The present invention relates to chemical compounds having a general formula I wherein A1, A2, C1, C2, D, L1, L2, Z and R3, R4, R6, R7 and R8 are defined herein, which are capable of modulating Aurora kinase protein activity, thereby influencing various disease states and conditions related to the activities of Aurora kinase proteins. For example, the compounds are capable of influencing the process of cell cycle and cell proliferation to treat cancer and cancer-related diseases. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions, processes of preparing compounds of the invention, synthetic intermediates and methods of treatment of conditions related to the activity of Aurora kinase.