The present invention relates to the synthesis of a new class of indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-4-ones of formula (I): that are potent inhibitors of the class of enzymes known as cyclin dependent kinases, which relate to the catalytic subunits cdk1-7 and their regulatory subunits know as cyclins A-G. This invention also provides a novel method of treating cancer or other proliferative diseases by administering a therapeutically effective amount of one of these compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form thereof. Alternatively, one can treat cancer or other proliferative diseases by administering a therapeutically effective combination of one of the compounds of the present invention and one or more other known anti-cancer or anti-proliferative agents.