NS5A, that are essential for the replication of the virus. The relevant patent disclosures describing the synthesis of HCV NS5A inhibitors are: US 2009/0202478; US 2009/0202483; US 2010/0233120; US

2010/0260708; WO 2004/014852; WO 2006/079833; WO 2006/133326; WO

2007/031791; WO 2007/070556;

WO 2007/070600; WO 2007/082554; WO 2008/021927; WO 2008/021928; WO

2008/021936; WO 2008/048589; WO 2008/064218; WO 2008/070447; WO 2008/144380; WO 2008/154601; WO 2009/020825; WO 2009/020828; WO 2009/034390; WO

2009/102318; WO 2009/102325; WO 2009/102694; WO 2010/017401; WO

2010/039793; WO 2010/065668; WO 2010/065674; WO 2010/065681; WO

2010/091413; WO 2010/096777; WO 2010/096462; WO 2010/096302; WO2010/099527; WO 2010/111483; WO 2010/111534; WO 2010/117635; WO 2010/111673; WO

2010/117704; WO 2010/132538; WO 2010/132601; WO 2010/138488; WO

2010/138368; WO 2010/138790; WO 2010/138791; WO 2010/148006; US

2010/0215618; WO 2011/004276; WO 2011/009084; WO 2011/015657; WO

2011/015658; WO 2011/026920; WO 2011/028596; WO 2011/031904; WO

2011/031934; WO 2011/046811; WO 2011/050146 and WO 2011/054834,

WO2011/05988, WO2011/060000, WO2011/066241, WO201/1075439,

WO2011/075615, WO2011/079327, WO2011/082077, WO2011/087740,

WO2011/091446, the contents of each of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein L is absent or selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C1-C4 alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C4 alkenyl, and optionally substituted C2-C4 alkynyl.

In some embodiments, the present invention relates to compounds represented by Formula (la), (lb), or (Ic), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

wherein X ¹ is N or C(R ^U ), X ² is N(R ^J ); A, B, G, L, Q, Y, L ⁷ , L ⁸ , L ⁹ , X ³ , X ⁴ , R ¹ , R ^3a , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , and R ¹¹ are as previously defined.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (la),

(lb), or (Ic) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein L is absent or selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C ₁ -C4 alkyl, optionally substituted C ₂ - C ₄ alkenyl, and optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (la), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein X ¹ is N and X ² is NH.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula

(lb) or (Ic), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein X ¹ is N, X ² is NH, X ³ and X ⁴ are CH.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (la), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein X ¹ is N and X ² is O or S.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula

(lb) or (Ic), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein X ¹ is N, X ² is O or S, X ³ and X ⁴ are CH.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (lb) or (Ic), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein X ¹ is N, X ² is NH, X ³ is N, and X ⁴ is N or CH.

In in additional embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (lb) or (Ic), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein X ¹ is N, X ² is NH, X ³ is CH, and X ⁴ is N.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (la), (lb) or (Ic), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein L ⁷ and L ⁹ at each occurence are each independently absent or a linear aliphatic group, wherein at least one of L ⁷ and L ⁹ is present.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (la), (lb) or (Ic), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein one of L ⁷ and L ⁹ is a linear aliphatic group and the other of L ⁷ and L ⁹ is an aliphatic group containing an optionally substituted cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or cycloalkenyl.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (la), (lb) or (Ic), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ -R ⁶ - are taken together to form a linker of from 8 to 18 bond lengths and wherein said linker is a linear aliphatic group.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (la), (lb) or (Ic), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ - R ⁶ - are taken together to form a linker of from 8 to 18 bond lengths and wherein said linker comprises combination of one or more linear aliphatic group(s) and a cyclic group. In yet another aspect of the invention, -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ - R ⁶ - are taken together to form a linker of from 8 to 16 bond lengths.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds represented by Form la (Ia-1) or (Ib-1), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

In an additional aspect, the compound has the Formula (Ia-1) or (Ib-1), or is a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein A and B at each occurrence are each independently absent, optionally substituted aryl, or optionally substituted heteroaryl;L is absent or selected from the group consisting of O, -NH-, -C(O)-, -C(0)NH-, C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₄ alkenyl, and C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl, -(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)-NH-(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)- and heterocyclic, each optionally substituted; at least one of A, B and L is present; L ⁷ and L ⁹ is each

independently a linear aliphatic group; and one of L ⁷ and L ⁹ is optionally absent; R ⁵ is hydrogen or optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; R ⁶ at each occurrence is independently Ci- Cg alkyl optionally substituted with amino, halogen, hydroxy, protected amino or optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl); and G is absent, or selected from -C(0)NH-, wherein each of said imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl or imidazopyridyl groups are each optionally substituted.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), (la), (lb), (Ic), (Ia-1) or (Ib-1), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ -R ⁶ - together forms a linker illustrated by one of the following groups:

wherein R is hydrogen, amino, hydroxy, protected amino or 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl); R is hydrogen, Ci-Cg alkyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkenyl, heterocyclic, aryl, or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; preferably optionally substituted Ci-Cs alkyl; and wherein each of the above shown groups is further optionally substituted.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (Id), (Ie) or (If), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

wherein A, B, L, W, Y, L ⁷ , L ⁸ , L ⁹ , R ³ , R ^3a , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , and R ⁶ are as previously defined; G in Formula (Id) is present and as previously defined; in Formulae (Id) and (If), Q is hydrogen.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (If), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein one of A, B and L is absent, and the other two of A, B and L are present and as previously defined.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (If), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein two of A, B and L are absent, and the other one of A, B and L is present and as previously defined. In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (If), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein each of A, B and L are present and as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein G is an optionally substituted five-membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen atoms, and is C- attached to Q and to one of groups A, L and B.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein G is optionally substituted 5/6-membered ring fused heteroaryl, wherein the 5-membered ring of said 5/6- membered fused heteroaryl is a heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen atoms and wherein the 5-membered ring is C-attached to Q, and wherein the 6-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl is aryl or heteroaryl and is C-attached to one of groups A, L and B.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein G and W are each independently C(0)NH or illustrated by one of the following heteroaryl groups:

wherein each of the above shown heteroaryl groups is optionally substituted.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of

Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein G is optionally substituted imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl or imidazopyridyl.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of

Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein groups G and W are each independently imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl or imidazopyridyl, optionally substituted with halogen, CN, hydroxy, protected hydroxy, amino, protected amino, optionally substituted C ₁ -C4 alkyl, optionally substituted C ₂ -C4 alkenyl, optionally substituted C ₂ -C4 alkynyl, optionally substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein L is a linear aliphatic group, and A and B are each independently optionally substituted phenyl, monocyclic heteroaryl, naphthyl, or bicyclic heteroaryl.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein L is a linear aliphatic group, and A and B are each independently optionally substituted phenyl.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of

Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein A and B are each independently optionally substituted phenyl; L is -CH ₂ N(R)CH ₂ -, wherein R is optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl; preferably, A and B are each optionally substituted phenyl.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein L is an optionally substituted heterocyclic, and A and B are each independently optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted monocyclic heteroaryl, optionally substituted naphthyl, or optionally substituted bicyclic heteroaryl.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein A and B are each independently optionally substituted phenyl and L is a pyrrolidinyl group substituted with a phenyl or heteroaryl, wherein said phenyl or heteroaryl may be optionally further substituted.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein L is absent, and A and B are each independently phenyl, monocyclic heteroaryl, naphthyl, or bicyclic heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein A and L are each absent, and B is a fused, optionally substituted polycyclic aryl or is a fused, optionally substituted heteroaryl.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein A and L are each absent, and group B is a fused polycyclic group selected from the following groups:

wherein each of the above shown cyclic groups is optionally substituted.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein G and A are taken together to form a fused tricyclic system selected from the following groups:

wherein each of the above shown heteroaryl groups is optionally substituted.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein W and B are taken together to form a fused tricyclic system selected from the following groups:

wherein each of the above shown groups is optionally substituted.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein L is absent, and A and B are taken together to form a linker selected from the following groups:

wherein each of the above shown cyclic groups is optionally substituted.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein groups A, L and B taken together to form a linker selected from the following groups:

wherein each of the above shown groups is optionally substituted.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein L is optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₄ alkenyl or optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl; and wherein one of A and B is absent, and the other of A and B is independently optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted monocyclic heteroaryl, optionally substituted naphthyl, or optionally substituted bicyclic heteroaryl.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formulae (Il-a ~ II-c), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;

wherein A, B, G, L, U, W, Y, L ⁷ , L ⁸ , L ⁹ , R ¹ , R ³ , R ^3a , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ^7a , and R ^7b are as previously defined. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formulae (Il-a ~ II-c), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein Y is C(O); R ⁶ is Ci-Cg alkyl optionally substituted with amino, halogen, hydroxy, protected amino or optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl).

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Form lae (Il-d ~ Il-g), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;

wherein A, B, D, E, L, U, W, Y, L ¹ , L ² , L ³ , L ⁴ , L ⁵ , L ⁶ , L ⁷ , L ⁸ , L ⁹ , X ¹ , X ² , X ³ , X ⁴ , R ¹ , R ^3a , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ^7a , and R ^7b are as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formulae (Il-d ~ II- f), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein -L ¹ -L ² -L ³ - together forms a linker illustrated by one of the following groups:

wherein R ^x and R ^y are as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (Il-g), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein -L ⁴ -L ⁵ -L ⁶ - together forms a linker illustrated b one of the followin rou s:

,wherein R ^x and R ^y are as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formulae (Ilia ~ Hid), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;

^R )¾0 ( ^{LL LC} ) R O ^R )¾O ( ^{LL LD} ) _R5 ' O

R ⁶ R ⁶

wherein U, L ⁷ , L ⁸ , L ⁹ , X ² , X ³ , X ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ^7a , and R ^7b are as previously defined; R ⁶ is Ci-C ₈ alkyl optionally substituted with amino, halogen, hydroxy, protected amino, or optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl); A and B are each independently phenyl, monocyclic heteroaryl, bicyclic aryl, or bicyclic heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; L is O, NH, C(O), C(0)NH, C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₄ alkenyl, and C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl, (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)-NH-(Ci-C ₄ alkyl) and heterocyclic, each optionally substituted; and -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ -R ⁶ - together forms a linker of from 8 to 18 bond lengths.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formulae (IVa ~ IVf), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;

wherein U, X ² , X ³ , X ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ , R ^7a , and R ^7b are as previously defined; A, B and D are each independently phenyl, monocyclic heteroaryl, bicyclic aryl, or bicyclic heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; L is O, NH, C(O), C(0)NH, Ci-C ₄ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₄ alkenyl, and C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl, (Ci-C ₄ alkyl)-NH-(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), and heterocyclic, each optionally substituted; - L ¹ -L ² -L ³ - together forms a linker of from 6 to 16 bond lengths, and each of -L ⁴ -L ⁵ -L ⁶ - and -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ - R ⁶ - independently form linkers of frorm 8 to 18 bond lengths.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formulae (Va ~ Vd), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;

wherein R ⁵ is hydrogen or optionally substituted Ci-C ₄ alkyl; R ⁶ is Ci-C ₈ alkyl optionally substituted with amino, halogen, hydroxy, protected amino, or optionally substituted 0(Ci- C ₄ alkyl); U is CH ₂ , CHF, CHMe, CF ₂ , C=CH ₂ , C=CF ₂ , or C(R ⁷ ) ₂ ; R ⁷ at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, hydroxy, optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), amino optionally substituted with one or two C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, and optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; alternatively two geminal R ⁷ groups are taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a spiro, optionally substituted 3- to 7-membered cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or heterocyclic ring; R ^7a is hydrogen; and R ^7b is hydrogen or methyl; or alternatively, R ^7a and U or U and R ^7b are taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a fused, optionally substituted cyclopropyl, and the other of R ^7b or R ^7a is hydrogen; or yet alternatively U, R ^7a and R ^7b are taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a bridged, optionally substituted C ₄ -C7 cycloalkyl; -L ¹ -L ² -L ³ - together form a linker of from 6 to 16 bond lengths, and the -L ⁴ -L ⁵ -L ⁶ - and -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ - R ⁶ - each independently form linkers of frorm 8 to 18 bond lengths.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of

Formulae (Ve ~ Vh), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;

wherein R ⁵ is hydrogen or optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; R ⁶ is Ci-Cg alkyl optionally substituted with amino, halogen, hydroxy, protected amino, or optionally substituted 0(Ci- C ₄ alkyl); U at each occurrence is independently CH ₂ , CHF, CHMe, CF ₂ , C=CH ₂ , C=CF ₂ , or C(R ⁷ ) ₂ ; R ⁷ at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, hydroxy, optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), amino optionally substituted with one or two C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, and optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; alternatively two geminal R ⁷ groups are taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a spiro, optionally substituted 3- to 7-membered cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or heterocyclic ring; R ^7a is hydrogen; and R ^7b is hydrogen or methyl; or alternatively, R ^7a and U or U and R ^7b are taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a fused, optionally substituted cyclopropyl, and the other of R ^7b or R ^7a is hydrogen; or yet alternatively U, R ^a and R are taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a bridged, optionally substituted C4-C7 cycloalkyl; -L ¹ -L ² -L ³ - together forms a linker of from 6 to 16 bond lengths, and-L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ - R ⁶ - together forms a linker of from 8 to 18 bond lengths. In another aspect, L is optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₄ alkenyl, or optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl; and -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ - R ⁶ - together forms a linker of from 8 to 16 bond lengths. In yet another aspect, L is optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₄ alkenyl, or optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl; and-L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ - R ⁶ - together forms a linker of from 8 to 14 bond lengths.

