1,1-bis(heteroazolyl)alkane derivatives and their use as neuroprotective agents

A method for the treatment of acute and chronic neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by progressive processes leading to neuronal cell death and dysfunction, which comprises administering to a host in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the general formula (2) ##STR34## wherein X, and X.sub.2 are independently O or S;

• and W is O, S, NH or N-lower alkyl,
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent at least one group independently selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl, lower acyloxy-lower alkyl and CF.sub.3 ;
• R.sub.3 is H, lower alkyl or lower acyl,
• or WR.sub.3 is H, and
• R.sub.4 is lower alkyl or lower perfluoro-alkyl, or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 together form a ring ##STR35## wherein n is 2, 3 or 4.

A method for the treatment of acute and chronic neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by progressive processes leading to neuronal cell death and dysfunction which comprises administering to a host in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the general formula (3) ##STR36## wherein X, and X.sub.2 or independently O or S;

• W is O, NH or N-lower alkyl;
• and
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent at least one group independently selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl, lower acyloxy-lower alkyl and CF.sub.3 ;
• R.sub.3 is H, lower alkyl or lower acyl,
• or WR.sub.3 is H, and
• R.sub.4 is lower alkyl or lower perfluoro-alkyl, or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 together form a ring ##STR37## wherein n is 2, 3 or 4.