in its broadest generic aspect , the invention provides novel compounds of the formula i ( a ) c 3 - 10 branched alkyl , which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , and optionally substituted with one to three phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl groups ( each such heteroaryl group being independently selected from pyridinyl , pyrimidinyl , pyrazinyl , pyridazinyl , pyrrolyl , imidazolyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , furyl , isoxazolyl and isothiazolyl ), each such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group being substituted with 0 to 5 groups selected from halogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , c 3 - 8 cycloalkyl , c 5 - 8 cycloalkenyl , hydroxy , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , aminocarbonyl and di ( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminocarbonyl ; ( b ) a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl and bicycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups , or an analog of such cycloalkyl group wherein instead of one to three ring methylene groups there are groups independently selected from o , s , choh , & gt ; c ═ o , & gt ; c ═ s and nh ; ( c ) c 3 - 10 branched alkenyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , and which is optionally substituted with one to three groups independently selected from c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched alkyl , phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl , with each such heteroaryl group being independently selected from pyridinyl , pyrimidinyl , pyrazinyl , pyridazinyl , pyrrolyl , imidazolyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , furyl , isoxazolyl and isothiazolyl , and each such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group being substituted with 0 to 5 groups selected from halogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl , bicycloheptanyl , hydroxy , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , aminocarbonyl and mono - or di ( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminocarbonyl ; ( d ) a cycloalkenyl group selected from cyclopentenyl , cyclohexenyl , cyclohexadienyl , cycloheptenyl , cycloheptadienyl , bicyclohexenyl and bicycloheptenyl , wherein such cycloalkenyl group is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; ( f ) an alkoxy carbonyl group selected from methoxycarbonyl , ethoxycarbonyl and propoxycarbonyl ; r 2 is selected from the group consisting of the following , when b is a carbon atom or an amino nitrogen : hydrogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , acetyl , benzoyl and phenylsulfonyl ; r 3 is selected from the group consisting of the following , when d is a carbon atom or an amino nitrogen : a ) phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein said heteroaryl group is selected from pyridinyl , pyrimidinyl , pyrazinyl , pyridazinyl , pyrrolyl , imidazolyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , furyl , isoxazolyl , isothiazolyl , quinolinyl , isoquinolinyl , indolyl , benzimidazolyl , benzofuranyl , benzoxazolyl , benzisoxazolyl , benzpyrazolyl , benzothiofuranyl , cinnolinyl , pterindinyl , phthalazinyl , naphthypyridinyl , quinoxalinyl , quinazolinyl , purinyl and indazolyl ), wherein such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with one to five groups independently selected from c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl , phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl selected from the group set forth immediately above , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl , bicycloheptanyl , phenyl c 1 - 5 alkyl , naphthyl c 1 - 5 alkyl , halo , hydroxy , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , heteraryloxy wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph , nitro , amino , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , heteroarylamino wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph , aminocarbonyl , a mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl aminocarbonyl , c 1 - 4 branched or unbranched alkyl oxycarbonyl , c 1 - 5 alkylcarbonyl c 1 - 4 branched or unbranched alkyl , amino c 1 - 5 alkyl , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl , aminosulfonyl , di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminosulfonyl ; b ) fused aryl ( selected from benzocyclobutanyl , indanyl , indenyl , dihydronaphthyl , tetrahydronaphthyl , benzocycloheptanyl and benzocycloheptenyl ), and fused heteroaryl ( selected from cyclopentenopyridine , cyclohexanopyridine , cyclopentanopyrimidine , cyclohexanopyrimidine , cyclopentanopyrazine , cyclohexanopyrazine , cyclopentanopyridazine , cyclohexanopyridazine , cyclopentanoquinoline , cyclohexanoquinoline , cyclopentanoisoquinoline , cyclohexanoisoquinoline , cyclopentanoindole , cyclohexanoindole , cyclopentanobenzimidazole , cyclohexanobenzimidazole , cyclopentanobenzoxazole , cyclohexanobenzoxazole , cyclopentanoimidazole , cyclohexanoimidazole , cyclopentanothiophene and cyclohexanothiophene ), wherein the fused aryl or fused heteroaryl ring is substituted with 0 to 3 groups independently selected from phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein each such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl , pyrimidinyl , pyrazinyl , pyridazinyl , pyrrolyl , imidazolyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , furyl , isoxazolyl and isothiazolyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , heteroaryloxy ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph ), nitro , amino , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , heteroarylamino ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph ), aminocarbonyl , a mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl aminocarbonyl , c 1 - 4 branched or unbranched alkyl oxycarbonyl , c 1 - 5 alkylcarbonyl c 1 - 4 branched or unbranched alkyl , amino c 1 - 5 alkyl , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl , aminosulfonyl , di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminosulfonyl ; c ) a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl and bicycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; d ) a cycloalkenyl group selected from cyclopentenyl , cyclohexenyl , cyclohexadienyl , cycloheptenyl , cycloheptadienyl , bicyclohexenyl and bicycloheptenyl , wherein such cycloalkenyl group is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; and , or r 1 and r 2 taken together may optionally form a fused phenyl or pyridinyl ring , or r 2 and r 3 taken together may optionally form a fused phenyl or pyridinyl ring , r 4 is selected from the following , when g is a carbon atom or an amino nitrogen : hydrogen and c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated ; a ) phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl , pyrimidinyl , pyrazinyl , pyridazinyl , pyrrolyl , imidazolyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , furyl , isoxazolyl , isothiazolyl , quinolinyl , isoquinolinyl , indolyl , benzimidazolyl , benzofuranyl , benzoxazolyl , benzisoxazolyl , benzpyrazolyl , benzothiofuranyl , cinnolinyl , pterindinyl , phthalazinyl , naphthypyridinyl , quinoxalinyl , quinazolinyl , purinyl and indazolyl ), wherein such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group optionally bears one to five groups selected from phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein each such heteroaryl moiety is independently selected from the group defined above in this subparagraph ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl , bicycloheptanyl , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , nitro , amino , mono - or di - ( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , aminocarbonyl , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminocarbonyl , amino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl , di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenyl ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl and naphthyl ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl ; b ) fused aryl ( selected from benzocyclobutanyl , indanyl , indenyl , dihydronaphthyl , tetrahydronaphthyl , benzocycloheptanyl and benzocycloheptenyl ), and fused heteroaryl ( selected from