Novel sulfonamide derivatives

A compound of formula (I):

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:
• A is selected from the group consisting of:
• (1) a phenyl ring,
• (2) a heteroaryl ring, which is a monocyclic aromatic ring of 5 or 6 ring atoms, containing one or two ring heteroatoms of N, O or S, with the remaining ring atoms being carbon, and
• (3) a heterocyclyl ring, which is a non-aromatic monocyclic ring of 5 or 6 ring atoms, containing one or two ring heteroatoms of N or S(O)n (where n is an integer from 0 to 2), with the remaining ring atoms being carbon, wherein one of the ring carbon atoms of the heterocyclyl ring is optionally replaced with a carbonyl group;
• R1 and R1′ are independently selected from the group consisting of:
• (1) hydrogen,
• (2) halogen,
• (3) nitro,
• (4) cyano,
• (5) amino,
• (6) C1-6 alkyl,
• (7) heteroalkyl,
• (8) C3-7 cycloalkyl,
• (9) C2-6 alkenyl,
• (10) C2-6 alkynyl,
• (11) hydroxy,
• (12) C1-6 alkoxy,
• (13) —NR′R″ or —(C0-6 alkylene)-NR′R″, in which R′ and R″ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, heteroalkyl, formyl, C1-6 alkylcarbonyl, optionally substituted C3-7 cycloalkylcarbonyl, optionally substituted arylcarbonyl, optionally substituted heteroarylcarbonyl, optionally substituted heterocyclylcarbonyl, C1-6 alkylsulfonyl, optionally substituted C3-7 cycloalkylsulfonyl, optionally substituted arylsulfonyl, optionally substituted heteroarylsulfonyl, and optionally substituted heterocyclylsulfonyl, and
• (14) —(C0-6 alkylene)-OR′, in which R1 is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, heteroalkyl, formyl or C1-6 alkylcarbonyl,
• wherein both R1 and R1″ exist or alternatively R1 exists but R1′ does not exist;
• R2, R2′ and R2″ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, amino, mono-C1-6 alkyl substituted amino, di-C1-6 alkyl substituted amino, C1-6 alkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, heteroalkyl, hydroxy, and C1-6 alkoxy;
• X is phenylene optionally substituted by one, two or three substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, nitro, amino, mono-C1-6 alkyl substituted amino, di-C1-6 alkyl substituted amino, C1-6 alkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, heteroalkyl, hydroxy, C1-6 alkoxy, halo C1-6 alkyl, halo C1-6 alkoxy, heteroalkyloxy, C1-6 alkylsulfonyl, C1-6 alkylsulfinyl, C1-6 alkylthio, C1-6 alkylsulfonyl-C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkylsulfinyl-C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkylthio-C1-6 alkyl, acyl, formyl, C1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, halo C1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, heteroalkyloxycarbonyl and heteroalkylcarbonyl;
• and
• Y is selected from the group consisting of:
• (1) an optionally substituted heteroaryl, wherein the heteroaryl is a monocyclic aromatic radical of 6 ring atoms, containing one or two ring heteroatoms of N(O)n(where n is 0 or 1), O or S, with the remaining ring atoms being carbon atoms, and
• (2) an optionally substituted heterocyclyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a non-aromatic monocyclic radical of six ring atoms, containing one or two ring heteroatoms of N, O, or S(O)n (where n is an integer from 0 to 2), with the remaining ring atoms being carbon atoms.