Substituted N'-(arylcarbonyl)-benzhydrazides, N'-(arylcarbonyl)-benzylidene-hydrazides and analogs as activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis and the use thereof

摘要

The present invention is directed to substituted N'-(arylcarbonyl)-benzhydrazides, N'-(arylcarbonyl)-benzylidene-hydrazides and analogs thereof, represented by the Formulae I and II: wherein Ar₁, Ar₂, and R₁-R₂ are defined herein. The present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formulae I and II are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis of this invention may be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.