1,2,4-Triazolo[4,3-a]pyridines

A compound represented by the formula:

• ##STR14## and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R represents hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1-3 carbons, arylalkyl, --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 CN, ##STR15## --NO, --CH.sub.2 --O--CO--R, (wherein R is lower alkyl or dimethylaminomethyl), --N(R.sub.1 ').sub.2 (wherein R.sub.1 ' is hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1-3 carbons or arylalkyl), --S(O).sub.n CH.sub.3 or --CH.sub.2 --S(O).sub.n --CH.sub.3 wherein n is zero, one or two;
• X represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, or trifluoromethyl;
• and
• Y represents --OR.sub.2, --NHR.sub.2, --R.sub.2 or --S(O).sub.n R.sub.2 wherein n is zero, one or two and wherein R.sub.2 is -lower alkylene-vinyl, -lower alkylene-Ar, -lower alkene-Ar, -lower alkene -lower alkylene-Ar or -lower alkylene-O-Ar, in which Ar is substituted-phenyl, phenyl, thienyl, or pyridyl wherein the substituents on the substituted-phenyl are selected from one or more of --H, --Cl, --F, --CH.sub.3, --t-butyl, --CF.sub.3, --OCH.sub.3 and --OH;
• provided that when --R.sub.2 is --lower alkylene--O--Ar, Y is not --OR.sub.2, --NHR.sub.2 or --S(O).sub.n R.sub.2.