The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I or II, or
pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters or prodrugs thereof:
##STR00001## which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the
activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the
compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the
hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present
invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the
aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from
HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV
infection in a subject by administering to the subject a pharmaceutical
composition comprising a compound of the present invention.