cyclopentenopyridine , cyclohexanopyridine , cyclopentanopyrimidine , cyclohexanopyrimidine , cyclopentanopyrazine , cyclohexanopyrazine , cyclopentanopyridazine , cyclohexanopyridazine , cyclopentanoquinoline , cyclohexanoquinoline , cyclopentanoisoquinoline , cyclohexanoisoquinoline , cyclopentanoindole , cyclohexanoindole , cyclopentanobenzimidazole , cyclohexanobenzimidazole , cyclopentanobenzoxazole , cyclohexanobenzoxazole , cyclopentanoimidazole , cyclohexanoimidazole , cyclopentanothiophene and cyclohexanothiophene ), wherein the fused aryl or fused heteroaryl ring bears 0 to 3 groups selected from phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl ( wherein such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl , pyrimidinyl , pyrazinyl , pyridazinyl , pyrrolyl , imidazolyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , furyl , isoxazolyl and isothiazolyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , nitro , amino , mono - or di - ( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , aminocarbonyl , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminocarbonyl , amino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl , di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenyl ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl and naphthyl ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl ; c ) cycloalkyl selected from cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl and bicycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; d ) cycloalkenyl selected from cyclopentenyl , cyclohexenyl , cyclohexadienyl , cycloheptenyl , cycloheptadienyl , bicyclohexenyl and bicycloheptenyl , which cycloalkenyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; and e ) phenyl ( c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched ) alkyl , and naphthyl ( c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched ) alkyl , wherein the phenyl or naphthyl ring is substituted with 0 to 5 groups selected from the group consisting of phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl ( selected from pyridinyl , pyrimidinyl , pyrazinyl , pyridazinyl , pyrrolyl , imidazolyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , furyl , isoxazolyl and isothiazolyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy or heteroaryloxy ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is as defined above in this subparagraph ); r 6 is hydrogen , cyano or c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated ; and , r 7 is hydrogen or c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl , which is optionally partially or fully halogenated . in a somewhat preferred generic aspect , the invention comprises compounds of the above formula i , wherein : a ) c 3 - 10 branched alkyl , which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , and optionally substituted with one to three phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl groups ( each such heteroaryl group being independently selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), each such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group being substituted with 0 to 5 groups selected from halogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , c 3 - 8 cycloalkyl , c 5 - 8 cycloalkenyl , hydroxy , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , aminocarbonyl and di ( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminocarbonyl ; b ) a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl and bicycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups , or an analog of such cycloalkyl group wherein instead of one to three ring methylene groups there are groups independently selected from o , s , choh , & gt ; c ═ o , & gt ; c ═ s and nh ; c ) c 3 - 10 branched alkenyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , and which is optionally substituted with one to three groups independently selected from c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched alkyl , phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl , with each such heteroaryl group being independently selected from pyridinyl and thienyl and each such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group being substituted with 0 to 5 groups selected from halogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl , bicycloheptanyl , hydroxy , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , aminocarbonyl and mono - or di ( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminocarbonyl ; d ) a cycloalkenyl group selected from cyclopentenyl , cyclohexenyl , cyclohexadienyl , cycloheptenyl , cycloheptadienyl , bicyclohexenyl and bicycloheptenyl , wherein such cycloalkenyl group is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; e ) an alkoxy carbonyl group selected from methoxycarbonyl , ethoxycarbonyl and propoxycarbonyl ; r 2 is selected from the group consisting of the following , when b is a carbon atom or an amino nitrogen : hydrogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , benzoyl and phenylsulfonyl ; r 3 is selected from the group consisting of the following , when d is a carbon atom or an amino nitrogen : a ) phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein said heteroaryl group is selected from pyridinyl , pyrimidinyl , pyrazinyl , pyridazinyl , pyrrolyl , imidazolyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , faryl , isoxazolyl , isothiazolyl , quinolinyl , isoquinolinyl , indolyl , benzimidazolyl , benzofuranyl and benzoxazolyl ), wherein such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with one to three groups independently selected from c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl , phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl selected from the group set forth immediately above , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl , bicycloheptanyl , phenyl c , alkyl , naphthyl c 1 - 5 alkyl , halo , hydroxy , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , heteraryloxy wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph , nitro , amino , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , heteroarylamino wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph , aminocarbonyl , a mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl aminocarbonyl , c 1 - 4 branched or unbranched alkyl oxycarbonyl , c 1 - 5 alkylcarbonyl c 1 - 4 branched or unbranched alkyl , amino c 1 - 5 alkyl , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl , aminosulfonyl , di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminosulfonyl ; b ) fused aryl ( selected from benzocyclobutanyl , indanyl , indenyl , dihydronaphthyl , tetrahydronaphthyl , benzocycloheptanyl and benzocycloheptenyl ), and fused heteroaryl ( selected from cyclopentenopyridine , cyclohexanopyridine , cyclopentanothiophene and cyclohexanothiophene ), wherein the fused aryl or fused heteroaryl ring is substituted with 0 to 3 groups independently selected from phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein each such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , heteroaryloxy ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph ), amino , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , heteroarylamino ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph ), aminocarbonyl , a mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl aminocarbonyl , c 1 - 4 branched or unbranched alkyl oxycarbonyl , c 1 - 5 alkylcarbonyl c 1 - 4 branched or unbranched alkyl , amino c 1 - 5 alkyl , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl , aminosulfonyl , di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminosulfonyl ; c ) a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl and cycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; d ) a cycloalkenyl group selected from cyclopentenyl , cyclohexenyl and cycloheptenyl , wherein such cycloalkenyl group is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; and , or r 1 and r 2 taken together may optionally form a fused phenyl or pyridinyl ring , a ) phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl , pyrimidinyl , pyrazinyl , pyridazinyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , quinolinyl , isoquinolinyl , indolyl , benzimidazolyl , benzofuranyl , benzoxazolyl , benzisoxazolyl ), wherein