Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of a compound of general formula (I): wherein Im represents an imidazolyl group of the formula: and R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a group as herein defined including —CO2R5, —COR5, —CONR5R6 or —SO2R5 wherein R5 and R6, which may be the same or different, are as herein defined with the proviso that R5 does not represent a hydrogen atom when R1 represents a group —CO2R5 or —SO2R5; one of the groups represented by R2, R3 and R4 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-6alkyl, C3-7cycloaklyl, C3-6alkenyl, phenyl or phenyl C1-3alkyl group, and each of the other two groups, which may be the same or different, represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-6alkyl group; and n represents 2 or 3; which comprises reacting a compound of formula (II) or a protected derivative thereof, with a compound of formula (III): HOCH2-Im  (III) or a salt thereof in the presence of an acid at an elevat

Abstract: The invention thus provides compounds of Formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 which may be the same or different represent H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl or substituted alkyl or C.sub.3-7 cycloalkyl; or aryl;R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 which may be the same or different represent H, halogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl; or substituted aryl;R.sup.5 is H or C.sub.1-6 alkyl;n is an integer 0, 1 or 2and m is an integer 1, 2, 3, or 4;the dotted line indicates the presence or absence of an additional bond; and pharmaceutically acceptable solvates (e.g. hydrates) thereof.