METALLOPROTEINASE INHIBITORS

Abstract: Compounds of general formula (I) wherein X ia a -CO2H, -NH(OH)CHO or -CONHOH group; R1 is a cylcoalkyl, cycloalkenyl or non-aromatic heterocyclic ring containing up to 3 heteroatoms, any of which may be (i) substituted by one ore more substituents selected from C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, halo, cyano (-CN), -CO2H, -CO2R, -CONH2, -CONHR, -CON(R)2, -OH, -OR, oxo-, -SH, -SR, -NHCOR, and -NHCO2R wherein R is C1-C6 alkyl or benzyl and/or (ii) fused to a cycloalky or heterocyclic ring; and R2, R3. R4 and R5 are as defined in the specification are matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors.

Description: Metalloproteinase Inhibitors The present invention relates to therapeutically active hydroxamic acid. N-formyl-N- hydroxyamino and carboxylic acid derivatives, to processes for their preparation, to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and to the use of such compounds in medicine In particular, the compounds are inhibitors of metalloproteinases involved in tissue degradation, and in addition are inhibitors of the release of tumour necrosis factor from cells. Background to the Invention Compounds which have the property of inhibiting the action of metalloproteinases involved in connective tissue breakdown such as collagenase, stromelysin and gelatinase (known as "matrix metalloproteinases " , and herein referred to as MMPs) are thought to be potentially useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of conditions involving such tissue breakdown, for example rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteopenias such as osteoporosis, peπodontitis, gingivitis, corneal epidermal or gastric ulceration, and tumour metastasis, invasion and growth. MMP inhibitors are also of potential value in the treatment of neuroinflammatory disorders including those involving myelin degradation, for example multiple sclerosis, as well as in the management of angiogenesis dependent diseases, which include arthritic conditions and solid tumour growth as well as psoriasis, proliferative retiπopathies. neovascular glaucoma ocular tumours, angiofibromas and hemaπgiomas. However, the relative contributions of individual MMPs in any of the above disease states is not yet fully understood Metalloproteinases are characterised by the presence in the structure of a zιnc(ll) ionic site at the active site. It is now known that there exists a range of metalloproteinase enzymes that includes fibroblast collagenase (Type 1 ), PMN- collagenase, 72 kDa-gelatmase, 92 kDa-gelatmase, stromelysin, stromelysιn-2 and PUMP-1 (J F Woessner, FASEB J, 1991 , 5. 2145-2154) Many known MMP inhibitors are peptide derivatives, based on naturally occuπng ammo acids, and are analogues of the cleavage site in the collagen molecule Chapman et al (J Med Chem 1993 36, 4293-4301 ) report some general structure/activity findings in a series of N-carboxyalkyl peptides Other known MMP inhibitors are less peptidic in structure, and may more properly be viewed as pseudopeptides or peptide nimetics Such compounds usually have a functional group capable of binding to the 2 inc (II) site in the MMP, and known classes include those in which the zinc binding group is a hydroxamic acid, carboxylic acid sulphydryl, and oxygenated phosphorus (eg phosphinic acid and phosphonamidate including aminophosphonic acid) groups Three known classes of pseudopeptide or peptide mimetic MMP inhibitors have a hydroxamic acid group, N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino or a carboxylic group respectively as their zinc binding groups With a few exceptions, such known MMPs may be represented by the structural formula (I) in which X is the zinc binding hydroxamic acid (-CONHOH), N-formyl-N- hydroxyamino (-NH(OH)CHO) or carboxylic acid (-COOH) group and the groups R. to R 5 are variable in accordance with the specific prior art disclosures of such compounds Examples of patent publications disclosing such structures are given below In such compounds, it is generally understood in the art that variation of the z nc binding group and the substituents R. , R 2 and R 3 can have an appreciable effect on the relative inhibition of the metalloproteinase enzymes The group X interacts with metalloproteinase enzymes by binding to a zιnc(ll) ion in the active site Generally the hydroxamic acid group is preferred over the carboxylic acid group in terms of inhibitory activity against the various metalloproteinase enzymes However, the carboxylic acid group in combination with other substituents can provide selective inhibition of gelatinase (EP-489 577-A) The R, R 2 and R 3 groups are believed to occupy respectively the P1 , P1 and P2' amino acid side chain binding sites for the natural enzyme substrate There is evidence that a larger R. substituent can enhance activity against stromelysin, and that a (C,-C 6 )alkyl group (such as iso¬ butyl) at R 2 may be preferred for activity against collagenase whilst a phenylalkyi group (such as phenylpropyl) at R 2 may provide selectivity for gelatinase over the other metalloproteinases Tumour necrosis factor (herein referred to as "TNF") is a cytokine which is produced initially as a cell-associated 28kD precursor It is released as an active, 17kD form, which can mediate a large number of deleterious effects in vivo When administered to animals or humans it causes inflammation, fever, cardiovascular effects, haemorrhage, coagulation and acute phase responses, similar to those seen during acute infections and shock states Chronic administration can also cause cachexia and anorexia Accumulation of excessive TNF can be lethal There is considerable evidence from animal model studies that blocking the effects of TNF with specific antibodies can be beneficial in acute infections, shock states graft versus host reactions and autoimmune disease TNF is also an autocππe growth factor for some myelomas and lymphomas and can act to inhibit normal haematopoiesis in patients with these tumours Compounds which inhibit the production or action of TNF are therefore thought to be potentially useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of many inflammatory, infectious immunological or malignant diseases These include but are not restricted to, septic shock, haemodynamic shock and sepsis syndrome, post ischaemic reperfusion injury malaria, Crohn's disease, mycobacteπal infection meningitis, psoriasis, congestive heart failure fibrotic disease, cachexia, graft rejection, cancer, autoimmune disease, AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis radiation damage toxicity following administration of immunosuppressive monoclonal antibodies such as OKT3 or CAMPATH-1 and hyperoxic alveolar injury Since excessive TNF production has been noted in several diseases or conditions also characterised by MMP-mediated tissue degradation compounds which inhibit both MMPs and TNF production may have particular advantages in the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases or conditions in which both mechanisms are involved As mentioned above MMP inhibitors have been proposed with hydroxamic acid, N- formyl-N-hydroxyamino or carboxylic acid zinc binding groups The following patent publications disclose such MMP inhibitors US 4599361 (Searle) EP-A-2321081 (ICI) EP-A-0236872 (Roche) EP-A-0274453 (Bellon) WO 90/05716 (British Biotech) WO 90/05719 (British Biotech) WO 91/02716 (British Biotech) WO 92/09563 (Glycomed) US 5183900 (Glycomed) US 5270326 (Glycomed) WO 92/17460 (SB) EP-A-0489577 (Celltech) EP-A-0489579 (Celltech) EP-A-0497192 (Roche) US 5256657 (Sterling) WO 92/13831 (British Biotech) WO 92/22523 (Research Corp) WO 93/09090 (Yamanouchi) WO 93/09097 (Sankyo) WO 93/20047 (British Biotech) WO 93/24449 (Celltech) WO 93/24475 (Celltech) EP-A-0574758 (Roche) EP-A-0575844 (Roche) WO 94/02446 (British Biotech) WO 94/02447 (British Biotech) WO 94/21612 (Otsuka) WO 94/21625 (British Biotech) WO 94/24140 (British Biotech) WO 94/25434 (Celltech) WO 94/25435 (Celltech WO 95/04033 (Celltech) WO 95/04735 (Syntex) WO 95/04715 (Kanebo) WO 95/06031 (Immunex) WO 95/09841 (British Biotech) WO 95/12603 (Syntex) WO 95/19956 (British Biotech) WO 95/19957 (British Biotech) WO 95/19961 (British Biotech) WO 95/19965 (Glycomed) WO 95/22966 (Sanofi Winthrop) WO 95/23790 (SB) Brief Description of the Invention The present invention makes available a novel class of MMP inhibitors of the general structure (I) above with a hydroxamic acid, N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino or carboxylic acid zinc binding group X, principally characterised by the presence of a cycloalkyl cycloalkenyl or non-aromatic heterocyclic group as substituent R, Compounds of the new class have good inhibitory potencies against various MMP enzymes, particularly coliagenases and stromelysins The class includes compounds with appropriate aqueous solubility, pKa, log P and molecular weight for good oral absorption Also within the class are compounds which are effective in inhibiting release of TNF from cells The patent publications listed above relating to hydroxamic and carboxylic acid based MMP inhibitors, disclose MMP inhibitors having a variety of groups R ,, but none suggests or discloses compounds with R, = cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or non- aromatic heterocyclic, nor the inhibitory, physicochemical or pharmacokinetic properties which might be expected of such compounds Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention provides compounds of general formula (I) wherein X is a -C0 2 H, -NH(OH)CHO or -CONHOH group, R, is a cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or non-aromatic heterocyclic ring containing up to 3 heteroatoms, any of which may be (i) substituted by one or more substituents selected from C,-C 6 alkyl C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, halo, cyano ( -CM), - C0 2 H, -C0 2 R, -CONH 2 , -CONHR, -CON(R) 2 , -OH, -OR, oxo-, -SH, -SR , - NHCOR, and -NHC0 2 R wherein R is C,-C 6 alkyl or benzyl and/or (n) fused to a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, R 2 is a C r C 12 alkyl. C 2 -C 12 alkenyl, C 2 -C 12 alkynyl, pheny C.-Cg alkyl)-, heteroaryl(C C 6 alkyl)-, cycloalkyl(C,-C 6 alkyl)-, cycloalkenyl(C r C 6 alky l)-, phenoxy(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-, heteroaryloxy(C 1 -C β alkyl)-, phenyl(C r C 6 alkyl)O(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-, heteroaryl(C r C 6 alkyl)0(C.-C 6 alkyl)-, phenyl(C r C 6 alkyl)S(C r C 6 alkyl)-, or heteroaryl(C r C 6 alkyl)S(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)- group, any one of which may be optionally substituted by C,-C e alkyl C,-C 6 alkoxy, halo cyano (-CN i, phenyl, substituted phenyl or heteroaryl R 3 is the characterising group of a natural or non-natural α ammo acid in which any functional groups may be protected, R 4 is (a) an optionally substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl ring or (b) a heteroaryl ring which may be fused to a benzene or heteroaryl ring, either or both of which rings may be substituted and in which any ring nitrogen atom may be oxidised as an N-oxide, or (c) a group -CHR * R y wherein R * and R y each independently represents an optionally substituted phenyl or heteroaryl ring which may be linked covalently to each other by a bond or by a C,-C 4 alkylene or C 2 -C 4 alkenylene bridge, or (d) a group of formula -(Z-0) n -Z wherein Z is straight or branched C,-C 6 alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more non-adjacent S and/or N atoms, n is an integer > 1 , and no continuous linear sequence of atoms in the group R 4 is >12, or (e) a straight or branched C.