Substituted isoxazole sulfonamides and their use as endothelin antagonists

Abstract: Compounds of the formula inhibit the activity of endothelin. The symbols are defined as follows: R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are each directly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independently (a) hydrogen; (b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkyl or aralkoxy, any of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; (c) halo; (d) hydroxyl; (e) cyano; (f) nitro; (g) -C(O)H or -C(O)R⁵; (h) -CO₂H or -CO₂R⁵; (i) -Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷; (j) -Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; or (k) R³ and R⁴ together may also be alkylene or alkenylene, either of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 4- to 8-membered saturated, unsaturated or aromatic ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached; and the remaining symbols are as defined in the specification.

Description: This invention relates to endothelin antagonists useful, inter alia, for treatment of hypertension. As background art, EP-A-0 569 193 discloses biphenyl isoxazol sulfonamides which are endothelin antagonists. Chan M. F. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 201 , 228 (1994), Stein P. D. et al., J. Med. Chem., 37 , 229 (1994), EP-A-0 558 258, EP-A-0 526 708, EP-A-0 510 526, WO-A-94/27979 published December 8, 1994, EP-A-0 626 174 published November 30, 1994 and EP-A-0 640 596 published March 1, 1995 disclose further sulfonamide endothelin antagonists and their analogs. Compounds of the invention of the formula I Its enantiomers and diastereomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are endothelin receptor antagonists useful, inter alia , as antihypertensive agents. Throughout this specification, the above symbols are defined as follows: one of X and Y is N and the other is O; R 1 and R 2 are each directly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independently (a) hydrogen, (b) alkyl, or (c) -C(O)-NH 2 ; R 3 and R 4 are each directly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independently alkyl; R 11 , R 12 , R 13 and R 14 are each independently selected from (a) hydrogen, (b) hydroxy, (c) alkyl, (d) alkyl substituted with 1-3 hydroxy groups, (e) amino, (f) alkenyl, (g) carboxamide, (h) oxazolyl, (i) oxazolyl substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, (j) oxazolylalkyl, (k) arylalkenyl, (l) aryl, (m) aryl substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, (n) alkoxyalkyl, (o) -(alkyl)N(H)(COH), (p) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO 2 -alkyl), (q) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-N(H)-alkyl), (r) -(alkyl)N(H)(SO 2 -alkyl), (s) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-alkyl), (t) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-N(H)-aryl), (u) -(alkyl)N(alkyl)(CO-alkyl), (v) -(alkyl)N(haloalkyl)(CO-alkyl) wherein haloalkyl has 1-3 halo groups, (w) -(alkyl)N(cycloalkyl)(CO-alkyl), (x) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-aryl), (y) -CO 2 -alkyl, (z) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-haloalkyl) wherein haloalkyl has 1-3 halo groups, (aa) -C(O)NH-alkyl, (bb) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-haloaryl) wherein haloaryl has 1-3 halo groups, (cc) -(alkyl)N(alkyl)(CO-aryl), (dd) -(alkyl)N(alkyl)(CO-cycloalkyl), (ee) alkenyl substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, (ff) -(alkyl)cycloalkyl wherein cycloalkyl is substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, and (gg) -(alkyl)(SO 2 )(alkyl); J is O, S, N or NR 15 ; K and L are N or C, provided that at least one of K or L is C; R 15 is hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyethoxymethyl or methoxyethoxymethyl; and p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 2. Preferably, R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as defined above. Preferably, R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl. Preferably, R 3 and R 4 are each independently C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl, more preferably R 3 and R 4 are each methyl. R 11 and R 12 are preferably each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to C 4 -alkyl as defined above. R 1 and R 2 are preferably each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; R 3 and R 4 are each independently C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as defined above. R 1 and R 2 are preferably each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; R 3 and R 4 are each methyl; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as defined in Claim 1. In a preferred embodiment p is 0. In a further embodiment, p is 1. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, p is 0; R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; R 3 and R 4 are each methyl; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as defined in Claim 1. In a further embodiment, p is 1; R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; R 3 and R 4 are each methyl; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as above. One compound of the invention is N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in particular the sodium salt thereof. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of an endothelin-related disorder comprising a compound as defined above, in an amount effective therefor and a physiologically acceptable vehicle or carrier. The invention furthermore relates to a pharmaceutical composition as defined above further comprising at least one angiotensin II (All) receptor antagonist, renin inhibitor, angiotensin converting (ACE) inhibitor, or dual neutral endopeptidase (NEP)-ACE inhibitor. In a particular embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of an endothelin-related disorder, said composition comprises the compound N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in an amount effective therefor and a physiologically acceptable vehicle or carrier. The invention relates to the use of a compound generally defined above for manufacturing a medicament for treating endothelin-related disorders in a mammal, and also to sich use wherein said compound is used in combination with at least one angiotensin II (All) receptor antagonist, renin inhibitor, angiotensin converting (ACE) inhibitor, or dual neutral endopeptidase (NEP)-ACE inhibitor. As different embodiments, the invention relates to the use of a compound as generally disclosed above for manufacturing a medicament for treating disorders selected from hypertension, pulmonary hypertension. renal, glomerular or mesangial cell disorders, endotoxemia, ischemia, atherosclerosis, restenosis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and benign prostatic hypertrophy. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of a compound as generally disclosed above for manufacturing a medicament for treating congestive heart failure in a mammal. The invention also relates to the use of a compound as generally disclosed above for manufacturing a medicament for inhibiting cell growth. The invention furthermore relates to the use of the compound N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1 '-biphenyl]-2-sutfonamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for manufacturing a medicament for treating congestive heart failure in a mammal, or for manufacturing a medicament for treating hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, primary pulmonary hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, cancer, migraine, renal, glomerular or mesangial cell disorders, or asthma. Listed below are definitions of terms used in this specification. These definitions apply to the terms as used throughout this specification, individually as part of another group, unless otherwise limited in specific instances. The term "alkyl" refers to straight or branched chain hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 7 carbon atoms. The term "alkoxy" refers to alkyl-O-. The term "aryl" refers to phenyl, naphthyl and biphenyl. The term "alkenyl" refers to straight or branched chain hydrocarbon groups of 2 to 10 carbon atoms having at least one double bond. Groups of two to four carbon atoms are preferred. The term "cycloalkyl" refers to cyclic hydrocarbon groups of 3 to 8 carbon atoms. The terms "halogen" and "halo" refer to fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. Throughout the specification, groups and substituents thereof are chosen to provide stable moieties and compounds. The compounds of formula I form salts which are also within the scope of this invention. Pharmaceutically acceptable (i.e., non-toxic, physiologically acceptable) salts are preferred, although other salts are also useful, e.g. , in isolating or purifying the compounds of this invention. The compounds of formula I may form salts with alkali metals such as sodium, potassium and lithium; with alkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium, with organic bases such as dicyclohexylamine, t-butyl amine, benzathine, N-methyl-D-glucamide and hydrabamine, and with amino acids such as arginine, lysine and the like. Such salts may be obtained by reacting compound I with the desired ion in a medium in which the salt precipitates or in an aqueous medium followed by lyophilization. When the R 1 to R 2 or R 11 to R 14 substituents comprise a basic moiety, such as amino or substituted amino, compound I may form salts with a variety of organic and inorganic acids. Such salts include those formed with hydrochloric acid, hydrogen bromide, methanesulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, maleic acid, benzenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate and various other sulfonates, nitrates, phosphates, borates, acetates, tartrates, maleates, citrates, succinates, benzoates, ascorbates, salicylates and the like. Such salts may be formed by reacting compound I in an equivalent amount of the acid in a medium in which the salt precipitates or in an aqueous medium followed by lyophilization. In addition, when the R 1 to R 2 or R 11 to R 14 substituents comprise a basic moiety such as amino, zwitterions ("inner salts") may be formed. Certain of the R 1 to R 4 and R 11 to R 14 substituents of compound I may contain asymmetric carbon atoms. Such compounds of formula I may exist, therefore, in enantiomeric and diastereomeric forms and in racemic mixtures thereof. All are within the scope of this invention. Additionally, compound I may exist as enantiomers even in the absence of asymmetric carbons. All such enantiomers are within the scope of this invention. The compounds of formula I are antagonists of ET-1, ET-2 and/or ET-3 and are useful in treatment of conditions associated with increased ET levels (e.g., dialysis, trauma and surgery) and of all endothelin-dependent disorders. They are thus useful as antihypertensive agents. By the administration of a composition having one (or a combination) of the compounds of this invention, the blood pressure of a hypertensive mammalian (e.g., human) host is reduced. They are also useful in pregnancy-induced hypertension and coma (preeclampsia and eclampsia), acute portal hypertension and hypertension secondary to treatment with erythropoietin. The compounds of the present invention are also useful in the treatment of disorders related to renal, glomerular and mesangial cell function, including acute and chronic renal failure, glomerular injury, renal damage secondary to old age or related to dialysis, nephrosclerosis (especially hypertensive nephrosclerosis), nephrotoxicity (including nephrotoxicity related to imaging and contrast agents and to cyclosporine), renal ischemia, primary vesicoureteral reflux, glomerulosclerosis and the like. The compounds of this invention may also be useful in the treatment of disorders related to paracrine and endocrine function. The compounds of the present invention are also useful in the treatment of endotoxemia or endotoxin shock as well as hemorrhagic shock. The compounds of the present invention are also useful in hypoxic and ischemic disease and as anti-ischemic agents for the treatment of, for example, cardiac, renal and cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (such as that occurring following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery), coronary and cerebral vasospasm, and the like. In addition, the compounds of this invention may also be useful as anti-arrhythmic agents; anti-anginal agents; anti-fibrillatory agents; antiasthmatic agents; anti-atherosclerotic and anti-arteriosclerotic agents; additives to cardioplegic solutions for cardiopulmonary bypasses; adjuncts to thrombolytic therapy; and anti-diarrheal agents. The compounds of this invention may be useful in therapy for myocardial infarction; therapy for peripheral vascular disease (e.g., Raynaud's disease and Takayashu's disease); treatment of cardiac hypertrophy (e.g., hypertrophic cardiomyopathy); treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension (e.g., plexogenic, embolic) in adults and in the newborn and pulmonary hypertension secondary to heart failure, radiation and chemotherapeutic injury, or other trauma; treatment of central nervous system vascular disorders, such as stroke, migraine and subarachnoid hemorrhage; treatment of central nervous system behavioral disorders; treatment of gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, gastric mucosal damage, ulcer and ischemic bowel disease; treatment of gall bladder or bile duct-based diseases such as cholangitis; treatment of pancreatitis; regulation of cell growth; treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy; restenosis following angioplasty or following any procedures including transplantation; therapy for congestive heart failure including inhibition of fibrosis; inhibition of left ventricular dilatation, remodeling and dysfunction; and treatment of hepatotoxicity and sudden death. The compounds of this invention may be useful in the treatment of sickle cell disease including the initiation and/or evolution of the pain crises of this disease; treatment of the deleterious consequences of ET-producing tumors such as hypertension resulting from hemangiopericytoma; treatment of early and advanced liver disease and injury including attendant complications (e.g., hepatotoxicity, fibrosis and cirrhosis); treatment of spastic diseases of the urinary tract and/or bladder; treatment of hepatorenal syndrome; treatment of immunological diseases involving vasculitis such as lupus, systemic sclerosis, mixed cryoglobulinemia; and treatment of fibrosis associated with renal dysfunction and hepatotoxicity. The compounds of this invention may be useful in therapy for metabolic and neurological disorders; cancer; insulin-dependent and non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; neuropathy; retinopathy; maternal respiratory distress syndrome; dysmenorrhea; epilepsy; hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke; bone remodeling; psoriasis; and chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, sarcoidosis and eczematous dermatitis (all types of dermatitis). The compounds of this invention can also be formulated in combination with endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) inhibitors, such as phosphoramidon; thromboxane receptor antagonists; potassium channel openers; thrombin inhibitors (e.g., hirudin and the like); growth factor inhibitors such as modulators of PDGF activity; platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists; angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonists; renin inhibitors; angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as captopril, zofenopril, fosinopril, ceranapril, alacepril, enalapril, delapril, pentopril, quinapril, ramipril, lisinopril and salts of such compounds; neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitors; dual NEP-ACE inhibitors; HMG CoA reductase