Substituted .beta.-diketones

A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound according to formula Ib:

• ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1-6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro or amine, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, phenyl or naphthyl which are unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro, amine or carboxy or one of the following heteroaryl groups:
• pyridyl, quinolyl, thienyl or furyl which are unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro or amine;
• R.sub.3 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl which is substituted by hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro or amine, phenyl or naphthyl which are substituted by trifluoromethyl, cyano, or one of the following heteroaryl groups:
• quinolyl, thienyl or furyl which are substituted by hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro or amine or a salt thereof, provided that when R.sub.3 is substituted furyl it is not substituted by halogen or nitro and if R.sub.3 is a phenyl which is substituted by cyano then the cyano is not in the para position, to treat or prevent ulcers, lesions or like conditions in the gastrointestinal tract, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

A method of prophylaxis or treatment of ulcers, lesions or like conditions in the gastrointestinal tract comprising administering an effective amount of a compound according to formula Ib ##STR6## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1-6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro or amine, C.sub.1.notident. alkoxy, phenyl or naphthyl which are unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro, amine or carboxy or one of the following heteroaryl groups:

• quinolyl, thienyl or furyl which are unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro or amine;
• R.sub.3 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro or amine, a phenyl or naphthyl which are unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano, amine or carboxy or a diketo group attached to the aryl group directly or via a saturated hydrocarbon chain of 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an unsaturated hydrocarbon chain of 2 or 3 carbon atoms;
• or one of the following heteroaryl groups:
• pyridyl, quinolyl, thienyl or furyl which are unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, halogen, nitro or amino or a salt thereof to a patient in need of such prophylaxis or treatment;
• with the proviso that if R.sub.3 is phenyl, then the phenyl group can have only one or two substituents.