-C 6 alkyl group, optionally interrupted by one or more non-adjacent S and/or N atoms, which is substituted by at least two substituents of formula -(Z) p -(OZ) g wherein Z is straight or branched C.-C 6 alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more non-adjacent S and/or N atoms p is 0 or 1 , q is 1 or 2, and no continuous linear sequence of atoms in the group R 4 is >12, or (f) hydrogen, C r C 5 alkyl C r C 4 perfluoroalkyl, or a group D-(C,-C 6 alkyl)- wherein D is hydroxy, C.-C 6 alkoxy, C r C 6 alkylthio, acylamino optionally substituted phenyl or 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, NH 2 , or mono- or dι-(C.-C 6 alkyl)amιno, or R 3 and R 4 taken together represent a divalent chain of formula -C(R a )(R b )-A-Alk- wherein R a and R° are independently hydrogen or C,-C 6 alkyl A is a bond -0-, -S-, -S-S- -NH- or -NR a - wherein R a is C,-C 6 alkyl, and Alk is C.-C 3 alkylene R 5 is hydrogen or a C.-C 6 alkyl group, or a salt hydrate or solvate thereof The term 'cycloalkyl" as used herein means a saturated alicyclic ring having Irom 3- 8 carbon atoms and includes, for example cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, cycloheptyl, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, and cyclopropyl The term 'cycloalkenyl" as used herein means an unsaturated alicyclic ring having from 5-8 carbon atoms and includes, for example, cyclohexenyl, cyclooctenyl, cycloheptenyl and cyclopentenyl The ring may contain more than one double bond The unqualified term "heterocyclic" or "heterocyclyl" as used herein means (i) a 3-8 membered heterocyclic ring containing one or more heteroatoms selected from S N and O and optionally fused to a benzene ring, including for example, pyrrolyl, furyl, thienyl imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrimidinyl morpholinyl, piperazinyl, indolyl benzimidazolyl, maleimido, succmimido, phthalimido, 1 ,2-dιmethyl-3,5-dιoxo-1 ,2,4-tπazoiιdιπ-4-yl, 3-methyl-2,5- dιoxo-1 -ιmιdazolιdιnyl and 3,4,4-tπmethyl-2,5-dιoxo-1 -ιmιdazolιdιnyl, or (n) a naphththalimido (ie 1 ,3-dιhydro-1 ,3-dιoxo-2H-benz[f]ιsoιndol-2-yl), 1 ,3-dιhydro-1 - oxo-2H-benz[f]ιsoιndol-2-yl, 1 ,3-dιhydro-1 ,3-dιoxo-2H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]quιnolιn-2-yl, or 2 3-dιhydro-1 3-dιoxo-1 H-benz[d,e]ιsoquιnolιn-2-yl group The term "non-aromatic heterocyclic ring" means a 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring containing one. two or three heteroatoms selected from S N and O in which at least two adjoining atoms are saturated Examples include morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl dihydrofuranyl tetrahydrothienyl, dihydrothieπyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, dioxolanyl, oxathiolanyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolmyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyraπyl dioxaπyl, dithianyl, oxathianyl, and piperazinyl The term "heteroaryl" means a 5-7 membered aromatic heterocyclic ring containing one or more heteroatoms Illustrative of such rings are thienyl furyl, pyrrolyl imidazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, tπzolyl, thiadiazolyl oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl and triazinyl Unless otherwise specified in the context in which it occurs, the term "substituted" as applied to any moiety herein means substituted with a phenyl group or up to four substituents, each of which independently may be (C 1 -C 6 )aikoxy, hydroxy, mercapto, (C r C 6 )alkylthιo, am o, halo (including fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo), cyano, trifiuoromethyl, nitro, -COOH, -CONH 2 , -CONHR A or -CONR A R A wherein R A is a (C,- C 6 )alkyl group or the residue of a natural alpha-ammo acid The term "side chain of a natural or non-natural alpha-ammo acid" means the group R in a natural or non-natural ammo acid of formula NH 2 -CH(R)-COOH Examples of side chains of natural alpha ammo acids include those of alanine, arginine asparagme, aspartic acid, cysteine, cyst e, glutamic acid, histidine, 5- hydroxylysme, 4-hydroxyprolιne, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, α-aminoadipic acid, α-amino-n-butyπc acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanιne, homoseπne, α- methylseππe ornithme, pipecolic acid, and thyroxme Natural alpha-ammo acids which contain functional substituents, for example ammo, carboxyl hydroxy, mercapto, guanidyl, imidazolyl, or indolyl groups in their characteristic side chains include arginine, lysine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, tryptophan histidine, serine, threonine. tyrosine, and cysteine When R 3 in the compounds of the invention is one of those side chains, the functional substituent may optionally be protected. The term "protected" when used in relation to a functional substituent in a side chain of a natural alpha-ammo acid means a derivative of such a substituent whici is substantially non-functional For example, carboxyl groups may be esterified (for example as a alkyl ester), ammo groups may be converted to amides (for example as a alkyl amide) or carbamates (for example as an NHC(=0)OC,-C 6 alkyl or NHC(=0)OCH 2 Ph carbamate), hydroxyl groups may be converted to ethers (for example an OC r C 5 alkyl or a 0(C,-C 6 alkyl)pheπyl either) or esters (for example a OC(=0)C r C 6 alkyl ester) and thiol groups may be converted to thioethers (for example a tert-butyl or benzyl thioetherj or thioesters (for example a SC(=O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl thioester) Examples of side chains of non-natural alpha ammo acids include those referred to below in the discussion of suitable R 3 groups for use in compounds of the prssent invention Salts of the compounds of the invention include physiologically acceptable acid addition salts for example hydrochloπdes. hydrobromides, sulphates, methane sulphonates. p-toluenesulphonates, phosphates, acetates, citrates, succinates, lactates, tartrates, fumarates and maleates. Salts may also be formed with bases, for example sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium salts. There are several chiral centres in the compounds according to the invention because of the presence of asymmetric carbon atoms. The presence of several asymmetric carbon atoms gives rise to a number of diastereomers with R or 3 stereochemistry at each chiral centre. General formula (I), and (unless specified otherwise) all other formulae in this specification are to be understood to include all such stereoisomers and mixtures (for example racemic mixtures) thereof. In the compounds of the invention, the preferred stereochemistry is in general as follows C atom carrying the R, and X groups - S, C atom carrying the R 2 group - R, C atom carrying the R 3 group - S, but mixtures in which the above configurations predominate are also contemplated. In the compounds of the invention the group R, may be, for example, cyclohexyl. 4- methylcyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, cycloheptyl, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothien-3-yl, 1 , 1 -dioxo-tetrahydrothιen-3-yl, N-acetyl- pιpeπdιn-4-yl, N-methylpιpeπdιn-4-yl or morpholin-4-yl. Particularly preferred at present are the cases where R, is cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cyclopropyl As previously stated, the compounds of the present invention are principally distinguished from the compounds disclosed in the prior patent publications listed above by the identity of the group R Accordingly the groups R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 may include those which have been disclosed in the corresponding positions of compounds disclosed in any of those prior art patent publications listed above Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, examples of substituents R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R E are given below R 2 may for example be 0,-0. 2 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 alkenyl, phenyl(C,-C 6 alkyl)- or phenoxy(C r C 6 alkyl) optionally substituted in the phenyl ring by halogen, C- C 6 alkyl, C r C 5 alkoxy or phenyl. Specific examples of such groups include iso-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, phenylpropyl, 4-chiorophenylpropyl, 4-methylphenylpropyl, 4-methoxypheπylpropyl, 4- phenyl-phenylpropyl and phenoxybutyl. Presently preferred are compounds in which R 2 is iso-butyl, n-octyl, benzyloxypropyl, phenoxybutyl or 4-phenyl- phenylpropyl R 3 may for example be C,-C 6 alkyl, benzyl, 2,- 3-, or 4-hydroxybenzyl, 2,- 3-, or 4-benzyioxybenzyl, 2,- 3-, or 4-C r C 6 alkoxybenzyl, or benzyloxy(C r C s alkyl)- group, or the characterising group of a natural a ammo acid in which any functional group may be protected, any am o group may be acylated and any carboxyl group present may be amidated, or a group -[Alk] n R 6 where Alk is a (C--C 5 )alkyl or (C 2 -C 5 )alkeπyl group optionally interrupted by one or more -O- or -S- atoms or -N(R 7 )- groups [where R, is a hydrogen atom or a (C r C 6 )alkyl group], n is 0 or 1 and R 6 is an optionally substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group, or a benzyl group substituted in the phenyl ring by a group of formula - OCH 2 COR 8 where R 8 is hydroxyl, ammo, (C,-C 6 )alkoxy, phenyl(C,-C 6 )alkoxy (C r C 6 )alkylamιno, dι((C 1 -C 6 )alkyl)amιno, phenyl(C,-C 6 )alkylamιπo, the residue of an ammo acid or acid halide ester or amide derivative thereof said residue being linked via an amide bond said ammo acid being selected from glycine α or β alanine valine, leucine isoleucine, phenylalanine tyrosine tryDtophan serine threonine cysteine methionine asparagme glutamine lysine histidine arginine glutamic acid and aspartic acid or a heterocyclιc(C,-C 6 )alkyl group, either being unsubstituted or mono- _.r di¬ substituted in the heterocyclic ring with halo nitro carboxy (C,-C 6 )alkoxy cyano, (C.-C 6 )alkanoyl, trifiuoromethyl (C C 6 )alkyl hydroxy formyl ammo dι-(C r C 5 )alkylamιno, mercapto (C,-C 6 )alkylthιo hydroxy(C,-C 6 )alkyl, mercapto(C,-C 6 )alkyl or (C,-C 6 )alkylphenylmethyl or a group -CR a R b R c in which each of R a , R b and R c is independently hydrogen, (C r C 6 )alkyl, (C 2 - C s )alkenyl (C 2 -C 6 )alkynyl phenyl(C,-C 6 )alkyl (C 3 -C 3 )cycloalkyl, or R c is hydrogen, (C,-C 6 )alkyl, (C 2 -C 5 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 6 )alkynyl, phenyl(C C 5 )alkyl, or (C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl. and R a and R b together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 3 to 8 membered cycloalkyl or a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic ring, or R 3 , R b and R c together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a tπcyclic ring (for example adamantyl); or R a and R b are each independently (C r C s )alkyl, (C 2 -C 5 )alkenyl, (C 2 - C 6 )alkynyl, phenyl(C,-C 6 )alkyl, or a group as defined for R- below other than hydrogen, or R a and R b together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, and R c is hydrogen, -OH, -SH, halogen, -CN, -C0 2 H, (C 1 -C 4 )perfluoroalkyl, - CH 2 OH, -C0 2 (C r C 6 )alkyl, -0(C r C 5 )alkyl, -0(C 2 -C 6 )alkenyl, -S(C r C 6 )alkyl, -SO(C r C 6 )alkyl, -S0 2 (C,-C 6 ) alkyl, -S(C 2 -C 6 )alkenyl, -SO(C 2 - C 5 )alkenyl, -S0 2 (C 2 -C 6 )alkenyl or a group -Q-W wherein Q represents a bond or -0-, -S-, -SO- or -S0 2 - and W represents a phenyl, phenylalkyi, (C 3 -C 8 )cycioalkyl, (C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkylalkyl, (C 4 - C 8 )cycloalkenyl, (C 4 -C 8 )cycloalkenylalkyl heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl group, which group W may optionally be substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from, hydroxyl, halogen, -CN, - C0 2 H, -C0 2 (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, -CONH 2 , -CONH(C,-C 6 )alkyl, -CONH(C r C 6 alkyl) 2 , -CHO, -CH 2 OH, (C^C perfluoroalkyl, -O C-C alkyl, -S(C r C 6 )alkyl, -SO(C,-C 6 )alkyl, -S0 2 (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl, -N0 2 , -NH 2 , -NH(C 1 - C 6 )alkyl, -N((C r C 6 )alkyl) 2 , -NHCO(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, (C 2 - C 6 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 6 )alkynyl, (C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl, (C 4 -C a )cycloalkenyl, phenyl or benzyl. Examples of particular R 3 groups include benzyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, 1 -fluoro- 1 -methylethyl, 1 -hydroxy-1 -methylethyl, 1 -methoxy-1 -methylethyl, 1 - benzylthιo-1 -methylethyl, 1 -methylthιo-1 -methylethyl and 1 -mercapto-1 - methylethyl Presently preferred are compounds in which R 3 is t-butyl or 1 - mercapto- 1 -methylethyl may for example be cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl cycloheptyl cyclooctyl or adamantyl; optionally substituted phenyl, napthyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyrro nyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyridinyl N-oxides, piperazinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, beπzotπazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, dithianyl, benzo[b]thιenyl, isoxazolyl or qumolmyl. Examples of particular R 4 groups of this type include phenyl, 2- methoxyphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 3,4-dιmethoxyphenyl, 2- fluorophenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 3,4-dιchlorophenyl, 3,5-dιchlorophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 3- bromophenyl, 4-bromophenyl, 2-ιodophenyl, 3-ιodophenyl, 4-ιodophenyl, 2- methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl. 4-methylphenyl, 3 4-dιmethyl 2-t-butybhenyl 3-t-butylphenyl, 4-t-butylphenyl, 4-t-butyl-2.6-dιmethylphenyl 2-nιtrophenyl 3- nitrophenyl, 4-nιtrophenyl, 2-cyanophenyl, 3-cyanophenyl, 4-cyanophenyl, 2- acetylphenyl, 3-acetylpheπyl, 4-acetylphenyl, 2-methylsulphonylphenyl, 3- methylsulphonylpheπyl, 4-methylsulphonylphenyl, 2-tπfluoromethylphenyl, 3- tπfluoromethylphenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, 3.5-dιtπfluoromethylphenyl, 2- aminophenyl, 3-amιnophenyl, 4-amιnophenyl, 2-N,N-dιmethylamιπophenyl, 3- N,N-dιmethyiamιnophenyl, 4-N,N-dιmethylamιπophenyl, 2-hydroxyphenyl, 3- hydroxypheπyl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-napthyl, furan-2-yl. thιen-2-yl, pyrrol-2-yl. tetrahydrofuran-2-yl, ιmιdazol-2-yl, thιazol-2-yl, 4- ethoxycarbonylmethylthιazol-2-yl, 4-pheπylthιazol-2-yl, 4,5-dιmethylthιazol-2- yl, 5-bromothιazol-2-yl, 4-rerf-butylthιazol-2-yl, benzothιazol-2-yl, 1 ,2,4- oxadιazol-5-yl, 3-methyl-1 ,2,4-oxadιazol-5-yl , 3-phenyl-1 ,2,4-oxadιazc l-5-yl 1 ,2,4-oxadιazol-3-yl, 1 ,3,4-oxadιazol-2-yl, 1 2,4-thιadιazol-5-yl, 3-phenyl- 1 ,2,4-thιadιazol-5-yl, 1 ,3,4-thιadιazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-1 ,3,4-thιadιazol-2-yl, pyπdιn-2-yl, pyπdιn-3-yl, pyπdιn-4-yl, N-oxides of pyπdιn-2-yl pyrιdιn-3-yl and pyrιdιn-4-yl, pιperazιn-1 -yl, ιndol-2-yl, benzιmιdazol-2-yl, benzotπazol-2-yl, pyrazιn-2-yl, 1 ,2-pyπdazιn-3-yl, 1 ,3-pyπmιdιπ-5-yl, 1 ,3-dιthιan-2-yl, benzo[bjthιen-2-yl, ιsoxazol-5-yl, quιnolιn-3-yl Presently preferred are compounds in which R 4 is phenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, pyπdιn-2-yl, pyπdιn-3-yl, and thιazol-2-yl, 4,5-dιmethylthιazol-2-yl, 5-bromothιazol-2-yl, 4- ethoxycarbonylmethylthιazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-1 ,3,4-thιadιazol-2-yl or 4- terfbutylthιazol-2-yl Particularly preferred R 4 groups of this type are 3- methoxyphenyl, pyrιdιn-2-yl, pyπdιn-3-yl, thιazol-2-yl 4- ethoxycarbonylmethylthιazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-1 3 4-thιadιazol-2-yl or 4-rert- butylthιazol-2-yl, a group -CHR x R y wherein R x and R y independently represent optionally substituted phenyl, thienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, tπazolyl, thiadiazolyl oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl pyπdazinolyl, pyrimidinyl, piperazinyl or triazinyl Examples of particular R x and R y imclude phenyl and 4-chlorophenyl Where R * and R Ϋ are linked covalently, an example of a group R 4 is 9-H-fluoren-9-yl, a polyether chain possessing at least two non-adjacent oxygen atoms, for example 2-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl, 1 , 1 -dιmethyl-2-(2- methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl 2-(2-(2- methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl, 2-(2-(3-methoxypropoxymethoxy)ethyl, 3-(2- methoxyethoxymethoxy)propyl, 2.2-dιmethyl-3-(2- methoxyethoxymethoxy)propyl, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl, 3-(2- methoxyethoxy)propyl, 2-methyl-2,2-di(2-methoxyethyl)propyl, 2-methyl-2,2- dι(2-methoxyethyl)butyl, and 2-methyl-2,2-di(2-methoxymethyl)propyl A presently preferred R 4 group of this type is 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl, hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n- or iso-propyl, n-, sec- or tert-butyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, 2,2-dιmethyl-3-hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl, methoxypropyl, 2,2-dιmethyl-3-methoxypropyl, 2,2-dιmethyl-3- ethoxypropyl, 2-ethylthιoethyl, 2-acetoxyethyl, N-acetyl-ammoethyl, 3-(2- pyrrolιdone)propyl, optionally substituted phenylethyl eg 2-phenyl-2- methyleth-2-yl, phenylpropyl, phenylbutyl, or phenylpentyl Presently preferred R 4 groups of this type are hydrogen or methyl Where R 3 and R 4 taken together represent a divalent chain of formula -C(R a )(R°)-A- Alk- wherein R a and R° are independently hydrogen or C r C 6 alkyl, A is a bond, -0- - S-, -S-S-, -NH- or -NR a - wherein R a is C r C 6 alkyl, and Alk is C r C 6 alkylene, examples of such divalent chains include -C(CH 3 ) 2 SCH 2 CH CH 2 -, and - C(CH 3 ) 2 SSCH 2 CH 2 - R 5 may for example be hydrogen, methyl or ethyl Presently preferred are compounds in which R 5 is hydrogen An example of a specific compound of the invention which is presently preferred for its activity in inhibiting TNF release from cells and for its activity as a broad spectrum MMP inhibitor, is 2S-cyclopentyl-N 4 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S- (methylcarbamoyl)propyl)]-N 1 -hydroxy-3R-ιsobutylsuccιnamιde, and salts so vates and hydrates thereof Other interesting compounds of the invention include those disclosed in Examples 1 3-17, and 19-33 herein, and their salts hydrates and solvates Compounds according to the present invention in which X is a hydroxamic acid group -CONHOH may be prepared from corresponding compounds of the indention in which X is a carboxylic acid group -COOH or from the corresponding protected hydroxamic acid derivatives That process, which forms another aspect of th e invention, comprises causing an acid of general formula (II) or an activated derivative thereof to react with hydroxylamine, O-protected hydroxylamine. or an N.O-diprotected hydroxylamine, or a salt thereof, R, , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 being as defined in general formula (I) except that any substituents in R. , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 which are potentially reactive with hydroxylamine, O-protected hydroxylamine, the N.O-diprotected hydroxylamine or their salts may themselves be protected from such reaction, then removing any protecting groups from the resultant hydroxamic acid moiety and from any protected substituents in R 1 P R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 Conversion of (II) to an activated derivative such as the peπtafluoropheπyl, hydroxysuccinyi, or hydroxybenzotπazolyl ester may be effected by reaction with the appropriate alcohol in the presence of a dehydrating agent such as dicyclohexyl dicarbodumide (DCC), N.N-dimethylaminopropyl-N'-ethyl carbodiimide (EDC), or 2- ethoxy-1 -ethoxycarbonyl-1 ,2-dιhydroquιnolιne (EEDQ) Protecting groups as referred to above are well known per se, for example from the techniques of peptide chemistry Ammo groups are often protectable by benzyloxycarbonyl, t-butoxycarbonyl or acetyl groups, or in the form of a phthalimido group. Hydroxy groups are often protectable as readily cleavable ethers such as the t-butyl or benzyl ether, or as readily cleavable esters such as the acetate Carboxy groups are often protectable as readily cleavable esters, such as the t-butyl or benzyl ester. Examples of O-protected hydroxylamines for use in method (a) above include O- benzylhydroxylamine, O-4-methoxybenzylhydroxylamιne, O- tπmethylsilylhydroxylamine, and O-tert-butoxycarboπylhydroxyiamine. Examples of 0,N-dιprotected hydroxylamines for use in method (a) above nclude N 0-bιs(benzyl)hydroxylamιne, N 0-bιs(4-methoxybenzyl)hydroxylamιne M-tert- butoxycarboπyl-O-tert-butyldimethylsilylhydroxylamine N-tert-butoxycarboπyl-O- tetrahydropyranylhydroxylamme and N,0-bιs(tert-butoxycarbonyl)hydroxylamιne Compounds according to the present invention in which X is a carboxylic acid group -COOH, ie compounds of formula (II) above, may be prepared by a process comprising coupling an acid of formula (III) or an activated derivative thereof with an amme of formula (IV) (III) (IV) wherein R, R 2 R 3 , R 4) and R 5 are as defined in general formula (I) except that any substituents in R. , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 which are potentially reactive in the coupling reaction may themselves be protected from such reaction and R represents a hydroxy protecting group, and subsequently removing the protecting group R . and any protecting groups from R, R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 Active derivatives of acids (III) include activated esters such as the pentafluorophenyl ester, acid anhydrides and acid halides, eg chlorides Surable hydroxy protecting groups may be selected from those known in the art Am o acid amides of formula (IV) are either known or are prepared by routine known synthetic methods Compounds of formula (III) may be prepared by one or more of the following routes Route 1 By Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of compounds of formula (V) to oroducts (VI) (V) (VI) in which formulae R, and R,, have the meanings ascribed to them in formula (III) and R a - R = are substituents selected so that the partial structure (VII) corresponds to the desired R 2 substituent in compound (III) Claisen rearrangement of allyl enol ethers is useful for stereocontrolled carbon- carbon bond formation (for recent reviews see P Wipf in Comprehensive Organic Synthesis Vol 5 (Eds B M Trost, I Fleming, L A Paquette) Pergamon New York 1991 p 827, S Blechert Synthesis, 1989, 71 , F E Zeigler Chem Rev 1988, 88 1423) Among the available methods for effecting this [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement is the Ireland-Claisen procedure, by which a silyl ketene acetal of an allyl ester can be converted to an α-allyl carboxylic acid A particularly important aspect of the Ireland Claisen rearrangement is that, through efficient control of ketene acetal geometry a highly reliable transfer of stereochemistry from starting material to product can be realised (R E Ireland P Wipf and J D Armstrong J Org Chem 1991 , 56, 650 ibid 56 3572) The rearrangement may be effected in an aprotic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran by first converting the substituted allyl ester (V) to the enol form, for example by treatment with a strong organic base, such as lithium diisopropylamine, followed by silylation of the enol hydroxy group, using a silylatmg agent (eg trimethylsilyl chloride, tπethylsilyl