Naphthalene anti-psoriatic agents

A method of treating psoriasis in mammals which comprises applying an effective amount of a compound of the formula ##STR12## wherein:

• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms or lower alkylthio of one to six carbon atoms;
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms, phenyl optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino, phenyl lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino, phenyl lower alkoxy optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino, amino, lower alkylamino, lower dialkylamino, halo, cyano, or S(O).sub.n R wherein R is lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms;
• phenyl optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino;
• phenyl lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino;
• or heterocyclic aryl selected from the group consisting of thiapyranyl, benzothiapyranyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, indolyl, quinolinyl and indazolyl wherein the heterocyclic aryl is optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo and cyano and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof;
• and n is 0, 1 or 2;
• and
• W is alkyl of one to seven carbon atoms.

A compound of the formula ##STR13## wherein:

• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms or lower alkylthio of one to six carbon atoms;
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms, phenyl optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino, phenyl lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino, phenyl lower alkoxy optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino, amino, lower alkylamino, lower dialkylamino, halo, cyano, or S(O).sub.n R wherein R is lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms;
• phenyl optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino;
• phenyl lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, lower acyl, lower acyloxy, cyano, nitro or lower acylamino;
• or heterocyclic aryl selected from the group consisting of thiapyranyl, benzothiapyranyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, indolyl, quinolinyl and indazolyl wherein the heterocyclic aryl is optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo and cyano and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof;
• and n is 0, 1 or 2;
• and
• W is alkyl of one to seven carbon atoms;
• with the proviso that R.sup.3 is not hydrogen when R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are methoxy and W is methyl.