|
|
Home | Alpha Telephone | Domain Names | Web Hosting | Get Traffic | xrEvidence | xrSoccer United States Patent
Pharmaceutical preparations containing (+)-cyanidan-3-ol derivatives, the use thereof, novel substituted (+)-cyanidan-3-ol derivatives, and processes for producing them Pharmaceutical preparations containing (+)-cyanidan-3-ol derivatives of the formula I ##STR1## wherein R' and R" are hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical, or heterocyclic radical, halogen, formyl, free or functionally modified carboxyl, free or etherified or esterified hydroxyl, free, etherified or oxidized mercapto, unsubstituted or substituted sulfamoyl, acyl or unsubstituted or substituted amino, where however R' and R" cannot both be hydrogen simultaneously, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together can also be an unsubstituted or substituted methylene group, and R.sub.1 also an acyl group or an amidated carboxyl group; and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds, as well as new compounds of these preparations. These pharmaceutical preparations are particularly valuable for treating liver and venous diseases.
Primary Examiner: Chan; Nicky Attorney, Agent or Firm: Glynn; Michael W., Fishman; Irving M. This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 499,647, filed May 31, 1983, now abandoned. We claim: 1. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of a liver disease comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula ##STR5## wherein R' is hydrogen, halogen, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkylbenzyl; R" is C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 -alkyl which is substituted by hydroxy-imino; C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 -alkenyl substituted by acetoxymethylthio; C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 -alkylbenzyl; formyl; or trifluoroacetyl; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 -alkyl or phenyl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 -alkyl, and R.sub.1 can also be C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 -alkanoyl; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 2. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of a venous disease comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula ##STR6## wherein R' is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkylbenzyl, or halobenzyl; R" is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl-benzyl, halobenzyl, or carboxyl; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 -alkyl or phenyl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 -alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 3. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of a venous disease comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from 8-(4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl)-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-methyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol , 6,8-di-(1-piperidyl-methyl)-3',4'-O,O-diphenylmethylene-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol , 6,8-di[phenyl-(1-piperidyl-methyl)]-3',4'-O,O-diphenylmethylene-(+)-cyani dan-3-ol, 8-formyl-3',4'-O,O-diphenylmethylene-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-formyl-3-O-formyl-3',4'-O,O-diphenylmethylene-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, or a therapeutically active salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 4. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of a venous disease comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from 8-(4-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 6,8-di(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan- 3-ol, 8-(4-fluorobenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-(4-methoxybenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-benzyl-3-O-methyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-(4-fluorobenzyl)-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-methyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-(4-methylbenzyl)-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-methyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 5. Pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of liver diseases which contains 8-formyl-3-O-palmitoyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 6. Pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of venous diseases according to claim 69 which contains 8-(4-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. 7. Pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of venous diseases according to claim 4 which contains 8-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. 8. Pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of venous diseases according to claim 4 which contains 6,8-di-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. 9. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of venous diseases according to claim 4 which contains 8-(4-fluorobenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. 10. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of venous diseases according to claim 4 which contains 8-(4-methoxybenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. 11. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of venous diseases according to claim 4 which contains 8-benzyl-3-O-methyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. 12. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of venous diseases according to claim 4 which contains 8-(4-fluorobenzyl)-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-methyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. 13. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of venous diseases according to claim 4 which contains 8-(4-methylbenzyl)-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-methyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. 14. A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of liver diseases which contains 8-formyl-3-O-palmitoyl-5,7,3',4'-tetra-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention relates to pharmaceutical preparations containing 6- and/or 8-substituted (+)-cyanidan-3-ol derivatives and to the therapeutic use thereof. It has been found that 6- and/or 8-substituted (+)-cyanidan-3-ol derivatives have valuable pharmacological properties. The invention relates therefore in particular to pharmaceutical preparations containing (+)-cyanidan-3-ol derivatives of the formula I ##STR2## wherein R' and R" are hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical, or heterocyclic radical, halogen, formyl, free or functionally modified carboxyl, free or etherified or esterified hydroxyl, free, etherified or oxidized mercapto, unsubstituted or substituted sulfamoyl, acyl or unsubstituted or substituted amino, where however R' and R" cannot both be hydrogen simultaneously, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together can also be an unsubstituted or substituted methylene group, and R.sub.1 also an acyl group or an amidated carboxyl group; and to therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. Lower radicals in the following are in particular those having up to 7, especially up to 4, carbon atoms. An unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical R', R", R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 is for example: an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, cycloaliphatic-aliphatic, aromatic, aromatic-aliphatic or heterocyclic-aliphatic radical. An aliphatic hydrocarbon radical, which is unsubstituted or substituted, is especially an alkyl as well as an alkenyl or alkynyl radical, in particular a lower alkyl as well as lower-alkenyl or lower alkynyl radical. Substituents of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals are for example: free, esterified or etherified hydroxyl groups, free or etherified mercapto groups, such as lower alkanoyloxy, lower alkoxy or lower alkenyloxy groups, loweralkylthio, lower alkylsulfinyl groups, halogen or nitro, and also free of esterified carboxyl groups, such as lower alkoxycarbonyl. Lower alkyl groups are for example: methyl as well as ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl or n-heptyl groups; lower alkenyl groups are for example: vinyl, allyl, 1-propenyl, isopropenyl, 1- or 2-methylallyl or 2- or 3-butenyl groups, and lower alkynyl groups are for example: propargyl or 2-butynyl groups. Substituted lower alkyl groups are for example: the nitro-lower alkyl groups, the hydroxy-lower alkyl groups, the trifluoromethyl groups, the hydroxycyano-lower alkyl groups, the hydroxyamino-lower alkyl groups, the lower-alkylthio-lower-alkyl groups, the acylalkyl groups or a free or esterified carboxy-lower-alkyl groups, for example a lower-alkoxycarbonyl-lower-alkyl group, for example methoxycarbonylethyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted imino-lower-alkyl group, such as a free or esterified hydroxy-imino-lower alkyl group, a lower-alkylimino- or unsubstituted or substituted phenylimino-lower-alkyl group, an acyloxyimino-lower-alkyl group, di-lower-alkylimmonio-lower-alkyl an amino-lower-alkyl group, a di-lower-alkylamino-lower-alkyl group, or a lower-alkyleneamino-lower-alkyl group, for example a pyrrolidino- or piperidino-lower-alkyl group. A further possible substituted lower alkyl group is the lower alkyl group substituted by a 2,2-di-lower-alkyl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxan-5-ylidene group, such as [(2,2-dimethyl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxan-5-ylidene)]-methyl. Substituted lower alkenyl groups are for example free or esterified carboxy-lower-alkenyl groups, nitro-lower-alkenyl groups, lower alkyl-sulfinyl-lower-alkenyl, lower alkyl-sulfonyl-lower-alkenyl or aryl or lower-alkylthio-lower-alkenyl groups. An unsubstituted or substituted cycloaliphatic or cycloaliphatic-aliphatic radical is for example a mono-, bi- or polycyclic cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl radical or a cycloalkyl- or cycloalkenyl-lower-alkyl or -lower-alkenyl radical, wherein the cycloalkyl radical contains up to 12, for example 3-8, particularly however 3-6, ring carbon atoms, whilst a cycloalkenyl radical has for example up to 12, preferably however 5-6, carbon atoms and one or two double bonds. The aliphatic part of a cycloaliphatic-aliphatic radical can contain up to 7, but preferably up to 4, carbon atoms. The stated cyclic radicals can be, if desired, mono-, di- or polysubstituted, in a manner analogous to that in the case of the aromatic radicals given below. An unsubstituted or substituted aromatic hydrocarbon radical is for example a monocyclic, bicyclic or polycyclic aromatic radical, such as the phenyl or naphthyl radical, which can be mono-, di- or polysubstituted. These radicals are preferably substituted by a free or esterified carboxy group, such as methoxycarbonyl, by hydroxyl or halogen, such as bromine or fluorine, or by lower alkyl, for example methyl, or by lower alkoxy, such as methoxy, or by a nitro group or by an unsubstituted or substituted amino group, for example the dimethylamino group or methylene dioxy group. An unsubstituted or substituted aromatic-aliphatic hydrocarbon is for example an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical carrying up to 3 mono-, bi- or polycyclic aromatic radicals, which can also be substituted. It is in particular phenyl-lower-alkyl and also phenyl-lower-alkenyl or phenyl-lower-alkynyl. These radicals can, if desired, be mono-, di- or polysubstituted in the aromatic part and also in the aliphatic part. A heterocyclic radical as such or in a heterocyclic-aliphatic group is especially a monocyclic radical. It can however also be bicyclic or polycyclic, and is in particular an aza- thia-, oxa-, thiaza-, oxaza- or diaza-cyclic radical, which is saturated or unsaturated, for example of aromatic character, and preferably contains 2-7 ring carbon atoms. These radicals can be mono-, di- or polysubstituted in the cyclic part as indicated for aromatic radicals above. The aliphatic radicals in a heterocyclic-aliphatic radical can have the meaning given above for the aliphatic part of the cycloaliphatic- or aromatic-aliphatic radicals. Halogen atoms denoted by R' and R" are in particular fluorine, iodine and especially bromine: they can however also be chlorine atoms. Free or functionally modified carboxyl is for example carboxy, esterified carboxyl, especially lower-alkoxy-carbonyl, such as methoxycarbonyl or ethoxycarbonyl, amidated carboxyl, particularly carbamoyl which is free or substituted by alkyl, by di-lower-alkylamino-alkyl or by phenyl which is unsubstituted or for its part substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, and also the cyano group. Esterified or etherified hydroxyl groups or etherifed mercapto groups are in particular lower alkoxy, also substituted lower alkoxy, for example by halogen, hydroxyl, mono- or di-lower-alkylamino or epoxy; they are also lower-alkenyloxy, cycloalkyloxy, phenyloxy, phenylalkoxy or lower alkoxy substituted by mono-aza, mono-oxa- or mono-thia-monocycles of aromatic character, such as pyridyl-lower-alkoxy, furyl-lower-alkoxy or thienyl-lower-alkoxy, lower-alkylthio, phenylthio or phenyl-lower-alkylthio, trifluoromethylmercapto, lower-alkoxy-carbonyloxy, lower alkylthiocarbamyloxy, di-lower-alkylcarbonyloxy or lower-alkanoyloxy, including formyloxy, lower-alkanoylthio or unsubstituted or substituted benzoyloxy, for example unsubstituted or further substituted hydroxybenzoyloxy or benzoylthio. The acyl radicals of an aliphatic carboxylic acid are in particular acyl radicals of alkanecarboxylic acids, especially lower-alkanecarboxylic acids of lower-alkanedicarboxylic-acids, but also of alkenecarboxylic acids, particularly of lower-alkenecarboxylic acids or lower-alkenedicarboxylic acids, and also of substituted lower-alkanecarboxylic acids, such as trifluoroacetic acid. The acyl radicals R', R" and R.sub.1 of cycloaliphatic, cycloaliphatic-aliphatic, aromatic, aromatic-aliphatic carboxylic acids have, both for the ring and for the