Methylphenidate derivatives and uses of them

A method of treating an angiogenic disease or condition in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I:

• or a salt or a prodrug thereof,
• where
• n is an integer from 1 to 5,
• each R1 is independently aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl, halogen, amino, nitro, sulfo or sulfhydryl, wherein
• each alkyl is optionally substituted with hydroxyl, amino or sulfhydryl;
• and
• R2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl.

A method of treating an ocular angiogenic disease or condition in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I:

• or a salt or a prodrug thereof,
• where
• n is an integer from 1 to 5,
• each R1 is independently aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl, halogen, amino, nitro, sulfo or sulfhydryl, wherein each alkyl is optionally substituted with hydroxyl, amino or sulfhydryl;
• and
• R2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl.

A method of treating a neoplastic disease in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I:

• or a salt or a prodrug thereof,
• where
• n is an integer from 1 to 5,
• each R1 is independently aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl, halogen, amino, nitro, sulfo or sulfhydryl, wherein each alkyl is optionally substituted with hydroxyl, amino or sulfhydryl;
• and
• R2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl.

A method of treating a proliferative disorder in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I:

• or a salt or a prodrug thereof,
• where
• n is an integer from 1 to 5,
• each R1 is independently aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl, halogen, amino, nitro, sulfo or sulfhydryl, wherein each alkyl is optionally substituted with hydroxyl, amino or sulfhydryl;
• and
• R2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl.

A compound of formula IA:

• where
• n is an integer from 1 to 5;
• each R1 is independently a moiety of the formula —C(O)—R8, —OR7 or —C(O)—O—R3;
• R2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• R3 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl;
• R7 is aryl;
• and
• R8 is cycloalkyl or aryl.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier and compound of formula IA or a salt or a prodrug thereof:

• where
• n is an integer from 1 to 5;
• each R1 is independently a moiety of the formula —C(O)—R8, —OR7 or —C(O)—O—R3;
• R2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• R3 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl;
• R7 is aryl;
• and
• R8 is cycloalkyl or aryl.