chloride, tπpropylsilyl chloride, tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride, or tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride) The resultant silyl ketene acetal then undergoes the desired rearrangement to produce the readily hydrolysable silyl ester of compound (V) In the foregoing procedure, enolisation and silylation are preferably effected at low temperature, eg -70°C or lower, and the rearrangement may be induced by raising the temperature, eg to about 4°C to 55°C. The allylic double bond of product (VI) of the rearrangement of (V) may be reduced, for example by catalytic hydrogenation, to form compounds (VIA), in which R, and R-. have the meanings ascribed to them in formula (III), and R a - R e are substituents selected so that the partial structure (VIIA) (VIA) (VIIA) corresponds to the desired R 2 substituent in compound (III). This Route 1 to compounds (III) involving rearrangement of compounds (IV) lo (V), possibly followed by reduction of the allylic double bond, represents a novel application of the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement to the synthesis of 2,3-disubstιtuted succinates. Route 2: By Ireland-Claisen rearrangement (as discussed above in relation to Route 1 of compounds of formula (VIII) to products (IX) (VIII) (IX) in which formulae R 2 and R, . have the meanings ascribed to them in formula (III), and R a - R e are substituents selected so that the partial structure (VII) corresponds to the desired R, substituent in compound (III) In this instance, the groups R a and R d are linked to form part of the desired alicyclic or heterocyclic ring, R, Again the double bond in partial structure (VI) of product (IX) may be reduced to form compounds (IXA) in which R. and R,, have the meanings ascribed to them in formula (III), and R a - R e are substituents selected so that the partial structure (VIIA) corresponds to the desired R, substituent in compound (III) This Route 2 to compounds (III) involving rearrangement of compounds (VIII) to (IX), possibly followed by reduction of the allylic double bond, represents a nove application of the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement to the synthesis of 2,3-dιsubstιtuted succinates Route 3 By alkylation of a succinate of formula (X) with an alkylating agent R,-L, or by alkylation of a succinate of formula (XA) with an alkylating agent R 2 -L, where L is a suitable leaving group such as chloride bromide, iodide, triflate or mesylate (X) (XA) wherein R, , R 2 , and R, , are as defined in relation to formula (III) above Succinates of formula (V), (VI), (VIII), (IX), (X) and (XA) insofar as they are not known from the literature can be prepared, in homochiral form if desired, by methods known in the art In the special case where R. is a nitrogen-containing heterocycle linked through a nitrogen atom compounds of formula (III) may be prepared according to Route 1 from a suitably protected aspartic acid derivative (XI) R wherein R,, and R 12 are carboxyl protecting groups, and R 16 and R,- taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form the desired nitrogen containing non-aromatic heterocyclic group R, Compounds of the invention in which X is an N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino group may be prepared by deprotecting an N-protected N-formyl-N-hydroxyamiπo compound of formula (XII) in which R 21 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 are as defined in general formula (I) and R, 3 is a group convertible to a hydroxy group by hydrogenolysis or hydrolysis Benzyl is a preferred R 13 group for removal by hydrogenolysis and tetrahydropyranyl is a preferred group for removal by acid hydrolysis Compounds of formula (XII) may be prepared by a process comprising causing an acid of formula (XIII) or an activated derivative thereof to react with an amme of formula (IV) as defined above wherein R,and R 2 are as defined in general formula (I) except that any substituents in R,and R 2 which are potentially reactive in the coupling reaction may themselves be protected from such reaction, and R, 3 is a group convertible to a hydroxy group by hydrogenolysis or hydrolysis as referred to in connection with formula (XII) above, and optionally removing protecting groups from R, and R 2 , and from R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 Compounds of formula (XIII) may be prepared by N-formylation, for example using acetic anhydride and formic acid of compounds of formula (XIV) wherein R, R 2 and R, 6 are as defined in relation to formula (XII) As mentioned above compounds of formula (I) are useful in human or vetennary medicine since they are active as inhibitors of MMPs, and a further advantage lies in their ability to inhibit the release of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) from cells Accordingly in another aspect, this invention concerns (i) a method of management (by which is meant treatment or prophylaxis) of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs and/or TNF in mammals, in particular in humans, which method comprises administering to the mammal an effective amount of a compound as defined with respect to formula (I) above or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and (II) a compound as defined with respect to formula (I) for use in human or veterinary medicine, particularly in the management (by which is meant treatment or prophylaxis) of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs and/or TNF and (in) the use of a compound as defined with respect to formula (I) in the preparation of an agent for the management (by which is meant treatment or prophylaxis) of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs and/or TNF Diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs include those involving tissue breakdown such as bone resorption inflammatory diseases, dermatological conditions and tumour invasion by secondary metastases, in particular rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis peπodontitis gingivitis, corneal ulceration and tumour invasion by secondary metastases as well as πeuroinflammatory disorders, including those involving myelin degradation, for example multiple sclerosis Diseases or conditions mediated by TNF include inflammation, fever, cardiovascular effects, haemorrhage, coagulation and acute phase response, cachexia and anorexia, acute infections shock states, graft versus host reactions and autoimmune disease In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition comprising a compound of formula (I) together with a pharmaceutically or veteπnaπly acceptable excipient or carrier In view of the water-solubility, and oral bioavailability advantanges of compounds in accordance with the invention, a further aspect of the invention comprises a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition comprising a compound of formula (I) together with a pharmaceutically or veteπnaπly acceptable excipient or carrier, characterised in that the composition is adapted for oral administration. One or more compounds of general formula (I) may be present in the composition together with one or more excipient or carrier The compounds with which the invention is concerned may be prepared for administration by any route consistent with their pharmacokinetic properties The orally administrable compositions may be in the form of tablets, capsules, powders granules lozenges, liquid or gel preparations, such as oral, topical or sterile parenteral solutions or suspensions Tablets and capsules for oral administration may be in unit dose presentation form, and may contain conventional excipients such as binding agents, for example syrup, acacia, gelatin, sorbitol, tragacanth, or polyvinyl-pyrro doπe, fillers for example lactose, sugar maize-starch, calcium phosphate sorbitol or glycine, tabletting lubricant, for example magnesium stearate, talc, polyethylene glycol or silica, dismtegraπts for example potato starch, or acceptable wetting agents such as sodium lauryl sulphate The tablets may be coated according to methods well known in normal pharmaceutical practice Oral liquid preparations may be in the form of, for example, aqueous or oily suspensions. solutions, emulsions, syrups or elixirs, or may be presented as a dry product for reconstitution with water or other suitable vehicle before use Such liquid preparations may contain conventional additives such as suspending agenis for example sorbitol, syrup, methyl cellulose, glucose syrup, gelatin hydrogenated edible fats; emulsifying agents, for example lecithin, sorbitan monooleate cr acacia, non-aqueous vehicles (which may include edible oils), for example almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, oily esters such as glycerine propylene glycol or ethyl alcohol, preservatives, for example methyl or propyl p-hydroxybenzoate or sorbic acid, and if desired conventional flavouring or colouring agents The dosage unit involved in oral administration may contain from about 1 to 250mg, preferably from about 5 to 100mg of a compound of the invention A suitable daily dose for a mammal may vary widely depending on the condition of the patient However, a dose of a compound of general formula I of about 0 1 to 10mg/kg body weight, particularly from about 1 to 3mg/kg body weight may be appropriate For topical application to the skm, the drug may be made up into a cream, Ictioπ or ointment Cream or ointment formulations which may be used for the drug are conventional formulations well known in the art for example as described in standard textbooks of pharmaceutics such as the British Pharmacopoeia For topical application to the eye. the drug may be made up into a solution or suspension in a suitable sterile aqueous or non aqueous vehicle Additives for instance buffers such as sodium metabisulphite os disodium edeate, preservatives including bactericidal and fungicidal agents such as phenyl mercuric acetate or nitrate, benzalkonium chloride or chlorhexidine and thickening agents such as hypromellose may also be included The dosage for topical administration will of course depend on the size of the area being treated For the eyes, each dose may typically be in the range from 10 to 100mg of the drug The active ingredient may also be administered parenterally in a sterile medium Depending on the vehicle and concentration used the drug can either be suspended or dissolved in the vehicle Advantageously, adjuvants such as a local anaesthetic, preservative and buffering agents can be dissolved in the vehicle For use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis the drug can be administered by the oral route or by injection intra-articularly into the affected joint Examples 1 and 3-33 which follow serve to illustrate embodiments of the invention The following abbreviations have been used throughout DIPE Diisopropyl ether DMAP 4-Dιmethyl-amιnopyrιdιne DMF N,N-Dιmethylformamιde EDC N-Ethyl-N'-(3-dιmethylamιnopropyl)carbodιιmιde hydrochloride HOBt 1 -Hydroxybenzotriazole NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance NMM N-methylmorpholine NaHMDS Sodium bιs(tπmethylsιlyl)amιde TESCI Chlorotπethylsilane TFA Trifluoroacetic acid THF Tetrahydrofuran TLC Thin layer chromatography 'H and 13 C NMR spectra were recorded using a Bruker AC 250E spectrometer at 250 1 and 62.9 MHz respectively Elemental microanalyses were performed by either CHN Analysis Ltd Alpha House Countesthorpe Road, South Wigston, Leicester LE8 2PJ, UK, or MEDAC Ltd . Dept of Chemistry, Brunei University, Uxbπdge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK EXAMPLE 1 2S-Cyclopeπtyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5- methylhexanoic acid STEP A 