| abstract |
Compounds of formula (I), inhibit HDAC activity: wherein A, B and D independently represent ═CH— or ═N—; W is —CH═CH— Or —CH 2 CH 2 —; R 1 is a carboxylic acid group (—COOH), or an ester group which is hydrolysable by one or more intra-cellular carboxylesterase enzymes to a carboxylic acid group; R2 and R3 are selected from the side chains of a natural or non-nat-ural alpha amino acid, provided that neither R2 nor R3 is hydrogen, or R2 and R3, taken together with the carbon to which they are attached, form a 3-6 membered saturated cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl ring; Y is a bond, —C(═O)—, —S(═O)2—, —C(═O)O—, —C(═O)NR′—, —C(═5)—NR′, —C(═NH)NR′ or —S(═O) 2 NR — wherein R′ is hydrogen or optionally substituted C 1 —C 6 alkyl; L 1 is a divalent radical of formula —(Alk 1 ) m ,(Q) n (Alk 2 ) p — wherein m, n, p, Q, Alk 1 and Alk 2 are as defined in the claims; X 1 represents a bond; —C(═O); or —S(═O) 2 —; —NR 4 C(═O)—, —C(═O)NR 4 —,— NR 4 C(═O)NR 5 —, —NR 4 S(═O) 2 —, or —S(═O) 2 NR 4 — wherein R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen or optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl; and z is 0 or 1. |