the present invention provides compounds of formula or which are ligands binding to the hdm2 protein , inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation , and having therapeutic utility in cancer therapy and prevention . compounds of formula or can be used as therapeutics for treating stroke , myocardial infarction , ischemia , multi - organ failure , spinal cord injury , alzheimer &# 39 ; s disease , injury from ischemic events and heart valvular degenerative disease . moreover , compounds of formula or can be used to decrease the side effects from cytotoxic cancer agents , radiation and to treat viral infections .