Compounds of formula (I) have activity in alleviating the effects of
impaired dopaminergic signaling, for example in the treatment of
Parkinsons Disease:
##STR00001##
wherein:
R.sub.1 is a carboxyl, carboxyl ester, or carboxamide group; R.sub.2 and
R.sub.3 are independently hydrogen, or a group --C(.dbd.O)R.sub.6 or
--C(.dbd.O)OR.sub.6 wherein R.sub.6 is C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl, or a group
--CH.sub.2Q wherein Q is an optionally substituted monocyclic cycloalkyl
or heterocyclyl ring of 3 to 6 ring atoms; R.sub.7 is (i) optionally
substituted phenyl or monocyclic heteroaryl, or (ii) a radical of formula
--CHR.sub.4R.sub.5; R.sub.4 is (a) optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.4
alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4
alkenyloxy, or C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alkynyl, or (b) --CH.sub.2XCH.sub.3,
--CH.sub.2CH.sub.2XCH.sub.3, or --CH.sub.2XCH.sub.2CH.sub.3, wherein X is
--O--, S, or --NR.sub.7 wherein R.sub.7 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; or
--CH.sub.2Q or CH.sub.2OQ wherein Q is as defined in relation to R.sub.6;
and R.sub.5 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, or methyl substituted by 1, 2 or
3 fluoro atoms; or R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 taken together with the carbon
atom to which they are attached form an optionally substituted
carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring of 3 to 6 ring atoms, optionally fused
to a second, optionally substituted, carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring or
3 to 8 ring atoms; PROVIDED THAT the group R.sub.7 is not the side chain
of a natural amino acid.