inhibitors such as pravastatin and mevacor; squalene synthetase inhibitors; bile acid sequestrants such as questran; calcium channel blockers; potassium channel activators; beta-adrenergic agents; antiarrhythmic agents; diuretics, such as chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, flumethiazide, hydroflumethiazide, bendroflumethiazide, methylchlorothiazide, trichloromethiazide, polythiazide or benzothiazide as well as ethacrynic acid, tricrynafen, chlorthalidone, furosemide, musolimine, bumetanide, triamterene, amiloride and spironolactone and salts of such compounds; and thrombolytic agents such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), recombinant tPA, streptokinase, urokinase, prourokinase and anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC). If formulated as a fixed dose, such combination products employ the compounds of this invention within the dosage range described below and the other pharmaceutically active agent within its approved dosage range. The compounds of this invention may also be formulated with, or useful in conjunction with, antifungal and immunosuppressive agents such as amphotericin B, cyclosporins and the like to counteract the glomerular contraction and nephrotoxicity secondary to such compounds. The compounds of this invention may also be used in conjunction with hemodialysis. The compounds of the invention can be administered orally or parenterally to various mammalian species known to be subject to such maladies, e.g., humans, in an effective amount within the dosage range of about 0.1 to about 100 mg/kg, preferably about 0.2 to about 50 mg/kg and more preferably about 0.5 to about 25 mg/kg (or from about 1 to about 2500 mg, preferably from about 5 to about 2000 mg) in single or 2 to 4 divided daily doses. The active substance can be utilized in a composition such as tablet, capsule, solution or suspension containing about 5 to about 500 mg per unit dosage of a compound or mixture of compounds of formula I or in topical form for wound healing (0.01 to 5% by weight compound of formula I, 1 to 5 treatments per day). They may be compounded in a conventional manner with a physiologically acceptable vehicle or carrier, excipient, binder, preservative, stabilizer, flavor, etc., or with a topical carrier such as Plastibase (mineral oil gelled with polyethylene) as called for by accepted pharmaceutical practice. The compounds of the invention may also be administered topically to treat peripheral vascular diseases and as such may be formulated as a cream or ointment. The compounds of formula I can also be formulated in compositions such as sterile solutions or suspensions for parenteral administration. About 0.1 to 500 milligrams of a compound of formula I is compounded with a physiologically acceptable vehicle, carrier, excipient, binder, preservative, stabilizer, etc., in a unit dosage form as called for by accepted pharmaceutical practice. The amount of active substance in these compositions or preparations is such that a suitable dosage in the range indicated is obtained. The compounds of the present invention may be prepared as follows. As depicted by the above Scheme I, the title compounds 4 may be prepared by a Pd(O) catalyzed coupling of an appropriately protected phenylsulfonamide-2-boronic acid intermediate 2 with a 4-heterocyclic aryl halide 1 in the presence of a suitable base, such as aqueous potassium carbonate, and solvent, such as a mixture of toluene and ethanol. A boronic acid intermediate 2 may be prepared from a 2-bromophenylsulfonamide 5 (preparation of which is described in EP Publication number 0,569,193 (1993)) by lithiation with a suitable alkyl lithium (such as n-butyl lithium), subsequent treatment with a trialkylborate ( e.g. , triisopropyl borate) and finally adding an aqueous acid such as aqueous hydrochloric acid (SCHEME II): "Prot" is an appropriate protecting group for the sulfonamide function, also described in EP Publication number 0,569,193 (1993). The title compounds may also be synthesized by an alternate route shown below (SCHEME III): As depicted above, a 4'-Heterocyclic aryl halide 6 (see also compound 1 ) can be converted to a boronic acid intermediate 7 via the sequence shown. This compound 7 , upon Pd(O) catalyzed coupling with a compound 5 can provide a biaryl analog 3 , which upon deprotection can lead to the title compound 4 . In certain instances, the heteroatoms J and K or L may require protection to prepare the boronic acid 7 , and/or to facilitate the coupling reaction to make compound 3 . (For example, when J and K or L are N, one of the groups may be protected by a suitable protecting group such as t-butoxycarbonyl, etc). Also, in certain instances, the boronic acid may be replaced with a tin species and/or the halo group may be replaced by a -OSO 2 CF 3 moiety to perform the Pd-catalyzed coupling reaction. For general strategies in biaryl synthesis, see: Bringmann et al., Angew. Chem. Inst. , Ed. Engl. 29 (1990) 977 - 991. In the above schemes, specific R 11 - R 14 groups are chosen to be compatible with the reaction conditions shown. Additionally, specific R 11 - R 14 groups may be converted into alternative R 11 - R 14 groups, either before or after coupling of Compound 1 with Compound 2, or Compound 5 with Compound 7, using methods known in the art. SYNTHESES OF COMPOUNDS 1 AND 6 Compounds 1 and 6 can be prepared by the following Schemes. 2-Aryloxazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME IV, Methods A-H; 4-Aryloxazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME V, Methods A - B; 5-Aryloxazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME VI, Methods A-B; Thiazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME VII, Methods A-B; Imidazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME VIII; 2-Phenylalkyloxazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME IX, Methods A-B; Pyrazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME X; 3-Arylisoxazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME XI; 5-Arylisoxazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME XII; and N-Arylimidazoles are prepared as depicted by SCHEME XIII. In these schemes, R 11 and R 12 are also chosen to be compatible with the reaction conditions shown. A. 2-Aryloxazoles An acyl amino compound 9 is prepared as depicted above and may be cyclized to an oxazole 10 using a variety of dehydrating agents. For a review of this and other methods of oxazole synthesis, see: Lakhan et al., Adv. Het. Chem. , 17 (1974), 99. As shown, heating together a mixture of a benzamide 11 and an α-halo carbonyl compound 12 provides the corresponding oxazole 13 . This method has been used extensively to provide 2,4-disubstituted oxazoles. For a review, see: Lakhan et al., Adv. Het. Chem. , 17 , (1979) 99 - 211. An ester 15 can be prepared either by allowing an α-haloketone to react with a benzoic acid 14 in the presence of a base such as triethylamine, or by esterification with an appropriate α-hydroxyketone. Compound 15 , upon treatment with ammonium acetate in acetic acid, provides an oxazole 16 . Certain acetylenic carbinols such as compound 17 can react directly with an arylnitrile 18 to provide a 5-methyl oxazole, 19 . (See, for example, Y. Yura, Japanese Patent 29849 (1964).) An acetylenic amide 22 , upon heating, cyclizes to an oxazole derivative 23 . A 4,5-unsubstituted oxazole 26 may be prepared by condensing a 4-bromobenzamide 11 with a vinylene carbonate 25 at high temperature in the presence of an agent such as polyphosphoric acid. (See, for example, Ferrini, et al., Angew. Chem. Internat. Ed. , Vol. 2, 1963, 99.) Cyclization of the N-(2,2-dichloroethyl)amide derivative 27 , prepared by methods known in the art, in the presence of a suitable base such as sodium ethoxide, may also provide the oxazole derivative 26 . (See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,953,465.) Heating together a mixture of aroylchloride 21 with an oxime 29 where R 1 and R 2 are alkyl, prepared by methods known in the art, may provide the oxazole derivative 10 . (See, for example, Bhatt, M.V. and Reddy, A.S., Tet. Lett. , 21 , 2359 (1980).) Heating together a mixture of aroylchloride 21 with a triazole 25' where R is trimethylsilyl, prepared by methods known in the art, in a suitable solvent such as toluene may provide the oxazole derivative 26 . (See, for example, Williams, E.L., Tet. Lett. , 33 , 1033 - 1036 (1992).) It is also possible to prepare the oxazole derivative 26 by treatment of aroylchloride 21 with triazole (where R is hydrogen) in the presence of suitable base such as potassium carbonate followed by heating the mixture to an optimal temperature. B. 4-Aryloxazoles Treatment of an α-Bromoacetophenone derivative 30 with an amide at high temperatures (typically 130 - 150°C) provides a 4-aryl oxazole 31 . Certain α-metallated isonitriles 32 , prepared by methods known in the art, react with acyl halides, imidazoles or other activated acyl groups, to provide 2-unsubstituted oxazoles 33 where R 2 is alkyl. C. 5-Aryloxazoles Acylation of an α-aminoacetophenone 34 , with an acyl chloride, provides compound 35 . Compound 35 , upon cyclization using a suitable dehydrating agent such as sulfuric acid, provides an oxazole 36 . (This method is similar to the one described in SCHEME IV, Method A). A 4-Halobenzaldehyde 37 is treated with tosylmethylisocyanide 38 in the presence of a base, such as potassium carbonate, in a suitable solvent, such as methanol, to provide a 5-aryloxazole derivative 39 . (See, for example, A.M. Van Leusen, et al., Tet. Lett. , 2369 (1972).) D. Thiazoles A 4-Bromophenyl boronic acid 41 can be coupled with an appropriately substituted 2-bromothiazole 42 in the presence of a Pd(O) catalyst and a suitable base ( e.g. , aqueous potassium carbonate) and solvent to provide a thiazole 40 . Condensation of p-bromobenzonitrile 18 with an α-thioketone directly provides a thiazole derivative 44. E. Imidazoles Condensation of a benzaldehyde derivative 37 with glyoxal and ammonia provides a 2-aryl imidazole derivative 45 . (see, e.g. , U.S. Patent No. 3,682,949:) This compound can be further substituted by reacting it with an alkyl halide in the presence of a suitable base to provide, e.g. , an N-alkylderivative 46 . For a review on imidazole synthesis, see: Adv. Het. Chem. , 27 , (1980), 241 - 323. F. 2-Phenylalkyloxazoles 2-Phenylalkyloxazoles 48 , where p is 1 or 2, unsubstituted at the 4 and 5 positions, may be prepared by heating together a phenylalkylamide 47 with vinylene carbonate 25 in the presence of an agent such as polyphosphoric acid. 2-Arylalkyl-4-substituted-oxazole 51 , where R 1 is alkyl and n is 1 or 2, may be prepared starting from a nitrile 49 as shown above. (See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,168,379.) G. Pyrazoles The pyrazole derivative 52 may be prepared by heating together the aryl hydrazine 53 with epichlorohydrin in the presence of a suitable base such as triethyl amine. H. 3-Arylisoxazoles Treatment of the oxime 54 , prepared by methods know in the art, with HCl/Oxone, and subsequent treatment with a base such as triethylamine, provides an arylnitrile oxide. The arylnitrile oxide typically is not isolated, but is reacted with vinylacetate, and then the mixture is heated in an acid (e.g., HCl) in a suitable solvent such as ethanol to provide the 3-aryl isoxazole derivative 55 . I. 5-Arylisoxazoles An α,β-unsaturated ketone 56 , prepared by methods known in the art, upon treatment with hydroxylamine provides the corresponding oxime derivative. Cyclization of this material in the presence of iodine and potassium iodide provides the 5-arylisoxazole derivative 57 . R 1 in this scheme is alkyl, (See for example, J. Het. Chem. , 30 , 467 (1993).) J. N-Arylimidazoles The N-arylimidazole analog 59 may be prepared by a standard Ullmann coupling, known in the art, of the 1,4-dibromobenzene 58 with imidazole in the presence of a copper salt such as CuBr. The invention will now be further described by the following working examples, which are preferred embodiments of the invention. These examples are meant to be illustrative rather than limiting. Example 1 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)oxazole A mixture of 4-bromobenzenecarboxamide (4 g, 20 mmol), vinylene carbonate (1.72 g, 20 mmol) and 10 g polyphosphoric acid was heated at 170°C for 3 hours. After cooling, the mixture was partitioned between 200 mL water and 200 mL ethyl acetate. The aqueous layer was extracted with 2 x 150 mL ethyl acetate. The combined organic liquid was washed with 100 mL water and 50 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 10:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound A (2.49 g, 56%) as a white solid. B. 2-Borono-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N'-(methoxyethoxymethyl)benzenesulfonamide To a solution of 2-Bromo-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N'-(methoxyethoxymethyl)benzenesulfonamide (5.67 g, 13.52 mmol, prepared as described in EP 0,569,193 (1993)) in 70 mL of tetrahydrofuran at -78°C, n-butyl lithium (2M solution in cyclohexane, 8.11 mL, 16.23 mmol) was added over 10 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred at -78°C for 15 minutes and triisopropylborate (1.52 g, 8.06 mmol) was added. The mixture was then warmed to room temperature and stirred for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled to 0°C, 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid (120 mL) was added, and the solution was stirred for 10 minutes. The mixture was concentrated to 120 mL and extracted with 4 x 60 mL ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL brine, dried (MgSO 4 ) and concentrated to give compound B (4.25 g, 82%) as a light yellow gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B (315 mg, 0.82 mmol), compound A (456 mg, 2.05 mmol) in 7.5 ml of toluene and 6 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (95 mg, 0.082 mmol) was added, followed by 4.5 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 4 hours, cooled and diluted with 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 2:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound C (279 mg, 70%) as a colorless gum. D. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound C (276 mg, 0.57 mmol) in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour and 10 minutes. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 3 x 40 mL ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:1 dichloromethane/methanol to afford the title compound (117 mg, 52%) as a white solid. M.p. 90-98°C(amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 20 H 17 N 3 O 4 S: Calculated: C, 60.75; H, 4.33; N, 10.63; S, 8.11; Found: C, 60.80; H, 4.15; N, 10.38; S, 8.12. Example 2 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-thiazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)thiazole To a solution of 4-Bromophenylboronic acid (3.01 g, 15 mmol), 2-bromothiazole (9.84 g, 60 mmol) in 120 mL of toluene and 96 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis (triphenylphosphine)-palladium(0) (1.04 g, 0.9 mmol) was added, followed by 72 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 1 hour and 15 minutes, cooled and diluted with 300 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 100 mL water and 100 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 30:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound A (2.0 g, 56 %) as a white solid. B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(2-thia zolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (320 mg, 0.83 mmol) and compound A (400 mg, 1.67 mmol) in 7.5 mL of toluene and 6 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (96 mg, 0.083 mmol) was added, followed by 4.5 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 3 hours cooled and diluted with 50 ml of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 2.5 :1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound B (291 mg, 70%) as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-thiazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B (290 mg, 0.58 mmol) in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 3 x 40 mL ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:1 dichloromethane/methanol to afford the title compound (180 mg, 75%) as an off-white solid. M.p. 87-97°C(amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 20 H 17 N 3 O 3 S 2 · 0.34H 2 O: Calculated: C, 57.52; H, 4.27; N, 10.06; S, 15.35; Found: C, 57.68; H, 4.08; N, 9.90; S, 15.06. Example 3 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4,5-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 4-Bromobenzoic acid, 2-oxo-1-methylpropyl ester To 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (1.32 g, 15 mmol) and 4-bromobenzoyl chloride (3.29 g, 15 mmol) in 15 mL dichloromethane at 0°C, 5 mL pyridine was added dropwise. