Aryl sulfonamides

A compound of the formula (I), or a salt thereof:

• 251
• where
• X represents from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, —CN, —NO2, —OH, —OR1, —C(O)R1, —CO2R′, —O(CO)R1, —C(O)NR1R2, —OC(O)NR1R2, —SR1, —SOR1, —SO2R1, —SO2NR1R2, —NR1R2, —NR1C(O)R2, —NR1C(O)2R2, —NR1SO2R2, —NR1(CO)NR2R3, unsubstituted or substituted C1-8 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C2-8 alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted C2-8 alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted C3-8 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C6-10 aryl, unsubstituted or substituted 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, and unsubstituted or substituted 3- to 10-membered heterocyclyl;
• R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-6 haloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C1-6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C3-6 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C2-6 alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted C2-6 alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted C6-10 aryl, unsubstituted or substituted 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl-C1-4 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl-C1-4 alkyl, and unsubstituted or substituted aryloxy-C1-4 alkyl;
• or two of R1, R2 and R3 together with the atom(s) to which they are attached, may form an unsubstituted or substituted 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring;
• Y represents from 1 to 3 substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, —CN, —NO2, —OH, —OR4, —C(O)R4, —CO2R4, —SR4, —SOR4, —SO2R4, and unsubstituted or substituted C1-4 alkyl;
• R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-6 haloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C1-6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C3-6 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C2-6 alkenyl, and unsubstituted or substituted C2-6 alkynyl;
• L is —C(O)—, —S—, —SO— or —S(O)2—;
• and
• Z represents either unsubstituted or substituted monocyclic or bicyclic C5-10 heteroaryl or unsubstituted or substituted monocyclic or bicyclic C3-10 heterocyclyl,
• with the proviso that when X is methyl, then Z is not 2-thiophene, 2-(3-hydroxy-1H-indole) or 3-(1-methylpyridinium).