CA2435117A1

CA2435117A1 - Cyclic 2-carbonylaminoketones as inhibitors of cruzipain and other cysteine proteases

Info

Publication number: CA2435117A1
Application number: CA002435117A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Martin Quibell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Amura Therapeutics Ltd
Priority date: 2001-01-17
Filing date: 2002-01-17
Publication date: 2002-07-25
Also published as: EP1362042A1; IL156775A0; NZ526914A; WO2002057249A1; JP2004522738A

Abstract

Compounds of general formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, Y, (X)o, (W)n, (V)m, Z
and U are as defined in the specification, are inhibitors of cruzipain and other cysteine protease inhibitors and are useful as therapeutic agents, for example in Chagas' disease, or for validating therapeutic target compounds.

Description

PROTEASES
THIS INVENTION relates to compounds which are inhibitors of the protease cruzipain, a gene product of the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. In particular, the invention provides compounds that are useful for the therapeutic treatment of Tf-yparaosoma cruzi infection, to the use of these compounds, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. Furthermore, this invention relates to compounds which are inhibitors across a broad range of cysteine proteases, to the use of these compounds, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. Such compounds are useful for the therapeutic treatment of diseases in which participation of a cysteine protease is implicated.
The trypanosomal family of parasites have a substantial worldwide impact on human and animal healthcare (McKerrow, J. H., et al, Ann. Rev. Micy~obiol. 47, 821-853, 1993). One parasite of this family, Trypanosoma c~zszi, is the causative agent of Chagas' disease, which affects in excess of twenty million people annually in Latin and South America, is the leading cause of heart disease in these regions and results in more than 45,000 deaths per annum (Centers for Disease Control and prevention website). In addition, with the increase in migration of the infected population from rural to urban sites and movements from South and Central America into North America, the infection is spreading via blood transfusions, and at birth. The present treatments of choice for Trypanosoma crzczi infection, nifurtimox and benznidazole (an NADH fumarate reductase inhibitor, Turrens, JF, et al, Mol Biochem Pa~asitol., 82 1 ,125-9, 1996) are at best moderately successful, achieving ~60% cure during the acute phase of infection (see Docampo, R. Cur. Pharm. Design, 7, 1157-1164, 2001 for a general discussion) whilst not being prescribed at all during the chronic phase where cardiomyopathy associated heart failure often occurs (Kirchhoff, L. V.
New Engl. J. Med., 329, 639-644, 1993). Additionally, these two drugs have serious adverse toxic effects, requiring close medical supervision during treatment, and have been shown to induce chromosomal damage in chagastic infants (Gorla, N. B. et al, Mutat. Res. 206, 217-220, 1988). Therefore, a strong medical need exists for new effective drugs for the chemotherapeutic treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

Classically, the identification of enzymes found to be crucial for the establishment or propagation of an infectious disease has been instrumental in the development of successful drugs such as antivirals (e.g. HIV aspartyl protease inhibitors) and anti-s bacterials (e.g. (3-lactam antibiotics). The search for a similar Achilles heel in parasitic infections has examined numerous enzymes (e.g. parasitic dihydrofolate reductase, see Chowdhury, S. F. et al, J. Med. Claem., 42 21 , 4300-4312, 1999;
trypanothione reductase, see Li, Z. et al, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 11 2 , 251-254, 2001; parasitic glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, see Aranov, A. M.
et al, J. Med. Chem., 41 24 , 4790-4799, 1998). A particularly promising area of research has identified the role of cysteine professes, encoded by the parasite, that play a pivotal role during the life cycle of the parasite (McI~errow, J. H., et al, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 7, 639-644, 1999). Proteases form a substantial group of biological molecules which to date constitute approximately 2% of all the gene products identified following analysis of several genome sequencing programmes (e.g. see Southan, C. J. Pept. Sci, 6, 453-458, 2000). Proteases have evolved to participate in an enormous range of biological processes, mediating their effect by cleavage of peptide amide bonds within the myriad of proteins found in nature.
This hydrolytic action is performed by initially recognising, then binding to, particular three-dimensional electronic surfaces displayed by a protein, which aligns the bond for cleavage precisely within the protease catalytic site. Catalytic hydrolysis then commences through nucleophilic attack of the amide bond to be cleaved either via an amino acid side-chain of the protease itself, or through the action of a water molecule that is bound to and activated by the protease. Proteases in which the attacking nucleophile is the thiol side-chain of a Cys residue are known as cysteine proteases.
The general classification of 'cysteine protease' contains many members found across a wide range of organisms from viruses, bacteria, protozoa, plants and fungi to mammals.
Biological investigation of Tr3pahosoma cruzi infection has highlighted a number of specific enzymes that are crucial for the progression of the parasite's life cycle. One such enzyme, cruzipain, a cathepsin L-like cysteine protease, is a clear therapeutic target for the treatment of Chagas' disease ((a) Cazzulo, J. J. et al, Curr.
Pharrn. Des.
7, 1143-1156, 2001; (b) Caffrey, C. R. et al, Cure Drug Targets, l, 155-162, 2000).
Although the precise biological role of cruzipain within the parasite's life cycle remains unclear, elevated cruzipain messenger RNA levels in the epimastigote developmental stage indicate a role in the nutritional degradation of host-molecules in lysosomal-like vesicles (Engel, J. C. et al, J. Cell. Sci, 111, 597-606, 1998). The validation of cruzipain as a viable therapeutic target has been achieved with increasing levels of complexity. Addition of a general cysteine protease inhibitor, Z-Phe-Ala-FMK to Trypanosome cr uzi-infected mammalian cell cultures blocked replication and differentiation of the parasite, thus arresting the parasite life cycle (Harth, G., et al, Mol. Bioclaem. Parasitol. 58, 17-24, 1993). Administration of a vinyl sulphone-based inhibitor in a Trypanosome cruzi-infected murine animal model not only rescued the mice from lethal infections, but also produced a complete recovery (Engel, J. C. et al, J. Exp. Med, 188 4 , 725-734, 1998). Numerous other in vivo studies have confirmed that infections with alternative parasites such as Leishmania major (Selzer, P. M. et al, Proc. Nat'l. Aced. Sci. U.S.A., 96, 11022, 1999), Schistosoma mansoni and Plasmodium falcipar~ium (Olson, J. E. et al, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 7, 633-638, 1999) can be halted or cured by treatment with cysteine protease inhibitors.
A variety of synthetic approaches have been described towards the design of cruzipain inhibitors. However, although providing a biological 'proof of principle' for the treatment of Trypanosome cr~uzi infection, current inhibitors exhibit a number of biochemical and physical properties that may preclude their clinical development.
(e.g. see (a) Brinen, L. S. et al, Structure, 8, 831-840, 2000, peptidomimetic vinyl sulphones, possible adverse mammalian cell toxicity (see McKerrow, J. H. and Engel, J. unpublished results cited in Scheidt, K. A. et al, Bioofg. Med.
Chem, 6, 2477-2494, 1998); (b) Du, X. et al, Chem. Biol., 7, 733-742, 2000, aryl ureas, generally with low ~.M activity, and high ClogP values, thus poor aqueous solubility and probably low oral bioavailability; (c) Roush, W. R. et al, Tetf°ahedr~on, 56, 9747-9762, 2000, peptidyl epoxysuccinates, irreversible inhibitors, with potent activity verses house-keeping mammalian proteases such as cathepsin B; (d) Li, R. et al, Bioofg. Med. Chem. 4 9 , 1421-1427, 1996, bisarylacylhydrazides and chalcones, polyhydroxylated aromatics; (e) US6143931, WO 9846559, non-peptide a-ketoamides). Of the many different approaches to enzyme inhibition to date, only the cruzipain protease inhibitors have proven effective in curing disease-related animal models of Ti~ypanosoma c~uzi infection. Therefore, a clear medical need exists to progress these 'proof of principle' findings towards clinical candidates, suitable for human use, through the discovery of more efficacious cruzipain inhibitors that have a desirable combination of potency, selectivity, low toxicity and optimised pharmacokinetic parameters.
Cruzipain and indeed many other crucial parasitic proteases belong to the papain-like CA C1 family and have close structural mammalian homologues. Cysteine proteases are classified into 'clans' based upon a similarity in the three-dimensional structure or a conserved arrangement of catalytic residues within the protease primary sequence. Additionally, 'clans' are further classified into 'families' in which each protease shares a statistically significant relationship with other members when comparing the portions of amino acid sequence which constitute the parts responsible for the protease activity (see Barrett, A.J et al, in 'Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes', Eds. Barrett, A. J., Rawlings, N. D., and Woessner, J. F. Publ.
Academic Press, 1998, for a thorough discussion). To date, cysteine proteases have been classified into five clans, CA, CB, CC, CD and CE (Barrett, A. J. et al, 1998). A
protease from the tropical papaya fruit 'papain' forms the foundation of clan CA, which currently contains over 80 distinct and complete entries in various sequence databases, with many more expected from the current genome sequencing efforts.
Proteases of clan CA/family C1 have been implicated in a multitude of disease processes e.g. human proteases such as cathepsin K (osteoporosis), cathepsin S
(autoimmune disorders), cathepsin L (metastases) or parasitic proteases such as falcipain (malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum), cruzipain (Ti ypanosoma cruzi infection). Recently a bacterial protease, staphylopain (S aureus infection) has also been tentatively assigned to clan CA. X-ray crystallographic structures are available for a range of the above mentioned proteases in complex with a range of inhibitors e.g. papain (PDB entries, lpad, lpe6, lpip, lpop, 4pad, Spad, 6pad, lppp, lthe, lcsb, lhuc), cathepsin K (1 au0, 1 au2, 1 au3, 1 au4, 1 atk, lmem, lbgo, 1 ayw, 1 ayu), cathepsin L (lcs8), cathepsin S (currently on-hold, but published McGrath, M.
E. et al, Pf~otein Science, 7, 1294-1302, 1998), cruzain (a recombinant form of cruzipain see Eakin, A. E. et al, 268 9 , 6115-6118, 1993) (lewp, laim, 2aim, 1F29, 1F2A, 1F2B, 1F2C), staphylopain (lcv8). Each of the structures displays a similar overall active-site topology, as would be expected by their 'clan' and 'family' classification and such structural similarity exemplifies one aspect of the difficulties involved in discovering a selective inhibitor of cruzipain suitable for human use.
However, subtle differences in terms of the depth and intricate shape of the active site groove of each CA C1 protease are evident, which may be exploited for selective inhibitor design.
Additionally, many of the current substrate-based inhibitor complexes of CA C1 family proteases show a series of conserved hydrogen bonds between the inhibitor and the protease backbone, which contribute significantly to inhibitor potency.
Primarily a bidentate hydrogen-bond is observed between the protease G1y66 (C=O)/
inhibitor N-H and the protease G1y66(NH)/inhibitor (C=O), where the inhibitor (C=O) and (NH) are provided by an amino acid residue NHCHRCO that constitutes the S2 sub-site binding element within the inhibitor (see Berger, A. and Schecter, I.
Philos. Tnans. R. Soc. Lond. ~Biol.J, 257, 249-264, 1970 for a description of protease binding site nomenclature). A further hydrogen-bond between the protease main-chain (C=O) of asparagine or aspartic acid (158 to 163, residue number varies between proteases) and an inhibitor (N-H) is often observed, where the inhibitor (N-H) is provided by the S 1 sub-site binding element within the inhibitor. Thus, the motif X-NHCHRCO-NH-Y is widely observed amongst the prior art substrate-based inhibitors of CA C1 proteases.
In the prior art, the development of cysteine protease inhibitors for human use has recently been an area of intense activity. Considering the CA C1 family members, particular emphasis has been placed upon the development of inhibitors of human cathepsins, primarily cathepsin K (osteoporosis), cathepsin S (autoimmune disorders) and cathepsin L (metastases), through the use of peptide and peptidomimetic nitrites (e.g. see WO-A-0109910, WO-A-0051998, WO-A-0119816, WO-A-9924460, WO-A-0049008, WO-A-0048992, WO-A-0049007, WO-A-0130772, WO-A-0055125, WO-A-0055126, WO-A-0119808, WO-A-0149288, WO-A-0147886), linear and cyclic peptide and peptidomimetic ketones (e.g. see Veber, D. F. and Thompson, S.
K., Curf°. Opin. Drug Discovery Dev., 3 4 , 362-369, 2000, WO-A-0170232, WO-A-0178734, WO-A-0009653, WO-A-0069855, WO-A-0029408, WO-A-0134153 to WO-A-0134160, WO-A-0029408, WO-A-9964399, WO-A-9805336, WO-A-9850533), ketoheterocycles (e.g. see WO-A-0055144, WO-A-0055124) and monobactams (e.g. see WO-A-0059881, WO-A-9948911, WO-A-0109169). The prior art describes potent ih viti°o inhibitors, but also highlights the many difficulties in developing a human therapeutic. For example, WO-A-9850533 and WO-A-0029408 describe compounds that may be referred to as cyclic ketones and are inhibitors of cysteine proteases with a particular reference towards papain family proteases and as a most preferred embodiment, cathepsin K. WO-A-9850533 describes compounds subsequently detailed in the literature as potent inhibitors of cathepsin K with good oral bioavailability (Witherington, J., 'Tetrahydrofurans as Selective Cathepsin K Inhibitors', RSC meeting, Burlington House, London, 1999).
The compounds of WO-A-9850533 were reported to bind to cathepsin K through the formation of a reversible covalent bond between the tetrahydrofuran carbonyl and the active site catalytic cysteine residue (Witherington, J., 1999). Additionally, the same cyclic ketone compounds are described in WO-A-9953039 as part of a wide-ranging description of inhibitors of cysteine proteases associated with parasitic diseases, with particular reference to the treatment of malaria by inhibition of falcipain.
However, subsequent literature describes the cyclic ketone compounds of WO-A-9850533 to be unsuitable for further development or for full pharmacokinetic evaluation due to a physiochemical property of the inhibitors, the poor chiral stability of the oc-aminoketone chiral centre (Marquis, R. W. et al, J. Med. Chem., 44 5 , 725-736, 2001). WO-A-0069855 describes compounds that may also be referred to as cyclic ketones with particular reference towards inhibition of cathepsin S. The compounds of WO-A-0069855 are considered to be an advance on compounds of WO-A-9850533 due to the presence of the (3-substituent on the cyclic ketone ring system that provides increased chiral stability to the a-carbon of the cyclic ketone ring system. In an attempt to solve the problem of poor chiral integrity, subsequent literature has provided a closely related cyclic ketone series to that described in WO-A-9850533, where an approximately 300-fold loss in inhibitor potency was observed upon introduction of an alkyl group in place of the labile a,-proton (Marquis, R. W. et al, J. Med. Chem., 44, 1380-1395, 2001). Additionally, subsequent literature has shown that within the cyclic ketone series described in WO-A-9850533, the a-(~
isomer is approximately 10 to 80-fold more potent than the a,-(R) isomer (Fenwick, A. E. et al, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 11, 199-202, 2001).
It has now been discovered that certain compounds, defined by general formula (I), are potent and selective cruzipain protease inhibitors which are useful in the treatment of Trypanosoma c~uzi infection. Other compounds defined by general formula (I) are protease inhibitors across a broad range of CA C1 cysteine proteases and compounds useful in the treatment of diseases caused by cysteine proteases.
Compounds described by general formula (I) contain an a-alkyl group, of the R-stereo-configuration (or the S-stereo-configuration when Z = 'S'), yet surprisingly compounds defined by general formula (I) retain good potency. The present invention provides substituted (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide, (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro-thiophen-3-yl)amide and (1-alkyl-2-alkyl-5-oxocyclopentyl)amide compounds defined by general formula (I).
Accordingly, the first aspect of the invention provides a compound according to formula (I):

U'~U)m (W)~~X)o Y\n E
(I) wherein: Ri = Co_~-alkyl (when C = 0, Rl is simply hydrogen), C3_6-cycloalkyl or Ar-Co_~-alkyl (when C = 0, Rl is simply an aromatic moiety Ar);
RZ = Co_~-alkyl, C3_6-cycloalkyl or Ar-Co_~-alkyl;

_g_ R3 = C1_~-alkyl, C3_6-cycloalkyl or Ar-C°_~-alkyl;
Y = CR4R5-CO where R4, RS are independently chosen from C°_7-alkyl, C3_6-cycloalkyl and Ar-C°_~-alkyl;
(X)o = CR6R7, where R6 and R7 are independently chosen from C°_7-alkyl, C3_6-cycloalkyl and Ar-C°_~-alkyl and o is a number from zero to three;
IO
(W)n = O, S, C(O), S(O) or S(O)2 or NRB, where R8 is chosen from C°_~-alkyl, C3_6-cycloalkyl and Ar-C°_~-alkyl and n is zero or one;
(V),n = C(O), C(S), S(O), S(O)2, S(O)ZNH, OC(O), NHC(O), NHS(O), I S NHS(O)2, OC(O)NH, C(O)NH or CR9R1°, where R9 and Rl°
are independently chosen from C°_~-alkyl, C3_6-cycloalkyl, Ar-C°_~-alkyl and m is a number from zero to three, provided that when m is greater than one, (V)m contains a maximum of one carbonyl or sulphonyl group;
20 Z = O (in which case compounds of general formula (I) may be named as (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amides, S (in which case compounds of general formula (I) may be named as (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrothiophen-3-yl)amides or CH2 (in which case compounds of general formula (I) may be 25 named as and (1-alkyl-2-alkyl-5-oxocyclopentyl)amides;
U = a stable 5- to 7-membered monocyclic or a stable 8- to 11-membered bicyclic ring which is either saturated or unsaturated and which includes zero to four heteroatoms (as detailed below):

B-G ,J
R~~.~T~' /B \\ ~/ I
P'---~~a ~~ ~G ~E~ M.R~T
E
, ~G I/\ ~ DB /~ p M i ~ M i ~ ~ w M
~R E .R E E R E R
I DB ~\I I/J ~ T~~ j ~E ~R~M \E ~ M M~~R iiTa M'~R _fiTa O O
B T5 L~-JW Ts B Ts L~JW Ts II R ~ //E~~ II R J
p ~ a M. / a D' a M~ / a ~E
O O
I i J ~ Ts D B ~ Ts I i J Ts D B T5 M. R / ~E / M~ R ~ / ~E ~ /
wherein Rll is chosen from:
Co_7-alkyl, C3_6-cycloalkyl, Ar-Co_~-alkyl, halogen, O-Co_7-alkyl, O-C3_6-cycloalkyl, O-Ar-Co_~-alkyl, S-Co_~-alkyl, S-C3_6-cycloalkyl, S-Ar-Co_~-alkyl, NH-Co_7-alkyl, NH-C3_6-cycloalkyl, NH-Ar-Co_~-alkyl, N-(Co_7-alkyl)2, N-(C3_6-cycloalkyl)2 and N-(Ar-CO-7-alkyl)2;
or, when part of a group CHRI l or CRl l, Ri l may be halogen;
A is chosen from:
CH2, CHRII, O, S and NR12, where Rll is as defined above and where R12 is chosen from Co_7-alkyl, C3_6-cycloalkyl and Ar-Co_~-alkyl;

B, D and G are independently chosen from:
CRj 1, where Rl l is as defined above, or N;
E is chosen from:
CH2, CHR11, O, S and NRI~', where Rll and R12 are defined as above ;
J, L, M, R, T, T2, T3 and T4 are independently chosen from:
CRl l and N, where RI1 is as defined above;
TS is chosen from:
CH or N;
q is a number from one to three, thereby defining a 5-, 6- or 7-rnembered ring.
B, D, G, J, L, M, R, T, Ta, T3 and T4 may additionally represent an N-oxide (NCO).
The present invention includes all salts, hydrates, solvates, complexes and prodrugs of the compounds of this invention. The term "compound" is intended to include all such salts, hydrates, solvates, complexes and prodrugs, unless the context requires otherwise.
Appropriate pharmaceutically and veterinarily acceptable salts of the compounds of general formula (T) include salts of organic acids, especially carboxylic acids, including but not limited to acetate, trifluoroacetate, lactate, gluconate, citrate, tartrate, maleate, malate, pantothenate, adipate, alginate, aspartate, benzoate, butyrate, digluconate, cyclopentanate, glucoheptanate, glycerophosphate, oxalate, heptanoate, hexanoate, fumarate, nicotinate, palmoate, pectinate, 3-phenylpropionate, picrate, pivalate, proprionate, tartrate, lactobionate, pivolate, camphorate, undecanoate and succinate, organic sulphonic acids such as methanesulphonate, ethanesulphonate, 2-hydroxyethane sulphonate, camphorsulphonate, 2-naphthalenesulphonate, benzenesulphonate, p-chlorobenzenesulphonate and p toluenesulphonate; and inorganic acids such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, sulphate, bisulphate, hemisulphate, thiocyanate, persulphate, phosphoric and sulphonic acids. Salts which axe not pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable may still be valuable as intermediates.
Prodrugs are any covalently bonded compounds which release the active parent drug according to general formula (I) in vivo. A prodrug may for example constitute an acetal or hemiacetal derivative of the exocyclic ketone functionality present in the (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide, (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro-thiophen-3-yl)amide or (1-alkyl-2-alkyl-5-oxocyclopentyl)amide scaffold.. If a chiral centre or another form of isomeric centre is present in a compound of the present invention, all forms of such isomer or isomers, including enantiomers and diastereoisomers, are intended to be covered herein. Compounds of the invention containing a chiral centre may be used as a racemic mixture, an enantiomerically enriched mixture, or the racemic mixture may be separated using well-known techniques and an individual enantiamer may be used alone.
'Halogen' as applied herein is meant to include F, Cl, Br, I;
'Heteroatom' as applied herein is meant to include O, S and N;
'Co_7-alkyl' as applied herein is meant to include stable straight and branched chain aliphatic caxbon chains containing zero (i.e. simply hydrogen) to seven carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, hexyl, heptyl and any simple isomers thereof. Additionally, any Co_~-alkyl may optionally be substituted at any point by one, two or three halogen atoms (as defined above) for example to give a trifluoromethyl substituent. Furthermore, Co_~-alkyl may contain one or more heteroatoms (as defined above) for example to give ethers, thioethers, sulphones, sulphonamides, substituted amines, amidines, guanidines, carboxylic acids, carboxamides. If the heteroatom is located at a chain terminus then it is appropriately substituted with one or two hydrogen atoms.
A

heteroatom or halogen is only present when Co_~-alkyl contains a minimum of one carbon atom.
Cl_7-alkyl as applied herein is meant to include the definitions for Co_~-alkyl (as defined above) but describes a substituent that comprises a minimum of one carbon.
'C3_6-cycloalkyl' as applied herein is meant to include any variation of 'Co_7-alkyl' which additionally contains a carbocyclic ring such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl. The carbocyclic ring may optionally be substituted with one or more halogens (as defined above) or heteroatoms (as defined above) for example to give a tetrahydrofuran, pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine or morpholine substituent.
'Ar-Co_7-alkyl' as applied herein is meant to include any variation of Co_~-alkyl which additionally contains an aromatic ring moiety 'Ar'. The aromatic ring moiety Ar can be a stable 5 or 6-membered monocyclic ar a stable ~ or 10 membered bicyclic ring which is unsaturated, as defined previously for U in general formula (I). The aromatic ring moiety Ar may be substituted by Rl r (as defined above for U in general formula (I)). When C = 0 in the substituent Ar-Co_~-alkyl, the substituent is simply the aromatic ring moiety Ar.
Other expressions containing terms such as alkyl and cycloalkyl are intended to be construed according to the definitions above. For example "C1_4 alkyl" is the same as Co_~-alkyl except that it contains from one to four carbon atoms.
If different structural isomers are present, and/or one or mare chiral centres are present, all isomeric forms are intended to be covered. Enantiomers are characterised by the absolute configuration of their chiral centres and described by the R-and ,S
sequencing rules of Cahn, Ingold and Prelog. Such conventions are well known in the art (e.g. see 'Advanced Organic Chemistry', 3rd edition, ed. March, J., John Wiley and Sons, New York,1985).

