Thiochroman esters of phenols and terephthallates having retinoid-like activity

A Compound of the formula ##STR9## in which:

• the R groups are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• R.sub.5 is lower alkyl, R.sub.5 being attached to the thiochroman ring at the 6 or at the 7-position;
• one of A and B is O or S and the other is --C(O)--, being attached to the thiochroman ring at the unoccupied 6 or 7-position;
• n is 0-5;
• and
• Z is H, or Z is --COD where D is --OH, or OM wherein M is a pharmaceutically acceptable cation, or D is OR.sub.1 where R.sub.1 is a lower alkyl group, or D is --N(R.sub.4).sub.2 where
• R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, or Z is --OE where E is hydrogen or a C.sub.1-20 aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aliphatic-phenyl ether-forming group, or a C.sub.1-10 aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carboxylic acid ester forming group, or a phenyl or lower alkyl phenyl carboxylic acid ester forming group, or Z is --CHO or an acetal derivative thereof formed with a lower alkyl or cycloalkyl alcohol, or an acetal derivative thereof formed with an alkyl diol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or Z is --COR.sub.3 where R.sub.3 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.m CH.sub.3 where m is 0-4 and the sum of n and m does not exceed 4, or a ketal derivative thereof formed with a lower alkyl or cycloalkyl alcohol, or a ketal derivative thereof formed with an alkyl diol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.