Pharmacologically active novel o-substituted pyruvic acid oximes

Abstract

The present invention provides pyruvic acid oximes of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, cinnamyloxy, phenylamino, phenyl-N-alkylamino or phenylthio radical or an aryl or aryloxy radical, the aryl moiety of which can be substituted one or more times by C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, halogen, hydroxyl, trifluoromethyl, amino, acetylamino, nitrile, nitro or methylenedioxy, A is a straight-chained or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon chain containing up to 10 carbon atoms, which can be substituted one or more times by halogen or hydroxyl, and R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl radical, which can be substituted one or more times by halogen, hydroxyl, nitrile, phenyl or carboxyl, or is a nitrile or formyl group, with the proviso that when R--A-- is a methyl or ethyl radical, R.sub.1 is not a methyl radical or a nitrile group and when R--A-- is a benzyl radical, R.sub.1 is not a methyl or benzyl radical; and the physiologically acceptable salts, carboxylic acid esters and amides thereof. The invention also provides processes for the preparation of these compounds pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use in combating hypoglycaemia.