In one embodiment, the compounds of the invention include compounds of Formula (Via) and (VIb), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

e

O Me

(VIb)

wherein Y and R^ are as defined above in Formula (I). Preferably, Y is C(O) and R ₆ is 0(Ci-Cg alkyl), amino, Ci-Cg alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C ₃ -Cg cycloalkyl, or heterocyclic, each optionally substituted. In an additional embodiment, the compound has the Formula (Via) or (VIb), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Y is C(O) and R ⁶ is Ci-Cg alkyl optionally substituted with amino.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to com ounds of

Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein at each occurence is independently illustrated by one of the following groups:

wherein each of the above shown groups is optionally substituted.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

A is absent or independently a monocyclic or polycyclic group independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C3-C8 cycloalkenyl, each optionally substituted; preferably optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

B at each occurrence is independently a monocyclic or polycyclic group independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C3-C8 cycloalkenyl, each optionally substituted; preferably optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

W is an optionally substituted 5 -membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen or optionally substituted 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl, wherein the 5- membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl contains one or more nitrogen and is attached to the carbon atom to which R ^3a is also attached, and wherein the 6-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl is attached to group B, L or A and is aryl or heteroaryl; preferably optionally substituted imidazolyl, optionally substituted

benzimidazolyl or optionally substituted imidazopyridyl;

L is absent or selected from the group consisting of O, optionally substituted C ₁ -C4 alkyl, optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₄ alkenyl, and optionally substituted C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl;

G is absent or an optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen atoms or optionally substituted 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl, wherein the 5-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl contains one or more nitrogen atoms and is attached to group Q, and wherein the 6-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl is attached to one of groups A, L and B and is aryl or heteroaryl;

preferably optionally substituted imidazolyl, optionally substituted benzimidazolyl or optionally substituted imidazo ridyl;

Q is hydrogen, ;

Alternatively, G and Q can be taken together to form a group selected from:

E is independently an optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen atom; preferably optionally substituted imidazolyl;

X ¹ at each occurrence is independently N or C(R ^U ); preferably N;

X ² at each occurrence is independently N(R ¹ ), O or S; preferably NH;

X ³ and X ⁴ are each independently selected from N or C(R ¹² ); preferably CH; R ¹ at each occurence is independently hydrogen or optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl;

R ¹¹ at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, halogen or optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl;

R ¹² at each occurrence is indepenetly hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, or optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl);

L ¹ and L ³ at each occurence are each independently absent or an aliphatic group, wherein at least one of L ¹ and L ³ is present; preferably, a linear aliphatic group;

L ⁴ and L ⁶ at each occurence are each independently absent or an aliphatic group, wherein at least one of L ⁴ and L ⁶ is present; preferably, a linear aliphatic group; L ⁷ and L ⁹ at each occurence are each independently absent or an aliphatic group, wherein at least one of L ⁷ and L ⁹ is present; preferably, a linear aliphatic group;

L ² , L ⁵ , and L ⁸ at each occurence are each independently absent, or selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, and C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkenyl, each optionally substituted;

wherein -L ¹ -L ² -L ³ - together forms a linker; preferably a linker of from 6 to 16 bond lengths;

wherein -L ⁴ -L ⁵ -L ⁶ - together forms a linker; preferably a linker of from 8 to 18 bond lengths;

wherein -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ -R ⁶ - together forms a linker; preferably a linker of from 8 to 18 bond lengths;

Y at each occurence is independently C(O) or S(0) ₂ ; preferably C(O);

R ^3a , R ³ and R ⁴ at each occurrence are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted Ci-Cg alkyl, optionally substituted C ₂ -Cg alkenyl, and optionally substituted C ₃ -Cg cycloalkyl; preferably hydrogen or optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; alternatively, R ^3a and L ⁷ or R ³ and R ⁴ are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form optionally substituted C ₃ -Cg cycloalkyl or optionally substituted heterocyclic;

R ⁵ at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted Ci-Cg alkyl, or optionally substituted C ₃ -Cg cycloalkyl; preferably hydrogen or optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl;

3, R ⁴ and R ⁵ are taken together with the carbon and nitrogen atom to

which they are attached to form ■-!"' ;

U is absent or independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, S(O), S0 ₂ , NC(0)-(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), C(O), protected carbonyl, OCH ₂ , OCH ₂ CH ₂ , SCH ₂ , SCH ₂ CH ₂ , C(R ⁷ ) ₂ , C(R ⁷ ) ₂ C(R ⁷ ) ₂ , and C=C(R ² ) ₂ ; preferably, CH ₂ , C=N-OMe, or C=CH ₂ ;

R ² at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, halogen, optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R ⁷ at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, hydroxy, optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), S(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), amino optionally substituted with one or two C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; preferably hydrogen, halogen or hydroxy;

Alternatively two geminal R ⁷ groups are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a spiro, optionally substituted 3- to 7-membered cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or heterocyclic ring; preferably, spiro cyclopropyl;

R ^7a and R ^7b at each occurrence are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; preferably hydrogen or methyl;

Alternatively, CHR ^7a -U or CHR ^7b -U are taken together to form a group selected from CH=CH, fused and optionally substituted C ₃ -C8 cycloalkyl, fused and optionally substituted aryl, or fused and optionally substituted heterocyclic; preferably, fused and optionally substituted cyclopropyl;

Yet alternatively, U, R ^7a , and R ^7b are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a bridged, optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered ring including cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and heterocyclic; preferably bridged cyclopentyl; and

R ⁶ at each occurence is independently selected from the group consisting of 0(Ci- Cg alkyl), amino, Ci-Cg alkyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl, C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkenyl, heterocyclic, aryl, and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; preferably optionally substituted Ci-Cs alkyl; more preferably Ci-Cg alkyl optionally substituted with amino, halogen, hydroxy, protected amino or optionally substituted 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl).

Representative compounds of the present invention are those selected from compounds 1-354 compiled in Tables 1-12:

Table 1 : Compounds 1-219.

2Me

-229. -239.

-249.

Table 5: Compounds 250-264.

-282.

-303.

-333.

Table 11: Compounds 344-346. -354.

It will be appreciated that the description of the present invention herein should be construed in congruity with the laws and principals of chemical bonding. In some instances it may be necessary to remove a hydrogen atom in order to accommodate a substitutent at any given location.

It is intended that the definition of any substituent or variable (e.g., R ¹ , R ⁷ , Y, etc.) at a particular location in a molecule be independent of its definitions elsewhere in that molecule. For example, when U is C(R ⁷ ) ₂ , each of the two R ⁷ groups may be the same or different.

It will be yet appreciated that the compounds of the present invention may contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms and may exist in racemic, diastereoisomeric, and optically active forms. It will still be appreciated that certain compounds of the present invention may exist in different tautomeric forms. All tautomers are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that the compounds encompassed by the present invention are those that are suitably stable for use as pharmaceutical agent.

It will be further appreciated that reference herein to therapy and/or treatment includes, but is not limited to, prevention, retardation, prophylaxis, therapy and/or cure of the disease. It will further be appreciated that references herein to treatment or prophylaxis of HCV infection includes treatment or prophylaxis of HCV-associated disease such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

A further embodiment of the present invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising any single compound or a combination of two or more compounds delineated herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

Yet a further embodiment of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising any single compound or a combination of two or more compounds delineated herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with one or more agents known in the art, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

It will be further appreciated that compounds of the present invention can be administered as the sole active pharmaceutical agent, or used in combination with one or more agents to treat or prevent hepatitis C infections or the symptoms associated with HCV infection. Other agents to be administered in combination with a compound or combination of compounds of the present invention include therapies for disease caused by HCV infection that suppresses HCV viral replication by direct or indirect mechanisms. These agents include, but are not limited to, host immune modulators (for example, interferon-alpha, pegylated interferon-alpha, consensus interferon, interferon-beta, interferon-gamma, CpG oligonucleo-tides and the like); antiviral compounds that inhibit host cellular functions such as inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (for example, ribavirin and the like); cytokines that modulate immune function (for example, interleukin 2, interleukin 6, and interleukin 12); a compound that enhances the development of type 1 helper T cell response; interfering R A; anti-sense R A; vaccines comprising HCV antigens or antigen adjuvant combinations directed against HCV; agents that interact with host cellular components to block viral protein synthesis by inhibiting the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) initiated translation step of HCV viral replication or to block viral particle maturation and release with agents targeted toward the viroporin family of membrane proteins such as, for example, HCV P7 and the like; and any agent or combination of agents that inhibit the replication of HCV by targeting other proteins of the viral genome involved in the viral replication and/or interfere with the function of other viral targets, such as inhibitors of NS3/NS4A protease, NS3 helicase, NS5B polymerase, NS4A protein and NS5 A protein.

According to yet another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may further comprise other inhibitor(s) of targets in the HCV life cycle, including, but not limited to, helicase, polymerase, metalloprotease, NS4A protein, NS5A protein, and internal ribosome entry site (IRES).

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for treating or preventing an infection caused by an R A-containing virus comprising co- administering to a patient in need of such treatment one or more agents selected from the group consisting of a host immune modulator and a second or more antiviral agents, or a combination thereof, with a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination of compounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Examples of the host immune modulator include, but are not limited to, interferon-alpha, pegylated-interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, interferon-gamrna, a cytokine, a vaccine, and a vaccine comprising an antigen and an adjuvant, and said second antiviral agent inhibits replication of HCV either by inhibiting host cellular functions associated with viral replication or by targeting proteins of the viral genome. A non- limiting example of the RNA-containing virus is hepatitis C virus (HCV).

A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing virus comprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment an agent or combination of agents that treat or alleviate symptoms of HCV infection including cirrhosis and inflammation of the liver, with a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination of compounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A non-limiting example of the RNA-containing virus is hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing virus comprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment one or more agents that treat patients for disease caused by hepatitis B (HBV) infection, with a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or a combination of compounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. An agent that treats patients for disease caused by hepatitis B (HBV) infection may be for example, but not limited thereto, L-deoxythymidine, adefovir, lamivudine or tenfovir, or any combination thereof. A non-limiting example of the RNA-containing virus is hepatitis C virus (HCV).

A further embodiment of the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing virus comprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment one or more agents that treat patients for disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, with a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or a combination of compounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The agent that treats patients for disease caused by human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection may include, but is not limited thereto, ritonavir, lopinavir, indinavir, nelfmavir, saquinavir, amprenavir, atazanavir, tipranavir, TMC-114, fosamprenavir, zidovudine, lamivudine, didanosine, stavudine, tenofovir, zalcitabine, abacavir, efavirenz, nevirapine, delavirdine, TMC-125, L-870812, S-1360, enfuvirtide (T-20) or T-1249, or any combination thereof. A non-limiting example of the R A-containing virus is hepatitis C virus (HCV).

It can occur that a patient may be co-infected with hepatitis C virus and one or more other viruses, including, but not limited to, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Thus, also contemplated herein is combination therapy to treat such co-infections by co-administering a compound according to the present invention with at least one of an HIV inhibitor, an HAV inhibitor and an HBV inhibitor.

In addition, the present invention provides the use of a compound or a combination of compounds of the invention, or a therapeutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more agents selected from the group consisting of a host immune modulator and one or more additional antiviral agents, or a combination thereof, to prepare a medicament for the treatment of an infection caused by an RNA-containing virus in a patient, particularly hepatitis C virus. Non- limiting examples of the host immune modulators include, but are not limited to, interferon-alpha, pegylated-interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, interferon- gamma, a cytokine, a vaccine, and a vaccine comprising an antigen and an adjuvant. Preferably said additional antiviral agent inhibits replication of HCV either by inhibiting host cellular functions associated with viral replication or by targeting proteins of the viral genome.

When used in the above or other treatments, combination of compound or compounds of the present invention, together with one or more agents as defined herein above, can be employed in pure form or, where such forms exist, or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Alternatively, such combination of therapeutic agents can be administered as a pharmaceutical composition containing a therapeutically effective amount of the compound or combination of compounds of interest, or their

pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with one or more agents as defined hereinabove, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such pharmaceutical compositions can be used for inhibiting the replication of an RNA-containing virus, particularly Hepatitis C virus (HCV), by contacting said virus with said pharmaceutical composition. In addition, such compositions are useful for the treatment or prevention of an infection caused by an R A-containing virus, particularly Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Hence, a still further embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing virus, particularly a hepatitis C virus (HCV), comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound or combination of compounds of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more agents as defined hereinabove, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

When administered as a combination, the therapeutic agents can be formulated as separate compositions which are given at the same time or within a predetermined period of time, or the therapeutic agents can be given as a single unit dosage form.

Antiviral agents contemplated for use in such combination therapy include agents (compounds or biologicals) that are effective to inhibit the formation and/or replication of a virus in a mammal, including, but not limited to, agents that interfere with either host or viral mechanisms necessary for the formation and/or replication of a virus in a mammal. Such agents can be selected from another anti-HCV agent; an HIV inhibitor; an HAV inhibitor; and an HBV inhibitor.

Other agents that can be administered in combination with a compound of the present invention include a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase inhibitor (also referred to herein as a CYP inhibitor), which is expected to inhibit metabolism of the compounds of the invention. Therefore, the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase inhibitor would be in an amount effective to inhibit metabolism of the compounds of this invention. Accordingly, the CYP inhibitor is administered in an amount sufficient to improve one or more pharmacokinetic (PK) feautures including, but not limited to, plasma concentration, bioavailiablity, area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC), elimination half- life, and systemic clearance, of a compound of the invention when one or more of its PK feautures of said compound is improved in comparison to that in the absence of the CYP inhibitor.

In one embodiment, the invention provides methods for improving the pharmacokinetics of compounds of the invention. The advantages of improving the

pharmacokinetics of drugs are recognized in the art (see, for example, U.S. Patent App. Publication Nos. 2004/0091527, 2004/0152625 and US 2004/0091527). Accordingly, one embodiment of this invention provides a method comprising administering an inhibitor of CYP3A4 and a compound of the invention. Another embodiment of this invention provides a method comprising administering a compound of the invention and an inhibitor of isozyme 3A4 ("CYP3A4"), isozyme 2C19 ("CYP2C19"), isozyme 2D6 ("CYP2D6"), isozyme 1A2 ("CYP1A2"), isozyme 2C9 ("CYP2C9"), or isozyme 2E1 ("CYP2E1"). In a preferred embodiment, the CYP inhibitor preferably inhibits CYP3A4. Any CYP inhibitor that improves the pharmacokinetics of the relevant compound of the invention may be used in a method of this invention. These CYP inhibitors include, but are not limited to, ritonavir (see, for example, WO 94/14436), ketoconazole, troleandomycin, 4-methyl pyrazole, cyclosporin, clomethiazole, cimetidine, itraconazole, fluconazole, miconazole, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, nefazodone, sertraline, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, fosamprenavir, saquinavir, lopinavir, delavirdine, ditiazem, erythromycin, VX-944, and VX-497. Preferred CYP inhibitors include, for example, ritonavir, ketoconazole, troleandomycin, 4-methyl pyrazole, cyclosporin, and clomethiazole.

It will be understood that the administration of the combination of the invention by means of a single patient pack, or patient packs of each formulation, containing within a package insert instructing the patient to the correct use of the invention is a desirable additional feature of this invention.

According to a further aspect of the invention is a pack comprising at least a compound of the invention and a CYP inhibitor and an information insert containing directions on the use of the combination of the invention. In an alternative embodiment of this invention, the pack further comprises one or more of additional agent as described herein. The additional agent or agents may be provided in the same pack or in separate packs.

Another aspect of this involves a packaged kit for a patient to use in the treatment of HCV infection or in the prevention of HCV infection, comprising: a single or a plurality of pharmaceutical formulation of each pharmaceutical component; a container housing the pharmaceutical formulation(s) during storage and prior to administration; and instructions for carrying out drug administration in a manner effective to treat or prevent HCV infection.

Accordingly, this invention provides kits for the simultaneous or sequential administration of a compound of the invention and a CYP inhibitor (and optionally an additional agent) or derivatives thereof are prepared in a conventional manner. Typically, such a kit will comprise, e. g. a composition of a compound of the invention and optionally the additional agent (s) in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (and in one or in a plurality of pharmaceutical formulations) and written instructions for the simultaneous or sequential administration.

In another embodiment, a packaged kit is provided that contains one or more dosage forms for self administration; a container means, preferably sealed, for housing the dosage forms during storage and prior to use; and instructions for a patient to carry out drug administration. The instructions will typically be written instructions on a package insert, a label, and/or on other components of the kit, and the dosage form or forms are as described herein. Each dosage form may be individually housed, as in a sheet of a metal foil- plastic laminate with each dosage form isolated from the others in individual cells or bubbles, or the dosage forms may be housed in a single container, as in a plastic bottle. The present kits will also typically include means for packaging the individual kit components, i. e., the dosage forms, the container means, and the written instructions for use. Such packaging means may take the form of a cardboard or paper box, a plastic or foil pouch, etc. DEFINITIONS

Listed below are definitions of various terms used to describe this invention. These definitions apply to the terms as they are used throughout this specification and claims, unless otherwise limited in specific instances, either individually or as part of a larger group.

The term "aryl," as used herein, refers to a mono- or polycyclic carbocyclic ring system comprising at least one aromatic ring, including, but not limited to, phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl, and idenyl. A polycyclic aryl is a polycyclic ring system that comprises at least one aromatic ring. Polycyclic aryls can comprise fused rings, covalently attached rings or a combination thereof.

The term "heteroaryl," as used herein, refers to a mono- or polycyclic aromatic radical having one or more ring atom selected from S, O and N; and the remaining ring atoms are carbon, wherein any N or S contained within the ring may be optionally oxidized. Heteroaryl includes, but is not limited to, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiophenyl, furanyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzooxazolyl, and quinoxalinyl. A polycyclic heteroaryl can comprise fused rings, covalently attached rings or a combination thereof. In accordance with the invention, aromatic groups can be substituted or

unsubstituted.

The term "bicyclic aryl" or "bicyclic heteroaryl" refers to a ring system consisting of two rings wherein at least one ring is aromatic; and the two rings can be fused or covalently attached.

The term "tricyclic aryl" refers to a ring system consisting of three rings wherein at least one ring is aromatic; and the three rings can be fused or covalently attached.

The term "tricyclic heteroaryl" refers to a ring system consisting of three rings wherein at least one ring is aromatic having one or more ring atom selected from S, O and N; and the remaining ring atoms are carbon, wherein any N or S contained within the ring may be optionally oxidized; and the three rings can be fused or covalently attached.

The terms "C _r C ₄ alkyl," "Ci-C ₆ alkyl," "Ci-C ₈ alkyl," "C ₂ -C ₄ alkyl," or "C ₃ -C ₆ alkyl," as used herein, refer to saturated, straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon radicals containing between one and four, one and six, one and eight carbon atoms, or the like, respectively. Examples of Ci-C ₈ alkyl radicals include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, heptyl and octyl radicals.

The terms "C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl," "C ₂ -C ₄ alkenyl," "C ₃ -C ₄ alkenyl," or "C ₃ -C ₆ alkenyl," as used herein, refer to straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon radicals containing from two to eight, or two to four carbon atoms, or the like, having at least one carbon-carbon double bond by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, for example, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, l-methyl-2-buten-l-yl, heptenyl, octenyl, and the like.

The terms "C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl," "C ₂ -C ₄ alkynyl," "C ₃ -C ₄ alkynyl," or "C ₃ -C ₆ alkynyl," as used herein, refer to straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon radicals containing from two to eight, or two to four carbon atoms, or the like, having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Representative alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, for example, ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 1-butynyl, heptynyl, octynyl, and the like.

The term "C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl", "C ₃ -C ₇ cycloalkyl", or "C ₄ -C ₇ cycloalkyl," as used herein, refers to a monocyclic or polycyclic saturated carbocyclic ring compound, and the carbon atoms may be optionally oxo-substituted. Examples of C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkyl include, but not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl and cyclooctyl; and examples of C ₄ -C ₇ cycloalkyl include, but not limited to, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo [2.2.1] heptyl, and the like. The term "C3-C8 cycloalkenyl","C3-C7 cycloalkenyl", or "C4-C7 cycloalkenyl" as used herein, refers to monocyclic or polycyclic carbocyclic ring compound having at least one carbon-carbon double bond, and the carbon atoms may be optionally oxo-substituted. Examples of C ₃ -C ₈ cycloalkenyl include, but not limited to, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, and the like; and examples of C4-C7 cycloalkenyl include, but not limited to, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl,

cycloheptenyl, and the like.

It is understood that any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic and cycloalkenyl moiety described herein can also be an aliphatic group or an alicyclic group.

An "aliphatic" group is a non-aromatic moiety comprised of any combination of carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, oxygen, nitrogen or other atoms, and optionally contains one or more units of unsaturation, e.g., double and/or triple bonds. Examples of aliphatic groups are functional groups, such as, O, OH, NH, NH ₂ , C(O), S(0) ₂ , C(0)0, C(0)NH, OC(0)0, OC(0)NH, OC(0)NH ₂ , S(0) ₂ NH, S(0) ₂ NH ₂ ,

NHC(0)NH ₂ , NHC(0)C(0)NH, NHS(0) ₂ NH, NHS(0) ₂ NH ₂ , C(0)NHS(0) _2,

C(0)NHS(0) ₂ NH or C(0)NHS(0) ₂ NH ₂ , and the like, groups comprising one or more functional groups, non-aromatic hydrocarbons (optionally substituted), and groups wherein one or more carbons of a non-aromatic hydrocarbon (optionally substituted) is replaced by a functional group. Carbon atoms of an aliphatic group can be optionally oxo- substituted. An aliphatic group may be straight chained, branched, cyclic, or a

combination thereof and preferably contains between about 1 and about 24 carbon atoms, more typically between about 1 and about 12 carbon atoms. In addition to aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, as used herein, aliphatic groups expressly include, for example, alkoxyalkyls, polyalkoxyalkyls, such as polyalkylene glycols, polyamines, and

polyimines, for example. Aliphatic groups may be optionally substituted. A linear aliphatic group is a non-cyclic aliphatic group. It is to be understood that when an aliphatic group or a linear aliphatic group is said to "contain" or "include" or "comprise" one or more specified functional groups, the aliphatic group can be selected from one or more of the specified functional groups or a combination thereof, or a group wherein one or more carbons of a non-aromatic hydrocarbon (optionally substituted) is replaced by a specified functional group. In some examples, the linear aliphatic group can be represented by the formula M-V-M', where M and M' are each independently absent or an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, each optionally substituted, and V is a functional group. In some examples, V is selected from the group consisting of C(O), S(0) ₂ , C(0)0, C(0)N(R ⁿ ), OC(0)0, OC(0)N(R ⁿ ), S(0) ₂ N(R ⁿ ), N(R ⁿ )C(0)N(R ⁿ ), N(R ⁿ )C(0)C(0)N(R ⁿ ), N(R ⁿ )S(0) ₂ N(R ⁿ ), C(0)N(R ⁿ )S(0) ₂ or C(0)N(R ⁿ )S(0) ₂ N(R ⁿ ); wherein R ¹¹ is as previously defined. In another aspect of the invention, an exemplary linear aliphatic group is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, each optionally substituted, which is interrupted or terminated by a functional group such as described herein.

The term "alicyclic," as used herein, denotes a monovalent group derived from a monocyclic or bicyclic saturated carbocyclic ring compound by the removal of a single hydrogen atom, and the carbon atoms may be optionally oxo-substituted. Examples include, but not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo

[2.2.1] heptyl, and bicyclo [2.2.2] octyl. Such alicyclic groups may be further substituted.

The terms "heterocyclic" or "heterocycloalkyl" can be used interchangeably and referred to a non-aromatic ring or a bi- or tri-cyclic group fused system, where (i) each ring system contains at least one heteroatom independently selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, (ii) each ring system can be saturated or unsaturated (iii) the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms may optionally be oxidized, (iv) the nitrogen heteroatom may optionally be quaternized, (v) any of the above rings may be fused to an aromatic ring, and (vi) the remaining ring atoms are carbon atoms which may be optionally oxo-substituted. Representative heterocycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, 1,3-dioxolane, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, quinoxalinyl, pyridazinonyl, and tetrahydrofuryl. Such heterocyclic groups may be further substituted. Heteroaryl or heterocyclic groups can be C-attached or N-attached (where possible).

It is understood that any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alicyclic, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, aliphatic moiety or the like, described herein can also be a divalent or multivalent group when used as a linkage to connect two or more groups or substituents, which can be at the same or different atom(s).

The term "substituted" refers to substitution by independent replacement of one, two, or three or more of the hydrogen atoms with substituents including, but not limited to, -F, -CI, -Br, -I, -OH, protected hydroxy, -N0 ₂ , -N ₃ , -CN, -NH ₂ , protected amino, oxo, thioxo, -NH-Ci-Ci2-alkyl, -NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -NH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ - cycloalkyl, -NH-aryl, -NH-heteroaryl, -NH-heterocycloalkyl, -dialkylamino, -diarylamino, -diheteroarylamino, -0-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -0-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -0-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -0-C ₃ -Ci ₂ - cycloalkyl, -O-aryl, -O-heteroaryl, -O-heterocycloalkyl, -C(0)-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -C(0)-C ₂ -C ₈ - alkenyl, -C(0)-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -C(0)-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -C(0)-aryl, -C(0)-heteroaryl, - C(0)-heterocycloalkyl, -CONH ₂ , -CONH-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -CONH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -CONH- C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -CONH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -CONH-aryl, -CONH-heteroaryl, -CONH- heterocycloalkyl, -OC0 ₂ -Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -OC0 ₂ -C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -OC0 ₂ -C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, - OC0 ₂ -C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -OC0 ₂ -aryl, -OC0 ₂ -heteroaryl, -OC0 ₂ -heterocycloalkyl, -C0 ₂ - C ₁ -C ₁₂ alkyl, -C0 ₂ -C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, -C0 ₂ -C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl, C0 ₂ -C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -C0 ₂ - aryl, C0 ₂ -heteroaryl, C0 ₂ -heterocyloalkyl, -OCONH ₂ , -OCONH-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -OCONH- C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -OCONH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -OCONH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -OCONH-aryl, - OCONH-heteroaryl, -OCONH- heterocyclo-alkyl, -NHC(0)H, -NHC(0)-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, - NHC(0)-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -NHC(0)-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -NHC(0)-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -NHC(O)- aryl, -NHC(0)-heteroaryl, -NHC(0)-heterocyclo-alkyl, -NHC0 ₂ -Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -NHC0 ₂ - C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -NHC0 ₂ - C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -NHC0 ₂ -C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -NHC0 ₂ -aryl, - NHC0 ₂ -heteroaryl, -NHC0 ₂ - heterocycloalkyl, -NHC(0)NH ₂ , -NHC(0)NH-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -NHC(0)NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -NHC(0)NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -NHC(0)NH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ - cycloalkyl, -NHC(0)NH-aryl, -NHC(0)NH-heteroaryl, -NHC(0)NH-heterocycloalkyl, NHC(S)NH ₂ , -NHC(S)NH-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -NHC(S)NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -NHC(S)NH-C ₂ -C ₈ - alkynyl, -NHC(S)NH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -NHC(S)NH-aryl, -NHC(S)NH-heteroaryl, - NHC(S)NH-heterocycloalkyl, -NHC(NH)NH ₂ , -NHC(NH)NH-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, - NHC(NH)NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -NHC(NH)NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -NHC(NH)NH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ - cycloalkyl, -NHC(NH)NH-aryl, -NHC(NH)NH-heteroaryl, -NHC(NH)NH- heterocycloalkyl, -NHC(NH)-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -NHC(NH)-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -NHC(NH)-C ₂ -C ₈ - alkynyl, -NHC(NH)-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -NHC(NH)-aryl, -NHC(NH)-heteroaryl, - NHC(NH)-heterocycloalkyl, -C(NH)NH-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -C(NH)NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, - C(NH)NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -C(NH)NH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -C(NH)NH-aryl, -C(NH)NH- heteroaryl, -C(NH)NH-heterocycloalkyl, -S(0)-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -S(0)-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, - S(O)- C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -S(0)-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -S(0)-aryl, -S(0)-heteroaryl, -S(O)- heterocycloalkyl, -S0 ₂ NH ₂ , -S0 ₂ NH-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -S0 ₂ NH-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -S0 ₂ NH- C ₂ - C ₈ -alkynyl, -S0 ₂ NH-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -S0 ₂ NH-aryl, -S0 ₂ NH-heteroaryl, -S0 ₂ NH- heterocycloalkyl, -NHS0 ₂ -Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -NHS0 ₂ -C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, - NHS0 ₂ -C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -NHS0 ₂ -C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -NHS0 ₂ -aryl, -NHS0 ₂ -heteroaryl, -NHS0 ₂ -heterocycloalkyl, -CH ₂ NH ₂ , -CH ₂ S0 ₂ CH ₃ , -aryl, -arylalkyl, -heteroaryl, -heteroarylalkyl, -heterocycloalkyl, -C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, polyalkoxyalkyl, polyalkoxy, -methoxymethoxy, -methoxyethoxy, - SH, -S-Ci-Ci ₂ -alkyl, -S-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkenyl, -S-C ₂ -C ₈ -alkynyl, -S-C ₃ -Ci ₂ -cycloalkyl, -S-aryl, - S-heteroaryl, -S-heterocycloalkyl, or methylthio-methyl. It is understood that the aryls, heteroaryls, alkyls, and the like can be further substituted.

