Aminotetrazole derivatives useful as nitric oxide synthase inhibitors

A compound having the formula;

• ##STR12## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
• wherein;
• R.sup.1, R.sup.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl and lower alkynyl;
• R.sup.3, R.sup.4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, OR.sup.6 where R.sup.6 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, aryl, COR.sup.7, or SO.sub.2 R.sup.8 where R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl and aryl;
• X is selected from the group of the formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.p Q(CH.sub.2).sub.r -- where p is 1 to 3, r is 1 to 3 and Q is oxygen, C.dbd.O, S(O) where t is 0 to 2, or NR.sup.12 where R.sup.12 is hydrogen or lower alkyl which may be optionally substituted with lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, cyano, amino;
• or
• X is selected from the group of formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.s A(CH.sub.2).sub.v -- where s is 0 to 2, v is 0 to 2 and A is a 3 to 6 membered carbocyclic radical which may be optionally substituted with lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, cyano, amino wherein all said radicals are optionally substituted with hydrogen, halogen and lower alkyl;
• Y is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, and lower alkynyl or Y may be NR.sup.9 R.sup.10 wherein R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, nitro, amino, aryl, and lower alkaryl;
• and
• B is NR.sup.5 R.sup.11 wherein R.sup.5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl and aryl, and R.sup.11 is selected from a 3 to 8 member heterocyclyl radical in which at least one member of the ring is carbon and in which 1 to about 4 members are heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur and said heterocyclyl radical may be optionally substituted with hydroxyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, halogen, nitro, carboxyl, SO.sub.2 R.sup.13 where R.sup.13 is selected from lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, NR.sup.1 R.sup.2, amino, acyloxy, trifluoromethyl, phenyl and naphthyl which may be optionally substituted with halogen, nitro, lower alkoxy, and lower alkyl.