The present invention provides compounds of formula I: ##STR00001## or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative o thereof, wherein A, B, R.sup.a, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are as described in the specification. These compounds are inhibitors of protein kinase, particularly inhibitors of JNK, a mammalian protein kinase involved cell proliferation, cell death and response to extracellular stimuli; Lck and Src kinase. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders.