Hydroxamic acid derivatives with tricyclic substitution

Abstract

The invention provides hydroxamic acid derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl; R.sup.2 represents a saturated 5- to 8-membered monocyclic or bridged N-heterocyclic ring, which N-heterocyclic ring is attached via the N atom and when it is monocyclic, optionally contains NR.sup.4, O, S, SO or SO.sub.2 as a ring member and/or is optionally substituted on one or more C atoms by hydroxy, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, oxo, ketalized oxo, amino, mono(lower alkyl)amino, di(lower alkyl)amino,carboxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy-methyl, lower alkoxymethyl, carbamoyl, mono(lower alkyl)-carbamoyl, di(lower alkyl)carbamoyl or hydroxyimino; R.sup.3 represents a 5- or 6-membered N-heterocyclic ring which (a) is attached via the N atom, (b) optionally contains N, O and/or S, SO or SO.sub.2 as an additional ring member, (c) is substituted by oxo on one or both C atoms adjacent to the linking N atom and (d) is optionally benz-fused or optionally substituted on one or more other C atoms by lower alkyl or oxo and/or on any additional N atom(s) by lower alkyl or aryl; R.sup.4 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or a protecting group; m stands for 1 or 2 and n stands for 1-4, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, intermediates used in the manufacture thereof, and methods of use therefor. Compounds of formula I are collagenase inhibitors useful in the control or prevention of degenerative joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis or in the treatment of invasive tumours, atherosclerosis or multiple sclerosis.