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 5 hours, 150 mL ethyl acetate was added and filtered. The filtrate was washed with 2 x 50 mL 10% hydrochloric acid, 30 mL water and 30 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 10:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound A (3.4 g, 84%) as a white solid. B. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-4,5-dimethyloxazole A mixture of compound A (3.4 g, 12.54 mmol), ammonium acetate (9.67 g, 125.4 mmol) and 10 mL acetic acid was heated at 100°C for 4 hours. After cooling, the mixture was partitioned between 150 mL water and 200 mL ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was washed with 50 mL water and 50 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 25:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound B (1.52 g, 48%) as a white solid. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4,5-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (320 mg, 0.83 mmol) and compound B above (420 mg, 1.67 mmol) in 7.5 mL of toluene and 6 ml of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (96 mg, 0.083 mmol) was added, followed by 4.5 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 4 hours, cooled and diluted with 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 2:1 hexane/ethanol to afford compound C (300 mg, 70%) as a colorless gum. D. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4,5-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of'compound C (300 mg, 0.59 mmol) in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated, and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 3 x 40 ml ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 1:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford the title compound (178 mg, 72%) as a white solid. M.p. 96-102°C(amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 22 H 21 N 3 O 4 S · 0.24H 2 O: Calculated: C, 61.76; H, 5.06; N, 9.82; S, 7.49; Found: C, 61.67; H, 4.76; N, 9.91; S, 7.59. Example 4 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 5-(4-Bromophenyl)oxazole A mixture of 4.74 g (25.6 mmol) of p-bromobenzaldehyde, 5.0 g (25.6 mmol) of tosylmethyl isocyanide and 4.25 g (30.7 mmol) of anhydrous potassium carbonate in 150 mL of methanol was refluxed for 3 hours. The solvent was then evaporated, and 150 mL of water was added to the residual solid. The tan-white solid was filtered and washed several times with water and then dried to yield compound A (3.65 g, 64%). B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(5-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.8 g (2.08 mmol) compound B from Example 1 and 0.12 g (0.1 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(0) in 25 mL of toluene under argon, 15 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate was added followed by 0.70 g (3.12 mmol) of compound A in 15 mL of 95% ethanol. The mixture was refluxed for 3 hours, diluted with 100 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 75 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL of brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 50 g of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 2:1 to afford 0.49 g (49%) of compound B as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.49 g (1.01 mmol) of compound B in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The mixture was then concentrated and diluted with 50 mL of water. The solution was neutralized to pH 7 using saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate and then acidified to pH 4 using glacial acetic acid. The white solid obtained was filtered and dried (0.37 g). Crystallization from dichloromethane/ethyl acetate/Hexanes afforded 0.23 g (58%) of the title compound as a white solid. M.p. 189-191°C. Analysis Calculated for C 20 H 17 N 3 O 4 S.0.28 H 2 O: Calculated C, 60.00; H, 4.42; N, 10.49; S, 8.01; Found C, 60.10; H, 4.17; N, 10.39; S, 8.04. Example 5 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 4-(4-Bromophenyl)oxazole A mixture of 5.0 g (18 mmol) of α,p-dibromoacetophenone and 4.05 g (89.9 mmol) of formamide was stirred in an oil bath at 130°C for 3 hours. The mixture was then poured into 150 mL of ice/water and the solution was extracted with 3 x 100 mL of ether. The combined ether extracts were washed once with water; dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 200 mL of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 3:1 to afford 1.3 g (32%) of compound A as a light brown solid. B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.668 g (1.74 mmol) of compound B from Example 1 and 0.104 g (0.09 mmol) of tetrakis(tri-phenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 25 mL of toluene under argon, 15 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate was added followed by 0.52 g (2.32 mmol) of compound A in 15 mL of 95% ethanol. The mixture was refluxed for 3 hours, diluted with 100 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 75 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL of brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 50 g of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 2:1 to afford 0.43 g (51%) of compound B as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.75 g (1.55 mmol) of compound B in 8 mL of acetonitrile at 0°C under argon, trimethylsilyl chloride (2.01 g) and sodium iodide (2.73 g) were added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The mixture was then diluted with 10 mL of water and extracted with 100 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with 10 mL of saturated aqueous sodium thiosulfate, dried and evaporated. This material was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 68% solvent A (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 32% solvent B (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected and neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was acidified to pH 4 using glacial acetic acid and the white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.33 g (54%) of the title compound. M.p. 85 - 93°C (amorphous). Analysis Calculated for C 20 H 17 N 3 O 4 S.0.21 H 2 O: Calculated C, 60.18; H, 4.40; N, 10.53; S, 8.03; Found C, 60.27; H, 4.05; N, 10.44; S, 7.88. Example 6 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-methyl-4-oxazolyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 4-(4-Bromophenyl)-2-methyloxazole A mixture of 2,4-dibromoacetophenone (2.78 g, 10 mmol) and acetamide (1.48 g, 25 mmol) was heated at 130°C for 3 hours. This mixture was poured onto 30 g ice, and 150 mL ethyl acetate was added. The organic layer was separated and washed with 30 mL 1N sodium hydroxide, 30 mL 1N hydrochloric acid and 30 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 15:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound A (1.29 g, 54%) as a white solid. B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(2-methyl-4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound A (402 mg, 1.7 mmol) and compound B from Example 1 (259 mg, 0.68 mmol) in 6.5 mL of toluene and 5.2 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (78 mg, 0.068 mmol) was added and followed by 3.9 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 3.5 hours, cooled and diluted with 40 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 2:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound B (183 mg, 54%) as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-methyl-4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B (180 mg, 0.36 mmol) in 6 mL of 95% ethanol, 6 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and the combination was refluxed for 55 minutes. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 3 x 30 mL ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was washed with 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:1 dichloromethane/methanol to afford the title compound (56 mg, 38%) as a light yellow solid. M.p. 90-100°C (amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 21 H 19 N 3 O 4 S: Calculated: C, 61.60; H, 4.68; N, 10.26; S, 7.83; Found: C, 61.56; H, 4.33; N, 9.85; S, 7.94. Example 7 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4-methyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-4-methyloxazole 4-bromobenzonitrile (9.1 g, 50 mmol) and propargyl alcohol (2.8 g, 50 mmol) were added portionwise into 12.5 mL concentrated sulfuric acid at -15°C. The reaction was stirred at 0°C for 3 hours, warmed to room temperature slowly and stirred overnight. The mixture was poured into 200 mL ice water, neutralized with sodium bicarbonate and extracted with 3 x 200 mL ethyl acetate. The combined organic liquid was washed with 50 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 30:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound A (1.44 g, 12%) as a white solid. B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(4-methyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (320 mg, 0.83 mmol) and compound A (397 mg, 1.67 mmol) in 7.5 mL of toluene and 6 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis (triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (96 mg, 0.083 mmol) was added, followed by 4.5 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 4 hours, cooled and diluted with 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated, washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 2:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound B (300 mg, 72%) as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4-methyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B (300 mg, 0.60 mmol) in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 3 x 40 mL ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:1 dichloromethane/methanol to afford the title compound (200 mg, 81%) as a white solid. M.p. 85-95°C(amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 21 H 19 N 3 O 4 S · 0.25 H 2 O: Calculated: C, 60.92; H, 4.75; N, 10.15; S, 7.74; Found: C, 61.15; H, 4.60; N, 9.89; S, 7.62. Example 8 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-methyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-5-methyloxazole To 4-bromobenzoyl chloride (4.39 g, 20 mmol) in 40 mL dichloromethane at 0°C, propargylamine (1.10 g, 20 mmol) was added, followed by triethylamine (4.05 g, 40 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 40 minutes. 150 mL ethyl acetate was added and filtered. The filtrate was washed with 2 x 40 mL water and 40 mL brine, dried and concentrated to give 4-Bromo-N-(2-propynyl)benzamide. 4-Bromo-N-(2-propynyl)benzamide was added into ice cooled 47 mL concentrated sulfuric acid. The reaction was stirred at 5-10°C for 3 hours and at room temperature overnight. The mixture was poured into 500 mL ice water, neutralized with sodium carbonate to pH 8 and extracted with 3 x 250 mL ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed with 200 mL water and 100 mL brine, dried and concentrated to afford compound A (4.5 g, 95%) as a light yellow solid. M.p. 61-63°C. B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(5-methyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (320 mg, 0.83 mmol) and compound A (397 mg, 1.67 mmol) in 7.5 mL of toluene and 6 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (96 mg, 0.083 mmol) was added, followed by 4.5 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 3 hours, cooled and diluted with 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 2:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound B (298 mg, 72%) as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-methyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B (298 mg, 0.60 mmol) in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 3 x 40 mL ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:1 dichloromethane/methanol to afford the title compound (147 mg, 60%) as an off-white solid. M.p. 90-100°C (amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 21 H 19 N 3 O 4 S: Calculated: C, 61.60; H, 4.68; N, 10.26; S, 7.83; Found: C, 61.39; H, 4.11; N, 10.03; S, 7.61. Example 9 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1 H -pyrazol-1-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 1-(4-Bromophenyl)-1 H -pyrazole To epichlorohydrin (4 g, 43.23 mmol) and 4-bromophenyl hydrazine hydrochloride (19.32 g, 86.46 mmol) in 20 mL 60% ethanol, triethylamine (8.75 g, 12.05 mmol) was added dropwise. The mixture was warmed slowly and then refluxed for 1 hour. The solvent was evaporated, and the residue was heated at 170°C for 30 minutes and at 200°C for a further 10 minutes. 150 mL water was added, and the mixture was extracted with 3 x 200 mL ethyl acetate. The combined organic liquid was washed with 50 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 40:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound A (2.92 g, 30%) which was crystallized from hexane to give yellow needles. M.p. 72-74°C. B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(1 H -pyrazol-1-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (320 mg, 0.83 mmol) and compound A (372 mg, 1.67 mmol) in 7.5 mL of toluene and 6 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(0) (96 mg, 0.083 mmol) was added, followed by 4.5 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 2.5 hour, cooled and diluted with 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated, washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 2.5:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound B (280 mg, 70%) as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1 H -pyrazol-1-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B (280 mg, 0.58 mmol) in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 3 x 40 mL ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:0.8 dichloromethane/methanol to afford the title compound (161 mg, 70%) as an off-white solid. M.p. 88-98°C (amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 20 H 18 N 4 O 3 S · 0.12H 2 O: Calculated: C, 60.56; H, 4.64; N, 14.12; S, 8.08; Found: C, 61.26; H, 4.52; N, 13.96; S, 8.06. Example 10 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-[1-[(2-methoxvethoxyethoxy)methyl]-1 H -imidazol-2-yl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-1 H -imidazole To 4-Bromobenzaldehyde (9.25 g, 50 mmol) and glyoxal (40% wt. aqueous solution, 11.6 mL, 80 mmol) in 20 mL methanol, 60 mL 30% aqueous ammonium hydroxide was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The solvent was evaporated under vacuum. The residue was made slightly alkaline by the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide, and extracted with 3 x 300 mL ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were dried and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 100 mL methanol and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was triturated with 20 mL ethyl ether to give compound A as a brown solid as (1.8 g, 16%). B. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-1-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-1 H -imidazole To compound A (400 mg, 1.79 mmol) in 18 mL tetrahydrofuran, sodium hydride (60% in mineral oil, 86 mg, 2.15 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes. Methoxyethoxymethyl chloride (335 mg, 2.59 mmol) was added dropwise. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours, and concentrated. 100 mL ethyl acetate was added and the organic liquid was washed with 20 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:400:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate/triethylamine to afford compound B (390 mg, 70%). C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2 - methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-[1-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-1 H -imidazol-2-yl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (722 mg, 1.88 mmol) and compound B above (390 mg, 1.25 mmol) in 11.25 mL of toluene and 9 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (145 mg, 0.125 mmol) was added, followed by 6.75 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 3 hours, cooled and diluted with 75 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated, washed with 15 mL water and 15 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:0.2 ethyl acetate/triethylamine to afford compound C (400 mg, 56%) as a colorless gum. D. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-[1-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-1 H -imidazol-2-yl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound C (400 mg, 0.70 mmol) in 12 mL of 95% ethanol, 12 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. 200 mL ethyl acetate was added, and the organic liquid was washed with 20 mL water and 20 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:4:0.2 dichloromethane/methanol/ammonium hydroxide to afford the title compound (210 mg, 62%), which was crystallized from ethyl acetate/Hexane to provide white crystals. M.p. 81-84°C. Analysis calculated for C 24 H 26 N 4 O 5 S · 0.24 H 2 O: Calculated C, 59.20; H, 5.48; N, 11.51; S, 6.58; Found C, 59.25; H, 5.42; N, 11.46; S, 6.39. Example 11 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-[1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-1 H -imidazol-2-yl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-[1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-1 H -imidazol-2-yl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To the title compound of Example 10 (120 mg, 0.25 mmol) in 2.5 mL dichloromethane at 0°C, boron tribromide (1M solution in dichloromethane, 0.37 mL, 0.37 mmol) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0-3°C for 45 minutes. 5 mL saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate was added and stirred for 10 minutes. The mixture was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid and extracted with 3 x 40 ml 100:5 dichloromethane/methanol. The combined organic extracts were dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 62% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 38% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% tetrahydrofuran) to provide the title compound (80 mg, 69%) as a white solid. M.p. 93-103°C. Analysis calculated for C 23 H 24 N 4 O 5 S · 0.75 H 2 O: Calculated: C, 57.31; H, 5.33; N, 11.62; S, 6.65; Found: C, 57.61; H, 5.04; N, 11.33; S, 6.55. Example 12 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1-methyl-1 H -imidazoi-2-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide, lithium salt A. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-1-methyl-1 H -imidazole To compound A from Example 10 (700 mg, 3.14 mmol) in 7.8 mL tetrahydrofuran and 7.8 mL dimethylformamide, sodium hydride (60% in mineral oil, 151 mg, 3.77 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes. Iodomethane (891 mg, 6.28 mmol) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, and concentrated. 100 mL ethyl acetate was added and the organic liquid was washed with 20 mL water and 20 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:1:0.1 dichloromethane/methanol/ammonium hydroxide to afford compound A (500 mg, 67%). B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(1-methyl-1 H -imidazol-2-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (320 mg, 0.83 mmol) and compound A (395 mg, 1.67 mmol) in 7.5 mL of toluene and 6 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(0) (96 mg, 0.083 mmol) was added, followed by 4.5 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 3 hours, cooled and diluted with 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:1.5:0.1 dichloromethane/methanol/ammonium bicarbonate to afford compound A (254 mg, 61%) as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1-methyl-1 H -imidazol-2-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide, lithium salt To a solution of compound B (250 mg, 0.50 mmol) in 9 mL of 95% ethanol, 9 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 200 mL ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with 20 mL water and 20 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:6:0.3 dichloromethane/methanol/ammonium bicarbonate to afford N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1-methyl-1 H -imidazol-2-1)[1,1'-biphenyl] -2-sulfonamide (189 mg, 92%), which was dissolved in 1N lithium hydroxide, added on to a HP-20 column and eluted with water and then 10:3 water/methanol to provide the title compound as a white solid. M.p. >200°C dec. Analysis calculated for C 21 H 19 N 4 O 3 SLi · 2.75H 2 O: Calculated: C, 54.37; H, 5.32; N, 12.08; S, 6.91; Found: C, 54.58; H, 5.05; N, 11.87; S, 6.80. Example 13 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1 H -imidazol-2-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide, lithium salt A. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-1 H -imidazole-1-carboxylic acid, 1,1-dimethylethyl ester To compound A from Example 10 (446 mg, 2 mmol) in 20 mL acetonitrile, di-t-butyl dicarbonate (524 mg, 2.4 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (24.4 mg, 0.2 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 6:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound A (500 mg, 77%) as a light yellow oil. B. 4'-[1-[(1,1-Dimethylethoxy)carbonyl]-1 H -imidazol-2-yl]-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)-methyl][1.1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (496 mg, 1.29 mmol) and compound A (500 mg, 1.55 mmol) in 11.25 mL of toluene and 9 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (149 mg, 0.129 mmol) was added, followed by 6.75 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 3 hours, cooled and diluted with 75 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 15 mL water and 15 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 40:60:0.2 hexane/ethyl acetate/triethylamine to afford compound B (380 mg, 51%) as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1 H -imidazol-2-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide, lithium salt To a solution of compound B (380 mg, 0.65 mmol) in 12 mL of 95% ethanol, 12 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour and 45 minutes. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid, extracted with 3 x 80 mL 100:5 dichloromethane/methanol. The organic extracts were dried and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 1N lithium hydroxide and chromatographed on HP-20 column eluted with water and then 10:2 water/methanol to provide the title compound as a white solid (180 mg, 69%). M.p. >220°C dec. Analysis calculated for C 20 H 17 N 4 O 3 SLi · 2.06H 2 O: Calculated: C, 54.91; H, 4.87; N, 12.81; S, 7.33; Found: C, 54.99; H, 4.78; N, 12.73; S, 6.95. Example 14 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-methyl-4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 4-(4-Bromophenyl)-5-methyloxazole To 4'-Bromopropiophenone (3.52 g, 16.5 mmol) and formamide (10.81 g, 240 mmol) at 50°C, bromine (2.40 g, 15 mmol) was added dropwise over 10 minutes. The reaction mixture was heated from 50°C to 130°C over 20 minutes and then heated at 130°C for 4 hours. After cooling, 150 mL ethyl acetate was added and the liquid was washed with 2 x 20 mL water and 20 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 40:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound A (1.59 g, 45%). B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(5-methyl-4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (384 mg, 1.0 mmol) and compound A (408 mg, 1.7 mmol) in 9 mL of toluene and 7.2 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (116 mg, 0.10 mmol) was added, followed by 5.4 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 3 hours, cooled and diluted with 60 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 15 mL water and 15 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 2.5:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound B (317 mg, 64%) as a colorless gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-methyl-4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B (300 mg, 0.60 mmol) in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 3 x 40 mL ethyl acetate and the organic extracts were washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 30% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 70% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% tetrahydrofuran) to provide the title compound (150 mg, 61%) as a white solid. M.p. 86-96°C(amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 21 H 19 N 3 O 4 S · 0.16H 2 O: Calculated: C, 61.17; H, 4.72; N, 10.19; S, 7.77; Found: C, 61.20; H, 4.35; N, 10.16; S, 7.58. Example 15 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-bromo-benzenesulfonamide To a solution of 3.0 g (11.74 mmol) of 2-bromobenzenesulfonyl chloride in 10 mL of pyridine was added 1.32 g (11.74 mmol) of 3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolamine. The mixture was stirred at room temperature under argon overnight, added to 150 mL of ice water and filtered. The filtrate was acidified to pH 2 using 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid and the grey solid was filtered and dried. The solid was crystallized from methanol/water to afford 4.0 g (>100%) of compound A as tan crystalline needles (m.p. 125 - 126°C; Rf = 0.51 (10% methanol/dichloromethane)). B. 2-Bromo-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N'-(methoxyethoxymethyl)benzenesulfonamide To a solution of 1.1 g (3.33 mmol) of compound A in 15 mL of THF at room temperature under argon was added 0.19 g (4.8 mmol) of sodium hydride (60% suspension in mineral oil) in portions, and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes. Methoxyethoxymethyl chloride (0.55 g, 4.4 mmol) was then added and the solution was stirred overnight. The mixture was concentrated and diluted with 30 mL of water, and extracted with 40 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed with 50 mL of brine, dried and evaporated to provide 1.2 g (87%) of compound B as a brown gum. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-methyl[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B, 4-methylbenzeneboronic acid (4.76 g, 35 mmol) in 250 mL of toluene and 200 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (2.43 g, 2.1 mmol) was added, followed by 150 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 80°C for 2.5 hours, cooled and diluted with 300 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated and washed with 200 mL water and 200 ml of brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 5:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound C (9.0 g, 60%) as a colorless gum. R f = 0.74, silica gel, 1:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate. D. 4'-(Bromomethyl)-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)-methyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To compound C (7.7 g, 17.89 mmol) in 180 mL carbon tetrachloride, n-bromosuccinimide (4.14 g, 23.25 mmol) and benzoyl peroxide (385 mg, 1.59 mmol) were added. The reaction was refluxed for 1.5 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was diluted with 200 mL dichloromethane, washed with 2 x 100 mL water and 100 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel eluting with 4:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to provide compound D (3.64 g, 40%) as a colorless gum. Rf = 0.38, silica gel, 2:1 Hexane/ethyl acetate. E. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-N-[(2-methoxy ethoxy)-methyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To compound D (400 mg, 0.79 mmol) and imidazole (133 mg, 1.95 mmol) potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3 ) (326 mg, 2.36 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 10 hours and then at 50°C for 1 hour. The mixture was diluted with 50 mL ethyl acetate, washed with 10 mL water and 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:1.5 dichloromethane/methanol to afford compound E (220 mg, 56%) as a colorless gum. Rf = 0.52, silica gel, 10:1 trichloromethane/methanol. F. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound E (220 mg, 0.44 mmol) in 6 mL of 95% ethanol, 6 mL of 6N aqueous HCl was added. The reaction was refluxed for 2 hours, cooled and concentrated. The reaction mixture was neutralized with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ), and then acidified to pH <5 with acetic acid. Filtration of the mixture provided a white solid (91 mg, 50%) which was dissolved in 1N HCl and concentrated under vacuum to give the hydrochloride salt of the title compound as a white solid (m.p. 150°C dec.) R f = 0.27, silica gel, 10:1 dichloromethane/methanol. Analysis calculated for C 21 H 20 N 4 O 3 S 1.1 H 2 O · 0.8 HCl: Calculated: Cl, 6.19. C, 55.02; H, 5.28; N, 12.22; S, 6.99; Found: Cl, 6.30. C, 54.67; H, 4.88; N, 11.97; S, 6.93; Example 16 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(3-isoxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 4-Bromo-N-hydroxybenzenecarboximidoyl bromide To a 0.5M solution of hydrochloric acid in dimethylformamide, 8.5g (42.5 mmol) of 4-Bromobenzaldehyde oxime was added and cooled to 5°C. 13g of oxone was then added in portions. The mixture was slowly warmed to room temperature and stirred for 8 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into 300 mL of cold water and extracted with 2 x 150 mL of ether. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 150 mL of 0.5N aqueous hydrochloric acid and brine (150 mL), dried and evaporated to provide 7.9g (79%) of compound A. B. 5-(Acetyloxy)-3-(4-bromophenyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazole A mixture of 4.0g (17.06 mmol) of compound A, 7.34g (85.3 mmol) of vinyl acetate and 1.9g (18.76 mmol) of triethylamine in 50 mL of toluene was stirred at 75°C for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled and added to 150 mL of water. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with 2 x 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL of brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was crystallized from Hexanes/ethyl acetate to afford 3.6g (74%) of compound B as a white solid. C. 3-(4-Bromophenyl)isoxazole To a solution of 3.0g (10.56 mmol) of compound B in 100 mL of absolute ethanol, 5 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and the solution was refluxed for 3 hours. The mixture was concentrated to about 10 mL and the solution was neutralized using aqueous sodium bicarbonate. The resulting mixture was extracted with 2 x 50 mL of ether. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL of brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 100g of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 9:1 to afford 1.6g (68%) of compound C as a white solid. D. