Abstract: The present invention discloses compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, having the following formula (5): ##STR1## wherein X and Y are the same or different and are either OH or NH.sub.2 ; wherein A is either nitrogen, CH or sulfur, and B equals CH when A is sulfur, CH or nitrogen, or B equals nitrogen when A equals CH, or B equals sulfur when A equals CH; wherein R.sub.3 is hydrogen; wherein R.sub.4 is either hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, and is zero when A is sulfur; wherein R.sub.1 is either hydrogen, a nitroso group, a formyl group, or a lower alkyl group, and is zero when B is sulfur; and wherein R.sub.2 is a lower alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, diaryl, triaryl, alkylaryl, alkyldiaryl, or alkyltriaryl group, or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group. Substituents on the R.sub.2 groups can include a lower alkyl group, an alkoxy, a substituted alkoxyaryloxy group and a halogen.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for enhancing memory in a patient comprising administering a compound of formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a lower alkyl group; m is an integer between about 0 and 4; and n is an integer between about 5 and 14. The methods generally comprise administering an effective amount of the compound. The invention also discloses the enhancement of memory by the use of non-steroidal sulfatase inhibitors of the above formula in conjunction with the naturally occurring neurosteroids dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and/or pregnenolone sulfate (PS). The patients benefitting from the methods of the present invention will generally have an illness that causes memory loss, or will be individuals who otherwise want to improve memory.

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.