Compounds containing phenyl linked to aryl or heteroaryl by an aliphatic-or heteroatom-containing linking group

A compound of formula I ##STR36## wherein R.sup.1 is optionally substituted lower alkyl;

• R.sup.2 is optionally substituted C.sub.3 -C.sub.15 alkyl, cycloalkyl substituted or optionally halo substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkenyl, optionally substituted or oxidized cyclothioalkyl, or optionally substituted or oxidized cyclothioalkenyl;
• R.sup.3 is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;
• Z, Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are independently oxygen or sulfur;
• Z.sup.3 is --C.tbd.C--, --CH.sub.2 --CZ--, --CZCH.sub.2 -- and --CZ--CZ--;
• X is halo, or
• an N-oxide thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, provided that
• when R.sup.1 is methyl, R.sup.2 is cyclopentyl, Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are oxygen and R.sup.3 is phenyl, then Z.sup.3 is other than --COCH.sub.2 --.