Pharmaceutical compositions having antiviral activity for topical administration and the use of 1-(substituted phenyl)-5-(4-morpholinyl)-1-penten-3-one compounds for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions having an antiviral effect

Described are 1-phenyl-5-amino-1-penten-3-on-derivatives of the general formula wherein R is H, halo, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, 3,4-methylenedioxy, CF3, NO2, NH2, N(C1-4 alkyl)2, CN, OH, -S(C1-4 alkyl) or -SO2(C1-4 alkyl); R1 and R2 are independently each H or C1-4 alkyl or taken together with the attached N atom are morpholino, piperidino, pyrrolidino, piperazino, or NC1-4 alkyl piperazino; and, when R is halo, C1-4 alkyl or C1-4 alkoxy, x is 0-3 and, otherwise, is 0 or 1; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof with an acid or for the compounds wherein R1 and R2 are both not H, a quaternary ammonium salt thereof with a C1-4 alkyl halide and a process for their production. The compounds have valuable antiviral activity, e.g for treatment of infections caused by a herpes virus.