Preferred compounds of general formula (I) include those in which Rl comprises Co_ ~-alkyl or Ar-Co_~-alkyl. Thus, for example, preferred Rl moieties include hydrogen, or a straight or branched alkyl chain, or a straight or branched heteroalkyl chain, or an optionally substituted arylalkyl chain, or an optionally substituted arylheteroalkyl chain.
It is particularly preferred that Rl is hydrogen or C1~ alkyl or Ar-Cl_4-alkyl and examples of such Rl substituents include, but are not limited to:
where Rll is defined above.
It is preferred that Ra is Co_~-alkyl or Ar-Co_~-alkyl, for example, hydrogen, straight or branched alkyl chains or heteroalkyl chains or optionally substituted arylalkyl chains. Particularly preferred compounds include those in which R2 is Co_4-alkyl or Ar-Coy-alkyl and examples of such R2 substituents include, but are not limited to:
R~~
OH NHS02Me CONH2 ~ ~ 12 12 O~ O~ N R R
wherein Rl l and R12 are as defined above.
Examples of (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide scaffolds including such preferred Rl and R2 'groups include:
O NHZ
OH
O O
O O O
O
NH°~~,,, ~ NH~~~''" NHS°~',' NH°~~~~.

o NH~,,, In preferred compounds of general formula (I), R3 is a simple alkyl or arylalkyl group such as methyl.
In preferred compounds of general formula (I), Y is CHRSCO where RS is selected from C°_~-alkyl or Ar-Co_~-alkyl, for example hydrogen, a straight or branched alkyl chain, a straight or branched heteroalkyl chain, an optionally substituted arylalkyl chain or an optionally substituted arylheteroalkyl chain. Additionally, in preferred compounds of general formula (I), RS is selected from C3_6-cycloalkyl, for example cyclohexylmethyl.
Examples of preferred Y substituents include the following:
OH OH
(X)°~ (X)° ~ (X)° ~ (X)o (X)o (X)°
~ o ~o ~o NR1zR12 COOR12 CONR12R1a 1-3 ~ 1-3 ~ 1-3 (X)0 ~ (X)0 ~ (X)0 ~ (X)0 ~ (X)0 ~ (X)0 O O O O O O

R11 R11 ~ Ar -z ~ ~Ar O S I-~ z 13 12 ~ SO
(X)0 ~ (X)0 ~ (X)0 ~ (X)0 O O O
wherein Rll, R1a and Ar are as defined above.

-I S
More preferred RS groups include C1~-alkyl, which may be substituted with OH, NRI2RI2, COOR12, or CONR12 or cycloalkylmethyl or Ar-Cl~-alkyl, where the aryl group may be substituted with Ril; wherein each Rll and Rla is independently as defined above.
Even more preferred RS groups comprise Ar-CHZ-, where the aromatic ring is an optionally substituted phenyl or monocyclic heterocycle, Additionally, even more preferred RS groups comprise simple branched alkyl groups such as isobutyl or straight heteroalkyl chains such as benzylsulfanylmethyl or benzylsulphonylmethyl.
Furthermore, even more preferred RS groups comprise cyclohexylmethyl. Examples of even more preferred Y substituents comprise the following, ~/~f' ~/~f' ~ R11 ISr02 '"'° 1 '"'° ~ '"'° ~ 'X~° ~ '"'° ~
'"'° ~
O O o O O O
wherein Rl l and Ar are as defined previously IS
It is preferred that in the group (X)o, each of R6 and R7 is selected from Co_7-alkyl or Ar-Co_~-alkyl, for example hydrogen, a straight or branched alkyl chain, a straight or branched heteroalkyl chain, an optionally substituted arylalkyl chain or an optionally substituted arylheteroalkyl chain.
More preferred (X)o groups comprise R6 chosen from hydrogen; R' is Cr_4-alkyl, which may be substituted with OH, NR12R12, COOR12, or CONR12; or Ar-Cl_4-alkyl, where the aryl group may be substituted with Rll, wherein each Rll and Rla is independently as defined above.
Examples of preferred (X)o groups include the following:

OH
(W)n~Y W)n Y
( (W)n Y (W)n Y (W)n Y
OH NR12R1a COOR12 ~1-3 ~1-3 (W)n Y (W)n Y (W)n Y (W)n Y (W)n Y

CONR1zR12 / \1 _3 ~ ~ ~ O
-' 1-3 --~ 1-3 (W)n Y
(W)n Y (W)n Y
wherein Rl l and R12 are as defined previously.
Even more preferred compounds of general formula (I), comprise (X)D groups that are simple alkyl groups such as methylene and where o = 0 or 1.
In the group (W)n, W is preferably O, S, 502, S(O), C(O) or NRB, where R8 is C°_4-alkyl; and n is 0 or 1.
More preferred compounds of general formula (I), comprise (W)" groups defined as O, S, 502, C(O) and NH where n = 0 or 1.
In the group (V)m:
V is preferably C(O), C(O)NH or CHRI°, where Rl° is C°_4-alkyl; and mis0orl.
Preferred V and W substituent combinations encompassed by general formula (I) include, but are not limited to:

O X
U/(X)o U~ ~(X)o UnOi( )o U~S/(X)o 'n' = p 'n' = 1 'n' = 1 ,n, __ 1 ~m~ = p 'W' = O 'W' = O
'm'= 0 'V'=C112 ~W~=S
'V' = CH(CH3) 'm' = 1 ,m, = 1 O
- X ~ -Y U O~(X)o N~(X)o U S OZ( )o U (X)o U
'n' = 1 ,n, = p 'n' = 1 (X)o' 0 'W'=SO 'W'=O , , 'V' = CH(CHzCH3) ,m, __ ~(~O) 'V' = C(C 1 'W' _- NI t8 ,m, __ 1 'm' = 1 R8 =_ H
'V' = C(O) 'm'=1 Additionally, a preferred V and W substituent combination encompassed by general formula (I) is:
O
U~N~-Y
H
.(X) , _ . .
o -n=1 'W' = NR8, R$ ='H' 'V' = C(O) m=1 More preferred V, W and X substituent combinations encompassed by general formula (I) comprise, but are not limited to O Y ~ /Y O
~Y ~O~Y U~S/ U ~O U~N~Y

(~)o (x)o ='- (X)o = (x)o =' (X)o ='CHz(x)o ='- =' ='-~W)n='O'~)n='O' ~)n='S' ~)n='S02 ~)n='C~O)'~)n=NH' ~)m='C~O)'~)m='CH2 N)m='CH2 N)m='CHy' N)m-'- ~V)m-'C~O)' In preferred compounds of general formula (I), U comprises an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocycle or Ar group or an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated 9- or 10-membered heterocycle or Ar group.
Examples of such preferred U rings include the following:
R11 ~N R11 ~N R11 ~ R11 \ R11 \
OJ O / , s>
O O
R11 \N~ R11 R11 _~N-, R11 / O O'~
O O
R11 ~ ~ R11 ~ \ R11 ~ ~ R11 O / O O O /
and also the following N
R11 R11 / I \ R11 / I \ R11 /
/ \ / \ /
O O
/ /
R11 ~ R11 I R11 \ ~ /
wherein R1l is as defined previously.
More preferred compounds of general formula (I), contain a U group comprising of a bulky alkyl or aryl group at the pare position of an aryl Ar. Also, more preferred compounds.contain a mete or pare-biaryl Ar-Ar, where Ar is as previously defined.
Additionally, more preferred compounds contain a 6,6 or 6,5 or 5,6-fused aromatic ring. Examples of more preferred U groups are J
Li ~~ L~ LiJ~~ Li ~~ LiJ~
R I RiT Li ~ RGT sG I R~~ ~G~N RiT
R~~ II ~ D\ ~ p I p R~~ M~R~T ~G-E 'G'G 'E~G
E \ END G~E p~E' G~E~
_ _ ii LiyGD Li \Y ~ Li ~~D~ Li W I /G LiJW I GD
II II I II II J II
M~RiT M~R T M~ T M~RiT M~R~T
,G
,J N~pG ,J N~p~ L'~J~ \ j~J~ ~ p I I ~ M i E G M~R E 'E RAM
M~R~T M~R~T ~R
iG % ~L LGJ T,~~ LiJ ~T
D ~ ~ G D II I I I 13 'E ~R p ~ j ~ M M.~R .rTa M.R .rTa E
'E ~R~M
wherein Rl l, D, E, G, J, L, M, R, T, T2, T3 and T4 are as defined previously.
Even more preferred compounds of general formula (I), particularly for inhibition of cruzipain, contain a U group comprising a 6-membered Ar ring containing a bulky alkyl or aryl group at the para position, where Ar is as previously defined J
L~ ~~ I ~ L~ ~~ I ~ LiJ~ E \ p R11 I ~
R%'T L''JW F2~T ,G~ I RpT ~G~N~R~T G I ~~ L~J~
R11 II ~ D p I O R II
M ~T v ' , R11 .R~ G-E G~D D~E~G M~ ,T
R
E~ \ G~E p~E' G, ~ p/\ p%G
J' ~~ Y J I /~ I G I D I ,G I
G ~~ ~D LiJ / iJ G L~J~ N~D iJ~ N
II ~ I ~ II ~ I
M~R~T M.R~T M~ ~T M~ ~T M.RpT M~R~T
R R
wherein Rl l, D, E, G, J, L, M, R and T are as defined previously Yet even more preferred compounds of general formula (I), contain a U group comprising but are not limited to the following, R I J\ I \ \ I \ \ E
R1, I .. D \ D N 'G / I \
/ \ ~ ,G I ~- G, ~ I
~G
R~~ / vG_E .G: D D.E~.G /
E' ~ i' ~ D~E' G, ~ D~G DIG
\ ~ ~ \ ~ \ I /G \ I G~ \ N~p \ N~pY
I/ ~/ I/ I/ I/ I/
wherein Rll, D, E, G, J and L are as defined previously.
Abbreviations and symbols commonly used in the peptide and chemical arts are used herein to describe compounds of the present invention, following the general guidelines presented by the IUPAC-IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature as described in Eu~. J. Bioclaem., 158, 9-, 1984. Compounds of formula (I) and the intermediates and starting materials used in their preparation are named in accordance with the IUPAC rules of nomenclature in which the characteristic groups have decreasing priority for citation as the principle group. An example compound of formula (I), compound (1) in which Rl is H, R2 is ethyl, R3 is methyl, Z is oxygen, Y is 4-methylpentyl, (X)D is zero, (V~" is oxygen, (V)m is methylene and U is phenyl is thus named:-l Ol (R) O (S~ N\'''~~,,.~ 3 H
(1) (2R, 3R) 2-Benzyloxy-4-methylpentanoic acid (2-ethyl-3-methyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro furan-3-yl)amide A second example compound of formula (I), compound (2) in which R1 is H, R2 is ethyl, R3 is methyl, Z is sulphur, Y is 4-methylpentyl, (X)D is zero, (V~n is oxygen, (V)m is methylene and U is phenyl is thus named:-s (2) (2R, 3S) 2-Benzyloxy-4-methylpentanoic acid (2-ethyl-3-methyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro thiophen-3-yl)amide A third example compound of formula (I), compound (3) in which Rl is H, R2 is ethyl, R3 is methyl, Z is methylene, Y is 4-methylpentyl, (X)D is zero, (V~"
is oxygen, (V)m is methylene and U is phenyl is thus named:-_H
O .-.-'2 l (R) O (S) N\\\w~,.. 1 H
O
(3) (1R, 2~ 2-Benzyloxy-4-methylpentanoic acid (2-ethyl-1-methyl-5-oxo-cyclopentyl) amide Compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, the following examples that are the (2R, 3R) isomer of general formula (I) where Z = 'O' and Rl =
'H', and also include the equivalent analogues included in the full definition of Z and Rl, R2 and R3 N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide 4-test-Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-trifluoromethoxybenzamide 4-Dimethylamino-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-isopropylbenzamide 4-Difluoromethoxy-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbarnoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-trifluoromethylbenzamide 4-Brorno-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzarnide 3-Bromo-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-vinylbenzamide Naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Quinoline-6-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzothiazole-5-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-imidazol-1-ylb enzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-thiophen-2-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-oxazol-5-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-[ 1,2,3]thiadiazol-5-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-pyrazol-1-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-5-thiophen-2-ylnicotinamide 2-Phenylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 2-Pyridin-3-ylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 5-Phenylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 5-Pyridin-3-ylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 2-Methyl-5-phenylfuran-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 4-Phenylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 4-Pyridin-3-ylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 2-Thiophen-2-ylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcaxbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 3-Phenylpyrrole-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]
benzamide 4-test-Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-trifluoromethoxybenzamide 4-Dimethylamino-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide 4-Isopropyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide 4-Difluoromethoxy-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-trifluoro methylbenzamide 4-Bromo-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide 3-Bromo-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-vinyl benzamide Naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbarnoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Quinoline-6-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Benzothiazole-5-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 4-Imidazol-1-yl-N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-thiophen-2-ylbenzamide _27_ N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-oxazol-5-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-[1,2,3]
thiadiazol-4-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-pyrazol-1-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-5-thiophen-2-ylnicotinamide 2-Phenylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 2-Pyridin-3-ylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 5-Phenylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [[1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 5-Pyridin-3-ylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 2-Methyl-5-phenylfuran-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 4-Phenylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 4-Pyridin-3-ylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 2-Thiophen-2-ylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 3-Phenylpyrrole-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro~uran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide 4-tent-Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-trifluoromethoxybenzamide 4-Dimethylamino-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-isopropylbenzamide 4-Difluoromethoxy-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-trifluoromethylbenzamide 4-Bromo-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide 3-Bromo-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-vinylbenzamide Naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Quinoline-6-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzothiazole-5-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-imidazol-1-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-thiophen-2-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-oxazol-5-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-[1,2,3]thiadiazol-5-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-pyrazol-1-ylbenzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-5-thiophen-2-ylnicotinamide 2-Phenylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 2-Pyridin-3-ylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 5-Phenylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 5-Pyridin-3-ylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 2-Methyl-5-phenylfuran-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 4-Phenylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 4-Pyridin-3-ylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 2-Thiophen-2-ylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 3-Phenylpyrrole-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Additional compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, the following examples that are the (2R, 3R) isomer of general formula (I) where Z = 'O' and Rl =
'H', and also include the equivalent analogues included in the full definition of Z and Rl, R2 and R3 Furan-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid [I-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-methyl-butyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-methyl-butyl]-amide Thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Furan-2-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid [[2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid 1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide Thiophene-2-carboxylic acid 1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid 1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid 1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid 1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid 1-(~,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide Naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid 1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-benzamide Furan-2-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide N [2-Cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-benzamide Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-2-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide N [2-Benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-benzarnide Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-benzarnide Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide Naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide 2-Benzyloxy-3-cyclohexyl-N (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-propionamide 2-(4-tart-Butyl-benzylsulfanyl)-4-methyl-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-amide 2-(4-tart-Butyl-phenylmethanesulfonyl)-4-methyl-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-amide 2-(4-tent-Butyl-benzylsulfanyl)-N (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionamide 2-(4-test Butyl-phenylmethanesulfonyl)-N (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionamide 2-Cyclohexylmethyl-N (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-4-morpholin-4-yl-4-oxo-butyramide 4,4-Dimethyl-2-(2-morpholin-4-yl-2-oxo-ethyl)-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-amide 2-Biphenyl-3-yl-4-methyl-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-yl)-amide 4-(3,4-Dihydro-1 H-isoquinolin-2-yl)-N-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-2-(4-hydroxy-benzyl)-4-oxo-butyramide N-(2,3-Dirnethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-yl)-2-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-4-oxo-4-(3-phenyl-pyrrol-1-yl)-butyramide N-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-2-(4-hydroxy-benzyl)-4-oxo-4-(3-phenyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyramide 4-Methyl-2-[2-oxo-2-(3-phenyl-pyrrol-1-yl)-ethyl]-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-amide 4-Methyl-2-[2-oxo-2-(3-phenyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-amide 2-[2-(1,3-Dihydro-isoindol-2-yl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-4-methyl-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-amide 4-( 1, 3-Dihydro-isoindol-2-yl)-N-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-2-(4-hydroxy-benzyl)-4-oxo-butyramide 2-[2-(3,4-Dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-yl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-4-methyl-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-amide Additional compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, the following examples that are the (2S, 3R) isomer of general formula (I) where Z = 'O' and Rl =
'H', and also include the equivalent analogues included in the full definition of Z and Rl, R2 and R3 4-test-Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-trifluoromethoxybenzamide 4-Dimethylamino-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-isopropylbenzamide 4-Difluoromethoxy-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-trifluoromethylbenzamide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Benzothiazole-5-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-thiophen-2-ylbenzamide 5-Phenylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 4-Phenylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro~uran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide 4-tent-Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-trifluoromethoxybenzamide 4-Dimethylamino-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl)-benzamide 4-Isopropyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide 4-Difluoromethoxy-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-trifluoromethylbenzamide Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Benzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Benzothiazole-5-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-thiophen-2-ylbenzamide 5-Phenylthiophene-2-carboxylic ' acid [[1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide 4-Phenylthiophene-Z-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Further additional compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, the following examples that are the (2S, 3R) isomer of general formula (I) where Z
= 'O' and Rl = 'H', and also include the equivalent analogues included in the full definition of Z and Rl, R2 and R3 Furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-methyl-butyl]-amide IS Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid 1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid 1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclopentyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide Furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-phenylmethanesulfonyl-ethyl]-amide Considering all of the above examples, it is also intended to include the oxidised analogues of capping groups that contain a readily oxidised nitrogen to give the N-oxide or a readily oxidised sulphur to give the sulphone. The following structures are illustrative examples;
o~ .

To those skilled in the practices of organic chemistry, compounds of general formula (I) may be readily synthesised by a number of chemical strategies, performed either in solution or on the solid phase (see Atherton, E. and Sheppard, R. C. In 'Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis: A Practical Appr°oach', Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. 1989, for a general review of solid phase synthesis principles). The solid phase strategy is attractive in being able to generate many thousands of analogues, typically on a 5-100mg scale, through established parallel synthesis methodologies (e.g.
see (a) Bastos, M.; Maeji, N. J.; Abeles, R. H. Pf°oc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
USA, 92, 6738-6742,1995).
Therefore, one strategy for the synthesis of compounds of general formula (I) comprises:-(a) Preparation of an appropriately functionalised and protected (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide or (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrothiophen-3-yl)amide or (1-alkyl-2-alkyl-5-oxocyclopentyl)amide ketone building block in solution.
(b) Attachment of the building block (a) to the solid phase through a linker that is stable to the conditions of synthesis, but readily labile to cleavage at the end of a synthesis (see James, I. W., Tet~ahedf°on, 55(Repo~t N°- 4~9), 4855-4946, 1999, for examples of the 'linker' function as applied to solid phase synthesis).
(c) Solid phase organic chemistry (see Brown, R. D. J. Chem. Soc., Pef°kin Ti~ahs.l, 19, 3293-3320, 1998), to construct the remainder of the molecule.
(d) Compound cleavage from the solid phase into solution.
(e) Cleavage work-up and compound analysis.
The first stage in a synthesis of compounds of general formula (I) is the preparation in solution of a functionalised and protected building block. A typical scheme towards the (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide (7) is detailed in Scheme 1.