optionally present aliphatic part, the above-given meaning of the corresponding hydrocarbon radicals. They can also carry substituents, for example hydroxyl, halogen, lower alkyl and also lower alkoxy. An aromatic acyl radical is for example the benzoyl radical. An unsubstituted or substituted amino group can be a primary, secondary or tertiary amino group. In the two last-mentioned amino groups, the nitrogen atom can carry as substituents unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, cycloaliphatic-aliphatic, aromatic and also araliphatic hydrocarbon radicals. Two substituents taken together can however also be an unsubstituted or substituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon radical, for example a lower alkylene radical or lower alkenylene radical, in which the carbon atoms of the chain can be interrupted by a hetero atom, for example oxygen, sulfur or unsubstituted or substituted nitrogen. Secondary or tertiary amino groups are for example: lower-alkylamino or di-lower-alkylamino groups, such as methylamino, dimethylamino, ethylamino, diethylamino, n-propylamino, di-n-propylamino, isopropylamino, di-isopropylamino or di-n-butylamino. Hydroxyl-substituted lower-alkylamino or di-lower-alkylamino groups, in which the hydroxyl group is separated from the nitrogen atom by at least 2, preferably by 2 or 3, carbon atoms, are for example: the 2-hydroxyethylamino, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-methylamino or di-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino group; cycloalkylamino or N-cycloalkyl-N-lower-alkylamino are for example the cyclohexylamino or N-cyclopentyl-N-methylamino groups. Phenyl-lower-alkylamino or N-phenyl-lower-alkyl-N-lower-alkylamino groups are for example the benzylamino or N-benzyl-N-methylamino group. Lower-alkyleneamino having 3 to 8, preferably 5 to 7, ring members is for example: pyrrolidino, 2,5-dimethylpyrrolidino, piperidino, 2-methyl-piperidino, 3-ethylpiperidino, hexahydro-1H-azepino or octahydroazocino. Lower-alkenyleneamino, preferably having 5 to 7 ring members, is for example 2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl and 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-1-pyridyl. Mentioned as azaalkyleneamino having 6 to 8, preferably 6, ring members, in which the azanitrogen atom is unsubstituted or preferably substituted by for example lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower-alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-lower-alkyl or pyridyl, and is separated at least by 2 carbon atoms from the amino-nitrogen atom, are for example piperazino, 4-methylpiperazino and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-piperazino. To be mentioned as secondary or also as tertiary amino groups in this connection are also amino groups substituted by arylamino or arylimino groups, for example phenylhydrazino or phenylazo or lower alkylamino or lower alkylimino groups, for example methylhydrazino or methylazo. Substituents of the methylene group which can be formed by R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together, are in particular unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radicals, as have been described above and is for example biphenyl-2,2'-ylene and when including the methylene group for example fluoren-9,9-ylidene. The compounds of the pharmaceutical preparations according to the present invention possess valuable pharmacological properties. They show in particular an interesting activity in the prevention of necrosis and hepatic fibrosis and in addition inhibit lipoperoxidation. They also possess immunomodulating and antiinflammatory properties and can inhibit the release of lysosomal enzymes by increasing the stability of lysosomal membranes. They can further influence the vascular permeability and tonus. They can also modify the viscoelasticity of mucus secretion and stimulate the mucociliary transport in bronchia. They are useful in the treatment of hepatic diseases such as acute hepatitis (viral, alcoholic, toxic), steatosis, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, particularly those of alcoholic origin. Modification of experimental hepatitis induced by galactosamine, carbon tetrachloride or ethyl alcohol can be demonstrated in rats pre-treated with these compounds, either orally or intraperitoneally in doses ranging from 25 to 200 mg/kg in acute or chronic administration either in preventive or curative therapy. In acute studies, the animals are sacrificed 24 or 48 hours after administration of the toxic agent and hepatic function is measured by the following tests: BSP clearance plasma level of bilirubin plasma level of transaminase triglyceride level total hepatic lipids. In the chronic studies, hepatic collagen level is measured in addition to the above-mentioned parameters. Typical results obtained in the acute galactosamine hepatitis of the rat are shown in the following table.
______________________________________
DE 50%
ASAT*
example (.mu.moles/
substance No. kg)
______________________________________
8-hydroxyiminomethyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
90 140,6
6,8-dibromo-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
66 131,7
8-[2-(acetoxymethylthio)ethenyl]-
49-50-51 127,0
3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O--benzyl-(+)-
cyanidan-3-ol
8-n-butyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
8 126,8
8-n-propyl-3-O--benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-
6 118,5
3-ol
6,8-di-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-
20 98,1
3-ol
8-tertiobutoxy-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O--
119 53,5
benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
8-trifluoroacetyl-3-O--benzyl-(+)-
132 47,6
cyanidan-3-ol
8-formyl-3-O--palmitoyl-(+)-cyanidan-
77 11,3
3-ol
______________________________________
*DE 50% ASAT dosage (in .mu.moles/kg) which induces a 50% reduction of th
elevated plasma level of transaminase ASAT of the galactosamine
intoxicated rats.
The effect on normal or pathological metabolism of the hepatocytes of rats kept alive can be demonstrated on isolated rat hepatocytes using the techhique of Berry & Friend, [J. Cell. Biol. 43, 506-520 (1969)] by incubating them in 2 ml Krebs-Ringer physiological solution in the presence of one of the compounds in quantities ranging from 0.1 to 1 mg/ml and with the addition of different hepatotoxic substances. On the other hand, the inhibition of lipoperoxidation by carbon tetrachloride can be demonstrated using the method of Comporti, Sacconi and Danzani, [Enzymologia, 28, 185-203 (1965)], and the intensity of lipoperoxidation in the presence of these new substances in concentrations varying between 5 and 50 .mu.g per 4 ml is measured by quantitating the amount of malonic dialdehyde formed. These compounds are also useful in the treatment od diseases involving an alteration of the organisms immunological response, such as all recurrent or prolonged viral infections: as for example hepatitus due to both virus B and non-A-non-B, or recurrent herpes, or for the treatment of diseases in which a stimulation of the organisms defence mechanisms may bring about healing or improvement of the patient's condition. This is particularly the case in viral, bacterial or parasitic infections, cancerous affections and the entire group of autoimmune diseases such as, for example, rheumatoid polyarthritis. Immunomodulating properties of these compounds are demonstrated not only in neoplastic models but also by means of current immunological studies. Thus, the detection of these valuable immunomodulating properties is possible by using the leukemia L1210 Ha model in three types of experiments in mice. For example, isogenous CD2F1 mice are treated on day 0 with 10.sup.7 irradiated L1210 Ha cells and inoculated on day 14 with varying amounts of living cells possessing the same isogenous leukemia. The effect of these compounds, which are administered before and after inoculation, is demonstrated by an increased life span and a higher number of survivors on day 30. In addition, CD2F1 mice are inoculated with 10.sup.5 L1210 Ha cells and injected the following day with 10.sup.7 irradiated tumor cells. The compounds in question are administered before and after inoculation. The effect of these compounds, administered as above, is highly positive, as they increase both the length of life and the number of survivors at 60 days. Also, additional effects in animals previously immunodepressed by doses of 150 mg cyclophosphamide per kg confirm these results because they show that the animals' reactivity was intact. Finally CD2F1 mice transplanted with 10.sup.5 L1210 Ha cells, then treated the following day with Adriamycin, provide the same evidence of the beneficial effects of these compounds, when these are administered at dose range between 10 and 500 mg/kg. These compounds possess a beneficial effect not only on ascitic tumours or on leukemia, but also on a solid tumour, i.e. the Lewis Lung (3LL) carcinoma of mice. As a matter of fact, this neoplastic model is considered by E.O.R.T.C. as that which resembles most closely human tumours. The compounds show positive results in significative manner in three series of studies. The compounds are administered for 10 days to C57 BL/6 mice infected with isogenous tumour 3LL. They are also given after treatment with methyl CCNU (methyl lomustine) in a dose range between 10 and 500 mg/kg to animals with tumour. They act also by limiting the development of metastases when the primary tumour has been removed surgically. These compounds possess also immunostimulating activity. Thus their pharmaceutical potential has been proved in in-vivo studies by showing their ability to increase the cytotoxic capacity of purified macrophages toward cancerous cells. In fact, these macrophages, whose capacities have been appreciably increased by these substances, are believed to play an important role in both antitumoral resistance and control of immunological reactivity. These compounds also have clearly demonstrated their therapeutic potential by showing without any possibility of doubt their positive effect on antibody production in non-neoplastic conditions which proves that their effect is in fact due to the host's reactivity. When CD2F1 mice are injected with 10.sup.8 sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) or with 0.5 .mu.g polysaccharide of pneumococci S.III, the number of spleen cells capable of producing specific antibodies is significantly increased as it can be shown in the haemolytic plaque assay according to Jerne & Nordin. The antibodies are measured by peak responses either after single or repeated injections of one of these compounds. Finally, as these compounds stabilize lysosomal membranes, potentiate the cytotoxic capacity of macrophages and decrease vascular permeability, they are useful for the treatment of disease states such as acute and chronic bronchitis in which the existing pathology of hypersecretion is complicated both by chronic inflammatory reactions and recurrent infections. These compounds modify the viscoelaticity of mucus secretion, they stimulate the mucociliary transport in bronchi and they relaxe smooth muscles of bronchi. These properties make the compounds useful for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract, as for example chronic bronchitis. The modifaction of viscoelasticity of mucus samples by these compounds is measured with a microrheometer. The mucus is obtained from fresh pig's stomach scrapings and is purified biochemically before use. The test compounds are dissolved in specific solvants, distilled water, phosphate buffer, methanol mixture, or in DMSO (dimethylsulphoxide). 50 mg aliquotes of mucus with 5-10 .mu.l of the test solution are added. The samples are mixed, centrifuged and incubated for 30 min. for interaction to take place. The samples are then loaded into the cell of an oscillating sphere magnetic microrheometer and a 200 .mu.m iron sphere is placed centerally in the sample which is allowed 5 minutes for relaxation to take place. The rheological behaviour is evaluated at 25.degree. C. over the frequency range of 0.1 to 20 Hz. The stimulation of mucociliary transport is demonstrated with pharmacological model of frog palate. In this system, the speed of transport of particles by the ciliated epithelium of frog plate is measured. By adding solutions of compounds to be tested (0.1-1 mg/hl) on the frog palate an increase in the speed of transport is measured. The relaxing effect of these compounds on the smooth muscles of bronchi is demonstrated by the protection afforded by these compounds against the broncho-spasm induced by histamine aerosol in Guinea-pigs. Pretreatment of Guinea-pigs by i.p. route with the new compounds (10-100 mg/kg) allows the animals to resist more than 5 minutes to the histamine aerosol; control animals do not resist more than 1 min. and 30 sec. These compounds are also useful for the treatment of venous or arterial circulatory diseases. The antiinflammatory, vasculotropic and protective properties of the compounds towards the connective tissue may be demonstrated in the following studies: (1) At doses varying between 100 and 500 mg/kg, by parenteral or oral administration, they are able to reduce oedema caused by galactosamine, by heat and by stasis. Even more important, these beneficial effects are seen in the absence of any central haemodynamic activity. The compounds favourably modify vascular reactivity in terms of both micro- and macro-circulation. They are also capable of improving peripheral blood circulation (legs). Finally, these substances counteract the toxic effects of histamine in cultures of endothelial cells. In the following table, the results of tests concerning the reduction of edema caused by D-galactosamine, as a venous disease model, are given. These results are expressed in percent inhibition of the edema related to a non treated standard intoxicated in the same way as the treated animal. Dose is indicated in mg/kg and mode of administration is intraperitoneal (i.p.)
