Macrolide compounds, their preparation and their use

A parasiticidal composition which comprises a carrier and a parasiticidally effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

• ##STR7## wherein:
• --X--Y-- is selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 --CHOH--, --CH.dbd.CH--, and --CH.sub.2 --C(.dbd.O)--;
• R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, a sec-butyl group and groups of formula --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CHR.sup.5 in which R.sup.5 is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group and an isopropyl group;
• R.sup.2 represents a group of formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --C(R.sup.6).dbd.C(R.sub.7)(R.sup.8) in which n is 0, 1 or 2, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 each is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a methyl group and R.sup.8 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, a phenyl group and a phenyl group substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, methyl and nitro substituents;
• R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a hydroxy-protecting group, an ester-forming carboxylic acid residue, and an ester-forming carbonic acid residue;
• and
• R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an .alpha.-L-oleandrosyl-.alpha.-L-oleandrosyloxy group, with the proviso that R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom when the group R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group, and groups of formula --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CHR.sup.5 in which R.sup.5 is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group and an isopropyl group.

A method of treating or protecting animals or plants from the group consisting of damage by parasites selected from acarids, helminths and insects, which method comprises applying to said animals, to said plants or to seeds of said plants or to a locus including said animals, plants or seed an effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

• ##STR8## wherein:
• --X--Y-- is selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 --CHOH--, --CH.dbd.CH--, and --CH.sub.2 --C(.dbd.O)--;
• R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, a sec-butyl group and groups of formula --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CHR.sup.5 in which R.sup.5 is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group and an isopropyl group;
• R.sup.2 represents a group of formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --C(R.sup.6).dbd.C(R.sup.7)(R.sup.8) in which n is 0, 1 or 2, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 each is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a methyl group and R.sup.8 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, a phenyl group and a phenyl group substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, methyl and nitro substituents;
• R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a hydroxy-protecting group, an ester-forming carboxylic acid residue, and an ester-forming carbonic acid residue;
• and
• R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an .alpha.-L-oleandrosyl-.alpha.-L-oleandrosyloxy group, with the proviso that R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom when the group R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group, and groups of formula --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CHR.sup.5 in which R.sup.5 is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group and an isopropyl group.