4R-Benzyl-3-cyclopeπtylacetyl-oxazolιdin-2-one Cyclopentyl acetic acid (59 ml, 470 4 mmol) was taken up in dry THF (1 I) and cooled to -78°C under argon Pivaioyl chloride (58 ml, 470 4 mmol) and triethylamine (85 ml 61 1 5 mmol) were added and the reaction mixture stirred for 15 mm at -78°C and then warmed to 0°C and stirred for 40 m before cooling back to - 78°C In a separate flask, 4R-benzyl-oxazolιdιn-2-one (100 g, 564.5 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (1 I) and the solution was cooled to -78°C under argon To this stirred solution was added 2.5 M n-butyllithium in hexanes (226 ml, 565 mmol) After the addition was complete the resulting solution was cannulated into the former reaction flask and the mixture was stirred for a further 15 minutes at -78°C before warming to room temperature and stirring overnight. The reaction was quenched by addition of 1 M potassium hydrogen carbonate solution (600 ml) The solvents were removed under reduced pressure and the residue was extracted into ethyl acetate (x3) The combined ethyl acetate extracts were washed with brine, dried ove' magnesium sulphate and filtered The solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to give a yellow oil which crystallised on standing (139 8 g including residual solvent) Η-NMR, δ (CDCI 3 ) 7 37 - 7 20 (5H, m), 4 69 (1 H m), 4 23 - 4 12 (2H m) 3 30 ( 1 H, dd, J = 13 3, 3 3 Hz), 3 04 ( 1 H, dd J = 16 6 7 1 Hz), 2 91 (1 H, dd J = 16 6, 7 1 Hz), 2 77 (1 H, dd, J = 13 3, 3 3 Hz), 2 34 (1 H, m) 1 94 - 1 83 (2H, m) 1 69 - 1 52 (4H, m) and 1 30 - 1 14 (2H, m) STEP B 4-(4R-Benzyl-2-oxo-oxazolιdιπ-3-yl-3R-cyclopentyl-4-oxo-butyπc acid tert-butyl ester 4R-Benzyl-3-cyclopeπtylacetyl-oxazolιdιn-2-one (Step A) ( 135 g, 469 8 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (2 I) and the solution was cooled to -78°C under argon To this cooled solution was added a 1 0 M solution NaHMDS in THF (705 ml, 705 mmol) The resulting mixture was stirred for a further 1 hour at -78°C, .erf-butyl bromoacetate (1 14 ml, 705 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was then stored in the freezer (-20°C) for 48 hours A saturated solution of ammonium chloπde (500 ml) was added and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure The resulting aqueous residue was extracted into ethyl acetate (x3) The ethyl acetate extracts were combined, washed with brine dried over magnesium sulphate filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a white solid Recrystallisation from ethyl acetate/hexane gave the desired product (98 5 g, 52%) Η-NMR, δ (CDCI 3 ), 7 38 - 7 23 (5H, m), 4 67 (1 H, m), 4 25 (1 H. m) 4 15 - 4 13 (2H, m) 3 38 (1 H dd, J = 13 5, 3 2 Hz), 2 86 (1 H dd, J = 16 8, 1 1 2 Hz), 2 73 (1 H, dd, J = 13 5 1 1 2 Hz), 2 53 (1 H, dd, J=16 8, 3 2 Hz), 2 00 (1 H, m), 1 83 -1 44 (6H, m), 1 42 (9H, s) and 1 41 - 1 17 (2H, m) STEP C 2R-Cyclopentylsuccιnιc acid 1 -benzyl ester 4-terf-butyl ester Benzyl alcohol (40 ml 386 1 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (800 ml) and the solution was placed under argon and cooled to -5°C using a methanol/ice bath To this stirred solution was added 2 5M n-butyllithium in hexanes (1 16 ml, 290 mmol) slowly over a period of 45 minutes, so that the temperature remained below 0°C throughout the addition After the addition was complete, the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 40 minutes at -5°C Separately, a solution of 4-(4R-benzyl-2-oxo- oxazolιdιn-3-yl-3R-cyclopentyl-4-oxo-butyrιc acid tert-butyl ester (Step B) (77 9 g, 193 mmol) in dry THF (400 ml) was placed under argon, cooled to -5°C and cannulated into the former reaction flask and the mixture was stirred for a further 15 minutes at -5°C, before warming to room temperature and stirring overnight The reaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride solution (450 ml), the solvents were removed under reduced pressure and the residue was extracted with ethyl acetate (x2) The combined organic extracts were washed with brine dried over anhydrous magnesium sulphate and filtered The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give a clear oil which was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 20% ethyl acetate in hexane) to give the title compound as a clear oil (40 9 g, 86%) Η-NMR, δ (CDCL), 7 45 - 7 29 (5H, m), 5 19 (2H, m), 2 92 - 2 73 (2H, m), 2 49 (1 H, m), 2.01 (1 H, m), 1 84 - 1 49 (6H, m), 1 41 (9H, s) and 1 38 - 1 19 (2H, m) STEP D 2R-Cyclopentylsuccιnιc acid 1 -benzyl ester 2R-Cyclopentyl-succιnιc acid 1 -benzyl ester 4-tert-butyl ester (Step C) (36 43g, 109 6 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (300 ml) and TFA (200 ml) and the resulting solution was stored at 4°C overnight The solvents were removed u nder reduced pressure and the residue was azeotroped with toluene (x3) to give the product as a brown oil (30 30 g quant) Η-NMR δ (CDCI 3 ) 1 1 50 (1 H br s) 7 45 - 7 29 (5H m) 5 19 (2H m) 2 94 - 2 74 (2H m) 2 60 (1 H m) 2 07 ( 1 H m) 1 84 - 1 52 (6H m) and 1 38 - 1 22 (2H m) STEP E 2R-Cyclopentylsuccιnιc acid 1 -benzyl ester 4-(2-methylallyl) ester 2R-Cyclopeπtylsuccιnιc acid 1 -benzyl ester (Step D) (23 5 g 85 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (200 ml) and EDC (19 5 g, 102 mmol) DMAP (200 mg catalytic) and 2-methyl 2-propen-1 -ol (7 5 ml 89 mmol) were added The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate The organic solution was washed successively with 1 M hydrochloric acid 1 M sodium carbonate and brine then dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered The solvent was removed under reduced pressure to leave an oil which was purified by column chromatography (silica gel 20% ethyl acetate in hexane) to give the title compound as a colourless oil (21 4 g 76%) 'H-NMR δ (CDCI 3 ) 7 36 - 7 27 (5H m) 5 19 - 5 07 (2H m) 4 93 (2H d J = 5 4 Hz) 4 46 (2H s) 2 89 - 2 71 (2H m) 2 58 (1 H m) 2 03 (1 H m) 1 73 (3H s) 1 64 - 1 49 (6H m) 1 36 - 1 16 (2H m) STEP F 2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-(2-methy!allyl)succιnιc acid 4-benzyl ester Diisopropylamine (29 3 ml 209 mmol) was taken up in dry THF (700 ml) and cooled to -78°C under argon before addition of a 2 3 M solution of butyllithium in hexanes (83 3 ml 192 mmol) The reaction was allowed to warm briefly to -30°C and then cooled back to -78°C 2R-Cyclopentylsuccιnιc acid 1 -benzyl ester 4-(2-methylallyl) ester (Step E) (57 54 g 174 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred for 45 minutes TESCI (32.2 ml, 192 mmol) was added and after stirring for a further 30 minutes at -78°C, the reaction mixture was warmed to 55°C and 'Stirred overnight The reaction was quenched by addition of 1 M hydrochloric acid in methanol and the solvents were removed under reduced pressure The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed successively with 1 M hydrochloric acid and brine, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a brown oil Purification by column chromatography (silica gel, 10% methanol in dichloromethane) afforded the title compound as a yellow oil (24 74 g, 43%) ' H-NMR, δ (CDCI 3 ), 7 36 (5H, m), 5 12 (2H, m), 4 71 (2H, d, J = 1 1 2 Hz), 2 94 (1 H m), 2 74 (1 H, dd, J = 8 3, 8 4 Hz), 2 33 (1 H m), 2 14 (2H, m), 1 89 - 1 45 (6H br m), 1 68 (3H, s) and 1 28 (2H, br m) STEP G 2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyi]-5-methyl- hex-5-enoιc acid benzyl ester 2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-(2-methylallyl)succιnιc acid 4-benzyl ester (Step F) (38 2 g, 1 15 6 mmol) was dissolved in ethyl acetate (1 I) and to the solution were added EDC (24 4 g 127 1 mmol) and HOBt (17 18g, 127 mmol) The mixture was heated to reflux under an argon blanket for 2 hours before allowing to cool to room temperature The organic solution was washed successively with 1 M hydrochloric acid and 1 M sodium carbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered To the filtrate was added er -leucme N-methyiamide (18 3 g, 127 1 mmol) and the mixture was stirred and heated at reflux overnight under a blanket of argon After cooling to room temperature the reaction mixture was washed with 1 M hydrochloric acid and 1 M sodium carbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to give the desired product as a brown oil (45 1 g, 85%) 'H-NMR, δ (CDCI 3 ) 7 35 (5H, s), 6 68 (1 H, m), 6 56 (1 H, d, J = 9 2 Hz) 5 1 1 (2H, m), 4 60 (2H, d J = 21 Hz), 4 32 (1 H, d, J = 9 2 Hz), 2 75 (3H, d, J = 4 7 Hz), 2.31 (1 H, m) 2 09 ( 1 H m), 1 40 - 1 81 (10H, br m) 1 62 (3H s), 1 23 (1 H, m) and 0 97 (9H, s) STEP H 2S-Cyclopeπtyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyi)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl- hexanoic acid 2S-Cyclopentyl-3S-(2,2-dιmethyl-1 -methylcarbamoyipropylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-hex- 5-enoιc acid benzyl ester (Step G) (47 4 g, 103 7 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (1 I) and the solution was placed under a blanket of argon 10% Palladium on charcoal (0 34 g) was added and a fine stream of hydrogen gas was passed through the suspension for 15 minutes and the solution was left under an atmosphere of hydrogen gas overnight with stirring TLC showed that all the starting material had been consumed The system was purged with argon and the catalyst was removed by filtration Solvent was evaporated to give the desired product as a white foam (36 g, 94%) Η-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 7 94 (1 H, d, J = 4 6 Hz), 7 81 (1 H, d, J = 9 2 Hz), 4 19 (1 H, d, J = 9 2 Hz), 2 71 (1 H, m), 0 89 (9H, s), 2 60 (3H, d, J = 4 6 Hz), 2 51 (1 H dd J = 5 9, 6 0 Hz), 1 91 (1 H, m), 1 15 - 1 80 (1 1 H, br m), 0 79 (3H, d, J = 6 5 Hz) and 0 72 (3H, d J = 6 5 Hz) The compounds of Examples 3 to 17 were prepared by analogy with Example 1 starting from the appropriate cycloalkyl- or heterocyclylacetic acid and using the appropπate tert- leucine amide Where the desired cycloalkyl- or heterocyclylacetic acids are not commercially available they were prepared by analogy with the method described below in Intermediate example 2 for (4- e/ -butylcyclohexyl)acetιc acid, which was used in the preparation of Example 13 INTERMEDIATE EXAMPLE 2 4-tert-Butylcyclohexylacetιc acid STEP A- (4-.ert-Butylcyclohexylidene)acetιc acid methyl ester 4-tert-Butylcyclohexaπone (8.62g, 56mmol) was dissolved in toluene (200ml i. Methoxycarbonylmethylenetπphenylphosphorane (56.1g, 168mmol) was added with stirring and the reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 3 days The solvent was removed in vacuo The residue was dissolved in hot hexanes (100ml) and cooled to room temperature The precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated in vacuo to afford a yellow oil which was then purified by chromatography (silica gel, hexane/ethyl acetate. 