| abstract |
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R is H or C1-C4 alkyl; R?1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7¿ are each independently selected from H, C¿1?-C4 alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy and halo; R?8¿ is -COOH, -COOR12 or tetrazol-5-yl; R9 is optionally substituted C¿1?-C12 alkyl,C4-C12 alkenyl, C4-C12 alkynyl or C4-C7 cycloalkyl; R?10 and R11¿, taken together, represent a group of formula (a) where W is directly attached to the substituted phenyl ring; R12 is a biolabile ester-forming group; R?13 and R14¿ are either each independently selected from H and C¿1?-C4 alkyl or, when taken together, represent C3-C6 alkylene; X is a direct link or C1-C6 alkylene; Y is C1-C6 alkylene; W is methylene, O, S, SO or SO2; and Z is methylene, -CH(C1-C4 alkyl)-, -C(C1-C4 alkyl)2-, carbonyl or thiocarbonyl together with compositions containing: processes for the preparation of, uses of and intermediates used in the preparation of, such compounds. The compounds are steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors useful for treating diseases such as benign prostactic hypertrophy. |