Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells

A compound having formula (I):

• wherein R1 is adamantyl, bicyclooctyl, bicyclooctenyl, aza-bicyclooctyl, or aza-bicyclooctenyl;
• wherein the R1 groups are optionally substituted with one or more C1-10alkyl groups;
• R2 is hydroxy, —SH, amino, —CN, (C1-10alkyl)NH—, (C1-10alkyl)2N—, —COOR14, —C(═O)R14, —C(═O)N(R14)2, —N(R14)C(═O)R14, —P(O)(OR14)2(phosphonic acid), —S(O)2OR14(sulfonic acid), —S(O)2N(R14)2(sulfonamide), —N—C(NH)—N(R14)2(guanidino), (hydroxy)C1-10alkylene-, (C1-10alkyl)—C(O)—, —C(O)—NHOR14(hydroxamic acid), or oxime;
• R3 is hydrogen, C1-10alkyl, hydroxy, amino, (C1-10alkyl)NH—, (C1-10alkyl)2N—, —COOR14(carboxylic acid), —P(O)(OR14)2(phosphonic acid), —S(O)2OR14(sulfonic acid), —S(O)2N(R14)2(sulfonamide), —N—C(NH)—N(R15)2(guanidino), (hydroxy)C1-10alkylene, (C1-10alkyl)—C(O)—, —C(O)—NHOR14(hydroxamic acid), carbonyl oxime, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, —CF3 or nitro;
• or R1 and R3 taken together with the ring to which they are attached can form a polycyclic group which can be fully saturated, partially saturated or aromatic;
• R4 is
• wherein each R5 is independently hydroxy, C1-10 alkyl, C1-10alkoxy, amino, (C1-10alkyl)NH—, (C1-10alkyl)2N—, (amino)C1-10alkyleneoxy)—, (acetamido)alkoxy, (C1-10)mercapto, (hydroxy)C1-10alkylene-, halo, halo(C1-10)alkyl, (C1-10alkoxy)-C1-10alkylene-, nitro, acetamido, phenyl, or substituted phenyl;
• R6 is hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-10alkyl, C1-10alkoxy, amino, (C1-10alkyl)NH—, (C1-10alkyl)2N—, (amino)C1-10alkyleneoxy)-, (acetamido)alkoxy, (C1-10alkyl)mercapto, (hydroxy)C1-10alkylene-, halo, halo(C1-10)alkyl, (C1-10alkoxy)C1-10alkylene-, nitro, acetamido, phenyl, or substituted phenyl;
• R9 is —COOR14, —P(O)(OR14)2, —S(O)2OR14, —C(O)—NHOR14, thiazolidenedione, tropolone, tetrazole, nitro, —(CH2)jOR15, or —N—C(NH)—N(R15)2;
• R12 is —C(R16)═C(R16)(R9), aryl-R9, or 2-cyclopropyl-R9, where each R16 is independently hydrogen or fluorine;
• R14 is hydrogen, (C1-25)alkyl or aryl;
• R15 is hydrogen, (C1-10alkyl)—C(O)—, or(aryl)—C(O)—;
• j is from 1 to 10;
• and n is 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• wherein any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, polycycloalkyl, polycycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkyl, polyheterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkenyl, polyheterocycloalkenyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group of R1, R2, R3, R5, and R6 is optionally substituted with one or more, such as 1, 2, 3, or 4, substituents independently selected from oxo(═O), halo, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —CF3, —OCF3, —S(O)0-2C1-6 alkyl, C1-8alkyl, C1-8alkoxy, C1-8alkyl-NRaRb, phenyl, C1-8alkanoyl, —NRaRb, —C(═O)NRaRb, or —SO2NNRaRb;
• wherein each Ra and Rb is independently hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkanoyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, (aryl)C1-8alkylene-, arylcarbonyl, or aryloxycarbonyl;
• or Ra and Rb together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, or thiomorpholino ring;
• or
• a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof.