Cyclic imides are inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor .alpha. and can be used to combat cachexia, endotoxic shock, and retrovirus replication. A typical embodiment is 2-(2,6-dioxo-3-piperidinyl)-4-azaisoindoline-1,3-dione.
Cyclic amides are inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor and can be used to combat cachexia, endotoxic shock, and retrovirus replication. A typical embodiment is 3-phenyl-3-(1-oxoisoindolin-2-yl)propionamide.
A process of preparing thalidomide in which N-phthaloylglutamine or N-phthaloylisoglutamine is cyclized with N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole, characterised in that the process comprises heating said N-phthaloylglutamine or N-phthaloylisoglutamine and N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole in refluxing anhydrous tetrahydrofuran.