Indole carboxylate derivatives which inhibit leukotriene biosynthesis

A compound having the structure ##STR5## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein A is selected from the group consisting of straight or branched divalent alkylene of from one to twelve carbon atoms and divalent cycloalkylene of from three to eight carbon atoms;

• R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of
• hydrogen,
• alkylthio of from one to six carbon atoms,
• phenylthio, optionally substituted with alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, alkoxy of from one to six carbon atoms, or halogen,
• phenylalkylthio in which the alkyl portion contains from one to six carbon atoms, and the phenyl group is optionally substituted with alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, alkoxy of from one to six carbon atoms, or halogen,
• R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of
• --COOB wherein B is selected from hydrogen, a pharmaceutically acceptable cation, or a metabolically cleavable group,
• --COOalkyl where the alkyl portion contains from one to six carbon atoms,
• --COOalkylcarbocyclicaryl where the alkyl portion contains from one to six carbon atoms and the aryl portion is optionally substituted with alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, alkoxy of from one to six carbon atoms, or halogen,
• --CONR.sub.5 R.sub.6 wherein
• R.sub.5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, and alkoxy of from one to six carbon atoms, and
• R.sub.6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms,
• --COR.sub.6, and
• --OH;
• R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of
• phenylalkyl in which the alkyl portion contains from one to six carbon atoms, and the phenyl group is optionally substituted with alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, alkoxy of from one to six carbon atoms, or halogen,
• R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of
• thiazolylalkyloxy in which the alkyl portion contains from one to six carbon atoms, and the heteroaryl portion is optionally substituted with alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, alkoxy of from one to six carbon atoms, or halogen, and
• thiazolyloxy optionally substituted with alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, alkoxy of from one to six carbon atoms, or halogen.