The use of compounds of the present invention as antagonists and/or inverse agonists of the Cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor particularly in the treatment, prevention and suppression of diseases mediated by the Cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor. The invention is concerned with the use of these novel compounds to selectively antagonize the Cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor. As such, compounds of the present invention are useful as psychotropic drugs in the treatment of psychosis, memory deficits, cognitive disorders, migraine, neuropathy, neuro-inflammatory disorders including multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barre syndrome and the inflammatory sequelae of viral encephalitis, cerebral vascular accidents, and head trauma, anxiety disorders, stress, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia. The compounds are also useful for the treatment of substance abuse disorders, particularly to opiates, alcohol, and nicotine. The compounds are also useful for the treatment of obesity or eating disorders associated with excessive food intake and complications associated therewith. Novel compounds of structural formula (I) are also claimed.