such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group optionally bears one to three groups selected from phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein each such heteroaryl moiety is independently selected from the group defined above in this subparagraph ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , mono - or di - ( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminocarbonyl , amino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl , di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenyl ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl and naphthyl ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl ; b ) fused aryl ( selected from benzocyclobutanyl , indanyl , indenyl , dihydronaphthyl , tetrahydronaphthyl , benzocycloheptanyl and benzocycloheptenyl ), and fused heteroaryl ( selected from cyclopentenopyridine , cyclohexanopyridine , cyclopentanothiophene and cyclohexanothiophene ), wherein the fused aryl or fused heteroaryl ring bears 0 to 3 groups selected from phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl ( wherein such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , amino , mono - or di - ( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , aminocarbonyl , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylaminocarbonyl , amino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl , di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenyl ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl and naphthyl ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl or alkenyl ; c ) cycloalkyl selected from cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl and cycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; d ) cycloalkenyl selected from cyclopentenyl and cyclohexenyl , which cycloalkenyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; and e ) phenyl ( c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched ) alkyl , and naphthyl ( c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched ) alkyl , wherein the phenyl or naphthyl ring is substituted with 0 to 5 groups selected from the group consisting of phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl ( selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy or heteroaryloxy ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is as defined above in this subparagraph ); r 6 is hydrogen , cyano or c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated . in a penultimately preferred generic aspect , the invention provides compounds of the above formula i , wherein : a ) c 3 - 10 branched alkyl , which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , and optionally substituted with one to three phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl groups ( each such heteroaryl group being independently selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), each such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group being substituted with 0 to 3 groups selected from halogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , c 3 - 8 cycloalkyl , hydroxy , cyano and c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated ; b ) a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl and bicycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups , or an analog of such cycloalkyl group wherein instead of one to three ring methylene groups there are groups independently selected from o , s , choh , & gt ; c ═ o , & gt ; c ═ s and nh ; c ) c 3 - 10 branched alkenyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , and which is optionally substituted with one to three groups independently selected from c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched alkyl , phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl , with each such heteroaryl group being independently selected from pyridinyl and thienyl and each such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group being substituted with 0 to 3 groups selected from halogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , hydroxy , cyano , and c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated ; d ) a cycloalkenyl group selected from cyclopentenyl , cyclohexenyl , bicyclohexenyl and bicycloheptenyl , wherein such cycloalkenyl group is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; e ) an alkoxy carbonyl group selected from methoxycarbonyl , ethoxycarbonyl and propoxycarbonyl ; r 2 is selected from the group consisting of the following , when b is a carbon atom or an amino nitrogen : hydrogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , acetyl , benzoyl and phenylsulfonyl ; r 3 is selected from the group consisting of the following , when d is a carbon atom or an amino nitrogen : a ) phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein said heteroaryl group is selected from pyridinyl , quinolinyl and isoquinolinyl ), wherein such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with one to three groups independently selected from c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl , phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl selected from the group set forth immediately above , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , phenyl c 1 - 5 alkyl , halo , hydroxy , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , heteraryloxy wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , heteroarylamino wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph , aminocarbonyl , a mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl aminocarbonyl , c 1 - 5 alkylcarbonyl c 1 - 4 branched or unbranched alkyl , amino c 1 - 5 alkyl and mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl ; b ) fused aryl ( selected from benzocyclobutanyl , indanyl , indenyl , dihydronaphthyl and tetrahydronaphthyl ), and fused heteroaryl ( selected from cyclopentenopyridine , cyclohexanopyridine , cyclopentanothiophene and cyclohexanothiophene ), wherein the fused aryl or fused heteroaryl ring is substituted with 0 to 3 groups independently selected from phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein each such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , heteroaryloxy ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph ), mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , naphthylamino , heteroarylamino ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph ), aminocarbonyl , a mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl aminocarbonyl , amino c 1 - 5 alkyl and mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl ; c ) a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl and cycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; d ) a cycloalkenyl group selected from cyclopentenyl , cyclohexenyl and cycloheptenyl , wherein such cycloalkenyl group is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; or r 1 and r 2 taken together may optionally form a fused phenyl or pyridinyl ring , a ) phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl , thienyl , quinolinyl , isoquinolinyl and indolyl ), wherein such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group optionally bears one to three groups selected from phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein each such heteroaryl moiety is independently selected from the group defined above in this subparagraph ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy ,, phenylamino , naphthylamino phenylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , heteroarylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is as defined above in this subparagraph ); b ) fused aryl ( selected from benzocyclobutanyl , indanyl , indenyl , dihydronaphthyl , tetrahydronaphthyl , benzocycloheptanyl and benzocycloheptenyl ), and fused heteroaryl ( selected from cyclopentenopyridine , cyclohexanopyridine , cyclopentanothiophene and cyclohexanothiophene ), wherein the fused aryl or fused heteroaryl ring bears 0 to 3 groups selected from phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl ( wherein such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy , , phenylamino , naphthylamino , phenylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamino ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , phenylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , naphthylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl , heteroarylamido ( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl or alkenyl ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is as defined above in this subparagraph ); and , c ) phenyl ( c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched ) alkyl , and naphthyl ( c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched ) alkyl , wherein the phenyl or naphthyl ring is substituted with 0 to 3 groups selected from the group consisting of phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl ( selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , naphthyloxy or heteroaryloxy ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is as defined above in this subparagraph ). in an ultimately preferred generic aspect , the invention provides compounds of the formula i , wherein : a ) c 3 - 7 branched alkyl , which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , and optionally substituted with one to three phenyl or heteroaryl groups ( each such heteroaryl group being independently selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), each such phenyl or heteroaryl group being substituted with 0 to 3 groups selected from halogen , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , c 3 - 8 cycloalkyl and c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated ; b ) a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , cycloheptanyl , bicyclopentanyl , bicyclohexanyl and bicycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; c ) c 3 - 7 branched alkenyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , and which is optionally substituted with one to three groups independently selected from c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched alkyl , phenyl or heteroaryl , with each such heteroaryl group being independently selected from pyridinyl and thienyl and each such phenyl or heteroaryl group being substituted with 0 to 3 groups selected from halogen , c ,- 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl and c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated ; r 3 is selected from the group consisting of the following , when d is a carbon atom or an amino nitrogen : a ) phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein said heteroaryl group is selected from pyridinyl , quinolinyl and isoquinolinyl ), wherein such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with one to three groups independently selected from c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl , phenyl , naphthyl , heteroaryl selected from the group set forth immediately above , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , halo , hydroxy , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , heteraryloxy wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph , mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , heteroarylamino wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph , aminocarbonyl , a mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl aminocarbonyl and mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl ; b ) fused aryl ( selected from benzocyclobutanyl , indanyl , indenyl , dihydronaphthyl and tetrahydronaphthyl ), and fused heteroaryl ( selected from cyclopentenopyridine , cyclohexanopyridine , cyclopentanothiophene and cyclohexanothiophene ), wherein the fused aryl or fused heteroaryl ring is substituted with 0 to 3 groups independently selected from phenyl and heteroaryl ( wherein each such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl and thienyl ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , heteroaryloxy ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph ), mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino , phenylamino , heteroarylamino ( wherein the heteroaryl moiety is selected from the group set forth above in this subparagraph ), aminocarbonyl , a mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkyl aminocarbonyl and mono - or di -( c 1 - 3 ) alkylamino ( c 1 - 5 ) alkyl ; c ) a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl and cycloheptanyl , which cycloalkyl group is optionally partially or fully halogenated and which is optionally substituted with one to three c 1 - 3 alkyl groups ; a ) phenyl , naphthyl and heteroaryl ( wherein such heteroaryl is selected from pyridinyl , thienyl , quinolinyl and isoquinolinyl ), wherein such phenyl , naphthyl or heteroaryl group optionally bears one to three groups selected from phenyl and heteroaryl ( wherein each such heteroaryl moiety is independently selected from the group defined above in this subparagraph ), c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentanyl , cyclohexanyl , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy , phenylamino ; b ) fused aryl ( selected from benzocyclobutanyl , indanyl , indenyl , dihydronaphthyl , tetrahydronaphthyl , benzocycloheptanyl and benzocycloheptenyl ), and fused heteroaryl ( selected from cyclopentenopyridine , cyclohexanopyridine , cyclopentanothiophene and cyclohexanothiophene ), wherein the fused aryl or fused heteroaryl ring bears 0 to 3 groups selected from phenyl , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , phenyloxy and phenylamino ; and , c ) phenyl ( c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched ) alkyl , and naphthyl ( c 1 - 5 branched or unbranched ) alkyl , wherein the phenyl or naphthyl ring is substituted with 0 to 3 groups selected from the group consisting of phenyl , c 1 - 6 branched or unbranched alkyl which is optionally partially or fully halogenated , halo , cyano , c 1 - 3 alkyloxy which is optionally partially or fully halogenated and phenyloxy . specifically preferred compounds in accordance with the invention are those selected from the group consisting of : any compounds of this invention containing one or more asymmetric carbon atoms may occur as racemates and racemic mixtures , single enantiomers , diastereomeric mixtures and individual diastereomers . all such isomeric forms of these compounds are expressly included in the present invention . each stereogenic carbon may be in the r or s configuration , or a combination of configurations . some of the compounds of formula i can exist in more than one tautomeric form . the invention includes all such tautomers . the invention includes pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives of compounds of formula 1 . “ a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative ” refers to any pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester of a compound of this invention , or any other compound which , upon administration to a patient , is capable of providing ( directly or indirectly ) a compound of this invention , a pharmacologically active metabolite or pharmacologically active residue thereof . pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention include those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic acids and bases . examples of suitable acids include hydrochloric , hydrobromic , sulfuric , nitric , perchloric , fumaric , maleic , phosphoric , glycolic , lactic , salicylic , succinic , toluene - p - sulfuric , tartaric , acetic , citric , methanesulfonic , formic , benzoic , malonic , naphthalene - 2 - sulfuric and benzenesulfonic acids . other acids , such as oxalic acid , while not themselves pharmaceutically acceptable , may be employed in the preparation of salts useful as intermediates in obtaining the compounds of this invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts . salts derived from appropriate bases include alkali metal ( e . g ., sodium ), alkaline earth metal ( e . g ., magnesium ), ammonium and n -( c 1 - c 4 alkyl ) 4 + salts . in addition , the invention include prodrugs of the compounds of compounds of the formula i . prodrugs include those compounds that , upon simple chemical transformation , are modified to produce a compound of formula i . simple chemical transformations include hydrolysis , oxidation and reduction . specifically , when a prodrug of this invention is administered to a patient , the prodrug may be transformed into a compound of formula i , thereby imparting the desired pharmacological effect . the compounds of the invention may be prepared by method a or b as illustrated in scheme 1 . in method a , a mixture of an aminoheterocycle of formula ii and an arylisocyanate of formula iii is dissolved in a non - protic , anhydrous solvent such as thf , ether , toluene , dioxane or ethyl acetate . the preferred solvent is thf . the mixture is stirred at between 0 - 45 ° c ., preferably at 25 ° c ., for 2 - 24 hr , and the volatiles are removed . purification of the residue by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography , using hexanes and ethyl acetate as eluents , provides the product of formula i . in method b , an aminoheterocycle of formula ii is dissolved in a halogenated solvent , such as methylene chloride , chloroform or dichloroethane . the preferred solvent is methylene chloride . the mixture is diluted with aqueous alkali , such as sodium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate , cooled in an ice bath and phosgene is added . the mixture is vigorously stirred for 5 - 30 min , with 10 min being preferable . the organic layer is dried , with agents such as mgso 4 or na 2 so 4 , and the volatiles removed to provide the corresponding isocyanate of formula ii . the isocyanate and arylamine iv are mixed in a non - protic , anhydrous solvent such as thf , ether , toluene , dioxane , methylene chloride or ethyl acetate . the preferred solvent is thf . the mixture is stirred at between 0 - 45 ° c ., preferably at 25 ° c ., for 2 - 24 hr , and the volatiles are removed . purification of the residue by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography , using hexanes and ethyl acetate as eluents , provides the product of formula i . the method used to produce an aminoheterocycle of formula ii will depend on the nature of the desired heterocycle . in general , intermediates of formula ii can be made by methods known to those skilled in the art . some general methods are illustrated in the schemes below . amines and isocyanates bearing r 5 used in method a or b respectively are available commercially or easily prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art . desired aminopyrazoles of formula xii can be prepared as described in scheme ii . a hydrazine of formula vii , bearing substituent r 3 , may be prepared by method c or d . in method c , an aryl bromide of formula v is dissolved in a non - protic , inert solvent , such as thf , 1 , 4 - dioxane or diethyl ether , and cooled to low temperature under an inert atmosphere . the preferred temperature for the solution is − 77 ° c . a strong base dissolved in a non - protic , inert solvent , such as hexanes , thf or ether , is added dropwise while maintaing a reaction temperature below 0 ° c . and preferrably below − 60 ° c . the preferred bases are alkyl lithium reagents and the most preferred is secbutyl lithium . after the addition of the base , the reaction mixture is stirred for a period of time between thirty and ninety minutes or until all the starting aryl bromide has been consumed . an excess of dialkyl azodicarboxylate is added while maintaining a reaction temperature below 0 ° c . and preferrably below − 60 ° c . the preferred dialkyl azodicarboxylate is di - tert - butyl azodicarboxylate . the reaction is stirred at cold temperatures and warmed to room temperature after 0 . 5 hr to 2 hr . the reaction is quenched with the addition of water and the product extracted into a non - protic solvent , such as ethyl acetate , diethyl ether or chloroform . the organic layers are dried with agents such as mgso 4 or na 2 so 4 and the volatiles removed . the residue is dissolved in protic solvents , such as methanol or iso - propanol , cooled , preferably to 0 - 5 ° c . and treated with acid . preferred acids are hydrochloric , hydrobromic , sulfuric and trifluoroacetic . the most preferred is hydrochloric in gaseous form . after the addition of excess acid the mixture is heated at the reflux temperature of the solvent until all starting material has been consumed . after cooling the product aryl - hydrazine of formula vii salt is filtered and dried . in method d , an aryl amine bearing r 3 of formula vi is dissloved in a concentrated aqueous acid such as hydrochloric , hydrobromic and sulfuric and cooled to ice bath temperatures . the most preferred acid is hydrochloric with concentrations between 3 - 8n with the most preferred concentration of 6n . a nitrosating reagent in water is added dropwise while maintaining a cold temperature . the preferred temperature is 0 - 5 ° c . the preferred reagent is sodium nitrite . the reaction is stirred between 10 - 90 min and a reducing agent is added while maintaing cold temperatures . the preferred temperature is 0 - 5 ° c . reducing agents include zinc , iron , samarium iodide and tin ( ii ) chlroride . the most preferred agent is tin ( ii ) chlroride dissolved in aqueous hydrochloride with a concentration of 3 - 8 n with a most preferred concentration of 6n . the reaction is stirred between 0 . 5 - 3 hr and quenched with alkali to a ph between 12 - 14 . alkali reagents include sodium hydroxide , potassium hydroxide , lithium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide . the most preferred alkali reagent is potassium hydroxide . the aqueous solution is extracted with a non - protic organic solvent , such as diethyl ether , chloroform , ethyl acetate and methylene chloride . the organic layers are dried with agents such as mgso 4 and na 2 so 4 and the volatiles removed to provide the aryl - hydrazine ( vii ) which can be carried forward without further purification . a β - ketonitrile bearing r 1 ( xi ) may be prepared by method e or f . in method e , a metal hydride , such as sodium hydride , potassium hydride or lithium hydride , is suspended in an anhydrous , inert , non - protic solvent , such as diethyl ether , thf and dioxane , at temperatures between 35 - 85 ° c . the most preferred metal hydride is sodium hydride and the most preferred solvent is thf at a temperature of 75 ° c . an alkyl ester , preferably a methyl ester ( viii ), and acetonitrile is dissolved in an anhydrous , inert , non - protic solvent , such as diethyl ether , thf or dioxane and added dropwise to the metal hydride suspension . the preferred solvent is thf . the mixture is kept at elevated temperatures between 3 - 24 hours , cooled to room temperature and diluted with a non - protic solvent and aqueous acid . the organic layer is washed with water and brine , dried , with agents such as mgso 4 and na 2 so 4 , and the volatiles removed to provide the β - ketonitrile ( xi ) which could be used without further purification . alternatively , following method f , a solution of a strong base , such as alkyl lithium reagents and metal amide reagents , such as n - butyl lithium , sec - butyl lithium , methyl lithium and lithium diisopropylamide , in an anhydrous , inert , non - protic solvent , such as diethyl ether , thf and dioxane , is cooled below 0 ° c . the preferred base is n - butyl lithium , the preferred solvent is thf and the preferred temperature is − 77 ° c . a solution of cyanoacetic acid ( ix ) in an anhydrous , inert , non - protic solvent , such as diethyl ether , thf and dioxane , and most preferrably thf , is added dropwise while maintaining a reaction temperature below 0 ° c . and preferrably at − 77 ° c . the reaction is stirred between 10 - 45 min while warming to 0 ° c . the solution of the dianion of cyanoacetic is cooled to temperatures below − 25 ° c . and preferrably at − 77 ° c . an alkyl acid chloride ( x ) dissolved in an anhydrous , inert , non - protic solvent , such as diethyl ether , thf and dioxane , and most preferrably thf , is added . the reaction mixture is warmed to 0 ° c . betweeen 10 - 30 min . and quenched with aqueous acid . the product is extracted with an organic solvent , such as chloroform , ethyl acetate , ether and methylene chloride . the combined organic extracts are dried , with agents such as mgso 4 and na 2 so 4 , and the volatiles removed to provide the β - ketonitrile ( xi ) which could be used without further purification . the desired aminopyrazole ( xii ) may then be prepared by method g or h . i method g , aryl hydrazine vii and β - ketonitrile xi are mixed in an organic solvent , such as toluene , ethanol , iso - propanol or t - butanol . the preferred solvent is ethanol . an acid , such as hydrochloric acid , p - toluene sulfonic acid , sulfuric acid , is added , the preferred acid is concentrated hydrochloric acid . the mixture is heated to temperatures between 50 - 100 ° c ., preferrably at 80 ° c ., for 10 - 24 hr and cooled to room . the mixture is diluted with non - protic organic solvent , such as ethyl acetate , ether , chloroform and methylene chloride , and washed with aqueous alkali , such as sodium bicarbonate and potassium carbonate . the organic layer is dried , with agents such as mgso 4 and na 2 so 4 , and the volatiles removed to provide a residue which is purified by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography using hexanes and ethyl acetate as eluents . the product - rich fractions are collected and the volatiles removed to provide the desired amonopyrazole ( xii ). alternatively , using method h , aryl hydrazine vii and β - ketonitrile xi are mixed in an organic solvent , such as toluene , ethanol , iso - propanol and t - butanol . the preferred solvent is toluene . the mixture is heated at reflux temperatures for 3 - 24 hrs with azeotropic removal of water and worked up as described above providing the aminopyrazole xii . a general synthesis for desired aminothiophenes is illustrated in scheme iii , method i . a mixture of 1 - aryl - 5 - alkyl - butane - 1 , 4 - dione ( xiii ) and a sulfating reagent , such as lawesson &# 39 ; s reagent and phosphorous ( v ) sulfide , and preferrably lawesson &# 39 ; s reagent , is dissolved in a non - protic , anhydrous solvent , such as toluene , thf and dioxane . the preferred solvent is toluene . the mixture is heated at elevated temperatures and preferably at a solvent - refluxing temperature for 1 - 10 hr . the volatiles are removed and the residue is purified by silica gel chromatography using hexanes and ethyl acetate as eluent . the product - rich fractions are collected and the volatiles removed to provide the substituted thiophene xiv . a mixture of substituted thiophene xiv is dissolved in a solvent such as acetic anhydride or acetic acid . the preferred solvent is acetic anhydride . the mixture is cooled to 0 - 30 ° c . and preferrably to − 10 ° c . a solution of concentrated nitric acid in a solvent such as acetic anhydride or acetic acid , with the preferred solvent being acetic anhydride and cooled to 0 - 30 ° c . and preferrably to − 10 ° c . is added . the mixture is stirred between 10 - 120 min , poured onto ice and extracted with a non - protic solvent such as diethyl ether , chloroform , ethyl acetate or methylene chloride . the organic extracts are washed with aqueous alkali , dried with agents such as mgso 4 and na 2 so 4 and the volatiles removed . the residue is purified by silica gel chromatography using hexanes and ethyl acetate as eluents . the product - rich fractions are collected and the volatiles removed to provide the 2 - aryl - 5 - alkyl - 3 - nitrothiophene . the 2 - aryl - 5 - alkyl - 3 - nitrothiophene is reduced by metals , such as iron , tin and zinc or catalytic hydrogenation . the preferred reduction occurs with iron in acetic acid at temperatures between 50 - 110 ° c . and preferrably at 100 ° c . for 5 - 30 min . after cooling to room temperature the reaction is diluted with water , neutralized with alkali , such as sodium hydroxide , potassium hydroxide , potassium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate , and extracted with a non - protic solvent such as diethyl ether , ethyl acetate or methylene chloride . the organic extracts are dried with agents such as mgso 4 and na 2 so 4 and the volatiles removed to provide the desired aminothiophene xv . other desired aminoheterocycles can be prepared by methods known in the art and described in the literature . the examples that follow are illustrative and , as recognized by one skilled in the art , particular reagents or conditions could be modified as needed for individual compounds . intermediates used in the schemes below are either commercially available or easily prepared from commercially available materials by those skilled in the art . scheme iv outlines a general scheme for desired aminofurans as described by stevenson et al . ( j . am . chem . soc ., 1937 , 59 , 2525 ). an ethyl aroylacetate ( xvi ) is dissolved in a non - protic solvent , such as ether orthf , and treated with a strong base , such as sodium , sodium ethoxide or sodium hydride , and the anion is reacted with a bromomethyl alkylketone ( xvii ) at low temperatures , such as 0 ° c . after stirring the reaction until no starting material remains , it is poured onto cold water and extracted with a non - protic solvent . the combined extracts are dried with agents such as mgso 4 or na 2 so 4 . the diketo - ester ( xviii ) may be carried forward without further purification or purified by distillation or silica gel chromatography . the diketo - ester in a protic solvent , such as ethanol , is heated in the presence of a mineral acid , such as sulfuric and hydrochloric , for 5 - 10 hr . and extracted with a non - protic solvent . the combined extracts are dried with agents such as mgso 4 or na 2 so 4 . the furan - ester ( xix ) may be carried forward without further purification or purified by distillation or silica gel chromatography . the furan - ester in a protic solvent , such as ethanol , is treated with hydrazine hydrate and the mixture heated for 2 - 5 days . the hydrazide is isloated as above and treated with hot formic acid and the resulting furan - amine ( xx ) purified by distillation or silica gel chromatography . the synthesis of substituted 4 - aminooxazoles may be achieved analogous to a procedure described by lakhan et al . ( j . het . chem ., 1988 , 25 , 1413 ) and illustrated in scheme v . a mixture of aroyl cyanide ( xxi ), aldeyde ( xxii ) and anhydrous ammonium acetate in acetic acid is heated at 100 - 110 ° c . for 3 - 6 hr , cooled to room temperature and quenched with water . extraction by a non - protic solvent provides the product xxiii which can be carried forward without further purification or purified by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography . the synthesis of substituted 3 - aminopyrroles ( xxvii ) may be achieved in a manner analogous to aiello et al ., j . chem . soc . perkins trans . i , 1981 , 1 . this is outlined in scheme vi . a mixture of aryldioxoalkane ( xxiv ) and amine ( xxv ) in acetic acid is heated at 100 - 110 ° c . for 3 - 6 hr and worked up in the usual manner . the product ( xxvi ) in acetic acid is treated with a nitrating agent , such as nitric acid and potassium nitrate in concentrated sulfuric acid . the mixture is poured onto cold water and extracted with a non - protic solvent . the combined extracts are dried with agents such as mgso 4 and na 2 so 4 . removal of the volatiles provides the nitro - pyrrole which which may be carried forward without further purification or purified by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography . the nitro - pyrrole is reduced to the amine with iron in acetic acid or by catalytic hydrogenation using palladium on activated carbon . the aminopyrrole ( xxvii ) may be carried forward without further purification or purified by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography . in an analogous fashion , a mixture of amine xxviii and 3 - aryl - 2 , 5 - dioxoalkane ( xxix ) in acetic acid is heated between 80 - 110 ° c . for 2 - 24 hr . the reaction is diluted with water and extracted with an organic solvent . the combined extracts are dried with agents such as mgso 4 or na 2 so 4 and the volatiles removed . the resulting pyrrole is treated with a nitrating agent and subsequently reduced to xxx as described above . the product may be carried forward without further purification or purified by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography . this process is illustrated in scheme vii . substituted 5 - aminothiazoles ( xxxiv ) may be prepared in a manner analogous to gerwald et al ., j . prakt . chem . 