A series of compounds was designed and prepared as inhibitors of interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE), also known as caspase-1. These inhibitors, which employ a diphenyl ether sulfonamide, were designed to improve potency by forming favorable interactions between the diphenyl ether rings and the prime side hydrophobic region. An X-ray crystal structure of a representative member of the diphenyl ether sulfonamide series bound to the active site ...
