The invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for the treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions that are modulated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The disease, disorder, or condition can include, for example, stroke, neurological disorders, or ophthalmological disorders. The treatment can include administering a compound or composition described herein, thereby providing a prodrug compound that metabolizes to an active MMP inhibitor in vivo. The MMP inhibition can be selective inhibition, for example, selective inhibition of MMP-2, MMP-9, and/or MMP-14. Thus, the invention provides non-mutagenic prodrug compounds of the formulas described herein that result in the inhibition of MMPs upon in vivo administration.