Pyrrole inhibitors of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase as therapeutic agents

1. A method of treatment of pulmonary hypertension, ARDS, asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis/interstitial lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein

Ar is selected from the group consisting of aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl and substituted heteroaryl;

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, cyano, nitro, CF 3 , carbamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, amino, C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, C 1 -C 6 dialkylamino, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, and C 3 -C 6 cycloalkoxyl;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carbamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, sulfamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfamoyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, cyano, nitro, carboxyl, amino, aminomethyl, acetamido, acetamido-2-methyl, 2-methoxyacetamido, propionamido, tetrahydrofuran-2-ylmethoxy, CF 3 , carboxyl, ureido, sulfamoylamino, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfonamido, 2-amino-2-oxoethyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, C 1 -C 6 dialkylamino, arylamino, heteroarylamino, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkoxyl, 1H-imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl, thiazol-2-yl, methylcarbamoyl, dimethylcarbamoyl, methoxyethylcarbamoyl, hydroxyethylcarbamoyl, (dimethylamino)ethylcarbamoyl, pyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl, pyridin-4-yl-carbamoyl, 6-methoxypyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl, pyridazin-4-ylcarbamoyl, and pyrimidin-5-ylcarbamoyl;

R 4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, cyano, nitro, carbamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, sulfamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl sulfamoyl, amino, C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, C 1 -C 6 dialkylamino, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, and C 3 -C 6 cycloalkoxyl;

n is 0-3;

wherein Ar excludes substituted or unsubstituted indazol-3-yl and substituted or unsubstituted 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridyl;

with the following provisos:

proviso Ia: when R 3 is carboxyl, methylsulfonamido, or sulfamoyl, then Ar cannot be phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )-alkyl, or phenyl-(C 2 -C 6 )-alkenyl; and

proviso Ib: when R 2 and R 3 are both methoxy, then Ar cannot be phenyl, 4-methyl-phenyl, 4-methoxy-phenyl, 4-halo-phenyl, or thiophen-yl.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, substituted phenyl, thiophen-yl, substituted thiophen-yl, pyridinyl, substituted pyridinyl, thiazolyl, substituted thiazolyl, pyrimidinyl, substituted pyrimidinyl, furanyl, substituted furanyl, bicyclic aryl, substituted bicyclic aryl, bicyclic heteroaryl, and substituted bicyclic heteroaryl;

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and CF 3 ;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carbamoyl, sulfamoyl, sulfamoylamino, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, amino, aminomethyl, acetamido, acetamido-2-methyl, 2-methoxyacetamido, propionamido, tetrahydrofuran-2-ylmethoxy, methylsulfamido, carboxyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, 1H-imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl, thiazol-2-yl, methylcarbamoyl, dimethycarbamoyl, methoxyethylcarbamoyl, hydroxyethylcarbamoyl, (dimethylamino)ethylcarbamoyl, pyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl, pyridin-4-yl-carbamoyl, 6-methoxypyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl, pyridazin-4-ylcarbamoyl, and pyrimidin-5-ylcarbamoyl;

R 4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 6 alkyl; and

n is 1.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, substituted phenyl, aryl-phenyl, substituted aryl-phenyl, heteroaryl-phenyl, substituted heteroaryl-phenyl, thiophen-yl, substituted thiophen-yl, aryl-thiophen-yl, substituted aryl-thiophen-yl, heteroaryl-thiophen-yl, substituted heteroaryl-thiophen-yl, pyridinyl, substituted pyridinyl, aryl-pyridinyl, substituted aryl-pyridinyl, heteroaryl-pyridinyl, substituted heteroaryl-pyridinyl, thiazolyl, substituted thiazolyl, aryl-thiazolyl; substituted aryl-thiozolyl; heteroaryl-thiazolyl; substituted heteroaryl-thiazolyl, pyrimidinyl, substituted pyrimidinyl, aryl-pyrimidinyl, substituted aryl-pyrimidinyl, heteroaryl-pyrimidinyl, substituted heteroaryl-pyrimidinyl, furanyl, substituted furanyl, aryl-furanyl, substituted aryl-furanyl, heteroaryl-furanyl, and substituted heteroaryl-furanyl.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, thiophen-yl, thiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, or furanyl having 0, 1, 2, or 3 substitutions, wherein such substitutions are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, amino, cyano, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, imidazolyl, methyl imidazolyl, ethyl imidazolyl, furanyl, methylthio, nitro, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, carbamoyl, pyrazolyl, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl, 2-amino-2oxoethoxy, ureido, morpholino, pyridinyl, pyrrolyl, methyl sulfonamido, carbamoyl phenyl, 6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridinyl, 3,5-dimethylisoxazolyl, carboxymethoxy, hydroxyacetamido, methoxyacetamido, sulfamoyl, piperazinyl, oxoimidazolidinyl, methylsulfinyl, methylsulfonyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, methylpyrazolyl, phenyl, thiazolyl, hydroxycarbamoyl, cyclopropylimidazolyl, carboxy, methylamino, methoxymethyl, dimethylamino, hydroxymethylimidazolyl, oxooxazolidinyl, formamido, hydroxyphenyl, and thiophen-yl.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein Ar is selected from the group consisting of

4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 5-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, thiazol-5-yl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, 5-bromothiophen-2-yl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-aminophenyl, 4-bromophenyl, 4-(furan-3-yl)phenyl, phenyl, 3-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl, 3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl, 4-cyanophenyl, 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl, 4-methoxy-3-methylphenyl, 4-iodophenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 6-methoxypyridin-3-yl, benzo[d]thiazol-6-yl, 4-(methylthio)phenyl, 4-nitrophenyl, 4-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl, benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl, 6-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pyridin-3-yl, 5-carbamoylthiophen-2-yl, 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl, 4-carbamoylphenyl, 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(2-amino-2-oxoethoxy)phenyl, 4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-ureidophenyl, 4-morpholinophenyl, 4-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl, 4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl, 1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)phenyl, naphthalen-2-yl, 3′-carbamoylbiphenyl-4-yl, 4-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridin-3-yl)phenyl, 4-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenyl, 4-(carboxymethoxy)phenyl, 4-(2-hydroxyacetamido)phenyl, 4-(2-methoxyacetamido)phenyl, 4-sulfamoylphenyl, 4-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(2-oxoimidazolidin-1-yl)phenyl, 4-ethoxyphenyl, 4-(methylsulfinyl)phenyl, 4-(2-ethyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(furan-2-yl)phenyl, 4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl, 4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(piperidin-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)phenyl, 5-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-(furan-3-yl)phenyl, 2-methoxypyrimidin-5-yl, 2-methyl-4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl, 4-amino-3-chlorophenyl, 3,4-difluorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-bromothiophen-2-yl, biphenyl-4-yl, 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pyrimidin-5-yl, 4-fluoro-3-methoxyphenyl, 3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl, 4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl, 4-methoxy-2-methylphenyl, 4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl, 4-chloro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl, 4-cyano-3-fluorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl, 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitrophenyl, 4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl, 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiazol-4-yl, 2-ethoxy-4-fluorophenyl, 4-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 4-fluoro-2-methoxyphenyl, 4-(thiazol-5-yl)phenyl, 4-chloro-3-fluorophenyl, 4-(hydroxycarbamoyl)phenyl, 3-fluoro-4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 3-fluoro-4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-ethoxyphenyl, 5-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl, 4-(2-cyclopropyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl, 5-bromothiophen-3-yl, 4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl, 2-carbamoyl-4-chlorophenyl, 2-acetamido-4-chlorophenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, benzoic acid, 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 4-chloro-2-propoxyphenyl, 4-chloro-2-(2-methoxyacetamido)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-(methylamino)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-(methoxymethyl)phenyl, 4-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl, 4-chloro-2-(dimethylamino)phenyl, 4-(2-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl, 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-methoxyphenyl, 5-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-3-yl, 5-chlorothiophen-2-yl, 5-bromothiazol-2-yl, 4-bromothiazol-2-yl, 5-(2-ethyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-chlor o-2-formamidophenyl, 3-chlorothiophen-2-yl, 4-formamido-2-methoxyphenyl, 3-bromo-5-methoxythiophen-2-yl, 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-(thiophen-3-yl)phenyl, 5-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)furan-2-yl, 4-chlorothiophen-2-yl, 5-bromo-4-chlorothiophen-2-yl, 5-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)furan-2-yl, and 5-bromofuran-2-yl.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein Ar is selected from the group consisting of 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 5-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, thiazol-5-yl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, 5-bromothiophen-2-yl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-aminophenyl, 4-bromophenyl, 4-(furan-3-yl)phenyl, 3-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl, 3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl, 4-cyanophenyl, 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl, 4-methoxy-3-methylphenyl, 4-iodophenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 6-methoxypyridin-3-yl, benzo[d]thiazol-6-yl, 4-(methylthio)phenyl, 4-nitrophenyl, 4-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl, benzo[d][1,3]dioxo1-5-yl, 6-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pyridin-3-yl, 5-carbamoylthiophen-2-yl, 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl, 4-carbamoylphenyl, 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(2-amino-2-oxoethoxy)phenyl, 4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-ureidophenyl, 4-morpholinophenyl, 4-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl, 4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl, 1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)phenyl, naphthalen-2-yl, 3′-carbamoylbiphenyl-4-yl, 4-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridin-3-yl)phenyl, 4-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)phenyl, 4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenyl, 4-(carboxymethoxy)phenyl, 4-(2-hydroxyacetamido)phenyl, 4-(2-methoxyacetamido)phenyl, 4-sulfamoylphenyl, 4-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(2-oxoimidazolidin-1-yl)phenyl, 4-ethoxyphenyl, 4-(methylsulfinyl)phenyl, 4-(2-ethyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(furan-2-yl)phenyl, 4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl, 4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(piperidin-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)phenyl, 5-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-(furan-3-yl)phenyl, 2-methoxypyrimidin-5-yl, 2-methyl-4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl, 4-amino-3-chlorophenyl, 3,4-difluorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-bromothiophen-2-yl, biphenyl-4-yl, 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pyrimidin-5-yl, 4-fluoro-3-methoxyphenyl, 3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl, 4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl, 4-methoxy-2-methylphenyl, 4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl, 4-chloro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl, 4-cyano-3-fluorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl, 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitrophenyl, 4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl, 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiazol-4-yl, 2-ethoxy-4-fluorophenyl, 4-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 4-fluoro-2-methoxyphenyl, 4-(thiazol-5-yl)phenyl, 4-chloro-3-fluorophenyl, 4-(hydroxycarbamoyl)phenyl, 3-fluoro-4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 3-fluoro-4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-ethoxyphenyl, 5-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl, 4-(2-cyclopropyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl, 5-bromothiophen-3-yl, 4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl, 2-carbamoyl-4-chlorophenyl, 2-acetamido-4-chlorophenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, benzoic acid, 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 4-chloro-2-propoxyphenyl, 4-chloro-2-(2-methoxyacetamido)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-(methylamino)phenyl, 4-chloro-2-(methoxymethyl)phenyl, 4-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl, 4-chloro-2-(dimethylamino)phenyl, 4-(2-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 4-(2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl, 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-methoxyphenyl, 5-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-3-yl, 5-chlorothiophen-2-yl, 5-bromothiazol-2-yl, 4-bromothiazol-2-yl, 5-(2-ethyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-chloro-2-formamidophenyl, 3-chlorothiophen-2-yl, 4-formamido-2-methoxyphenyl, 3-bromo-5-methoxythiophen-2-yl, 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophen-2-yl, 4-(thiophen-3-yl)phenyl, 5-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)furan-2-yl, 4-chlorothiophen-2-yl, 5-bromo-4-chlorothiophen-2-yl, 5-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)furan-2-yl, and 5-bromofuran-2-yl.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the compound of formula 1 is selected from the group consisting of:

3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(thiazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-hydroxy-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-chlorophenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-aminophenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(furan-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-sulfamoylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-cyanophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-ethylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(benzo[d]thiazol-6-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-amino-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-methoxy-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(4-hydroxy-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(6-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pyridin-3-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(5-carbamoylthiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-carbamoylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(2-amino-2-oxoethoxy)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-ureidophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 4-(2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-5-(2-carboxyethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-3-methylbenzoic acid; 3-1-(4-amino-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-bromophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-morpholinophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 4-(2-(4-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl)-5-(2-carboxyethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-3-methylbenzoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(3′-carbamoylbiphenyl-4-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(carboxymethoxy)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(2-hydroxyacetamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(2-methoxyacetamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(2-oxoimidazolidin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(methylsulfinyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-(aminomethyl)-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(furan-2-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(dimethylcarbamoyl)-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(2-methoxyethylcarbamoyl)-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(2-hydroxyethylcarbamoyl)-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(oxazol-2-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(2-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(piperidin-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; ethyl 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoate; ethyl 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoate; ethyl 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(5-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoate; ethyl 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(furan-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoate; ethyl 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-cyanophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoate; ethyl 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(furan-2-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoate; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(2-methoxypyrimidin-5-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-acetamido-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-((tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)methoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-propionamidophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-(2-methoxyacetamido)-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(biphenyl-4-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-fluorophenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pyrimidin-5-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-chloro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-cyano-3-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(2-(dimethylamino)ethylcarbamoyl)-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(3,5-dimethyl-4-nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiazol-4-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(4-(6-methoxypyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(6-methoxypyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl)-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(thiazol-5-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(hydroxycarbamoyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-4-ylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(pyridazin-4-ylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(pyrimidin-5-ylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(2-cyclopropyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-acetamido-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-bromophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(4-(2-methoxyacetamido)-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(2-acetamido-4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 4-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(2-carboxyethyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)benzoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-chloro-2-(2-methoxyacetamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-chloro-2-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-chloro-2-(methylamino)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-chloro-2-(methoxymethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(2-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(5-bromothiazol-2-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-acetamido-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-bromothiazol-2-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(5-bromothiophen-2-yl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-acetamido-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-bromothiophen-2-yl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 2-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-(thiophen-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)acetic acid; 3-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(5-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)furan-2-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-sulfamoylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-4-ylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(5-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)furan-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(5-bromofuran-2-yl)-1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(sulfamoylamino)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(sulfamoylamino)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-methyl-4-(sulfamoylamino)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; and 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-2-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)butanoic acid.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 together with a pharmaceutically accepted carrier or excipient.