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2 - methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(3-isoxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.45g (1.17 mmol) of compound B from Example 1 and 0.058g (0.05 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 20 mL of toluene under argon, 12 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate was added followed by 0.315g (1.4 mmol) of compound C in 12 mL of 95% ethanol. The mixture was refluxed for 2 hours, diluted with 100 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL of brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 50g of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 2:1 to afford 0.27g (56%) of compound D as a colorless gum. E. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(3-isoxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.26g (0.54 mmol) of compound D in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The mixture was then concentrated, diluted with 50 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 25 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with water, dried and evaporated (0.21g). This material was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 67% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 33% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected, neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was then acidified to pH 4 using glacial acetic acid and the white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.13g (61%) of the title compound. M.p. 85-90°C. Analysis Calculated for C 20 H 17 N 3 O 4 S. 0.26 H 2 O: Calculated C,60.04; H,4.41; N,10.50; S,8.01; Found C,60.04; H,4.30; N,10.50; S,8.15. Example 17 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolylmethyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 4-Bromobenzeneacetamide To a solution of 6g (27.9 mmol) of 4-bromophenylacetic acid in 200 mL of dichloromethane under argon, 14 mL of 2M solution of oxalyl chloride in dichloromethane was added. Then four drops of dimethylformamide was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The solution was evaporated and dried in vacuo . The residue was dissolved in 150 mL of methanol, and 30 mL of 28% aqueous ammonium hydroxide was added to the mixture. The solution was stirred at room temperature overnight and then diluted with 150 mL of water. The resulting white solid was filtered, washed with water and dried to afford 5.1g (85%) of compound A. B. 2-[(4-Bromophenyl)methyl]oxazole A mixture of compound A (2g, 9.34 mmol) and vinylene carbonate (0.9g, 10.45 mmol) in 6g of polyphosphoric acid was heated at 170°C for 3 hours. The residue was added to 100 mL of water and extracted with 2 x 100 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with water, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 200 mL of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 2:1 to provide 1.12g (50%) of compound C as a white solid. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4,-(2-oxazolylmethyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.6g (1.56 mmol) of compound B from Example 1 and 0.092g (0.08 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 30 mL of toluene under argon, 15 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate was added followed by 0.45g (1.87 mmol) of compound B above in 15 mL of 95% ethanol. The mixture was refluxed for 2 hours, diluted with 100 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL of brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 200 mL of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 2:1 to afford 0.72g (93%) of compound C as a colorless gum. D. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolylmethyl)[1,1'-bipheny]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.7g (1.41 mmol) of compound C in 15 mL of 95% ethanol, 15 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The mixture was then concentrated, diluted with 250 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with water, dried and evaporated to provide 0.41g of a colorless gum. The residue was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 67% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 23% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected and neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was then acidified to pH 4 using dilute hydrochloric acid and the resulting white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.098g (17%) of the title compound. M.p. 65-70°C. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 1.80 (s,3H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 4.16 (s,2H), 7.04 (s, 1H), 7.27 - 8.02 (m, 10H). 13 C NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 6.99, 11.20, 34.67, 108.10, 127.54, 128.32, 128.92, 129.47, 130.82, 133.15, 133.44, 135.95, 137.91, 138.51, 139.37, 141.25, 154.69, 162.27, 163.42. Example 18 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-isoxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 1-(4-Bromophenyl)-3-(dimethylamino)-2-propen-1-one A solution of 7.0g (35.2 mmol) of 4-bromoacetophenone in 7 mL of N,N-dimethylformamide diethyl acetal was refluxed for 20 hours. The solution was then diluted with 100 mL ether and cooled to 0°C. The yellow crystalline solid was filtered and dried to provide compound A (6.85g, 77%). B. 5-(4-Bromophenyl)isoxazole To a solution of 6.2g (24.4 mmol) of compound A in 70 mL of methanol at 0°C was added a solution of 3.31g (29.27 mmol) of hydroxylamine- O -sulfonic acid in 20 mL of methanol over a period of 3 minutes. After stirring at room temperature for 1 hour, the reaction mixture was poured into a mixture of cold saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (200 mL) and ice-water (200 mL). The resulting mixture deposited 5.1g of a light yellow solid. Recrystallization of this material in Hexane/ethyl acetate then provided 3.12g (57%) of compound B as an off-white solid. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(5-isoxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.56g (1.46 mmol) of compound 1 from Example 1 and 0.081g (0.07 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 25 mL of toluene under argon, 15 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate was added followed by 0.49g (2.18 mmol) of compound B in 15 mL of 95% ethanol. The mixture was refluxed for 2 hours, diluted with 100 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL of brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 50g of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 2:1 to afford 0.26g (37%) of compound C as a colorless gum. D. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-isoxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.25g (0.52 mmol) of compound C in 10 mL of 95% ethanol, 10 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The mixture was then concentrated, diluted with 100 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with water, dried and evaporated (0.21g). This material was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 69% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 31% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected and neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was acidified to pH 4 using glacial acetic acid and the white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.11g (53%) of the title compound. M.p. 85-90°C. Analysis Calculated for C 20 H 17 N 3 O 4 S. 0.27 H 2 O: Calculated C,60.02; H,4.42; N,10.50; S,8.01; Found C,60.16; H,4.24; N,10.36; S,8.17. Example 19 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-hydroxy-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 4-Bromo-3-hydroxybenzoic acid Bromine (58 g, 19 mL, 0.36 mol) in acetic acid (50 mL) was slowly added over 2 hours to a solution of 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (50 g, 0.36 mol) in acetic acid (145 mL) with stirring at 15°C. After stirring at 15°C for an additional hour and then at ambient temperature for 17 hours, the solid formed was filtered and rinsed with acetic acid (20 mL). Drying by pulling air through the filter pack for 4 hours afforded 23.5 g (30%) of compound A. B. 4-Bromo-3-hydroxybenzoic acid, methyl ester Sulfuric acid (concentrated, 9.4 mL) was added to a solution of compound A (23.5 g, 0.11 mol) in methanol (350 mL). After refluxing for 19 hours, the reaction was allowed to cool to room temperature and the pH was brought to about 4 with saturated sodium bicarbonate. After evaporating the methanol, the remaining solution was transferred to a separatory funnel. Extraction with ether (2 x 200 mL), washing the combined organic layers with brine (50 mL), and drying over magnesium sulfate afforded 25 g of crude product after evaporation of the solvent. Recrystallization from ether/hexane afforded 13.3 g (53%) of compound B. C. 4-Bromo-3-methoxybenzoic acid, methyl ester Dimethyl sulfate (6.4 mL, 67 mmol) and potassium carbonate (10 g) were added to a solution of compound B (13.3 g, 57 mmol) in acetone (86 mL). After refluxing for 19 hours, the reaction was cooled, the precipitate filtered off and the filtrate evaporated in vacuo to afford 14.7 g of crude product. Flash chromatography (silica, 50 mm diameter, 10% ethyl acetate/hexane) afforded 13.9 g of compound C (100%). D. 4-Bromo-3-methoxybenzoic acid Potassium hydroxide (2N, 120 mL, 240 mmol) was added to a solution of compound C (19 g, 79 mmol) in methanol (670 mL). After stirring at ambient temperature for 5.5 hours, water (100 mL) was added and the methanol removed in vacuo . The remaining solution was extracted with methylene chloride and then acidified with 6N hydrochloric acid to pH 1.5. Extraction with methylene chloride (1 x 500 mL and 2 x 200 mL) afforded 17 g (93%) of compound D after evaporation of the solvent. E. 4-Bromo-3-methoxybenzamide A solution of compound D (17 g, 73 mmol) and dimethylformamide (0.3 mL) in thionyl chloride (18 mL, 3.5 mol) was heated at 60°C for 2 hours. After evaporating the reaction in vacuo and azeotroping with toluene (twice), the residue was dissolved in tetrohydrofuran (30 mL) and added slowly to a vigorously stirring concentrated ammonium hydroxide solution (95 mL). The precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried in a vacuum desiccator overnight to afford 17 g (100%) of compound E. F. 2-(4-Bromo-3-methoxyphenyl)oxazole Polyphosphoric acid (18 g) was added to compound E (8.5 g, 37 mmol) and the mixture was heated and stirred until it was homogeneous. Vinylene carbonate (3.2 g, 2.4 mL, 37 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at 160°C for 2 hours during which time the reaction mixture evolved gas and turned black and gummy. After cooling, water and ether were added, mixed and decanted (three times). The decanted layers were filtered through Celite® and the filtrate transferred to a separatory funnel. The organic layer was washed with water (10 mL) and 1N sodium hydroxide (30 mL), and dried over magnesium sulfate to afford crude product after evaporation of the solvent. Any solid remaining in the reaction flask and the Celite® filter pad were rinsed with dichloromethane (3 x 10 mL) which was then washed with 1N sodium hydroxide (30 mL) and dried over magnesium sulfate. The two portions of crude product totaled 3.6 g. Flash chromatography (silica, 50 mm diameter, 30% ethyl acetate/hexane) afforded 2.3 g (24%) of compound F. M.p. 68.5-70.5°C. G. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-methoxy-N-(2-methoxyethoxymethyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1 ' -biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A solution of compound B from Example 1 (2.3 g, 2.9 mmol) in ethanol (sparged with argon 20 minutes, 16 mL) was added to a solution of compound F (1.1 g, 4.4 mmol) in toluene (sparged with argon 20 minutes, 32 mL). To this solution was added a solution of sodium carbonate (1.0 g) in water (sparged with argon 20 min, 16 mL) followed by tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (0.28 g, 0.24 mmol). After refluxing under argon for 2 hours, the solution was cooled and poured into brine (40 mL). Extraction with ethyl acetate (2 x 150 mL) and drying the combined organic layers over magnesium sulfate afforded 4.1 g of crude product after evaporation of the solvent. Flash chromatography (silica, 50 mm diameter, 40% ethyl acetate/hexane) afforded 0.50 g (34%) of compound G. H. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-methoxy-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A solution of compound G (0.45 g, 0.88 mmol) in ethanol (13.4 mL) and 6N hydrochloric acid (13.4 mL) was stirred at 90°C. After 3.5 hours, the ethanol was evaporated in vacuo , and the residue transferred to a separatory funnel with dichloromethane/water. Extraction with dichloromethane (2 x 50 mL) and drying over magnesium sulfate afforded 0.37 g (100%) of compound H after evaporation of the solvent. I. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-hydroxy-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide Boron tribromide (1 M in dichloromethane, 6.2 mL, 6.2 mmol) was added to a solution of compound H (0.33 g, 0.77 mmol) in methylene chloride (27 mL) with stirring at -78°C. After stirring at -78°C for 30 minutes, the cold bath was removed. After stirring a total of 2.5 hours, the reaction mixture was transferred to a separatory funnel with dichloromethane/water. The pH was brought to 3.5 with saturated sodium bicarbonate. Extraction with dichloromethane (2 x 70 mL), and drying over magnesium sulfate afforded 0.68 g of crude product after evaporation of the solvent. Two flash chromatographies (silica, 25 mm diameter, 6% methanol/dichloromethane and silica, 15 mm diameter, 50% ethyl acetate/dichloromethane) afforded 60 mg (19%) of the title ocmpound. M.p. 111.0-115.0°C. Analysis calculated for C 20 H 17 N 3 O 5 S · 0.15 C 4 H 8 O 2 · 0.40 H 2 O: Calculated C, 57.29; H, 4.43; N, 9.73; S, 7.42; Found C, 57.30; H, 4.58; N, 9.37; S, 7.18. Example 20 2-[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]-4-oxazole-carboxamide A. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-4-oxazolecarboxaldehyde A mixture of compound A from Example 7 (810 mg, 3.40 mmol) selenium dioxide (1.89 g, 17 mmol) and 6.8 mL dioxane was refluxed for 24 hours. After cooling the mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 60:1 dichloromethane/ethyl acetate to afford compound A (406 mg, 47%) as a light yellow solid. B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4-formyl-2-oxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxy ethoxy)methyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compound B from Example 1 (772 mg, 2.0 mmol), compound A (390 mg, 1.55 mmol) in 15 mL of toluene and 12 mL of 95% ethanol under argon, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (116 mg, 0.1 mmol) was added, followed by 9 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated at 75°C for 1 hour, cooled and diluted with 80 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was separated, washed with 15 mL water and 15 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 3:2 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound B (290 mg, 37%) as a colorless gum. C. 2-[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]amino]-sulfonyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]-4-oxazolecarboxamide To compound B (285 mg, 0.56 mmol) above and sulfamic acid (108 mg, 1.11 mmol) in 5.6 mL tetrahydrofuran at 0°C, an ice cooled solution of sodium chlorite (101 mg, 1.11 mmol) in 5.6 mL water was added. The mixture was stirred at 0°C for 3 minutes. 