Abstract: This invention discloses compounds useful as non-steroidal sulfatase inhibitors. The compounds comprise the formula (1) ##STR1## wherein (a) R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a lower alkyl group, (b) R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of H and a lower alkyl group, (c) m is an integer from 0 to 4, and (d) n is an integer from 5 to 14. R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of H and C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of H and C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl. The invention also discloses methods of treating a patient prophylactically to provide protection as an estrogen depleting agent for estrogen dependent illnesses and treating a patient therapeutically for estrogen dependent diseases. A method of making the non-steroidal sulfatase inhibitors is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for treating a patient for an illness selected from the group consisting of amnesia, head injuries, Alzheimer's disease, epileptic dementia, presenile dementia, post traumatic dementia, senile dementia, vascular dementia and post stroke dementia or individuals otherwise seeking memory enhancement. The method comprises providing a compound of formula (1) ##STR1## wherein (a) R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a lower alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms and (b) the ring system ABCD is asteroid nucleus selected from the group consisting of estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol, estradiolester, pregnenolone, substituted estrone, substituted dehydroepiandrosterone, substituted estradiol, substituted estradiolesters and substituted pregnenolone.