Cytoprotective guanidine derivatives useful in ischemic diseases

Abstract

Compounds of the general formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which are the same or different, represent hydrogen or methyl, or taken together, form the amidine system to which an imidazole or imidazoline ring is bound; R.sub.4 is a linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl group; cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or hetaryl group; R.sub.5 is hydrogen or methyl; A is a propylene chain optionally substituted by one or two methyl groups in one or more of the positions thereof; a chain of formula --HN--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- or of formula --N.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --; a 1,4-cyclohexylene group optionally substituted by one or more methyl groups; a 1,4- phenylene group optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms, alkyl groups or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy group with the proviso that, when R.sub.4 is methyl or ethyl and R.sub.1 =R.sub.2 =R.sub.3 =R.sub.5 are hydrogen, A is different from an unsubstituted propylene chain, are therapeutically useful as antilischemic, cytoprotective and cardioprotective agents.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.