50 mL dichloromethane was added and the organic liquid was washed with 10 mL brine, dried and concentrated to give 2-[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]amino]-sulfonyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]-4-oxazolecarboxylic acid. To 2-[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]amino]sulfonyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]-4-oxazolecarboxylic acid and 0.014 mL dimethylformamide in 5.6 mL dichloromethane, oxalyl chloride (2M in dichloromethane, 0.56 mL, 1.11 mmol) was added, stirred for 0.5 hours and concentrated. To this mixture, 10 mL tetrahydrofuran and 2 mL concentrated ammonium hydroxide were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 50 minutes and concentrated. The organic liquid was washed with 15 mL water and 15 mL brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 1:4 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford compound C (245 mg, 84% for three steps) as a colorless gum. D. 2-[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]-4-oxazolecarboxamide To a solution of compound C (240 mg, 0.46 mmol) in 4.6 mL acetonitrile at 0°C, trimethylsilicon chloride (297 mg, 2.74 mmol) was added followed by sodium iodide (410 mg, 2.74 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. 5 mL water was added and extracted with 50 mL ethyl acetate. The organic liquid was washed with 5 mL saturated aqueous sodium thiosulfate and 5 mL brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 37% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 63% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% tetrahydrofuran) to provide the title compound (122 mg, 61%) as a white solid. M.p. 195°C dec. Analysis calculated for C 21 H 18 N 4 O 5 S · 0.23H 2 O: Calculated C, 57.00; H, 4.20; N, 12.66; S, 7.24; Found C, 57.01; H, 4.10; N, 12.65; S, 7.18. Example 21 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(formylamino)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 4-Bromo-3-methylbenzamide To a solution of 10g (46.5 mmol) of 4-bromo-3-methyl benzoic acid in 200 mL of dichloromethane under argon, 30 mL of 2M solution of oxalyl chloride in dichloromethane was added. Four drops of dimethylformamide was then added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The soltion was evaporated and dried in vacuo . The residue was dissolved in 100 mL of methanol, and 25 mL of 28% aqueous ammonium hydroxide was added to the mixture. The solution was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, and then diluted with 500 mL of water. The resulting white solid was filtered, washed with water and dried to afford 8.9g (89%) of compound A. B. 2-(4-Bromo-3-methylphenyl)oxazole A mixture of compound A (12g, 56 mmol) and vinylene carbonate (6.5g, 75.5 mmol) in 25g of polyphosphoric acid was heated at 170°C for 3 hours. The residue was then added to 700 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 250 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with water, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 200g of silica gel using dichloromethane to provide 6.7g (50%) of compound B as a white solid. C. 2-[4-Bromo-3-(bromomethyl)phenyl]oxazole A mixture of compound B (6.5g, 27.3 mmol), N-bromosuccinimide (9.72g, 54.6 mmol) and benzoyl peroxide (250 mg) in 250 mL of carbon tetrachloride was refluxed for 8 hours while illuminating the solution with a sun lamp. The mixture was then cooled and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to provide 10g of a light yellow solid which was used in the next step without any furtur purification. D. 2-Bromo-5-(2-oxazolyl)benzaldehyde To a solution of 7g of crude compound C in 15 mL of anhydrous dimethylsulfoxide under argon, 5.5g of anhydrous trimethylamine N-oxide (prepared as described in Soderquist et. al. Tet. Letters., 27 , 3961(1986)) was added and the mixture was stirred at 55°C for 6 hours. The mixture was then cooled, added to 150 mL of ice/water and extracted with 3 x 100 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL of brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 300 mL of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 8:1 to afford 2.2g (46% for two steps) of compound D as a white solid. E. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-formyl-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 2.3g (6 mmol) of compound B from Example 1 and 0.3g (0.26 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 40 mL of toluene under argon, 20 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate was added followed by 1.0g (6.28 mmol) of compound D in 20 mL of 95% ethanol. The mixture was refluxed for 2 hours, diluted with 100 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 50 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 100 mL of brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 200 mL of silica gel using Hexanes/ethyl acetate 1:1 to afford 1.69g (55%) of compound E as a colorless gum. F. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-formyl-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 1.68g (3.28 mmol) of compound E in 30 mL of 95% ethanol, 30 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The mixture was then concentrated and diluted with 250 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 150 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were then washed once with water, dried and evaporated to provide 1.46g (90%) of compound F as a colorless gum. G. 2'-(Aminomethyl)-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.28g (0.66 mmol) of compound F in 25 mL of methanol, 5g of ammonium acetate and 1g of 3Å molecular sieves were added and stirred at room tempertaure for 1 hour. Sodium triacetoxyborohydride (0.42g, 1.98 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for an additional 45 minutes. The solution was filtered, concentrated to 10 mL, diluted with 25 mL of water and extracted with 3 x 25 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were then washed once with water, dried and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on 15g of silica gel using 5% methanol in dichloromethane to afford 0.1g (36%) of compound G as a white solid. H. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(formylamino)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of 0.06g (0.14 mmol) of compound G in 10 mL of dichloromethane at 0°C, 0.02g of acetic formic anhydride and 0.02 g triethylamine were added. The mixture was slowly warmed to room temperature and stirred for 1 hour. The mixture was diluted with 10 mL of dichloromethane, washed with 20 mL of 0.1N aqueous hydrochloric acid and then with 20 mL of water. The organic layer was dried and evaporated. The residue was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 56% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluroacetic acid) and 44% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected, neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was then acidified to pH 4 using dilute hydrochloric acid, and the white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.013g (21%) of the title compound. M.p. 105-109°C. 1 HNMR(CDCl 3 ): δ 1.87 (s, 3H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 3.89 (ABq, J = 4.1, 15.8 Hz, 1H), 4.50 (ABq, J = 7.6, 15.8 Hz, 1H), 6.63 (br s, 1H), 7.03 - 7.93 (m, 10 H), 8.14 (s, 1H). 13 C NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 6.83, 10.90, 39.80, 108.68, 124.26, 124.95, 127.29, 128.18, 128.79, 129.77, 130.26, 130.26, 130.52, 132.19, 133.58, 137.44, 137.61, 138.42, 138.88; 139.58, 154.37, 161.53, 162.25. Example 22 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[[(methoxycarbonyl)aminolmethyl-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[[(methoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To compound G from Example 21 (75 mg, 0.18 mmol) in 3.5 mL tetrahydrofuran, triethylamine (35 mg, 0.35 mmol) was added, followed by methyl chloroformate (17 mg, 0.18 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. Additional triethylamine (18 mg, 0.18 mmol) and methyl chloroformate (17 mg, 0.18 mmol) were added and the reaction was stirred at 40°C for another 1.5 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 42% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 58% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (30 mg, 35%) as a white solid. M.p. 110-120°C (amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 23 H 22 N 4 O 6 S · 0.41H 2 O: Calculated C, 56.39; H, 4.69; N, 11.44; S, 6.54; Found C, 56.11; H, 4.48; N, 11.19; S, 6.49. Example 23 N- [[2'-[[(3,4-pimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N'-methylurea A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl) amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N'-methylurea To compound G from Example 21 (75 mg, 0.18 mmol) in 7.1 mL tetrahydrofuran, methyl isocyanate (71 mg, 1.24 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 46% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 54% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (38 mg, 45%) as a white solid. M.p. >150°C, dec. Analysis calculated for C 23 H 23 N 5 O 5 S · 0.45H 2 O 0.2CH 2 Cl 2 : Calculated C, 55.00; H, 4.83; N, 13.82; S, 6.33; Found C, 54.57; H, 4.58; N, 13.61; S, 5.95. Example 24 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'[[(methylsulfonyl)amino]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'[[(methylsulfonyl)amino]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To compound G from Example 21 (75 mg, 0.18 mmol) and triethylamine (54 mg, 0.53 mmol) in 7.1 ml tetrahydrofuran, methanesulfonyl chloride (57 mg, 0.5 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at 45°C for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8 using sodium bicarbonate solution. It was then acidified to pH 5 with glacial acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with dichloromethane. The organic liquid was concentrated and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 47% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 53% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (27 mg, 30%) as a white solid. M.p. 110-120°C (amorphous). Analysis calculated for C 22 H 22 N 4 O 6 S 2 · 0.14CH 3 COOH: Calculated: C, 52.37; H, 4.45; N, 10.96; S, 12.56; Found: C, 52.43; H, 4.37; N, 10.76; S, 12.11. Example 25 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]acetamide A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]acetamide To a solution of 0.075g (0.177 mmol) of compound G from Example 21 in 10 mL of dichloromethane at 0°C, 0.019g (0.19 mmol) of acetic anhydride and 0.019g triethylamine were added. The mixture was then slowly warmed to room temperature and stirred for 1 hour. The mixture was diluted with 10 mL of dichloromethane and washed with 20 mL of 0.1N aqueous hydrochloric acid and then with 20 mL of water. The organic layer was dried and evaporated. The residue was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 58% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 42% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected and neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was acidified to pH 4 using dilute hydrochloric acid, and the white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.041g (50%) of the title compound. M.p. 105-107°C. Analysis calculated for C 23 H 22 N 4 O 5 S. 0.42 H 2 O: Calculated C,58.27; H,4.86; N,11.82; S,6.76; Found C,58.38; H,4.71; N,11.71; S,6.93. Example 26 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N'-phenylurea A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N'-phenylurea To compound G from Example 21 (25 mg, 0.059 mmol) in 3 mL tetrahydrofuran, phenyl isocyanate(56 mg, 0.47 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 33% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 67% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (18 mg, 56%) as a white solid. 1 HNMR(CDCl 3 ): δ 1.82 (s, 3H), 2.16 (s, 3H), 3.99 - 4.38 (m, 2H), 6.06 (s, br, 1H), 6.91 - 8.03 (m, 15H). 13 C NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 7.60, 11.81, 42.65, 109.39, 119.92, 123.29, 124.13; 127.10, 128.26, 129.61, 130.68, 130.79. 132.96, 134.80, 137.72, 139.56, 140.00, 140.25, 140.43, 155.63, 156.58. Example 27 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-pimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl-N'-propylurea A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N'-propylurea To compound G from Example 21 (20 mg, 0.047 mmol) in 3 mL tetrahydrofuran, propyl isocyanate (36 mg, 0.424 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:4.5 dichloromethane/methanol to provide the title compound (16 mg, 67%) as a light yellow solid. 1 H NMR (CD 3 OD ): δ 0.89 (t, J=7Hz, 3H), 1.46 (m, 2H), 1.70 (s, 3H), 2.10 (s, 3H), 3.06 (t, J=7Hz, 2H), 4.08 (s, 2H), 7.10-8.12 (m, 9H). 13 C NMR (CD 3 O D ): δ 6.57, 10.58, 11.62, 24.37, 42.91, 124.83, 125.06, 127.97, 129.10, 129.62, 130.34, 131.67, 133.11, 133.74, 139.83, 140.44, 140.87, 141.24, 141.96, 160.91, 162.99, 163.42. Example 28 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N-methylacetamide A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N-methylacetamide To a solution of 0.15 g (0.35 mmol) of compound F from Example 21 in 15 mL of dichloromethane, methyl amine (33% solution in absolute ethanol, 0.13 mL, 1.06 mmol), glacial acetic acid (0.12 g, 2 mmol) and 1 g of 3 Å molecular sieves were added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. Sodium triacetoxyborohydride (0.22 g, 1.06 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred overnight. The solution was then filtered, washed once with water, dried and evaporated. The residue thus obtained was dissolved in 10 mL of dichloromethane, and 0.072 g (0.70 mmol) of acetic anhydride and 0.071 g (0.70 mmol) of triethylamine were added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours and evaporated. The residue was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 58% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 42% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected, neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was acidified to pH 4 using glacial acetic acid and the white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.069 g (41%) of the title compound as a light yellow solid. M.p. 105-115°C. Example 29 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]benzamide A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]benzamide To compound G from Example 21 (70 mg, 0.17 mmol) and benzoyl chloride (23 mg, 0.17 mmol) in 3.3 mL dichloromethane, triethylamine (37 mg, 0.36 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 33% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 67% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (30 mg, 34%) as a white solid. M.p. 128-135°C (amorphous) 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ1.91 (s, 3H), 2.18 (s, 3H), 4.16-4.76 (m, 2H), 7.13-8.13 (m, 14H). Example 30 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropanamide A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropanamide To compound G from Example 21 (105 mg, 0.25 mmol) and trimethylacetyl chloride (30 mg, 0.25 mmol) in 4.9 mL dichloromethane, triethylamine (55 mg, 0.54 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 33% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 67% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (52 mg, 34%) as a white solid. M.p. 122-128°C 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 1.18 (s, 9H), 1.93 (s, 3H), 2.18 (s, 3H), 3.96-4.46 (m, 2H), 7.24-8.05 (m, 9H). Example 31 2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester A. 2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphepyl]-2-carboxylic acid To compound F from Example 21 (2.20 g, 5.20 mmol) and sulfamic acid (1.01 g, 10.39 mmol) in 52 mL THF at 0°C, an ice cooled solution of sodium chlorite (940 mg, 10.39 mmol) in 52 mL water was added. The mixture was stirred at 0°C for 2 minutes and then diluted with 150 ml dichloromethane. The organic liquid was separated and washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on an ODS S10 column using 43% solvent A(10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 57% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide compound A (503 mg, 22%) as a white solid. B. 2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester To compound A (258 mg, 0.59 mmol) in 5.9 mL THF at 0°C. 