R OPg R OPg R~
O O
,,, OH a,b,c ~ , R1 Fm0 H = ~ Fm0 H° ~ ~ N~ - d-~ FmO~N

) (7) v R~
OPg N
~R
Fm~0~0 O
(5) Scheme 1. (a) 'BuOCOCI, NMM, DCM, -15°C, l Omins, under argon. (b) Diazomethane in diethyl ether, -15°C to RT over lhr. (c) Acetic acid (d) LiCI (l0eq) in 80%aq acetic acid, 5°C to RT over lhr.
FmOC(O) denotes the well known amine protecting group 9-fluorenyl methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc, see Atherton, E. and Sheppard, R. C., 1989) and 'Pg' denotes either a free hydroxyl or an hydroxyl protecting group such as tent-butyl ether. In the illustrated case, condensation with diazomethane provides Rl =
H.
Considering step (a), synthesis may commence from suitably protected (3-hydroxy-a,-alkyl-a-aminoacid (4). (3-hydroxy-a-aminoacids are accessible through a variety of literature methods e.g. (a) Adams, Z. M., Jackson, R. F. W., Palmer, N. J., Rami, H.
I~., Wythes, M. J., J. Chern. Soc., Perkin Tf~ans I, 937-947, 1999, (b) Hubschwerlen, C., et al, J. Med. Chem, 41, 3972-3975, 1998, (c) Luzzio, F. A., et al, Tet.
Lett., 41, 7151-7155, 2000, (d) Morgan, A. J. et al, Org. Lett. 1 12 , 1949-1952, 1999.
(e) Zhang, H., Xia, P., Zhou, W., Tetf°ahed~o>z: Asymnaet>~y, 11, 3439-3447, 2000, (f) Blaskovich, M.A., et al, J. Otg. Chem, 63, 3631-3646, 1998, (g) Seebach, D. et al, Helv. Chim. Acta., 70, 1194, 1987. Also, oc-alkyl-oc-aminoacids are readily available through a number of literature methods e.g. Cativiela, C., Diaz-de-Villegas, M. D.
Tetraltedroh: Asyntmett-y, 9, 3517-3599,1998.

In the simplest case where RZ and R3 are a methyl substituent, the a-hydroxy-a,-alkyl-a-aminoacid (4) is the known (2R, 3SR)-a,-methylthreonine (the 3S isomer corresponds to D-Thr and the 3R isomer corresponds to D-alloThr). Activation of the suitably protected (3-hydroxy-a,-alkyl-oc-aminoacid (4) via isobutyl chloroformate mixed anhydride, followed by condensation with diazomethane, yields the diazomethylketone intermediate (6). Following the reaction conditions detailed in Scheme 1, formation of the diazoketone is clearly observed. However, an overall improvement in isolated yield of diazoketone (6) is obtained by pre-forming the acyl fluoride of (4), which has a lesser propensity to form the poorly active (1'R
or S, 4R) 4-(1'-alkoxyethyl)-2-(9H fluoren-9-ylmethoxy)-4-methyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (5) and also by leaving the reaction with ethereal diazomethane for 48hr. Treatment of diazomethylketone intermediate (6) with lithium chloride in aqueous acetic acid provides the protected (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide (7).
Introduction of simple RI substituents may be achieved by condensation of activated (4) with alternatives to diazomethane such as diazoethane (R1 - CH3), or 1-phenyloxydiazoethane (R1 = CH20Ph).
The protected building blocks (synthesis exemplified by the (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide (7)) detailed in Scheme 1 may be utilised in a solid phase synthesis of inhibitor molecules (steps (b) to (e)). Step (b), the solid phase linkage of an aldehyde or ketone, has previously been described by a variety of methods (e.g.
see (a) James, I. W., 1999, (b) Lee, A., Huang, L., Ellman, J. A., J. Am.
Clzem. Soc, 121 43 , 9907-9914, 1999, (c) Murphy, A. M., et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 114, 3157, 1992). A suitable method amenable to the reversible linkage of an alkyl ketone functionality such as (7) is through a combination of the previously described chemistries. The semicarbazide, 4-[[(hydrazinocarbonyl)amino]
methyl]cyclohexane carboxylic acid.trifluoroacetate (8) (Murphy, A. M., et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 114, 3156-3157, 1992), may be utilised as illustrated in Scheme 2, exemplified by linkage of the (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide (7).

Rz O O
o R~ (~ FmO~N'~~ ~ R1 H /~
Fm0 N'~~ H R3N-N N~',.~~COOH
Rso (7) (9) (b) 2 OR o o R~ (c)'~) FmO~N'~~ R1 0 Vy~WwX.Y.N.~~ ~..~ 3 H H
R30 R~-N~N~',,~~N_SOLID PHASE
O H
General formula (I) (10) Scheme 2. (a) (7) in 90% EtOH / H20 / l.Seq NaOAc / 4-[[(hydrazinocarbonyl)amino]
methyl]cyclohexane carboxylic acid.trifluoroacetate (8), 2hr reflux. (b) 3eq construct (9) / 3eq HBTU
/ 3eq HOBt / 6eq NMM, NHZ-SOLID PHASE, DMF, RT, o/n. (c) 20% piperidine / DMF, 30mins. (d) Range of chemistries to introduce U-V-W-X-Y (e) TFA / HZO (95:5, v/v), RT, 2 x 24hr Construct (9) is prepared through reaction of the linker molecule (8) and the (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide (7) by reflux in aqueous ethanol /
sodium acetate. Although formation of construct (9) is observed at 2hr reaction, optimal formation of construct (9) occurs at 72hr reaction. Standard solid phase techniques (e.g. see Atherton, E. and Sheppard, R. C., 1989) are used to anchor the construct to an amino-functionalised solid phase through the free carboxylic acid functionality of (9), providing the loaded construct (10). Acid mediated cleavage of the fully constructed compounds is optimal at a repeated 24hr reaction.
Loaded construct (10) may be reacted with a wide range of carboxylic acids available commercially or in the literature, to introduce the left-hand portion 'U-V-W-X-Y' in general formula (I). In the simplest example, the entire left hand portion of an inhibitor of general formula (I) comprises a capped aminoacid (Scheme 3), providing for example analogues of general formula (I) where R4 = 'H', (X)o = '-', (W)n =
'NH', R8 = 'H', n = 1, (V)m = 'CO', m = 1 and U = aryl RZ O
R~ R~ O
HN'~ ~' ~ H H ~ (a)~ (b)~ (a)~ (o). (d) / I H O
N~NW~
R3 N-N N~,,~~yCONH-SOLID PHASE
Fm0 O o _O R5 H R3 O
(10) (11) General formula (I) where R4 = ~H~
(X)o = . .
(V~" ='NH', n = I
~)m= ~CO~. m= 1 U =phenyl Z ='O' Scheme 3. (a) 20% piperidine / DMF, 30mins (b) 20eq Fmoc-aminoacid / 20eq HBTU
/ 20eq HOBt /
40eq NMM, DMF, o/n (c) Seq carboxylic acid / Seq HBTU / Seq HOBt ! l0eq NMM, DMF, RT, o/n (d) TFA / HZO (95:5, v/v), RT, 2 x 24hr.
Alternatively, carboxylic acids can be prepared in solution by traditional organic chemistry methods and coupled to construct (10) on the solid phase (Schemes 4-8).
For example (Scheme 4), treatment in solution of an amino acid, exemplified by (12) with sodium nitrite / H2S04, provides the a-hydroxyacid, exemplified by (13) (Degerbeck, F. et al, J. Chem. Soc, Perkin Ti°ahs. 1, 11-14, 1993).
Treatment of a-hydroxyacid, (13) with sodium hydride in a dimethylformamide / dichloromethane mixture followed by addition of benzyl bromide, provides 2RS-benzyloxy-3-cyclohexylpropionic acid (14). Coupling of (14) to the solid phase construct (10) followed by cleavage, provides (15), an example of general formula (I) where R4 =
'H', (X)o = '-', (VV)n = 'O', n = 1, (V)m = 'CH2', i.e. R9, Rlo = 'H', m = 1 and U =
phenyl. To those skilled in the practices of organic synthesis, a wide variety of aminoacids such as (12) may be converted to the corresponding a-hydroxyacid such as (13) following the general conditions detailed. Additionally, benzylbromide may be replaced by any reasonable Ar-CR9R1°-halide, providing many variations of carboxylic acid (14) following the general conditions detailed. In certain instances, it may be advantageous to temporarily protect the carboxylic acid as the methyl ester (for example compound (20), Scheme 6) prior to reaction with the alkylhalide.
The ester intermediate is then simply hydrolysed to acid (14). Analogues of (15), exploring a wide range of (V)m and U in general formula (I) may be prepared through the general conditions detailed in Scheme 4. Since the final synthetic step involves a trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) mediated cleavage of the solid phase bound compound, analogues where the substituted ether is labile to TFA may be prepared in solution by an alternative route (see Scheme 11).
Rz O Rz O
H N~~~,~~~ R
H H ~ (e), (d), (e) \ ~ O~ ,,v R3 N-N~N~,,~~~~~CONH-SOLID PHASE ~ . H. R" p Fm0 ICI ~O
O

(10) (15) General formula (I) where Ra = .H.
(a) " (b) H N OH ~O OH ~ ~ OOH (x)o= ..
z O O ~ / O (W)"='O',ri=1 (12) '(13) (14) N)m='MHz, i.e. R9, Rto= ~H~ m= 1 U = phenyl Z ='O' Scheme 4. (a)NaNOz / HzS04, 0°C~RT, 2hr (b) 2.3eq NaH, 1:1 DMF / DCM, l.4eq benzylbromide, o/n (c) 20% piperidine / DMF, 30mins. (d) l0eq (14) / l0eq HBTU / l0eq HOBt /
20eq NMM, DMF, RT, o/n (e) TFA / H20 (95:5, v/v), RT, 2 x 24hr.
Alternatively, coupling of construct (10) (following removal of Fmoc) with the a,-hydroxyacid (13), provides a versatile solid phase bound intermediate 'Y' substituent in general formula (I) that may be reacted with many reagents. For example, the a-hydroxyl can be reacted under Mitsunobu conditions (Hughes, D. L. Org.
React.(N.Y), 42, 335-656, 1992) to give ethers (i.e. X = '-', W = 'O', in general formula (I)) (see Grabowska, U. et al, J. Comb. Chem., 2 5 , 475-490, 2000, for an example of Mitsunobu reaction on the solid phase). Alternatively, the oc-hydroxyl can be reacted with a carbamoyl chloride to give a carbamate (i.e. X = '-', W =
'O', V =
'NHC(O)', in general formula (I)).
Alternatively, (Scheme 5), treatment in solution of an amino acid, exemplified by (12) with sodium nitrite / HZS04 / potassium bromide provides the a-bromoacid, exemplified by (16) (Souers, A. J. et al, SyZtlaesis, 4, 583-585, 1999) with retention of configuration. Treatment of a-bromoacid (16) with an alkylthiol exemplified by 4-tert-butylphenylmethanethiol (17) in dimethylformamide / triethylamine, provides 2S-(4-tent-butylbenzylsulfanyl)-4-methylpropionic acid (18), with inversion of configuration. Coupling of (18) to the solid phase construct (10) followed by cleavage, provides (19), an example of general formula (I) where R4 = 'H', (X)0 = '-', (V~n = 'S', n = l, (V)m = 'CH2', i.e. R9, Rl° _ 'H', m = 1 and U = 4-tert-butylphenyl. To those skilled in the practices of organic synthesis, a wide variety of aminoacids such as (12) may be converted to the corresponding a-bromoacid such as (16) following the general conditions detailed. Additionally, starting with the S-isomer of (12) gives the S=bromoacid analogue of (16) and R-thioether analogue of (18). Additionally, (4-test-butylphenyl)methanethiol (17) may be replaced by any reasonable Ar-CR9R1°-SH, providing many variations of carboxylic acid (18) following the general conditions detailed. Thus analogues of (19) exploring a wide range of (V)m and U in general formula (I) may be prepared through the general conditions detailed in Scheme 5.
Rz O R2 O

..00 HN' 3 l ' H H ~r (e). (d). (e) I / S ~S) N..,.v\ R~
R N-N~N~, ~~\~ fr) CONH-SOLID PHASE -~ _ H R3 O
Fm0 ~O
O
(10) (19) General formula (I) where _ _ Ra=.H.
(a) ~ (b) ~ ' ---~ _ . .
H2N lR OH gr (R OH \ S (s) OH (x)o- _ O O ~ O (V~n='S',n=1 (12) (16) (18) (V)m='CH2; i.e. R9, Rto=.H, m=1 U = 4-tent-butylphenyl Z ='O' Scheme 5. (a)NaN02 / HzS04, KBr 0°C~RT, 2hr (b) Alkylthiol (17) l DMF /
NEt3, o/n (c) 20%
piperidine / DMF, 30mins. (d) l0eq (18) / l0eq HBTU / l0eq HOBt / 20eq NMM, DMF, RT, o/n (e) TFA / HZO (95:5, v/v), RT, 2 x 24hr.

Alternatively, coupling of construct (10) (following removal of Fmoc) with an a-bromoacid e.g. (16), provides a versatile intermediate 'Y' substituent in general formula (I) that may be reacted with many reagents. For example, the a-bromide can be displaced with nucleophiles e.g. alcohols, thiols, carbanions etc, to give ethers (i.e.
X = '-', W = 'O', in general formula (I)), thioethers (i.e. X = '-', W = 'S', in general formula (I)). The thioethers may optionally be oxidised to the sulphone (see Scheme 9, i.e. X = '-', W = 'SOa', in general formula (I)) (see Grabowska, U. et al, J. Comb.
Chem., 2 5 , 475-490, 2000, for an example of bromide displacement and thioether oxidation on the solid phase).
Alternatively, (Scheme 6), treatment of an a-hydroxyacid, exemplified by (13) with trimethylsilylchloride and methanol provides the methyl ester (20). Activation of the free hydroxyl to the chloroformate with phosgene in dichloromethane followed by addition of morpholine, then hydrolysis, provides morpholine-4-carboxylic acid-carboxy-2-cyclohexyl ethyl ester (21). Coupling of (21) to the solid phase construct (10) followed by cleavage, provides (22), an example of general formula (I) where R4 = 'H', (X)o = '-', (W)n = 'O', n = 1, (V)m = 'CO' and U = morpholino. To those skilled in the practices of organic synthesis, a wide variety of a-hydroxyacid esters such as (20) could be converted to the activated chloroformate following the general conditions detailed. Additionally, morpholine may be replaced by any reasonable amine, providing many variations of carboxylic acid (21) following the general conditions detailed. Thus analogues of (22) exploring a wide range of (V)m and U in general formula (I) may be prepared through the general conditions detailed in Scheme 6.
Rz O
R~ Rz HN°w O~ O O
/~ R3 N N N ~ (o). fd). (e)_ ~N O~ R~
Fm0 ~,,.~~~ CONH-SOLID PHASE ~ N.,av O
(1u) (22) General formula (I) where Ra -'H' )o= ..
~a~ (b-~ O _ HO OH HO OMe ~N O OH (~" °'O', n=1 O O O O (V)",='CO',m=1 (13) (20) (21) U =morpholino Z ='O' Scheme 6. (a) Me3SiCl, MeOH, RT, o/n.. (b) i. COC12 / DCM / o/n, ii.
Morpholine / DCM 0°C, 2hr, iii. LiOH in H20 / dioxan, 0°C. (c) 20% piperidine l DMF, 30mins. (d) l0eq (21) / l0eq HBTU / l0eq HOBt / 20eq NMM, DMF, RT, oln (e) TFA / H20 (95:5, v/v), RT, 2 x 24hr.
Alternatively, (Scheme 7), a wide range of alkylsuccinate esters exemplified by 2R-cyclohexylmethylsuccinic acid 1-methyl ester (23) are commercially available or readily prepared by known methods (see (a) Azam et al, J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans.
1, 621-, 1996; (b) Evans et al, J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1, 103, 2127, 1981; (c) Oikawa et al, Tet. Lett, 37, 6169, 1996). Carboxyl activation of alkylsuccinate ester (23) followed by addition of morpholine in dimethylformamide and subsequent ester hydroylsis, provides 2R-cyclohexylmethyl-4-morpholin-4-yl-4-oxo-butyric acid (24).
Coupling of (24) to the solid phase construct (10) followed by cleavage, provides (25), an example of general formula (I) where R4 = 'H', (X)0 = 'CHZ' i.e. R6, R' _ 'H', o = l, (W)n = 'CO', n = 1, (V)m = '-' and U = morpholino. To those skilled in the practices of organic synthesis, a wide variety of alkylsuccinate esters such as (23) may be prepared and converted to the corresponding substituted alkylsuccinate acid such as (24) following the general conditions detailed. Additionally, morpholine may be replaced by any reasonable amine, providing many variations of carboxylic acid (24) following the general conditions detailed. Thus analogues of (25) exploring a wide range of (X)o, (V)m and U in general formula (I) may be prepared through the general conditions detailed in Scheme 7.

Rz O

HN~,av O~ O R O
~ H H ~ (c). (d)> (e) Fm0' '0R3 N N N~.,,w CONN-SOLID PHASE ~ N~N.'a~

O
(10) (25) General formula (I) where O O R~ ='H' OMe a N OH (X)o = 'CHz i.e R6,R~='H', o = 1 HO O O O ~m=CO',n=I
(23) (24) U = morpholino z ='O' Scheme 7. (a) i.EDC / 1-hydroxybenzotriazole /DMF, 0°C, 30mins. ii.
Morpholine, RT, o/n (b) LiOH
in Hz0 / dioxan, 0°C (c) 20% piperidine / DMF, 30mins. (d) l0eq (24) /
l0eq HBTU / l0eq HOBt /
20eq NMM, DMF, RT, o/n (e) TFA / H20 (95:5, v/v), RT, 2 x 24hr.
Alternatively, (Scheme 8), a wide range of biarylalkylacetic acids, exemplified by 2RS-biphenyl-3-yl-4-methylpentanoic acid (27) are readily available by known methods (see (a) DesJarlais, R. L. et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 120, 9114-9115, 1998; (b) Oballa, R. M. et al, VVO 0149288). Coupling of biarylalkylacetic acid (27) to the solid phase construct (10) followed by cleavage, provides (28), an example of general formula (I) where R4 = 'H', (X)o = '-', (V~,~ _ '-', (V)m = '-' and U
= m-biphenyl. To those skilled in the practices of organic synthesis, a wide variety of biarylalkylacetic acids such as (27) may be prepared by alkylation of the oc-anion of the free acid analogue of (26), which in turn is prepared by Suzuki coupling of phenylboronic acid and 3-bromophenylacetic acid methyl ester. Phenylboronic acid may be replaced by a wide range of arylboronic acids in the Suzuki coupling, providing many variations of carboxylic acid (27) following the general conditions detailed. Thus analogues of (28) exploring a wide range of group 'U' in general formula (I) may be prepared through the general conditions detailed in Scheme 8.

RZ O
R~ R2 O
O Rt HN'°~~
Rs ~ hi Fi (e), (d), (e) Fm0 O N-N~N~.,'w CONH-SOLIDPHASE~ \ ~ / ~ H'''\R3 O
I~OI
(10) (28) General Formula (n where R4= ~H~
~)o = m / I / (W) _..
OMe ~a). ~~ ~ I ~ ~ OH
/ I / O U =m biphenyl (26) (27) Z =.o.
Scheme 8. (a) LiOH in HZO / dioxan, 0°C (b) i.LDA, THF, 2-methylpropenylbromide. ii. Pd/C, EtOH, Hz (c) 20% piperidine / DMF, 30mins. (d) l0eq (27) / l0eq HBTU / l0eq HOBt /
20eq NMM, DMF, RT, o/n (e) TFA / H20 (95:5, v/v), RT, 2 x 24hr.
Many other possibilities for solid phase organic chemistry (e.g. see Brown, R.
D. J.
Chem. Soc., Pe~ki~ Ti~ans.l, 19, 3293-3320, 1998, for a review of recent SPOC
publications) can be used to derivatise construct (10) towards compounds of general formula (I). For example, the left-hand portion 'U-V-W-X-Y' in general formula (I) can be partially constructed in solution, coupled to construct (10) and further modified on the solid phase. For example (Scheme 9), a simple extension of Scheme 5 is through the oxidation of the intermediate solid phase bound species, with m-chloroperbenzoic acid in dichloromethane prior to cleavage, to give the sulphone analogue (29), an example of general formula (I) where Rø _ 'H', (X)o = '-', (W)n =
'S02', n = 1, (V)m _ 'CH2', i.e. R9, Rl° _ 'H', m = 1 and U = 2-furanyl.. As described in Scheme 5, many variations of carboxylic acid (18) may be prepared following the general conditions detailed. Thus analogues of (29) exploring a wide range of (V)m and U in general formula (I) may be prepared through the general conditions detailed in Schemes 5 and 9.

O R ~ / O is! O R.,v O
HN',a0 r~J ~ H H (a). (b), (e). (a) H R
Fm0"_O N-N N~., ~R (J CONH-SOLID PHASE ~ O
O
(10) (29) General formula (I) where R4='H' (X)o = i .
(W)n = ~5~2 > n = I
(V)m='CH2, i.e. R9, Rya='H', m= 1 U = 4-tert-butylphenyl Z ='O' Scheme 9. (a) 20% piperidine / DMF, 30mins. (b) l0eq (18) / l0eq HBTU / l0eq HOBt / 20eq NMM, DMF, RT, o/n (c) Seq m-chloroperbenzoic acid l DCM, RT, Shr. (d) TFA / HZO
(95:5, v/v), RT, 2 x 24hr.
Compounds of general formula (I) are finally released from the solid phase by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid / water, followed by evaporation, lyophylis and standard analytical characterisation.
I O A second strategy for the synthesis of compounds of general formula (I) comprises:-(f) Preparation of an appropriately functionalised and protected (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide or (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrothiophen-3-yl)amide or (1-alkyl-2-alkyl-5-oxocyclopentyl)amide building block in solution.
Preferred protecting groups for solution phase chemistry are the Na,-tert-butoxycarbonyl group and the Na-benzyloxycarbonyl group.
(g) Standard organic chemistry methods for the conversion of building block (f) towards compounds of general formula (I).
In the simplest example, the entire left hand portion of an inhibitor of general formula (I) can be prepared in solution by traditional organic chemistry methods and coupled to building block (f) (see Scheme 10 exemplified by preparation and use of (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)carbamic acid tent-butyl ester (32)).

