Tricyclic derivatives, compositions and methods of use

A compound of the Formula I:

• ##STR58## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein:
• T and U each represents .dbd.CH--;
• one of V and W represents oxygen and the other represents --CH.sub.2 --;
• or each of V and W represents --CH.sub.2 --;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and halogen;
• R.sup.3 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, acyloxymethyl, alkoxy, alkoxymethyl, or alkyl substituted with cycloalkyl;
• R.sup.4 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, or --OH;
• Z - - - - -N represents an optional double bond;
• when Z - - - - -N is a double bond, Z represents --CH.dbd., or --CH.sub.2 C(R.sup.5).dbd., wherein R.sup.5 is H or lower alkyl;
• and R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 together represent OR.sup.9 ;
• when Z - - - - -N represents a single bond, Z represents a direct bond, --CH.sub.2 --, --CH.dbd.CH--, or --CH.sub.2 C(R.sup.5)(R.sup.6)--, wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently H or lower alkyl (provided that, when R.sup.3 is --CH.sub.3, Z is not --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --);
• and R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, --OR.sup.9 ;
• --C(O)OR.sup.10 ;
• --CH.sub.2 C(O)OR.sup.9 ;
• --C(O)R.sup.10 ;
• --SO.sub.2 R.sup.10 ;
• --CO-4-pyridyl-N-oxide;
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, where n is 2 to 4;
• or --(CH.sub.2).sub.m O(CH.sub.2).sub.j OH, where m and j are independently 2 or 3;
• ##STR59## R.sup.9 is H or lower alkyl;
• and R.sup.10 is alkyl or aryl.