The term "halogen," as used herein, refers to an atom selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

The term "hydrogen" includes hydrogen and deuterium. In addition, the recitation of an atom includes other isotopes of that atom so long as the resulting compound is pharmaceutically acceptable.

As described above, each of -L ¹ -L ² -L ³ - taken together, -L ⁴ -L ⁵ -L ⁶ - taken together and -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ - R ⁶ - taken together is a linker group of preferably from 6 to 16, 8 to 18 and 8 to 18 bond lengths, respectively. The preferred range of bond lengths in the linker group -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ - R ⁶ - (such as 8 to 18 or the like) is inclusive of the bonds between the linker group and Y and between the linker group and the carbon atom (to which carbon atom, the linker group, group W and the R ^3a are attached). Similarly, the preferred range of bond lengths in the linker group -L ⁴ -L ⁵ -L ⁶ - (such as 8 to 18, 8 to 14, or the like) is inclusive of the bonds between the linker group and Y and between the linker group and the atom of a ring in group B (to which atom, the linker group is attached). In addition, the preferred range of bond lengths in the linker group -L ¹ -L ² -L ³ - (such as 6 to 16 bond lengths) is inclusive of the bonds between the the linker group and Y and between the linker group and the carbon of 6-membered or 5-membered ring of group G. It is to be understood that when a linker includes a cyclic group, the preferred bond length is the shortest possible distance, as measured in bond lengths. For example, when the linker group -L ⁷ -L ⁸ -L ⁹ -R ⁶ - includes a cyclic group, the number of bond lengths is measured between Y and the carbon atom to which the linker group, group W and R ^3a are attached. Similarly, when the linker group -L ⁴ -L ⁵ -L ⁶ - includes a cyclic group, the number of bond lengths is measured between Y and the atom of the ring of group D. When the linker group -I^-L ² - L ³ - includes a cyclic group, the number of bond lengths is measured between Y and the carbon of the 6-membered or 5-membered ring of group G.

The term "hydroxy activating group", as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to activate a hydroxyl group so that it will depart during synthetic procedures such as in a substitution or an elimination reaction. Examples of hydroxyl activating group include, but not limited to, mesylate, tosylate, triflate, p- nitrobenzoate, phosphonate and the like. The term "activated hydroxy", as used herein, refers to a hydroxy group activated with a hydroxyl activating group, as defined above, including mesylate, tosylate, triflate, p-nitrobenzoate, phosphonate groups, for example.

The term "hydroxy protecting group," as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to protect a hydroxyl group against undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After said synthetic procedure(s), the hydroxy protecting group as described herein may be selectively removed. Hydroxy protecting groups as known in the art are described generally in T.H. Greene and P.G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1999).

Examples of hydroxyl protecting groups include benzyloxycarbonyl, 4- methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, tert-butoxy-carbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl,

diphenylmethoxycarbonyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl, acetyl, formyl, chloroacetyl, trifluoroacetyl, methoxyacetyl, phenoxyacetyl, benzoyl, methyl, t- butyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, 2-trimethylsilyl ethyl, allyl, benzyl, triphenyl-methyl (trityl), methoxymethyl, methylthiomethyl, benzyloxymethyl, 2-(trimethylsilyl)-ethoxymethyl, methanesulfonyl, trimethylsilyl, triisopropylsilyl, and the like.

The term "protected hydroxy," as used herein, refers to a hydroxy group protected with a hydroxy protecting group, as defined above, including benzoyl, acetyl,

trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, methoxymethyl groups, for example.

The term "hydroxy prodrug group", as used herein, refers to a promoiety group which is known in the art to change the physicochemical, and hence the biological properties of a parent drug in a transient manner by covering or masking the hydroxy group. After said synthetic procedure(s), the hydroxy prodrug group as described herein must be capable of reverting back to hydroxy group in vivo. Hydroxy prodrug groups as known in the art are described generally in Kenneth B. Sloan, Prodrugs, Topical and Ocular Drug Delivery, (Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences; Volume 53), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York (1992).

The term "amino protecting group," as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to protect an amino group against undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After said synthetic procedure(s) the amino protecting group as described herein may be selectively removed. Amino protecting groups as known in the art are described generally in T.H. Greene and P.G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1999). Examples of amino protecting groups include, but are not limited to, methoxycarbonyl, t- butoxycarbonyl, 9-fluorenyl-methoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, and the like.

The term "protected amino," as used herein, refers to an amino group protected with an amino protecting group as defined above.

The term "leaving group" means a functional group or atom which can be displaced by another functional group or atom in a substitution reaction, such as a nucleophilic substitution reaction. By way of example, representative leaving groups include chloro, bromo and iodo groups; sulfonic ester groups, such as mesylate, tosylate, brosylate, nosylate and the like; and acyloxy groups, such as acetoxy, trifluoroacetoxy and the like.

The term "aprotic solvent," as used herein, refers to a solvent that is relatively inert to proton activity, i.e., not acting as a proton-donor. Examples include, but are not limited to, hydrocarbons, such as hexane and toluene, for example, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as, for example, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, chloroform, and the like, heterocyclic compounds, such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran and N- methylpyrrolidinone, and ethers such as diethyl ether, bis-methoxymethyl ether. Such compounds are well known to those skilled in the art, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that individual solvents or mixtures thereof may be preferred for specific compounds and reaction conditions, depending upon such factors as the solubility of reagents, reactivity of reagents and preferred temperature ranges, for example. Further discussions of aprotic solvents may be found in organic chemistry textbooks or in specialized monographs, for example: Organic Solvents Physical Properties and Methods of Purification, 4th ed., edited by John A. Riddick et ah, Vol. II, in the Techniques of Chemistry Series. John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1986.

The term "protic solvent' as used herein, refers to a solvent that tends to provide protons, such as an alcohol, for example, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, t-butanol, and the like. Such solvents are well known to those skilled in the art, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that individual solvents or mixtures thereof may be preferred for specific compounds and reaction conditions, depending upon such factors as the solubility of reagents, reactivity of reagents and preferred temperature ranges, for example. Further discussions of protogenic solvents may be found in organic chemistry textbooks or in specialized monographs, for example: Organic Solvents Physical Properties and Methods of Purification, 4th ed., edited by John A. Riddick et ah, Vol. II, in the Techniques of Chemistry Series, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1986. Combinations of substituents and variables envisioned by this invention are only those that result in the formation of stable compounds. The term "stable", as used herein, refers to compounds which possess stability sufficient to allow manufacture and which maintains the integrity of the compound for a sufficient period of time to be useful for the purposes detailed herein (e.g., therapeutic or prophylactic administration to a subject).

The synthesized compounds can be separated from a reaction mixture and further purified by a method such as column chromatography, high pressure liquid

chromatography, or recrystallization. As can be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further methods of synthesizing the compounds of the Formula (I) described herein will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, the various synthetic steps may be performed in an alternate sequence or order to give the desired compounds. Synthetic chemistry transformations and protecting group methodologies (protection and

deprotection) useful in synthesizing the compounds described herein are known in the art and include, for example, those such as described in R. Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations, 2 ^nd Ed. Wiley-VCH (1999); T.W. Greene and P.G.M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd Ed., John Wiley and Sons (1999); L. Fieser and M. Fieser, Fieser and Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1994); and L. Paquette, ed., Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1995), and subsequent editions thereof.

The term "subject" as used herein refers to an animal. Preferably, the animal is a mammal. More preferably, the mammal is a human. A subject also refers to, for example, dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, guinea pigs, fish, birds and the like.

The compounds of this invention may be modified by appending appropriate functionalities to enhance selective biological properties. Such modifications are known in the art and may include those which increase biological penetration into a given biological system (e.g., blood, lymphatic system, central nervous system), increase oral availability, increase solubility to allow administration by injection, alter metabolism and alter rate of excretion.

The compounds described herein contain one or more asymmetric centers and thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomeric forms that may be defined, in terms of absolute stereochemistry, as (R)- or (S)-, or as (D)- or (L)- for amino acids. The present invention is meant to include all such possible isomers, as well as their racemic and optically pure forms. Optical isomers may be prepared from their respective optically active precursors by the procedures described above, or by resolving the racemic mixtures. The resolution can be carried out in the presence of a resolving agent, by chromatography or by repeated crystallization or by some combination of these techniques which are known to those skilled in the art. Further details regarding resolutions can be found in Jacques, et al., Enantiomers, Racemates, and Resolutions (John Wiley & Sons, 1981). When the compounds described herein contain olefmic double bonds, other unsaturation, or other centers of geometric asymmetry, and unless specified otherwise, it is intended that the compounds include both E and Z geometric isomers or cis- and trans- isomers. Likewise, all tautomeric forms are also intended to be included. Tautomers may be in cyclic or acyclic. The configuration of any carbon-carbon double bond appearing herein is selected for convenience only and is not intended to designate a particular configuration unless the text so states; thus a carbon-carbon double bond or carbon- heteroatom double bond depicted arbitrarily herein as trans may be cis, trans, or a mixture of the two in any proportion.

Certain compounds of the present invention may also exist in different stable conformational forms which may be separable. Torsional asymmetry due to restricted rotation about an asymmetric single bond, for example because of steric hindrance or ring strain, may permit separation of different conformers. The present invention includes each conformational isomer of these compounds and mixtures thereof.

As used herein, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable salt" refers to those salts which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like, and are commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known in the art. For example, S. M. Berge, et al. describes pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 66: 1-19 (1977). The salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention, or separately by reacting the free base function with a suitable organic acid. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, nontoxic acid addition salts are salts of an amino group formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and perchloric acid or with organic acids such as acetic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, succinic acid or malonic acid or by using other methods used in the art such as ion exchange. Other pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, adipate, alginate, ascorbate, aspartate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bisulfate, borate, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, citrate, cyclopentane-propionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, formate, fumarate, glucoheptonate, glycerophosphate, gluconate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxy-ethanesulfonate, lactobionate, lactate, laurate, lauryl sulfate, malate, maleate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oleate, oxalate, palmitate, pamoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, stearate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, thiocyanate, /?-toluenesulfonate, undecanoate, valerate salts, and the like. Representative alkali or alkaline earth metal salts include sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the like. Further pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, when appropriate, nontoxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations formed using counterions such as halide, hydroxide, carboxylate, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, sulfonate and aryl sulfonate.

As used herein, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable ester" refers to esters which hydrolyze in vivo and include those that break down readily in the human body to leave the parent compound or a salt thereof. Suitable ester groups include, for example, those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable aliphatic carboxylic acids, particularly alkanoic, alkenoic, cycloalkanoic and alkanedioic acids, in which each alkyl or alkenyl moiety advantageously has not more than 6 carbon atoms. Examples of particular esters include, but are not limited to, formates, acetates, propionates, butyrates, acrylates and

ethylsuccinates.

The term "pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs" as used herein refers to those prodrugs of the compounds of the present invention which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals with undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response, and the like, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio, and effective for their intended use, as well as the

zwitterionic forms, where possible, of the compounds of the present invention. "Prodrug", as used herein means a compound which is convertible in vivo by metabolic means (e.g. by hydrolysis) to a compound of the invention. Various forms of prodrugs are known in the art, for example, as discussed in Bundgaard, (ed.), Design of Prodrugs, Elsevier (1985); Widder, et al. (ed.), Methods in Enzymology, vol. 4, Academic Press (1985); Krogsgaard-Larsen, et al. (ed.), "Design and Application of Prodrugs, Textbook of Drug Design and Development, Chapter 5, 113-191 (1991); Bundgaard, et al., Journal of Drug Deliver Reviews, 8: 1-38(1992); Bundgaard, J. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 77:285 et seq. (1988); Higuchi and Stella (eds.) Prodrugs as Novel Drug Delivery Systems, American Chemical Society (1975); and Bernard Testa & Joachim Mayer, "Hydrolysis In Drug And Prodrug Metabolism: Chemistry, Biochemistry And Enzymology," John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. (2002).

The present invention also relates to solvates of the compounds of Formula (I), for example hydrates.

