Compounds useful in treating sickle cell anemia

An anti-sickling pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier and an anti-sickling agent of the general formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

• ##STR24## wherein:
• R.sup.1 =HO or HOOC(CH.sub.2).sub.x CHR.sup.2 NH--;
• R.sup.2 =H, lower alkyl, benzyl or --CH.sub.2 OH;
• x=0 or 1;
• A=--(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- or ##STR25## n=1 to 5;
• and Y=H, Cl or OCH.sub.3 ;
• Z=H or Cl;
• m=0 or 1;
• with the proviso that where R.sup.1 =OH, Y is H or Cl and m=1, then n is 4 to 5;
• R=lower alkyl.

A method of treating a person for sickle cell anemia comprising administering to the person a therapeutically effective dosage of a compound of the general formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

• wherein:
• ##STR26## wherein:
• R.sup.1 =HO or HOOC(CH.sub.2).sub.X CHR.sup.2 NH--;
• R.sup.2 =H, lower alkyl, benzyl or --CH.sub.2 OH;
• x=0 or 1;
• A=--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --or ##STR27## n=1 to 5;
• and Y=H, Cl or OCH.sub.3
• Z=H or Cl
• m=0 or 1
• R=lower alkyl.