| abstract |
Compounds of formula <CHEM> wherein ----- is a single or double bond; Z is NH, methylene, a (C2-C6)alkylene chain optionally branched and/or unsaturated and/or interrupted by a (C5-C7)cycloalkyl residue; A is phenyl or heterocycle optionally substituted by one or more substituent(s) selected among oxo, nitro, carboxy groups and halogen atoms, or a COR4 group wherein R4 is hydroxy, (C1-C6)-alkoxy, amino optionally substituted by one or two (C1-C6)alkyl group(s) or by hydroxy; R is a (C1-C6)alkyl or polyfluoro(C1-C6)alkyl group; R1 is absent when ----- is a double bond or, when ----- is a single bond, is (a) hydrogen; (b) (C1-C6)alkyl optionally substituted by aryl, by heterocycle or by a COR5 group wherein R5 is hydroxy, (C1-C4)alkoxy or hydroxamino; (c)-COR6 wherein R6 is hydrogen, aryl, aryl-(C1-C6)alkyl, amino optionally alkylated or monohydroxylated, hydroxy, (C1-C4)alkoxy, carboxy, (C1-C4)alkoxycarbonyl, <CHEM> or (C1-C4)alkyl optionally substituted by heterocycle; (d) (C1-C4)-alkylsulfonyl; R2 represents two hydrogen atoms or a group =O when ----- is a single bond, or, when ----- is a double bond, R2 is hydrogen, cyano, (C1-C4)alkoxycarbonyl, amido, optionally substituted aryl or heterocycle, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C2-C8)alkenyl or (C2-C8)alkynyl optionally branched and/or substituted by aryl or heterocycle; aryloxy, heterocyclyloxy, aryl-(C1-C4)alkoxy, heterocyclyl-(C1-C4)alkoxy, amino substituted by one or two (C1-C4)-alkyl group(s), arylamino, heterocyclylamino, aryl-(C1-C4)alkylamino, heterocyclyl-(C1-C4)-alkylamino; R3 is hydrogen, or a (C1-C8)alkyl, (C2-C8)alkenyl or (C2-C8)alkynyl group optionally substituted by hydroxy, oxo, aryl or heterocycle, and optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatom(s) or heterogroup(s); the N->O derivatives of the compounds of formula I and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are PDE 4 inhibitors. |