Hydroxyl ions as unique therapeutic agents and compounds that modulate these ions

A hydroxyl ion modulating compound having the formula ##STR16## wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and substituted counterparts thereof;

• each R.sup.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and substituted counterparts thereof;
• R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclic including at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, S and O, hetercyclicalkyl including at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, S and O, and substituted counterparts thereof, provided that when R.sup.2 is H, n-alkyl, CH.sub.2 OH or phenylalkyl, one or both RR.sup.3 CHCHR.sup.1 -- groups are other than CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.3 CHOHCH.sub.2 --;
• each R.sup.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxy, aryl and substituted counterparts thereof, provided that at least one R is hydroxyalkyl or at least one R.sup.3 is hydroxy or hydroxyalkyl;
• and Y.sup.+ is selected from the group consisting of Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, Li.sup.+, (CH.sub.3).sub.4 N.sup.+, (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.4 N.sup.+, C.sub.6 H.sub.5 (CH.sub.3).sub.3 N.sup.+, guanidinium.