This invention is directed to aminothiazole compounds of formula (I) wherein R<1> is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from: C1-6-alkyl; C1-6-alkenyl; C1-6-alkynyl; C1-6-alkoxyl; C1-6-alcohol; carbocyclic or heterocyclic, monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic, cycloalkyl; carbocyclic or heterocyclic, monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic, aryl; carbonyl; ether; (C1-6-alkyl)-carbonyl; (C1-6-alkyl)-aryl; (C1-6-alkyl)-cycloalkyl; (C1-6-alkyl)-(C1-6-alkoxyl); aryl-(C1-6-alkoxyl); thioether; thiol; and sulfonyl; wherein when R<1> is substituted, each substituent independently is a halogen; haloalkyl; C1-6-alkyl; C1-6-alkenyl; C1-6-alkynyl; hydroxyl; C1-6-alkoxyl; amino; nitro; thiol; thioether; imine; cyano; amido; phosphonato; phosphine; carboxyl; thiocarbonyl; sulfonyl; sulfonamide; ketone; aldehyde; ester; oxygen; carbocyclic or heterocyclic, monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic, cycloalkyl; or carbocyclic or heterocyclic, monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic, aryl; and R<2 >is a carbocyclic or heterocyclic, monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic, ring structure having a substituent at the position adjacent to the point of attachment, which ring structure is optionally further substituted, where each substituent of R<2> independently is a halogen; haloalkyl; C1-6-alkyl; C1-6-alkenyl; C1-6-alkynyl; hydroxyl; C1-6-alkoxyl; amino; nitro; thiol; thioether; imine; cyano; amido; phosphonato; phosphine; carboxyl; thiocarbonyl; sulfonyl; sulfonamide; ketone; aldehyde; ester; oxygen; carbocyclic or heterocyclic, monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic, cycloalkyl; or carbocyclic or heterocyclic, monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic, aryl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of formula (I), or a prodrug or pharmaceutically active metabolite of a compound of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), such as CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6.