| abstract |
Fused heterocyclic compounds of the formula (I): (See formula I) wherein R1 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon residue which may be attached through a hetero atom; R2 is a group capable of forming an anion or a group convertible thereinto; R3 is an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon or heterocyclic residue which contains at least one hetero atom; X is a direct bond or a spacer having an atomic length of two or less between the R3 group and the ring W group; W is an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon or heterocyclic residue which contains at least one hetero atom; a,c and d are independently selected from the group consisting of one or two optionally substituted carbon atoms and one or two optionally substituted hetero atoms; b and e are independently selected from the group consisting of one optionally substituted carbon atom and one optionally substituted nitrogen atom; the dotted line is a bond to form one double bond; n is an integer of 1 or 2 and when a, which is an optionally substituted carbon atom, is taken together with R1, the following group: (See formula II) may form a ring group; provided that when (See formula III) is a benzimidazole, thieno[3,4-d]imidazole, or thieno[2,3-d]imidazole ring, at least one of the group: (See formula IV) and R3 is an optionally substituted heterocyclic residue ; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, have potent angiotensin II antagonistic activity and antihypertensive activity, thus being useful as therapeutic agents for treating circulatory system diseases such as hypertensive diseases, heart diseases (e.g. hypercardia, heart failure, cardiac infarction, etc.), strokes, cerebral apoplexy, nephritis, etc. |