Ciba-Geigy Corporation

Ulrich Feige

Pier G Ferrini

Martin Missbach

Irmgard Wiesenberg

Leo Widler

Compounds of the formula I ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 is lower alk-2-en-1-yl, lower alk-3-en-2-yl, lower alk-2-yn-1-yl or lower alkyl substituted in the 2,3-position by radicals which can be eliminated to give a double bond, R.sub.2 is hydrogen and R.sub.3 is methyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by radicals which can be eliminated together with hydrogen R.sub.2 to give a double bond or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are both hydrogen or lower alkyl or are together methylene and R.sub.4 is a group of the formula Ia, Ib or Ic ##STR2## in which R.sub.5 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alk-2-en-1-yl or lower alk-2-yn-1-yl and R.sub.6 is a group of the formula Id or Ie ##STR3## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.5 are as defined, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be used in a novel manner for the treatment of diseases of the rheumatoid type.

Use of 2-iminothiazolidin-4-one derivatives as novel pharmaceutical

Compounds of formula I ##STR1## wherein X and Y are each independently of the other thio or sulfynyl, R.sub.1 is lower alk-2-en-1-yl, lower alk-3-en-2-yl, lower alk-2--yn-1-yl, or lower alkyl that is substituted in the 2,3-position by radicals that can be eliminated to form a double bond, R.sub.2 is hydrogen and R.sub.3 is unsubstituted methyl or methyl substituted by a radical that can be eliminated together with hydrogen Rhd 2 to form a double bond, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each hydrogen or lower alkyl or together are methylene, R.sub.4 is free or protected hydroxy, or hydrogen, and R.sub.5 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alk-2-en-1-yl, lower alk-2-yn-1-yl, or lower alkyl that is substituted in the 2,3-position by radicals that can be eliminated to form a double bond, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be used in a novel manner for the treatment of disorders of the rheumatoid type.

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Riehen, Switzerland

Ulrich Feige