A is (CH₂)_q;

R¹ is C(═O)R⁴, C(═O)X, or S(O)_pR⁴;

X is NR⁵R⁶ or OR¹¹;

R^2a and R^2b are (A), independently

(i) hydrogen,

(ii) C_1-10 alkyl,

(iii) C_2-10 alkenyl

(iv) C_1-10 haloalkyl,

(v) C_3-7 cycloalkyl,

(vi) C_3-7 cycloalkyl-C_1-3 alkyl,

(vii) C_1-10 heteroalkyl,

(viii) C_1-10 alkylidene,

(ix) C_1-10 heteroalkylidene,

(x) aryl,

(xi) aryl-C_1-3 alkyl,

(xii) heteroaryl,

(xiii) heteroaryl-C_1-3 alkyl,

(xiv) C_1-10 alkyl wherein 2 or 3 nonadjacent carbon atoms are independently replaced with —O—, —S(O)_p—, —NH— or NR⁵,

(xv) —(CH₂)_wR⁸ wherein w is an integer from 2 to 6, and the C₂-C₆ alkylene chain optionally contains a double bond;

(xvi) —(CH₂)_wCH═NR⁹ wherein w is an integer from 2 to 6; or

(B), together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, are o-phenylene optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C_1-6 alkyl, C_1-6 haloalkyl, C_1-6 alkoxy, C_1-6 thioalkyl, C_1-6 alkylsulfonyl, hydroxyl, halogen, NR^5aR^6a, cyano and nitro with the proviso that if R^2a, R^2b, together with the carbon atoms to which they are optionally substituted o-phenylene, m is 1;

R³ is (i) C_1-10 alkyl,

(ii) C_2-10 alkenyl

(iii) C_1-10 heteroalkyl,

(iv) C_3-7 cycloalkyl,

(v) C_1-6 alkyl-C_3-7 cycloalkyl,

(vi) heterocycle C_1-6 alkyl,

(vii) aryl,

(viii) aryl-C_1-3 alkyl,

(ix) heteroaryl,

(x) heteroaryl C_1-6 alkyl,

(xi) C(═O)R^3a wherein R^3a is C_1-10 alkyl, C_2-10 alkenyl or C_3-7 cycloalkyl, or

(xii) a fragment of formula IIa-IIc;

R⁴ is (i) C_1-10 alkyl,

(ii) C_3-7 cycloalkyl-C_1-10 substituted alkyl,

(iii) heterocycle,

(iv) aryl, or

(v) heteroaryl;

R⁵ and R⁶ are (A) when taken independently are hydrogen, C_1-10 alkyl, C_1-10 heteroalkyl, C_3-7 cycloalkyl, C_1-6 alkyl-C_3-7 cycloalkyl, heterocycle C_1-6 alkyl, aryl, aryl-C_1-3 alkyl, heteroaryl or heteroaryl C_1-6 alkyl; or,

(B) C_3-6 alkylene or [(CH₂)₂]₂O thereby forming a morpholine ring when taken together;

R^5a and R^6a are (A) hydrogen, C_1-6 alkyl or C_1-6 alkylcarbonyl when taken independently or (B) C_3-6 alkylene or [(CH₂)₂]₂O when taken together;

R⁷ is hydrogen, cyano or C_1-6 alkyl;

R⁸ is —CN, —NO₂, —CONR^5aR^6a, COR⁹, —NHSO₂C_1-6 alkyl;

R⁹ is OH or C_1-6 alkoxy;

R¹⁰ is N or N⁺—O⁻;

R¹¹ is C_1-10 alkyl, C_1-10 heteroalkyl, C_3-7 cycloalkyl, C_1-6 alkyl-C_3-7 cycloalkyl, heterocycle C_1-6 alkyl, aryl, aryl-C_1-3 alkyl, heteroaryl or heteroaryl C_1-6 alkyl;

m is 0;

n is independently 0 to 2;

o is independently 0 or 1;

p is 0 to 2;

q is 3;

wherein,

each said heteroaryl is independently selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, 1-oxy-pyridinyl, pyrimidyl, oxypyrimdinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl indolinyl, N-Boc-indolinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzofuranyl, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzofuranyl and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridinyl;

each said aryl and said heteroaryl are optionally independently substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C_1-6 alkyl, C_1-6 haloalkyl, C_1-6 alkoxy, C_1-6 haloalkoxy, C_1-6 thioalkyl, aryl, aryl C_1-3 alkyl, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, thioaryl, thioheteroaryl, aryl C_1-3 alkoxy, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, heterocycle C_1-6 alkyl, C_1-6 alkylsulfonyl, —NHSO₂C_1-6 alkyl, SO₂NR^5aR^6a, (CH₂)_uCO₂R⁹, (CH₂)_uCONR^5aR^6a, —X¹C(═O)X², C_1-10 alkylcarbonyl, halogen, NR^5aR^6a, cyano, nitro and C_1-10 alkyl wherein 2 or 3 nonadjacent carbon atoms are independently replaced with —O—, —S(O)_p—, —NH— or NR⁵, wherein u is an integer from 0 to 6, X¹ is NR^5b or O; X² is NR⁵R⁶ or OR³ and R^5b is H or C_1-6 alkyl;

each said heterocycle is independently selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidinyl, 1-methyl-pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, dioxolanyl and pyranyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy C_1-6 alkyl, C_1-6 haloalkyl, C_1-6 alkoxy, C_1-6 thioalkyl, C_1-6 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, NR^5aR^6a, cyano and nitro;

pure enantiomers, partially resolved enantiomers, racemic mixtures and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof.