Aromatic oligomeric compounds useful as mimics of bioactive macromolecules

A pharmaceutical composition comprising, in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a linear oligomeric compound according to the formula

• M.sub.i -(M.sub.n).sub.n -M.sub.t
• wherein:
• n represents a sequence of whole numbers beginning at 3 and having an upper limit of about 50;
• M.sub.i is ##STR50## M.sub.n is ##STR51## M.sub.t is ##STR52## where ##STR53## are independently aromatic carbocyclic or aromatic heterocyclic rings;
• where ##STR54## A.sub.n, B.sub.n, and X.sub.n may be the same or different for each of the (M.sub.n).sub.n groups in the n sequence;
• and
• A.sub.i, B.sub.i, A.sub.n, B.sub.n, A.sub.t, and B.sub.t are independently hydrogen, alkyl, aralkyl, cyano, alkoxyalkoxy, or --(CH.sub.2).sub.a --W--(CH.sub.2).sub.b --R.sub.s, where R.sub.s is NRR', COOR, CONRR', NR(COR'), PO(OR).sub.2, COR, SO.sub.2 OR, OSO.sub.2 OR, halogen, OR, SO.sub.2 R, SOR, SR, or CHO, and where a and b are independently 0 to about 4, (a+b) is less than about 5, W is --O--, --S--, --SO--, --SO.sub.2 --, --NR(COR')--, --NR--, or a bond, and R and R' are independently hydrogen, alkyl or aralkyl, provided that at least one of the substituent groups, A.sub.i, B.sub.i, A.sub.n, B.sub.n, A.sub.t, and B.sub.t, is --(CH.sub.2).sub.a --W--(CH.sub.2).sub.b --R.sub.s where R.sub.s is other than hydroxy or halogen;
• T.sub.i and T.sub.t are independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, cyano, alkoxyalkoxy, haloalkyl, hydroxy, tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, aralkoxy, aryloxy, alkoxyalkyl, aralkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, mercapto, mercaptoalkyl, alkylthio, aralkylthio, alkylthioalkyl, aralkylthioalkyl, arylthioalkyl, amino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, acylamino, acylaminoalkyl, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, aralkoxycarbonyl, aralkoxycarbonylalkyl, aryloxycarbonyloxy, formyl, formylalkyl, acyl, acyloxy, and acylalkyl;
• X.sub.i and X.sub.n are independently --(CR.sub.1 R.sub.2).sub.m --Y--(CR.sub.3 R.sub.4).sub.p -- where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are independently hydrogen or alkyl, m and p are independently 0 to about 5, provided that (m+p) is 0 to about 5, and Y is a bond or --O--, provided that when Y is --O--, then either m or p is 0;
• provided that at least one of A.sub.i, B.sub.i, A.sub.n, B.sub.n, A.sub.t, B.sub.t, T.sub.i and T.sub.t is NRR', COOR, NR(COR'), PO(OR).sub.2, COR, SO.sub.2 OR, OR, SO.sub.2 R, SR, or CHO;
• and provided further that when ##STR55## are all naphthalene, then at least one of A.sub.i, B.sub.i, A.sub.n, B.sub.n, A.sub.t, and B.sub.t is --(CH.sub.2).sub.a --W--(CH.sub.2).sub.b --R.sub.s where R.sub.s is COOR;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.