Imidazo[1,2-A]pyridines and use

A compound represented by the formula ##STR8## and the 2,3-dihydro,5,6,7,8-tetrahydro and 2,3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro derivatives thereof, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein:

• R.sub.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or hydroxyloweralkyl;
• R.sub.3 is lower alkyl, --CH.sub.2 CN, hydroxyloweralkyl, --NO, --CH.sub.2 N.dbd.C or ##STR9## (wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl) or hydrogen, provided R.sub.2 is not hydrogen;
• R.sub.4 is Z-T-W wherein Z represents --O--, --NH-- or a single bond;
• T represents a straight or branched chain lower alkylene group and when Z is a single bond, T also represents an ethenylene or a propenylene group wherein the unsaturated carbon is at the single bond and when Z is --O--, T also represents an allylene group wherein the saturated carbon is at the oxygen;
• W represents Ar and when T is allylene and Z is --O--, W represents hydrogen;
• Ar represents thienyl, pyridinyl, furanyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl wherein there are one or more substituents on the phenyl independently selected from halogen or lower alkyl;
• and
• R.sub.5 is hydrogen, halogen or lower alkyl.