N-benzylazolium derivatives

A compound of the formula:

• ##STR13## wherein Z is nitrogen or methine;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently hydrogen or a group --OY, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of formyl, propionyl, pivaloyl, succinoyl, benzoyl, nicotinoyl, phosphoryl, dimethylphosphoryl, aminoacetyl, 3-aminopropionyl, 4-aminobutyryl, (2-amino-acetylamino)-acetyl, (S)-2,5-diaminopentoyl, (S)-2-aminopropionyl, (S)-pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl, (methylamino)acetyl, (propylamino)acetyl, (S)-2-(methylamino)propionyl, 3-(methylamino)propionyl, (S)-2-amino-3-methylbutanoyl, (isopropylamino)acetyl, (2S)-2-(ethylamino)propionyl, and (ethylamino)acetyl;
• R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio, (lower alkylcarbonyl)thiomethyl, carboxy, or methoxycarbonyl;
• X.sup.- is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion;
• R.sup.10 is halogen;
• and
• D is a lower alkanoyl or the group of the formula:
• ##STR14## R.sup.11 is a straight-chain or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable hydrate or solvate thereof.