The invention provides inhibitors of focal adhesion kinase, an enzyme involved in the attachment of the cytoskeleton of a cell to an extracellular matrix, which has been implicated in processes such as cell migration, cell proliferation, and cell survival. The inhibitors are derivatives of a 5-substituted 2,4-diaminopyridine wherein the substituents are as defined herein. The invention also provides a method of using the inhibitors in treatment of cancer, and methods of preparation of the inhibitors by use of coupling reactions.