Nitric oxide releasing prodrugs of diaryl-2-(5H)-furanones as cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors

A compound of Formula I

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:
• n is an integer from 1 to 6;
• X is —O— or —CH2—;
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) S(O)2CH3 and
• (b) S(O)2NH2;
• R2 and R3 each are independently selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) hydrogen,
• (b) halo,
• (c) C1-6alkoxy,
• (d) C1-6alkylthio,
• (e) CN,
• (f) CF3,
• (g) C1-6alkyl, and
• (h) N3;
• R4 is selected from the group consisting of
• (a) hydrogen,
• (b) —C1-4alkyl, optionally substituted with with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halo and R5, and
• (c) R5;
• each R5 is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• phenyl, naphthyl or a 5- or 6-membered aromatic heterocycle, each optionally substituted with 1 to 3 halo groups.