The present application provides novel heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also provided are methods for preparing these compounds. These compounds are useful for inhibiting ERK1/2. By administering to a patient in need a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the compounds of formula (I), wherein X, Y, Z, J, M, and R1 to R8 are defined herein, these compounds are effective in treating conditions associated with dysregulation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway. A variety of conditions can be treated using these compounds and include diseases which are characterized by abnormal cellular proliferation. In one embodiment, the disease is cancer.