______________________________________
%
substance dose inhibition
______________________________________
8-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
100 mg/kg 61,7%
8-n-propyl-3-O--benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-
25 mg/kg 56,1%
3-ol 100 mg/kg 30,8%
8-benzyl-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O--benzyl-
100 mg/kg 52,2%
(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
8-(4-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
15 mg/kg 52%
8-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
20 mg/kg 46%
6,8-di-(2-bromobenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-
30 mg/kg 42%
3-ol
8-carboxy-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O--benzyl-
100 mg/kg 40,8
(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
6,8-di-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-
50 mg/kg 39%
3-ol
8-n-butyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol
100 mg/kg 37,8%
______________________________________
(2) "In-vitro" measurement of both the inhibition of the activity of lysosomal enzymes and the increase of the stability of lysosomal membranes at 0.05 to 2 mg per ml according to P. Niebes & Ponard (Biochem. Pharmacol. 24, 905 (1975). (3) "In-vitro" measurement of the inhibition of other acute phase reactants, such as kinins, prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Preferred pharmaceutical preparations contain compounds of the formula I wherein R' and R" are hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, cycloaliphatic-aliphatic, aromatic or aromatic-aliphatic radical, halogen, formyl, free or functionally modified carboxyl, free or esterified or etherified hydroxyl or etherified mercapto, unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic acyl or primary, secondary or tertiary amine, but R' and R" cannot both be hydrogen simultaneously, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, cycloaliphatic-aliphatic or aromatic-aliphatic radical, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together can also be a unsubstituted or substituted methylene group, and R.sub.1 can also be an acyl group or an amidated carboxyl group, or therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. Particularly preferred pharmaceutical preparations contain compounds of the formula I wherein R' and R" are hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl radical, an unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl radical or a cycloalkyl- or cycloalkenyl-lower-alkyl or -lower-alkenyl radical, or an unsubstituted or substituted mono-, bi- or polycyclic aryl or aryl-lower-alkyl radical, halogen, formyl, free or or esterified carboxyl, amidated carboxyl, cyano, hydroxyl, unsubstituted or substituted lower-alkoxy, lower-alkenyloxy, lower-alkylthio, phenylthio, phenylalkylthio, lower-alkoxycarbonyloxy, lower-alkanoyloxy, formyloxy, benzoyloxy, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, unsubstituted or hydroxyl-substituted lower-alkylamino, di-lower-alkylamino, cycloalkylamino, N-cycloalkyl-N-lower-alkylamino, phenyl-lower-alkylamino, N-phenyl-lower-alkyl-N-lower-alkylamino, lower-alkyleneamino, phenylazo or phenylhydrazino, but R' and R" cannot both be hydrogen simultaneously; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl radical, an unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl radical, or a cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl-lower-alkyl radical or lower-alkenyl radical, or an unsubstituted or substituted phenylalkyl radical, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together can also be an unsubstituted or substituted methylene group, whilst R.sub.1 can also be an acyl group or an amidated carboxyl group, and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. More especially preferred pharmaceutical preparations contain compounds of the formula I wherein R' and R" are hydrogen, an alkyl radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl, oxo, amino, imino, di-lower-alkylamino, halogen, hydroxylimino, phenylimino, nitrophenylimino, acetylimino, cyano, carboxyl or lower-alkylsulfinyl, an alkenyl radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by carboxyl, lower-alkylcarbonyl, nitro, methylsulfinyl or acetoxymethylthio, or an alkynyl radical, a cycloalkyl or cycloalkyl-lower-alkyl or -lower-alkenyl radical, a phenyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl radical each unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, for example bromine or fluorine, or by lower alkyl, for example methyl, or by lower alkoxy, for example methoxy, or by a nitro group, or by a di-lower-alkylamino group, or they are halogen, formyl, carboxyl which is free of esterified by lower alkyl, for example methyl or ethyl, amidated carboxyl, in particular carbamoyl substituted by alkyl, di-lower-alkylamino or phenyl, cyano, hydroxyl, lower alkoxy which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, mono- or di-lower-alkylamino or epoxy, or they are lower-alkenyloxy, lower-alkylthio, phenylalkoxy, phenylthio, phenylalkylthio, lower-alkoxy-carbonyloxy, lower-alkanoyloxy, formyloxy, benzoyloxy, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, benzoyl, unsubstituted or hydroxyl-substituted lower-alkylamino, di-lower-alkylamino, cycloalkylamino, N-cycloalkyl-N-lower-alkylamino, phenyl-lower-alkylamino, N-phenyl-lower-alkyl-N-lower-alkylamino, lower-alkyleneamino, phenylazo or phenylhydrazino, but R' and R" cannot both be hydrogen simultaneously, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl-lower-alkyl or -lower-alkenyl radical or phenyl-alkyl radical, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together can also be a methylene group substituted by phenyl radicals, whilst R.sub.1 can also be an acyl group or an amidated carboxyl group; and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. The specially preferred pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of liver diseases contain compounds of the formula I wherein R' is hydrogen, halogen or lower-alkylbenzyl, and R" is lower alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyimino, lower alkenyl substituted by acetoxymethylthio, lower-alkylbenzyl, halogen, formyl, lower alkoxy or trifluoroacetyl, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, lower alkyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl, and R.sub.1 can also be a higher acyl group; and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. The most preferred pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of liver diseases contain any one of the compounds: 8-(hydroxyiminomethyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 6,8-dibromo-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-[2-(acetoxymethylthio)ethenyl]-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3 -ol, 8-n-butyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-n-propyl-3-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 6,8-di-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-tertiobutoxy-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-trifluoroacetyl-3-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol and, in particular, 8-formyl-3-O-palmitoyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. The specially preferred pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of venous diseases contain compounds of the formula I wherein R' is hydrogen, lower-alkylbenzyl or halobenzyl, and R" is lower alkyl, benzyl unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl or halogen, or it is carboxyl, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, lower alkyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl; and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. The most preferred pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of venous diseases contain any one of the compounds: 8-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-n-propyl-3-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-benzyl-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-(4-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 6,8-di-(2-bromobenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan- 3-ol, 8-carboxy-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 6,8-di-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol and 8-n-butyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol. The invention relates also to the use of these pharmaceutical preparations for combating conditions of disease of the aforementioned type. The invention relates in addition to novel substituted (+)-3-cyanidanol derivatives of the general formula I wherein R' and R" are an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical, halogen, formyl, free or functionally modified carboxyl, free or etherified or esterified hydroxyl or mercapto, acyl or unsubstituted or substituted amino, but R' and R" cannot both be hydrogen simultaneously, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together can also be a substituted or unsubstituted methylene group, whilst R.sub.1 can also be an acyl group or an amidated carboxyl group, whereby however: when R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are hydrogen, R' cannot be hydrogen und simultaneously R" benzyl, 2-hydroxybenzyl, 4-hydroxybenzyl or hydroxymethyl; R' cannot be hydrogen and simultaneously R" 22-hydroxybenzyl or 4-hydroxybenzyl; and R' and R" cannot both be hydroxymethyl; when R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are benzyl, R' cannot be hydrogen and simultaneously R" benzyl and R.sub.1 hydrogen, methyl or acetyl; or when R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are methyl, one of the radicals R' and R" cannot be 2-methoxybenzyl or 4-methoxybenzyl and the other hydrogen, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, R' and R" cannot both be 2-methoxybenzyl, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen; R' cannot be carboxyl or hydroxymethyl, and simultaneously R" hydrogen and R.sub.1 hydrogen or benzyl; R' cannot be methoxymethyl or acetoxymethyl, and simultaneously R" hydrogen and R.sub.1 acetyl; R' cannot be bromine, and simultaneously R" hydrogen and R.sub.1 hydrogen, benzyl or acetyl; R' and R" cannot both be bromine, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, methyl, benzyl or acetyl; one of the radicals R' and R" cannot be acetoxy or methoxycarbonyl and the other hydrogen, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, benzyl or acetyl; and one of the radicals R' and R" cannot be hydroxyl and the other hydrogen, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen or benzyl; or when R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are methyl and R' hydrogen, R" cannot be bromine, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, methyl, benzyl or acetyl; R" cannot be benzyl, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, benzyl or methyl; R" cannot be methoxy, and simultaneously R.sub.1 methyl or acetyl; R" cannot be methylthio, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen or acetyl; and R" cannot be .alpha.-hydroxybenzyl, and simultaneously R.sub.1 benzyl; and to therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. Preferred novel compounds are those of the formula I wherein R' and R" are hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, cycloaliphatic-aliphatic, aromatic or aromatic-aliphatic radial, halogen, formyl, free or functionally modified carboxyl, free or esterified or etherified hydroxyl or etherified mercapto, unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic acyl or primary, secondary or tertiary amine, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, cycloaliphatic-aliphatic or aromatic-aliphatic radical, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together can also be an unsubstituted or substituted methylene group, whist R.sub.1 can also be an acyl group or an amidated carboxyl group, with the exception of the compounds excluded above; and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. Particularly preferred novel compounds of the formula I are those wherein R' and R" are hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl radical, an unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl radical or a cycloalkyl- or cycloalkenyl-lower-alkyl or -lower-alkenyl radical, or an unsubstituted or substituted mono-, bi- or polycyclic aryl or aryl-loweralkyl radical, halogen, formyl, free of esterified carboxyl, amidated carboxyl, cyano, hydroxyl, unsubstituted or substituted lower alkoxy, lower alkenyloxy, lower alkylthio, phenylthio, phenylalkylthio, lower alkoxycarbonyloxy, lower alkanoyloxy, formyloxy benzyloxy, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, unsubstituted or hydroxyl-substituted lower alkylamino, di-lower-alkylamino, cycloalkylamino, N-cycloalkyl-N-lower-alkylamino, phenyl-lower-alkylamino, N-phenyl-lower-alkyl-N-lower-alkylamino, lower-alkyleneamino, phenylazo or phenylhydrazino, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl radical, an unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl radical or a cycloalkyl- or cycloalkenyl-lower-alkyl or -loweralkenyl radical, or an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl-alkyl radical, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together can also be an unsubstituted or a substituted methylene group, and R.sub.1 can also be an acyl group or an amidated carboxyl group, with the exception of the compounds excluded above; and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. More especially preferred novel compounds are those of the formula I wherein R' and R" are hydrogen, an alkyl radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl, oxo, amino, imino, di-lower-alkylamino, halogen, hydroxyimino, phenylimino, nitrophenylimino, acetylimino, cyano, carboxyl or lower-alkylsulfinyl, an alkenyl radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by carboxyl, lower-alkylcarboxy, nitro, methylsulfinyl or acetoxymethylthio, or they are an alkynyl radical, a cycloalkyl or cycloalkyl-lower-alkyl or -lower-alkenyl radical, a phenyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl radical each unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, for example bromine or fluorine, or by lower alkyl, for example methyl, or by lower alkoxy, for example methoxy, or by a nitro group or by a di-lower-alkylamino group, or they are halogen, formyl, carboxyl which is free or esterified by lower alkyl, for example methyl or ethyl, amidated carboxyl, in particular carbamoyl substituted by alkyl, di-lower-alkylamino or phenyl, cyano, hydroxyl, lower alkoxy which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, mono- or di-lower-alkylamino or epoxy, or they are lower-alkenyloxy, lower-alkylthio, phenylthio, phenyl-lower-alkylthio, lower-alkoxycarbonyloxy, lower-alkanoyloxy, formyloxy, benzyloxy, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, unsubstituted or hydroxyl-substituted lower-alkylamino, di-lower-alkylamino, cycloalkylamino, N-cycloalkyl-N-lower-alkylamino, phenyl-lower-alkylamino, N-phenyl-lower-alkyl-N-lower-alkylamino, lower-alkyleneamino, phenylazo or phenylhydrazino, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, lower-alkyl, lower-alkenyl, lower alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyl- or cycloalkenyl-lower-alkyl or -lower-alkenyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together can also be an unsubstituted or substituted methylene group, whilst R.sub.1 can also be an acyl group or an amidated carboxyl group, whereby however: when R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are hydrogen, R' cannot be hydrogen, and simultaneously R" benzyl or hydroxymetyl; and R' and R" cannot both be hydroxymethyl; when R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are benzyl, R' cannot be hydrogen, and simultaneously R" benzyl and R.sub.1 hydrogen, methyl or acetyl; or when R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are methyl, one of the radicals R' and R" cannot be 2-methoxybenzyl or 4-methoxybenzyl and the other hydrogen, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen; R' and R" cannot both be 2-methoxybenzyl, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen; R' cannot be carboxyl or hydroxymethyl, and simultaneously R" hydrogen and R.sub.1 hydrogen or benzyl; R' cannot be bromine, and simultaneously R" hydrogen and R.sub.1 hydrogen, benzyl or acetyl; R' and R" cannot both be bromine, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, methyl, benzyl or acetyl; one of the radicals R' and R" cannot be acetoxy or methoxycarbonyl and the other hydrogen, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, benzyl or acetyl; and one of the radicals R' and R" cannot be hydroxyl and the other hydrogen, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen or benzyl; or when R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are methyl and R' is hydrogen, R" cannot be bromine, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, methyl, benzyl or acetyl; R" cannot be benzyl, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, benzy or acetyl; R" cannot be methoxy, and simultaneously R.sub.1 methyl or acetyl; and R" cannot be methylthio, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen or acetyl, and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. The specially preferred novel compounds are those of the formula I wherein R' is hydrogen, halogen, lower-alkylbenzyl or halobenzyl, and R" is lower alkyl hydroxyimino-lower-alkyl or acetoxy-lower-alkenyl, or it is benzyl, halogen formyl, lower alkoxy or trifluoroacetyl each unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl or halogen, or it is carboxyl, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, lower alkyl or phenyl-lower-alkyl, and R.sub.1 can also be a higher alkanoyl group, whereby however: when R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R' are hydrogen, R" cannot be benzyl; or when R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are benzyl, R' cannot be hydrogen, and simultaneously R" benzyl and R.sub.1 hydrogen or methyl; or when R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are methyl, R' cannot be bromine, and simultaneously R" hydrogen and R.sub.1 hydrogen or benzyl, and R' and R" cannot both be bromine, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, methyl or benzyl; or when R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are methyl and R' is hydrogen, R" cannot be bromine, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen, methyl or benzyl, and R" cannot be benzyl, and simultaneously R.sub.1 hydrogen or benzyl, and R" cannot be methoxy, and simultaneously R.sub.1 methyl or acetyl; The most preferred compounds are the following: 8-(hydroxyiminomethyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-[2-(acetoxymethylthio)ethenyl]-2,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3 -ol, 8-n-butyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-n-propyl-3-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 6,8-di-(2-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-tertiobutoxy-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-trifluoroacetyl-3-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, and particularly 8-formyl-3-O-palmitoyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-n-propyl-3-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-benzyl-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-(4-methylbenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-(2-methylbenzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 6,8-di-(2-bromobenzyl)-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, 8-n-butyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol and 8-carboxy-3,5,7,3',4'-penta-O-benzyl-(+)-cyanidan-3-ol, and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds. Compounds of the general formula I can be produced by processes known per se. Thus, the novel compounds of the general formula I as defined above with the exception of the compounds excluded above, and therapeutically applicable salts of these compounds, can be produced by replacing, in the 8- and/or 6-position of a compound of the formula II ##STR3## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 have the meanings defined in the formula I, one or two hydrogen atoms by a substituent R' and/or R", and, if desired, converting a resulting compound of this general formula I into another compound of this formula I according to the invention, and/or, if desired, converting a free compound obtained into a salt, or a salt into the free compound or into another salt. One or two hydrogen atoms in the 8- and/or 6-position of the compounds of the formula II can be replaced in a manner known per se, for example by halogen, unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radicals, formyl or acyl. The replacement of hydrogen in the 8- and/or 6-position can be effected for example by elementary halogen, for example bromine, in an inert solvent according to 'Methoden der organischen Chemie' given in Houben-Weyl (fourth Edition), Vol. 5/4, pp. 233-249; or by chlorine in an analogous manner according to the processes described in Houben-Weyl (fourth Edition), Vol. 5/3, pp. 651-673. Further halogenating agents which can be used for example for the replacement of hydrogen by bromine are: hypobromous acid, acylhypobromites and organic bromine comounds, for example N-bromosuccinimide, N-bromoacetamide, N-bromophthalimide, pyridinium perbromide, dioxane dibromide, 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethyl-hydantoin and 2,4,4,6-tetrabromo-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one, whereby one or two bromine atoms can be introduced. The exchange of hydrogen in the 8- and/or 6-position can be performed for example also in trifluoroacetic acid with titanium tetrachloride according to Tetrahedron Letters (1970), p. 2211, or with trichlorocyanuric acid in an inert solvent according to Journ. Org. Chem. Vol. 35, p. 719, (1970). The replacement of hydrogen in the 8- and/or 6-position by iodine can be effected for example by elementary iodine in the presence of mercury oxide or nitric acid. Instead of using elementary iodine, it is possible to use for example also potassium iodide in the presence of a thallium salt, for example thallium (III)-trifluoroacetate, according to Tetrahedron Letters (1969), p. 2427. Unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radicals, particularly unsubstituted or substituted alkyl and also aryl-lower-alkyl radicals, such as unsubstituted or substituted benzyl radicals, can be introduced in the 8- and/or 6-position by heating compounds of the formula II with alkyl- or aryl-lower-alkyl-halides, in which process one or two hydrogen atoms can be replaced by an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical. The reactions of compounds of the formula II with alkyl halides or aryl-lower-alkyl halides can also be performed in the presence of catalytic amounts of a Lewis acid, for example of anhydrous aluminium chloride according to Friedel-Crafts, Org. Reaction 3, 1 ff. (1946). In place of aluminium chloride, it is also possible to use, according to Org. Reactions 3, 1 ff. (1946), iron (III)-chloride or zinc(II)-chloride. Instead of alkylhalides, alcohols can be used together with boron trifluoride-etherate. The exchange of hydrogen in the 8- and/or 6-position by a formyl group can be performed for example according to Vilsmeier by means of N-substituted formamides, for example N,N-dimethylformamide, in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride according to Houben-Weyl, 4th Edition, Vol. 7/2, pp. 29-36 and Ber., 60 (1927) p. 121. Most suitable as formylating agent is formyl-monomethyl-aniline because of the increased reactivity of its complex with phosphorus oxychloride. As further modifications, suitable formylating agents are formamide, formylpiperidine and dimethylformamide. The phosphorus oxychloride used here can be successfully replaced in some cases by phosgene. It is moreover possible to convert a compound of the formula II in which R.sub.1 to R.sub.5 are hydrocarbon radicals into a corresponding 8- and/or 6-metal compound, for example by means of phenyllithium in ether firstly into a corresponding lithium compound, and to then react this with an N,N-disubstituted formamide, for example N-methylformanilide to give a compound of the formula I (cp. Org. React. 8, 258 (1954)). A further process variant suitable for introducing the formyl group in the 8- and/or 6-position is the method of L. Gattermann (according to Houben-Weyl, 4th Edition, Vol. 7/2, pp. 20-27), where formylation can be effected by use of a mixture of hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and aluminium chloride, the reaction product firstly obtained being then converted by hydrolysis, for example by a dilute mineral acid, for example dilute hydrochloric acid, into the desired formyl compound. For compounds in which R.sub.4 and/or R.sub.5 are hydrogen, a suitable Friedel-Crafts catalyst, in place of aluminium chloride, is zinc(II)-chloride. Reactions of this type are advantageously performed at a temperature of 40.degree.-90.degree. C. A generally applicable variant of the above reaction is the reaction with zinc(II)-cyanide and hydrogen chloride, in the absence or presence of aluminium chloride (cp. