N-pyridyl carboxamides and derivatives

A pharmaceutical composition useful for treating inflammatory disorders containing as active principle at least one compound selected from those of formula (I):

• ##STR67## in which m is equal to 0 or 1,
• the symbol ##STR68## representing the pyridine ring when m is equal to 0 and pyridine N-oxide when m is equal to 1,
• the pyridine system ##STR69## being connected to the group ##STR70## which bears it either in the 2-position or in the 3-position of the pyridine ring;
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be identical or different, are chosen, independently of each other, from hydrogen, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, nitro, and halogen,
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which may be identical or different, are chosen, independently of each other, from amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, nitro, and halogen,
• R represents hydrogen or alkyl,
• A represents a single bond;
• and in this case Het represents a group chosen from pyrazine and substituted pyrazine, or alternatively A represents alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more alkyl, or alkenylene which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more alkyl;
• and in this case Het also represents a group chosen from pyrazine and substituted pyrazine,
• X represents oxygen, imino, or imino substituted with a group chosen from alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, arylalkyloxy, and aryloxy,
• an enantiomer and a diastereoisomer thereof and an addition salt thereof with a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid or base, it being understood that the term "substituted" relating to the pyrazine system means that it is substituted with one or more groups chosen from alkyl, alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, halogen, thio, and alkylthio,
• the terms "alkyl", "alkoxy", and "alkylene" denote linear or branched groups containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, inclusive,
• the term "aryl" denotes phenyl or naphthyl,
• the term "alkenylene" denotes a linear or branched unsaturated chain containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, inclusive, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically-acceptable excipients or vehicles.

A method of treating a mammal afflicted with an inflammatory disorder comprising the step of administering to the said mammal an amount of a compound selected from those of formula (I):

• ##STR71## in which m is equal to 0 or 1,
• the symbol ##STR72## representing the pyridine ring when m is equal to 0 and pyridine N-oxide when m is equal to 1,
• the pyridine system ##STR73## being connected to the group ##STR74## which bears it either in the 2-position or in the 3-position of the pyridine ring;
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be identical or different, are chosen, independently of each other, from hydrogen, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, nitro, and halogen,
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which may be identical or different, are chosen, independently of each other, from amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, nitro, and halogen,
• R represents hydrogen or alkyl,
• A represents a single bond;
• and in this case Het represents a group chosen from pyrazine and substituted pyrazine,
• or alternatively A represents alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more alkyl, or alkenylene which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more alkyl;
• and in this case Het also represents a group chosen from pyrazine and substituted pyrazine,
• X represents oxygen, sulfur, imino, or imino substituted with a group chosen from alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, arylalkyloxy, and aryloxy,
• an enantiomer and a diastereoisomer thereof and an addition salt thereof with a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid or base, it being understood that the term "substituted" relating to the pyrazine system means that it is substituted with one or more groups chosen from alkyl, alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, halogen, thio, and alkylthio,
• the terms "alkyl", "alkoxy", and "alkylene" denote linear or branched groups containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, inclusive,
• the term "aryl" denotes phenyl or naphthyl,
• the term "alkenylene" denotes a linear or branched unsaturated chain containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, inclusive, which is effective for alleviating the said disorder.