Naphthalene anti-psoriatic agents

A composition in a form suitable for topical administration for treating the condition of psoriasis which composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable, non-toxic carrier and a psoriasis relieving amount of a compound of the formula ##STR14## wherein:

• R.sup.1 is lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms or phenoxy optionally substituted by one or two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo;
• R.sup.2 is the same as R.sup.1, or R.sup.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, phenyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl, wherein the phenyl ring of the phenyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl group is optionally substituted by one or two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo;
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, halo, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms, phenyl, phenyl-lower-alkyl or phenyl-lower-alkoxy, wherein the phenyl ring of the phenyl, phenyl-lower-alkyl or phenyl-lower-alkoxy group is optionally substituted by one to two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo;
• m is 1 or 2;
• and
• both X groups are the same and X is --C(O)OR.sup.4 or --C(O)NR.sup.5 R.sup.6, wherein
• R.sup.4 is alkyl of one to seven carbon atoms, phenyl or benzyl, wherein the phenyl ring of the phenyl or benzyl group is optionally substituted by one or two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo;
• and
• R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of five to eight carbon atoms or phenyl optionally substituted with one or two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo.

A method of treating psoriasis in mammals which comprises applying an effective amount of a compound of the formula ##STR15## wherein:

• R.sup.1 is lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms or phenoxy optionally substituted by one or two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo;
• R.sup.2 is the same as R.sup.1, or R.sup.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, phenyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl, wherein the phenyl ring of the phenyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl group is optionally substituted by one or two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo;
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, halo, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms, phenyl, phenyl-lower-alkyl or phenyl-lower-alkoxy, wherein the phenyl ring of the phenyl, phenyl-lower-alkyl or phenyl-lower-alkoxy group is optionally substituted by one or two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo;
• m is 1 or 2;
• and
• both X groups are the same and X is --C(O)OR.sup.4 or --C(O)NR.sup.5 R.sup.6, wherein
• R.sup.4 is alkyl of one to seven carbon atoms, phenyl or benzyl, wherein the phenyl ring of the phenyl or benzyl group is optionally substituted by one or two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo;
• and
• R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of five to eight carbon atoms or phenyl optionally substituted with one or two substituents chosen from lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms and halo.