2-Imidazolinylamino heterocyclic compounds useful as alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists

A method for preventing or treating a disorder modulated by alpha-2 adrenoceptors, wherein the disorder is chosen from the group comprising nasal congestion, otitis media, sinusitis, asthma, pain, migraine, substance abuse and addiction, gastrointestinal disorder, ulcer, stomach hyperacidity, or benign prostatic hypertrophy by administering to a mammal in need of said treatment, a safe and effective amount of an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist compound having the following structure:

• ##STR7## wherein (a) n is an integer from 1 to about 3;
• (b) X and Y are each independently selected from O, S and CH.sub.2, with at least one of X and Y being O or S;
• (c) R is unsubstituted, straight or branched chain alkanyl or alkanoxy having from 1 to about 3 non-hydrogen atoms;
• and
• (d) R' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, cyano, and halo.

A method for preventing or treating disorders mediated by sympathetic activity and modulated by alpha-2 adrenoceptors by administering to a mammal in need of said treatment, a safe and effective amount of an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist compound having the following structure:

• ##STR8## wherein (a) n is an integer from 1 to about 3;
• (b) X and Y are each independently selected from O, S and CH.sub.2, with at least one of X and Y being O or S:
• (c) R is unsubstituted, straight or branched chain alkanyl or alkanoxy having from 1 to about 3 non-hydrogen atoms;
• and
• (d) R' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, cyano, and halo.

A method of preventing or treating disorders mediated by sympathetic activity and modulated by alpha-2 adrenoceptors, wherein the disorder is chosen from the group comprising benign prostatic hypertrophy, myocardial ischemia, cardiac reperfusion injury, angina, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure or hypertension by administering to a mammal in need of said treatment, a safe and effective amount of an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist compound having the following structure:

• ##STR9## wherein (a) n is an integer from 1 to about 3;
• (b) X and Y are each independently selected from O, S and CH.sub.2, with at least one of X and Y being O or S;
• (c) R is unsubstituted, straight or branched chain alkanyl or alkanoxy having from 1 to about 3 non-hydrogen atoms, and
• (d) R' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, cyano, and halo.