Compounds useful as Raf kinase inhibitors

1. A compound of formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

Cy 1 is an optionally substituted 5 membered-aromatic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

Cy 2 is an optionally substituted 6 membered aromatic ring having 1-2 heteroatoms, independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur;

L 1 is an optionally substituted, straight or branched C 1-6 alkylene chain;

L 2 is —C(O)N(R)—;

each R is independently hydrogen or an optionally substituted C 1-6 aliphatic group;

R 1 is hydrogen or an optionally substituted C 1-6 aliphatic group;

each of R x and R y is independently selected from -halo, or —N(R 2 ) 2 ; and

each R 2 is independently hydrogen or an optionally substituted C 1-6 aliphatic group.

2. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R y is —N(R 2 ) 2 .

3. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein R y is —NH 2 , —NHCH 3 , —NHCH 2 CH 3 , —NHCH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , —NHCH(CH 3 ) 2 , —NH(C 3 H 5 ), —NHCH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH, or —NHCH 2 CH 2 CH 2 NH(CH 3 ) 2 .

4. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is hydrogen and L 1 is an optionally substituted, straight or branched C 1-4 alkylene chain.

5. The compound according claim 1 , wherein Cy 1 is an optionally substituted pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, thiophenyl, furanyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, or oxadiazolyl group.

6. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein L 2 is —C(O)N(H)—.

7. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein Cy 2 is an optionally substituted group selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, and pyridazinyl.

8. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein said compound is of formula II:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

9. The compound according to claim 8 , wherein said compound of formula II is of formula II-a or II-b:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or vehicle.

11. The composition of claim 10 , in combination with a therapeutic agent selected from a chemotherapeutic or anti-proliferative agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an immunomodulatory agent, a neurotrophic factor, an agent for treating cardiovascular disease, an agent for treating destructive bone disorders, an agent for treating liver disease, an anti-viral agent, an agent for treating blood disorders, an agent for treating diabetes, and an agent for treating immunodeficiency disorders.

12. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein the compound is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 12 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or vehicle.