Lipoic acid derivatives, their preparation, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them

A compound of the formula

• wherein
• R1 and R2 are individually hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• A is —(CH2)mCONR3—(CH2)n—
• m and n are individually integers from 0 to 6,
• and R3 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• X is
• wherein the T group, which is attached to the Y group, is —(CH2)1—, i is 0;
• and R5 is selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and —(CH2)m—Q,
• Q is selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, cyano, amino, alkoxy, alkylamino, dialkylamino and a heterocycle with 5 to 6 ring members with the heterocyclic members selected from the group consisting of —O—, —N(R6)— and —S—,
• R6 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms orthe bond to the phenyl ring of X;
• Y is
• B is selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, carbocyclic or heterocyclic aryl with 5 or 6 ring members containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S, N, the aryl being optionally substituted by at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl and alkoxy of up to 6 carbon atoms,
• NR8R9 and SR10, R8 and R9 are individually hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or
• one of R8 and R9 is nitro while the other is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or
• R8 and R9 together form with the nitrogen atom a non-aromatic heterocycle with five to six ring members, the elements of the ring being selected from the group consisting of —CH2—, —NH—, —O— and —S—,
• R10 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms,
• and R7 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.