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 64, 30 (1942)). A suitable method for the introduction of the formyl groups in the 8- and/or 6-position of the compounds of the formula II in which R.sub.4 and/or R.sub.5 are hydrogen is that of K. Reimer and F. Tiemann, which method comprises the reaction of such compounds of the formula II with chloroform and sodium hydroxide solution (cp. Houben-Weyl, 4th Edition, Vol. 7/2, pp. 36-38). A further process variant for the introduction of the formyl group consists of the condensation of a compound of the formula II with formaldehyde, in the presence of an oxidising agent, according to Houben-Weyl, 4th Edition, Vol. 7/2, pp. 38-43. The oxidising agent employed can be for example phenylhydroxylaminosulfonic acid or p-nitrosodimethylaniline. The Schiff bases firstly obtained are cleaved hydrolytically, for example with sodium hydroxide solution. Compounds of the formula I in which there is an acyl group in the 8- and/or 6-position can be produced for example using the Friedel-Craft method (cp. G. A. Olah, Friedel-Crafts and Related Reactions, Vol. I, Interscience, New York, 1963-1965), by reaction of a compound of the formula II with a reactive functional derivative, especially a halide or an anhydride, of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, cycloaliphatic-aliphatic, aromatic or aromatic-aliphatic carboxylic acid in the presence of a Lewis acid, for example aluminium chloride, antimony(III)-chloride or antimony(V)-chloride, iron(III)-chloride, zinc(II)-chloride or boron trifluoride. A further process variant for the introduction of an acyl group in the 8- and/or 6-position is the method developed by K. Hoesch and J. Houben (cp. P. E. Spoerri and A. S. du Bois, The Hoesch Synthesis, Org. Reactions 5, 387 ff. (1949) and B., 48, 1122 (1915)), which comprises the reaction of a compound of the formula II with a nitrile in the presence of a Lewis acid, for example aluminium chloride or zinc(II)-chloride, and hydrogen chloride in an inert solvent. The intermediately formed ketimine hydrochlorides are hydrolysed by the addition of water to the desired acyl compounds. Compounds of the formula I obtained can be converted into other compounds of the formula I in a manner known per se. For example, compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are cyano can be obtained from corresponding compounds in which R' and/or R" are halogen by reaction with copper(I)-cyanide in pyridine according to Org. Synth. (1955) Col. Vol. 3, 631, 212; J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1966) 88, 3318; J. Org. Chem. (1952) 17, 298; preferably at a temperature of 25.degree.-225.degree. C. It is possible to perform in an analogous manner the reaction with copper(I)-cyanide also in dimethylformamide in the presence of iron(III)-chloride and hydrogen chloride according to J. Org. Chem. (1961) 26, 2522. Other polar solvents can also be used, such as 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone according to J. Org. Chem. (1961) 26, 2525; 2-hexamethyl-phosphoric acid-triamide according to J. Org. Chem. (1969) 34; 3626; or dimethylsulfoxide according to Proc. Chem. Soc. (1962) 113. Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" is halogen can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are formyl by converting the halogen compound of the formula I into an organometallic compound, especially into an organomagnesium, organozinc or organolithium compound, and converting this, by reaction with a derivative of formic acid, for example formic acid ester, especially orthoformic acid ester, N,N-disubstituted formamides, particularly N-substituted formanilides or N-arylformimido ester, and decomposition of the immediate reaction products (cp. Houben-Weyl. 4th Edition, Vol. 7/1, pp. 64-70; Org. Synth. (1955) Col. Vol. 3, 701; (1943) Col. Vol. 2, 323 and Ber. (1970) 103, 643; Annalen (1912) 393, 215; Chimia (1964) 18, 141; J. Chem. Soc. (1956) 4691; J. Org. Chem. (1970) 35, 711; J. Org. Chem. (1941) 6, 489), into the corresponding compound of the general formula I with formyl in the 8- and/or 6-position. Furthermore, compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are halogen can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are an acyl radical by converting the halogen compound of the formula I into an organometal compound, particularly into an organomagnesium, organocadmium, organozinc or organolithium compound, and reacting this with a reactive functional derivative, especially with a halide, anhydride, ester or nitrile, of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, cycloaliphaticaliphatic, aromatic or aromatic-aliphatic carboxylic acid, and decomposing the immediate product obtained to the corresponding compound of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are an acyl group (cp. Houben-Weyl, 4th Edition, Vol. 7/2a, pp. 558-597; and Org. React. 8, 28). Compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are halogen can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are a free or functionally modified carboxyl, especially into an ester or a monosubstituted amide, by converting the halogen compound of the formula I into an organometal compound, particularly into an organomagnesium, organocadmium, organozinc or organolithium compound, and reacting this with a reactive derivative of carbonic acid, especially carbon dioxide, a carbonic ester halide or an isocyanate, or with carbon monoxide (cp. J. Org. Chem. (1959), 24, 504; J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1939) 61, 1371; and Bull. Chem. Soc. Jap. (1967) 40, 2203). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are halogen can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical, particularly an unsubstituted alkyl, aryl-lower-alkyl or aryl radical, by reacting a compound of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are halogen with an organometallic compound of the radical R' and/or R" to be introduced. For example, organoalkali metal or organoalkaline-earth metal compounds, for example organolithium and organosodium compounds or organomagnesium compounds, can be reacted by the processes described in Houben-Weyl (4th Edition) Vol. 7/2a, pp. 486-502 (cp. J. Am. Chem. Soc., (1968), 90, 2423; Tetrahedron Letters (1970) 26, 4041; J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1929), 51, 1483, J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1938) 60, 2598). According to the stated references, it is also possible in each case for two halogen compounds, corresponding to the radicals to be reacted, to be reacted in the presence of an alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal, or in the presence of a compound releasing one of these, for examples butyl lithium, where the reaction proceeds by way of an organometallic compound as intermediate stage. The organometallic compounds used can however also be for example organoaluminium, organocopper-lithium or organomanganese-lithium compounds (cp. J. Org. Chem. (1970), 35, 532; J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1968), 90, 5615; and Tetrahedron Letters, (1970), 315). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are halogen can also be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are a hydroxyl group by hydrolysing a compound in which R' and/or R" are halogen with a strong base, for example sodium or potassium hydroxide solution, preferably in the presence of a catalyst, for example copper(II)-sulfate (cp. Can. J. Chem. (1962), 40, 2175; or J. Org. Chem. (1939), 4, 318). A conversion of a mono- or dihalogen compound of the formula I into a corresponding hydroxyl compound can also be performed by converting the mono- or dihalogen compound into a corresponding metal compound, for example into an alkali metal compound, such as a lithium compound, or alkaline-earth metal compound, such as a magnesium compound, or a heavy metal compound, for example a mercury halide compound, and hydrolysing this metal compound under oxidising conditions (cp. J. Org. Chem. (1957) 22, 1001; J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1959) 81, 4230; Org. Synth. (1963) 43, 55; and Tetetrahydron Letters ( 1970), 2679). The oxidising agent used can be for example hydrogen peroxide, t-butylhydroperoxide as well as the lithium salt thereof, and also the perbenzoic ester thereof, and also oxygen or ozone. In addition, compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" is halogen can be converted into compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" is an etherified hydroxyl group by reacting a mono- or dihalogen compound of the formula I with a magnesium halide, especially with a magnesium bromide compound, and reacting the resulting magnesium organic compound with a perbenzoic ester, for example with a tertiary butyl ester (cp. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1959), 81, 4230; and Org. Synth. (1963) 43, 55). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are halogen can also be converted into compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" is an esterified hydroxyl group by reacting a mono- or dihalogen compound of the formula I with a metal salt of a carboxylic acid, especially a heavy metal salt, for example a silver or copper salt, or with an alkali metal salt, for example a sodium or potassium salt, of a carboxylic acid (cp J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1951), 73, 5487; ibidem (1949), 71, 3214; and ibidem (1966), 88, 4521). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are formyl can be converted into compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are a [2,2-di-(lower-alkoxycarbonyl)-vinyl]group, where a lower-alkoxycarbonyl group in the substituent can be in each case also replaced by cyano or amido, by reacting a compound of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are formyl with a malonic acid derivative, for example malonic acid diethyl ester, cyanoacetic acid and esters and amides thereof, malonic acid, malonnitrile, malonamide or malonmonoamide ester, in the presence of a slightly basic catalyst, such as ammonia, secondary and tertiary amines, for example di- or triethylamine, piperidine and pyridine (cp. G. Jones, Org. Reactions 15, 204 ff. (1967); E. Knoevenagel, Ber. dtsch. chem. Ges. 29 (1896) 121; 31 (1898) 2598; 37 (1904) 4461; Doebner, Ber. dtsch. chem. Ges. 33 (1900) 2140; (1902) 1137). It is possible to use as starting materials for the reaction, in place of the malonic acid derivatives listed above, also other compounds having an activated methylene group, for example acetoacetic acid esters and .beta.-diketones, and also analogs in which one or both carbonyls are replaced by sulfo groups, as well as nitroalkanes. Resulting compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are a [2,2-di-(lower-alkoxycarbonyl)-vinyl] group can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are carboxyethenyl by decarboxylation. The decarboxylation can be performed by pyrolysis or by hydrolysis, for example in an alkaline or acid medium. Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are a formyl group can also be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are an unsubstituted or substituted carboxyethenyl group by reacting a compound of the formula I in which R' and/or R" is a formyl group with acetic anhydride or with the anhydride of a substituted acetic acid in the presence of a basic condensing agent, especially sodium acetate (cp. J. R. Johnson, Organic Reactions 1, 210 (1942); H. O. House, Modern Synthetic Reactions 2nd ed. (W. A. Benjamin, California, 1972) pp. 660-663; P. H. Leake, Chem. Reviews 56 (1956) 27). Mono- and/or diformyl compounds of the general formula I can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are a 1-hydroxycyanomethyl radical or an unsubstituted or substituted 1-aminomethyl cyanide by reacting a mono- and/or diformyl compound of the general formula I with a reagent releasing hydrogen cyanide, for example with an alkali cyanide, especially potassium cyanide, in the presence of acetic acid, or with anhydrous hydrogen cyanide in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, for example a potassium hydroxide solution (cp. H. H. Hustedt and E. Pfeil, Liebigs Ann. Chem. 640 (1961) 15; A. J. Ulte, Receuil Trav. chim. Pays-Bas 28 (1909) 1, 248, 257; Ber. dtsch. chem. Ges. 39 (1906) 1856), or with hydrogen cyanide, or with a reagent releasing this, in the presence of ammonia or a primary or secondary amine (cp. A. Strecker, Liebigs Ann. Chem. 75 (1850) 27, 91 (1854) 349; or Migrdichian, The Chemistry of Organic Cyanogen Compounds (New York 1947) 198). According to a further process variant, mono- or diformyl compounds of the general formula I can be converted into corresponding compounds having 1-hydroxy-2-methylsulfinyl-ethyl and/or 2-methylsulfinyl-ethenyl as R' and/or R" by reacting a formyl compound of the formula I with dimethyl sulfoxide in the presence of s strong base, for example an alkali hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide, or with the reaction product of dimethyl sulfoxide and the strong base (cp. dimethyl sulfoxide, Diether Martin et al, Akademie Verlag (1971) 344-366). Mono- or diformyl compounds of the general formula I can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are an unsubstituted or substituted 2-lower-alkoxycarbonylethenyl by reacting a mono- or diformyl compound of the general formula I with an unsubstituted or substituted acetic acid lower alkyl ester in the presence of an alkaline condensing agent, for example metallic sodium or sodium hydroxide (cp. Houben-Weyl-Muller 8, (1952) 514, 4 II (1955) 25; Org. Reactions, Vol. 16, 1; H. O. House, Modern Synthetic Reactions (W. A. Benjamin California, 2nd ed. 1972) pp. 632-639; and J. A. Fine, Ph. Pulaski, J. Org. Chem. 38, 1747 (1973)). