Method of treating autoimmune diseases

A method of treating an autoimmune disease selected from the group consisting of multiple sclerosis, and allergic encephalomyelitis which comprises oral or intravenous administration to a patient in need of such treatment from 1-50 mg/kg/day of a compound of formula:

• ##STR29## wherein R.sup.3 is
• 1. hydrogen,
• 2. methyl,
• 3. chloro, or
• 4. methoxy;
• R.sup.4 is
• 1. halo,
• 2. lower alkyl, or
• 3. adamantyl;
• R.sup.5 is
• 1. hydrogen,
• 2. lower alkyl,
• 3. lower alkoxy, or
• 4. halo;
• R.sup.6 is
• 1. halo,
• 2. lower alkyl,
• 3. lower alkylthio, or p2 4. trifluoromethyl;
• R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 taken together is -N.dbd.CH-CH.dbd.CH-, and
• R is
• 1. a spiro-carbocycle of 5,6, or 10-17 members, unsubstituted or substituted with
• a. lower alkyl,
• b. lower alkoxy,
• c. phenyl, or
• d. phenyl substituted with lower alkoxy, or
• e. lower alkanoyloxy;
• 2. a 6-membered spiroheterocycle containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen wherein the nitrogen heteroatom can be substituted with lower alkyl, phenyl-lower alkyl, or lower alkanoyl;
• 3. a spiro-polycycloalkyl of 6-15 members, or ##STR30##