Matrix metalloprotease inhibitors

A compound of the formula:

• ##STR39## wherein:
• n is 0, 1 or 2;
• Y is hydroxy or XONH--, where X is hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• R.sup.1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• R.sup.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylheteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaralkyl, heteroarylheteroalkyl, heterocyclo, heterocylo-lower alkyl, heterocyclo-lower heteroalkyl or --NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, wherein:
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl and heteroaralkyl;
• R.sup.7 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaralkyl, --C(O)R.sup.8, --C(O)NR.sup.8 R.sup.9, --SO.sub.2 NR.sup.8 R.sup.9, --SO.sub.2 R.sup.10, aryloxycarbonyl, or alkoxycarbonyl;
• or
• R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached represent a heterocyclo group;
• wherein
• R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaralkyl or heteroalkyl;
• and
• R.sup.10 is lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaralkyl, heteroalkyl or heterocyclo;
• or
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached represent a cycloalkyl or heterocyclo group;
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaralkyl, heteroalkyl or lower alkoxy;
• R.sup.4 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl;
• or
• R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together with the carbons to which they are attached represent a cycloalkyl or heterocyclo group;
• or
• R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together with the carbon to which they are attached represent a cycloalkyl or heterocyclo group;
• and
• R.sup.5 is lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl or heteroaralkyl;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof provided that:
• (a) when n.dbd.O, then Y.dbd.XONH;
• and
• (b) when Y.dbd.OH and n=1 or 2, then
• (i) R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, together with the carbons to which they are attached form a heterocyclo group;
• or
• (ii) R.sub.1 is lower alkyl, and
• R.sub.2 is heteroalkyl, arylheteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaralkyl, heterocyclo, heterocyclo-lower alkyl or heterocyclo-lower heteroalkyl.