Polar substitutions in the benzenesulfonamide ring of celecoxib afford a potent 1,5-diarylpyrazole class of COX-2 inhibitors.

Several chemical modifications in the N(1)-benzenesulfonamide ring of celecoxib are presented. The series with a hydroxymethyl group adjacent to the sulfonamide was found to be the most potent modification that yielded many compounds selectively active against COX-2 enzyme in vitro.