1H-imidazo dimers

A compound of the formula (I):

• wherein:
• A is a divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of:
• straight or branched chain C4-20 alkylene;
• straight or branched chain C4-20 alkenylene;
• straight or branched chain C4-20 alkynylene;
• and
• —Z—Y—W—Y—Z—;
• each Z is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• straight or branched chain C2-20 alkylene;
• straight or branched chain C4-20 alkenylene;
• and
• straight or branched chain C4-20 alkynylene;
• any of which may be optionally interrupted by —O—, —N(R5)—, or —S(O)2—;
• each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• a bond;
• —N(R5)C(O)—;
• —C(O)N(R5)—;
• —N(R5)C(O)N(R5)—;
• —N(R5)S(O)2—;
• —S(O)2N(R5)—;
• —OC(O)O—;
• —OC(O)—;
• —C(O)O—;
• —N(R5)C(O)O—;
• and
• —OC(O)N(R5)—;
• W is selected from the group consisting of:
• straight or branched chain C2-20 alkylene;
• straight or branched chain C2-20 alkenylene;
• straight or branched chain C4-20 alkynylene;
• straight or branched chain perfluoro C2-20 alkylene;
• C1-4 alkylene-O—C1-4 alkylene;
• —C(O)—;
• —S(O)2—;
• —OC(O)O—;
• —N(R5)C(O)N(R5)—;
• 1,5-naphthylene;
• 2,6-pyridinylene;
• 1,2-cyclohexylene;
• 1,3-cyclohexylene;
• 1,4-cyclohexylene;
• trans-1,4-cyclohexylene;
• and
• trans-5-norbornen-2,3-diyl;
• wherein n is 0-4;
• each R is independently selected from the group consisting of C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, and halogen;
• and Q is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH2—, and —O—;
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
• -hydrogen;
• -alkyl;
• -alkenyl;
• -aryl;
• -substituted aryl;
• -heteroaryl;
• -substituted heteroaryl;
• -alkyl-X-alkyl;
• -alkyl-X-aryl;
• -alkyl-X-alkenyl;
• and
• -alkyl or alkenyl substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• —OH;
• -halogen;
• —N(R6)2;
• —C(O)—N(R6)2;
• —C(S)—N(R6)2;
• —S(O)2—N(R6)2;
• —N(R6)—C(O)—C1-10 alkyl;
• —N(R6)—C(S)—C1-10 alkyl;
• —N(R6)—S(O)2—C1-10 alkyl;
• —C(O)—C1-10 alkyl;
• —C(O)—O—C1-10 alkyl;
• —N3;
• -aryl;
• -substituted aryl;
• -heteroaryl;
• -substituted heteroaryl;
• -heterocyclyl;
• -substituted heterocyclyl;
• —C(O)-aryl;
• —C(O)-(substituted aryl);
• —C(O)-heteroaryl;
• and
• —C(O)-(substituted heteroaryl);
• R3 and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of:
• -hydrogen;
• -halogen;
• -alkyl;
• -alkenyl;
• -X-alkyl;
• and
• —N(R6)2;
• or when taken together, R3 and R4 form a fused aryl or heteroaryl ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• -halogen;
• -alkyl;
• -alkenyl;
• -X-alkyl;
• and
• —N(R6)2;
• or when taken together, R3 and R4 form a fused 5 to 7 membered saturated ring, containing 0 to 2 heteroatoms and unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• -halogen;
• -alkyl;
• -alkenyl;
• -X-alkyl;
• and
• —N(R6)2;
• each R5 is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• hydrogen;
• C1-6 alkyl;
• C3-7 cycloalkyl;
• and
• benzyl;
• or
• when Y is —N(R5)C(O)—, —C(O)N(R5)—, —N(R5)C(O)N(R5)—, —N(R5)S(O)2—, —S(O2)N(R5)—, —N(R5)C(O)O—, or —OC(O)N(R5)— and the nitrogen of the N(R5) group is bonded to Z, then R5 can join with Z to form a ring having the structure
• each R6 is independently hydrogen or C1-10 alkyl;
• R7 is C3-8 alkylene;
• and
• X is —O— or —S—;
• with the proviso that if W is —C(O)—, —S(O)2—, —OC(O)O—, or —N(R5)C(O)N(R5)— then each Y is a bond;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.