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are a formyl group can be converted, in a manner known per se, into compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are a free or functionally modified formyl group, for example acetal, oxime, semicarbazone, thiosemicarbazone, hydrazone, oxime ether or unsubstituted or substituted imine, for example the radical of a Schiff base (cp. Chemiker Zeitung "Addition an die Carbonyl group" 80, 379 (1956); Weygand, Hilgetag, Org. Chem. Experimentierkunst, Leipzig 1970, 4th Edition, 391-396 and 517-528). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are formyl or acyl can be converted into compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are an esterified hydroxyl group by reacting a compound of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are formyl or acyl with a peroxide, for example with an organic or inorganic peroxy acid, for example peroxymonosulfuric acid (Caro's acid), peroxybenzoic acid, peroxyacetic acid, monoperoxyphthalic acid and trifluoroperoxyacetic acid (cp. C. H. Hassall, Organic Reactions 9, 73 (1957); P. A. S. Smith, in P. de Mayo, Ed., Molecular Rearrangements, vol. 1 (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1963), pp. 568-591; Ch. Bischoff, Z. Chem. 13, 11 (1973); A. DeBoer, R. E. Ellwanger, J. Org. Chem. 39, 77 (1974); H. O. House, Modern Synthetic reactions (W. A. Benjamin, Inc., London, 2nd ed., 1972), pp. 323-327; S. A. Monti, Ch. K. Ward, Tetrahedron Letters 1971, 697; Y. Ogata, Y. Sawaki, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 94, 4189 (1972 ); M. Winnik, V. Stoute, Can. J. Chem. 51, 2788 (1973); J. Am. Chem. Soc. 96, 1977 (1974); D. H. Aue, D. Thomas, J. Org. Chem. 39, 3855 (1974); and Y. Ogata et al., ibid. 39, 216 (1974)). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are a formyl group can also be converted into compounds of the general formula I wherein R' and/or R" are an unsaturated radical at the linkage point, for example an unsubstituted or substituted ethenyl compound, by reacting a corresponding compound of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are formyl or acyl with a triphenylphosphinemethylene group which is unsubstituted or substituted in the methylene group, or with a reagent releasing this triphenylphosphinemethylene, for example triphenylphosphinemethyl bromide, in the presence of phenyl lithium (cp. G. Wittig and U. Schollkopf, Ber. 87, 1318 (1954); G. Wittig and W. Haag, ibid 88, 1654 (1955). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are formyl or acyl can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are an unsubstituted or substituted 2-lower-alkoxycarbonyl-1-hydroxyethyl group or 2-lower-alkoxycarbonylvinyl by reacting a compound of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are formyl or acyl with an unsubstituted or substituted haloacetic acid ester, particularly bromoacetic acid-lower-alkyl ester, in the presence of metallic zinc in an inert solvent, for example ether, benzene, toluene or tetrahydrofuran, and hydrolysing the organic zinc compound obtained to give a .beta.-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, and then optionally dehydrating this to the unsaturated compound in which R' and/or R" are an unsubstituted or substituted 2-lower-alkoxycarbonylvinyl radical. The reaction can be catalysed by small additions of elementary iodine. Metallic lithium can also be used, in place of metallic zinc, for producing an organolithium compound (cp. R. L. Shriner, Organic Reactions 1, 1 (1942); D. G. M. Diaper, A. Kuksis, Chem. Revs. 59, 89 (1959); H. O. House, Modern Synthetic Reactions 2nd ed. (W. A. Benjamin, California, 1972), pp. 671-682; M. Gaudemar, Organometal. Chem. Rev. Sect. A 8, 183 (1972); M. W. Rathke, Organic Reactions 22, 423 (1975); A. Balsamo et al., Tetrahedron Letters 1974, 1005; J. F. Ruppert, J. D. White, J. Org. Chem. 39, 269 (1974); J. E. Baldwin, J. A. Walker, Chem. Commun. 1973, 117; A. P. Krapcho et al., J. Org. Chem. 39, 1322, 1650 (1974); Tetrahedron Letters 1974, 2721). Compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are unsubstituted or substituted .alpha.-hydroxy hydrocarbon radicals can be obtained by reducing a mono- or diformyl compound or diacyl compound of the general formula I. The reduction can be effected in a manner known per se, for example by catalytically activated or nascent hydrogen. The reduction can also be performed with the aid of metal hydrides, for example aluminium hydride or boron hydride and diborane, especially however with complex metal hydrides, such as lithium aluminium hydride, sodium boron hydride, lithium tritert-butoxyaluminium hydride. Reduction of the compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are formyl or acyl can be performed according to Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verly with use of a secondary alcohol, for example isopropanol, in the presence of aluminiumtriisopropylate. As solvents can be used aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene or toluene (cp. Houben-Weyl, Methodes der Org. Chemie, 4th Edition, 7/1, 1086 (1954), C. H. Snyder, M Micklus, J. Org. Chem. 35, 264 (1970)). Mono- and/or dialkanoyl compounds, especially mono- or diacetyl compounds, of the formula I can be converted by reaction with ammonium polysulfide, or by reaction in the presence of sulfur and primary or secondary amines, for example morpholine, into compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are a carbamoyl-lower-alkyl group, especially carbamoylmethyl or an N-substituted thiocarbamoyl-lower-alkyl group, for example morpholinothiocarbamoyl-methyl (cp. C.Willgerodt, Ber. 20 2467 (1887); 21, 534 (1888); K. Kindler, Ann. 431, 193 (1923); M. Carmock, M. A. Spielman, Organic Reactions 3, 83 (1946); and F. Asinger et al., Augew. Chem. Int. Ed. 3, 19 (1964)). Compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are an unsubstituted or substituted N-mono- or disubstituted .alpha.-aminomethylacyl group or an .alpha.-methyleneacyl group can be obtained by reacting according to Mannich a compound of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are acyl radicals, which contain in the .alpha.-position with respect to the carbonyl group at least one hydrogen atom, with formaldehyde and ammonia or with a primary or secondary amine, and optionally removing ammonia or the employed primary or secondary amine from the aminomethyl compound firstly obtained (cp. C. Mannich, W. Krosche, Arch. Pharm. 250, 647 (1912); F. F. Blicke, Org. Reactions 1, 303 (1942); H. Hellmann, G. Opitz, Angew. Chem. 68, 265 (1956); S. A. Monti, G. D. Costillo, J. Org. Chem. 35, 3764 (1970)). Compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are a lower aliphatic radical substituted by lower alkylsulfinyl, for example lower alkyl or lower alkenyl, especially vinyl, can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" is an .alpha.-acyloxy-lower-alkylthio-lower-alkyl radical or -lower-alkenyl radical, for example the acetoxymethylthio-vinyl radical, by rearranging the above-mentioned starting compounds of the formula I with an anhydride, for example acetic anhydride, in the presence of a base, such as sodium acetate or potassium tertiary butylate (cp. Theilheimer 15 (1961) No. 177; Theilheimer 19 (1965) No. 827; L. Horner, P. Kaiser, Ann. 626, 19 (1959); H. D. Becker, G. J. Mikol, G. A. Russel, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85, 3410 (1963); C. R. Johnson, W. G. Phillips, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 91 682 (1969); T. Jagiara et al., TetraHydron 28, 2765 (1972)). Mono- or diformyl compounds of the formula I can be converted into compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are unsubstituted or mono- or disubstituted carbamoyl or lower alkoxycarbonyl by reacting one of the stated starting materials, in the presence of an alkali metal cyanide and a selective oxidising agent, particularly manganese dioxide, with ammonia or with a primary or secondary amine or a lower alkanol (cp. U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,931). Compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are formyl can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are a 1-hydroxy-2-nitro-lower-alkyl radical or a 2-nitro-1-lower-alkenyl radical by reacting a corresponding compound of the formula I with a nitro-lower-alkane in the presence of an organic or inorganic base, for example pyridine or piperidine, a basic ion-exchanger resin, such as Amberlite.RTM. IRA 400, or sodium hydroxide, and optionally hydrogenating the compound of the formula I obtained, by which means there are obtained compounds of the formula I in which R' and/or R" are a 2-nitro-lower-alkyl group or, on continuation of hydrogenation, a 2-amino-lower-alkyl group (cp. C. J. Schmidle, R. C. Mansfield, Ind. Engng. Chem. 44, 1388 (1952); C. A. Sprang, E. F. Degering, J. Amer. chem. Soc. 64, 1063 (1942); H. B. Hass, F. Riley, The Nitroparaffins, Chem. Reviews 32, 373-420 (1943)). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are carboxyl, formyl or aryl can be converted into compounds of the general formula I wherein R' and/or R" are amino or cyano and/or formamido, or monosubstituted carbamoyl and/or acylamino, by reacting corresponding compounds of the general formula I with hydrazoic acid in the presence or absence of additional inorganic acids, for example mineral acids, such as hydrochloric acid or, in particular, sulfuric acid (H. Wolff, Organic Reactions 3,307 (1946)). Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are formyl or acyl can be converted into compounds of the formula I wherein R' and/or R" are unsubstituted or disubstituted 2-oxiranyl by reacting a corresponding starting material of the formula I with diazomethane, and converting the resulting mono- or bis-diazoniumbetain compound, in a manner known per se, into compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are disubstituted 2-oxiranyl, methylene-homologous acyl or acylmethyl (cp. B. Eistert, Ang. Ch. 54, 99, 124 (1941); Ang. Ch. 55, 118 (1942)). Compounds of the general formula I in which at least one of the symbols R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 is hydrogen and/or at least one of the symbols R' and R" is free hydroxyl, and the remaining symbols have the meanings defined under the formula I, can also be obtained by performing solvolysis or reduction, particularly hydrogenolysis, in a compound of the general formula I in which at least one of the symbols OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' and R" is an ether group which can be readily solvolysed or readily detached by reduction, in particular which can be readily hydrogenolysed, or at least one of the symbols OR.sub.1, R' and R" is an acyloxy group which can be readily solvolysed or hydrogenolysed, or in a compound of the general formula III ##STR4## in which at least one of the symbols OR.sub.2 ', OR.sub.3 ' OR.sub.4 ' and OR.sub.5 ' is an acyloxy group which can be readily solvolysed or hydrogenolysed, and the remaining symbols have the meanings given under the formula I or OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4 and OR.sub.5, and R.sub.1, R' and R" likewise have the meanings defined under the formula I. An ether or acyloxy group which can be readily solvolysed or hydrogenolysed is for example an ether or acyloxy group which is detachable by solvolysis, including hydrolysis, acidolysis or alcoholysis, or by means of reduction, including hydrogenolysis. An acyloxy group detachable by solvolysis is for example an acyloxy group in which the acyl moiety is the radical of an organic carboxylic acid, for example lower alkanoyl, such as acetyl, halo-lower-alkanoyl, such as haloacetyl, for example chloroacetyl, or carbamoyl, or aroyl, such as benzoyl, also the acyl moiety is the radical of a semi-ester of carbonic acid, such as lower alkoxycarbonyl, for example methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl or tert-butyloxycarbonyl, 2-halo-lower-alkoxycarbonyl, for example 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl or 2-iodoethoxycarbonyl, unsubstituted or substituted 1-phenyl-lower-alkoxycarbonyl, for example benzyloxycarbonyl or diphenylmethoxycarbonyl, or aroylmethoxycarbonyl, for example phenacyloxycarbonyl, also an unsubstituted or substituted 1-polyphenyl-lower-alkyl group wherein substituents of the phenyl moiety can be for example lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, such as methyl or methoxy, and in particular trityl, or an organosilyl radical, especially trimethylsilyl. An ether group which is detachable by solvolysis is for example lower alkoxy, for example methoxy or ethoxy, or a 1-phenyl-lower-alkoxy group, such as benzyloxy. These radicals can be substituted by lower alkoxy, for example methoxy or ethoxy, or lower-alkoxyethoxy, for example methoxyethoxy. Benzyloxy radicals as detachable ether groups can be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents, for example lower alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl, halogen, for example chlorine or bromine, or lower alkoxy, for example methoxy or ethoxy. These substituents are situated preferably in the ortho position or in the para-position. Likewise detachable by solvolysis, particularly by hydrolysis or alcoholysis, in an acid medium are for their part aliphatic ether groups substituted in the .alpha.