This invention is related to new histone deacetylase inhibitors according to the general formula (I) wherein: the dotted line is an optional additional bond n is zero or an integer from 1 to 4 R 1 is hydrogen C 1 -C 6 alkyl, optionally substituted by aryl or by heteroaryl (CO) R 3 (SO 2 ) R 4 aryl or heteroaryl R 2 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, optionally substituted by aryl or by heteroaryl aryl heteroaryl or (CO) R 5 X is CH 2 , oxygen or N R 6 Y is a bond, CH R 7 or N R 8 Z is oxygen, C R 9 R 10 or C= R 11 and R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 3 R 8 , R 9 , R 10 and R 11 are as further defined in the specification and pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof.