Pentadieneamides

A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound of the formula ##STR26## Y is O or S, *A is paraphenylene or *--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --(X).sub.m --(CH.sub.2).sub.r --, X is O, S or --CH.dbd.CH--, n or r, independently, are integers from 0 to 3, s is an integer from 0 to 1, m is an integer from 0 to 1, provided that when m is 1, n+s must be at least 2, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently, are hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkenyl, pyridinyl, naphthalenyl, phenyl or phenyl or naphthalenyl mono-, di- or trisubstituted by halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, phenyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.8, independently, are hydrogen, lower alkyl, naphthalenyl, phenyl or phenyl or naphthalenyl mono-, dior trisubstituted by halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, phenyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, independently, are hydrogen or lower alkyl, R.sub.7 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, pyridinyl-lower alkyl, naphthalenyl, phenyl or phenyl or naphthalenyl mono-, di- or trisubstituted by halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, phenyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, Het is pyridinyl unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl, halogen or phenyl, and the asterisk denotes the point of attachment, and when R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are different, an enantiomer or racemic mixture thereof, when R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are different, a geometric isomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, and an inert carrier.

A method of treating a disease state characterized by an excess of platelet activating factor which comprises administering to a host requiring such treatment an effective amount of a compound of the formula, ##STR27## Y is O or S, *A is paraphenylene or *--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --(X).sub.m --(CH.sub.2).sub.r --, X is O, S or --CH.dbd.CH--, n or r, independently, are integers from 0 to 3, s is an integer from 0 to 1, m is an integer from 0 to 1, provided that when m is 1, n+s must be at least 2, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently, are hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkenyl, pyridinyl, naphthalenyl, phenyl or phenyl or naphthalenyl mono-, di- or trisubstituted by halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, phenyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.8, independently, are hydrogen, lower alkyl, naphthalenyl, phenyl or phenyl or naphthalenyl mono-, dior trisubstituted by halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, phenyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, independently, are hydrogen or lower alkyl, R.sub.7 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, pyridinyl-lower alkyl, naphthalenyl, phenyl or phenyl or naphthalenyl mono-, di- or trisubstituted by halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, phenyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, Het is pyridinyl unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl, halogen or phenyl, and the asterisk denotes the point of attachment,

• and wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are different, an enantiomer or racemic mixture thereof, when R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are different, a geometric isomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.