A compound represented by the formula: ##STR00001## (wherein, R.sup.1 and
R.sup.2 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom,
hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may form,
together with the adjacent carbon atom, a 3 8 membered iso- or
heterocyclic group, R.sup.3 represents a cyclic group, a hydroxy group, a
mercapto group that may have oxo, or an amino group, R.sup.4 represents a
hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, a hydroxy group, a mercapto group
which may have oxo, or an amino group, or R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 may link
together to form a double bond, X represents a bond or a linear
hydrocarbon group, W represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, ring B
represents a 5 8 membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, ring C
represents a benzene ring, and-- represents a single bond or a double
bond), or a salt or a prodrug thereof that has excellent
neurodegenerative inhibitory activity and brain penetrability, and is
useful as an agent for preventing/treating neurodegenerative diseases.