2.1 as eluant) to give the title compound as an oil ( 10.78g, 92%) 1 H-NMR, δ(CDCI 3 ) 5.60 (1 H, s), 3.87 (1 H, m), 3.69 (3H, s), 2.38 - 2.10 (2H, m), 2.03 - 1 77 (3H, m), 1 .36 - 1 02 (3H, m) and 0 87 (9H, s). STEP B (4-rerϊ-Butylcyclohexyl)acetιc acid methyl ester (4-fert-Butylcyclohexylιdene)acetιc acid methyl ester (10.78g, 51 .3mmol) was dissolved in methanol (50ml) Palladium hydroxide on carbon (1 Og) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature under an atmosphere of hydrogen overnight The catalyst was then removed by filtration through celite and the filtrate was evaporated in vacuo to a clear oil (9 81 g, 91 %) ' H-NMR δ(CDCI 3 ) (as a mixture of cis-trans isomers), 3 67 (3H, s), 2 38 (1 H, d, J = 8 Hz), 2 18 (1 H, d, 7 Hz) 1 85 - 1 44 (5H m), 1 20 - 0 89 ( 5H, m) and 0 86 (9H s) STEP C (4-rerf-Butylcyclohexyl)acetιc acid (4-.err-Butylcyclohexyl)acetιc acid methyl ester (9 81 g 46 5mmol) was dissolved in methanol 950ml) and cooled on an ice bath 2M Sodium hydroxide solution (50ml, l OOmmol) was added with stirring When addition was complete the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and was stirred overnight The methanol was evaporated in vacuo and the remaining aqueous phase was acidified to pH1 with 1 M hydrochloric acid The aqueous phase was then extracted with ethyl acetate(3x) The organic extracts were combined, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to give a white solid (8 66g, 94%) ' H-NMR δ CDCU) (as a mixture of cis-trans isomers) 2 43 (0 1 H d J = 8Hz) 2 24 (0 9H d J = 7 Hz) 1 92 - 1 47 (5H, m) 1 18 - 0 90 (5H m) and 0 87 (9H s) EXAMPLE 3 2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5- methylhexanoic acid H-NMR δ (CD 3 OD) 818 (1H, m), 796 (1H, m), 766 (1H, m) 700 (1H m), 441 (1H s), 280-271 (1H, m), 249(1H m), 190 (1H, m), 171 - 1 19 (10H m) 106 (1H m) 099 (9H, s), 080 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) and 068 (3H r d J = 65 Hz) '3 C-NMR δ(CD 3 OD) 1776 1772, 1716, 1527, 1491, 1394 121 1 1156, 631 541 477 423 422 353, 319, 297 272, 271 258, 244 and 220 IR v max (KBr) 3293 3057,2871, 1709 1648 1578, 1535, 1467 1434, 1368 1297 1224 1183 777 cm 1 Found C 6634%, H 868%, N 943%, C 24 H 37 N 3 0 4 requires C 6679%, H 864% N 974%, O 1483% EXAMPLE 4 2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1S-(thιazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5- methylhexanoic acid Η-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD, 41 mixture of diastereoisomers), 738 (02H, d J = 37 Hz), 734 (08H d J = 35 Hz), 708 (02H, d, J = 36 Hz), 700 (08H, d, J = 35 Hz), 444 (08H s), 442 (02H, s), 275 (1H, m), 247 (1H, dd, J = 64 66 Hz), 191 - 109 (11H brm), 102(18H s), 097 (72H, s), 087(1H, m), 078 (3H, d, J = 63 Hz) and 066(3H d J = 65 Hz) 13 C-NMR δ (CD 3 OD), 1773, 1707 1595 1384, 1147, 624 541 475 422 352, 347 319 298, 271 270, 261 , 244 and 219 EXAMPLE 5 2S-Cyclopeπtyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1S-dιmethylcarbamoylproρylcarbamoyl)-5- methylhexanoic acid Η-NMR, δ(CDCI 3 ), 786 (1H, m), 508 (1H, d, J = 97 Hz), 319 (3H s), 296 (3H, s), 28-27(2H, m), 197 (1H, m), 195 - 140(11H, m), 098 (9H, s), 084 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) and 081 (3H, d, J = 65 Hz) EXAMPLE 6 3R-[1S-(Adamantan-1-ylcarbamoyl)-2,2-dιmethylpropylcarbamoyl]-2S-cyclopentyl-5- methylhexanoic acid Η-NMR δ(CD 3 OD), 758(1H, d, J = 93 Hz), 730(1H brs) 412(1H d, J = 94Hz), 69 (1H dt J = 32 and 107 Hz), 250 (1H dd J = 59 and 102 Hz), 20- 12 (27H, m), 09 (9H, s), 0.80 (3H, d, J = 6.4 Hz) and 0.74 (3H, d, J = 66 Hz). EXAMPLE 7 2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1S-(1 -methyl- 1-pheπylethylcarbamoyl) propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoιc acid Η-NMR δ(CDCI 3 ), 7.4 - 7.2 (6H, m), 6.45 (1H, br s), 4.31 (1H, d, J = 9.5 Hz), 2.80 2.65 (2H, m), 1.97 (1H, m), 1.95- 1.30 (17H, m), 0.99 (9H, s), 0.85 (3H, d, J = 6.5 Hz) and 078 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz). EXAMPLE 8 2S-Cyclohexyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5- methylhexanoic acid H-NMR. δ(CD 3 OD), 7.95 (1H, m), 7.81 (1H, brd, J = 9.2 Hz), 4.21(1H, m), 2.81 (1H, dt. J = 32 and 11.0 Hz).2.60 (3H, m), 2.38 (1H, dd. J = 38 and 109 Hz), 1.86 (1H. m), 177 - 095 (13H, m), 091 (9H,s), 080 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) and 071 (3H. d. J = 65 Hz) EXAMPLE 9 2S-Cyclohexyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5- methylhexanoic acid Η-NMR, δ(CDCI 3 ), 10.32 (1H, brs), 846 (1H, d, J = 8.7 Hz), 8.16 (1H, m), 7.83 (1H. m), 766 (1H, m), 715 (1H, m), 478 (1H, d, J = 108 Hz), 3.01 (1H, m), 277 (1H, m), 2.03 (1H, m), 182 - 151 (10H. m), 136 - 121 (3H, m), 1 12 (9H, s), 0.77 (3H. d J = 64 Hz) and 072 (3H. d, J = 64 Hz) 13 C-NMR, δ (CDCI 3 ), 181.3 172.7 1692.151.3, 145.3.140.2, 1198, 1150, 62.8, 54.0, 46.9, 42.0, 376.34.5, 324, 28.6.27.0.26.4, 26.3.26.2, 23.9 and 22.5. IRv^ ax ( KBr) 3299, 2929, 2853.1703, 1674 1578, 1531, 1484 1368, 1297, 1231, 1170, 777 cm 1 Found: C 66.10%, H 879%. N 8.81%. C 25 H 39 N 3 O 4 .05H,0 requires C 66.05%, H 8.87%, N 9.24%. EXAMPLE 10 2S-Cyclopropyl-3R-(1S-2.2-dιmethyl-1-methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)-5- methylhexanoic acid The title compound was used directly in Example 26 without characterisation EXAMPLE 1 1 3R-[2 2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methyicarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(4- methylcyclohexyl)hexaπoιc acid 1 H-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 4 21 (1 H, s), 2 81 (1 H, m), 2 59 (3H s), 2 45 (1 H m), 1 81 - 1 23 (12H m), 1 08 (1 H, m), 0 91 (9H, s), 0 81 (6H, m) and 0 71 (3H, m) 13 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 179 5 179 1 , 175 5 64 5 57 9, 46 4 45 2, 44 9 41 9, 41 7, 39 2 38 9, 37 7, 36 3 35 9 35 5, 35 2, 31 2, 26 8, 25 9, 24 5 and 20 6 IR v max (KBr) 3287 2926 2855, 1712 1635, 1553, 1464, 1370, 1247 cm 1 EXAMPLE 12 3R-[2.2-dιmethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(4- methylcyclohexyl)hexanoιc acid Η-NMR δ(CD 3 OD) 818 (1H. m) 796(1H,d J = 83 Hz) 766(1H m) 70O .1H, m), 449 (1H s), 284 (1H, m), 247(1H, m), 181 - 128 (12H, brm) 099 (9H, s), 080 (6H, t, J = 66 Hz), 075 (1H, m) and 066 (3H, d, J = 65 Hz) 13 C-NMR, δ (CD j OD), 1797 1794, 1739, 1551, 1515, 1416, 1235, 1181,651, 577,464, 450 419, 379, 363, 354, 313, 301, 268, 261, 244 and 206 IR v max (KBr) 3290 2956, 2926, 1706 1662, 1635, 1576, 1533, 1419, 1369,1298 cm 1 EXAMPLE 13 2S-(4-er.-Butylcyclohexyl)-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl] -5-methylhexanoιc acid 'H-NMR, δ(CD 3 OD, mixture of cyclohexyl cis-trans isomers) 4 20 (0 3H, s), 4 07 (0 7H, s), 2.60 (3H, s), 2.50 (1 H, dd, J = 6 9, 10 1 Hz), 2 40 (1 H, 2 overlapping dt's), 1 80 - 1 41 (12H, m) 0 95 (3H, s), 0 92 (6H, s), 0 80 (1 H, m), 0 78 (6H, s), 0 76 (6H m) and 0 75 (3H, s) EXAMPLE 14 3-[2,2-Dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S- (tetrahydrothιophen-3-yl)hexanoιc acid The title compound was used directly in Example 30 without characterisation EXAMPLE 15 2S-Cyclobutyl-3R-(2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)-5- methylhexanoic acid 'H-NMR, δ(CD 3 OD, major diastereoisomer), 787 (1H, m), 769 (1H, m), 405 (1H, s), 260 - 253 (4H, m), 244 (1H, m), 185 - 125 (9H m), 1 10 - 087 (10H m), 079 (3H d, J = 64 Hz) and 072 (3H, d, J = 66 Hz) EXAMPLE 16 3R-[2,2-Dιmethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(1 -methyl pιperιdιn-4-yl)hexanoιc acid Off-white solid mp 165- 168°C 'H-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD) 416(11-1 s) 344-334 (2H, m), 270-249 (9H, m), 2.38 (1H, dd, J = 11 1, 33 Hz) 195 - 107 (7H m), 099 - 087 (10H, m), 082 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) and 072 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) 13 C-NMR δ (CD 3 OD), 1813, 1795, 1754, 647, 591, 580, 488 457 456 377 374 329, 298, 296.284, 269 and 245 EXAMPLE 17 2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-(2.2-dιmethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)undecanoιc acid The title compound was prepared from decanoic acid, by analogy with Example 1, using (S)-phenylmethyl-2-oxazolidιnone in Step A and 2-cyclopenten-1-ol in step E 'H-NMR; δ (CD 3 OD), 784 (1H, d, J = 93 Hz), 415 (1H, d, J = 9.2 Hz), 2.60 (3H, s), 2.59 (1H, m), 190 (1H, m), 175 - 130 (9H, br m), 1.15 (14H, br m), 0.89 (9H, s) and 078 (3H, t, J = 65 Hz). 13 C-NMR; δ (CD 3 OD), 179.8, 179.3, 1756.646, 554, 446, 375, 356, 35.5, 342.33.1, 33.0.32.7, 31.6, 307,29.6,284,28.2, 261 and 16.9 IR; v max (KBr); 3292,2958,2857, 1705, 1635, 1545, 1467, 1397, 1368, 1189 cm '1 EXAMPLE 18 2S-Cyclopentyl-N d -[2.2-dιmethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N'-hydroxy-3R isobutylsuccmamide To a cooled solution of 2S-cyclopentyl-3S-[2,2-dιmethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl carbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoιc acid (Example 1) (1745 g, 475 mmol) in DMF (180 ml) was added HOBt (77 g, 56.9 mmol) and EDC (109 g, 56.9 mmol) The mixture was stirred at 0°C for 1 hour then at room temperature for 2 hours to ensure complete formation of the active ester The solution was cooled back to 0°C and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (4 95 g, 71 2 mmol) was added, followed by NMM (7 83 ml, 71 .2 mmol) and the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature then stirred overnight The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was partitioned between diethyl ether and water The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration and slurried in ethyl acetate. The mixture was heated at reflux for 1 hour and then cooled to room temperature and the white solid was collected by filtration Recrystallisation from methanol-DIPE afforded the title compound as a white solid (6 1 g, 35%, 12 1 mixture diastereomers) m.p. 220°C (decomp). Η-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD, major diastereoisomer), 7.82 (1 H, d. J = 8.9 Hz), 4 13 (1 H, m), 2.71 (1 H, ddd, J = 10.8, 3.4, 3 4 Hz), 2.59 (3H, s), 2.17 (1 H, dd, J = 10 4, 6.0 Hz), 1 .80 (1 H, m), 1 .67 - 1.25 (8H, m), 1 16 - 0.99 (3H. m), 0.91 (9H, s), 0.80 (3H, d, J = 6 4 Hz) and 0.72 (3H, d, J = 6.4 Hz) 13 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 177.1 , 173.1 , 172.5, 62.6, 50.9, 47.6, 42.7, 42.5, 35 0, 32.0, 29.6, 27.3, 27.0, 26.0, 25.6, 24.5. 22.0 IR. v-- ax (KBr); 3376, 3294, 2957 1630, 1542, 1466, 1368 cm ' 1 Found: C 62.58%. H 9 78%, N 10 95%, C 20 H 37 N 3 O 4 requires C 62.63%, H 9 72%, N 10.96% The following compounds were similarly prepared from the appropriate carboxylic acids (Examples 3 - 17). EXAMPLE19 2S-Cyclopeπtyl-N ,l -[2,2-dimethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propyl]-N'-hydroxy-3R- isobutyl-succiπamide 'H-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 818 (1H, m), 796 (1H m), 766 (1H, m), 700 (1H, mi 439 (1H, s), 280 (1H, m), 217 (1H, m), 185 (1H m), 168 - 133 (9H, m), 1 10 - 092 (11 H, m), 080 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) and 066 (3H, d, J = 65 Hz) 13 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD) 1798, 1750, 1739, 1551, 1515 1418, 1234 1180,658, 535,498, 453, 449, 376 345, 323, 296 292, 280, 279, 269 and 243 IR v max (KBr) 3263, 2958, 2871, 1651, 1579, 1519, 1470 1438, 1368, 1298, 1150, 1002 and 779 cm ' Found C 6365%, H 831%, N 1173%, C 24 H 38 N 4 0 4 requires C 6455%, H 858%, N 1255%, O 1433% EXAMPLE 20 2S-Cyclopentyl-N 4 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1S-(thιazol-2-yl)carbamoylpropyl]-N'-hydro>y-3R- isobutylsuccinamide 'H-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 733 (1H, d, J = 36Hz ), 700 (1H, d, J = 37Hz ), 441 (1H, s), 275.1H, m), 214 (1H, dd, J = 64, 65Hz ), 191-134(11H, m), 097 (9H, s), 086(1H, m), 078(3H, d, J = 64Hz ), and 064 (3H, d J = 64Hz ) 13 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 1776, 1726 1706, 1384, 1146,627, 512, 472,429,424, 350, 320, 301 270 268 256, 244 and 219 EXAMPLE 21 2S-Cyclopentyl-N 4 -(1S-dιmethylcarbamoyl-22-dιmethylpropyl) -N'-hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccmamide 'H-NMR δ ((CD 3 ) 2 SO), 1039 (1H, d, J = 17 Hz), 867 (1H, d, J = 18 Hz) 784 (1H, d, J = 88 Hz), 472 (1H, d, J = 88 Hz), 307 (3H, s), 279 (3H, s), 277 (1H, m), 218 (1H, dd, J = 53, 103 Hz), 189 - 121 (11H, m), 104 (1H, m), 094 (9H, s), 080 (3H, d, J = 64Hz)and072(3H d, J = 64 Hz) 13 C-NMR δ (DMSO), 1793, 1758, 1744 591 536 502 460, 427 401, 393 354 329, 315, 303 293 291 and 271 IR v max (KBr) 3274 2956 1626 1507 cm ' Found C 6327% H 1006% N 1060% C 2 ,H 39 N 3 0 4 requires C 6345% H 989% N 1057% EXAMPLE 22 N -[1S-(Adamantan-1-ylcarbamoyl)-2,2-dιmethylpropyl]-2S-cyclopentyl-N'-hydroxy- 