R OPg R OPg 2 O
HN '''', OH a~ HN ''~, ~ N2 d -~ HN''' ButO-~ R3 O ButO~ R3 O ButO-~ R3 O
O O O
(30) (31) (32) a Rz O R2 O
f ,N"" HCLHzN'', U~U~W~X,y R3 O R3 O
General formula (I) (33) Scheme 10. (a) 'BuOCOCI, NMM, DCM, -15°C, lOmins, under argon. (b) Diazomethane in diethyl ether, -15°C to RT over 48hr. (c) Acetic acid (d) LiCl (l0eq) in 80%aq acetic acid, 5°C to RT over lhr. (e) 4M HCl in dioxan, 0°C, Zhrs. (~ Pre-prepared U-V-W-X-Y-COOH /
activation e.g. HATU /
HOAt / NMM, DMF, RT, o/n.
An attractive alternative to the mixed anhydride activation of (30) is through the use of the pre-formed acyl fluoride (akin to that detailed in Scheme 1). The general strategy detailed in Scheme 10 is particularly useful when the compound of general formula (I) contains a substituent that is labile to trifluoroacetic acid, this being the final reagent used in each of the solid phase Schemes 4-9. For example (Scheme 11), treatment in solution of a-hydroxyacid (34) with sodium hydride in a dimethylformamide / dichloromethane mixture followed by addition of 4-tert-butylbenzyl bromide, provides 2RS-(4-tes°t-butylbenzyloxy)-4-methylpentanoic acid (35). Coupling of (35) to hydrochloride salt (33), provides (36), an example of general formula (I) where R4 = 'H', (X)o = '-', (V~n = 'O', n = 1, (V)m _ 'CH2', i.e.
R9, Rl° _ 'H', m = 1 and U = 4-test-butylphenyl. To those skilled in the practices of organic synthesis, 4-tart-butylbenzyl bromide may be replaced by any reasonable Ar-CR9R1°-halide, providing many variations of carboxylic acid (35) under the conditions shown. Thus analogues of (36) exploring a wide range of (V)m and U
in general formula (I) may be prepared through the conditions detailed in Scheme 11.

Ftz W
OH (ate ~') O
HO \ O ' OH ~ \ 0 O ~ / H
(34) (35) (36) General formula (I) where Ra ='H' (x)o= =~
(W)n= ~~~> n = 1 (V)m='CH2, i.e. R9, Rio='H', m= 1 U =4-tart-butylphenyl Z ='O' Scheme 11. (a)2.2eq NaH, 1:1 DMF / DCM, 1.25eq 4-tart-benzylbromide, 2hr (b) leq (35), leq 'BuOCOCl, 2eqNMM, DCM, -15°C, lhr, under nitrogen, then leq (33), RT, o/n..
A third strategy for the synthesis of compounds of general formula (I) where the addition of U-V-W-X-Y to the protected (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-yl)amide or (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrothiophen-3-yl)amide or (1-alkyl-2-alkyl-5-oxocyclopentyl)amide building block involves multistep organic reactions compnses:-(h) Preparation of an appropriately functionalised and protected (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide or (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrothiophen-3-yl)amide or (1-alkyl-2-alkyl-5-oxocyclopentyl)amide building block in solution.
Preferred protecting groups for solution phase chemistry are the Noc-tert-butoxycarbonyl group and the Na,-benzyloxycarbonyl group.
(i) Protection of the ketone functionality of the (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amide or (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrothiophen-3 yl)amide or (1-alkyl-2-alkyl-5-oxocyclopentyl)amide building block e.g. as a dimethylacetal. Alternatively, the ketone may be reduced to the achiral secondary alcohols and re-oxidised as the final synthetic step.
(j) Standard organic chemistry methods for the conversion of building block (i) towards compounds of general formula (I).

Intermediates may be prepared in solution, followed by coupling to building block (i) and further derivatisation towards compounds of general formula (I) (see Scheme 12 exemplified by preparation and use of the (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-hydroxytetrahydro-furan-3-yl)carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (37)).

O
HN~', ~ HN~', b ButO~ R3 O ButO--~ R3 OH HCLH2N~'' (32) (37) (38) c z O R2 O
HN~~' E d HN~', O ~ R3 OH
U\V~W\X,Y Rs U~U~W~X,Y
General formula (I) (39) Scheme 12. (a) Reduction, e.g. NaBH~ (b) 4M HCl in dioxan, 0°C, 2hrs.
(c) Stepwise reaction with intermediates of Y, then X, then W etc., to stepwise construct compounds (39).
(d) Oxidation, e.g.
Dess-Martin periodane, CHZC12.
Alternatively, depending upon the types of chemistry used to construct the left hand side U-V-W-X-Y of compounds of general formula (I), the ketone may require protection e.g. as the dimethyl acetal. Such a method is detailed and exemplified in Scheme 13 by the preparation and use of (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4,4-dimethoxy-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)carbamic acid benzyl ester (41).

R O R O a O
,..home a HN ' 'OMe ~ OMe HN~' PhCH~O-~ R3 O PhCH20--~ R3 SaIt.H2N~', OMe (40) (41) (42) l°
R R O
O
OMe d HN~', OMe HN~', R
R3 O Vy ~W~X.Y
General formula (I) (43) Scheme 13. (a) Triethylortlioformate / pTSA / MeOH. (b) H2, Pd-C. (c) Stepwise reaction with intermediates of Y, then X, then W etc., to stepwise construct compounds (43).
(d) Trifluoroacetic acid / CHZC12 / HZO.
The invention extends to novel intermediates as described above, and to processes for preparing compounds of general formula (I) from each of its immediate precursors. In turn, processes for preparing intermediates from their immediate precursors also form part of the invention.
Compounds of general formula (I) are useful both as laboratory tools and as therapeutic agents. In the laboratory certain compounds of the invention are useful in establishing whether a known or newly discovered cysteine protease contributes a critical or at least significant biochemical function during the establishment or progression of a disease state, a process commonly referred to as 'target validation'.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of validating a known or putative cysteine protease inhibitor as a therapeutic target, the method comprising:

(a) assessing the iu vitro binding of a compound as described above to an isolated known or putative cysteine protease, providing a measure of potency; and optionally, one or more of the steps of (b) assessing the binding of the compound to closely related homologous proteases of the target and general house-keeping proteases (e.g. trypsin) to provides a measure of selectivity;
(c) monitoring a cell-based functional marker of a particular cysteine protease activity, in the presence of the compound; and (d) monitoring an animal model-based functional marker of a particular cysteine protease activity in the presence of the compound.
The invention therefore provides a method of validating a known or putative cysteine protease inhibitor as a therapeutic target. Differing approaches and levels of complexity are appropriate to the effective inhibition and 'validation' of a particular target. In the first instance, the method comprises assessing the in vitro binding of a compound of general formula (I) to an isolated known or putative cysteine protease, providing a measure of 'potency'. An additional assessment of the binding of a compound of general formula (I) to closely related homologous proteases of the target and general house-keeping proteases (e.g. trypsin) provides a measure of 'selectivity'. A second level of complexity may be assessed by monitoring a cell-based functional marker of a particular cysteine protease activity, in the presence of a compound of general formula (I). For example, a 'human osteoclast resorption assay' has been utilised as a cell-based secondary in vitf°o testing system for monitoring the activity of cathepsin K and the biochemical effect of protease inhibitors (e.g. see WO-A-9850533). An 'MHC-II processing - T-cell activation assay' has been utilised as a cell-based secondary in vitro testing system for monitoring the activity of cathepsin S and the biochemical effect of protease inhibitors (Shi, G-P., et al, Immunity, 10, 197-206, 1999). When investigating viral or bacterial infections such a marker could simply be a functional assessment of viral (e.g. count of mRNA
copies) or bacterial loading and assessing the biochemical effect of protease inhibitors. A
third level of complexity may be assessed by monitoring an animal model-based functional marker of a particular cysteine protease activity, in the presence of a compound of general formula (I). For example, murine models of Leishznania infection, P. vinckei infection, malaria (inhibition of falcipain) and T.
cruzi infection (cruzipain), indicate that inhibition of cysteine proteases that play a key role in pathogen propagation is effective in arresting disease symptoms, 'validating' said targets.
The invention therefore extends to the use of a compound of general formula (I) in the validation of a known or putative cysteine protease inhibitor as a therapeutic target.
Compounds of general formula (I) are useful for the izz vivo treatment or prevention of diseases in which participation of a cysteine protease is implicated.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a compound of general formula (I) for use in medicine, especially for preventing or treating diseases in which the disease pathology may be modified by inhibiting a cysteine protease.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of a compound of general formula (I) in the preparation of a medicament for preventing or treating diseases in which the disease pathology may be modified by inhibiting a cysteine protease.
Certain cysteine proteases function in the normal physiological process of protein degradation in animals, including humans, e.g. in the degradation of connective tissue. However, elevated levels of these enzymes in the body can result in pathological conditions leading to disease. Thus, cysteine proteases have been implicated in various disease states, including but not limited to, infections by Pneumocystis carinii, Tiypsanozna crzszi, Tzypsanoma bt°ucei brucei and Cz~ithidia fusiculata; as well as in osteoporosis, autoimmunity, schistosomiasis, malaria, tumour metastasis, metachromatic leukodystrophy, muscular dystrophy, amytrophy, and the like. See WO-A-9404172 and EP-A-0603873 and references cited in both of them. Additionally, a secreted bacterial cysteine protease from S. Au~eus called staphylopain has been implicated as a bacterial virulence factor (Potempa, J., et al. J.
Biol. Chem, 262 6 , 2664-2667,1998).
The invention is useful in the prevention and/or treatment of each of the disease states mentioned or implied above. The present invention also is useful in a methods of treatment or prevention of diseases caused by pathological levels of cysteine proteases, particularly cysteine proteases of the papain superfamily, which methods comprise administering to an animal, particularly a mammal, most particularly a human, in need thereof a compound of the present invention. The present invention particularly provides methods for treating diseases in which cysteine proteases are implicated, including infections by Pneumocystis caf°ihii, Ti~ypsahoma c~czi, Trypsanoma bf-ueei, Leishmania naexicaha, Clostridium laistolyticum, Staphylococcus auf°eus, foot-and-mouth disease virus and C~ithidia fusiculata; as well as in osteoporosis, autoimmunity, schistosomiasis, malaria, tumour metastasis, metachromatic leukodystrophy, muscular dystrophy and amytrophy.
Inhibitors of cruzipain, particularly cruzipain-specific compounds, are useful for the treatment of Chagas' disease.
In accordance with this invention, an effective amount of a compound of general formula (I) may be administered to inhibit the protease implicated with a particular condition or disease. Of course, this dosage amount will further be modified according to the type of administration of the compound. For example, to achieve an "effective amount" for acute therapy, parenteral administration of a compound of general formula (I) is preferred. An intravenous infusion of the compound in 5%
dextrose in water or normal saline, or a similar formulation with suitable excipients, is most effective, although an intramuscular bolus injection is also useful.
Typically, the parenteral dose will be about 0.01 to about 100 mg/kg; preferably between 0.1 and 20 mg/kg, in a manner to maintain the concentration of drug in the plasma at a concentration effective to inhibit a cysteine protease. The compounds may be administered one to four times daily at a level to achieve a total daily dose of about 0.4 to about 400 mg/kg/day. The precise amount of an inventive compound which is therapeutically effective, and the route by which such compound is best administered, is readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art by comparing the blood level of the agent to the concentration required to have a therapeutic effect.
Prodrugs of compounds of the present invention may be prepared by any suitable method. For those compounds in which the prodrug moiety is a ketone functionality, specifically ketals and/or hemiacetals, the conversion may be effected in accordance with conventional methods.
The compounds of this invention may also be administered orally to the patient, in a manner such that the concentration of drug is sufficient to inhibit bone resorption or to achieve any other therapeutic indication as disclosed herein. Typically, a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound is administered at an oral dose of between about 0.1 to about 50 mglkg in a manner consistent with the condition of the patient. Preferably the oral dose would be about 0.5 to about 20 mg/kg.
No unacceptable toxicological effects are expected when compounds of the present invention are administered in accordance with the present invention. The compounds of this invention, which may have good bioavailability, rnay be tested in one of several biological assays to determine the concentration of a compound which is required to have a given pharmacological effect.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition comprising one or more compounds of general formula (I) and a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier. Other active materials may also be present, as may be considered appropriate or advisable for the disease or condition being treated or prevented.

The carrier, or, if more than one be present, each of the carriers, must be acceptable in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not deleterious to the recipient.
The formulations include those suitable for rectal, nasal, topical (including buccal and sublingual), vaginal or parenteral (including subcutaneous, intraxnuscular, intravenous and intradermal) administration, but preferably the formulation is an orally administered formulation. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form, e.g. tablets and sustained release capsules, and may be prepared by any methods well known in the art of pharmacy.
Such methods include the step of bringing into association the above defined active agent with the carrier. In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active agent with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then if necessary shaping the product. The invention extends to methods for preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising bringing a compound of general formula (I) in conjunction or association with a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier or vehicle.
Formulations for oral administration in the present invention may be presented as:
discrete units such as capsules, cachets or tablets each containing a predetermined amount of the active agent; as a powder or granules; as a solution or a suspension of the active agent in an aqueous liquid or a non-aqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water liquid emulsion or a water in oil liquid emulsion; or as a bolus etc.
For compositions for oral administration (e.g. tablets and capsules), the term "acceptable carrier" includes vehicles such as common excipients e.g. binding agents, for example syrup, acacia, gelatin, sorbitol, tragacanth, polyvinylpyrrolidone (Povidone), methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, sodium caxboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sucrose and starch; fillers and carriers, for example corn starch, gelatin, lactose, sucrose, microcrystalline cellulose, kaolin, mannitol, dicalcium phosphate, sodium chloride and alginic acid; and lubricants such as magnesium stearate, sodium steaxate and other metallic stearates, glycerol stearate stearic acid, silicone fluid, talc waxes, oils and colloidal silica.
Flavouring agents such as peppermint, oil of wintergreen, cherry flavouring and the like can also be used. It may be desirable to add a colouring agent to make the dosage form readily identifiable. Tablets may also be coated by methods well known in the art.
A tablet may be made by compression or moulding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing in a suitable machine the active agent in a free flowing form such as a powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, preservative, surface-active or dispersing agent. Moulded tablets may be made by moulding in a suitable machine a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent. The tablets may be optionally be coated or scored and may be formulated so as to provide slow or controlled release of the active agent.
Other formulations suitable for oral administration include lozenges comprising the active agent in a flavoured base, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth;
pastilles comprising the active agent in an inert base such as gelatin and glycerin, or sucrose and acacia; and mouthwashes comprising the active agent in a suitable liquid carrier.
Parenteral formulations will generally be sterile.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition as described above, the process comprising bringing the active compounds) into association with the Garner, for example by admixture.
Preferred features for each aspect of the invention are as for each other aspect mutatis mutahdis.
The invention will now be illustrated with the following examples:

Solution Phase Chemistry - General Methods All solvents were purchased from ROMIL Ltd (Waterbeach, Cambridge, UK) at SpS
or Hi-Dry grade unless otherwise stated. General peptide synthesis reagents were obtained from Chem-Impex Intl. Inc. (Wood Dale IL 60191. USA). Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed on pre-coated plates (Merck aluminium sheets silica 60 F254, part no. 5554). Visualisation of compounds was achieved under ultraviolet light (254nm) or by using an appropriate staining reagent.
Flash column purification was performed on silica gel 60 (Merck 9385). All analytical HPLC were obtained on Phenomenex Jupiter C4, 5~,, 300A, 250 x 4.6mm, using mixtures of solvent A = 0.1 %aq trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and solvent B = 90%
acetonitrile / 10% solvent A on automated Agilent systems with 215 and / or 254nm UV detection. Unless otherwise stated a gradient of 10 - 90% B in A over 25 minutes at l.SmL / min was performed for full analytical HPLC analysis. HPLC-MS
analysis was performed on an Agilent 1100 series LC/MSD, using automated Agilent HPLC systems, with a gradient of 10 - 90% B in A over 10 minutes on Phenomenex Columbus C8, 5~, 300A, 50 x 2.Omm at 0.4mL / min. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were obtained on a Bruker DPX400 (400MHz 1H frequency; QXI probe) in the solvents and temperature indicated. Chemical shifts are expressed in parts per million (8) and are referenced to residual signals of the solvent. Coupling constants (.~ are expressed in Hz.
Solid Phase Chemistry - General Methods Example inhibitors (1-37) were prepared through a combination of solution and solid phase Fmoc-based chemistries (see 'Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis', Atherton, E. and Sheppard, R. C., IRL Press Ltd, Oxford, UK, 1989, for a general description).
An appropriately protected and functionalised building block was prepared in solution (e.g. compound (7), Scheme 1), then reversibly attached to the solid phase through an appropriate linker. Rounds of coupling / deprotection / chemical modification e.g.
oxidation were then performed until the full length desired molecule was complete (Scheme 2). Example inhibitors (1-37) were then released (cleaved) from the solid phase, analysed, purified and assayed for inhibition verses a range of proteases.
Generally, multipins (polyamide 1.2 ~ l0~mole loadings, see www.mimotopes.com) were used for the solid phase synthesis, although any suitable solid phase surface could be chosen. In general, the 1.2~,mole gears were used to provide small scale crude examples for preliminary screening, whilst the l0~mole crowns were used for scale-up synthesis and purification of preferred examples.
Standard coupling and Fmoc deprotection methods were employed (see Grabowska, U. et al, J. Comb. Chem. 2 5 475-490, 2000. for a thorough description of solid phase multipin methodologies).
Preparation of Initial Assembly Building Block-linker constructs (e.g.(9)) were carboxyl activated with 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluoro phosphate (HBTU, 1 mole equivalent), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole.hydrate (HOBT, 1 mole equivalent) and N-methylmorpholine (NMM, 2 mole equivalents) in dimethylformamide (DMF, typically 1 to lOmL) for 5 minutes. Amino functionalised DA/MDA crowns or HEMA gears (10~,mole per crown / 1.2~.mole per gear, 0.33 mole equivalent of total surface amino functionalisation compared to activated construct) were added, followed by additional DMF to cover the solid phase surface. The loading reaction was left overnight. Following overnight loading, crowns / gears were taken through standard cycles washing, Fmoc deprotection and loading quantification (see Grabowska, U. et a~ to provide loaded Building Block-linker constructs (e.g.(10)).
Analysis indicated virtually quantitative loading in all examples.
Coupling Cycles The coupling of standard Fmoc-aminoacids (10 or 20 mole equivalent) were performed via carboxyl activated with 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluoro phosphate (HBTU, 10 or 20mole equivalent), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole.hydrate (HOBT, 10 or 20mole equivalent) and N-methylmorpholine (NMM, 20 or 40mole equivalents) in dimethylformamide, with pre-activation for 5 minutes. Activated species were dispensed to the appropriate wells of a polypropylene 96-well plate (Beckman, 1mL wells, SOO~L solution per well for crowns or 250~,L solution per well for gears) in a pattern required for synthesis. Loaded free amino Building Block-linker constructs (e.g.(10)) were added and the coupling reaction left overnight. Following overnight coupling, crowns /
gears were taken through standard cycles washing and Fmoc deprotection (see Grabowska, U. et a~. Identical activation and coupling conditions were used for the coupling of a range of carboxylic acids (R-COOH). Alternatively, chloroformates e.g. morpholine-4-carbonylchloride (lOmole equivalent), were coupled in DMF
with the addition of NMM (lOmole equivalents).
Acidolytic Cleavage Cycle A mixture of 95% TFA / 5% water was pre-dispensed into two polystyrene 96-well plates (Beckman, 1mL wells, 600~,L solution per well for crowns or 300~L
solution per well for gears) in a pattern corresponding to that of the synthesis. The completed multipin assembly was added to the first plate (mother plate), the block covered in tin foil and cleaved for 2 x 24hours. The cleaved multipin assembly was then removed from the first plate and added to the second plate (washing plate) for 15 minutes. The spent multipin assembly was then discarded and the mother l washing plates evaporated on an HT-4 GeneVac plate evaporator.
Analysis and Purification of Cleaved Examples (a) Ex 1.2~,mole Geaxs. 100~.L dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) was added to each post cleaved and dried washing plate well, thoroughly mixed, transferred to the corresponding post cleaved and dried mother plate well and again thoroughly mixed. 10~,L of this DMSO solution was diluted to 100~,L with a 90%
acetonitrile l 10% 0.1%aq TFA mixture. 20~L aliquots were analysed by HPLC-MS and full analytical HPLC. In each case the crude example molecules gave the expected [M + H]f ion and an HPLC peak at > 80% (by 215nxn UV analysis).
This provided an approximately lOmM DMSO stock solution of good quality crude examples for preliminary protease inhibitory screening.
(b) Ex 10~,mole Crowns. SOO~,L of a 90% acetonitrile / 10% 0.1%aq TFA mixture was added to each washing plate well, thoroughly mixed, transferred to the corresponding mother plate well and again thoroughly mixed. SpL of this solution was diluted to 100~L with a 90% acetonitrile / 10% 0.1%aq TFA
mixture. 20~L aliquots were analysed by HPLC-MS and full analytical HPLC. In each case the crude example molecules gave the expected [M + H]+ ion and an HPLC peak at > 80% (by 215nm UV analysis). The polystyrene blocks containing crude examples were then lyophilised.
(c) Individual examples (ex (b)) were re-dissolved in a 1 : 1 mixture of 0.1 %
aq TFA
/ acetonitrile (1mL) and purified by semi-preparative HPLC (Phenomenex Jupiter C4, 5~., 300A, 250 x lOmm, a 25-90% B in A gradient over 25mins, 4.OmL/min, 215nm UV detection). Fractions were lyophilised into pre-tarred glass sample vials to provide purified examples (typically 2 to 4mg, 40 to 80% yield).
(d) Purified examples were dissolved in an appropriate volume of DMSO to provide a l OmM stock solution, for accurate protease inhibitory screening.
EXAMPLE 1. (2R, 3R) 4-tef~t-Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl carbamoyl) 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide Following the general details from Scheme l, the required bicycle building block (2R, 3R) (2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (7a) was prepared as follows.
(1) Preparation of (4S, SR) 5-Methyl-2-phenyl-4, 5-dihydrooxazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester N (s) ~,v~C~zCH3 (z)~
Ph O ( )' Saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate (100 mL) was added to a solution of ethyl benzimidate hydrochloride (4 g, 21.25 mmol) in diethyl ether (100 mL). The phases were vigorously mixed and then separated. The ethereal layer was dried (NaZS04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a crude residue. The residue was then dissolved in diethyl ether (8.5 mL) then added to a solution of L-threonine methyl ester hydrochloride (2.1 g, 12.4 mmol) in water (1.5 mL). The mixture was stirred for 20 h then water (20 mL) added. The mixture was then extracted with diethyl ether (40 mL x 3) and the combined ethereal layers washed with brine (20 mL), dried (Na2S04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue. The excess ethyl benzimidate was removed by distillation at 100 °C, under reduced pressure (0.5-1 mbar). The remaining material was purified by flash chromatographed on silica gel (300g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (1:3) as eluent to afford the (4S, SR) 5-methyl-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole-4 carboxylic acid methyl ester (1.83g, 67%), TLC (single UV spot, Rf= 0.47, 50% ethyl acetate in heptane), analytical HPLC Rt = 10.33 min, HPLC-MS
(single main UV peak with Rt = 5.76 min, 220 [M + H]+).
8H (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.59 (3H, d, J= 5.6 Hz, 5-CH3), 3.86 (3H, s, COCH3), 4.53 (1H, d, J = 7.5 Hz, 4-H), 5.02-5.09 (1H, m, 5-H), 7.45-7.57 (3H, m, phenyl CHs') and 8.03-8.05 (2H, m, phenyl CHs').

