Histone deacetylase inhibitors

1. A compound represented by the following structural formula:

wherein

m is 0 or 1;

p 1 and p 2 are 1;

R 1 and R 2 are, independently of each other, unsubstituted or substituted and selected from hydrogen C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, C 1 -C 10 alkylcycloalkyl, C 1 -C 10 alkylaryl, C 1 -C 10 alkylheterocyclyl and C 1 -C 10 alkylheteroaryl; or

or a stereoisomer, enantiomer, racemate, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are, independently of each other, unsubstituted or substituted with one, two or three substitutents selected from R sub ;

wherein

R sub is independently selected from C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 1 -C 10 haloalkyl, C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, C 1 -C 10 alkyl-C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, C 1 -C 10 alkylcycloalkyl, C 1 -C 10 alkylaryl, C 1 -C 10 alkylheterocyclyl, C 1 -C 10 alkylheteroaryl, halogen, hydroxy, C 1 -C 10 alkyloxy, C 1 -C 10 haloalkyloxy, aryloxy, nitro, oxo, —CN, —C(═O)H, —C(═O)OH, amino, N-C 1 -C 10 alkylamino, N,N-di C 1 -C 10 alkylamino, N-arylamino, N,N-diarylamino, N-C 1 -C 10 alkyl-N-arylamino, azido, and C(═O)OR wherein R is aryl or C 1 -C 10 alkyl.

3. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are, independently of each other, unsubstituted or substituted and selected from phenyl, naphthyl, fluorenyl, biphenyl, benzyl, —CH 2 CH 2 Ph, —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 Ph, cyclopropyl, cyclohexyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, —CH 2 -quinolinyl, —CH 2 -isoquinolinyl, thiazolyl, benzothiazolyl, CH(Ph) 2 and C 1 -C 10 alkyl.

4. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are, independently of each other, unsubstituted or substituted with one, two or three substitutents selected from R sub ;

wherein

R sub is independently selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyloxy, C 1 -C 4 alkyloxy, aryl, halogen and nitro.

5. The compound according to claim 1 , represented by the structure of formula II:

wherein R 1 and R 2 are as defined in claim 1 ;

or a stereoisomer, enantiomer, racemate, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt, thereof.

6. The compound according to claim 1 , represented by the structure of formula III:

wherein R 1 and R 2 are as defined in claim 1 ; or a stereoisomer, enantiomer, racemate, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of the compound according to claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

8. A method of treating cancer in a mammal comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound according to claim 1 to the mammal.

9. A compound which is selected from:

4-(2-Hydroxycarbamoyl-vinyl)-N,N-bis-phenylcarbamoylmethyl-benzamide;

4-(2-Hydroxycarbamoyl-vinyl)-N,N-bis-(quinolin-8-ylcarbamoylmethyl)-benzamide;

3-[3-(Bis-phenylcarbamoylmethyl-amino)-phenyl]-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

3-{3-[Bis-(quinolin-8-ylcarbamoylmethyl)-amino]-phenyl}-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

3-{3-[Bis-(benzothiazol-2-ylcarbamoylmethyl)-amino]-phenyl}-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

3-[4-(Bis-phenylcarbamoylmethyl-amino)-phenyl]-N-hydroxy-acrylamide; and

3-{4-[Bis-(quinolin-8-ylcarbamoylmethyl)-amino]-phenyl}-N-hydroxy-acrylamide;

or a stereoisomer, enantiomer, racemate, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of the compound according to claim 9 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

11. A method of treating cancer in a mammal comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound according to claim 9 to the mammal.