The invention relates to dihydroimidazoles of formula rac-(I), wherein the radicals and symbols are as defined herein; their use as inhibitors of the interaction of the MDM2 protein with a p53-like peptide, new pharmaceutical formulations comprising said compounds, said compounds for use in the therapeutic treatment of warm-blooded animals, especially humans, their use in the treatment of proliferative diseases or for the manufacture of pharmaceutical formulations useful in the treatment of proliferative diseases that respond to modulation of the interaction of the MDM2 protein with a p53-like peptide, a pharmaceutical formulation e.g. useful in the treatment of proliferative diseases that respond to modulation of the interaction of the MDM2 protein with a p53-like peptide comprising said compound, methods of treatment comprising administration of said compounds to a warm-blooded animal, and/or processes for the manufacture of said compounds.