certain novel imidazole derivatives having the ability to inhibit the lipoxygenase enzyme and having formula , wherein y is hydrogen , c 1 - c 8 alkyl , halosubstituted c 1 - c 4 alkyl , phenyl , substituted phenyl , c 7 - c 14 phenylalkyl , c 7 - c 14 alkyl , pyridyl , substituted pyridyl , c 6 - c 13 pyridylalkyl or c 6 - c 13 alkyl , wherein each substituent is independently halo , nitro , cyano , c 1 - c 4 alkyl , c 1 - c 4 alkoxy , halosubstituted c 1 - c 4 alkyl , halosubstituted c 1 - c 4 alkoxy , nr 4 r 5 , co 2 r 4 or conr 4 r 5 , wherein r 4 and r 5 are each , independently , hydrogen or c 1 - c 6 alkyl ; ar 1 and ar 2 are each , independently , phenylene , mono - substituted phenylene or di - substituted phenylene , wherein the substituents are , independently , halo , c 1 - c 4 alkyl , c 1 - c 4 alkoxy , halo - substituted c 1 - c 4 alkyl or halo - substituted c 1 - c 4 alkoxy ; x and x 1 are each , independently , o , s , so or so 2 ; r &# 39 ; is hydrogen or c 1 - c 4 alkyl ; and r 2 and r 3 are each , independently , methylene , ethylene or propylene . these compounds are useful for the treatment of disease states such as bronchial asthma , skin disorders and arthritis in mammals , and as the active ingredient in pharmaceutical compositions for treating such conditions .