Retinoid-like compounds

Abstract

The present invention relates to a compound of formula I ##STR1## or a nontoxic pharmaceutically acceptable salt, physiologically hydrolyzable ester or solvate thereof, in which X is --O--CO--, --NH--CO--, --CS--NH--, --CO--O--, --CO--NH--, --COS--, --SCO--, --SCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --C.tbd.C--, --CH.sub.2 --NH--, --COCH.sub.2 --, --NHCS--, --CH.sub.2 S--, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 --, --NHCH.sub.2 -- or --CR.sup.5 .dbd.CR.sup.6 --; R.sup.m and R.sup.k are independently hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 alkyloxy or nitro; n is zero or one; R.sup.4 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.t --Y, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, or C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl; R.sup.1 is --CO.sub.2 Z, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, CH.sub.2 OH, --CONHR.sup.y, or CHO; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl; R.sup.a and R.sup.b are independently hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl; but when n is one, R.sup.a and R.sup.b together can form a radical of the formula ##STR2## Y is naphthyl or phenyl, both radicals can be optionally substituted with one to three same or different C.sub.1-6 alkyl or halogen; Z is hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl; R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.y are independently hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl; and t is zero to six.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.