9. A method of treatment of pulmonary hypertension, ARDS, asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis/interstitial lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula II or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein

Ar is selected from the group consisting of aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl and substituted heteroaryl;

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

X 1 -X 4 is independently selected from the group consisting of C and N;

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, cyano, nitro, carbamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, carboxyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylhydroxy, sulfamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfamoyl, amino, C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, C 1 -C 6 dialkylamino, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, and C 3 -C 6 cycloalkoxyl;

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxyl, carbamoyl, substituted carbamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, sulfamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, cyano, nitro, amino, CF 3 , carboxyl, ureido, sulfamoylamino, 2-amino-2-oxoethyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, C 1 -C 6 dialkylamino, arylamino, heteroarylamino, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkoxyl, 1H-imidazol-1-yl, and 2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl;

or alternatively R 5 and R 6 together form a substituted or unsubstituted 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic ring containing up to 2 heteroatoms chosen from 0, N or S;

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, cyano, nitro, carbamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbamoyl, sulfamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfamoyl, amino, C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, C 1 -C 6 dialkylamino, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, and C 3 -C 6 cycloalkoxyl;

n is 0-3;

wherein R 5 can be hydrogen only when at least one of X 1 -X 4 is N;

and further wherein, X 1 and X 3 must be CH or N unless R 5 and R 6 together form a 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic ring or at least one of X 1 -X 4 is N;

and wherein Ar excludes substituted or unsubstituted indazol-3-yl and substituted or unsubstituted 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridyl;

with the following provisos:

proviso IIa: when all X are C and one of R 5, R 6, or R 7 are carboxyl, methylsulfonamido, or sulfamoyl, then Ar cannot be phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )-alkyl, or phenyl-(C 2 -C 6 )-alkenyl; and

proviso IIb: when all X are C and one of R 5 , R 6 , or R 7 are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen or methyl, then Ar cannot be 4-hydroxyphenyl or 4-C 1 -C 6 acyl-oxy-phenyl; and

proviso IIc: when all X are C and R 5 is methyl, Cl, hydroxyl, trifluoromethyl and R 6 is methyl, methyoxy, carboxyethyl, Cl, or carboxypropyl, and n is 1, then Ar cannot be phenyl, 4-methyl-phenyl, 4-methoxy-phenyl, 4-halo-phenyl, or thiophen-yl; and

proviso IId: when all X are C and R 5 and R 6 together form a heterocyclic ring and the resulting bicyclic ring system is benzo[d]thiazol substituted at the 2 position with C 1 -C 3 alkyl, then Ar cannot be phenyl, 4-F-phenyl, 4-methoxy-phenyl, or thiophen-yl.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, substituted phenyl, thiophen-yl, substituted thiophen-yl, pyridinyl, substituted pyridinyl, thiazolyl, and substituted thiazolyl.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the compound of formula II is selected from the group consisting of:

3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(1-oxoisoindolin-5-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-6-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-3-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(5-carbamoylpyridin-2-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(6-carbamoylpyridin-3-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(1-oxo-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-6-yl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-5-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(1H-indazol-5-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridin-3-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(2-aminobenzo[d]thiazol-6-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(1H-indazol-6-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(quinolin-6-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(5-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(5-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-6-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(3-chloro-4-cyanophenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoyl-3-chlorophenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(isoquinolin-6-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(isoquinolin-7-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(1H-indol-5-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(2-oxoindolin-5-yl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-3-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-3-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(3-aminobenzo[d]isoxazol-6-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 5-(2-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-2-hydroxybenzoic acid; 3-(1-(3-aminobenzo[d]isoxazol-5-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydrobenzo[d]oxazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; and 3-(5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydrobenzo [d]oxazol-6-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid.

12. The method of claim 9 comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 9 together with a pharmaceutically accepted carrier or excipient.

13. A method of treatment of pulmonary hypertension, ARDS, asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis/interstitial lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula III or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

Ar is selected from the group consisting of aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl and substituted heteroaryl;

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

X 5 -X 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of N, C and S, wherein at least one X must be N or S;

R 8 and R 9 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, carbamoyl, substituted carbamoyl, sulfamoyl, substituted sulfamoyl, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, cyano, nitro, amino, CF 3 , carboxyl, ureido, sulfamoylamino, 2-amino-2-oxoethyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, C 1 -C 6 dialkylamino, arylamino, heteroarylamino, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkoxyl, aryl, aryloxyl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, and null if X 5 -X 8 are all N;

n is 0-3;

wherein Ar excludes substituted or unsubstituted indazol-3-yl and substituted or unsubstituted 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridyl.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, substituted phenyl, thiophen-yl, substituted thiophen-yl, pyridinyl, substituted pyridinyl, thiazolyl, substituted thiazolyl, bicyclic aryl, substituted bicyclic aryl, bicyclic heteroaryl, and substituted bicyclic heteroaryl.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the compound of formula III is selected from the group consisting of:

3-(1-(5-carbamoylthiophen-2-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid;

3-(1-(5-carbamoylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid;

3-(1-(4-carbamoylthiophen-2-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid;

3-(1-(5-carbamoylthiophen-3-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid;

3-(1-(4-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)thiazol-2-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; and 3-(1-(4-carbamoylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid.

16. A method of treatment of pulmonary hypertension, ARDS, asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis/interstitial lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula IV or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

Ar is selected from the group consisting of aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl and substituted heteroaryl;

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

R 10 is hydroxyl, carbamoyl, ureido, sulfamoylamino, 2-amino-2-oxoethyl, hydroxyethyl, pyridin-3-ylamino, piridin-4-ylamino, 1-methylpyrrolidin-3-yloxy, trifluoroacetyl, imidazol-1-yl, acetamido, methylsulfamido, 2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl, 2-hydroxyethylamino, and methylcarbamoyl;

n is 0-3;

wherein Ar excludes substituted or unsubstituted indazol-3-yl and substituted or unsubstituted 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridyl;

with the following proviso:

proviso IVa: when R 10 is hydroxyl or carbamoyl, Ar cannot be phenyl, 4-methyl-phenyl, 4-methoxy-phenyl, 4-halo-phenyl, or thiophen-yl when n is 0 or 1.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, substituted phenyl, thiophen-yl, substituted thiophen-yl, pyridinyl, substituted pyridinyl, thiazolyl, and substituted thiazolyl.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein Ar is selected from phenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl, 1H-imidazol-1-yl-phenyl, 2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl-phenyl, 1H-imidazol-1-yl-thiophen-2-yl, and 2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl-thiopheny-2-yl.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the compound of formula IV is selected from the group consisting of: 3-(1-(4-carbamoylphenyl)-5-(3-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-phenyl-1-(4-ureidophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-phenyl-1-(4-(sulfamoylamino)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)phenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)phenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 2-(1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)acetic acid; 3-(5-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(5-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(pyridin-3-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(1-methylpyrrolidin-3-yloxy)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(pyridin-4-ylamino)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-phenyl-1-(4-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-acetamidophenyl)-5-(4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-carbamoylphenyl)-5-(4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-(2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-1-(4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-acetamidophenyl)-5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(2-methoxy-4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-acetamidophenyl)-5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; 3-(1-(4-(2-hydroxyethylamino)phenyl)-5-(4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid; and 3-(1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(5-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propanoic acid.