| abstract |
Azetidinone compounds of formule (I) in which: R?1 and R2¿, which may be the same or different, is each selected from hydrogen, halogen or C¿(1-8)?alkyl; R?4 and R5¿ which may be the same or different is each selected from hydrogen, C¿(1-6)?alkyl, C(2-6)alkenyl, aryl, aryl(C1-4)alkyl and heteroaryl(C1-4)alkyl each of which may be optionally substituted or R?4 and R5¿ may be linked together to form the remainder of a (C¿3-7?)cycloalkyl ring; X is a linker group; Y is an optionally substituted aryl group; Z is oxygen and R?3¿ is C¿(1-8)?alkyl, C(3-8)cycloalkyl, C(3-8)cycloalkylC(1-6)alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C1-4)alkyl, aryl, or aryl(C1-4)alkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted or Z is S(O)n in which n is 0, 1 or 2 and R?3¿ is C¿(1-8)?alkyl, C(3-8)cycloalkyl, C(3-8)cycloalkylC(1-6)alkyl, aryl, aryl(C1-4)alkyl, heteroaryl, or heteroaryl(C1-4)alkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted are inhibitors of the enzyme Lp PLA2 and are of use in therapy, in particular treating atherosclerosis. |