Macrocyclic inhibitors of hepatitis c virus

Pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of formula (1) and processes for preparing compounds of formula (1). Bioavailable combinations of the HCV inhibitors of formula (1) with ritonavir are also provided. Claim 1: A compound having the formula (1) or a salt thereof, wherein each dotted line (represented by - - - - -) represents an optional double bond; X is N, CH and when X has a double bond it is C; R1 is -OR7, -NH-SO2R8; R2 is hydrogen and when X is C or CH, R2 can also be C1-6 alkyl; R3 is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy-C1-6 alkyl, C3-7 cycloalkyl; R4 is aryl or Het; n is 3, 4, 5 or 6; R 5 represents halo, C 1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C 1-6 alkoxy, C 1-6 polyhaloalkyl, phenyl or Het; R6 represents C1-6 alkoxy or dimethylamino; R7 is hydrogen; aryl; Het; C3-7 cycloalkyl; optionally substituted with C1-6 alkyl; or C1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with C3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl or with Het; R8 is aryl; Het; C3-7 cycloalkyl optionally substituted with C1-6 alkyl; or C1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with C3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl or with Het; aryl as a group or part of a group is phenyl optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents selected from halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C1-6 alkoxy-C1-6 alkyl , C1-6 alkylcarbonyl, amino, mono- or di- C1-6 alkylamino, azido, mercapto, C1-6 polyhaloalkyl, C1-6 polyhaloalkoxy, C3-7 cycloalkyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-C1-6 alkyl piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl-piperazinyl and morpholinyl; wherein the morpholinyl and piperidinyl groups may be optionally substituted with one or two C1-6 alkyl radicals; Het as a group or part of a group is a saturated, partially unsaturated or completely unsaturated 5 or 6-membered heterocyclic ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms, each independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, said heterocyclic ring being optionally condensed with a benzene ring; and wherein said het as a whole is optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents, each independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C1- alkoxy 6-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl, amino, mono- or di- C 1-6 alkylamino, azido, mercapto, C 1-6 polyhaloalkyl, C 1-6 polyhaloalkoxy, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4 -C 1-6 alkyl piperazinyl, 4-C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl-piperazinyl and morpholinyl; wherein the morpholinyl and piperidinyl groups may be optionally substituted with one or two C1-6 alkyl radicals; characterized in that it is a compound of formula (2) or a salt thereof.