Macrocyclic peptides active against the hepatitis C virus

A compound of formula (I):

• 235
• wherein W is CH or N,
• R21 is H, halo, C1-6 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, C1-6 haloalkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C3-6 cycloalkoxy, hydroxy, or N(R23)2, wherein each R23 is independently H, C1-6 alkyl or C3-6 cycloalkyl;
• R22 is H, halo, C1-6 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, C1-6 haloalkyl, C1-6 thioalkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C3-6 cycloalkoxy, C2-7 alkoxyalkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, C6 or 10 aryl or Het, wherein Het is a five-, six-, or seven-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocycle containing from one to four heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur;
• said cycloalkyl, aryl or Het being substituted with R24,
• wherein R24 is H, halo, C1-6 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C3-6 cycloalkoxy, NO2, N(R25)2, NH—C(O)—R25 or NH—C(O)—NH—R25, wherein each R25 is independently:
• H, C1-6 alkyl or C3-6 cycloalkyl;
• or R24 is NH—C(O)—OR26 wherein R26 is C1-6 alkyl or C3-6 cycloalkyl;
• R3 is hydroxy, NH2, or a group of formula —NH—R31, wherein R31 is C6 or 10 aryl, heteroaryl, —C(O)—R32, —C(O)—NHR32 or —C(O)—OR32,
• wherein R32 is C1-6 alkyl or C3-6 cycloalkyl;
• D is a 5 to 10-atom saturated or unsaturated alkylene chain optionally containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from:
• O, S, or N—R41, wherein
• R41 is H, C1-6 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl or —C(O)—R42, wherein R42 is C1-6 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl or C6 or 10 aryl;
• R4 is H or from one to three substituents at any carbon atom of said chain D, said substituent independently selected from the group consisting of:
• C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 haloalkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, amino, oxo, thio and C1-6 thioalkyl, and
• A is an amide of formula —C(O)—NH—R5, wherein R5 is selected from the group consisting of:
• C1-8 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, C6 or 10 aryl and C7-16 aralkyl;
• or A is a carboxylic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof.