| abstract |
Compounds of the general formula (1)wherein: =W- is =N-; Y is halogen or an alkyl or -XRa group; X is -O-, -S(O)m- or -N(Ra)-, where m is zero or an integer 1 or 2; Ra is hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl group; R2 is an optionally substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group; R3 is R13 or -L1R13, where R13 is a halogen atom, an optionally substituted straight or branched chain C2-6alkenyl group or an optionally substituted C6-12 monocyclic or bicyclic aryl group and L1 is an optionally substituted straight or branched chain C1-6alkylene, C2-6alkenylene or C2-6alkynylene group; R4 is a hydrogen atom or a group -(CH2)nAr where Ar is an optionally substituted monocyclic aryl group and n is zero or an integer 1, 2 or 3; R5 is hydrogen; R6 is an optionally substituted 2-, 3- or 4-pyridyl group; and each of R7 and R8 is independently hydrogen or an optionally substituted straight or branched alkyl group. Compounds of the general formula (1) and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates or N-oxides thereof are phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitors and are useful in the prophylaxis and treatment of disease such as asthma where an unwanted inflammatory response or muscular spasm is present. |