Tricyclic compounds

A tricyclic compound represented by the formula:

• ##STR144## wherein:
• X.sub.1 -X.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.dbd.CH--;
• L is --CH.dbd.CH--;
• ------ is a single or double bond;
• W is selected from the group consisting of --S--, --CH.sub.2 --, or .dbd.CH--, and the left side of each formula is bound to the tricyclic nucleus;
• n is 0,1,2 or 3;
• Z is selected from the group consisting of --NR.sup.1 CO--, --NR.sup.1 SO.sub.2 -- --NR.sup.1 CONH--, --NR.sup.1 CSNH--, --NR.sup.1 NHCONH--, --NR.sup.1 NHCSNH--, --NR.sup.1 COO-- or --NR.sup.1 COS--, wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, and the right side of each formula is bound to Q;
• Q is selected from the group consisting of straight of branched alkyl having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, alicyclic alkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, lower alkenyl having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and optionally substituted carbocyclic aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, aralkenyl, furyl, thienyl, or coumarinyl wherein substitution means 1 to 3 substituents on the aromatic ring, independently selected from lower alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, halogen, triflouromethyl, nitro, OR.sup.2 and SR.sup.2, wherein R.sup.2 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;
• one of R.sup.A and R.sup.B is hydrogen and the other is --Y--M-- wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of single bond, --CR.sup.3 R.sup.4 --(CH.sub.2).sub.m -- and --CR.sup.3 .dbd.CR.sup.4 --(CH.sup.2).sub.m)-- and each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl and m is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the left side of each formula is bond to the tricyclic nucleus;
• M is --COOR.sup.5 and R.sup.5 is hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• each of G.sup.A and G.sup.B are independently lower alkyl, halogen or OR.sup.6 and R.sup.6 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;
• each of g.sup.A and g.sup.B are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.