-position by an ether group, such as ethoxymethoxy, butoxymethoxy or 1-ethoxyethoxy, and particularly analogous cyclic radicals, for example 1-oxacycloalkan-2-yloxy groups, especially tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy, also for example 4-methoxytetrahydropyran-4-yloxy. When the solvolysis of the ether or acyloxy groups is performed by hydrolysis, this is carried out, depending on the nature of the detachable groups, in the presence of an organic acid, such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, or a mineral acid, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, or in the presence of an alkali metal- or alkaline-earth metal-hydroxide or -carbonate, or in the presence of ammonia or of an amine, such as isopropylamine, or hydrazine hydrate. If solvolysis is performed by means of one of the above-mentioned acids in an alcohol, for example by means of p-toluenesulfonic acid in ethyl alcohol, solvolysis is performed by alcoholysis. Ether groups, for example lower alkoxy groups, in particular methoxy or ethoxy, can be detached in solution or in the melt by means of a metal halide, such as aluminium halide or boron halide, for example aluminium trichloride, aluminium tribromide, boron trichloride or boron tribromide. Suitable solvents are for example benzene, nitrobenzene or ethylene chloride (cp. J. Chem. Soc. (1961), 1008; Ber. (1943), 76B, 900; J. Org. Chem. (1962), 27, 2037; Ber. 93 (1960), 2761; J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1968), 24,2289; and Tetrahedron Letters (1966), 4155). Acyloxy groups detachable by acidolysis are those in which the acyl moiety is an acid radical of semi-esters of carbonic acid, for example tert-lower-alkoxycarbonyl or unsubstituted or substituted diphenylmethoxycarbonyl. Also ether groups, for example tert-lower alkoxy groups, can be detached by acidolysis. Detachment by acidolysis can be performed by treatment with suitable strong organic carboxylic acids, such as lower-alkanecarboxylic acids unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, especially by fluorine, particularly trifluoroacetic acid (if necessary in the presence of an activating agent, such as anisole), as well as with formic acid. Where no prior mention is made, the above reactions are performed in the presence of a solvent or solvent mixture, suitable reactants also being able to act as such. An ether group detachable by reduction, especially by hydrogenolysis, is in particular an .alpha.-aryl-lower-alkyl group, such as an unsubstituted or substituted 1-phenyl-lower-alkyl group, wherein lower alkyl has up to 7 carbon atoms, and wherein substituents, especially of the phenyl moiety, can be for example lower alkyl or lower alkoxy having in each case up to 7 carbon atoms, for example methyl or methoxy, and more especially however benzyl. The reductive detachment of the ether groups OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" can be performed in particular for example by treatment with catalytically activated hydrogen, such as hydrogen in the presence of a suitable hydrogenating catalyst, for example a nickel, platinum or palladium catalyst, and also a rhodium or ruthenium catalyst; or the process is performed with a hydride reducing agent, for example lithium aluminium hydride. By acyloxy radicals detachable by hydrogenolysis are meant those groups which are detached by treatment with a chemical reducing agent (especially with a reducing metal or a reducing metal compound). Such radicals are in particular 2-halo-lower-alkoxycarbonyloxy, such as 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyloxy, which are detached for example with a reducing heavy metal, for example zinc, or with a reducing heavy metal salt, such as a chromium(II) salt, for example chromium(II)-chloride or -acetate, usually in the presence of an organic carboxylic acid, such as formic acid or acetic acid. The above reduction reactions are performed in a manner known per se, usually in the presence of an inert solvent and, if necessary, with cooling or heating, for example in a temperature range of about -20.degree. to about 150.degree. C., and/or in a closed vessel under pressure. Depending on the ether or acyloxy group present, there is preferably selected the most mild of the described solvolysis or hydrogenolysis methods, in order to avoid changes in the flavone structure. There can be obtained moreover by these solvolysis or hydrogenolysis methods compounds of the general formula I wherein R' and/or R" can also be a primary or secondary amino group, the starting materials in this case being compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are an amino group protected by at least one protective group. An amino protective group is in particular an acyl group, such as acyl of an aliphatic, aromatic or araliphatic carboxylic acid, especially lower alkanoyl, for example acetyl or propionyl, or aroyl, for example benzoyl, or acyl of formic acid or of a carbonic acid semi-derivative, for example of a carbonic acid semi-ester, such as formyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, for example ethoxycarbonyl or tert-butyloxycarbonyl, or aryl-lower-alkoxycarbonyl, for example benzyloxycarbonyl. The detachment of an acyl radical used as an amino protective group can be performed in a manner known per se, for example by solvolysis, particularly by means of alcoholysis, also by means of hydrolysis. The detaching of an acyl radical by alcoholysis can be carried out for example in the presence of a strong basic agent, at elevated temperature, for example at about 50.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C. There is used in particular a lower alkanol, for example n-butanol or ethanol, and as a strong base an alkali metal lower alkanolate, for example a sodium or potassium lower alkanolate, for example -n-butylate or -ethylate, or an alkali metal hydroxide, for example sodium or potassium hydroxide. Amino protective groups, for example lower-alkoxycarbonyl groups, such as tert-butyloxycarbonyl, can be detached particularly gently by acidolysis, for example by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid. A further amino protective group which can be especially mildly detached is an ethoxycarbonyl group which carries in the .beta.-position a silyl group substituted by three hydrocarbon radicals, such as a triphenylsilyl, dimethylbutyl-silyl or in particular trimethylsilyl group. A .beta.-(trimethylsilyl)-ethoxycarbonyl group of this kind forms with the amino group to be protected a corresponding .beta.-trimethylsilylethoxycarbonylamino group, which can be detached, under mild conditions, by reaction with fluoride ions. Reagents releasing fluoride ions are for example fluorides of quaternary organic bases, such as tetraethylammonium fluoride. It is to be ensured that only those amino protective groups are used which can be detached selectively with retention of the desired structure of the compounds of the general formula I. Compounds of the formula I in which at least one of the groups OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" corresponds to one of the ether groups defined above, and the other symbols have the meanings given in the foregoing, can be obtained by reacting a compound of the formula I, in which at least one of the above-mentioned symbols is a hydroxyl group which is free, metallised, or esterified with a hydrohalic acid, with a compound of the formula IV X-R"' (IV) wherein X is a free, metallised, or reactively esterified hydroxyl group, and R"' together with an oxygen atom attached thereto corresponds to at least one of the above-defined ether groups OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' and R", or X-R"' is a compound introducing the ether radical R"', if at least one of the symbols OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" is a free hydroxyl group. If X-R"' is a compound introducing the radical R"', it can be a corresponding diazo compound, an acetal corresponding to the alcohol R"'OH, or a corresponding ortho ester, a corresponding oxonium, carbenium or halonium salt or a corresponding triazene compound. If the substituents from the group OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R', R" or X of the formulae I and IV are a free hydroxyl group, the reaction is performed in the presence of proton donors, that is to say, by means of acid catalysis. The proton donors used are in particular strong inorganic acids or organic sulfonic acids, for example mineral acids, such as hydrohalic acids, for example hydrochloric acid, also sulfuric acid, or for example p-toluenesulfonic acid, but also Lewis acids, such as halides of boron, aluminium or zinc, for example boron trifluoride, aluminium chloride or zinc chloride. Etherification is preferably performed without an addition of solvent in the corresponding alcoholic solution, that is, in an alcohol of the formula R"'OH, provided this is in the liquid state at the applied temperature. If one or more from the group OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" is a hydroxyl group which is free or metallised, preferably metallised by an alkali metal atom, for example ONa, X is present as a reactive esterified hydroxyl group. In the reverse case, when X is a free or metallised hydroxyl group, one or more from the group OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" is a hydroxyl group esterified with hydrohalic acid. A reactive esterified hydroxyl group X is preferably a hydroxyl group esterified by a strong mineral or sulfonic acid, such as a hydrohalic acid, sulfuric acid, lower-alkanesulfonic acid or benzene-sulfonic acid, for example hydrochloric, hydrobromic, methanesulfonic, trifluoromethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic or p-toluenesulfonic acid. Such esters are, inter alia: lower alkyl halides, di-lower-alkyl sulfates, such as dimethyl sulfate, also fluorosulfonic acid ester, such as lower alkyl ester, for example fluorosulfonic acid-methyl ester, or unsubstituted or halogen-substituted methanesulfonic acid-lower-alkyl ester, for example trifluoromethanesulfonic acid-methyl ester. The hydroxyl group of the starting material of the formula I or IV can however also be esterified for example by a lower alkanecarboxylic acid, such as acetic acid or propionic acid. When one of the radicals from the compounds of the formula I or IV is the free hydroxyl group, etherification is performed in the presence of basic condensation agents which bind the formed acids. Such agents are carbonates or hydrogen carbonates of alkaline-earth metals or alkali metals, for example calcium or sodium carbonates or -hydrogen carbonates, or tertiary amines, for example tri-lower-alkylamines, pyridines or lower-alkylated pyridines. If the one starting material is used in the form of the metallised compound (for example X.sub.1 =ONa), the reaction is performed under neutral reaction conditions. Finally, when X is a hydroxyl group esterified by a lower alkanecarboxylic acid, for example a hydroxyl group esterified by acetic acid, the reaction with a corresponding alcohol of the compound of the formula I, in which at least one of the symbols OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" is a free hydroxyl group, can be performed in an acid medium, preferably in the presence of a mineral acid, for example a hydrohalic acid, such as hydrochloric acid. The reactions are performed, if necessary, with the addition of an inert solvent, such as an optionally halogenated (such as chlorinated) aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, for example methylene chloride, of an ether, such as dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, or of a mixture of these solvents. The above-described etherification reaction can be considerably accelerated by phase-transfer catalysis [cp. Dehmlow, Angewandte Chemie, Vol. 5, p. 187 (1974)]. Suitable phase-transfer catalysts are quaternary phosphonium salts and particularly quaternary ammonium salts, such as unsubstituted or substituted tetraalkylammonium halides, for example tetrabutylammonium chloride, -bromide or -iodide, or benzyltriethylammonium chloride, used in catalytic or up to equimolar amounts. The organic phase used can be any solvent immiscible with water, for example one of the optionally halogenated (such as chlorinated), lower aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, such as tri- or tetrachloroethylene, tetrachloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzene, toluene or xylene. Alkali metal carbonates or -hydrogen carbonates suitable as condensation agents are for example: potassium or sodium carbonate or -hydrogen carbonate, alkali metal phosphates, for