Substituted phenyl naphthalenes as estrogenic agents

A method of treating or inhibiting endometriosis in a mammal in need thereof, which comprises providing to said mammal an effective amount of a compound of formula I, having the structure

• wherein
• R1 and R2 are each, independently, selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl of 1–6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2–7 carbon atoms, and alkynyl of 2–7 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1–6 carbon atoms, or halogen;
• R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl of 1–6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2–7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2–7 carbon atoms, halogen, alkoxy of 1–6 carbon atoms, —CN, —CHO, trifluoromethyl, phenylalkyl of 7–12 carbon atoms, phenyl, or a 5 or 6-membered heterocyclic ring having 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from O, N or S;
• wherein the alkyl or alkenyl moieties of R5, R6, R7, R8, or R9 is optionally substituted with hydroxyl, —CN, halogen, trifluroalkyl, trifluoroalkoxy, —NO2, or phenyl;
• wherein the phenyl moiety of R5, R6, R7, R8, or R9 is optionally mono-, di-, or tri-substituted with alkyl of 1–6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2–7 carbon atoms, halogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy of 1–6 carbon atoms, halogen, —CN, —NO2, amino, alkylamino of 1–6 carbon atoms, dialkylamino of 1–6 carbon atoms per alkyl group, thio, alkylthio of 1–6 carbon atoms, alkylsulfinyl of 1–6 carbon atoms, alkylsulfonyl of 1–6 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyl of 2–7 carbon atoms, alkylcarbonyl of 2–7 carbon atoms, or benzoyl;
• with the proviso that at least one of R5 or R9 is not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.