Modulators of Rho C activity

) A method for modulating the activity of a Rho C enzyme, comprising:

• contacting said Rho C enzyme with an effective amount of a compound of formula 1:
• 15
• wherein R1 is H, OH, or lower alkyl;
• R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are each independently H, halo, lower alkyl, OH, lower alkoxy, NH2, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino, SH, lower alkylthio, NO2, or two residues together form a heterocyclic ring;
• R7, R8, R9, and R10 are each independently H, lower alkyl, OH, NH2, aryl, or aralkyl, where aryl and aralkyl are substituted with 0-3 moieties selected from the group consisting of halo, OH, NH2, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, SH, lower alkylthio, and lower alkylamino;
• R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, and R16 are each independently H, halo, lower alkyl, OH, lower alkoxy, or NO2;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

) A method for treating a disorder mediated by RhoC, comprising:

• administering to a subject having a RhoC-mediated disorder an effective amount of a compound of formula 1:
• 16
• wherein R1 is H, OH, or lower alkyl;
• R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are each independently H, halo, lower alkyl, OH, lower alkoxy, NH2, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino, SH, lower alkylthio, NO2, or two residues together form a heterocyclic ring;
• R7, R8, R9, and R10 are each independently H, lower alkyl, OH, NH2, aryl, or aralkyl, where aryl and aralkyl are substituted with 0-3 moieties selected from the group consisting of halo, OH, NH2, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, SH, lower alkylthio, and lower alkylamino;
• R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, and R16 are each independently H, halo, lower alkyl, OH, lower alkoxy, or NO2;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

) A composition for modulating the activity of a Rho C enzyme, said composition comprising:

• an effective amount of a compound of formula 1
• 17
• wherein R1 is H, OH, or lower alkyl;
• R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are each independently H, halo, lower alkyl, OH, lower alkoxy, NH2, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino, SH, lower alkylthio, NO2, or two residues together form a heterocyclic ring;
• R7, R8, R9, and R10 are each independently H, lower alkyl, OH, NH2, aryl, or aralkyl, where aryl and aralkyl are substituted with 0-3 moieties selected from the group consisting of halo, OH, NH2, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, SH, lower alkylthio, and lower alkylamino;
• R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, and R16 are each independently H, halo, lower alkyl, OH, lower alkoxy, or NO2;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.