Novel bicyclic compounds of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein Y stands for --O-- or a methylene group, Z stands for hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and R stands for hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms are useful as medicines for treatment of asthma or arrhythmia.
A process, and variations thereof, for the preparation of 5,6-dihydroxy-2-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives of formula (I), wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 can independently be hydrogen or lower alkyl.