The purpose is to provide selective PDE IV inhibitors which have a potent
anti-asthmatic profile with excellent safety. A compound of the formula
(1): ##STR00001## wherein A is methylene, lower alkylmethylene,
carbonyl, etc., Y is a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl group containing one
or two heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen, Z is i) a
fused ring in which any of 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl groups is fused to
a benzene ring, or ii) a phenyl group which may be unsubstituted or
optionally substituted with one or more members selected from the group
consisting of nitro, amino, an amino nitrogen-containing group, etc.,
provided that when A is methylene, Y is a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl
group selected from the group consisting of pyrrolyl, pyridyl, etc., and
Z is a phenyl group which may be unsubstituted or substituted, the
substituent on said phenyl group is amino, or an amino
nitrogen-containing group; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
possesses excellent PDE IV inhibition and is useful as a pharmaceutical
drug, preferably an anti-asthmatic, etc.