Isoindolone compounds, compositions containing the same, and methods of use thereof for the treatment of viral infections related to the etiology of cancer

1. A compound of the formula

, including enantiomeric and diastereomeric isomers thereof and mixtures of said isomers,

wherein

Z is —H, —OH, alkoxy;

R 2 is an optionally substituted heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl group the optional substituents being at least one selected from the group consisting of halogen atom, NH2, SH, NO2, OH, unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkyloxy, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl group;

R 4 is H, alkoxy or aralkoxy; and

R 5 is F, Cl, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, and the pharmacologically acceptable salts of said compounds.

2. A method for the treatment of viral infection in a patient in need thereof, said virus being selected from the group consisting of HHV-8, HHV-4 and hepatitis B virus, said method comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the administration of a mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibitor and optionally an antiproliferative agent.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said MAPK pathway inhibitor is selected from the group of Bay 43-9006, CI-1040, AA-COCF3, Bryostatin, gefitinib, LY 294002, SP 600125.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising administration of said antiproliferative agent, said anti-proliferative agent being selected from the group of FTI 227, Bay 43-9006, CI-1040, AA-COCF3, Bryostatin, gefitinib, imatinib methanesulfonate, LY 294002, rhu Mab HER2, rapamycin, rapamycin analog CCI-779 , SP 600125, Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel.

6. A pharmaceutical composition-comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, said composition optionally comprising an antiproliferative agent or mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibitor selected from the group of FTI 227, Bay 43-9006, CI-1040, AA-COCF3, Bryostatin, gefitinib, imatinib methanesulfonate, LY 294002, rhu Mab HER2, rapamycin, rapamycin analog CCI-779 , SP 600125, Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel.

7. A compound of claim 1 , selected from the group consisting of 3-(4-Benzyloxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-3-methoxy-2-(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethyl)-2,3-dihydro-isoindol-1-one; and

3-(4-Benzyloxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethyl)-2,3-dihydro-isoindol-1-one.

8. A compound of the formula:

, including enantiomeric and diastereomeric isomers thereof and mixtures of said isomers,

wherein Het is a pyridyl group; n is 0,1 or 2; R 3 is alkyl ; R 4 is H, alkoxy or aralkoxy and R 5 is F, Cl, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl group, and the pharmacologically acceptable salts of said compound.

9. The compound of claim 8 , wherein each of R 4 and R 5 is methoxy or benzyloxy.

10. A compound of the formula:

, including enantiomeric and diastereomeric isomers thereof and mixtures of said isomers,

wherein Het is a piperidyl group; n is 0, 1 or 2; R 3 is alkyl; R 4 is H, alkoxy or aralkoxy and R 5 is F, Cl, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, and the pharmacologically acceptable salts of said compounds.

11. The compound of claim 10 , wherein each of R 4 and R 5 is methoxy or benzyloxy.