1973 , 315 , 539 . as illustrated in scheme viii , to a mixture of aminocyanide xxxi , aldehyde xxxii and sulfur in an anhydrous solvent , such as ethanol and methanol , is added dropwise a base , such as triethylamine . the mixture is heated at 50 ° c . for 1 - 3 hr . the mixture is cooled and the excess sulfur removed . acetic acid is added to neutralize the mixture and the solid collected . the imine xxxiii is treated with acid , such as hydrchloric and toluenesulfonic acid , in water and an organic solvent . after the staring material is consumed the reaction is worked up and the product xxxiv may be carried forward without further purification or purified by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography . a synthesis of substituted 2 - aminothiophenes ( xxxvi ), analogous to a procedure described by gewald et al . ( j . prakt . chem ., 1973 , 315 , 539 ) is illustrated in scheme ix . a mixture of disubstituted thiophene - 3 - carboxylic acid ( xxxv ) in a protic solvent such as acetic acid , at a temperature of 0 - 50 ° c . is treated with a nitrating agent , such as nitric acid or potassium nitrate in concentrated sulfuric acid . after the starting material has been consumed the reaction is poured onto ice and the product extracted with a non - protic solvent . the combined extracts are dried with agents such as mgso 4 and na 2 so 4 and the volatiles removed . the nitrothiophene is reduced to the amine with iron in acetic acid or by catalytic hydrogenation using palladium on activated carbon . the amino - thiophene may be carried forward without further purification or purified by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography . 1 , 5 - disubstituted - 3 - aminopyrazoles ( xxxix ) may be prepared as shown in scheme x , in a fashion analogous to the procedure described by ege et al . ( j . het . chem ., 1982 , 19 , 1267 ). potassium is added to anhydrous t - butanol and the mixture cooled to 5 ° c . hydrazine xxxvii is added , followed by cyanodibromoalkane xxxviii . the mixture is heated at refluxing temperatures for 3 - 10 hr . the mixture is cooled to room temperature and poured onto ice water . the product is extracted with an organic solvent . the combined extracts are dried with agents such as mgso 4 or na 2 so 4 and the volatiles removed . the product xxxix may be carried forward without further purification or purified by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography . the synthesis of 2 - amino - 3 , 5 - disubstituted thiophenes shown in scheme xi , is done in a fashion analogous to knoll et al ., j . prakt . chem ., 1985 , 327 , 463 . a mixture of substituted n -( 3 - aminothioacryloyl )- formamidine ( xl ) and substituted bromide ( xli ) in a protic solvent , such as methanol or ethanol , is heated , preferably at a reflux temperature , for 5 - 30 min and cooled below room temperature . the product thiophene - imine is filtered and dried . the thiophene - imine xlii is converted to the thiopheneamine ( xliii ) by treatment with aqueous acid . the synthesis of 1 , 4 - disubstituted - 2 - aminopyrroles ( xlvii ) may be accomplished in a manner analogous to brodrick et al . ( j . chem . soc . perkin trans . i , 1975 , 1910 ), and as illustrated in scheme xii . the potassium salt of formylnitrile xliv in water is treated with amine xlv and acetic acid and the mixture heated at 50 - 90 ° c . for 5 - 30 min . the aminonitrile xlvi is collected by filtration upon cooling and then is stirred at room temperature with a base such as ethanolic potassium ethoxide for 2 - 5 hr and the volatiles removed . the residue is diluted with water and extracted with an organic solvent . the combined extracts are dried with agents such as mgso 4 and na 2 so 4 and the volatiles removed . the product ( xlvii ) may be carried forward without further purification or purified by recrystallization or silica gel chromatography . the preparation of 1 , 2 - disubstituted - 4 - aminoimidazoles by reduction of the corresponding nitro compound , for example with iron in acetic acid or catalytic hydrogenation may be accomplished as described by al - shaar et al . ( j . chem . soc . perkin trans . i , 1992 , 2779 ) and illustrated in scheme xiii . 2 , 4 - disubstituted 5 - aminooxazoles ( liv ) may be prepared in a manner analogous to the procedure described by poupaert et al . ( synthesis , 1972 , 622 ) and illustrated in scheme xiv . acid chloride l is added to a cold mixture of 2 - aminonitrile li and a base such as triethylamine in a non - protic solvent , such as tuf , benzene , toluene or ether . the preferred temperature is 0 ° c . the mixture is stirred for 12 - 24 hr and washed with water . the volatiles are removed and the product lii treated with ethylmercaptan and dry hydrogen chloride in dry methylene chloride for 5 - 30 min . the solid 5 - imino - 1 , 3 - oxazole hydrochloride ( liii ) is collected by filtration , dissolved in dry pyridine and the solution saturated with hydrogen sulfide during 4 hr at 0 ° c . the mixture is diluted with an organic solvent and washed with water and dried . removal of the volatiles provides the 5 - amino - 1 , 3 - oxazole product ( liv ) which may be carried forward without further purification or be purified by silica gel chromatography . the synthesis of 1 , 4 - disubstituted - 2 - aminopyrazoles may be accomplished as illustrated in scheme xv and described in lancini et al ., j . het . chem ., 1966 , 3 , 152 . to a mixture of substituted aminoketone ( lv ) and cyanamide in water and acetic acid was added aqueous sodium hydroxide until ph 4 . 5 is reached . the mixture is heated at 50 - 90 ° c . for 1 - 5 hr , cooled and basicified with ammonium hydroxide . the product lvi is collected by filtration and dried . as in the cases described above , the synthesis of many other aminoheterocycles useful as intermediates may be accomplished by methods similar to those described in the literature or known to those skilled in the art . several additional examples are illustrated in scheme xvi . 2 , 5 - disubstituted - 3 - aminotriazoles ( lvii ) have been described by plenkiewicz et al . ( bull . chem . soc . belg . 1987 , 96 , 675 ). 1 , 3 - disubstituted - 4 - aminopyrazoles ( lviii ) have been described by guarneri et al . ( gazz . chim . ital . 1968 , 98 , 569 ). damany et al . ( tetrahedron , 1976 , 32 , 2421 ) describe a 2 - amino - 3 - substituted benzothiophene ( lix ). a 3 - aminoindole ( lx ) is described by foresti et al .. ( gazz . chim . ital ., 1975 , 125 , 151 ). bristow et al . ( j . chem . soc ., 1954 , 616 ) describe an imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridin - 2 - yl amine ( lxi ). the compounds of the invention effectively block inflammatory cytokine production from cells . the inhibition of cytokine production is an attractive means for preventing and treating a variety of disorders associated with excess cytokine production , e . g ., diseases and pathological conditions involving inflammation . thus , the compounds of the invention are useful for the treatment of such conditions . these encompass chronic inflammatory diseases including , but not limited to , rheumatoid arthritis , multiple sclerosis , guillain - barre syndrome , crohn &# 39 ; s disease , ulcerative colitis , psoriasis , graft versus host disease , systemic lupus erythematosus and insulin - dependent diabetes mellitus . the compounds of the invention can also be used to treat other disorders associated with the activity of elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as responses to various infectious agents and a number of diseases of autoimmunity such as toxic shock syndrome , osteoarthritis , diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases unrelated to those listed above are discussed above , in the background of the invention . for therapeutic use , the compounds of the invention may be administered in any conventional dosage form in any conventional manner . routes of administration include , but are not limited to , intravenously , intramuscularly , subcutaneously , intrasynovially , by infusion , sublingually , transdermally , orally , topically or by inhalation . the preferred modes of administration are oral and intravenous . the compounds of this invention may be administered alone or in combination with adjuvants that enhance stability of the inhibitors , facilitate administration of pharmaceutic compositions containing them in certain