This invention also encompasses pharmaceutical compositions containing, and methods of treating viral infections through administering, pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs of compounds of the invention. For example, compounds of the invention having free amino, amido, hydroxy or carboxylic groups can be converted into prodrugs. Prodrugs include compounds wherein an amino acid residue, or a polypeptide chain of two or more (e.g., two, three or four) amino acid residues is covalently joined through an amide or ester bond to a free amino, hydroxy or carboxylic acid group of compounds of the invention. The amino acid residues include but are not limited to the 20 naturally occurring amino acids commonly designated by three letter symbols and also includes 4- hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, demosine, isodemosine, 3-methylhistidine, norvalin, beta- alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, citrulline, homocysteine, homoserine, ornithine and methionine sulfone. Additional types of prodrugs are also encompassed. For instance, free carboxyl groups can be derivatized as amides or alkyl esters. Free hydroxy groups may be derivatized using groups including but not limited to hemisuccinates, phosphate esters, dimethylaminoacetates, and phosphoryloxymethyloxycarbonyls, as outlined in Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 1996, 19, 115. Carbamate prodrugs of hydroxy and amino groups are also included, as are carbonate prodrugs, sulfonate esters and sulfate esters of hydroxy groups. Derivatization of hydroxy groups as (acyloxy)methyl and (acyloxy)ethyl ethers wherein the acyl group may be an alkyl ester, optionally substituted with groups including but not limited to ether, amine and carboxylic acid functionalities, or where the acyl group is an amino acid ester as described above, are also encompassed. Prodrugs of this type are described in J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 10. Free amines can also be derivatized as amides, sulfonamides or phosphonamides. All of these prodrug moieties may incorporate groups including but not limited to ether, amine and carboxylic acid functionalities. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a

therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention formulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients. As used herein, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient" means a non-toxic, inert solid, semi-solid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any type. Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are sugars such as lactose, glucose and sucrose;

starches such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose and its derivatives such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipients such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; glycols such as propylene glycol; esters such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminun hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol, and phosphate buffer solutions, as well as other non-toxic compatible lubricants such as sodium lauryl sulfate and

magnesium stearate, as well as coloring agents, releasing agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants can also be present in the composition, according to the judgment of the formulator.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir, preferably by oral administration or administration by injection. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may contain any conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, adjuvants or vehicles. In some cases, the pH of the formulation may be adjusted with pharmaceutically acceptable acids, bases or buffers to enhance the stability of the formulated compound or its delivery form. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarticular, intraarterial, intrasynovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intralesional and intracranial injection or infusion techniques.

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethylformamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor, and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof. Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions can also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring, and perfuming agents.

Injectable preparations, for example, sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspensions, may be formulated according to the known art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution, suspension or emulsion in a nontoxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example, as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution, U.S.P. and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil can be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid are used in the preparation of injectables.

The injectable formulations can be sterilized, for example, by filtration through a bacterial-retaining filter, or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or other sterile injectable medium prior to use.

In order to prolong the effect of a drug, it is often desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material with poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution, which, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle. Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of the drug in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide- polyglycolide. Depending upon the ratio of drug to polymer and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions that are compatible with body tissues.

Compositions for rectal or vaginal administration are preferably suppositories which can be prepared by mixing the compounds of this invention with suitable non- irritating excipients or carriers such as cocoa butter, polyethylene glycol or a suppository wax which are solid at ambient temperature but liquid at body temperature and therefore melt in the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound. Solid dosage forms for oral administration include capsules, tablets, pills, powders, and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the active compound is mixed with at least one inert, pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate and/or: a) fillers or extenders such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and silicic acid, b) binders such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidinone, sucrose, and acacia, c) humectants such as glycerol, d) disintegrating agents such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate, e) solution retarding agents such as paraffin, f) absorption accelerators such as quaternary ammonium compounds, g) wetting agents such as, for example, cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate, h) absorbents such as kaolin and bentonite clay, and i) lubricants such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage form may also comprise buffering agents.

Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard- filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.

The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, and granules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and can also be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or

preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions that can be used include polymeric substances and waxes.

Dosage forms for topical or transdermal administration of a compound of this invention include ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels, powders, solutions, sprays, inhalants or patches. The active component is admixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and any needed preservatives or buffers as may be required. Ophthalmic formulation, ear drops, eye ointments, powders and solutions are also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention.

The ointments, pastes, creams and gels may contain, in addition to an active compound of this invention, excipients such as animal and vegetable fats, oils, waxes, paraffins, starch, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene glycols, silicones, bentonites, silicic acid, talc and zinc oxide, or mixtures thereof. Powders and sprays can contain, in addition to the compounds of this invention, excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminum hydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of these substances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants such as chlorofluorohydrocarbons.

Transdermal patches have the added advantage of providing controlled delivery of a compound to the body. Such dosage forms can be made by dissolving or dispensing the compound in the proper medium. Absorption enhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the compound across the skin. The rate can be controlled by either providing a rate controlling membrane or by dispersing the compound in a polymer matrix or gel.

For pulmonary delivery, a therapeutic composition of the invention is formulated and administered to the patient in solid or liquid particulate form by direct administration e.g., inhalation into the respiratory system. Solid or liquid particulate forms of the active compound prepared for practicing the present invention include particles of respirable size: that is, particles of a size sufficiently small to pass through the mouth and larynx upon inhalation and into the bronchi and alveoli of the lungs. Delivery of aerosolized therapeutics, particularly aerosolized antibiotics, is known in the art (see, for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,068 to VanDevanter et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,269 to Smith et al, and WO 98/43650 by Montgomery, all of which are incorporated herein by reference). A discussion of pulmonary delivery of antibiotics is also found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,969, incorporated herein by reference.

ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY

An inhibitory amount or dose of the compounds of the present invention may range from about 0.01 mg/Kg to about 500 mg/Kg, alternatively from about 1 to about 50 mg/Kg. Inhibitory amounts or doses will also vary depending on route of administration, as well as the possibility of co-usage with other agents.

According to the methods of treatment of the present invention, viral infections, conditions are treated or prevented in a patient such as a human or another animal by administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention, in such amounts and for such time as is necessary to achieve the desired result.

By a "therapeutically effective amount" of a compound of the invention is meant an amount of the compound which confers a therapeutic effect on the treated subject, at a reasonable benefit/risk ratio applicable to any medical treatment. The therapeutic effect may be objective (i.e., measurable by some test or marker) or subjective (i.e., subject gives an indication of or feels an effect). An effective amount of the compound described above may range from about 0.1 mg/Kg to about 500 mg/Kg, preferably from about 1 to about 50 mg/Kg. Effective doses will also vary depending on route of administration, as well as the possibility of co-usage with other agents. It will be understood, however, that the total daily usage of the compounds and compositions of the present invention will be decided by the attending physician within the scope of sound medical judgment. The specific therapeutically effective dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the disorder being treated and the severity of the disorder; the activity of the specific compound employed; the specific composition employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion of the specific compound employed; the duration of the treatment; drugs used in combination or contemporaneously with the specific compound employed; and like factors well known in the medical arts.

The total daily dose of the compounds of this invention administered to a human or other animal in single or in divided doses can be in amounts, for example, from 0.01 to 50 mg/kg body weight or more usually from 0.1 to 25 mg/kg body weight. Single dose compositions may contain such amounts or submultiples thereof to make up the daily dose. In general, treatment regimens according to the present invention comprise administration to a patient in need of such treatment from about 10 mg to about 1000 mg of the compound(s) of this invention per day in single or multiple doses.

The compounds of the present invention described herein can, for example, be administered by injection, intravenously, intraarterially, subdermally, intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously; or orally, buccally, nasally, transmucosally, topically, in an ophthalmic preparation, or by inhalation, with a dosage ranging from about 0.1 to about 500 mg/kg of body weight, alternatively dosages between 1 mg and 1000 mg/dose, every 4 to 120 hours, or according to the requirements of the particular drug. The methods herein contemplate administration of an effective amount of compound or compound composition to achieve the desired or stated effect. Typically, the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention will be administered from about 1 to about 6 times per day or alternatively, as a continuous infusion. Such administration can be used as a chronic or acute therapy. The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with

pharmaceutically exipients or carriers to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated and the particular mode of administration. A typical preparation will contain from about 5% to about 95% active compound (w/w). Alternatively, such preparations may contain from about 20% to about 80% active compound.

Lower or higher doses than those recited above may be required. Specific dosage and treatment regimens for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health status, sex, diet, time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, the severity and course of the disease, condition or symptoms, the patient's disposition to the disease, condition or symptoms, and the judgment of the treating physician.

Upon improvement of a patient's condition, a maintenance dose of a compound, composition or combination of this invention may be administered, if necessary.

Subsequently, the dosage or frequency of administration, or both, may be reduced, as a function of the symptoms, to a level at which the improved condition is retained when the symptoms have been alleviated to the desired level. Patients may, however, require intermittent treatment on a long-term basis upon any recurrence of disease symptoms.

When the compositions of this invention comprise a combination of a compound of the Formula (I) described herein and one or more additional therapeutic or prophylactic agents, both the compound and the additional agent should be present at dosage levels of between about 1 to 100%, and more preferably between about 5 to 95% of the dosage normally administered in a monotherapy regimen. The additional agents may be administered separately, as part of a multiple dose regimen, from the compounds of this invention. Alternatively, those agents may be part of a single dosage form, mixed together with the compounds of this invention in a single composition.

The said "additional therapeutic or prophylactic agents" includes, but is not limited to, immune therapies (eg. interferon), therapeutic vaccines, antifibrotic agents, anti- inflammatory agents such as corticosteroids or NSAIDs, bronchodilators such as beta-2 adrenergic agonists and xanthines (e.g. theophylline), mucolytic agents, anti-muscarinics, anti-leukotrienes, inhibitors of cell adhesion (e.g. ICAM antagonists), anti-oxidants (eg N- acetylcysteine), cytokine agonists, cytokine antagonists, lung surfactants and/or antimicrobial and anti-viral agents (eg ribavirin and amantidine). The compositions according to the invention may also be used in combination with gene replacement therapy. COMBINATION AND ALTERNATION THERAPY FOR HCV

It has been recognized that drug-resistant variants of HCV can emerge after prolonged treatment with an antiviral agent. Drug resistance most typically occurs by mutation of a gene that encodes for a protein such as an enzyme used in viral replication, and most typically in the case of HCV, RNA polymerase, protease, or helicase.

Recently, it has been demonstrated that the efficacy of a drug against a viral infection, such as HIV, can be prolonged, augmented, or restored by administering the drug in combination or alternation with a second, and perhaps third, antiviral compound that induces a different mutation from that caused by the principal drug. Alternatively, the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, or other parameter of the drug can be altered by such combination or alternation therapy. In general, combination therapy is typically preferred over alternation therapy because it induces multiple simultaneous stresses on the virus.

A compound of the present invention can also be administered in combination or alternation with antiviral agent. Examplary antiviral agents include ribavarin, interferon, interleukin or a stabilized prodrug of any of them. More broadly described, the compound can be administered in combination or alternation with any of the anti-HCV drugs listed in

Table 13 below.

Therapeutic vaccine Innogenetics

VIRAMIDINE Nucleoside Analogue ICN

ZADAXIN (thymosin alfa-1) Immunomodulator Sci Clone

CEPLENE (histamine) Immunomodulator Maxim

VX 950/LY 570310 Protease inhibitor Vertex/Eli Lilly

ISIS 14803 Antisense Isis Pharmaceutical/Elan

IDN-6556 Caspase inhibitor Idun Pharmaceuticals

JTK 003 Polymerase Inhibitor AKROS Pharma

Tarvacin Anti-Phospholipid Therapy Peregrine

HCV-796 Polymerase Inhibitor ViroPharma/Wyeth

CH-6 Protease inhibitor Schering

ANA971 Isatoribine ANADYS

ANA245 Isatoribine ANADYS

CPG 10101 (Actilon) Immunomodulator Coley

Anti-CD20

Rituximab (Rituxam) Genetech/IDEC

Monoclonal Antibody

NM283 (Valopicitabine) Polymerase Inhibitor Idenix Pharmaceuticals

HepX™-C Monoclonal Antibody XTL

IC41 Therapeutic Vaccine Intercell

Medusa Interferon Longer acting interferon Flamel Technology

E-l Therapeutic Vaccine Innogenetics

Multiferon Long Acting Interferon Viragen

BILN 2061 Protease inhibitor Boehringer-Ingelheim

TMC435350 Protease inhibitor Tibote c/Medivir

Telaprevir (VX-950) Protease inhibitor Vertex

Boceprevir (SCH 503034) Protease inhibitor Schering-Plough

ACH-1625 Protease inhibitor Achillion

ABT-450 Protease inhibitor Abbott/Enanta

BI-201335 Protease inhibitor Boehringer-Ingelheim

PHX-1766 Protease inhibitor Phenomix

VX-500 Protease inhibitor Vertex

MK-7009 protease inhibitor Merck

R7227 (ITMN-191) protease inhibitor InterMune

Narlaprevir (SCH 900518) Protease inhibitor S chering/Merck

Alinia (nitazoxanide) To be determined Romark

ABT-072 Polymerase Inhibitor Abbott

ABT-333 Polymerase Inhibitor Abbott

Filibuvir (PF-00868554) Polymerase Inhibitor Pfizer

VCH-916 Polymerase Inhibitor Vertex

R7128 (PSI6130) Polymerase Inhibitor Roche/Pharmasset

IDX184 Polymerase Inhibitor Idenix

R1626 Polymerase inhibitor Roche

MK-3281 Polymerase inhibitor Merck

PSI-7851 Polymerase inhibitor Pharmasset

ANA598 Polymerase inhibitor Anadys Pharmaceuticals

BI-207127 Polymerase inhibitor Boehringer-Ingelheim

GS-9190 Polymerase inhibitor Gilead

VCH-759 Polymerase Inhibitor Vertex

Clemizole NS4B inhibitor Eiger Biopharmaceuticals

A-832 NS5A inhibitor ArrowTherapeutics

BMS-790052 NS5A inhibitor Bristol-Myers-Squibb

ITX5061 Entry inhibitor iTherx

GS-9450 Caspase inhibitor Gilead

ANA773 TLR agonist Anadys

CYT107 Immunomodulator Cytheris

SPC3649 (LNA-antimiR™-122) microRNA Santaris Pharma

Debio 025 Cyclophilin inhibitor Debiopharm

SCY-635 Cyclophilin inhibitor Scynexis Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein are accorded the meaning commonly known to one of ordinary skill in the art. All publications, patents, published patent applications, and other references mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations which may be used in the descriptions of the scheme and the examples that follow are: Ac for acetyl; AcOH for acetic acid; AIBN for

