Disclosed herein are carbonyl compounds of having the structural formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug thereof, Methods and compositions are disclosed for treating disease states including, but not limited to cancers, autoimmune diseases, tissue damage, central nervous system disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, fibrosis, bone disorders, polyglutamine-repeat disorders, anemias, thalassemias, inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular conditions, and disorders in which angiogenesis play a role in pathogenesis, using the compounds of the invention. In addition, methods of modulating the activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC) are also disclosed.