(2) Preparation of (4R, SR) 4,S-Dimethyl-2-phenyl-4,S-dihydrooxazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester rZy : rR~
Ph O r~
S A solution of (4S, SR) S-methyl-2-phenyl-4,S-dihydrooxazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (8.0 g, 36.53 mmol) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (43 mL) was added to a solution of lithium diisopropylamine (20.2 mL, 2M solution in heptanes and tetrahydrofuran) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran : hexane (243 mL, 10:1) at -78 °C under an atmosphere of nitrogen. After 1 h of stirring at -78 °C
iodomethane (5.70 mL, 91.74 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred for a further 4 h at -78 °C and then allowed to warm to room temperature overnight over 18 h. A saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution (200 mL) was then added, followed by heptane (300 mL). After thorough mixing, the phases were separated and the organic phase washed with brine, dried (Na2S04) and 1 S evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue. Flash chromatography over silica (300 g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (3:7) as the eluent afforded the (4R, SR) 4, S-dimethyl-2-phenyl-4, S-dihydrooxazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (7.S g, 88%), TLC (single UV spot, Rf= 0.49, SO% EtOAc in heptane), analytical HPLC R~ = 10.99 min, HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt =
S.8S min, 234 [M + H~+).
SH (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.07 (3H, d, J= 6.S Hz, S-CH3), 1.38 (3H, s, 4-CH3), 3.46 (3H, s, COCH3), 4.27 (1H, q, .I= 6.S Hz, S-H), 7.12-7.24 (3H, m, phenyl CHs') and 7.69-7.72 (2H, m, phenyl CHs').

(3) Preparation of (2R, 3R) 2-Amino-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid HzN COzH
~(R) HO (R)~
Hydrochloric acid (6 M, 10 mL) was added to (4R, SR) 4, 5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-4, 5-dihydrooxazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1.12 g, 4.81 mmol), and the mixture was then heated under reflux for 18 h. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature then water (7 mL) added, followed by diethyl ether (14 mL). The phases were thoroughly mixed and then separated. The aqueous phase was concentrated under reduced pressure then purified over Dowex SOWx4 (activated with 0.01 M HCl). Elution with water (100 mL), followed by 1 M NH40H afforded the 2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-butyric acid (640 mg, 95%). Recrystallisation from H20(trace):EtOH-Et20 afforded the enantiopure (2R, 3R)-isomer (1H-NMR), TLC (single UV spot, Rf= 0.27, 4:1:1 nBuOH : H20 : AcOH), HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 0.45 min, 134 [M + H~+).
~H (400 MHz, D20) 0.84 (3H, d, J = 6.6 Hz, 4-H3), 1.13 (3H, s, 2-CH3), 3.69 (1H, q, J= 6.6 Hz, 3-H).
(4) Preparation of (2R, 3R) 2-(9H-Fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid FmocHN ~OzH
~(R) HO (R~
The (2R, 3R) 2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid (1.54 g, 11.58 mmol) was added to a vigorously stirred solution of sodium carbonate (3.05 g, 28.94 mmol) in water (66 mL) at 0 °C. 1,4-Dioxan (32 mL) was then added, providing an opaque mobile mixture. 9-Fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (3.13 g, 12.16 mmol) in 1,4-dioxan (35 mL) was then added over 40 min. The mixture was then allowed to warm to room temperature over 30 min. Water _72_ (300 mL) was then added, and the reaction mixture washed with chloroform (2 x 250 mL) and the combined organic layers discarded. The aqueous phase was acidified with 1M HCl (~ pH 2), providing a thick opaque mixture. The acidified aqueous mixture was extracted with chloroform (3 x 250 mL) and the combined organic phase dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue (4.2 g). Recrystallisation (from ethyl acetate heptane) afforded the (2R, 3R) 2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-3 hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid (3.8 g, 92%), TLC (single UV spot, Rf = , 20%
MeOH in CHC13), analytical HPLC Rt = 16.09 min, HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 7.41 mins, 356 [M + H]+, 378 [M + Na]+), 8H (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.17 (3H, d, J = 5.6 Hz, 4-H3), 1.63 (3H, s, 2-CH3), 4.20-4.30 (2H, m, 3-H and fluorenyl CHCH20), 4.44 (2H, br. s, CHCHZO), 6.09 (1H, s, NIA, 7.31-7.35 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl Cf~, 7.40-7.43 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CIA, 7.60 (2H, d, J= 7.5 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl CIA and 7.78 (2H, d, J=
7.5 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl CH).
S~ (100 MHz, CDC13) 18.6 (C-4), 20.4 (2-CH3), 47.5 (CHCH20), 64.0 (C-2), 67.6 (CH20), 71.6 (C-3), 120.5, 125.4, 127.5, 128.2 (8 x fluorenyl CHs'), 141.7, 144.0 (4 x fluorenyl quaternary Cs'), 157.0 (OCON) and 176.4 (C-1).
(5) Preparation of (1R, 1'R) [3-Diazo-1-(1-hydroxyethyl)-1-methyl-2-oxopropyl]
carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester FmocHN ~Nz HO tR
The (2R, 3R) 2-(9H-Fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid (1.77 g, 5.0 mmol) was dissolved with stirring in anhydrous dichloromethane (30 mL) and tetrahydrofuran (10 mL). The reaction was flushed with nitrogen and cooled to -15 °C. iso-Butylchloroformate (0.74 mL, 5.44 mmol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (5 mL) and N methylmorpholine (1.03 mL, 10.0 mmol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (5 mL) were added simultaneously in 1 mL aliquots over 15 min. Etheral diazomethane [generated from addition of diazald (4.7 g, ~15 mmol) in diethyl ether (75 mL) onto sodium hydroxide (5.25 g) in water (7.5 mL) l ethanol (15 mL) at 60 °C] was added to the activated amino acid solution at -20 °C. The mixture was then allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 20 h. A few drops of acetic acid were added to the mixture. tent-Butylmethylether (100 mL) was then added to the mixture. The ethereal layers were then washed with water (3 x 75 mL), dried (NaZS04) and the solvents removed under reduced pressure to give a yellow residue (2 g).
Flash chromatography of the residue over silica (100g) using gradient elution with ethyl acetate : heptane in the ratios of (1:3) to (1:0) and evaporation of desired fractions in vacuo gave (1R, 1'R) [3-diazo-1-(1-hydroxyethyl)-1-methyl-2-oxopropyl]carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester, yield 220 mg (11.6%). HPLC-MS (main UV peak with Rt = 8.84 min, 352.2 [M - N2 +
H]+, 374.2 [M - N2 + Na]+).
(6) Preparation of (2R, 3R) (2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (R) O
(R) FmocHN~~~~~~~~~
O
A solution of lithium chloride (247 mg, 5.7 mmol) in water (1.5 mL) and acetic acid (6.0 mL) was added to (1R, 1'R) [3-diazo-1-(1-hydroxyethyl)-1-methyl-2-oxopropyl]carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (220 mg, 0.57 mmol). A gas evolved and after 1 h, chloroform (75 mL) was added and the organic phase washed with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate (2 x 70 mL) and brine (70mL). The chloroform layer was dried (Na2S04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a residue (220mg). Flash chromatography of the residue over silica (35 g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (1:4) as the eluent afforded (2R, 3R) (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxotetrahydro-furan-3 yl)carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (100 mg, 50%), TLC (single UV spot, Rf = 0.72, ethyl acetate : heptane 1:1); analytical HPLC Rt = 18.21 min, HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 8.85 min, 352 [M + H]+, 374 [M + Na]+).
8H (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.19 (3H, s, 3-CH3), 1.29 (3H, d, J = 6.2 Hz, 2-CH3), 4.19-4.23 (3H, m, CHCH~O Fmoc l COCH~O), 4.40 (2H, d, J = 6.6 Hz, CHCH20, Fmoc), 4.48 (1H(3, q, J= 6.2 Hz), 4.97 (1H, s, NH), 7.31-7.70 (8H, m, fluorenyl CHs').
8C (100 MHz, CDC13) 14.5 (2-CH3), 16.3 (3-CH3), 47.5 (u, CHCH20, Fmoc), 61.4 (q, Ca,), 67.3 (d, CHCH20, Fmoc), 70.7 (d, COCHZO), 77.5 (C(3), 120.4, 125.4, 127.5, 128.2 (8 x fluorenyl CHs'), 141.7, 1483.8 and 144.2 (4 x fluorenyl quaternary Cs'), 155.1 (OCON) and 214.1 (C-4).
Following the general details from Scheme 2, the required bicycle building block (2R, 3R) (2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (7a) was converted to building block-linker construct (9) as follows:
(2R, 3R) (2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (7) (78 mg, 0.223 mmol, 1 eq) was dissolved in a mixture of ethanol (3.9 mL) and water (0.56 mL) containing sodium acetate.trihydrate (46mg, 0.334 mmol, 1.5 eq). 4-[[(hydrazinocarbonyl)amino] methyl]cyclohexanecarboxylic acid.
trifluoroacetate (74mg, 0.223 mmol, 1 eq, Murphy, A. M. et al, J. Am. Claem.
Soc., 114, 3156-3157, 1992) was added and the mixture refluxed for 3 days.
Chloroform (SOmL) was added and the organics washed with dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid (0.1 M, 2 x 30 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (NaaS04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford linker construct (9) as a white solid (80 mg). Analytical HPLC
indicated one main peak at Rt = 16.99 min for the Z isomer and another at Rt =
17.39 min for the E-isomer. HPLC-MS (main UV peaks with Rt = 8.02 min, 549 [M + H]+
for the Z isomer and Rt = 8.30 min, 549 [M + H]+ for the E-isomer, Crude (9) was used directly for construct loading.

Following the general details from Scheme 2, the required building block-linker construct (9) was attached to the solid phase providing loaded building block-linker construct (10) as follows:
Building block-linker construct (9) (0.146mmoles), 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluroniumhexafluoro phosphate (HBTU, SSmg, 0.146mmole), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole.hydrate and (HOBT, 22mg, 0.146mmole) were dissolved in dimethylformamide (3mL) and N-methylmorpholine (NMM, 64~.L, 0.29mmole) added. After pre-activation for 5 minutes, free amine gears (35 x 1.2~.mole) were added, followed by dimethylformamide (2.SmL) and left overnight. The spent coupling solution was then added to free amine crowns (3 x 10~.mole) and left overnight. Standard washing and analyses indicated loading at approx 70%.
Following the general details from Scheme 2, the required loaded building block-linker construct (10) was elaborated on the solid phase as follows:
Loaded construct (10) was elaborated to EXAMPLE 1 (2R, 3R) 4-tart-Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl carbamoyl) 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide by standard Fmoc deprotection and sequential coupling with Fmoc-Tyr(OBut)-OH then 4-test-butylbenzoic acid. The crude example was cleaved and analysed (see general techniques). HPLC Rt = 17.80mins (>95%), HPLC-MS 453.2 [M + H]+, 927.5 [2M + Na]+.
The following examples (2 - 34) were prepared as detailed for EXAMPLE 1, coupling with the required reagents to provide the full length molecule.
EXAMPLE 2 (2R, 3R) Biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide HPLC Rt = 17.31mins (> 90%), HPLC-MS 473.2 [M + H]+, 967.4 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 3 (2R, 3R) N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-thiophen-2-yl-benzamide HPLC Rt = 16.84mins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 479.1 [M + H]+, 979.2 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 4 (2R, 3R) N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4-trifluoromethoxy-benzamide HPLC Rt = 16.93mins (> 90%), HPLC-MS 481.1 [M + H]~.
EXAMPLE 5 (2R, 3R) N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-5-thiophen-2-yl-nicotinamide _77_ HPLC Rt = 12.86mins (> 95%), HPLC-MS 480.1 [M + H]+, 959.3 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 6 (2R, 3R) 2-Pyridin-3-yl-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide (R) O
O
(R' I
~NH~' O
HPLC Rt = 9.97mins (> 90%), HPLC-MS 481.1 [M + H]+, 961.3 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 7 (2R, 3R) 2-Methyl-5-phenyl-furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide Ho HPLC Rt = 17.72mins (> 85%), HPLC-MS 477. [M + H]+, 975.4 [2M + Na]+.

_78_ EXAMPLE 8 (2R, 3R) 4-tef°t Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide S
HPLC Rt = 19.80mins (> 8S%), HPLC-MS 403.3 [M + H]~, 827.5 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 9 (2R, 3R) Biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide HPLC Rt = 19.23mins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 423.3 [M + H]+, 867.4 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 10 (2R, 3R) N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-1 S 3-methyl-butyl]-4-thiophen-2-yl-benzamide HPLC Rt = 18.77mins (> 90%), HPLC-MS 429.2 [M + H]+, 879.3 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 11 (2R, 3R) N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-4-trifluoromethoxy-benzamide F
O (R) O
O
H (R) F ~ N (s) NFi O
O
HPLC Rt = 18.91mins (> 95%), HPLC-MS 431.2 [M + H]+.
EXAMPLE 12 (2R, 3R) N [1-(2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-5-thiophen-2-yl-nicotinamide N (R) O
O
H (R) S ~ N (s) . .~' Nhi 'O
O
HPLC Rt = 14.83mins (> 90%), HPLC-MS 430.2 [M + H]+, 881.3 [2M + Na]+.

EXAMPLE 13 (2R, 3R) 2-Pyridin-3-yl-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide N \ S (R) O
O
H (R) N (S) ..
NH~
O
HPLC Rt = 11.40mins (> 95%), HPLC-MS 431.2 [M + H]+, 883.3 [2M + Na]~.
EXAMPLE 14 (2R, 3R) 2-Methyl-5-phenyl-furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide HPLC Rt = 19.88mins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 427.2 [M + H]+, 875.4 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 15 (2R, 3R) Furan-3-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide O (R) O
O
H (R!
N ~R~ , NH~
_ O
O
S
J
Ph HPLC Rt = 15.79mins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 417.0 [M + H]+, 855.1 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 16 (2R, 3R) Furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide O fRJ O
O
H I I lRJ
N (J
Nhi' O
O
HPLC Rt = 12.44mins (> 85%), HPLC-MS 337.1 [M + H]+.
EXAMPLE 17 (2R, 3R) Furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide O fRl O
O
H lRl N fsJ
Nli 'O
O
'OH
HPLC Rt = 10.51mins (> 90%), HPLC-MS 387.0 [M + H]+.
EXAMPLE 18 (2R, 3R) Furan-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide HPLC Rt = 14.OSmins (> 85%), HPLC-MS 351.1 [M + H]+, 723.2 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 19 (2R, 3R) Furan-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide O 1R) O
O
H
N
NH~
O
O
HPLC Rt = 16.31mins (> 85%), HPLC-MS 377.1 [M + H]+, 775.2 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 20 (2R, 3R) Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide S lRl O
O
H\ I I (R) N lRl~
Nhl O
O
S
J
Ph HPLC Rt = 16.97mins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 433.0 [M + H]+, 887.1 [2M + Na]+.

EXAMPLE 21 (2R, 3R) Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofizran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide HPLC Rt =13.70mins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 353.1 [M + H]~, 727.1 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 22 (2R, 3R) Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide S (RJ O
O
Fi (R) N lsJ
Nfi O
'OH
HPLC Rt =11.77mins (> 90%), HPLC-MS 403.0 [M + H]+.
EXAMPLE 23 (2R, 3R) Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [I-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide S (RJ O
O
H (R) N lsl ..
Nti \\
O

HPLC Rt = 15.1 lmins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 367.1 [M + H]+, 755.2 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 24 (2R, 3R) Thiophene-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide S lRJ O
O
H (R) N
(s) NI-I \\
O
HPLC Rt = 17.22mins (> 85%), HPLC-MS 393.1 [M + H]+, 807.2 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 25 (2R, 3R) Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [2-benzylsulfanyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide (R) O
O
H\ II (R) N (R) Nhh Ph HPLC Rt = 19.36mins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 477.1 [M + H]+, 975.1 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 26 (2R, 3R) Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-amide HPLC Rt = 16.91mins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 397.1 [M + H]+, 815.2 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 27 (2R, 3R) Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-amide HPLC Rt = 14.70mins (> 85%), HPLC-MS 447.1 [M + H]+.
EXAMPLE 28 (2R, 3R) Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butyl]-amide / o (R) o hl (R!
N (s) NFI \\
/ O
HPLC Rt = 17.80mins (> 80%), HPLC-MS 411.1 [M + H]+, 843.2 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 29 (2R, 3R) Naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide (R) O
O
lRl N lsl~ :.
Nhi O
O
o.

HPLC Rt = I9.36mins (> 85%), HPLC-MS 437. I [M + H]+, 895.3 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 30. (2R, 3R) 2-Benzyloxy-3-cyclohexyl-N (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-propionamide HPLC Rt = 2I .77mins (>85%), HPLC-MS 374.2 [M + H]+, 769.2 [2M + H]+
(a) Preparation of 3-Cyclohexyl-2S-hydroxypropionic acid (Compound (13) Scheme 4) A solution of sodium nitrite (12.1g, 175mmo1) in water (40m1) was added dropwise to a stirred suspension of (~-a-aminocyclohexanepropionic acid hydrate (5g, 26.Smmo1) in O.SM sulphuric acid (120m1, 60mmo1) at 0°C over l.Shours.
The mixture was allowed to warm to ambient temperature over 20hours. The product was extracted into diethyl ether (2 x 25m1) then the ethereal layers were washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution (2 x 25m1), dried (Na2S04) and the solvents removed in vacuo. The residue (5.3g) was recrystallized from diethyl ether (1 Oml) and heptane (25m1) to give 3-cyclohexyl-2S-hydroxypropionic acid as a white solid, yield 2.4 g, (53%).
~H (400MHz, CDC13 at 298K), 0.89-1.35 (5H, m) and 1.51-1.86 (7H, m) (OCHCH2 and cyclohexyl), 4.32 (1H, OCHCH2, m) _87_ (b)Preparation of 2RS-Benzyloxy-3-cyclohexylpropionic acid (Compound (14) S cheme 4) Sodium hydride (265mg of 60% dispersion in oil, 6.6mmo1) was added in two portions to a stirred mixture of 3-cyclohexyl-2S-hydroxypropionic acid (0.52g, 3.Ommo1), dimethylformamide (5m1) and dichloromethane (5m1) at 0°C over Sminutes. The mixture was stirred at 0°C for Sminutes then at ambient temperature for 45minutes. Benzyl bromide (0.45m1, 3.8mmol) was added then the mixture stirred for 1 hour before adding dimethylformamide (5m1). After stirring for 4 hours potassium iodide (SOmg, 0.3mmo1) was added. The mixture was stirred for 20hours then heated at 55°C for lhour then allowed to cool to ambient temperature and poured into water (15m1). A saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution (5m1) was added then the mixture was extracted with dichloromethane (5m1 then l Oml) that was discarded. The aqueous layer was acidified using 1M hydrochloric acid (10 ml) then extracted with dichloromethane (2 x lOml). The dichloromethane layer was dried {MgSO4) and the solvent removed ih vacuo. The residue (O.SSg) was dissolved in dimethylformamide (8m1) then cooled to 0°C before adding sodium hydride (190mg of 60% dispersion in oil, 4.75mmo1). The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes then polymer bound isocyanate (380mg, 2mmolNg 1) added. The mixture was stirred for hours at ambient temperature then poured into water (15m1). 1M Hydrochloric acid (lOml) was added then the product was extracted into dichloromethane (2 x lOml), dried (Na2S04) and the solvent removed ih vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography over silica gel eluting with a gradient of methanol :
dichloromethane 0:1 ~ 1:20. Appropriate fractions were combined and the solvents removed i~c vacuo to give 2RS-benzyloxy-3-cyclohexylpropionic acid as a colourless oil, yield 4lmg (5.2%).
HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 9.47mins, 261.2 [M - H]', 285.2[M +
Na]+, 547.3 [2M + Na]+).
8H (400MHz, CDCl3 at 298K), 0.72-1.03 (2H, cyclohexane, m), 1.08-1.38 (3H, cyclohexane, m), 1.45-1.93 (6H + 2H[3, cyclohexane, m), 3.93-4.18 (lHa, OCHCO), _88-4.35-4.53 (1H,_.CH20, d, J= 11.52 Hz), 4.68-4.88 (1H, CH20, d, J= 11.54 Hz), 7.20-7.47 (5H, ArH, m), 9.36 (1H, OH, brs).
Compound (14) was coupled under standard conditions to loaded building block s linker construct (10) (following standard removal of Fmoc), then cleaved to provide EXAMPLE 30.
EXAMPLE 31. (2R, 3R) 2-(4-test-Butyl-benzylsulfanyl)-4-methyl-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-amide HPLC Rt = 24.31mins (>85%), HPLC-MS 406.2 [M + H]+, 833.2 [2M + H]+
(a) Preparation of 2R-Bromo-4-methylpentanoic acid (Compound (16), Scheme 5) A solution of sodium nitrite (5.1g, 73mmo1) in water (15m1) was added drop-wise at 0°C over Shours to a stirred mixture of D-leucine (8.75g, 67mmo1), potassium bromide (29.75g, 0.25mo1) and concentrated sulphuric acid (8.6m1) in water (100m1).
The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at 0°C then at ambient temperature fox 20hours. The product was extracted into diethyl ether (2 x 150m1) then the combined ethereal layers were washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution (2 x 100m1), dried (MgS04) and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography over silica gel eluting with a gradient of methanol dichloromethane 1:50 ~ 1:20. Appropriate fractions were combined and the solvents removed ih vacuo to leave 2R-bromo-4-methylpentanoic acid (17) as a colourless oil, yield 1.60 g, (12.3%). TLC (single spot, Rf = 0.2, methanol : dichloromethane 1:20).
Additionally, a second crop (5.2g, 40%) of slightly impure product was obtained 8H (400MHz, CDC13 at 298K), 0.95 and 0.99 (both 3H, CH3CH, d, J = 6.SSHz), 1.77-1.89 (1H, CH3CH, m), 1.93 (2H(3, m), 4.31 (lHa,, t, J= 7.7Hz), 9.3 (1H, C02H, brs).
(b)Preparation of 2S-(4-tef°t-butylbenzylsulfanyl)-4-methylpentanoic acid (Compound (18), Scheme 5) A solution of 2R-bromo-4-methylpentanoic acid (compound (16), 1.1 g, 5.6mmol) and (4-(tent-butyl)phenyl)methanethiol (1.0g, 5.6mmol) in dimethylformamide (15m1) was purged with nitrogen for 5 minutes then cooled to 0°C.
Triethylamine (0.79m1, 5.7mmo1) was added drop-wise over 1 minute then the mixture was stirred for two days at ambient temperature. The solvents were removed in vacuo and residue purified by flash chromatography over silica gel eluting with a gradient of methanol : dichloromethane 0:1 -3 1:20. Appropriate fractions were combined and the solvents removed ira vacuo to leave a residue which was purified by flash chromatography over silica gel eluting with ethyl acetate : heptane 2:5.
Appropriate fractions were combined and the solvents removed in vacuo to give 2S-(4-tert-butylbenzylsulfanyl)-4-methylpentanoic acid (18) as a colourless oil, yield 150 mg, (9%). TLC (single spot, Rf = 0.2, heptane : ethyl acetate 5:2), analytical HPLC with main peak Rt = 22.117mins, HPLC-MS (main UV peak with Rt = 11.072mins, 317.2 [M + Na]+).
8H (400MHz, CDC13 at 298K), 0.70 and 0.85 (both 3H, CH3CH, d, J = 6.3), 1.29 (9H, (CH3)3C, s), 1.44-1.51 (1H, CH3CH, m), 1.62-1.75 (2H(3, m), 3.15-3.20 (lHa, m), 3.81 and 3.88 (both 1H, SCH2, d, J=13.2Hz), 7.25-7.35 (4H, aromatic).
Compound (18) was coupled under standard conditions to loaded building block-linker construct (10) (following standard removal of Fmoc), then cleaved to provide EXAMPLE 31.
EXAMPLE 32. (2R, 3R) 2-(4-test Butyl-phenylmethanesulfonyl)-4-methyl-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-yl)-amide HPLC Rt = 22.22mins (>90%), HPLC-MS 438.1 [M + H]+, 897.3 [2M + H]~
Scheme 9. Compound (18) was coupled under standard conditions to loaded building block-linker construct (10). (following standard removal of Fmoc). The intermediate loaded thioether (1.2~,mole gear) was oxidised with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (Seq, 65% reagent, l.6mg) in dichloromethane (200~L) for Shrs, followed by standard washing and then cleaved to provide EXAMPLE 32.
EXAMPLE 33. (2R, 3R) 2-Cyclohexylmethyl-N (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-yl)-4-morpholin-4-yl-4-oxo-butyramide ~~\ lRl O
O' l O
~ (R)\
~N lRJ ,o ~NH
O
O
HPLC-MS 395.3 [M + H]+, 811.4 [2M + Na]+.
(a) Preparation of 2R-cyclohexylmethyl-4-morpholin-4-yl-4-oxo-butyric acid methyl ester.

1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide.HC1 (1.128, 5.69mmo1) then 1-hydroxybenzotriazole monohydrate (0.87g, 5.69mmo1) were added to a stirred solution of 2R-(cyclohexylmethyl)succinic acid 1-methyl ester (compound (23),1.0g, 4.38mmo1) in dimethylformamide (lOml) at 0°C under argon. The mixture was stirred for 25minutes then morpholine (0.7 ml, 8.76mmol) was added drop-wise over lminute and stirring continued at ambient temperature for l6hours. The product was extracted into ethyl acetate (200m1) then washed with 1.0M hydrochloric acid (3 x 100m1), saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (3 x 100m1), water (100m1), then saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution (100m1), dried (MgS04), and the solvent removed in vacuo to give 2R-cyclohexylmethyl-4-morpholin-4-yl-oxo-butyric acid methyl ester as an off white solid, yield 1.22g, (94%). HPLC-MS
(single peak with Rt = 7.91mins, 298.1 [M + H]+, 617.3 [2M + Na]+).
(b)Preparation of 2R-cyclohexylmethyl-4-morpholin-4-yl-4-oxo-butyric acid (Compound (24), Scheme 7).
A solution of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (0.51 g, 12.18mmo1) in water (27m1) was added a stirred solution of 2R-cyclohexylmethyl-4-morpholin-4-yl-4-oxo-butyric acid methyl ester (1.21g" 4.06mmo1) in tetrahydrofuran (SSml) and methanol (27m1) at 0°C. The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 1 hours then diluted with water (100m1). The aqueous layer was extracted with diethyl ether (2 x SOmI) which was discarded, then acidified to pH = 1-2 with 1M hydrochloric acid. The product was extracted into dichloromethane (3 x SOmI), then the combined ethereal layers washed with water (2 x SOmI), saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution (2 x SOml), dried (MgS04) and the solvent removed in vaeuo to leave a residue. The residue was purified by chromatography over silica gel eluting with a gradient of methanol : dichloromethane 1:100 ~ 3:100. Appropriate fractions were combined and the solvents removed ih vacuo was to give 2R-cyclohexylmethyl-4-morpholin-yl-4-oxo-butyric acid (24) as a white solid, yield 0.82 g, (71 %). HPLC-MS
(single peak with Rt = 6.769mins, 284.2 [M + H]+, 589.2 [2M + Na]+).

8H (400MHz, CDC13 at 298K),0.77-0.90 (2H, CH2(cyclohexane), m), 1.05-1.40 (4H, CHZ(cyclohexane),m), 1.50-1.90 (7H, CH(cyclohexane), ..CHZ(cyclohexane), m), 2.30-2.44 (2Hj3, m), 2.64-2.77 (lHa, m), 2.96-3.10 (1H, OH, brs), 3.40-3.78 (8H, CHZOCH2 and CH2NCH2 ,m).
Compound (24) was coupled under standard conditions to loaded building block-linker construct (10) (following standard removal of Fmoc), then cleaved to provide EXAMPLE 33.
EXAMPLE 34. (2R, 3R) 2-Biphenyl-3-yl-4-methyl-pentanoic acid (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-amide HPLC Rt = 21.7lmins (>80%), HPLC-MS 380.2 [M + H]+, 781.3 [2M + H]+
(a)Preparation of Biphenyl-3-yl-acetic acid methyl ester (Compound (26), Scheme 8) Concentrated sulphuric acid (588~.L) was added to a solution of 3-bromophenyl acetic acid (10g, 46.Smmo1) in methanol (100mL). The mixture was refluxed for 1.5h and then cooled to ambient temperature and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue. The residue was redissolved in diethyl ether (SOOmL), washed with water (2 x 100mL), brine (100mL), dried (MgS04) and then evaporated under reduced pressure to afford 3-bromophenyl acetic acid methyl ester (10.65g).
The 3-bromophenyl acetic acid methyl ester was dissolved in toluene (117mL) then phenyl boronic acid (6.8g, 55.69mmo1) added, followed by a aqueous solution of sodium carbonate (93mL, 2M) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (1.6g, 1.41mmo1).
The mixture was stirred overnight then cooled to ambient temperature and an aqueous solution of saturated ammonium chloride (100mL) added. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 200mL), died (Na2S04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue. Flash chromatography of the residue over silica (200g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (3 : 48) as the eluent gave biphenyl-3-yl acetic acid methyl ester, yield 10.5g, (99 %), TLC (single UV spot, Rf = 0.24, 10%
ethyl acetate in heptane), analytical HPLC Rt = 19.55 min, HPLC-MS (single main UV
peak with Rt = 9.35 min, 227.1 [M + H]+).
8n (400MHz, CDC13 at 298K) 3.76 (2H, s, CH2C02CH3), 3.77 (3H, s, OCH3), 7.34-7.66 (9H, m, biphenyl-3-yl).
(b)Preparation of Biphenyl-3-yl-acetic acid Water (39rnL), followed by lithium hydroxide monohydrate (4.2g, 1O1.5mmo1) were added to a solution of biphenyl-3-yl acetic acid methyl ester (11.43g, 50.57mmo1) in methanol (265mL). The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2h then the organics were removed under reduced pressure. The mixture was acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid (1M, 80mL), extracted with chloroform (2 x 100mL), dried (MgS04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford biphenyl-3-yl acetic acid as a white solid, yield 10.6g, (99%), analytical HPLC Rt = 16.565 min, HPLC-MS
(single main UV peak with Rt = 7.91min, 213.1 [M + H]+).
8H (400MHz, CDCl3 at 298K) 3.77 (2H, s, CH2C02CH3), 7.28-7.52 (9H, m, biphenyl-3-yl).
(c)Preparation of 2RS-Biphenyl-3-yl-4-methylpent-4-enoic acid A solution of biphenyl-3-yl acetic acid (7.0g, 33mmo1) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (84mL) was added dropwise to a solution of lithium diisopropyl amide (36.4mL, solution in hexanes) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (84mL) at -78 °C. The mixture was allowed to warm to 0 °C and stirred for 40 min. The mixture was then cooled to -78 °C and 3-bromo-2-methylpropene (4.97mL) rapidly added. The mixture was stirred for 1 h at -78 °C then water (28mL) added and the organics removed under reduced pressure. The mixture was then acidified with hydrochloric acid (6M, 14m1), extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 100 ml), dried (MgS04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue. Flash chromatography of the residue over silica (400g) using methanol : dichloromethane (3 : 97) as the eluent afforded impure biphenyl-3-yl-4-methylpent-4-enoic acid (8.3 g). Flash chromatography over silica (400g) using methanol : dichloromethane (1.5 : 98.5) afforded pure 2-biphenyl-3-yl-4-methylpent-4-enoic acid, yield 5.27g, (60 %), TLC (single UV spot, Rf= 0.28, methanol in dichloromethane), analytical HPLC Rt = 19.99 min, HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 9.57 min, 267.1 [M + H]~).
8H (400MHz, CDCl3 at 298I~), 1.765 (3H, s, CH3), 2.53 (1H, dd, J= 6.6 and 14.7 Hz, 3-Hl), 2.91 (1H, dd, J= 8.9 and 14.7 Hz, 3-Hl), 3.92 (1H, dd, J= 6.6 and 8.9 Hz, 2-H), 4.79 (2H, d, J= 10.7 Hz, 5-HZ), 7.30-7.62 (9H, m, biphenyl-3-yl).
(d)Preparation of 2RS-Biphenyl-3-yl-4-methylpentanoic acid (Compound (27), Scheme 8) Palladium on carbon (10%, 300mg) was added portionwise to a solution of 2RS-biphenyl-3-yl-4-methylpent-4-enoic acid (1g, 3.76mmo1) in ethanol (40mL) at 0 °C.
A hydrogen atmosphere was then introduced and the mixture allowed to warm to ambient temperature. The mixture was stirred for 18h, then the hydrogen atmosphere removed and the mixture filtered over Celite and the catalyst washed with ethanol (40mL). The combined organic filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a residue, which was flash chromatographed over silica (150g) using methanol dichloromethane (1 : 99) as the eluent to afford 2RS-biphenyl-3-yl-4-methylpentanoic acid, yield 980mg, (98%), TLC (single UV spot, Rf = 0.45, 5 methanol in dichloromethane), analytical HPLC Rt = 20.92 min, HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 10.15 min, 269.1 [M + H]+, 291.1 [M+Na]+).

8H (400MHz, CDC13 at 298K), 0.93 (6H, d, J= 6.6 Hz, 2 x CH3), 1.52-1.57 (1H, m, 4-Hl), 1.71-I.76 (1H, m, 3-Hl), 1.97-2.05 (1H, m, 3-Hl), 3.66 (1H, t, J= 7.8 Hz, 2-Hl), 7.32-7.60 (9H, m, biphenyl-3-yl).
Compound (27) was coupled under standard conditions to loaded building block-linker construct (10), then cleaved to provide EXAMPLE 34.
EXAMPLE 35. (2S, 3R) 4-teT°t-Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl carbamoyl) 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide HO
Following the general details from Scheme 1, the required bicycle building block (2S, 3R) (2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (7b) was prepared as follows.
(1) Preparation of (2S) 2-test-Butoxycarbonylamino-3-phenylpropionic acid 1-methyl-2-oxopropyl ester Ph O
O
BocHN

1-[3-(Dimethylamino)propyl]-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (10.9 g, 57 mmol) and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (700 mg, 5.7 mmol) were added to a solution of (2R)- 2-tent-butoxycarbonylamino-3-phenylpropionic acid (11 g, 41.8 mmol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (20 mL) at 0 °C and under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was stirred for 5 min and then 3-hydroxybutan-2-one (6.6 g, 75 mmol, assuming monomeric form) was added at 0 °C. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature then stirred for 3 days. The mixture was then evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue. Flash chromatography of the residue over silica gel (500 g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (3:7) as the eluent afforded (ZS) 2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-phenylpropionic acid 1-methyl-2oxopropyl ester (10.9 g, 78%), TLC (single UV spot, Rf = 0.40, 50% ethyl acetate in heptane), and HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 9.16 min, 358.2 [M
+ Na]+, 693.3 [2 x M + Na]+) (2) Preparation of (2S, 3S, SS) 5-Benzyl-2, 3-dimethyl-6-oxomorpholine-3-carbonitrile CN
N
(s) (s) ~Ph (s) O O
Trifluoroacetic acid (77 mL) was added to a solution of (2R) 2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-phenylpropionic acid I-methyl-2-oxopropyl ester (7.99 g, 23.8 mol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (140 mL) at 0 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was stirred for 1 h at 0 °C then evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue. Toluene (40 mL) was then added to the residue and evaporated under reduced pressure. This procedure was repeated twice, to remove excess trifluoroacetic acid. The residue was then dissolved in anhydrous 2-propanol (390 mL) under a nitrogen atmosphere.
Powdered sodium cyanide (2.6 g, 47.6 mol) was then added in one portion and the mixture stirred for 2 h at ambient temperature. The mixture was then rapidly filtered through anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Flash chromatography over silica gel (200 g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (3:7) as eluent afforded crude (2S, 3S, SS) 5-benzyl-2,3-dimethyl-6-oxo-morpholine-3-carbonitrile (2.7 g, 46%). Recrystallisation (diethyl ether-heptane) afforded crystalline material (1.05 g), TLC (single UV
spot, Rf = 0.38, 50% ethyl acetate in heptane), analytical HPLC Rt = 15.94 min, HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 7.53 min, 245.1 [M + H]+, 267.1 [M + Na]+).
8H (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.35 (3H, d, J= 6.5 Hz, 2-CH3), 1.48 (3H, s, 3-CH3), 3 . 01 ( 1 H, dd, J = 9.1 and 13 . 8 Hz, CH2Ph), 3 .48 ( 1 H, dd, J = 3 .6 and 13 . 8 Hz, CH2Ph), 4.17 ( 1 H, dd, J = 3 .6 and 9.1 Hz, 5-H), 4.57 ( 1 H, q, J = 6. 5 Hz, H), 7.29-7.42 (5H, m, C6H5).
(3) Preparation of (2R, 3S) 2-Amino-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid H2N COzH
~ (R) (S) OH
To a solution of (2S, 3S, SS) 5-benzyl-2,3-dimethyl-6-oxomorpholine-3-carbonitrile (1.38 g, 5.63 mrnol) in anhydrous diethyl ether (120 mL) was added tes°t-butyl hypochlorite (1.26 mL, 11.25 mtnol) at 0 °C
under a nitrogen atmosphere. The solution was stirred at room temperature for 2 h, then triethyl amine (1.26 mL) was added at 0 °C. The mixture was then allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 20 h. The resulting suspension was filtered and the solid residue washed with diethyl ether (20 mL). Water (100 mL) was then added to the filtrate and the product extracted with ether (50 mL x 3). The combined ethereal layers were dried (MgS04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue (1.9 g). Concentrated hydrochloric acid (70 mL) was then added to the residue at 0 °C. The mixture was stirred for 1 h at 0 °C then at room temperature for 24 h. The mixture was then transferred to a sealed pressure tube and heated at 80 °C for 2 days.
The mixture was then cooled and extracted with diethyl ether (50 mL x 3). The aqueous layer was then concentrated under reduced pressure then purified over Dowex50WX4 (activated with 0.01 M hydrochloric acid). Elution with water (until the eluent approached ~pH = 7), followed by ammonium hydroxide (1 M) afforded impure (2R, 3~ 2-amino-3-hydroxy-2 methylbutyric acid (555 mg). Recrystallisation from H20(trace);EtOH-Et20 afforded the pure amino acid (250 mg), TLC (single UV spot, Rf= 0.27, 4:1:1 nBuOH : H20 : AcOH), HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 0.45 min, 134 [M + H]+).
8H (400 MHz, DZO) 0.92 (3H, d, J= 6.6 Hz, 4-H3), 1.06 (3H, s, 2-CH3), 3.85 (1H, q, J= 6.6 Hz, 3-H).
(4) Preparation of (2R, 3~ 2-(9H-Fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid FmocHN CCzH
~(R) HO (5~~~°~o~~~
The (2R, 3~ 2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid (288 mg, 2.17 mmol) was added to a vigorously stirred solution of sodium carbonate (570 mg, 5.41 mmol) in water (12 mL) at 0 °C. 1,4-Dioxan (6 mL) was then added, providing an opaque mobile mixture. 9-Fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (585 mg, 2.27 mmol) in 1,4-dioxan (6 mL) was then added over 40 min. The mixture was then allowed to warm to room temperature over 40 min. Water (100 mL) was then added, the reaction mixture washed with chloroform (100 mL) and the organic layer discarded. The aqueous phase was acidified with 1M HCl (~ pH 2), providing a thick opaque mixture. The acidified aqueous mixture was extracted with chloroform (5 x 80 mL) and the combined organic phase dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford (2R, 3~ 2-(9H-Fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid (616 mg, 80%), TLC (single UV spot, Rr = 0.24, 20%
methanol in chloroform), analytical HPLC Rt = 15.54 min and HPLC-MS
(single main UV peak with Rt = 7.70 min, 356.2 [M + H]+, 378.1 [M + Na]+).
(5) Preparation of (2R, 357 2-(9H-Fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid allyl ester FmocHN
'~(R) O
HO (S~~
A solution of (616 mg, 1.74 mmol) and tricaprylmethylammonium chloride (701 mg, 1.74 mmol) in dichloromethane (2.6 mL) was added to a stirred solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (146 mg, 1.74 mmol) in water (2.6 mL), then allyl bromide (0.15 mL, 1.74 mmol) was added in one portion. The biphasic mixture was vigorously stirred for 5 days then diluted with water (40 mL) and the product extracted into dichloromethane (3 x 80 mL). The combined organic layers were dried (NaZS04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue (1.1 g). Flash chromatography of the residue over silica gel (200 g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (3:7) as the eluent afforded (2R, 3,5~ 2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl butyric acid allyl ester (360 mg, 52%), TLC (single UV spot, Rf = 0.48, 50%
ethyl acetate in heptane), analytical HPLC Rt = 18.42 min and HPLC-MS
(single main UV peak with Rt = 9.30 min, 396.2 [M + H]f, 418.2 [M + Na]~).
8H (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.21 (3H, d, J = 6.2 Hz, 4-H3), 1.52 (3H, s, 2-CH3), 3 .3 8 ( 1 H, br. s, OH), 3 .47-4.16 ( 1 H, m, 3-H), 4.25 ( 1 H, t, J = 6. 8 Hz, fluorenyl CHCH20), 4.3 8-4.42 (2H, m, fluorenyl CHCH20), 4.67 (2H, br. s, OCH~CHCH2), 5.24 (1H, dd, J= 1.2 and 10.44 Hz, OCHaCHCH2), 5.35 (1H, dd, J=1.1 and 10.44 Hz, OCHZCHCHa), 5.52 (1H, s, NH), 5.87-5.95 (1H, m, OCH2CHCH2), 7.31-7.35 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CH), 7.40-7.43 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CIA, 7.60 (2H, d, J= 7.4 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl CH) and 7.78 (2H, d, J=
7.5 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl CIA.
(6) Preparation of (2R, 3~ 3-test-Butoxy-2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxy carbonylamino)-2-methylbutyric acid allyl ester A stirred solution of (2R, 3~ 2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid allyl ester (312 mg, 0.69 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) was cooled in a sealed pressure vessel to -78 °C then isobutylene gas (~8 mL) condensed into the solution. Concentrated sulphuric acid (27 ~L) was added then the pressure vessel sealed. The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 3 days then cooled to -78 °C. N
Methylmorpholine (56 ~,L) was added then the unsealed pressure vessel allowed to warm to ambient temperature. The mixture was diluted with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (100 mL) then the product extracted into dichloromethane (3 x 100 mL). The combined dichloromethane layers were washed with brine (50 mL), dried (Na2S04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue. Flash chromatography of the residue over silica gel (35 g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (3:7) as the eluent afforded (2R, 3~ 3-tent-butoxy-2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxy carbonylamino)-2-methyl butyric acid allyl ester (310 mg, 99%), TLC (single UV spot, Rf = 0.70, 50% ethyl acetate in heptane), analytical HPLC Rt = 23.59 min and HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 12.09 min, 474.1 [M +
Na]+).

