Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and a method are disclosed for treating glaucoma and/or ocular hypertension in the mammalian eye by administering to the mammalian eye the pharmaceutical composition of the invention which contains as the active ingredient one or more compounds having calcium chelating activity. Examples of calcium chelating agents utilized in the pharmaceutical composition and method of treatment are: ##STR1## and lower alkyl and alkoxyalkyl esters thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of EP.sub.2 receptor agonists as neuroprotective agents. In particular said compounds are represented by the formulae: ##STR1## wherein the broken line attachment to the cyclopentane ring or the omega chain indicates the .alpha. configuration and the solid line attachment to the cyclopentane ring or the omega chain indicates the .beta. configuration, R is hydrogen or a saturated or unsaturated acyclic hydrocarbon group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, or --(CH.sub.2).sub.m R.sub.1 wherein m is 0-10, and R.sub.1 is an aliphatic ring having from about 3 to about 7 carbon atoms, or an aryl or heteroaryl ring having from about 4 to about 10 carbon atoms and wherein the heteroatom is selected from the group consisting of N, O and S.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and a method are disclosed for providing neuroprotective effect to the mammalian eye by administering to the mammalian eye the pharmaceutical composition of the invention which contains, as the active ingredient, one or more compounds having chloride channel blocking activity. Examples of chloride channel blockers utilized in the pharmaceutical composition and method of treatment are: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or a pharmaceutically-acceptable cation, e.g. an alkali or alkaline earth metal, or a quaternary amine; or R represents a ester-forming moiety, e.g. a lower alkyl radical, having up to six carbon 20 atoms, that may be derived from a lower alkanol.

Abstract: A method according to which neuroprotection is conferred upon ocular nerve cells by administration of a drug of formula I to the optic nerve and/or retina of a mammal within a period prior to or following an insult to ocular nerve cells but prior to cell death ##STR1## wherein the 2-imidazolin-2-ylamino group may be in either the 5- or 6-position of the quinoxaline nucleus; x, y and z may be in any of the remaining 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-positions and are selected from hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or trifluoromethyl; and R is an optional substitutent in either the 2- or 3-position of the quinoxaline nucleus and may be hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy is disclosed.

Abstract: A compound of formula I ##STR1## in which: ring A is one of the five alternative multi-cyclic rings as shown wherein a dotted line adjacent to a bond indicates that a single bond or a double bond may be present at that position; X is nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur; R is hydrogen, lower straight or branched chain alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or lower straight or branched chain alkenyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic ring of 3 to 6 carbon atoms, phenyl optionally mono- or di-substituted with hydroxy, halogen, alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms or alkoxy of 1 to 2 carbon atoms, or methylenedioxyphenyl; or a stereoisomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.These compounds have .alpha..sub.2 receptor blocking activity and hence find use in the treatment or palliation of elevated intraocular pressure, non insulin-dependent diabetes, male impotence and obesity.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for reducing or reductively cleaving an organic compound susceptible to dissolving metal reduction comprising exposing the organic compound to a solution of lithium in a polyamine including at least two amino groups, selected from the group consisting of primary and secondary amino groups and mixtures thereof, e.g. ethylenediamine and R--NH.sub.2, optionally containing a lower alkyl alcohol, wherein R is chosen from the group consisting of ethyl, propyl, and butyl, including all straight and branched chain isomers thereof, for a time sufficient to effect reduction.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the finding that 5-HT receptor ligands are useful in treating experimental models of clinically encountered pruritus (itch). A 5-HT ligand as used in this specification is a compound capable of binding with some selectivity to one or more of the 5-HT receptor sites. Systemic administration of 5-HT agonists and antagonists causes a reduction in the number of itch-scratch responses to an ocular challenge by allergenic antigens. Therefore, the present invention relates to a method for treating pruritus by administering systemically a therapeutically effective amount of a 5-HT agonist or antagonist to a mammal afflicted with pruritus. The 5-HT ligands may, for example, be selected from the group consisting of 5-HT.sub.1, 5-HT.sub.2, 5-HT.sub.3, and 5-HT.sub.4 agonists, partial agonists and antagonists.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel carbonic anhydrase inhibitors represented by the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein

Abstract: A process of preparing intermediates useful in making compounds with retinoic acid-like activity is disclosed. The intermediates are halogenated chromans and thiochromans of the formula shown below and are prepared by the alkylation of a phenol or thiophenol with an alkene compound (the starting materials shown in the formula below), cyclization and halogenation. ##STR1## In the formula the symbols have the following meanings: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl, R.sub.3 is H or C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl, X is oxygen or sulfur, Y is a leaving group, and Z is chlorine, bromine or iodine.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel 2-aliphatic or arylaliphatic cyclopentane heptanoic and heptenoic acid derivatives including at least one azido substituent. In particular 2-aliphatic or arylaliphatic cyclopentane heptenyloic and cyclopentane heptanoic acids and esters thereof, substituted at the 3 and/or 5 position of the cyclopentane ring with radicals selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, azido and mixtures thereof, are disclosed. These azido compounds are useful as ocular hypotensives and are intermediates for the preparation of other compounds useful as ocular hypotensives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cyclopentane heptenylnitro and heptanylnitro-2-aliphatic or arylaliphatic derivatives. In particular, heptenylnitrate and heptanylnitrate 2-aliphatic or arylaliphatic derivatives, substituted at the 3 and/or 5 position of the cyclopentane ring with radicals selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkylcarboxy and mixtures thereof, are disclosed. These compounds are useful as ocular hypotensives.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel carbonic anhyrase inhibitors represented by the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are, for example, independently (a) hydrogen; or(b) OR.sub.4, wherein R.sub.4 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-7 alkyl; or(c) NR.sub.5 R.sub.6, wherein R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently hydrogen, or C.sub.1-7 alkyl, or C.sub.1-7 alkyl substituted with one or more halogen or OR.sub.4 ; or(d) --COR.sub.7, wherein R.sub.7 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-7 alkyl, or NR.sub.5 R.sub.6 ; or(e) --SR.sub.8, wherein R.sub.8 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-7 alkyl, or C.sub.1-7 alkyl substituted with one or more halogen, or OR.sub.4 ; or(f) C.sub.1-7 alkyl, or C.sub.1-7 alkyl substituted with one or more halogen, or OR.sub.4 or NR.sub.5 R.sub.6 ; or(g) R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are together(i) .dbd.O, or(ii) .dbd.NOR.sub.8 or(iii) .dbd.S;and R.sub.3 is(h) C.sub.1-7 alkyl or C.sub.1-7 substituted with one or more halogen, OR.sub.4 or NR.sub.5 R.sub.6.

Abstract: The invention relates to homo-prostaglandin derivatives. More particularly, the present invention concerns 1a-homo derivatives of naturally occurring and synthetic prostaglandins, the corresponding bis- and trishomo-prostaglandin compounds, and their 1-esters and salts. The homo-prostaglandin compounds of the present invention are potent ocular hypotensives, and are particularly suitable for the management of glaucoma.