BENZANTHRACENE DERIVATIVES

1415758 Basic alkyl esters of 7H benz[de] anthracen - 7 - one - 3,9 - dicarboxylic acid RICHARDSON-MERRELL Inc 17 Dec 1973 [21 Dec 1972] 58260/73 Heading C2C Novel compounds of Formula I wherein A is a straight or branched alkylene chain having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms; R and R 1 are each hydrogen, lower alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, or alkenyl having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms in which the unsaturation is in a position other than in the 1-position of the alkenyl group, or R and R 1 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached represent the pyrrolidinyl, piperidino or morpholino radical; and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof are prepared either by reaction of an acid of Formula II with an amine of Formula III wherein Z and Z 1 are as R and R 1 except they are not H, or by reaction of a compound of Formula V wherein Y is Cl, Br or OH with the hydrxoy amine HOANR 1 R. The acid of Formula II above is prepared by hydrolysis of the dicyano compound which is obtained by reaction of cuprous cyanide in benzyl cyanide with 3,9-dibromo-7H-benz[de] anthracen-7-one. Pharmaceutical compositions in conventional forms for oral, topical and parenteral administration having anti-viral activity comprise an above novel compound and a carrier or diluent.