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole (209 mg, 1.29 mmol) was added. After stirring at room temperature for 1 hour, 1 mL methanol was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. An additional 3 mL methanol was added and the mixture was heated at 50°C for an additional 1 hour. After cooling to room temperature, 10 mL 0.5N aqueous HCl was added and stirred for 10 minutes. 60 mL ethyl acetate was added and the organic liquid was separated and washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on an ODS S10 column using 34% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 66% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (98 mg, 37%) as a white solid. M.p. 106-112°C (amorphous). Rf=0.54, silica gel, 20:1 dichloromethane/methanol. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 1.84 (s, 3H), 2.17 (s, 3H), 3.73 (s, 3H), 7.27-8.62 (m, 10H). Example 32 N -(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To the title compound of Example 31 (87 mg, 0.19 mmol) in 1.9 mL THF at 0°C, methylmagnesium bromide (1.4M in toluene/THF 75:25, 0.43 mL, 0.60 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at 0°C for 10 minutes and at room temperature for 3 hours. Additional methylmagnesium bromide (1.4M in toluene/THF 75:25, 0.069 mL, 0.096 mmol) was added and stirred for an additional 10 minutes. The reaction was quenched with ice-water and acetic acid (45 mg, 0.77 mmol) and stirred for 10 minutes. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate and the organic extract was washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on an ODS S10 column using 37% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 63% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (40 mg, 46%) as a white solid. M.p. 112-118°C (amorphous). Rf=0.27, silica gel, 20:1 dichloromethane/methanol. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 1.46 (s, 3H), 1.76 (s, 3H), 1.91 (s, 3H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 7.11-8.08 (m, 10H). Example 33 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2-methylpropanamide A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2-methylpropanamide To compound G from Example 21 (70 mg, 0.17 mmol) and isobutyryl chloride (18 mg, 0.17 mmol) in 3.3 mL dichloromethane, triethylamine (37 mg, 0.36 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 38% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 62% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (36 mg, 44%) as a white solid. M.p. 112-120°C (amorphous). Rf=0.31, silica gel, 20:1 dichloromethane/methanol. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 1.13 (m, 6H), 1.93 (s, 3H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 2.42 (m, 1H), 4.04-4.43 (m, 2H), 6.56-8.40 (m, 11H). Example 34 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide To compound G from Example 21 (40 mg, 0.094 mmol) in 1.9 mL dichloromethane, triethylamine (19 mg, 0.19 mmol) was added and followed by trifluoroacetic anhydride (20 mg, 0.094 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 37% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 63% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (20 mg, 41%) as a white solid. M.p. 112-120°C (amorphous). Rf=0.31, silica gel, 20:1 dichloromethane/methanol. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ) : δ 1.94 (s, 3H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 4.03-4.56 (m, 2H), 7.06-8.06 (m, 10H). Example 35 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(methylamino) carbonyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(methylamino)carbonyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To compound A from Example 31 (124 mg, 0.28 mmol) in 2.8 mL THF at 0°C, 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole (101 mg, 0.62 mmol) was added. After stirring at room temperature for 2 hours, 1 mL methylamine (40% in water) was added and the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. 10 mL 1N HCl was added and stirred for 3 minutes. The mixture was extracted with 50 mL ethyl acetate and the organic extract was washed with water and brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 3 mL saturated sodium bicarbonate water solution and filtered. The filtrate was acidified to pH<5 with sodium bisulfate, and it was then filtered to give the title compound as a white solid (80 mg, 63%). M.p. 122-131°C. Rf=0.11, silica gel, 20:1 dichloromethane/methanol. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 1.89 (s, 3H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 3.73 (s,3H), 2.76 (d, J=3.5Hz, 3H), 6.53-8.16 (m, 11H). Example 36 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2',4'-bis(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. 2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)[(2-methylethoxy)methyl]amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxylic acid To compound E from Example 21 (525 mg, 1.03 mmol) and sulfamic acid (199 mg, 2.05 mmol) in 14.7 mL THF at 0°C, an ice cooled solution of sodium chlorite (186 mg, 2.05 mmol) in 14.7 mL water was added. The mixture was stirred at 0°C for 2 minutes and then diluted with 100 mL dichloromethane. The organic liquid was separated and washed with brine, dried and concentrated to provide compound A as a gum, which was used without further purification. B. 2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)[(2-methylethoxy)methyl]amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)(1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carbonyl chloride To compound A and 0.026 mL DMF in dichloromethane, oxalyl chloride (2M in dichloromethane, 1.3 mL, 2.6 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour and concentrated to give compound B. C. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methylethoxy)methyl]-2',4'-bis(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A mixture of compound B, 1H-1,2,3-triazole (71 mg, 1.03 mmol) and potassium carbonate (936 mg, 6.8 mmol) in 4.1 mL sulfolane was heated at 140°C for 3 hours. The mixture was diluted with 100 mL ethyl acetate, washed with water and brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 50:70:0.1 hexane/ethyl acetate/triethylamine to afford compound C. D. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2',4'-bis(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To compound C in 10 mL 95% ethanol, 10 mL 6N HCl was added. The mixture was refluxed for 1 hour and concentrated. The residue was neutralized to pH-5 with sodium bicarbonate and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extracts were washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on an ODS S10 column using 35% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 65% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide the title compound (56 mg, 12% for four steps) as a white solid. M.p. 108-113°C (amorphous). Rf=0.30, silica gel, 20:1 dichloromethane/methanol. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ): δ 1.90 (s, 3H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 7.02-9.61 (m, 12H). Example 37 and Example 38 (Z)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide and (E)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. (Z)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methylethoxy)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide and B. (E)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methylethoxy)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To benzyltriphenylphosphonium chloride(300 mg, 0.77 mmol) in 7.7 mL THF at -78°C, n-butyl lithium (2M in pentane, 0.39 mL, 0.78 mmol) was added. The cold bath was removed and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 45 minutes before cooling to -78°C again. Compound E from Example 21 (304 mg, 0.59 mmol) was added at -78°C and the reaction was then stirred at room temperature for 2.5 hours. 10 mL water and 40 mL ethyl acetate were added. The organic liquid was separated and washed with saturated aqueous ammonium chloride and brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel using 2:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford a mixture of compounds A and B. C. (Z)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide and D. (E)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide To a solution of compounds A and B in 6 mL of 95% ethanol, 6 mL of 6N aqueous hydrochloric acid was added and refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated and 80 mL ethyl acetate was added. The organic liquid was separated and washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC on an ODS S10 column using 22% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 78% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) to provide compound C, the title compound of Example 37 (73 mg, 19% for two steps) as a white solid. M.p. 102-109°C (amorphous), Rf=0.32(silica gel, 20:1 dichloromethane/methanol). The HPLC column was eluted with the same solvents further to provide a mixture, which was chromatographed on silica gel using 100:2 dichloromethane/methanol to give compound D, the title compound of Example 38 (27 mg, 7% for two steps) as a light yellow solid. M.p. 109-116°C (amorphous), Rf=0.32(silica gel, 20:1 dichloromethane/methanol). 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ) of the title compound of Example 37: δ 1.86 (s, 3H), 2.16(s, 3H), 6.38-6.51 (m, J=12.3Hz, 2H), 6.60-7.98 (m, 15H). 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ) of the title compound of Example 38: δ 1.74 (s, 3H), 2.01(s, 3H), 6.72-7.10 (m, J=16.4Hz, 2H), 7.17-7.98 (m, 15H). Example 39 4-Chloro-N-[[2'-[[(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]phenylacetamide A. 4-Chloro-N-[[2"-[[(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]phenylacetamide To a solution of 0.20 g (0.47 mmol) of compound G from Example 21 in 15 mL of dichloromethane, 0.082 g (0.47 mmol) of 4-chlorobenzoyl chloride and 0.104 g (1.03 mmol) of triethylamine were added. The mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 16 hours and evaporated. The residue was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 79% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 21% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected and neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was then acidified to pH 4 using glacial acetic acid and the white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.033 g (12.5%) of the title compound as a white solid. M.p. 130-134°C. Example 40 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,2,2-trimethylpropanamide A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,2,2-trimethylpropanamide To a solution of 0.25 g (0.59 mmol) of the intermediate formed in the preparation of compound A from Example 28 in 10 mL of dichloromethane, 0.078 g (0.65 mmol) of pivaloyl chloride and 0.131 g (1.30 mmol) of triethylamine were added. The mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 16 hours and evaporated. The residue was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 75% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 25% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected and neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was then acidified to pH 4 using aqueous sodium bisulfate and the white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.036 g (12%) of the title compound as a white solid. M.p. 125-130°C. Example 41 N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N-methylbenzamide A. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N-methylbenzamide To a solution of 0.25 g (0.59 mmol) of the intermediate formed in the preparation of compound A from Example 28 in 10 mL of dichloromethane, 0.10 g (0.71 mmol) of benzoyl chloride and 0.13 g (1.3 mmol) of triethylamine were added. The mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 16 hours and evaporated. The residue was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC on a 30 x 500 mm ODS S10 column using 68% solvent B (90% methanol, 10% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) and 32% solvent A (10% methanol, 90% water, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). The appropriate fractions were collected and neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate to pH 7 and concentrated to 10 mL. The solution was then acidified to pH 4 using aqueous sodium bisulfate and the white solid was filtered and dried to provide 0.075 g (23%) of the title compound as a white solid. M.p. 132-140°C. Example 42 N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-oxazolyl-5-yl-4'-oxazol-2-yl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-N-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-2'-oxazolyl-5-yl-4'-oxazol-2-yl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A solution of Compound F from Example 21 (300 mg, 0.57 mmol), tosylmethylisocyanide (112 mg, 0.57 mmol) and potassium carbonate (95 mg, 0.69 mmol) in 4 mL of methanol was refluxed for two hours. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was preabsorbed on Celite® and the resulting powder was loaded onto a 2.5 x 20 cm silica gel column. Elution was with a stepwise gradient of 200 mL of ethyl acetate:hexane, 50:50 to ethyl acetate in 10% intervals. The pure fractions were concentrated to afford 96 mg (30%) of compound A as light yellow oil. B. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-oxazolyl-5-yl-4'-oxazol-2-yl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide A mixture of compound A (90 mg, 0.16 mmol), 6N HCl (1.6 ml) and ethanol (1.6 mL) was refluxed for 2.5 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was partitioned between ethyl acetate (75 mL) and saturated ammonium chloride solution (50 mL). The organic layer was washed with water (50 mL) and brine (50 mL). Drying (MgSO 4 ) and concentration afforded a pink solid. Attempts to dissolve this solid in saturated NaHCO 3 solution were unsuccessful and the resulting suspension was filtered and washed thoroughly with water. Drying under high vacuum afforded 30 mg (41%) of the title compound as a light pink solid. Mp 212-218 °C. (dec.) 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 ): δ 1.56 (s, 3H), 2.06 (s, 3H), 5.82 (s, 1H), 7.21 (d, J= 8 Hz, 1H), 7.36 (m, 1H), 7.47 (s, 1H), 7.79 (m, 2H), 7.92 (d, J= 8 Hz, 1H), 8.13 (m, 1H), 8.32 s, 2H), 8.34 (s, 1H). Other compounds contemplated by the present invention include the following compounds: 1. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N-methylcyclopropanamide; 2. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2-dimethyl-N-(1-methylethyl)propanamide; 3. N-Cyclopropyl-N-[[2'-[[(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl)-2-yl]methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropanamide; 4. N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2-dimethyl-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)propanamide; 5. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[2-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxazolyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 6. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(4-oxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 7. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[2-(1-methylethyl)-4-oxazolyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 8. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-oxazolylmethyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 9. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-[[5-(1-methylethyl)-2-oxazolyl]-methyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 10. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-[[4-(1-methylethyl)-2-oxazolyl]-methyl][1,1'-biphenyl] -2-sulfonamide; 11. (E)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(4-methyl-2-pentenyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]2-sulfonamide; 12. (Z)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(4-methyl-2-pentenyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 13. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(4-methylpentyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 14. trans-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[[2-(1-methylethyl)cyclopropyl]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 15. cis-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[[2-(1-methylethyl)cyclopropyl]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 16. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 17. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-3''-(1-methylethyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 18. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4''-(1-methylethyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 19. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(2-methylpropoxy)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 20. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[2-(1-methylethoxy)ethyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; and 21. N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[2-[(1-methylethyl)sulfonyl]ethyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide. The above compounds correspond (by number) to the following structures:

Claims: A compound of the formula or an enantiomer, diastereomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: one of X and Y is N and the other is O; R 1 and R 2 are each directly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independently (a) hydrogen, (b) alkyl, or (c) -C(O)-NH 2 ; R 3 and R 4 are each directly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independently alkyl; R 11 , R 12 , R 13 and R 14 are each independently selected from (a) hydrogen, (b) hydroxy, (c) alkyl, (d) alkyl substituted with 1-3 hydroxy groups, (e) amino, (f) alkenyl, (g) carboxamide, (h) oxazolyl, (i) oxazolyl substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, (j) oxazolylalkyl, (k) arylalkenyl, (l) aryl, (m) aryl substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, (n) alkoxyalkyl, (o) -(alkyl)N(H)(COH), (P) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO 2 -alkyl), (q) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-N(H) -alkyl), (r) -(alkyl)N(H)(SO 2 -alkyl), (s) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-alkyl), (t) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-N(H)-aryl), (u) -(alkyl)N(alkyl)(CO-alkyl), (v) -(alkyl)N(haloalkyl)(CO-alkyl) wherein haloalkyl has 1-3 halo groups. (w) -(alkyl)N(cycloalkyl )(CO-alkyl), (x) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-aryl), (y) -CO 2 -alkyl, (z) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-haloalkyl) wherein haloalkyl has 1-3 halo groups, (aa) -C(O)NH-alkyl, (bb) -(alkyl)N(H)(CO-haloaryl) wherein haloaryl has 1-3 halo groups, (cc) -(alkyl)N(alkyl)(CO-aryl), (dd) -(alkyl)N(alkyl)(CO-cycloalkyl), (ee) alkenyl substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, (ff) -(alkyl)cycloalkyl wherein cycloalkyl is substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, and (gg) -(alkyl)(SO 2 )(alkyl); J is O, S, N or NR 15 ; K and L are N or C, provided that at least one of K or L is C; R 15 is hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyethoxymethyl or methoxyethoxymethyl; and p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 2. A compound of Claim 1, wherein R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as defined in Claim 1. A compound of Claim 1, wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl. A compound of Claim 1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are each independently C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl. A compound of Claim 1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are each methyl. A compound of Claim 1, wherein R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to C 4 -alkyl as defined in Claim 1. A compound of Claim 1, wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; R 3 and R 4 are each independently C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as defined in Claim 1. A compound of Claim 1, wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; R 3 and R 4 are each methyl; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as defined in Claim 1. A compound of Claim 1, wherein p is 0. A compound of Claim 1, wherein p is 1. A compound of Claim 1, wherein p is 0; R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; R 3 and R 4 are each methyl; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as defined in Claim 1. A compound of Claim 1, wherein p is 1; R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen or C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl; R 3 and R 4 are each methyl; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, oxazolyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, alkenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 alkyl groups, carboxamide or a substituted C 1 -to-C 4 -alkyl as defined in Claim 1. A compound of Claim 1, selected from the group consisting of: 2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2-methylpropanamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(methylamino)carbonyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2',4'-bis(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; (Z)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl)[1.1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; (E)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 4-Chloro-N-[[2'-[[(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]phenylacetamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,2,2-trimethylpropanamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)(1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N-methylbenzamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-oxazolyl-5-yl-4'-oxazol-2-yl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N-methylcyclopropanamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2-dimethyl-N-(1-methylethyl)propanamide; N-Cyclopropyl-N-[[2'-[[(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropanamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2-dimethyl-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)propanamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[2-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxazolyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(4-oxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[2-(1-methylethyl)-4-oxazolyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-oxazolylmethyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-[[5-(1-methylethyl)-2-oxazolyl]-methyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-[[4-(1-methylethyl)-2-oxazolyl]-methyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; (E)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(4-methyl-2-pentenyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; (Z)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(4-methyl-2-pentenyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(4-methylpentyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; trans-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[[2-(1-methylethyl)cyclopropyl]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; cis-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2"-[[2-(1-methylethyl)cyclopropyl]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-3''-(1-methylethyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4''-(1-methylethyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(2-methylpropoxy)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[2-(1-methylethoxy)ethyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; and N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[2-[(1-methylethyl)sulfonyl]ethyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide. A compound of Claim 1, selected from the group consisting of: N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-thiazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4,5-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-methyl-4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4-methyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-methyl-2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1 H -pyrazol-1-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-[1-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-1 H -imidazol-2-yl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-[1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-1 H -imidazol-2-yl][1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1-methyl-1 H -imidazol-2-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1 H -imidazol-2-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-methyl-4-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)[1,1'-biphenyl] -2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(3-isoxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolylmethyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-isoxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-hydroxy-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 2-[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]-4-oxazole-carboxamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(formylamino)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[[(methoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1.1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-methyl]-N'-methylurea; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'[[(methylsulfonyl)amino]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]acetamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N-phenylurea; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N'-propylurea; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-methyl]-N-methylacetamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-methyl]benzamide; and N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropanamide. A compound of Claim 1, selected from the group consisting of: N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-thiazolyl) [1,1'-biphenyl] -2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(5-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(4-oxazolyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1 H -pyrazol-1-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(1-methyl-1 H -imidazol-2-yl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-hydroxy-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 2-[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazoyl)amino]-sulfonyl][1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]-4-oxazole-carboxamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(formylamino)methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[[(methoxycarbonyl)amino]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-methyl]-N'-methylurea; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'[[(methylsulfonyl)amino]methyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]acetamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-methyl]-N'-phenylurea; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N'-propylurea; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-methyl]-N-methylacetamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-methyl]benzamide; and N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1.1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropanamide. A compound of Claim 1, selected from the group consisting of: 2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1.1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2-methylpropanamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-[(methylamino)carbonyl]-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2',4'-bis(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; (Z)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; (E)-N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)-2'-(2-phenylethenyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide; 4-Chloro-N-[[2'-[[(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)a mino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]phenylacetamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,2,2-trimethylpropanamide; N-[[2'-[[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]-sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N-methylbenzamide; and N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2'-oxazolyl-5-yl-4'-oxazol-2-yl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide. A compound of Claim 1 which is N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compound of Claim 17 which is N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide. The compound of Claim 17 which is the sodium salt of N-(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4'-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of an endothelin-related disorder comprising a compound of Claim 1 in an amount effective therefor and a physiologically acceptable vehicle or carrier. The pharmaceutical composition of Claim 20 further comprising at least one angiotensin II (All) receptor antagonist, renin inhibitor, angiotensin converting (ACE) inhibitor, or dual neutral endopeptidase (NEP)-ACE inhibitor. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of an endothelin-related disorder comprising a compound of Claim 17 in an amount effective therefor and a physiologically acceptable vehicle or carrier. A compound according to Claim 1 or 17 for use as a therapeutic agent. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating endothelin-related disorders in a mammal. Use according to Claim 24, wherein said compound of Claim 1 is used in combination with at least one angiotensin II (All) receptor antagonist, renin inhibitor, angiotensin converting (ACE) inhibitor, or dual neutral endopeptidase (NEP)-ACE inhibitor. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating hypertension. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating pulmonary hypertension. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating renal, glomerular or mesangial cell disorders. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating endotoxemia. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating ischemia. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for inhibiting cell growth. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating atherosclerosis. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating restenosis. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating subarachnoid hemorrhage. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating benign prostatic hypertrophy. Use of a compound according to Claim 1 for manufacturing a medicament for treating congestive heart failure in a mammal. Use of a compound according to Claim 17 for manufacturing a medicament for treating congestive heart failure in a mammal. Use of a compound according to Claim 17 for manufacturing a medicament for treating hypertension. Use of a compound according to Claim 17 for manufacturing a medicament for treating pulmonary hypertension. Use of a compound according to Claim 17 for manufacturing a medicament for treating primary pulmonary hypertension. Use of a compound according to Claim 17 for manufacturing a medicament for treating benign prostatic hypertrophy. Use of a compound according to Claim 17 for manufacturing a medicament for treating cancer. Use of a compound according to Claim 17 for manufacturing a medicament for treating migraine. Use of a compound according to Claim 17 for manufacturing a medicament for treating renal, glomerular or mesangial cell disorders. Use of a compound according to Claim 17 for manufacturing a medicament for treating asthma.

Inventors: BARRISH JOEL C, MURUGESAN NATESAN, BARRISH, JOEL C., MURUGESAN, NATESAN
Applicants: SQUIBB BRISTOL MYERS CO, BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY
Application year: 1995
Main classification: C07D413
IPC codes: A61P7, A61P1, A61P25, A61P15, A61P17, C07D261, C07D413, C07D275, C07D521, A61K31, A61P35, A61P13, C07D417, A61P9, A61P43, A61P29, A61P3, A61P27, A61P37, A61P11