Compounds useful for lowering beta
amyloid levels are provided. The compounds have the structure of formula Ia: wherein, R1 is lower
alkyl, substituted lower
alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, benzyl, substituted benzyl, benzyloxy, substituted benzyloxy, or SO2R5; R5 is phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle,
alkyl, or substituted alkyl; R2 is lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, CF3, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, or cycloalkyl; R3 is
hydrogen, lower alkyl, or substituted lower alkyl; R4 is phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle,
thiophene, or substituted
thiophene; R6 is
hydrogen, lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, CF3, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, cycloalkyl, or substituted cycloalkyl; W, X and Y are independently CR7 or N; and R7 is
hydrogen,
halogen, lower alkyl, or substituted lower alkyl.