Method of modulating NF-kB activity

A method of reducing the anti-apoptotic effect of NF-κB in cells, the method comprising contacting cells with a compound of general formula I

• wherein
• n is 0, 1 or 2;
• each R independently represents halogen, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, nitro, cyano, amino, sulfo or carboxy groups;
• Q is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated C4-20 divalent hydrocarbon radical;
• X is a bond, O, S, amino, carbonyl, carbonylamino, aminocarbonyl, oxycarbonyloxy, oxycarbonyl, carbonyloxy, aminocarbonyloxy, aminothiocarbonyloxy, oxycarbonylamino or oxythiocarbonylamino;
• A is di-(C1-4 alkoxy)phosphinoyloxy, C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-4 alkoxycarbonylamino, saturated or unsaturated C3-12 carbocyclic ring or C3-12 heterocarbocyclic ring optionally substituted with one or more R1;
• R1 being independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, nitro, cyano, amino, carboxy, sulfo, carboxamido, sulfamoyl or C1-4 hydroxyalkyl;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, N-oxide or N-substituted prodrug thereof in an amount effective to inhibit IKK.

A method of inhibiting IKK, the method comprising contacting cells with a compound of general formula I

• wherein
• n is 0, 1 or 2;
• each R independently represents halogen, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, nitro, cyano, amino, sulfo or carboxy groups;
• Q is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated C4-20 divalent hydrocarbon radical;
• X is a bond, O, S, amino, carbonyl, carbonylamino, aminocarbonyl, oxycarbonyloxy, oxycarbonyl, carbonyloxy, aminocarbonyloxy, aminothiocarbonyloxy, oxycarbonylamino or oxythiocarbonylamino;
• A is di-(C1-4 alkoxy)phosphinoyloxy, C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-4 alkoxycarbonylamino, saturated or unsaturated C3-12 carbocyclic ring or C3-12 heterocarbocyclic ring optionally substituted with one or more R1;
• R1 being independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, nitro, cyano, amino, carboxy, sulfo, carboxamido, sulfamoyl or C1-4 hydroxyalkyl;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, N-oxide or N-substituted prodrug thereof in an amount effective to inhibit IKK.