Aromatic compounds for inhibiting immune response

A composition comprising a physiologically acceptable vehicle and an immunosuppressive amount or an antiproliferative amount of a compound having the general formula:

• ##STR26## and physiologically acceptable salts thereof;
• wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.13 are independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 linear and branched alkyls, H, NH.sub.2, CH.sub.3, OR.sup.14, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, OR.sup.14, NHCOCH.sub.3, NHCOOtBu, NHR.sup.15, NR.sup.16 R.sup.17 and phenyl, wherein R.sup.14 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 linear or branched alkyl;
• wherein R.sup.15 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 linear and branched alkyls;
• wherein R.sup.16 and R.sup.17 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 linear and branched alkyls.

A method of preventing or substantially reducing a T-lymphocyte mediated immune response of a mammal comprising administering to a mammal, a compound having the general formula:

• ##STR28## and physiologically acceptable salts thereof;
• wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.13 are independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 linear and branched alkyls, H, NH.sub.2, CH.sub.3, OR.sup.14, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, NHCOCH.sub.3, NHCOOtBu, NHR.sup.15, NR.sup.16 R.sup.17 and phenyl, wherein R.sup.14 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 linear or branched alkyl;
• wherein R.sup.15 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 linear and branched alkyls;
• wherein R.sup.16 and R.sup.17 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 linear and branched alkyls.