azobisisobutyronitrile; BINAP for 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-l, -binaphthyl; Boc ₂ 0 for di-fert-butyl-dicarbonate; Boc for t-butoxycarbonyl; Bpoc for 1 -methyl- 1 -(4- biphenylyl)ethyl carbonyl; BtOH for 1-hydroxy-benzotriazole; Bz for benzoyl; Bn for benzyl; BocNHOH for tert-butyl N-hydroxycarbamate; t-BuOK for potassium tert- butoxide; Bu ₃ SnH for tributyltin hydride; BOP for (benzotriazol-1- yloxy)tris(dimethylamino)phos-phonium Hexafluorophosphate; Brine for sodium chloride solution in water; Cbz for carbobenzyloxy; CDI for carbonyldiimidazole; CH ₂ C1 ₂ for dichloromethane; CH ₃ for methyl; CH ₃ CN for acetonitrile; Cs ₂ C0 ₃ for cesium carbonate; CuCl for copper (I) chloride; Cul for copper (I) iodide; dba for dibenzylidene acetone; dppb for diphenylphosphino butane; DBU for l,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene; DCC for Ν,Ν'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide; DEAD for diethylazodicarboxylate; DIAD for diisopropyl azodicarboxylate; DIBAL-H for diisobutylaluminium hydride; DIPEA or (i- Pr) ₂ EtN for Ν,Ν-diisopropylethyl amine; Dess-Martin periodinane for 1,1,1- tris(acetyloxy)-l,l-dihydro-l,2-benziodoxol-3-(lH)-one; DMAP for 4- dimethylaminopyridine; DME for 1 ,2-dimethoxy-ethane; DMF for N,N- dimethylformamide; DM SO for dimethyl sulfoxide; DMT for

methoxyphenyl)phenylmethyl or dimethoxytrityl; DPPA for diphenylphosphoryl azide; EDC for N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide; EDC HC1 for N-(3- dimethylamino-propyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride; EtOAc for ethyl acetate; EtOH for ethanol; Et ₂ 0 for diethyl ether; Fmoc for 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl; Grubbs-1 catalyst for benzylidene-bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)dichlororuthenium; HATU for 0-(7- azabenzotriazol-l-yl)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate; HC1 for hydrogen chloride; HOBT for 1-hydroxybenzotriazole; K ₂ C0 ₃ for potassium carbonate; n- BuLi for n-butyl lithium; z ^' -BuLi for z ^' -butyl lithium; t-BuLi for t-butyl lithium; PhLi for phenyl lithium; LDA for lithium diisopropylamide; LiTMP for lithium 2,2,6,6- tetramethylpiperidinate; MeOH for methanol; Mg for magnesium; MOM for

methoxymethyl; Ms for mesyl or -SO ₂ -CH ₃ ; Ms ₂ 0 for methanesulfonic anhydride or mesyl-anhydride; NaBH ₄ for sodium borohydride; NaBH ₃ CN for sodium

cyanoborohydride; NaN(TMS)2 for sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide; NaCl for sodium chloride; NaH for sodium hydride; NaHC0 ₃ for sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate; Na ₂ C0 ₃ sodium carbonate; NaOH for sodium hydroxide; Na ₂ S0 ₄ for sodium sulfate; NaHS0 ₃ for sodium bisulfite or sodium hydrogen sulfite; Na ₂ S ₂ 0 ₃ for sodium thiosulfate; NH ₂ NH ₂ for hydrazine; NH ₄ HC0 ₃ for ammonium bicarbonate; NH ₄ C1 for ammonium chloride; NMMO for N-methylmorpholine N-oxide; NaI0 ₄ for sodium periodate; Ni for nickel; OH for hydroxyl; Os0 ₄ for osmium tetroxide; Pd for palladium; Ph for phenyl; PMB for p-methoxybenzyl; POPd for dihydrogen dichlorobis(di-tert- butylphosphinito-KP)palladate(II); Pd ₂ (dba) ₃ for tris(dibenzylidene-acetone) dipalladium (0); Pd(PPh ₃ ) ₄ for tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0); PdCl ₂ (PPh ₃ ) ₂ for trans- dichlorobis(triphenyl-phosphine)palladium (II); Pt for platinum; Rh for rhodium; rt for romm temperature; Ru for ruthenium; SEM for (trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl; TBAF for tetrabutylammonium fluoride; TBS for tert-butyl dimethylsilyl; TEA or Et ₃ N for triethylamine; Teoc for 2-trimethylsilyl-ethoxy-carbonyl; TFA for trifluoroacetic acid; THF for tetrahydrofuran; TMEDA for Ν,Ν,Ν',Ν'-tetramethylethylenediamine; TPP or PPh ₃ for triphenyl-phosphine; Troc for 2,2,2-trichloroethyl carbonyl; Ts for tosyl or -S0 ₂ - C ₆ H ₄ CH ₃ ; Ts ₂ 0 for tolylsulfonic anhydride or tosyl-anhydride; TsOH for p-tolylsulfonic acid; TMS for trimethylsilyl; or TMSC1 for trimethylsilyl chloride.

SYNTHETIC METHODS

The compounds and processes of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following synthetic schemes that illustrate the methods by which the compounds of the invention may be prepared. Starting materials can be obtained from commercial sources or prepared by well-established literature methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the compounds defined above can be synthesized by substitution of the appropriate reactants and agents in the syntheses shown below. It will also be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the selective protection and deprotection steps, as well as the order of the steps themselves, can be carried out in varying order, depending on the nature of the variables to successfully complete the syntheses below. The variables are as defined above unless otherwise noted below. The compounds of the present invention may be prepared via several different synthetic routes from a variety of 5/6-membered ring fused heteroaryl, 5-membered ring heteroaryl, and related intermediates. An exemplary method is shown in Schemes 1, 2, 3, and 4. A retro-synthesis of those title compounds include direct formation of a suitable heterocycle (5/6-membered ring fused heteroaryl or 5-membered ring heteroaryl) optionally with a suitable macrocyclic linkage, followed by attachment of a suitable capping group (such as -C(0)R ⁶ ), plus some functional group manipulations in between and/or after. Various 5/6-membered ring fused heteroaryl or 5-membered ring heteroaryl intermediates are known to those skilled in the art, for example see the encyclopedic volumns edited by A. R. Katrizky, et al, "Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry" 1984; "Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry Π" 1996; "Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III" 2008.

A general synthesis and further elaboration of some 6-membered ring fused with imidazole-related intermediates are summarized in Scheme 1, in which Z is N or CH.

The synthesis starts from the construction of an optionally substituted

imidazopyridine or benzimidazole 1-2, which may be obtained by condensation of an amino acid or its derivatives 1-1.1 or 1-1.2 with 2,3-diaminopyridine or 1,2- diaminobenzene 1-1 under the conditions to those skilled in the art. The imidazole ring closure may be realized either in one pot by heat, optionally in the presence of an acid and/or with a dehydration reagent such as polyphosphoric acid; or in two steps: 1) amide formation between diamine 1-1 and amino acid 1-1.1 or 1-1.2 in the presence of a condensation reagent such as EDC ^' HCl, DCC or the like; or through mixed anhydride approach by reacting acid 1-1.1 or 1-1.2 with a chloroformate such as methyl

chloroformate, isobutyl chloroformate, or the like, in the presence of a base such as TEA, DIPEA, DMAP, N-methylmorpholine, or the like, followed by treating the mixed anhydride with diamine 1-1; and 2) the heterocyclic ring closure in the presence of an acid such as acetic acid, sulfuric acid or the like or a dehydration reagent such as HATU or the like, optionally with heat. Other imidazopyridines or benzimidazoles with more substitution may be prepared similarly using the procedures described hereinwith.

The imidazopyridine or benzimidazole 1-2 may be subjected to Suzuki, Stille or related coupling conditions known to those skilled in the art (see reviews: A. Suzuki, Pure Applied Chem., 1991, 63, 419; A. Suzuki, Handbook of Organopalladium Chemistry for Organic Synthesis, 2002, 1, 249; A. Anastasia, et al, Handbook of Organopalladium

Chemistry for Organic Synthesis, 2002, 1, 311; F. Bellina, et al, Synthesis, 2004, 2419; M. G. Organ, et al, Synthesis 2008, 2776; A. T. Lindhardt, et al, Chem. - A European J., 2008, 14, 8756; E. A. B. Kantchev, et al, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2007, 46, 2768; V. Farina, et al, Advances in Metal-Organic Chem., 1996, 5: 1) with different coupling partners to provide a variety of key imtermediates. For example, Sonogashira coupling between bromide 1-2 and trimethylsilylacetylene can generate alkyne 1-3 after removal of TMS by K ₂ CO ₃ in MeOH. Alternatively, bromide 1-2 may be coupled with tributylvinylstanne through Stille reaction conditions known to those skilled in the art to provide alkene 1-4. Analogously, a key allyl intermediates 1-5 may be prepared by Stille reaction from bromide 1-2 with an allylstanne such as allyltributylstanne.

Alternatively, bromide 1-2 may be converted to key intermediate 1-7 by selectively reacting with metallic reagent 1-2.2 under the Suzuki or Stille conditions which are known to those skilled in the art. Yet alternatively, intermediate 1-7 may be prepared by treating bromide 1-2 with dimetallic agent 1-2.1 to afford organometallic 1-6, followed by coupling with bromoiodoaryl compound 1-6.1, both may be under the previously decribed Suzuki or Stille reaction conditions. The bromide 1-7 may be further converted to organometallic 1-8 with dimetallic agent 1-2.1 using the conditions described above to prepare 1-6.

It should be noted that optionally the NH group of all the imidazopyridine or benzimidazole related intermediates listed above may be protected with an amino prote .

A typical synthesis of imidazole related intermediates are analogous to that of the imidazopyridine or benzimidazole intermediates. As shown in Scheme 2, bromo- imidazole 2-2 can be synthesized by condensation of amino acid derived aldehyde 2-1.1 or 2-1.2 and glyoxal in the presence of methanolic ammonia; followed by bromination of the imidazole ring under the conditions which are known to those skilled in the art. The bromination of the imidazole ring may be realized either in one pot by NBS, bromine, 2,4,4, 6-tetrabromo-2,5-cyclohexadienone, or the like; or in two steps: 1) dibromide formation in the presence of excess bromination reagent such as NBS, bromine, 2,4,4,6- tetrabromo-2,5-cyclohexadienone, or the like, optionally with heat; and 2) reduction of the dibromide to monobromide in the presence of a reducing reagent such as NaHS0 ₃ , Na ₂ S ₂ 0 ₃ , Na ₂ S0 ₃ , or the like. Bromide 2-2 then may be served as a commom intermediate further elaborable to many other imidazole derivatives using the chemistry discussed in Scheme 1. For example, bromide 2-2 may be coupled with allytin or vinyltin or TMS- acetylene to provide intermidiate 2-6. Also, bromide 2-2 may be converted to key intermediate 2-4 by selectively reacting with metallic reagent 2-2.1 under the Suzuki or Stille conditions to provide key intermmediate 2-4. Yet alternatively, intermediate 2-4 may be prepared by treating bromide 2-2 with dimetallic agent 2-2.2 to afford organometallic 2-5, followed by coupling with bromoiodoaryl compound 2-5.1, both may be under the previously decribed Suzuki or Stille reaction conditions. The bromide 2-4 may be further converted to organometallic 2-7 with dimetallic agent 2-4.1 using the conditions described above for the preparation of intermediate 2-5.

Yet alternatively, aryl or heteroaryl bromide 2-4 may also be derived from bromoketone 2-9, which can be prepared from the corresponding ketone 2-8 in the presence of a bromination reagent such as NBS, bromine, or the like, optionally in the presence of an acid and/or with heating. Bromoketone 2-9 may be either converted to the corresponding amine 2-11 through azide substitution followed by reduction, or coupled with protected amino acid 1-1.1 or 1-1.2 in the presence of a base such as Et ₃ N or DIPEA to afford keto-ester 2-10. Similarly, amine 2-11 may be converted to the corresponding keto-amide 2-12 via condensation with appropriate amino acid under standard amide formation conditions. Both 2-12 and 2-13 may be tranformed to key intermediate 2-4 via heating with NH ₄ OAc under thermal or microwave conditions.

The synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted imidazole related intermediates are analogous to that described in Scheme 2. Alternatively, these imidazole intermediates can be synthesized from ketone 2-8a (Scheme 2a) through nitrosation (sodium nitrite, HC1) to ketooxime 2-9a, which can be cyclized with aldehyde 2-1.1 or 2-1.2 to 1- hydroxyimidazole 2-4a in the presence of ammonia or ammonium hydroxide. Reduction of 2-4a with a suitable reducing reagent such as triethyl phosphite can lead to the requsite imidazole 2-4b.

As shown in Scheme 3, a compound 3-1 containing a hydroxy group substituted at the C4-position of the pyrrolidine ring may be illustrated by intermediates 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1- 5, 1-7, 2-2, 2-4, and 2-6 when U is CH(OH) as shown in Schemes 1 and 2. Oxidation of 3-1 by a variety of oxidation agents such as Dess-Martin periodinane optionally in the presence of an acid such as acetic acid or camphorsulfonic acid to afford the ketone 3-2. More reagents and conditions for the oxidation of an alcohol to a ketone can be found in Comprehensive Organic transformations, R. C. Larock Ed., Wiley-RCH, 1999, page 1236-1249. 3-2 may then serve as a universal intermediate for further derivatization to olefin 3-3, oxime 3-4 and hydrazone 3-5. The olefmation of 3-2 may be realized by various types of Wittig Reaction or Peterson Reaction, a more detailed reagents and conditions can be found in Comprehensive Organic transformations, R. C. Larock Ed., Wiley-RCH, 1999, page 327-350. The olefin 3-3 may be converted to cyclopropane 3-6 through the well-known Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation, a more detailed reagents and conditions can be found in Name Reactions and Reagents in Organic Synthesis B. P. Munday, et al Ed., Wiley, 2005, page 600 and J. C. Lorenz, et al, J. Org. Chem., 2004, 69, 327 and references cited therein.

