2-Mercapto-4,5-Diarylimidazole Derivatives and the use thereof as Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors

A compound of the formula I

• in which
• R1 is selected from:
• a) CONR5R6, in which R5 and R6, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form a saturated heterocyclic radical having 5 or 6 ring atoms and one or two heteroatoms which independently of one another are selected from N and O,
• b) C1-C6-alkylene-R7, where R7 is an aromatic heterocyclic radical having 5 or 6 ring atoms and one or two heteroatoms, which independently of one another are selected from N, S and O, where the heterocyclic radical can optionally be fused to a benzene ring, or
• c) C1-C6-alkylene-NR10-CO-R11;
• R10 is H or C1-C6-alkyl;
• R11 is
• a) CH═CH-phenyl, or
• b) an aromatic, heterocyclic radical having 5 or 6 ring atoms and 1 or 2 heteroatoms, which independently of one another are selected from N, O or S;
• R2 is H, C1-C6-alkyl or (CH2)oCOOH;
• R3 and R4, which can be identical or different, are H, OH, OC1-C6-alkyl, halogen or C1-C6-alkyl which is substituted by 1, 2 or 3 halogen atoms, where at least one of the radicals R3 and R4 is OH or OC1-C6-alkyl;
• n is 0, 1 or 2;
• and
• o is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;
• and the optical isomers and physiologically tolerable salts thereof.