embodiments , provide increased dissolution or dispersion , increase inhibitory activity , provide adjunct therapy , and the like , including other active ingredients . advantageously , such combination therapies utilize lower dosages of the conventional therapeutics , thus avoiding possible toxicity and adverse side effects incurred when those agents are used as monotherapies . compounds of the invention may be physically combined with the conventional therapeutics or other adjuvants into a single pharmaceutical composition . advantageously , the compounds may then be administered together in a single dosage form . in some embodiments , the pharmaceutical compositions comprising such combinations of compounds contain at least about 15 %, but more preferably at least about 20 %, of a compound of formula ( i ) ( w / w ) or a combination thereof . alternatively , the compounds may be administered separately ( either serially or in parallel ). separate dosing allows for greater flexibility in the dosing regime . as mentioned above , dosage forms of the compounds of this invention include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and adjuvants known to those of ordinary skill in the art . these carriers and adjuvants include , for example , ion exchangers , alumina , aluminum stearate , lecithin , serum proteins , buffer substances , water , salts or electrolytes and cellulose - based substances . preferred dosage forms include , tablet , capsule , caplet , liquid , solution , suspension , emulsion , lozenges , syrup , reconstitutable powder , granule , suppository and transdermal patch . methods for preparing such dosage forms are known ( see , for example , h . c . ansel and n . g . popovish , pharmaceutical dosage forms and drug delivery systems , 5th ed ., lea and febiger ( 1990 )). dosage levels and requirements are well - recognized in the art and may be selected by those of ordinary skill in the art from available methods and techniques suitable for a particular patient . in some embodiments , dosage levels range from about 10 - 1000 mg / dose for a 70 kg patient . although one dose per day may be sufficient , up to 5 doses per day may be given . for oral doses , up to 2000 mg / day may be required . as the skilled artisan will appreciate , lower or higher doses may be required depending on particular factors . for instance , specific dosage and treatment regimens will depend on factors such as the patients general health profile , the severity and course of the patient &# 39 ; s disorder or disposition thereto , and the judgment of the treating physician . a mixture of 1 - phenyl , 5 , 5 - dimethylhexane - 1 , 5 - dione ( 1 , 1 . 18 gm ) and lawesson &# 39 ; s reagent ( 2 . 62 gm ) in 25 ml toluene was heated at reflux for 2 hours , cooled to room temperature and most of the volatiles were removed under a stream of nitrogen . the residue was purified by flash chromatography using 50 % ether in hexanes as the eluent . concentration in vacuo of the product - rich fractions provided thiophene 2 . to 2 ( 0 . 81 gm ) in 5 ml acetic anhydride at − 10 ° c . was added a cold (− 10 ° c .) solution of nitric acid ( 0 . 24 ml , d = 1 . 49 ) in 2 ml acetic anhydride . the mixture was stirred 45 minutes , poured onto ice and extracted with ether . the combined organic extracts were washed with water , saturated nahco 3 , brine and dried ( mgso 4 ) and the volatiles removed in vacuo . purification of the residue with flash chromatography using 5 % ethyl acetate in hexanes as the eluent provided nitrothiophene 3 . a mixture of 3 ( 0 . 67 gm ) and iron powder ( 1 . 4 gm ) in 10 ml acetic acid was heated at 100 ° c . for 10 minutes , cooled to room temperature , diluted with water , basicified with solid potassium carbonate and extracted with ethyl acetate . the combined extracts were washed with brine and dried ( mgso 4 ). removal of the volatiles in vacuo provided aminothiophene 4 . a mixture of 4 ( 0 . 13 gm ) and 4 - chlorophenyl isocyanate ( 5 , 82 mg ) in 2 ml anhydrous thf was stirred at room temperature overnight and the volatiles removed in vacuo . purification of the residue by flash chromatography using 11 % ethyl acetate in hexanes as the eluent and concentration of the product rich - fraction in vacuo provided urea 6 . a solution of phenylhydrazine ( 7 , 10 . 9 gm ) and 4 , 4 - dimethyl - 3 - oxopentanenitrile ( 8 , 10 . 2 gm ) in 25 ml of toluene was heated at reflux with azeotropic removal of water . after 4 hours the volatiles were removed in vacuo and the residue purified by flash silica gel chromatography using 17 % ethyl acetate in hexanes as the eluent . concentration in vacuo of the product - rich fractions provided pyrazole 9 . a mixture of 9 ( 0 . 52 gm ) and phosgene ( 2 . 5 ml of a 1 . 9 m toluene solution ) in 25 ml methylene chloride and 25 ml of aqueous saturated sodium bicarbonate was vigorously stirred for 10 minutes in an ice bath and the aqueous layer extracted with methylene chloride . the combined organic layers were dried ( magnesium sulfate ) and the volatiles removed in vacuo . a mixture of the isocyanate ( 195 mg ) and 2 - aminoindan ( 10 , 142 mg ) in 5 ml methylene chloride was stirred at room temperature overnight . removal of the volatiles in vacuo provide a residue which was crystallized with ethyl acetate and hexanes and furnished urea 11 as a white solid . a mixture of 2 - amino - 1 - phenylbenzimidazole ( 12 ) and 4 - chlorophenyl isocyanate ( 5 ) was stirred at room temperature in methylene chloride overnight . removal of the volatiles in vacuo provide a residue which was purified by recrystallization in ethyl acetate and hexanes to afford urea 13 . using methods analogous to those described above , the compounds of the invention described in the following table 1 were either prepared ( those compounds for which melting points are given ) or could be prepared ( those compounds for which no melting points are given ). the inhibition of tnfα production can be measured in lipopolysaccharide stimulated thp cells . all cells and reagents were diluted in rpmi 1640 with phenol red and l - glutamine , supplemented with additional l - glutamine ( total : 4 mm ), penicillin and streptomycin ( 50 units / ml each ) and fetal bovine serum ( fbs , 3 %) ( gibco , all conc . final ). the assay was performed under sterile conditions ; only test compound preparation was nonsterile . initial stock solutions were made in dmso followed by dilution into rpmi 1640 2 - fold higher than the desired final assay concentration . confluent thp . 1 cells ( 2 × 10 6 cells / ml , final conc . ; american type culture company , rockville , md .) were added to 96 well polypropylene round bottomed culture plates ( costar 3790 ; sterile ) containing 125 μl test compound ( 2 fold concentrated ) or dmso vehicle ( controls , blanks ). dmso concentration did not exceed 0 . 2 % final . cell mixture was allowed to preincubate for 30 min , 37 ° c ., 5 % co 2 prior to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide ( lps ; 1 μg / ml final ; sigma l - 2630 , from e . coli serotype 0111 . b4 ; stored as 1 mg / ml stock in endotoxin screened distilled h 2 o at − 80 ° c .). blanks ( unstimulated ) received h 2 o vehicle ; final incubation volume was 250 μl . overnight incubation ( 18 - 24 hr ) proceeded as described above . the assay was terminated by centrifuging plates 5 min , room temperature , 1600 rpm ( 400 × g ); supernatants were transferred to clean 96 well plates and stored − 80 ° c . until analyzed for human tnfα by a commercially available elisa kit ( biosource # khc3015 , camarillo , calif .). data was analyzed by non - linear regression ( hill equation ) to generate a dose response curve using sas software system ( sas institute , inc ., cary , n . c .). the calculated ic50 value is the concentration of the test compound that caused a 50 % decrease in tnfα production . representative compounds listed in the above synthetic examples were evaluated and all had lc 50 & lt ; 10 μm in this assay . by similar methods using peripheral blood monocytic cells , appropriate stimuli , and commercially available elisa kits for a particular cytokine , inhibition of il - 1 β , gm - csf , il - 6 and il - 8 was demonstrated by representatives from table 1 .