Compounds of formula (I) having 1-sulfonamido-4-aryloxy as a basic backbone. A preliminary activity test showed that the compounds provide excellent interference of a binding of Nrf2 by Keap1, thereby activating Nrf2. The compounds have a potential anti-inflammatory activity and can be used to treat a plurality of inflammation-associated diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, gastroenteritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and the like.
