The invention relates to
sulfonyl-containing 3,4-diaryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones compounds having formula (I) wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of 4-methylsulfonyl, 4-aminosulfonyl,
hydrogen, 2-, 3-, or 4-
halogen, C1-C6-
alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, amino or
trifluoromethyl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of 4-methylsulfonyl, 4-aminosulfonyl,
hydrogen, 2-, 3-, or 4-
halogen, C1-C6-
alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, amino or
trifluoromethyl; and R3 is selected from the group consisting of
hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, c-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl; provided that when R1 is a methylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl group, R2 is any group as defined above except a methylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl group; and when R2 is a methylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl group, R1 is any group as defined above except a methylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl group, also to processes for the preparation of such compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and to the medical use of such compounds in the treatment of diseases relating to the inhibition of
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).