3R-ιsobutylsuccιπamιde Η-NMR, δ((CD 3 ) 2 SO), 1039(1H s), 869(1H s), 762(1H d, J = 93 Hz) 723 (1H s) 418(1H d J = 95 Hz), 273 (1H m), 222(1H dd J = 51 105 Hz), 205 1 13 (22H, m) 1 19 - 093 (5H m), 090 (9H, s), 083 (3H, d J = 63 Hz) and 075 (3H d, J = 70 Hz) 13 C-NMR δ (DMSO), 1789 1743, 655 559 533, 508, 462 459 41 1 367 354, 339, 327, 318, 304, 293 and 270 IR v max (KBr) Ξ275 2948 1678 1522 1367 cm' Found C 6725%, H 999% N 811 % C 29 H 49 N 3 0 4 08H 2 0 requires C 6722% H 984% N 811% EXAMPLE 23 2S-Cyclopentyl-N 4 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1S-(1-methyl-1-phenylethylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N'- hydroxy-3R-ιsobutylsuccιπamιde 'H-NMR δ (CD j OD), 806 (1H, s), 766 (1H, d, J = 92 Hz), 730 - 700 (5H, m), 423 (1H, d J = 90 Hz), 269 (1H, m), 217 (1H, dd, J = 57, 105 Hz), 193 - 122 (10H, m), 158 (3H, s), 146 (3H, s), 120 - 088 (2H, m) 093 (9H s), 073 (3H, d, J = 65 Hz) and 072 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) 13 C-NMR δ (CD 3 OD), 1794, 1747 1738 1506 1315 1296, 1284 648, 594 593, 532 496,451,449, 376 435, 330, 318 31 1 298.292, 279 272 and 241 IR v max (KBr) 3317, 2961, 1643 1519 cm 1 Found C 6860%, H 943%, N 846%, C 28 H 45 N 3 0 4 02H 2 0 requires C 6845%, H 931% N855% EXAMPLE 24 2S-Cyclohexyl-N 4 -[22-dιmethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl] -N'-hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccinamide White solid m p 230°C (dec ) Η-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 786 (1H, m), 418 (1H, d, J = 92 Hz), 279(1H, m), 2.60 (3H, d, J = 45 Hz), 205 (1H, dd, J = 108, 37 Hz), 187 (1H, m), 163 - 131 (6H, m), 114 - 100 (7H, m), 092 (9H, s), 080 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) and 071 (3H, d J = 64 Hz) ' 3 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 1792, 1754 1741, 646, 555 478 460, 450 423, 376, 362 315 304 303 299, 297 294, 264 267 and 244 IR (KBr) v max 3292, 2931 2854, 1637, 1559, 1513, 1466 1460, 1413, 1387 1368 1257 1195 and 1012 cm ' EXAMPLE 25 2S-Cyclohexyl-N 4 -[2.2-dιmethyl-1S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N'-hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccmamide 'H-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 8.19 (1H, m), 797 (1H, d, J = 83 Hz), 766 (1H, m), " ' 01 (1H, m), 448 (1H, s), 2.84 (1H, m), 2.08 (1H, dd, J = 109, 3.8 Hz), 189 (1H, mj 163 - 125 (8H, m), 108 - 094 (14H. m), 079 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) and 065 (3H, d J = 64 Hz) 13 C-NMR. δ (CD 3 OD), 1795, 1742, 1738, 1551, 1515, 1418, 123.5 1181, 652, 555, 477, 451, 42.4, 379, 36.2, 316, 304, 303, 299, 297, 294, 269 and 244 IR v max (KBr) 3322, 2927, 2852, 1657, 1578, 1516, 1434, 1368, 1297, 1216, 1194, 1173, 1151, 1012, 884, 779 cm ! Found. C 6504%, H 894%, N 1194% , C 25 H 40 N 4 O 4 requires C 64.93%, H 876%, N 12.12% EXAMPLE 26 2S-Cyclopropyl-N 4 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N'-hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccinamide White solid, m p. 200°C (dec ) Η-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 4 07, (1 H, s), 2 79 (1 H m), 2 60 (3H, s), 1 61 (1 H, m), 1.43 - 1 26 (3H, m), 0 93 (9H, s), 0 80 (3H, d, J = 6 5 Hz), 0 72 (3H. d, J = 6.5 Hz), 0 35 (1 H, m), 0.25 (2H, m) and 0.06 (2H, m) 13 C-IMMR. δ (CD 3 OD), 178.9, 175.6, 65.4, 54.7, 44 6, 37 1 , 29 7, 29 4, 26.6, 26 4, 24 3, " 5 8, 9 4 and 5 3 IR (KBr) v max 3286, 2957, 2873, 1634, 1538, 1464, 1398, 1368, 1260, 1 164 and 1022 cm 1 EXAMPLE 27 N'-[2.2-Dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N 4 -hydroxy-2S-ιsobutyl-3R-(4- methylcyclohexyl)succιnamιde ' H-NMR, δ ((CD 3 ) 2 SO), 10.33 (1 H, s), 8.68 (1 H, br s), 7 78 (2H, m), 4 21 (1 H, d, J 8 9 Hz), 2 84 (2H, m), 2 54 (3H, d, J = 4 4 Hz), 1 87 - 1 60 (3H, m), 1 32 (9H, m), 0 95 (1 H, m), 0 91 (9H s), 0 81 (6H, m) and 0 72 (3H, d, J = 6 2 Hz) 13 C-NMR, δ ((CD,),SO), 178 9, 178 8 175 5, 173 9 173 8, 65 2 55 4 48 6, 40 3 38 9 38.8, 37 3 36 9, 36 5, 31 9, 31 8 30 3, 29 0, 27 8, 26 9 and 22 6 IR v max (KBr) 3299 2955 1640, 1530 1466 1369 cm ' EXAMPLE 28 N'-[2.2-Dιmethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N 4 -hydroxy-2S-ιsobutyl-3R-(4- methylcyclohexylsuccmamide Η-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 8.19 (1H, m), 796 (1H, d, J = 8.4 Hz), 769 (1H, m), 700 (1H, m), 449 (1H, m), 2.85 (1H, m), 2.22 (1H, m), 1.69- 115 (12H, brm) 099 (9H, s), 079 (6H, m), 072 (1H. m) and 0.66 (3H, m) 13 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 179.6.1737. 1551, 151.5, 1416, 123.5, 1161, 65.4, 55.2, 480, 451, 419, 39.1, 37.6, 35.9, 35.2, 313, 29.7, 26.9, 26.0, 244, 207 and 168 IR.v max (KBr), 3269.2956, 2870, 1653, 1579, 1521, 1465, 1436, 1369, 1297 cm ' EXAMPLE 29 2S-(4-.e ?-Butylcyclohexyl)-N 4 -(2,2-Dιmethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N'-hydroxy- 3R-ιsobutylsuccιnamιde 'H-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 4.19 (0.85H, s), 4.06 (0.15H, s), 2.79 (1 H, m), 2.59 (3H, s), 2.39 (1 H, dd. J = 3.7, 4 1 Hz), 1 94 - 0.92 (12H, br m), 0.91 (7.7H, s), 0.88 (1.3H, s), 0 84 (1 H, m), 0 79 (3H, d, J = 6.5 Hz) and 0.72 (12H, m). 13 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 176 9, 176 7, 173.0, 62.1 , 55.5, 52.7, 46 1 , 45.6, 42.6, 41.3, 40.0, 39 7, 35.3 34.0, 33.1 , 31.9. 29.2, 28.8, 28.5, 28.4, 27.9, 27 3, 25.9, 24 4 and 22.0. EXAMPLE 30 N '-(2.2-Dimethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N -hydroxy-2-ιsobutyl-3S- (tetrahydrothιophen-2-yl)succιnamιde Η-NMR δ (CD 3 OD), 4 17 (1 H, d, J = 9.0 Hz), 2.59 (3H, s), 2.83 (1 H, m), 2.77 - 2.02 (4H, br m), 1 .70 - 0.94 (7H, br m), 0.90 (9H, s), 0.80 (3H, d, J = 6.2 Hz) and 0.71 (3H, d, J = 6.2 Hz). 13 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD, major diastereoisomer), 179.0, 175.3, 175.0, 64.9, 49.2, 49.9, 38.6, 37 6, 37.4, 36 1 , 34.6, 33.2, 32.6, 29.7, 28.4, 26.9 and 24 4 IR, v max (KBr), 3315, 2958, 1732, 1644, 1520, 1456, 1368. 1 160 cm 1 m/e (+FAB) 424 22 ([M+Na] * ), 402.24 ([M+H] * ) EXAMPLE 31 2S-Cyc!obutyl-N -(2.2-dιmethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N 1 -hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccinamide m p 245°C (dec ) Η-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 399 (1H, s), 261 - 251 (4H, m), 209 (1H dd J = 103, 86 Hz), 185 - 157 (7H, m) 143 - 129 (2H, m), 101 - 088 (10H, m), 078 (3H, d, J = 65 Hz) and 071 (3H, d J = 65 Hz) 13 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 1791 1755 1746, 655, 554 490, 448, 408, 371, 316, 297, 295, 291, 284, 269, 243 and 213 IR v max (KBr), 3293, 2959, 2871 1637, 1525, 1469, 1413, 1336, 1369 1213, 1167 and 1026 cm 1 Found C 6157%, H 929%, N 1128%, C 19 H 35 N 3 0 4 01H 2 0 requires C 6146% H 956%, N 1132% EXAMPLE 32 N 1 -[2,2-Dιmethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N 4 -hydroxy-2R-ιsobutyl-3S-(1- methylpιpeπdιn-4-yl)succιnamιde Η-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD) 417 (1H, s), 342 (2H, m) 282 (3H, m), 271 (3H, s), 260 (3H s), 2.21 (1H, dd, J = 109, 39 Hz), 213 - 125 (7H, m) 100 (1H, m) 091 (9H, s), 081 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) and 072 (3H, d, J = 64 Hz) 13 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 1761, 1728, 1706 624, 561, 558, 509, 452, 438, 427 353, 351, 299, 274, 269 26.2, 260, 244 and 220 EXAMPLE 33 2S-Cyclopentyl-N 4 -(2 2-dιmethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N'-hydroxy-3R- octylsuccinamide ' H-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD) 413 (1H, s), 269 (1H, m), 260 (3H, s), 221 (1H dd, J = 106, 59 Hz), 190 - 120 (9H, br m), 115 (14H, br s) 090 (9H, s) and 078 (3H t, J = 64 Hz) ' 3 C-NMR, δ (CD 3 OD), 1795, 1756, 1749, 648, 45.2, 374, 356, 354 343, 332, 330, 32.7, 319, 306, 296, 284, 280, 279, 261 and 168 IR v max (KBr) 3305 2929, 2857 1634, 1532, 1467 1369, 1241, 1195, 1161 cm '

Claims: Claims A compound of general formula (I) wherein X is a -C0 2 H. -NH(OH)CHO or -CONHOH group, R, is a cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or non-aromatic heterocyclic ring containing up to 3 heteroatoms, any of which may be (1) substituted by one or more substituents selected from C,-C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, halo, cyano ( -CN), - C0 2 H, -C0 2 R, -CONH 2 , -CONHR, -CON(R) 2 , -OH, -OR, oxo- -SH, -SR, - NHCOR and -NHC0 2 R wherein R is C.-C 6 alkyl or benzyl and/or (11) fused to a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, R 2 is a C.-C, 2 alkyl, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl C 2 -C 12 alkynyl, phenyl(C,-C 3 alkyl)-, heteroaryl(C,-C 6 alkyl)-, cycloalkyl(C,-C 3 alkyl)-, cycloalkenyl(C,-C 6 alkyl)-, phenoxy(C,-C 5 alkyl)-, heteroaryloxy(C r C 6 alkyl)-, phenyl(C,-C 6 alkyl) 3(C,-C 6 alkyl)-, heteroaryl(C,-C 6 alkyl)0(C,-C 6 alkyl)-, phenyl(C,-C 6 alkyl)S(C,-C 6 alkyl)- or heteroaryl(C,-C 5 alkyl)S(C,-C 6 alkyl)- group, any one of which may be optionally substituted by C,-C 6 alkyl, C,-C 6 alkoxy, halo, cyano (-CN), phenyl, substituted phenyl or heteroaryl, R 3 is the characterising group of a natural or non-natural α am o acid in which any functional groups may be protected, R is (a) an optionally substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl ring or (b) a heteroaryl ring which may be fused to a benzene or heteroaryl ring, either or both of which πngs may be substituted, and in which any ring nitrogen atom may be oxidised as an N-oxide, or (c) a group -CHR x R y wherein R * and R y each independently represents an optionally substituted phenyl or heteroaryl ring which may be linked covalently to each other by a bond or by a C,-C 4 alkylene or C 2 -C 4 alkenylene bπdge, or (d) a group of formula -(Z-0) n -Z wherein Z is straight or branched C,-C 6 alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more non-adjacent S and/or N atoms, n is an integer > 1 and no continuous linear sequence of atoms in the group R 4 is >12, or (e) a straight or branched C r C 6 alkyl group, optionally interrupted by one or more non-adjacent S and/or N atoms, which is substituted by at least two substituents of formula -(Z) p -(OZ) g wherein Z is straight or branched C,-C 6 alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more non-adjacent S and/or N atoms, p is 0 or 1 , q is 1 or 2, and no continuous linear sequence of atoms in the group (f) hydrogen, C,-C 6 alkyl, C,-C 4 perfluoroalkyl, or a group D-(C,-C 6 alkyl)- wherem D is hydroxy, C C 6 alkoxy, C,-C 6 alkylthio, acylamino optionally substituted phenyl or 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, NH 2 , or mono- or dι-(C,-C 6 alkyl)amιno, or R 3 and R 4 taken together represent a divalent chain of formula -C(R a )(R D )-A-Alk- wherein R a and R are independently hydrogen or C,-C 6 alkyl, A is a bond, -0-, -S-, -S-S- -NH- or -NR a - wherein R a is C,-C 6 alkyl, and Alk is C,-C 6 alkylene, R 5 is hydrogen or a C,-C 6 alkyl group, or a salt, hydrate or solvate thereof 2 A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stereochemistry is as follows C atom carrying the R, and X groups - S, C atom carrying the R 2 group - R, C atom carrying the R 3 group - S 3 A compound as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein X is a group -CONHOH 4 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein R, is cyclohexyl, 4-methylcyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, cycloheptyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothιen-3-yl, 1 , 1 -dιoxo-tetrahydrothιen-3-yl, N-acetyl- pιpeπdιn-4-yl, N-methylpιpeπdιn-4-yl or morpholιn-4-yl 5 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein R, is cyclopentyl 6 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein R 2 is n-pentyl, n- hexyl π-heptyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, pheπylpropyl 4-chlorophenylpropyl, 4- methylphenylpropyl, or 4-methoxyphenylpropyl 7 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein R 2 is iso-b Jtyl, n- octyl, benzyloxypropyl, phenoxybutyl or 4-pheπyl-phenylpropyl 8 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein R 3 is C.