The use of a compound, comprising formula (I) or a salt, ester, amide of prodrug
thereof in the inhibition of an enzyme whose preferred mode of action is to catalyse
the hydrolysis of an ester functionality e.g. in the control and inhibition of
unwanted enzymes in products and processes. The compounds are also useful in medicine
e.g. in the treatment of obesity and related conditions. The invention also relates
to novel compounds within formula (I), to processes for preparing them and pharmaceutical
compositions containing them. In formula (I) A is an optionally substituted 6-membered
aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; and R1 is a branched or unbranched
alkyl (optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms), alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,
cycloalkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, reduced arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl,
heteroarylalkenyl, reduced aryl, reduced heteroaryl, reduced heteroarylalkyl or
a substituted derivative of any of the foregoing groups
##STR1##
