Caspase-1 inhibitors and methods for their use

A compound of the formula

• wherein:
• R1 is chosen from optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heteroaralkyl;
• L is a linker selected from the group consisting of —(CH2)m—O—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—NR—(CH2)m—;
• —(CH2)m—NRCONR—(CH2)n—;
• (CH2)m—NRCOO—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—CONR—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—NRCO—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—NRSO2—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—CO—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—NRCONRSO2—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—NRCONRCO—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—SO2—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—SO2CH2CO—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—SO2NR—(CH2)n—;
• —(CH2)m—SCH2CO—(CH2)n— and —Z—(CH2)m—Ar—(CH2)n— where Z is —C(═O)NH—, —NHC(═O)—, or —SO2NH—, Ar is a 5 membered heroarylene, m and n are each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, and wherein R is each independently hydrogen, C1–C5 alkyl, C1–C5 hydroxyalkyl, or C1–C5 alkylhalide;
• R2 is chosen from H, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heteroaralkyl;
• and
• Y is
• or single stereoisomers, mixtures of stereoisomers, or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, amides, or esters thereof.