Tricyclic compounds useful for inhibition of g-protein function and for treatment of proliferative diseases

A method for treating human epidermal carcinoma or human colon adenocarcinoma in humans in need of such treatment comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of formula (Ib) ##STR119## wherein:

• R and R.sup.1 are independently selected from H, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, halogeno, OH, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkoxy, NH.sub.2, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkylamino, di((C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl)amino, CF.sub.3, SO.sub.3 H, CO.sub.2 R.sup.3, NO.sub.2, SO.sub.2 NH.sub.2, and CONHR.sup.4 ;
• R.sup.2 is R.sup.5 SO.sub.2 -- wherein R.sup.5 is an aryl group and said aryl group is phenyl, and wherein said phenyl is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from:
• halogeno, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, hydroxy, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkoxy, phenoxy, CF.sub.3, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, CH.sub.3 C(O)NH--, CH.sub.3 C(O)O--, NO.sub.2 or --COOR.sup.8 wherein R.sup.8 is H or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl;
• R.sup.3 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl or aryl;
• R.sup.4 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl;
• n is 0 or 1;
• and
• the dotted line represents an optional double bond;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method for inhibiting farnesyl protein transferase in humans in need of such treatment comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of formula (Ib) ##STR120## wherein:

• R and R.sup.1 are independently selected from H, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, halogeno, OH, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkoxy, NH.sub.2, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkylamino, di((C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl)amino, CF.sub.3, SO.sub.3 H, CO.sub.2 R.sup.3, NO.sub.2, SO.sub.2 NH.sub.2, and CONHR.sup.4 ;
• R.sup.2 is R.sup.5 SO.sub.2 -- wherein R.sup.5 is an aryl group and said aryl group is phenyl, and wherein said phenyl is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from:
• halogeno, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, hydroxy, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkoxy, phenoxy, CF.sub.3, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, CH.sub.3 C(O)NH--, CH.sub.3 C(O)O--, NO.sub.2 or --COOR.sup.8 wherein R.sub.8 is H or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl;
• R.sup.3 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl or aryl;
• R.sup.4 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl;
• n is 0 or 1;
• and
• the dotted line represents an optional double bond;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.