1.4-Dihydropyridines

A compound of the formula ##STR19## or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Ar is 2- or 3-nitrophenyl, 2,3-dichlorophenyl, 2-trifluoromethylphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-pyridyl or 2-chloropyrid-3-yl;

• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, independently, selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, butyl, methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, methoxypropyl, aminomethyl, 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl, dimethylaminoethyl, 2-carboxyethyl, ethoxycarbonylmethyl.
• X is --CH.sub.2 O--, --CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --;
• and
• R.sup.3 is 3-pyridyl or 1-imidazolyl.

A method of inhibiting blood platelet aggregation in a mammal, including man, in need thereof, comprising administering to such mammal an amount effective to inhibit blood platelet aggregation of a compound of the formula ##STR20## of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Ar is 2- or 3-nitrophenyl, 2,3-dinitrophenyl, 2-3,dichlorophenyl, 3-chloro-2-nitrophenyl, 2-chloro-3-nitrophenyl, 2-trifluoromethylphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, mono-chloropyridyl, or 4- or 7-benzimidazolyl;

• R is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, benzyl, carbethoxymethyl or carbmethoxymethyl;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently, selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, butyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxypropyl, aminomethyl, 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl, dimethylaminoethyl, 2-carboxyethyl, methoxycarbonylmethyl, ethoxycarbonylmethyl, pyridylmethyl, pyridylethyl, imidazolylmethyl or imidazolethyl;
• X is --CH.sub.2 O--, --CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 - or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --;
• and
• R.sup.3 is 2-, or 3-pyridyl or 1- or 3-imidazolyl.

A method of inhibiting thromboxane synthetase in a mammal, including man, in need thereof, comprising administering to such mammal an amount effective to inhibit thromboxane synthetase of a compound of the formula ##STR21## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Ar is 2- or 3-nitrophenyl, 2,3-dinitrophenyl, 2-3,dichlorophenyl, 3-chloro-2-nitrophenyl, 2-chloro-3-nitrophenyl, 2-trifluoromethylphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, mono-chloropyridyl, or 4- or 7-benzimidazolyl;

• R is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, benzyl, carbethoxymethyl or carbmethoxymethyl;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently, selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, butyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxypropyl, aminomethyl, 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl, dimethylaminoethyl, 2-carboxyethyl, methoxycarbonylmethyl, ethoxycarbonylmethyl, pyridylmethyl, pyridylethyl, imidazolylmethyl or imidazolethyl;
• X is --CH.sub.2 O--, --CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --;
• and R.sup.3 is 2-, or 3-pyridyl or 1- or 3-imidazolyl.

A method of inhibiting phospholipase A.sub.2 (PLA.sub.2) in a mammal, including man, in need thereof, comprising administering to such mammal an amount effective to inhibit phospholipase A.sub.2 (PLA.sub.2) of a compound of the formula ##STR22## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Ar is 2-nitrophenyl;

• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, independently, methyl or ethyl;
• X is --CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O-- or --CH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --;
• and
• R.sup.3 is 3-pyridyl or 1-imidazolyl.