Method for treating schizophrenia

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel fatty acid derivative. The present invention also provides a method for treating schizophrenia in a mammalian subject, which comprises administering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of a fatty acid derivative.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating schizophrenia in a mammalian subject, which comprises administering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of a fatty acid derivative represented by the formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein L, M and N are hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy(lower)alkyl, lower alkanoyloxy or oxo, wherein the five-membered ring may have at least one double bond; 
         A is —CH3, or —CH 2 OH, —COCH 2 OH, —COOH or a functional derivative thereof; 
         B is single bond, —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH═CH—CH 2 —, —CH 2 —CH═CH—, —C≡C—CH 2 — or —CH 2 —C≡C—; 
         Z is 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or single bond;
 wherein R 4  and R 5  are hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or hydroxy(lower)alkyl, wherein R 4  and R 5  are not hydroxy and lower alkoxy at the same time; Z 1  and Z 2  are oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; R 6  and R 7  are optionally substituted lower alkyl, which is optionally linked together to form lower alkylene; 
 R 1  is a saturated or unsaturated bivalent lower or medium aliphatic hydrocarbon residue, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, oxo, aryl or heterocyclic group, and at least one of carbon atom in the aliphatic hydrocarbon is optionally substituted by oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; and 
 Ra is a saturated or unsaturated lower or medium aliphatic hydrocarbon residue, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, oxo, hydroxy, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkanoyloxy, cyclo(lower)alkyl, cyclo(lower)alkyloxy, aryl, aryloxy, heterocyclic group or heterocyclic-oxy group; lower alkoxy; lower alkanoyloxy; cyclo(lower)alkyl; cyclo(lower)alkyloxy; aryl; aryloxy; heterocyclic group; heterocyclic-oxy group, and at least one of carbon atom in the aliphatic hydrocarbon is optionally substituted by oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein Z is C═O. 
     
     
         3 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein B is —CH 2 —CH 2 —. 
     
     
         4 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein B is —CH 2 —CH 2 — and Z is C═O. 
     
     
         5 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein L is hydroxy or oxo, M is hydrogen or hydroxy, N is hydrogen, B is —CH 2 —CH 2 — and Z is C═O. 
     
     
         6 . A compound of 7-[2-(4,4-difluoro-3-oxooctyl)-5-oxocyclopentyl]hept-2-enoic acid or functional derivative thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A compound of 7-[2-(4,4-difluoro-3-oxooctyl)-5-oxocyclopentyl]hept-2-enoic acid.