Macrocyclic inhibitors of hepatitis C virus

1. A compound having the formula

a N-oxide, salt, or stereoisomer thereof, wherein

X is N, CH and where X bears a double bond it is C;

R 1 is —OR 5 , —NH—SO 2 R 6 ;

R 2 is hydrogen, and where X is C or CH, R 2 may also be C 1-6 alkyl;

R 3 is hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxyC 1-6 alkyl, or C 3-7 cycloalkyl;

R 4 is isoquinolinyl optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, polyhalo-C 1-6 alkyl, polyhaloC 1-6 alkoxy, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylaminocarbonyl, C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl-amino, aryl, and Het;

n is 3, 4, 5, or 6;

wherein each dashed line (represented by - - - - -) represents an optional double bond;

R 5 is hydrogen; aryl; Het; C 3-7 cycloalkyl optionally substituted with C 1-6 alkyl; or C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl or with Het;

R 6 is aryl; Het; C 3-7 cycloalkyl optionally substituted with C 1-6 alkyl; or C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl or with Het;

each aryl as a group or part of a group is phenyl optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents selected from halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, C 1-6 alkoxyC 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino, azido, mercapto, polyhaloC 1-6 alkyl, polyhaloC 1-6 alkoxy, cyclopropyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylpiperazinyl,

4-C 1-6 alkylcarbonylpiperazinyl, and morpholinyl; and wherein the morpholinyl and piperidinyl groups may optionally substituted with one or two C 1-6 alkyl radicals; and

each Het as a group or part of a group is a 5 or 6 membered saturated, partially unsaturated or completely unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and being optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, C 1-6 alkoxyC 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl, amino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino, azido, mercapto, polyhaloC 1-6 alkyl, polyhaloC 1-6 alkoxy, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkyl-piperazinyl,

4-C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl-piperazinyl, and morpholinyl and wherein the morpholinyl and piperidinyl groups may optionally substituted with one or two C 1-6 alkyl radicals.

2. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein the compound has the formula (I-c), (I-d), or (I-e):

3. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 4 is

wherein each R 4b and R 4b′ are, independently, hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylamino, mono- or diC 1-6 alkylaminocarbonyl, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, aryl, or Het; and

R 4d or R 4d′ independently are hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, or halo.

4. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 4 is

wherein R 4a is selected from the following moieties

wherein R 4c is, each independently, hydrogen, halo, C 1-6 alkyl, amino, or mono- or di-C 1-6 alkylamino, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkyl-piperazinyl; and

R 4b is hydrogen, halo, or trifluoromethyl.

5. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein

a) R 1 is —OR 5 , wherein R 5 is C 1-6 alkyl or hydrogen; or

b) R 1 is —NHS(═O) 2 R 6 , wherein R 6 is methyl, cyclopropyl, methylcyclopropyl, or phenyl.

6. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 3 is hydrogen or C 1-6 alkyl.

7. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein n is 4 or 5.

8. A compound according to claim 1 , other than an N-oxide, or salt.

9. A combination comprising

(a) a compound as defined in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and

(b) ritonavir, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

10. A composition comprising a compound as claimed in claim 1 in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

11. A composition comprising a combination as claimed in claim 9 in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.