Aryl substituted imidazoquinolines

A compound of formula (III):

• wherein:
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
• —R4,
• —X—R4,
• —X—Y—R4, and
• —X—R5;
• R3 is selected from the group consisting of:
• —Z-Ar,
• —Z-Ar′—Y—R4,
• —Z-Ar′—X—Y—R4,
• —Z-Ar′—R5, and
• —Z-Ar′—X—R5;
• Ar is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl both of which can be unsubstituted or can be substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, methylenedioxy, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, halogen, nitro, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, mercapto, cyano, carboxy, formyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkoxy, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxy, heteroarylalkoxy, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, amino, alkylamino, and dialkylamino;
• Ar′ is selected from the group consisting of arylene and heteroarylene both of which can be unsubstituted or can be substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, halogen, nitro, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, mercapto, cyano, carboxy, formyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkoxy, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxy, heteroarylalkoxy, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, amino, alkylamino, and dialkylamino;
• each X is independently selected from the group consisting of alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, arylene, heteroarylene, and heterocyclylene wherein the alkylene, alkenylene, and alkynylene groups can be optionally interrupted or terminated with arylene, heteroarylene, or heterocyclylene, and optionally interrupted by one or more —O— groups;
• X′ is C2-8 alkylene;
• each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• Z is selected from the group consisting of a bond, alkylene, alkenylene, and alkynylene;
• each R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkylenyl, aryloxyalkylenyl, alkylarylenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkylenyl, heteroaryloxyalkylenyl, alkylheteroarylenyl, and heterocyclyl wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkylenyl, aryloxyalkylenyl, alkylarylenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkylenyl, heteroaryloxyalkylenyl, alkylheteroarylenyl, and heterocyclyl groups can be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, halogen, nitro, hydroxy, mercapto, cyano, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyleneoxy, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxy, heteroarylalkyleneoxy, heterocyclyl, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, (dialkylamino)alkyleneoxy, and in the case of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and heterocyclyl, oxo;
• each R5 is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• each R6 is independently selected from the group consisting of ═O and ═S;
• each R7 is independently C2-7 alkylene;
• R8 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxyalkylenyl, and arylalkylenyl;
• R9 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl;
• each R10 is independently C3-8 alkylene;
• A is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —C(O)—, —S(O)0-2—, —CH2—, and —N(R4)—;
• Q is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —C(R6)—, —C(R6)—C(R6)—, —S(O)2—, —C(R6)—N(R8)—W—, —S(O)2—N(R8)—, —C(R6)—O—, and —C(R6)—N(OR9)—;
• V is selected from the group consisting of —C(R6)—, —O—C(R6)—, —N(R8)—C(R6)—, and —S(O)2—;
• W is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —C(O)—, and —S(O)2—;
• and
• a and b are independently integers from 1 to 6 with the proviso that a+b is ≦7;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.