-C 3 alkyl, benzyl, 2,- 3-, or 4-hydroxybenzyl, 2,- 3- or 4-benzyloxybenzyl 2,- 3- or 4-C,-C 6 alkoxybenzyl, or benzyloxy(C,-C 6 alkyl)- , or the characterising group of a natural ammo acid, in which any functional group may be protected, any amino group may be acylated and any ca r boxyl group present may be amidated, or a group -[Alk] n R 6 where Alk is a (C,-C 5 )alkyl or (C 2 -C 5 )alkenyl group optionally interrupted by one or more -0-, or -S- atoms or -N(R 7 )- groups [where R 7 is a hydrogen atom or a (C,-C 6 )alkyl group], π is 0 or 1 , and R 6 is an optionally substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group; or a benzyl group substituted in the phenyl ring by a group of formula - OCH 2 COR 8 where R 8 is hydroxyl, am o, (C r C 6 )alkoxy, phenyl(C,-C 5 )alkoxy, (C,-C 6 )alkylamino, di((C r C 6 )alkyl)amιno, phenyl(C,-C 6 )alkylamino, the residue of an ammo acid or acid halide, ester or amide derivative thereof, said residue being linked via an amide bond, said am o acid being selected from giycine. α or β alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, serine, threonine, cysteine, methionine, asparagme, glutamine, lysine, histidine, arginine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid; or a heterocyclic((C,-C 6 )alkyl group, either being unsubstituted or mono- or di¬ substituted in the heterocyclic ring with halo, nitro, carboxy, (C.-C 5 )alkoxy, cyano, (C,-C 6 )alkanoyl, trifiuoromethyl (C.-C 6 )alkyl, hydroxy. formyl, ammo, (C.-C 6 )alkylamιno. dι-(C,-C 6 )alkylamιπo, mercapto, (C.-C 6 )alkylthιo. hydroxy(C.-C 6 )alkyl mercapto(C.-C 6 )alkyl or (C,-C 6 )alkylphenylmethyl, or a group -CR a R b R c in which: each of R a , R b and R c is independently hydrogen, (C r C 6 )alkyl, (C 2 - C 6 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 6 )alkynyl, pheπyl(C,-C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl; or R c is hydrogen, (C r C 6 )alkyl, (C 2 -C 6 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 6 )alkynyl, phenyl(C,- C 6 )alkyl, or (C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl, and R a and R b together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 3 to 8 membered cycloalkyl or a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic ring; or R a , R s and R c together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a tπcyclic ring (for example adamantyl), or R a and R b are each independently (C,-C 6 )alkyl. (C 2 -C 6 )alkenyl, (C 2 - C 6 )alkyπyl, phenyl(C,-C 5 )alkyl, or a group as defined for R c below other than hydrogen, or R a and R b together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, and R_ is hydrogen, -OH, -SH, halogen, -CN, -C0 2 H, (C,-C 4 )perfluoroalkyl, - CH 2 OH, -C0 2 (C,-C 6 )alkyl, -0(C r C 6 )alkyl, -0(C 2 -C 6 )alkenyl, -Si C,- C 5 )alkyl, -SO(C,-C 6 )alkyl, -S0 2 (C r C 6 ) alkyl, -S(C 2 -C 6 )alkenyl, -SO(C 2 - C 6 )alkenyl, -S0 2 (C 2 -C 6 )alkenyl or a group -Q-W wherein Q represents a bond or -0-, -S-, -SO- or -S0 2 - and W represents a phenyl phenylalkyi, (C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl, (C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkylalkyl, (C 4 - C 8 )cycloalkenyl, (C 4 -C 8 )cycloalkenylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl group, which group W may optionally be substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from, hydroxyl, halogen, -CN, - C0 2 H -C0 2 (C r C 6 )alkyl, -CONH 2 , -CONH(C.-C 3 )alkyl, -CONH(C,- C s alkyl) 2 , -CHO, -CH 2 OH, (C,-C 4 )perfluoroalkyl, -0(C,-C 6 )alkyl -S(C- C 5 )alkyl -SO(C,-C 6 )alkyl -S0 2 (C,-C 3 )alkyl -N0 2 -NH 2 -NH(C- C 6 )alkyl, -N((C 1 -C 6 )alkyl) 2 , -NHCO(C r C 6 )alkyl, (C,-C 6 )alkyl, (C 2 - C 6 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 5 )alkynyl, (C 3 -C 8 )cycloalkyl (C 4 -C 8 )cycioalkeny , phenyl or benzyl 9 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein R 3 is iso-butyl, 1 - benzylthιo-1 -methylethyl, or 1 -methylthιo-1 -methylethyl 10 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein R 3 is t-bu'yl or 1 - mercapto-1 -methylethyl 1 1 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein R 4 is cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl cycloheptyl cyclooctyl or adamantyl, optionally substituted phenyl, napthyl, furanyl thienyl, pyrrolinyl, tetrahydrofuraπyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyridinyl N-oxides, piperazinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzotπazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, dithianyl, benzo[b]thιenyl isoxazolyl or qumolmyl, a group -CHR x R y wherein R* and R y independently represent optionally substituted phenyl, thienyl furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl isothiazolyl, tπazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyπdaziπolyl, pyrimidinyl, piperazinyl or triazinyl, 2-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl, 1 , 1-dιmethyl-2-(2- methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl, 2-(2-(2- methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl, 2-(2-(3-methoxypropoxymethoxy)ethyl, 3-(2- methoxyethoxymethoxy)propyl, 2.2-dιmethyl-3-(2- methoxyethoxymethoxy)propyl, 3-(2-methoxyethoxy)propyl, 2-methyl-2,2-dι(2- methoxyethyl)propyl, 2-methyl-2,2-dι(2-methoxyethyl)butyl or 2-methyl-2,2- dι(2-methoxymethyl)propyl, ethyl, n- or iso-propyl, n-, sec- or tert-butyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, 2,2- dιmethyl-3-hydroxypropyi, hydroxybutyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl, methoxypropyl, 2,2-dιmethyl-3-methoxypropyl, 2,2-dιmethyl-3-ethoxypropyl, 2-ethylthιoethyl, 2-acetoxyethyl, N-acetyl-ammoethyl, 3-(2-pyrrolιdone)propyi, optionally substituted phenylethyl, phenylpropyl, phenylbutyl, or phenylpentyl 12 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein R 3 and R 4 taken together represent -C(CH 3 ) 2 SCH 2 CH,CH 2 - or -C(CH 3 ) 2 SSCH 2 CH : - 13 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein R 4 is 3- methoxyphenyl, pyrιdιn-2-yl, pyπdιn-3-yl, thιazol-2-yl, 4-ethoxycarbonylmethylthιazol 2-yl, 5-methyl-1 ,3,4-thιadιazol-2-yl or 4-fert-butylthιazol-2-yl 14 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein R 4 is 2-(2- methoxyethoxy)ethyl 15 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein R 4 is rr ethyl 16 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein R 4 is a group - CHR x R y wherein R x and R y each independently represents phenyl or 4-chlorophenyl, or wherein R 4 is 9-H-fiuoren-9-yl 17 A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein R 5 is hydrogen 18 A compound as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein X is -CONHCO R, is cyclopentyl, R 2 is iso-butyl, R 3 is tert-butyl, R 4 is methyl, and R 5 is hydrogen, and salts solvates and hydrates thereof 19 2S-Cyclopentyl-N 4 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl)]-N'-hydroxy- 3R-ιsobutylsuccιnamιde, and salts solvates and hydrates thereof 20 A compound selected from the group consisting of 2S-cyciopentyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5- methyihexanoic acid, 2S-cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl -5- methylhexanoic acid, 2S-cyclopentyl-3R-[2.2-dιmethyl-1 S-(thιazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5- methylhexanoic acid 2S-cyclopeπtyi-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-dιmethylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)-5- methylhexanoic acid, 3R-[1 S-(adamantan-1 -ylcarbamoyl)-2,2-dιmethylpropylcarbamoyl]-2S-cyclopentyl-5- methylhexanoic acid, 2S-cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(1 -methyl-1 -phenylethylcarbamoyl) propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoιc acid, 2S-cyclohexyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5- methylhexanoic acid, 2S-cyclohexyl-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5- methylhexanoic acid, 2S-cyclopropyl-3R-(1 S-2.2-dιmethyl-1 -methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)-5- methylhexanoic acid, 3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(4- methylcyclohexyl)hexanoιc acid, 3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(4- methylcyclohexyl)hexanoιc acid, 2S-(4-.e -butylcyclohexyl)-3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl] -5-methylhexanoιc acid, 3-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S- (tetrahydrothιophen-3-yl)hexanoιc acid, 2S-cyclobutyl-3R-(2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)-5- methylhexanoic acid, 3R-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(1 -methyl pιpeπdιn-4-yl)hexanoιc acid, 2S-cyclopentyl-3R-(2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)undecaπoιc acid, 2S-cyclopentyl-N -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propyl]-N ' -hydroxy-3R- isobutyl-succinamide, 2S-cyclopentyl-N -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(thιazol-2-yl)carbamoylpropyl]-N 1 -hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccmamide, 2S-cyclopentyl-N 4 -(1 S-dιmethylcarbamoyl-2,2-dιmethylpropyl)-N'-hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccmamide N -[1 S-(adamantan-1 -ylcarbamoyl)-2,2-dιmethylpropyl]-2S-cyclopentyl-N'-h/droxy- 3R-ιsobutylsuccιπamιde, 2S-cyclopentyl-N 4 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(1 -methyl-1 -phenylethylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N 1 - hydroxy-3R-ιsobutylsuccιnamιde, 2S-cyclohexyl-N 4 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N 1 -hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccmamide, 2S-cyclohexyl-N 4 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-ylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N'-hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccmamide, 2S-cyclopropyl-N 4 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N 1 -hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccinamide, N '-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N -hydroxy-2S-ιsobutyl-3R-(4- methylcyclohexyl)succιnamιde, N 1 -[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(pyπdιn-2-yicarbamoyl)propyl]-N -hydroxy-2S-ιsobutyl-3R-(4- methylcyclohexylsuccinamide, 2S-(4-.e t- -'utylcyclohexyl)-N -(2,2-Dιmethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N 1 -hydroxy- 3R-ιsobutylsuccιnamιde, N 1 -(2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N -hydroxy-2-ιsobutyl-3S- (tetrahydrothιophen-2-yl)succιnamιde, 2S-cyclobutyl-N 4 -(2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N 1 -hydroxy-3R- isobutylsuccinamide, N'-[2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N 4 -hydroxy-2R-ιsobutyl-3S-(1 - methylpιpeπdιn-4-yl)succιnamιde 2S-cyclopentyl-N 4 -(2,2-dιmethyl-1 S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N 1 -hydroxy-3R- octylsucc amide, and salts solvates and hydrates thereof 21 A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier 22 A composition as claimed in claim 21 , adapted for oral administration

Inventors: LEWIS CHRISTOPHER NORMAN, MARTIN FIONNA MITCHELL, WHITTAKER MARK, LEWIS, CHRISTOPHER, NORMAN, MARTIN, FIONNA, MITCHELL, WHITTAKER, MARK
Applicants: BRITISH BIOTECH PHARM, LEWIS CHRISTOPHER NORMAN, MARTIN FIONNA MITCHELL, WHITTAKER MARK, BRITISH BIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED, LEWIS, CHRISTOPHER, NORMAN, MARTIN, FIONNA, MITCHELL, WHITTAKER, MARK
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C07C237
IPC codes: A61K31, A61P19, A61P25, A61P29, A61P35, A61P43, C07C237, C07C259, C07D211, C07D213, C07D277, C07D333