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 the same and are lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms, lower alkylthio of one to six carbon atoms, phenoxy or phenylthio optionally substituted by one or two lower carbon atoms or halo;
• R.sup.3 is lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms, or halo and m is 0, 1 or 2 or R.sup.3 is optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted phenyl lower alkyl, optionally substituted phenyl lower alkoxy lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkylamino, lower dialkylamino, cyano, or S(O).sub.n R wherein R is lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms;
• optionally substituted phyenyl;
• optionally substituted phenyl lower alkyl;
• or heterocyclic aryl of three to nine ring atoms containing one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur wherein the heterocyclic aryl is optionally substituted by one or more substitutents selected form the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo and cyano and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof;
• and m is 1 and n is 0, 1 or 2;
• and
• W is alkyl of one to seven carbon atoms, phenyl of benzyl optionally substituted by one or two lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms or alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four halo;
• with the proviso that when R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 alkoxy or alkylthio and W is alkyl, m is 2.

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

• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same and are lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms, lower alkylthio of one to six carbon atoms, phenoxy or phenylthio optionally substituted by one or two lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy or one to four carbon atoms or halo;
• R.sup.3 is lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms, or halo and m is 0, 1 or 2 or optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted phenyl lower alkyl, optionally substituted phenyl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkylamino, lower dialkylamino, cyano, or S(O).sub.n R wherein R is lower aklyl of one to six carbon atoms;
• optionally substituted phenyl;
• optionally substituted phenyl lower alkyl;
• or heterocyclic aryl of three to nine ring atoms containing one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur wherein the heterocyclic aryl is optionally substituted by one or more substitutents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo and cyano and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof;
• and m is 1 and n is 0, 1 or 2;
• and
• is alkyl of one to seven carbon atoms, phenyl or benzyl optionally substituted by one or two lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms or halo;
• with the proviso that when R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkoxy or alkylthio and W is alkyl, m is 2.