8H (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.16-1.25 (12H, m, 4-H3 and C(CH3)3), 1.62 (3H, s, 2-CH3), 3.95-4.05 (IH, m, 3-H), 4.23-4.43 (3H, m, fluorenyl CHCH20 and fluorenyl CHCH20), 4.55-4.71 (2H, m, OCH2CHCH2), 5.21 (1H, ddd, J= I.2, 2.5 and 17.2 Hz, OCH2CHCH2), 5.34 (1H, d, J= 17.2 Hz, OCHZCHCH2), 5.72 (1H, s, NH), 5.86-5.95 (1H, m, OCH2CHCH2), 7.31-7.35 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CH), 7.40-7.43 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CH), 7.62-7.70 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CH) and 7.78 (2H, d, J= 7.5 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl CH).
(7) Preparation of (2R, 3S~ 3-tent-Butoxy-2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxy carbonylamino)-2-methylbutyric acid Tetrakistriphenylphosphine palladium(0) (17.25 mg, 0.015 mmol), dichloromethane (10 mL) then phenyltrihydrosilane (0.18 mL, 1.33 mmol) were added consecutively to (2R, 3~ 3-tent-butoxy-2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-2-methyl butyric acid allyl ester (300 mg, 0.665 mmol) under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred for 90 min then absorbed onto silica gel (2 g). Flash chromatography of the absorbed residue over silica gel (35 g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (2:3), followed by (1:l) as the eluent afforded (2R, 3~ 3-tent-butoxy-2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylrnethoxycarbonylamino)-2-methyl butyric acid (140 mg, 51%), TLC (single UV spot, Rf= 0.33, 50%
ethyl acetate in heptane), analytical HPLC R~ = 20.20 min and HPLC-MS
(single main UV peak with Rt =10.25 min, 434.1 [M + Na]+).
8H (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.19 (3H, d, J= 6.1 Hz, 4-H3), 1.32 (9H, s, C(CH3)s), 1.69 (3H, s, 2-CH3), 4.23 (1H, t, J= 7.0 Hz, fluorenyl CHCH20), 4.37 (2H, d, J= 7.0 Hz, fluorenyl CHCH20), 4.61-4.65 (1H, m, 3-H), 6.12 (1H, s, NH), 7.31-7.34 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CH), 7.39-7.43 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CH), 7.59-7.62 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl Cl~ and 7.77 (2H, d, J = 7.5 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl C.F~.
80 (100 MHz, CDC13) 18.3 (C-4), 21.3 (2-CH3), 28.7 (C(CH3)3), 47.2 (CHCH2O), 60.5 (C(CH3)3), 62.7 (C-2), 66.7 (CHZO), 69.5 (C-3), 120.1, 125.2, 127.2, 127.8 (8 x fluorenyl CHs'), 141.4, 143.8 (4 x fluorenyl quaternary Cs'), 154.6 (OCON) and 174.8 (C-1).
(8) Preparation of (1R, 2~ (2-tent-Butoxy-1-fluorocarbonyl-1-methyl propyl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester Pyridine (47 ~,L, 0.55 mmol) then cyanotic fluoride (63 ~,L, 0.71 mmol) were added consecutively at 0 °C to a stirred solution of (2R, 3S) 3-test-butoxy-2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-2-methyl butyric acid (130 mg, 0.316 mmol) in dichloromethane (8 mL) under nitrogen. The suspension was slowly warmed to ambient temperature and stirred for 20 h. Crushed ice (~10 ml) and ice-chilled water (10 ml) was added, then the product was extracted into dichloromethane (40 ml). The dichloromethane layer was dried (MgS04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford (1R, 2S~ (2-tef°t-butoxy-I-fluorocarbonyl-1-methylpropyl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (138 mg), TLC (single IJV spot, Rf = 0.75, 50% ethyl acetate in heptane), HPLC-MS (single main W peak with Rt =11.66 min, 436.1 [M + Na]+).
(9) Preparation of (1R, 1'S~ [1-(1-test-Butoxyethyl)-3-diazo-1-methyl-2-oxo propyl]-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester Ethereal diazomethane [generated from diazald (~15 mmol) addition in diethyl ether (75 mL) to sodium hydroxide (5.25 g) in water (7.5 mL)/ethanol (15 mL) at 60°C and dried over potassium hydroxide pellets] was added to a stirred solution of (1R, 2~ (2-teat-butoxy-1-fluorocarbonyl-1-methylpropyl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (138 mg, 0.316 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) at 0 °C. The mixture was then allowed to warm to ambient temperature and stirred for 20 hours. A few drops of acetic acid were added to quench any excess diazomethane then the solution was stirred for 5 minutes before adding test-butyl methyl ether (100 mL). The ethereal layer was washed with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate (2 x 50 mL), dried (Na2S04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a residue.
Flash chromatography of the residue over silica gel (35 g) using ethyl acetate : heptane (0.1:19) as the eluent afforded (4R, 4'S~ 4-( 1-tent-Butoxyethyl)-2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxy)-4-methyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (55 mg, 45%), TLC
(single UV spot, Rf = 0.77, 50% ethyl acetate in heptane), analytical HPLC Rt = 21.15 min and HPLC-MS (single main UV peaks at Rt = 10.42 min, 434.2 [M + H20 + Na]+ and Rt=11.65 min, 434.2 [M + HZp + Na]+).
8H (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.13 (9H, s, C(CH3)3), 1.25 (3H, d, J = 6.1 Hz, CH3CH), 1.35 (3H, s, 4-CH3), 3.81 (1H, q, J= 6.1 Hz, CHCH3), 4.4I (1H, dd, J= 8.1 and 9.8 Hz, fluorenyl CHCH20), 4.50 (1H, m, fluorenyl CHCH20), 4.80 (1H, dd, J= 6.2 and 9.8 Hz, fluorenyl CHCH20), 7.31-7.35 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CH), 7.41-7.45 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CH), 7.67 (2H, d, J= 7.5 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl CIA and 7.79 (2H, d, J= 7.5 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl CIA.
8C (100 MHz, CDCl3) 17.3 (4'-CH3), 20.5 (4-CH3), 28.8 (C(cH3)3), 46.3 (CHCH20), 71.1 (C-4), 72.1 (CH20), 74.4 (CHCH3), 75.6 (C(CH3)3), 120.2, 125.4, 125.7, 127.3, 128.0, 128.1 (8 x fluorenyl CHs'), 141.4, 141.5, 143.0, 143.6 (4 x fluorenyl quaternary Cs'), 157.6 (OCON) and 178.8 (C-5), Further elution gave a mixed fraction containing the above oxazolone and (1R, 1'S~ [1-(1-tef°t-Butoxyethyl)-3-diazo-1-methyl-2-oxo propyl]-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester [TLC (UV spot, Rf = 0.75, 50% ethyl acetate in heptane] and 3-tent-Butoxy-2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-2-methylbutyric acid methyl ester (35 mg).
(10) Preparation of (2S, 3R) (2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (R) FmocHN~~~~~~~~.
O
A solution of lithium chloride (21.7 mg, 0.51 mmol) in water (0.25 mL) and acetic acid (1 mL) was added to the above mixed fraction (35 mg) containing (1R, 1'S) [1-(1-tef°t-Butoxyethyl)-3-diazo-1-methyl-2-oxopropyl]-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester. A gas evolved and after 1 h, chloroform (40 mL) was added and the organic phase washed with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate (20 mL). The chloroform layer was dried (NaaS04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a residue (40 mg).
Flash chromatography of the residue over silica (20 g) using ethyl acetate heptane (I:4), followed by (I:1) as the eluent afforded (2S, 3R) (2,3-dimethyl-4-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl)carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (6 mg), TLC (single W spot, Rf = 0.57, ethyl acetate : heptane 1:1);
analytical HPLC Rt = 18.22 min and HPLC-MS (single main UV peak with Rt = 8.92 min, 352 [M + H]+, 374 [M + Na]+).
8H (400 MHz, CDC13) 1.12 (3H, d, J = 4.3 Hz, 2-CH3), 1.50 (3H, s, 3-CH3), 4.05 (1H, d, J = 17.9 Hz, 5-H), 4.16-4.24 (2H, m, 5-H and fluorenyl CHCH20), 4.38-4.48 (2H, m, CHCHZO), 4.50-4.65 (1H, br. s, 2-H), 4.84 (1H, s, NH), 7.31-7.33 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CIA, 7.39-7.43 (2H, m, 2 x fluorenyl CH), 7.58 (2H, d, J= 7.4 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl CH) and 7.78 (2H, d, J=
7.4 Hz, 2 x fluorenyl CIA
Following the general details from Scheme 2, the required bicycle building block (2S, 3R) (2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (7b) was converted to building block-linker construct (9) as follows:
(2S, 3R) (2,3-Dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-carbamic acid 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl ester (7b) (8 mg, 0.0214 mmol, 1 eq) was dissolved in a mixture of ethanol (1.86 mL) and water (0.27 mL) containing sodium acetate.trihydrate (22mg, 0.1605 mmol, 7.5 eq). 4-[[(hydrazinocarbonyl)amino] methyl]cyclohexanecarboxylic acid.
trifluoroacetate (35mg, 0.1605 mmol, 7.5 eq, Murphy, A. M. et al, J. Am. Chem.
Soc., 114, 3156-3157, 1992) was added and the mixture refluxed for 2 days.
Chloroform (SOmL) was added and the organics washed with dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid (0.1 M, 2 x 30 mL), brine (25 mL), dried (Na2S04) and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford linker construct (9) as a white solid (10 mg).
Analytical HPLC indicated one main peak at Rt = 17.53 min for the Z isomer and another at Rt = 17.88 min for the E-isomer. HPLC-MS (main UV peaks with Rt =
8.37 min, 549 [M + H]+ for the Z-isomer and Rt = 8.98 min, 549 [M + H]+ for the E-isomer, Crude (9) was used directly for construct loading.
Following the general details from Scheme 2, the required building block-linker construct (9) was attached to the solid phase providing loaded building block-linker construct (10) as follows:
Building block-linker construct (9) (10.6mg, 0.0193mmole), 2-(1H-benzotriazole-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluroniumhexafluoro phosphate (HBTU, 7.3mg, 0.0193mmole), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole.hydrate and (HOBT, 2.96mg, 0.0193mmole) were dissolved in dimethylformamide (O.SmL) and N-methylmorpholine (NMM, 4.2~,L, 0.0386mmole) added. After pre-activation for 5 minutes, free amine gears (6 x 1.2~,mole) were added, followed by dimethylformamide (l.OmL) and left overnight The spent coupling solution was then added to free amine crown (1 x l Opmole) and left overnight. Standard washing and analyses indicated loading at approx 70%..
Following the general details from Scheme 2, the required loaded building block-linker construct (10) was elaborated on the solid phase as follows:
Loaded construct (10) was elaborated to EXAMPLE 35 (2S, 3R) 4-tart-Butyl-N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl carbamoyl) 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide by standard Fmoc deprotection and sequential coupling with Fmoc-Tyr(OBut)-OH then 4-test-butylbenzoic acid. The crude example was cleaved and analysed (see general techniques). HPLC Rt = 17.31mins (>90%), HPLC-MS 453.2 [M + H]+.
The following examples (36 - 37) were prepared as detailed for EXAMPLE 35, coupling with the required reagents to provide the full length molecule.
EXAMPLE 36 (2S, 3R) 4-tey~t-Butyl N [1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-3-methyl-butyl]-benzamide HPLC Rt = 19.4mins (>90%), HPLC-MS 403.3 [M + H]+, 827.5 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE 36 (2S, 3R) Furan-3-carboxylic acid [2-cyclohexyl-1-(2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-ylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-amide HPLC Rt = 16.3mins (>90%), HPLC-MS 377.2 [M + H]+, 775.4 [2M + Na]+.
EXAMPLE A. Assays for Cysteine Protease Activity The compounds of this invention may be tested in one of a number of literature based biochemical assays that are designed to elucidate the characteristics of compound inhibition. The data from these types of assays enables compound potency and the rates of reaction to be measured and quantified. This information, either alone or in combination with other information, would allow the amount of compound required to produce a given pharmacological effect to be determined.
General materials and methods Unless otherwise stated, all general chemicals and biochemicals were purchased from either the Sigma Chemical Company, Poole, Dorset, U.K. or from Fisher Scientific UK, Loughborough, Leicestershire, U.K. Absorbance assays were carried out in flat-bottomed 96-well plates (Spectra; Greiner Bio-One Ltd., Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, U.K.) using a SpectraMax PLUS384 plate reader (Molecular Devices, Crawley, U.K.). Fluorescence high throughput assays were carried out in either 384-well microtitre plates (Corning Costar 3705 plates, Fisher Scientific) or 96-well 'U' bottomed Microfluor Wl microtitre plates (Thermo Labsystems, Ashford, Middlesex, U.K.). Fluorescence assays were monitored using a SpectraMax Gemini fluorescence plate reader (Molecular Devices). For substrates employing either a 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC) or a 7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (AFC) fluorophore, assays were monitored at an excitation wavelength of 365 nm and an emission wavelength of 450 nm and the fluorescence plate reader calibrated with AMC. For substrates employing a 3-amino-benzoyl (Abz) fluorophore, assays were monitored at an excitation wavelength of 310 nm and an emission wavelength of 445 nm; the fluorescence plate reader calibrated with 3-amino-benzamide (Fluka). Unless otherwise indicated, all the peptidase substrates were purchased from Bachem UK, St. Helens, Merseyside, UK. Substrates utilizing fluorescence resonance energy transfer methodology (i.e. FRET-based substrates) were synthesized at Incenta Limited using published methods (Atherton &
Sheppard, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, IRL Press, Oxford, U.K., 1989) and employed Abz (2-aminobenzoyl) as the fluorescence donor and 3-nitro-tyrosine [Tyr(N02)] as the fluorescence quencher (Meldal, M. and Breddam, K., Anal. Biochem., 195, 141-147, 1991). Hydroxyethylpiperazine ethanesulfonate (HEPES), tris-hydroxylmethyl aminomethane (tris) base, bis-tris-propane and all the biological detergents (e.g.
CHAPS, zwittergents, etc.) were purchased from CN Biosciences UK, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, U.K. Glycerol was purchased from Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, U.K. Stock solutions of substrate or inhibitor were made up to 10 mM in 100 % dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (Rathburns, Glasgow, U.K.) and diluted as appropriately required. In all cases the DMSO
concentration in the assays was maintained at less than 1 % (vol./vol.).
Assay protocols were based on literature precedent (Tablel; Barrett, A.J., Rawlings, N.D. and Woessner, J.F., 1998, Handbook of Ps°oteolytic Enzymes, Academic Press, London and references therein) and modified as required to suit local assay protocols. Enzyme was added as required to initiate the reaction and the activity, as judged by the change in fluorescence upon conversion of substrate to product, was monitored over time. All assays were carried out at 251°C.
Table 1. The enzyme assays described herein were carded out according to literature precedents.
Enzyme BufferSubstrate Reference Cathepsin B I Z-Phe-Arg-AMC a, b Cathepsin H II Bz-Phe-Val-Arg-AMC a, b Cathepsin L I Ac-Phe-Arg-AMC b, c Cathepsin S I Boc-Val-Leu-Lys-AMC c,d Caspase 1 III Ac-Leu-Glu-His-Asp-AMCa Caspase 2 III Z-Val-Asp-Val-Ala-Asp-AFCf Caspase 3 III Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-AMCg, h Caspase 4 III Suc-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-AMCf Caspase 5 III Ac-Leu-Glu-His-Asp-AMC

Caspase 6 III Ac-Val-Glu-Ile-Asp-AMCi, j, k Caspase 7 III Ac-Asp-Glu-Val- Asp-AMC

Caspase 8 III Ac-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-AMC1 Caspase 9 III Ac-Leu-Glu-His-Asp-AMC

Caspase 10 III Ac-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-AMC

Cruzipain IV D-Val-Leu-Lys-AMC m, n CPB2.80CTE XI Pro-Phe-Arg-AMC q S. Au~eus I Abz-Ile-Ala-Ala-Pro- o Extracellular Tyr(N02)-Glu-NH2 cysteine peptidase Clostripain Z-Gly-Gly-Arg-AMC p FMDV LP V Abz-Arg-Lys-Leu-Lys-Gly-r Ala-Gly-Ser-Tyr(N02)-Glu-NHa Trypsin VI Z-Gly-Gly-Arg-AMC s Calpain ~. VII Abz-Ala-Asn-Leu-Gly-Arg-Pro-t Ala-Leu-Tyr(NOZ)-Asp-NHZ

Calpain m VIII Abz-Lys-Leu-Cys(Bzl)-Phe-Ser-t Lys-Gln-Tyr(NOZ)-Asp-NHZ

Cathepsin I~ IX Z-Phe-Arg-AMC a Cathepsin X X v,w I: 10 mM BTP, pH 6.5 containing 1 mM EDTA, 5 mM 2-mercaptoethanol and 1 mM
CaCla II: 10 mM BTP, pH 6.5 containing 1 mM EDTA, 142 mM NaCI, 1 mM DTT, 1 mM
CaCl2, 0.035 mM Zwittergent 3-16 III: SOmM HEPES pH 7.2, 10% Glycerol, 0.1 % CHAPS, 142 mM NaCI, 1 mM
EDTA, 5 mM DTT
IV: 100 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.75 containing 1 mM EDTA and 10 mM L-cysteine V: 50 mM trisacetate, pH 8.4 containing 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM L-cysteine and 0.25 % (w/v) CHAP S
VI: 10 mM HEPES, pH 8.0 containing 5 mM CaCl2 VII: 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.5 containing 2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol and 100 ~,M CaCl2 VIII: 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.5 containing 2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol and 200 ~M
CaCl2 IX: 100 mM sodium acetate; pH 5.5 containing 10 mM L-cysteine and 1 mM EDTA
X: 100 mM sodium acetate; pH 5.5 containing 10 mM L-cysteine; 0.05% (w/v) Brij 35 and 1 mM EDTA
XI: 100 mM sodium acetate; pH 5.5 containing 10 mM L-cysteine; 142 mM sodium chloride and 1 mM EDTA
a Barrett, A.J., Biochem. J., 187, 909-912,1980 b Barrett, A.J. and Kirschke, H., Methods Enzymol., 80, 535-561, 1981 Quibell, M. and Taylor, S., W00069~55, 2000 d Bromine, D., Steinert, ., Freibe, S., Fittkau, S., Wiederanders, B., and Kirschke, H., Bioclzem. J., 264, 475-481,1989 a Rano, T.A., et. al., Claem. Biol., 4, 149,1997 f Talanian, R.V., et. al., .I. Biol. Chem., 272, 9677,1997 g Lazebnik, Y.A., Kaufmann, S.H., Desnoyers, S., Poirer, G.G. and Earnshaw, W.C., Nature., 371, 768-774,1994 hHan, Z., et. al., J. Biol. Chem., 272, 13432,1997 Takahashi, A., et. al., PNAS, 93, 8395, 1996 ~ Martins, L.M., et. al., J. Biol. Chem., 272, 7421,1997 k Nagata, S., Cell., 88, 355,1997 1 Harris, J.L., et. al., J. Biol. Chem., 273, 27364,1998 m Cazzulo, J.J., Cazzulo Franke, M.C., Martinez, J. and Franke de Cazzulo, B.M., Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 1037, 186-191,1990 n Cazzulo, J.J., Bravo, M., Raimondi, A., Engstrom, U., Lindeberg, G. and Hellman, U., Cell Mol. Biol., 42, 691-696,1996 ° Potempa, J., Dubin, A., Korzus, G. and Travis, J., Biochem. J., 263, 2664-2667, p Kembhavi, A.A., Buttle, D.J., Rauber, P. and Barrett, A.J., FEBS Lett., 283, 280,1991 qAlves, L.C., et. al., Mol. Biochem. Pa~asitol, 116, 1-9, 2001.
r Guarne, et.al., J. Mol. Biol., 302, 1227-1240, 2000.
S Halfon and Craik, (Barnet, Rawlings and Woessner, eds.), in Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes, Academic Press, London, 12-21, 1998.
t Sasaki, et. al., (1984), J. Biol. Claem., 259, 12489-12494,1984.
°Bossard, M.J., et. al., , J. Biol. Chem., 21, 12517-12524, 1996 Santamaria, L, et. al., J. Biol. Claem., 273, 16816-16823,1998 W Klemencic, J, et al., Eur.J.Biochem., 267,5404-5412, 2000 Ti°ypahosoma cf~zczi cruzipain peptidase activity assays Wild-type cruzipain, derived from Trypanosome cruzi Dm28 epimastigotes, was obtained from Dr. Julio Scharfstein (Instituto de Bioflsica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Activity assays were carried out in 100 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.75 containing 1 mM EDTA and 10 mM L-cysteine using 2.5 nM enzyme. Ac-Phe-Arg-AMC (KMapp ~ 12 ~M) and D-Val-Leu-Lys-AMC (KMapp ~ 4 ~,M) were used as the substrates. Routinely, Ac-FR-AMC was used at a concentration equivalent to KMapp and D-Val-Leu-Lys-AMC was used at a concentration of 25 ~,M. The rate of conversion of substrate to product was derived from the slope of the increase in fluorescence monitored continuously over time.
Leislamaraia mexicana cysteine protease B (CPB) peptidase activity assays Wild-type recombinant CPB without the C-terminal extention (i.e. CPB2.80CTE;
Sanderson, S.J., et. al., Biochem. J., 347, 383-388, 2000) was obtained from Dr.
Jeremy Mottram (Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, The Anderson College, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, U.K.). Activity assays were carried out in 100 mM sodium acetate; pH 5.5 containing 1 mM EDTA; 200 mM NaCI and 10 mM
DTT (Aloes, L.C., et. al., Mol. Biochem. Parasitol, 116, 1-9, 2001) using 0.25 nM
enzyme. Pro-Phe-Arg-AMC (KMapp ~ 38~,M) was used as the substrate at a concentration equivalent to KMapp. The rate of conversion of substrate to product was derived from the slope of the increase in fluorescence monitored continuously over time.
Cathepsi~c peptidase activity assays Bovine cathepsin S, human cathepsin L, human cathepsin H and human cathepsin B
were obtained from CN Biosciences. Recombinant human cathepsin S, human cathepsin K and human cathepsin X were obtained from Dr. Boris Turk (Josef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia). Unless otherwise stated, all peptidase activity assays were carried out in 10 mM bis-tris-propane (BTP), pH 6.5 containing 1 mM EDTA, 5 mM 2-mercaptoethanol and 1 mM CaCl2. Human cathepsin H activity assays were carried out in 10 mM BTP pH 6.5, 142 mM NaCl2, 1 mM CaCla, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 0.035 mM Zwittergent 3-16. Human cathepsin K assays were carried out in 100 mM sodium acetate; pH 5.5 containing 20 mM L-cysteine and 1 mM EDTA
(Bossard, M.J., et. al., J. Biol. Chem., 21, 12517-12524, 1996). Human cathepsin X
assays were carried out in 100 mM sodium acetate; pH 5.5 containing 20 mM L-cysteine; 0.05% (w/o) Brij 35 and 1 mM EDTA (Santamaria, L, et. al., J. Biol.
Chem., 273, 16816-16823, 1998; Klemencic, J, et al., Eu~. J. Bioclaena., 267, 5412, 2000). The final enzyme concentrations used in the assays were 0.5 nM
bovine cathepsin S, 1 nM cathepsin L, 0.1 nM cathepsin B, 0.25nM Cathepsin K;

nM cathepsin X and 10 nM cathepsin H. For the inhibition assays, the substrates used for cathepsin S, cathepsin L, cathepsin B, cathepsin K and cathepsin H
were boc-Val-Leu-Lys-AMC (KMapp ~ 30 ~,M), Ac-Phe-Arg-AMC (KMapp ~ 20 ~,M), Z-Phe-Arg-AMC (KMapp ~ 40 ~,M), Z-Leu-Arg-AMC (KMapp ~ 2~M); Bz-Phe-Val-Arg-AMC (KMapp ~ 150 ~M) respectively. In each case the substrate concentration used in each assay was equivalent to the KMapp. The rate of conversion of substrate to product was derived from the slope of the increase in fluorescence monitored continuously over time.

Trypsin peptidase activity assays Human pancreatic trypsin (iodination grade; CN Biosciences) activity assays were carned out in 10 mM HEPES, pH 8.0 containing 5 mM CaCl2 using 0.1 nM trypsin.
For the inhibition assays, Z-Gly-Gly-Arg-AMC (KMapp ~ 84 ~,M) was used as the substrate at a concentration equivalent to KMapp. The rate of conversion of substrate to product was derived from the slope of the increase in fluorescence monitored continuously over time.
Clostripain peptidase activity assays Clostripain (Sigma) activity assays were carried out in 10 mM BTP, pH 6.5 containing 1 mM EDTA, 5 mM 2-mercaptoethanol and 1mM CaCl2 using 0.3 nM
enzyme. For the inhibition assays, Z-Gly-Gly-Arg-AMC (KMapp ~ 100 ~M) was used as the substrate at a concentration equivalent to KMapp. The rate of conversion of substrate to product was derived from the slope of the increase in fluorescence monitored continuously over time.
Calpain peptidase activity assays Calpain (human erythrocyte p,-calpain and porcine kidney m-calpain; CN
Biosciences) activity assays were carried out in 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.5 containing 2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol and CaCl2 using 25 nM of either enzyme (Sasaki, et. al., J.
Biol. Chem., 259, 12489-12494, 1984). For p.-calpain inhibition assays, the buffer contained 100 p,M CaCl2 and Abz-Ala-Asn-Leu-Gly-Arg-Pro-Ala-Leu-Tyr(NOa)-Asp-NH2 (KMapp ~ 20 ~M; Incenta Limited) was used as the substrate. For m-calpain inhibition assays, the assay buffer contained 200 ~M CaCl2 and Abz-Lys-Leu-Cys(Bzl)-Phe-Ser-Lys-Gln-Tyr(N02)-Asp-NH2 (KM~pp ~ 22 ~M; Incenta Limited) was used as the substrate. In both cases the substrate concentration employed in the assays was equivalent to the KMapp. The rate of conversion of substrate to product was derived from the slope of the increase in fluorescence monitored continuously over time.

Extracellular S. aur~eus V8 cysteine peptidase (staphylopain) peptidase activity assays S. aureus V8 was obtained from Prof. S. Arvidson, I~arolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Extracellular S. aureus V8 cysteine peptidase (staphylopain) activity assays were carried out using partially purified S. auf°eus V8 culture supernatant (obtained from Dr. Peter Lambert, Aston University, Birmingham, U.I~.). Activity assays were carried out in 10 mM BTP, pH 6.5 containing 1 mM EDTA, 5 mM 2-mercaptoethanol and 1mM CaCl2 using two-times diluted partially purified extract.
For the inhibition assays, Abz-IIe-AIa-Ala-Pro-Tyr(N02)-Glu-NH2 (KMapp ~ 117 ~,M;
Incenta Limited) was used as the substrate at a concentration equivalent to KMapp.
The rate of conversion of substrate to product was derived from the slope of the increase in fluorescence monitored continuously over time.
Foot-and-mouth disease leader peptidase (FMDV-LP) activity assays Recombinant wild-type FMDV-LP was obtained from Dr. Tim Skern (Institut fiir Medizinische Biochemie, Abteilung fair Biochemie, Universtat Wien, Wien, Austria).
Activity assays were carried out in 50 mM trisacetate, pH 8.4 containing 1 mM
EDTA, 10 mM L-cysteine and 0.25% (w/v) CHAPS using 10 nM enzyme. For the inhibition assays, Abz-Arg-Lys-Leu-Lys-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ser-Tyr(N02)-Glu-NH2 (KMapp ~ 51 ~.M, Incenta Limited) was used as the substrate at a concentration equivalent to KMapp. The rate of conversion of substrate to product was derived from the slope of the increase in fluorescence monitored continuously over time.
Caspase peptidase activity assays Caspases 1-10 were obtained from CN Biosciences or BioVision Inc. (Mountain View, CA, USA) and all assays were carned out in SOmM HEPES; pH 7.2, 10%
(v/v) glycerol, 0.1% (w/v) CHAPS, 142 mM NaCI, I mM EDTA, 5 mM
dithiothreitol (DTT) using 0.1-1 U per assay. For caspase 1, Ac-Leu-Glu-His-Asp-AMC was used as the substrate; for caspase 2, Z-Val-Asp-Va1-AIa-Asp-AFC was used as the substrate; for caspase 3, Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-AMC was used as the substrate; for caspase 4, Suc-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-AMC was used as the substrate;
for caspase 5, Ac-Leu-Glu-His-Asp-AMC was used as the substrate; for caspase 6, Ac-Val-Glu-Ile-Asp-AMC was used as the substrate; for caspase 7, Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-AMC was used as the substrate; for caspase 8, Ac-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-AMC was used as the substrate; for caspase 9, Ac-Leu-Glu-His-Asp-AMC was used as the substrate; for caspase 10, Ac-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-AMC was used as the substrate (Nicholson, D.W. and Thornberry, N.A., TIBS, 22, 299-306, 1997; Stennicke, H.R.
and Salvesen, G.S., J. Biol. Chem., 272(41), 25719-25723, 1997; Talanian, R.V., et.
al., J. Biol. Chem., 272(15), 9677-9682, 1997; Wolf, B.B. and Green, D.R., J.
Biol.
Chem., 274(29), 20049-20052, 1999). The rate of conversion of substrate to product was derived from the slope of the increase in fluorescence monitored continuously over time.
Measurement of the apparent macroscopic binding (Michaelis) constants (KMapp) for substrates The apparent macroscopic binding constant (KMapp) for each substrate was calculated, from the dependence of enzyme activity as a function of substrate concentration.
The observed rates were plotted on the ordinate against the related substrate concentration on the abscissa and the data fitted by direct regression analysis (Prism v 3.02; GraphPad, San Diego, USA) using Equation 1 (Cornish-Bowden, A.
Fundamentals of enzyme kinetics Portland Press; 1995, 93-128.).
Amax aPP . ~~'o ~ 1 r [So]+KMpPP
In Equation 1 'v;' is the observed initial rate, 'YmaXapp' is the observed maximum activity at saturating substrate concentration, 'I~MaPP' is the apparent macroscopic binding (Michaelis) constant for the substrate, '[So]' is the initial substrate concentration.

Measurement of the inhibition constants The apparent inhibition constant (K;) for each compound was determined on the basis that inhibition was reversible and occurred by a pure-competitive mechanism.
The K; values were calculated, from the dependence of enzyme activity as a function of inhibitor concentration, by direct regression analysis (Prism v 3.02) using Equation 2 (Cornish-Bowden, A., 1995.).
v °pp.[s]
V . = m~' 2 r [S.!+~KMapp~([I]~Kr)~
In Equation 2 'v;' is the observed residual activity, 'T~maxapp' is the observed maximum activity (i.e. in the absence of inhibitor), 'KMapP' is the apparent macroscopic binding (Michaelis) constant for the substrate, '[S]' is the initial substrate concentration, 'K;' is the apparent dissociation constant and '[I]' is the inhibitor concentration.
In situations where the apparent dissociation constant (K;app) approached the enzyme concentrations, the K;app values were calculated using a quadratic solution in the form described by Equation 3 (Morrison, J.F. Trends Biochem. Sci., 7, 102-105, 1982;
Morrison, J.F. Bioclaim. Biophys. ActaZ 185, 269-286, 1969; Stone, S.R. and Hofsteenge, J. Biochemistry, 25, 4622-4628,1986).
F fEo -Ia _K~aPP -~- (Eo _I~ _KapP)2 +4.K.°nn.Eo }
' 2 Kana -K~(1~,[So~~KMapn) (4) In Equation 3 'v;' is the observed residual activity, 'F' is the difference between the maximum activity (i.e. in the absence of inhibitor) and minimum enzyme activity, 'Eo' is the total enzyme concentration, 'K;apP' is the apparent dissociation constant and 'Io' is the inhibitor concentration. Curves were fitted by non-linear regression analysis (Prism) using a fixed value for the enzyme concentration. Equation 4 was used to account for the substrate kinetics, where 'K;' is the inhibition constant, '[S°]' is the initial substrate concentration and 'KMaPp~ is the apparent macroscopic binding (Michaelis) constant for the substrate (Morrison,1982).
The second-order rate of reaction of inhibitor with enzyme Where applicable, the concentration dependence of the observed rate of reaction (k°bs) of each compound with enzyme was analysed by determining the rate of enzyme inactivation under pseudo-first order conditions in the presence of substrate (Morrison, J.F., TIBS, 102-105, 1982; Tian, W.X. and Tsou, C.L., Biochemistry, 21, 1028-1032, 1982; Morrison, J.F. and Walsh, C.T., from Meister (Ed.), Advances in Enzymol., 61, 201-301, 1988; Tsou, C.L., from Meister (Ed.), Advances ira Enzymol., 61, 381-436, 1988;). Assays were carried out by addition of various concentrations of inhibitor to assay buffer containing substrate. Assays were initiated by the addition of enzyme to the reaction mixture and the change in fluorescence monitored over time. During the course of the assay less than 10% of the substrate was consumed.
cV - v )l1 - ~~~obr.t~ J
F = vs t + ° S + D (5) k°bs The activity fluorescence progress curves were fitted by non-linear regression analysis (Prism) using Eq. 5 (Mornson, 1969; Morrison, 1982); where 'F' is the fluorescence response, 't' is time, 'v°' is the initial velocity, 'vs' is the equilibrium steady-state velocity, 'k°bs' is the observed pseudo first-order rate constant and 'D' is the intercept at time zero (i.e. the ordinate displacement of the curve). The second order rate constant was obtained from the slope of the line of a plot of k°bs versus the inhibitor concentration (i.e. k°bs~[I]). To correet for substrate kinetics, Eq. 6 was used, where '[S°]' is the iniitial substrate concentration and 'KMapp' is the apparent macroscopic binding (Michaelis) constant for the substrate.

k. _ kobs (1 + [So ] ~ KM°PP ) (6) »~a~r -Compounds of the invention were tested by the above described assays and observed to exhibit cruzipain inhibitory activity or inhibitory activity against an alternative CA
C1 cysteine protease with an in vitro Ki inhibitory constant of less than or equal to 100~M. Exemplary inhibition data for a number of example compounds of the invention are given in table 2.
Table 2. Exemplary inhibition data (I~i expressed as ~,M).
EXAMPLE N- CruzipainBovine Human Human Cathepsin Cathepsin Cathepsin S L I~

6 <2 >50 >50 >100 19 >50 <2 >50 >50 27 >20 >50 <5 >100

Claims

1. A compound according to general formula (I):- wherein: R1=C0-7-alkyl (when C=0,R1 is simply hydrogen), C3-6-cycloalkyl or Ar-C0-7-alkyl (when C=0, R1 is simply an aromatic moiety Ar);
R2=C0-7-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl or Ar-C0-7-alkyl;
R3=C1-7-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl or Ar-C0-7-alkyl;

Y=CR4R5-CO where R4, R5 are independently chosen from C0-7-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl and Ar-C0-7alkyl;
(X)o = CR6R7, where R6 and R7 are independently chosen from C0-7-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl and Ar-C0-7-alkyl and 0 is a number from zero to three;

W n=O, S, C(O), S(O) or S(O)2 or NR8, where R8 is chosen from C0-7-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl and Ar-C0-7-alkyl and n is zero or one;

(V)m = C(O), C(S), S(O), S(O)2, S(O)2NH, OC(O), NHC(O), NHS(O), NHS(O)2, OC(O)NH, C(O)NH or CR9R10, where R9 and R10 are independently chosen from C0-7-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl, Ar-C0-7-alkyl and m is a number from zero to three, provided that when m is greater than one, (V)m contains a maximum of one carbonyl or sulphonyl group;

Z = O (in which case compounds of general formula (I) may be named as(2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)amides, S (in which case compounds of general formula (I) may be named as (2-alkyl-3-alkyl-4-oxo-tetrahydrothiophen-3-yl)amides or CH2 (in which case compounds of general formula (I) may be named as and (1-alkyl-2-alkyl-5-oxocyclopentyl)amides;
U = a stable 5- to 7-membered monocyclic or a stable 8- to 11-membered bicyclic ring which is either saturated or unsaturated and which includes zero to four heteroatoms (as detailed below):
wherein R11 is chosen from:

C0-7-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl, Ar-C0-7-alkyl, halogen, O-C0-7-alkyl, O-C3-6-cycloalkyl, O-Ar-C0-7-alkyl, S-C0-7-alkyl, S-C3-6-cycloalkyl, S-Ar-C0-7-alkyl, NH-C0-7-alkyl, NH-C3-6-cycloalkyl, NH-Ar-C0-7-alkyl, N-(C0-7-alkyl)2, N-(C3-6-cycloalkyl)2 and N-(Ar-CO-7-alkyl)2;
or, when part of a group CHR11 or CR11, R11 may be halogen;
A is chosen from:
CH2, CHR11, O, S and NR12, where R11 is as defined above and where R12 is chosen from C0-7-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl and Ar-C0-7-alkyl;
B, D and G are independently chosen from:
CR11, where R11 is as defined above, or N;
E is chosen from:
CH2, CHR11, O, S and NR12, where R11 and R12 are defined as above ;
J, L, M, R, T, T2, T3 and T4 are independently chosen from:
CR11 and N, where R11 is as defined above;
T5 is chosen from:
CH or N;
q is a number from one to three, thereby defining a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring.

2. A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein R1 comprises C0-7-alkyl or Ar-C0-7-alkyl.

3. A compound as claimed in claim 2 wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen or one of the following moieties:

4. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein R2 is C1-7-alkyl or Ar-C0-7-alkyl.

5. A compound as claimed in claim 4 wherein R2 is selected from one of the following moieties:
wherein R11 and R12 are as defined previously.

6. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein R3 is a simple alkyl or arylalkyl group.

7. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein Y is CR4R5CO
where R4, R5 are selected from C0-7-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl or Ar-C0-7-alkyl.

8. A compound as claimed in claim 7 where Y is selected from one of the following moieties:

wherein R11, R12 and Ar are as defined above.

9. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein Y is CHR5CO
where R5 is Ar-CH2-, where the aromatic ring is an optionally substituted phenyl or monocyclic heterocycle.

10. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein Y is CHR5CO
where R5 is a simple branched alkyl group or a straight heteroalkyl chain.

11. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein Y is CHR5CO
where R5 comprises cyclohexylmethyl.

12. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein Y is selected from the following:
wherein R11 and Ar are as defined previously

13. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein, in the group (X)o, X is CR6R7 and each of R6 and R7 is selected from C0-7-alkyl or Ar-C0-7-alkyl 14. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein (X)o is one of the following moieties:
wherein R11 and R12 are as defined previously.

14. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein (X)o a simple alkyl group and where o = 0 or 1.

15. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein, in the group (W)n:
W is O, S, SO2, SO, C(O) or NR8, where R8 is C0-4-alkyl; and n is 0 or 1.

16. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein, in the group (W)n:
W is O, S, SO2, C(O) or NH where n is 0 or 1.

17. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein, in the group (V)m:
V is C(O), C(O)NH or CHR10, where R10 is C0-4-alkyl; and m is 0 or 1.

18. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the combination (V)m and (W)m is one of the following:

19. A compound as claimed in claim 18, wherein the combination (V)m and (W)m is one of the first eight structures depicted in claim 18.

20. A compound as claimed in claim 18, wherein the combination (V)m and (W)m is the ninth structure depicted in claim 18.

21. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the combination (X)o, (V)m and (W)m is one of the following:

22. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein U comprises an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocycle or an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated 9- or 10-membered heterocycle.

23. A compound as claimed in claim 22 wherein U comprises one of the following:
wherein R11 is as defined previously.

24. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein U comprises a bulky alkyl or aryl group at the para position of an aryl Ar.

25. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein U comprises a meta or para-biaryl Ar-Ar, where Ar is as previously defined.

26. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein U comprises a 6,6 or 6,5 or 5,6-fused aromatic ring.

27. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein U represents a group:
wherein R11, D, E, G, J, L, M, R, T, T2, T3 and T4 are as defined previously.

28. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein U represents a group wherein R11, D, E, G, J, L, M, R and T are as defined previously.

29. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein U represents a group wherein R11, D, E, G, J and L are as defined previously.

30. A method of validating a known or putative cysteine protease inhibitor as a therapeutic target, the method comprising:
(a) assessing the in vitro binding of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29 to an isolated known or putative cysteine protease, providing a measure of 'potency'; and optionally, one or more of the steps of:

(b) assessing the binding of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29 to closely related homologous proteases of the target and general house-keeping proteases (e.g. trypsin) to provides a measure of 'selectivity';
(c) monitoring a cell-based functional marker of a particular cysteine protease activity, in the presence of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29; and (d) monitoring an animal model-based functional marker of a particular cysteine protease activity, in the presence of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29.

31. The use of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29 in the validation of a known or putative cysteine protease inhibitor as a therapeutic target.

32. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29 for use in medicine, especially for preventing or treating diseases in which the disease pathology may be modified by inhibiting a cysteine protease.

33. The use of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29 in the preparation of a medicament for preventing or treating diseases in which the disease pathology may be modified by inhibiting a cysteine protease.

34. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29 for use in preventing or treating Chagas' disease.

35. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 29 for use in preventing or treating Chagas' disease.

36. The use of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29 in the preparation of a medicament for preventing or treating Chagas' disease.

37. The use of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 29 in the preparation of a medicament for preventing or treating Chagas' disease.

38. A pharmaceutical or veterinary composition comprising one or more compounds as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29 and a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier.

39. A process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition as claimed in claim 38, the process comprising bringing the active compound(s) into association with the carrier, for example by admixture.