23-Ester derivatives of DMT and method of using same

A compound of the formula ##STR7## wherein R is selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkanoyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkanoyl having from one to three halo substituents, benzoyl, phenylacetyl or phenylpropionyl or benzoyl, phenylacetyl, or phenylpropionyl having on the phenyl ring from one to five halo or methyl or from one to two methoxyl, nitro or hydroxyl groups;

• and R.sup.1 is an acyl group selected from:
• ##STR8## p is 0 or 1;
• m and n are integers from 0 to 4;
• R.sup.2 is hydrogen, halo, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, phenyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkenyl, naphthyl, indenyl, tetralinyl, decalinyl, adamantyl, cinnoxacinyl, a monocyclic heterocyclic ring system comprising 3 to 8 atoms or a bicyclic heterocyclic ring system comprising 6 to 11 atoms, provided that at least 1 atom of the ring system is carbon and at least 1 atom of the ring system is a heteroatom selected from O, N, and S;
• and wherein R.sup.2 and the connecting alkyl groups --(CH.sub.2).sub.m -- and --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- are optionally substituted by one or two halo, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, nitro, acetoxy, acetamido, azido, carbomethoxy, carboxamido, cyano, or hydroxyl groups, provided that, when the substituent is other than halo or alkyl, there can be no more than one substituent on any connecting --CH.sub.2 -- group;
• X is O, S, --NH--, --N(CH.sub.3)--, --C.tbd.C--, --CH.dbd.CH--, --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CH--, --CH.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)-- or --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.C(CH.sub.3)--;
• R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl, phenyl or benzyl or phenyl or benzyl having on the phenyl ring from one to five halo or methyl or from one to two methoxy, nitro or hydroxyl groups;
• and the acid addition salts thereof.