Ethanolamine compounds

摘要

The invention provides compounds of the general formula (I) (I) wherein Ar represents a phenyl group optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from halogen atoms, or the groups C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, nitro, -(CH2)qR [where R is hydroxy, -NR3R4 (where R3 and R4 each represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl group, or -NR3R4 forms a saturated heterocyclic amino group which has 5-7 ring members and optionally contains in the ring one or more atoms selected from -O-, or -S- or a group -NH- or -N(CH3)-), -NR5COR6 (where R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl group, and R6 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, phenyl or -NR3R4 group), -NR5SO2R7 (where R7 represents a C1-4 alkyl, phenyl or -NR3R4 group), -COR8 (where R8 represents hydroxy, C1-4 alkoxy or -NR3R4), -SR9 (where R9 is a hydrogen atom, or a C1-4 alkyl or phenyl group), -SOR9, SO2R9, or -CN, and q represents an integer from 0 to 3], -(CH2)rR10 (where R10 is a C1-4 alkoxy group and r represents an integer from 1 to 3) or -O(CH2)tR11 (where R11 represents a hydroxy or C1-4 alkoxy group and t is an integer 2 or 3), or Ar is a phenyl ring substituted by an alkylenedioxy group of formula -O(CH2)pO- where p represents an integer 1 or 2; Q represents a group of formula where Ra represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-3 alkyl group, Rb represents and Rc represents +TR where Rd represents a straight or branched C2-3 alkylene chain; R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-3 alkyl group with the proviso that the sum total of carbon atoms in R1 and R2 is not more than 4; X represents a C1-7 alkylene, C2-7 alkenylene or C2-7 alkynylene chain; and Y represents a bond or a C1-6 alkylene, C2-6 alkenylene or C2-6 alkynylene chain with the proviso that the sum total of carbon atoms in X and Y is 2-10, and physiologically acceptable salts and solvates (e.g. hydrates) thereof. The compounds of formula (I) have a stimulant action at beta 2-adrenoreceptors and are useful, in particular, in the treatment of diseases associated with reversible airways obstruction such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.