3-7a 3-8a

Suitably substituted analogs of intermediates 1-2, 2-4, 2-4b or the compounds in Scheme 3 may be used as precursors to make a macrocyclic derivative after suitable manipulations and transformations of functional groups or protection groups. As illustrated in Scheme 3a with phenyl-imidazole analogs, bromination of ketone 3-la may lead to bromide 3-2a. The latter is then esterified with Boc-protected aminoacid (wherein R ^a is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, and alkoxycarbonyl) to afford ketoester 3-3a, which can be converted to imidazole 3-4a (wherein PG is an amino protecting group) using the chemistry described in Scheme 2. The imidazole moiety in 3-4a may be optionally protected to 3-5a, which can be converted to 3-6a in two steps: 1) deprotection of the Boc group and 2) the released amine functionality may be acylated with a carboxylic acid (R ^c COOH, wherein R ^c is R ⁶ as previously defined) under standard acylation conditions, for example a coupling reagent such as HATU in combination with an organic base such as DIPEA can be used in this regard. Various carboxylic acids including amino acids in racemic or optical form are commercially available, and/or can be synthesized in racemic or optical form, see references cited in reviews by D. Seebach, et al, Synthesis, 2009, 1; C. Cativiela and M. D. Diaz-de-Villegas, Tetrahedron:

Asymmetry, 2007, 18, 569; 2000, 11, 645; and 1998, 9, 3517; and experimental examples compiled in patent application WO 08/021927 A2 by C. Bachand, et al, from Bristol- Myers Squibb, Co., which is incorporated herein by reference. The conversion from 3-5a to 3-6a may optionally involve one or more steps of functional group manipulation, thus R ^b in 3-6a may be the same as or different from R ^a as in 3-5a depending on the

interchange of functional groups. These transformation step(s) may include, but are not limited to, alkylation, etherification, esterification, amidation, reduction, oxidation, olefmation, halogenation, oximation, and/or hydroxylation. Two reactive groups in R ^b and R ^c in 3-6a may undergo an intramolecular reaction to form a macrocyclic structure as seen in 3-7a under appropriate reaction conditions, optionally in the presence of catalyst(s) and/or promoter(s). The reaction that can be used to succeed this intramolecular cyclization may include, but not limited to etherification, ester formation, reductive amination, amide formation, carbamate formation, urea formation, ring-closure- metathesis, Pd-catalyzed selective cross-couplings, oximation, various types of Diels- Alder reaction, and/or radical cyclization. Then the imidazole protection group may be optionally removed to 3-8a.

An example of strategies that may be used to form the macrocyclic structures are illustrated in Scheme 3b, wherein bromophenyl imidazole 3-2b can be obtained from ketone 3- lb using the procedures described above. 3-2b can be reduced by DIBAL-H to alcohol 3-3b, which is then served as a universal intermediate for further transformations. Thus, 3-4b may be obtained from 3-3b in three steps: 1) allylation with allyl bromide and sodium hydride in DMF; 2) simultaneously deprotection of Boc and SEM with HC1 under heat; and 3) capping the released pyrrolidine with methoxycarbonyl-protected allylglycine The di-olefin 3-4b can be converted to macrocyclic olefin 3-5b (wherein the dotted bond may be nil or a single bond) through metal-catalyzed ring-closure-metathesis (RCM), which is well-known to those-in-the-art. Similarly 3-3b can be alkylated with propargyl bromide, followed by a) selective deprotection of Boc; b) capping with an appropriately substituted amino acid (wherein the aldehyde group may be protected as acetal); and c) deprotection of the acetal to release the aldehyde moiety, to afford 3-6b. The aldehyde in 3-6b may be converted to oxime by hydroxylamine, which can be converted in situ to its nitrile oxide by NCS type reagent, and the latter may react with the triple bond to fulfil the "click" reaction to afford the macrocyclic isoxazole derivative 3-7b after removal of SEM- protection. Alternatively 3-3b can be selectively deprotected and capped with a protected lysine derivative to compound 3-8b. After removal of Fmoc protection by piperidine, the free hydroxy and amino group may be united into a carbamate group by a reagent such as CDI, phosgene or the like to the macrocyclic carbamate 3-9b.

Other intermediates with a macrocyclic ring may be prepared by using strategies similar to that described in Scheme 3a and 3b. As examplified in Scheme 3c, wherein bromophenyl imidazole 3-2c can be obtained from ketone 3-lc using the procedures described above. 3-2c can be reduced by NH ₄ OAc to alcohol 3-3c, which is then served as a universal intermediate to give the macrocyclic structures 3-5c, 3-7c and 3-9c.

3-5d 3-7d 3-9d

Other intermediates with a macrocyclic ring may be prepared by using strategies similar to that described in Scheme 3a, 3b and 3c. As examplified in Scheme 3d, wherein bromophenyl imidazole 3-2d can be obtained from ketone 3- Id using the procedures described above. 3-2d can be deprotected Boc group to obtain 3-3d, which is then served as a universal intermediate to give the macrocyclic structures 3-5d, 3-7d and 3-9d.

With a variety of suitably substituted imidazopyridines, benzimidazoles and imidazoles such as those listed in Schemes 1-3, 2a, 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d in hand, the compounds of the present invention may be prepared through various coupling strategy or a combination of strategies to connect two fragments, optionally with a suitable cyclic or acyclic linker or formation of a cyclic or acyclic linker. The said strategy may include, but not limited to, Stille coupling, Suzuki coupling, Sonogashira coupling, Heck coupling, Buchwald amidation, Buchwald amination, amide coupling, ester bond formation, William etherification, Buchwald etherification, alkylation, pericyclic reaction with different variations, or the like.

An example of the strategies that may be used to prepare the compounds of the present invention is shown in Scheme 4. Both iodide 4-1.1 and its corresponding boronate derivative 4-1.2 can be prepared using similar procedures described previously. The bromide 3-5d-l can be coupled with boronate 4-1.2 under Suzuki condition in the presence of a Pd-catalyst to generate a core structure 4-2. Compound 4-2 then may be served as a common intermediate for further derivatizations to the title compounds 1-1 using the procedures described in Schemes 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d.

Alternatively, as shown in Scheme 4a, the compounds of the present invention (for example 1-1) may also be derived from key intermediates 4-1.2a and 3-5d-l using the Suzuki coupling procedures described previously. The intermediate 4- 1.2a has the desired acyl group already installed from 4-1.1 using similar sequences shown in Scheme 3b, 3c and 3d.

Yet alternatively, as shown in Scheme 4b, the compounds of the present invention (for example I- la) may also be derived from key intermediate 4-3 after Suzuki coupling of 4-1.2b and 3-2d using the procedures described previously. Compound 4-3 can be converted to di-olefm 4-4 in a few steps: a) selectively deprotected to alcohol; b) allylated to allylic ether; c) deprotected Boc and SEM; and d) capped with a carbamate-protected allylglycine, using the procedures described previously. As discussed earlier, the di-olefm 4-4 can be converted to the title compound I- la through RCM to macrocyclic intermediate 4-5 followed by de-Cbz under hydrogenation condition and capping with an acyl derivative (such as R ⁶ COOH), all using the procedures described earlier.

The compounds of the present invention containing five-membered heteroaryl other than imidazole may be prepared using similar procedures described above in Schemes 1-4 and 4a. For example, some intermediates containing a desired, suitably substituted five-membered heteroaryl have been published in US 2008/0311075A1 by C. Bachand, et al from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Co., which is incorporated by reference. These intermediates are compiled in the following table.

Table 14

The synthesis of the compounds of the present invention involves 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl intermediates other than benzimidazoles, various 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl are known in the literature. The synthesis of other 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl intermediates depends on the chemical features of each structure. For example, a typical synthesis of indole intermediate is illustrated in Scheme 5. The commercially available bromoiodoaniline 5-1 may be coupled to the commercially available acetylene 5- 1.1 under the Sonogashira conditions to give phenylacetylene 5-2. The latter may be cyclized to indole 5-3 under heat or microwave condition in the presence of a copper catalyst.

Some intermediates and/or precursors that may be used for the synthesis of the compounds of the present invention have also been disclosed in the following patent publications: WO 2009/102568A1 ; WO 2009/102633A1 ; WO 2010/065668A1 ; WO 2010/065674A1 ; WO 2010/065681A1 ; WO 2010/09677A1 ; WO 2010/1 1 1483 Al ; WO 2010/1 1 1534A1 ; WO 2010/1 1 1673A1 ; WO 2010/120935A1 ; WO 2010/132538A1A1 ; WO 2010/132601A1 ; WO 2010/138368A1 ; WO 2010/138488A1 ; WO 2010/138790A1 ; WO 2010/138791A1 ; WO 2010/144646A2; US 2010/0215618A1 ; WO 201 1/004276A1 ; WO 201 1/028596A1 ; WO 201 1/060000A1 ; WO 201 1/066241A1 ; WO 201 1/075439A1 ; WO 201 1/075615 Al ; and WO 201 1/091417A1 , which are each incorporated by reference herein.

It will be appreciated that, with appropriate manipulation and protection of any chemical functionality, synthesis of compounds of Formula (I) is accomplished by methods analogous to those above and to those described in the Experimental section. Suitable protecting groups can be found, but are not restricted to, those found in T W Greene and P G M Wuts "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", 3rd Ed (1999), J

Wiley and Sons.

In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a process of making a compound described herein comprising: i) preparing a compound o

via a transition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling reaction, ring-closure metathesis or other intramolecular ring-closure reaction;

wherein:

W is an optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl containing one or more nitrogen or optionally substituted 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl, wherein the 5-membered ring of said 5/6-membered fused heteroaryl contains one or more nitrogen and is attached to the carbon atom to which R ³ is also attached, and wherein the 6-membered ring of said 5/6- mem red fused heteroaryl is attached to group B, L or A and is aryl or heteroaryl;

X ³ and X ⁴ at each occurence are each independently N or C(R ¹² ); and R ¹² at each occurence is independently hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted C ₁ -C4 alkyl or 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl); Z ^a is independently an amino protecting group or -C(0)-R ⁶ ; wherein R ⁶ is Ci-Cg alkyl optionally substituted with amino, hydroxy, protected amino, or 0(Ci-C ₄ alkyl); and A, B, G, L, U, X ¹ , X ² , Y, L ¹ , L ² , L ³ , L ⁴ , L ⁵ , L ⁶ , L ⁷ , L ⁸ , L ⁹ , R ¹ , R ^3a , R ⁵ , R ^7a and

wherein Z ^a is an amino protecting group, selectively

deprotecting a compound of Formula (I-a-1) to give the corresponding amine of Formula (I-b-1): iii) Capping the released amino group of a compound of Formula (I-b-1) with LG- C(0)-R ⁶ , wherein LG is a leaving group; to give the compound of Formula (I-c-1): In certain aspects, the invention is directed to the process described above wherein the intramolecular ring-closure reaction is a type of Diels-Alder reaction, amide (lactam) formation, reductive amination, oximation, ester formation (lactonization), carbamate or urea formation.

All references cited herein, whether in print, electronic, computer readable storage media or other form, are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety, including but not limited to, abstracts, articles, journals, publications, texts, treatises, internet web sites, databases, patents, and patent publications.

EXAMPLES

The compounds and processes of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following examples, which are intended as an illustration only and not limiting of the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and such changes and

modifications including, without limitation, those relating to the chemical structures, substituents, derivatives, formulations and/or methods of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Although the invention has been described with respect to various preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto, but rather those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications may be made therein which are within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Example 344.

Step 344a. To a solution of dimethyl sulfoxide (0.98 mL, 13.82 mmol) in dichloromethane (12 mL) at -78 °C was added oxalyl chloride (0.60 mL, 6.911 mmol) dropwise. After 20 min at -78 °C, a solution of (S)-tert-butyl 2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-5- hydroxypentanoate (prepared according to ARKIVOC, 2003, 8, 180; 1.000 g, 3.456 mmol) in dichloromethane (7 mL) was added. The mixture was stirred at -78 °C for 30 min before triethylamine (3.85 mL, 27.65 mmol) was added. After 20 min at -78 °C, the milky mixture was allowed to gradually warm up to room temperature and stirred at room temperature for 30 min. Saturated NH ₄ C1 solution was added to quench the reaction. The mixture was partitioned (H ₂ 0 - EtOAc). The organic phase was washed with brine, dried (Na ₂ S0 ₄ ), filtered and concentrated to afford the desired compound as a yellow oil (1.013 g), which was used without further purification.

Step 344b. To a suspension of PPh ₃ MeBr (6.173 g, 17.28 mmol) in THF (60 mL) at 0 °C was added t-BuOK (1 M in THF, 17.28 mL, 17.28 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 0 °C for 5 min and then at room temperature for 1 hour. It was cooled back down to 0 °C before a solution of the compound from step 344a (1.013 g, 3.456 mmol at most) in THF (12 mL) was added. The mixture was allowed to gradually warm up to room temperature and stirred at room temperature overnight. Saturated NH ₄ C1 solution was added to quench the reaction. The resultant mixture was evaporated. The residue was partitioned (EtOAc - H ₂ 0). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na ₂ S0 ₄ ), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a colorless oil (0.456 g, 46% over 2 steps). ESIMS m/z = 286.25 [M+H] ⁺ . (note: Epimerization happened at this stage.).

Step 344c. A solution of the compound from step 344b (0.456 g, 1.598 mmol) in dichloromethane (1 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 5 hour before being evaporated. The residue was co-evaporated with dichloromethane, hexanes, dried under vacuum to afford the desired compound as a light yellow soild, which was used without further purification. 1H NMR (D ₂ 0) δ (ppm) 5.78-5.70 (m, 1H), 5.02 (dd, J= 17.2, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 4.96 (d, J= 10.2 Hz, 1H), 3.87 (t, J= 6.3 Hz, 1H), 2.10- 2.04 (m, 2H), 1.98-1.91 (m, 1H), 1.89-1.82 (m, 1H).

Step 344d. A mixture of the crude compound from step 344c (1.598 mmol at most), NaOH (1 M in H ₂ 0, 3.20 mL, 3.196 mmol) and Na ₂ C0 ₃ (0.186 g, 1.758 mmol) at 0 °C was treated with methyl chloroformate (0.13 mL, 1.734 mmol). Dioxane (1 mL) was added. After 10 minutes at 0 °C, the solution was stirred at room temperature for 3.5 hours before being evaporated to remove dioxane. The residue was extracted with ether. The aqueous layer was acidified with 3N HC1 at 0 °C to pH ~2 before being extracted with dichloromethane and then EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried (Na ₂ S0 ₄ ), filtered and concentrated. The residue was dried under vacuum to afford the desired compound as a yellow oil (0.285 g, 95% over 2 steps). 1H NMR (CD ₃ OD) δ (ppm) 5.87-5.79 (m, 1H), 5.06 (dd, J= 17.1, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 5.01 (d, J= 10.2 Hz, 1H), 4.15 (dd, J= 9.3, 4.6 Hz, 1H), 3.67 (s, 3H), 2.26-2.11 (m, 2H), 1.96-1.89 (m, 1H), 1.79-1.71 (m, 1H).

