Sulphonamide derivatives

Glutamate receptor function in a mammal may be potentiated using an effective amount of a compound of formula R1-L-NHSO2R2 I in which R1 represents an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group; R2 represents (1-6C)alkyl, (3-6C)cycloalkyl, (1-6C)fluoroalkyl, (1-6C)chloroalkyl, (2-6C)alkenyl, (1-4C)alkoxy(1-4C)alkyl, phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, (1-4C)alkyl or (1-4C)alkoxy, or a group, of formula R3R4N in which R3 and R4 each independently represents (1-4C)alkyl or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form an azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, morpholino, piperazinyl, hexahydroazepinyl or octahydroazocinyl group; and L represents a (2-4C)alkylene chain which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two substituents selected independently from (1-6C)alkyl, aryl(1-6C)alkyl, (2-6C)alkenyl, aryl(2-6C)alkenyl and aryl, or by two substituents which, together with the carbon atom or carbon atoms to which they are attached form a (3-8C)carbocyclic ring; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also disclosed are novel compounds of formula I, processes for preparing them and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.