Imide derivatives for inhibiting the production of interleukin-1.beta. and the production of tumor necrosis factor .alpha.

An imide compound having the formula (I) ##STR66## wherein, R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen, trifluoromethyl or cyano;

• R.sub.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkylamino(C.sub.1 -.sub.4)alkyl, a group of formula (i) ##STR67## wherein n is an integer of 0-3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each independently represent hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, or R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 jointly are a meth group of formula (ii)
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Het (ii)
• wherein n is an integer of 0-3 and Het represents a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group having nitrogen or oxygen as a hetero atom;
• R.sub.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl, a group of formula (iii) ##STR68## wherein n is an integer of 0-3, and R.sub.6 is hydrogen or halogen or a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group having nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur as a hetero atom;
• or
• R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together with a nitrogen atom to which R.sub.2 is attached and a carbonyl group to which R.sub.3 is attached form a heterocyclic group of formula (iv) ##STR69## wherein m is an integer of 1--4, Z is --CH.sub.2 --, --NH--or --O--, and R.sub.7 is hydrogen, C.sub.1- C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1- C.sub.4 alkoxycarbonyl or phenylpropioloyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.