Step 344e. To a solution of Boc-Homoser-OH (0.500 g, 2.281 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) at - 15 °C was added sodium hydride (60% in mineral oil, 0.228 g, 5.702 mmol). The suspension was allowed to gradually warm up to room temperature and stirred at room temperature for 20 min before being cooled down to 0 °C. Allylbromide (0.21 mL, 2.395 mmol) was added. After 30 min at 0 °C, the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 hours before being quenched with water at 0 °C. The residue was extracted with ether. The aqueous layer was acidified with 3N HC1 at 0 °C to pH ~2 before being extracted with dichloromethane and then EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried (Na ₂ S0 ₄ ), filtered and concentrated. The residue was dried under vacuum to afford the desired compound as a colorless oil (0.674 g), which was used without further purification. ESIMS m/z = 282.19 [M+Na] ⁺ .

Step 344f. To a solution of the compound from step 344e (0.674 g, 2.281 mmol at most) and 2,4'-dibromoacetophenone (0.634 g, 2.281 mmol) in acetonitrile (15 mL) was added triethylamine (0.64 mL, 4.562 mmol) at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight before the volatiles were evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica, EtOAc-hexanes) to give the desired compound as a white solid (0.613 g, 59% over 2 steps). ESIMS m/z = 456.14, 458.14

[M+H] ⁺ .

Step 344g. A mixture of the compound from step 344f (0.613 g, 1.343 mmol) and ammonium acetate (1.139 g, 14.78 mmol) in xylenes (18 mL) was heated at 140 °C with a microwave for 80 min before being allowed to cool down and partitioned between aqueous NaHC0 ₃ and EtOAc. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried (Na ₂ S0 ₄ ), filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography

(silica, EtOAc-hexanes) to afford the desired compound as a yellow foam (0.507 g, 87%>). ESIMS m/z = 436.08, 438.08 [M+H] ⁺ .

Step 344h. To a solution of the compound from step 344g (0.200g, 0.458 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) was added hydrogen chloride (4 M in 1,4-dioxane, 3 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 min before all volatiles were removed to afford the crude desired compound as a yellow solid, which was used directly for the next step without further purification.

Step 344i. A mixture of the crude compound from step 344h (0.458 mmol at most) and the compound from step Id (94.4 mg, 0.504 mmol) in acetonitrile (8 mL) was treated with HATU (0.174 g, 0.458 mmol) in the presence of DIPEA (0.80 mL, 4.584 mmol) for 1 hour at room temperature before the volatiles were evaporated off. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica, EtOAc-hexanes) to give the desired product as a yellow foam (0.230 g, 100% over 2 steps). ESIMS m/z = 505.12, 507.12 [M+H] ⁺ .

Step 344j. To a solution of the compound from step 344i (0.230 g, 0.458 mmol) in toluene (200 mL) was added Zhan-IB catalyst (67.1 mg, 91.6 μιηοΐ). The mixture was degassed at 0 °C and heated at 60 °C under N ₂ for 2 hours before all volatiles were evaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica, EtOAc-hexanes) to afford the desired compound as a brown solid (59.7 mg, 28%). ESIMS m/z = 477.11 , 479.11 [M+H] ⁺ .

Step 344k. To a mixture of 2,4'-dibromoacetophenone (5.00 g, 18.0 mmol) and N-Boc-L- proline (3.87 g, 18.0 mmol) in CH ₃ CN (60 mL) was added triethylamine (5.40 mL, 37.8 mmol) slowly. The mixture was stirred at rt until the disappearence of the starting material. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc - water). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na ₂ S0 ₄ ), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a light yellow foam (6.73 g, 91%). 1H NMR (CDC1 ₃ ) 7.76 (t, J= 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.63 (dd, J= 5.0, 8.5 Hz, 2H), 5.51, 5.16 (2d, J= 16.0 Hz, 1H), 5.32, 5.28 (2d, J = 16.5 Hz, 1H), 4.48, 4.40 (dd, J= 5.0, 8.5 Hz, 1H), 3.56 (m, 1H), 3.43 (m, 1H), 2.30 (m, 2H), 2.06 (m, 1H), 1.92 (m, 1H), 1.46, 1.43 (2s, 9H).

Step 3441. To a solution of the compound from step 344k (6.73 g, 16.3 mmol) in toluene (100 mL) was added ammonium acetate (25.1 g, 0.327 mol) and the mixture was heated at 100 °C for 14 hours. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc - aq. NaHC0 ₃ ). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na ₂ S0 ₄ ), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a yellow foam (6.10 g, 95%>). ESIMS m/z = 392.24, 394.24 [M+H] ⁺ . 1H NMR (CDC1 ₃ ) 7.57 (bs, 1H), 7.48 (m, 3H), 7.23 (s, 1H), 4.97 (m, 1H), 3.42 (m, 2H), 2.99 (m, 1H), 2.16 (m, 2H), 1.97 (m, 1H), 1.46 (s, 9H). Step 344m. To a mixture of the compound from step 3441 (1.00 g, 2.55 mmol), bis(pinacolato)diboron (1.35 g, 5.33 mmol) and potassium acetate (0.640 g, 6.53 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (20 mL) was added Pd(PPh ₃ ) ₄ (0.147 g, 0.128 mmol). The mixture was degassed and heated at 80 °C under N ₂ for 14 hours. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc - water). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na ₂ S0 ₄ ), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a light yellow solid (0.978 g, 87%). ESIMS m/z = 440.39 [M+H] ⁺ . 1H NMR (CDC1 ₃ ) 11.03, 10.55 (2s, 1H), 7.79 (m, 3H), 7.45 (m, 1H), 7.26 (m, 1H), 4.97 (m, 1H), 3.41 (m, 2H), 3.06, 2.91 (2m, 1H), 2.17 (m, 2H), 1.97 (m, 1H), 1.49 (s, 9H), 1.35 (s, 12H).

Step 344n. To a mixture of the compounds from step 344j (59.7 mg, 0.125 mmol), and step 344m (82.4 mg, 0.188 mmol) and NaHC0 ₃ (42.0 mg, 0.500 mmol) in DME (4 mL) and H ₂ 0 (1.3 mL) was added Pd(PPh ₃ ) ₄ (14.5 mg, 12.5 μιηοΐ). The mixture was degassed at 0 °C and then heated at 97 °C under N ₂ for 3 hours. The volatiles were evaporated. The residue was taken up in dichloromethane and filtered. The filtrate was directly purified by chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate-MeOH) to give a mixture of the title compounds as a yellow solid (47.6 mg, 54%). ESIMS m/z = 710.41 [M+H] ⁺ .

Step 345a. A solution of the compound from example 344 (47.6 mg, 67.1 μιηοΐ) in dichloromethane (2 mL) was treated with hydrogen chloride (4 M in 1 ,4-dioxane, 2 mL) at room temperature for 30 minutes. The volatiles were evaporated off to give the crude desired compound as a yellow solid, which was used directly in the next step.

Step 345b. A mixture of the crude compound from step 345a (67.1 μιηοΐ at most) and (5)-(methoxycarbonyl)amino-3 -methyl-butyric acid (prepared according to WO

2008/021927, 11.7 mg, 67.1 μιηοΐ) in DMF (3 mL) was treated with HATU (25.5 mg, 67.1 μιηοΐ) in the presence of DIPEA (0.11 mL, 0.671 mmol) for 30 minutes at room temperature. The volatiles were evaporated off. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica, silica, hexanes-EtOAc-MeOH) to give a mixture of the title compounds as an off-white solid (49.0 mg, 95% over 2 steps). ESIMS m/z = 767.47

[M+H] ⁺ .

Example 346.

Step 346a. To a solution of the compound from example 345 (16.3 mg, 21.3 μιηοΐ) in MeOH (4 mL) was added palladium hydroxide (20 wt% on carbon, 8 mg). The resulting mixture was stirred under hydrogen (60 psi) at room temperature for 20 hours before being diluted with dichloromethane and filtered through a plug of celite. The filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by HPLC (varian column, MeOH-H ₂ 0) to give a mixture of the title compounds as a light yellow solid (7.1 mg, 44%). ESIMS m/z = 769.35 [M+H] ⁺ .

The title compounds of examples 1-343 and 347-354 may be prepared using the chemistry described above.

Table 1 : Compounds 1-219.

2Me

-229. -239.

-249.

-264.

-282.

-303.

-333.

91 BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

1. HCV Replicon Cell Lines

HCV replicon cell lines (kindly provided by R. Bartenschlager) isolated from colonies as described by Lohman et al. (Lohman et al. (1999) Science 285: 110-113, expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety) and used for all experiments. The

HCV replicon has the nucleic acid sequence set forth in EMBL Accession No.: AJ242651, the coding sequence of which is from nucleotides 1801 to 8406.

The coding sequence of the published HCV replicon was synthesized and subsequently assembled in a modified plasmid pBR322 (Promega, Madison, WI) using standard molecular biology techniques. One replicon cell line ("SGR 11-7") stably expresses HCV replicon RNA which consists of (i) the HCV 5'UTR fused to the first 12 amino acids of the capsid protein, (ii) the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (neo), (iii) the IRES from encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and (iv) HCV NS2 to NS5B genes and the HCV 3'UTR. Another replicon cell line ("Huh-luc/neo-ET") described by Vrolijk et. Al. (Vrolijk et. Al. (2003) Journal of Virological Methods 110:201-209, expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety) stably expresses HCV replicon RNA which consists of (i) the HCV 5'UTR fused to the first 12 amino acids of the capsid protein, (ii) the firefly luciferase reporter gene, (iii) the ubiquitin gene, (iv) the neomycin

phosphotransferase gene (neo), (v) the IRES from encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and (vi) HCV NS3 to NS5B genes that harbor cell culture adaptive mutations (E1202G, T 12801, K1846T) and the HCV 3'UTR.

These cell lines are maintained at 37°C, 5% C0 ₂ , 100% relative humidity in DMEM (Cat# 11965-084, Invitrogen), with 10% fetal calf serum ("FCS", Invitrogen), 1% non-essential amino acids (Invitrogen), 1% of Glutamax (Invitrogen), 1% of 100X penicillin/streptomycin (Cat# 15140-122, Invitrogen) and Geneticin (Cat# 10131-027, Invitrogen) at 0.75 mg/ml or 0.5 mg/ml for 11-7 and Huh-luc/neo-ET cells, respectively.

2. HCV Replicon Assay - qRT-PCR

EC50 values of single agent compounds were determined by HCV RNA detection using quantitative RT-PCR, according to the manufacturer's instructions, with a

TAQMAN® One-Step RT-PCR Master Mix Reagents Kit (Cat# AB 4309169, Applied Biosystems) on an ABI Model 7500 thermocycler. EC50 values of combinations are similarly determined by HCV RNA detection using quantitative RT-PCR. The TAQMAN primers to use for detecting and quantifying HCV RNA obtained from Integrated DNA Technologies. HCV RNA is normalized to GAPDH RNA levels in drug-treated cells, which is detected and quantified using the Human GAPDH Endogenous Control Mix (Applied Biosystems, AB 4310884E). Total cellular R A is purified from 96-well plates using the R Aqueous 96 kit (Ambion, Cat# AM1812). Chemical agent cytotoxicity is evaluated using an MTS assay according to the manufacturer's directions (Promega). 3. HCV Replicon Assay - Luciferase

Since clinical drug resistance often develops in viral infections following single agent therapies, there is a need to assess the additive, antagonistic, or synergistic properties of combination therapies. We use the HCV replicon system to assess the potential use of the compound of the present invention or in combination therapies with Interferon alpha, cyclosporine analogs and inhibitors targeting other HCV proteins. The acute effects of a single or combinations of drugs are studied in the "Huh-luc/neo-ET" replicon with each chemical agent titrated in an X or Y direction in a 6 point two-fold dilution curve centered around the EC50 of each drug. Briefly, replicon cells are seeded at 7,000 cells per well in 90 ul DMEM (without phenol red, Invitrogen Cat.# 31053-036) per well with 10% FCS, 1% non-essential amino acids, 1% of Glutamax and 1% of 100X penicillin/streptomycin and incubated overnight at 37°C, 5% C0 ₂ , 100% relative humidity. 16-20h after seeding cells, test compounds previously solubilized and titrated in dimethyl sulfoxide ("DMSO") from each X plate and Y plate are diluted 1 : 100 in DMEM (without phenol red, Invitrogen Cat.# 31053-036) with 10% FCS, 1% non-essential amino acids, 1% of Glutamax and 1% of 100X penicillin/streptomycin and added directly to the 96-well plate containing cells and growth medium at a 1 : 10 dilution for a final dilution of compound and DMSO of 1 : 1000 (0.2% DMSO final concentration). Drug treated cells are incubated at 37°C, 5% C0 ₂ , 100% relative humidity for 72 hours before performing a luciferase assay using 100 ul per well BriteLite Plus (Perkin Elmer) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Data analysis utilizes the method published by Prichard and Shipman (Antiviral Research, 1990. 14: 181-205). Using this method, the combination data are analyzed for antagonistic, additive, or synergistic combination effects across the entire combination surface created by the diluted compounds in combination.

The compounds of the present invention may inhibit HCV by mechanisms in addition to or other than NS5A inhibition. In one embodiment the compounds of the present invention inhibit HCV replicon and in another embodiment the compounds of the present invention inhibit NS5A.

The compounds of the present invention can be effective against the HCV lb genotype. It should also be understood that the compounds of the present invention can inhibit multiple genotypes of HCV. In one embodiment compound of the present invention are active against the la, lb, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, and 5a genotypes. Table 15 shows the EC50 values of representative compounds of the present invention against the HCV lb genotype from the above described qRT-PCR or luciferase assay. EC50 ranges against HCV la or lb are as follows: A >1 nM; B 100-1000 nM; C < 100 pM.

Table 15: Genotype- la or lb replicon EC^n

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.