example potassium phosphate, and alkali metal hydroxides, for example sodium hydroxide. Compounds of the formula I wherein at least one of the symbols OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" is the free hydroxyl group can be etherified, as already stated above, also by reaction with corresponding diazo compounds. Such compounds are for example: diazo-lower-alkanes, such as diazomethane, diazoethane or diazo-n-butane, but also phenyl-diazo-lower-alkanes, for example phenyl-diazomethane. These reagents are applied in the presence of a suitable inert solvent, such as an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, such as hexane, cyclohexane, benzene or toluene, or in the presence of a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon, for example methylene chloride, or an ether, such as di-lower-alkyl ether, for example diethyl ether, or in the presence of a cyclic ether, for example tetrahydrofuran or dioxane, or a solvent mixture, and, depending on the diazo reagent, with cooling, at room temperature or with slight heating, also, if necessary, in a closed vessel and/or under an inert gas, for example in a nitrogen atmosphere. When at least one of the symbols OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" is hydroxyl, further etherifying agents are suitable acetal compounds, for example gem-di-lower-alkoxy-lower alkanes, such as 2,2-dimethoxy-propane, which are used in the presence of strong organic sulfonic acids, such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, and of a suitable solvent, such as a di-lower-alkyl- or lower-alkylenesulfoxide, for example dimethyl sulfoxide; or suitable ortho esters, for example orthoformic acid-tri-lower-alkyl esters, for example orthoformic acid-triethyl esters, which are used in the presence of a strong mineral acid, for example sulfuric acid, or a strong organic sulfonic acid, such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, and a suitable solvent, such as an ether, for example dioxane. When at least one from the group of symbols OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" is the free hydroxyl group, further etherifying agents are corresponding tri-substituted oxonium salts (so-called Meerwein salts), or disubstituted carbenium or halonium salts, wherein the substituents are the etherifying radicals R, for example tri-lower-alkyloxonium salts, and di-lower-alkoxycarbenium or di-lower-alkylhalonium salts, especially the corresponding salts with complex, fluorine-containing acids, such as the corresponding tetrafluoroborates, hexafluorophosphates, hexafluoroantimonates or hexachloroantimonates. Such reagents are for example: trimethyloxonium- or triethyloxonium-hexafluoroantimonate, -hexachloroantimonate, -hexafluorophosphate or -tetrafluoroborate, dimethoxycarbeniumhexafluorophosphate or dimethylbromoniumhexafluoroantimonate. These etherifying agents are used preferably in an inert solvent, such as in an ether or a halogenated hydrocarbon, for example diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran or methylene chloride, or in a mixture thereof, in necessary in the presence of a base, such as an organic base, for example a, preferably sterically hindered, tri-lower-alkylamine, for example N,N-diisopropyl-N-ethyl-amine, and with cooling, at room temperature or with slight heating, for example at about -20.degree. to about 50.degree. C., if necessary in a closed vessel and/or in an inert gas, for example in a nitrogen atmosphere. When one of the substituents OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" of the compound of the formula I is a free hydroxyl group, further etherifying agents are finally corresponding 1-substituted 3-aryltriazene compounds wherein the substituent is the etherifying radical R, and aryl is preferably unsubstitued or substituted phenyl, for example lower alkylphenyl, such as 4-methylphenyl. Such triazene compounds are 3-aryl-1-lower-alkyltriazenes, for example 3-(4-methylphenyl)-1-methyl-triazene, 3-(4-methylphenyl)-1-ethyl-triazene or 3-(4-methylphenyl)-1-isopropyl-triazene. These reagents are used usually in the presence of inert solvents, such as optionally halogenated hydrocarbons or ethers, for example benzene, or solvent mixtures, and with cooling, at room temperature and preferably at elevated temperature, for example at about 20.degree. to about 100.degree. C., if necessary in a closed vessel and/or in an inert gas, for example in a nitrogen atmosphere. In the compounds of the formula I, a hydroxyl group esterified with a hydrohalic acid is for example a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom. The conversion of a free hydroxyl group into a hydroxyl group esterified by a hydrohalic acid, that is to say, into a halogen atom, is usually performed by treatment with a halogenating, especially chlorinating, agent. Such agents are for example: thionyl chloride, thionyl bromide, phosphorus tribromide, phosphorus oxybromide or -chloride or phosphorus pentachloride, which are customarily used in the presence of an inert solvent or diluent, for example tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, methylene chloride or dimethyl sulfoxide. Compounds of the general formula I or of the above-mentioned formula III, in which at least one of the symbols OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R', R", OR.sub.2 ', OR.sub.3 ', OR.sub.4 ' or OR.sub.5 ' are an acyloxy group, can be obtained by converting a compound of the formula I, in which at least one of the symbols OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" is a free hydroxyl group, with an acylating agent introducing the desired acyl radical of an organic carboxylic acid, into an acyloxy group. Such agents are for example corresponding carboxylic acids or reactive derivatives thereof, such as anhydrides or acid halides, for example acid chlorides or acid bromides. The reactions can be performed optionally in the presence of condensation agents, in the case of free carboxylic acids, for example, in the presence of cabodiimide compounds, such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, or carbonyl compounds, such as diimidazolylcarbonyl. With the use of acid derivatives, for example acid halides, the reactions are performed advantageously in the presence of a basic agent, for example a tri-lower-alkylamine, such as triethylamine, or in the presence of a heterocyclic base, for example pyridine. Within the limits of the definition of the final products, it is possible to modify substituents in the compounds obtained. Thus, in a product of the formula I, the substituents OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3, OR.sub.4, OR.sub.5, R' or R" can be exchanged, by treatment with another alcohol of the formula R"'OH, optionally in the presence of an acid, for another substituent OR"'. Lower alkoxy groups for example can therefore be converted in a known manner, for example by reaction with a diazo-lower-alkane, or by reaction with a lower alkyl halide, such as iodide or bromide, for example in the presence of silver oxide or silver carbonate, into another lower alkoxy group. The above-mentioned reactions are performed by methods known per se, in the presence or absence of diluents, preferably in those which are inert to the reagents and which dissolve them, catalysts, condensation agents or neutralising agents, and/or in an inert atmosphere, with cooling, at room temperature or at elevated temperature, preferably at the boiling point of the employed solvent, and under normal or elevated pressure. Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" are carboxyl, or in which carboxyl is contained as a substituent, and salts of such compounds with bases can be obtained by liberation of the carboxyl group(s) and, optionally, subsequent salt formation with bases. The liberation of the carboxyl group(s) can be effected in a manner known per se, particularly by hydrolysis or by reduction, especially by hydrogenolysis. Funtionally modified carboxyl groups suitable for hydrolysis are for example ester groups, in particular lower alkyl ester groups, i.e. lower alkoxycarbonyl, also for example unsubstituted or (analogously to benzyloxy) substituted benzyloxycarbonyl, also phenacyloxycarbonyl or phthalimidomethoxycarbonyl, and, as a further type, amide and thioamide groups, and corresponding derivatives of saturated nitrogen-containing heterocycles, for example carbamoyl, mono- and di-lower-alkylcarbamoyl, lower alkylenecarbamoyl or morpholinocarbonyl, and thio-analogs, thereof, for example the thiocarbamoyl or morpholinocarbonyl preferentially obtained in the Willgerodt-Kindler reaction. Also suitable are nitrile groups and the imido esters preferably produced from such groups in a manner known per se, particularly imido-lower-alkyl ester groups. The hydrolysis reaction is preferably performed in an aqueous or organic-aqueous, acid or basic medium, at room temperature up to the boiling temperature of the reaction medium. It can be performed for example in aqueous lower-alkanolic alkali hydroxide solutions or alkali carbonate solutions. From the alkali metal salt solutions of the free carboxylic acids firstly formed, it is possible either to liberate the acids by acidification, or to obtain directly, by concentration or by evaporation and subsequent recrystallisation, the corresponding pure alkali metal salt. The acid medium used can be for example sulfuric acid diluted with water, such as 60-70% sulfuric acid, or aqueous or lower-alkanolic-aqueous hydrochloric acid. An acidified medium results also when an imido-lower-alkyl ester hydrochloride formed from a nitrile by treatment with hydrogen chloride and a lower alkanol is treated directly with water, preferably at elevated temperature. Groups convertable by reduction into free carboxyl are both groups which, to the required end, can be detached by chemical reduction, and such groups which can be detached by reduction by means of catalytically activated hydrogen, that is, by hydrogenolysis. The first group includes in particular 2-halogenated lower-alkyl ester groups, such as 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, also unsubstituted or (analogously to benzyloxy) substituted phenacyl, as well as phthalimidomethyl, from which the carboxyl group can be liberated for example by treatment with reducing metals and acids, for example with zinc in acetic acid at elevated temperature, for example at the boiling temperature. Ester groups detachable by hydrogenolysis are for example .alpha.-aryl-lower-alkyl ester groups, especially benzyloxycarbonyl unsubstituted or substituted in the ring in the manner described above for benzyloxy, also unsubstituted or analogously substituted phenacyl, which can be cleaved by treatment with hydrogen in the presence of a suitable hydrogenating catalyst, for example a nickel, platinium or palladium catalyst, and also a rhodium or ruthenium catalyst. Both the hydrolytic and the reductive or hydrogenolytic liberation of carboxyl groups can be effected also in the same operation as the corresponding liberation of hydroxyl groups OR.sub.1, OR.sub.2, and so forth, from acyloxy groups, or from ether groups which can be detached by reduction or can by hydrogenolysed. Compounds of the general formula I in which R' and/or R" either are functionally modified carboxyl, or contain this as substituent, can be obtained from corresponding compounds wherein R' and/or R" are free or differently functionally modified carboxyl, by conversion of the last-mentioned groups in a manner known per se. The desired functionally modified carboxyl is for example esterified carboxyl, especially lower alkoxycarbonyl or amidated carboxyl, particularly carbamoyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by alkyl, di-lower-alkylaminoalkyl, and/or phenyl which is unsubstituted or in its turn substituted in the ring by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy. To carry out the above-mentioned process, compounds of the general formula I for example in which R' and/or R" either are carboxyl, or contain carboxyl as substituent, or reactive functional derivatives of such compounds, for example anhydrides, particularly mixed anhydrides, such as those with hydrohalic acids or with monoesters of carbonic acid, also activated esters, for example cyanomethyl esters or p-nitrobenzyl esters, and also lower alkyl esters, are reacted with hydroxyl compounds, especially lower alkanols, or with ammonia or primary or secondary amines. It is also possible to react salts, particularly alkali metal salts or alkaline-earth metal salts, of free carboxylic acids with reactive esters of hydroxyl compounds, especially of lower alkanols, such as hydrohalic acid esters, or esters with organic sulfonic acids, for example lower-alkanesulfonic acid or arenesulfonic acid esters, such as methanesulfonic acid esters or p-toluenesulfonic acid esters; or with carbamic acid halides derived from secondary amines, in particular carbamic acid chlorides; or free carboxylic acids can also be reacted with diazo-lower-alkanes to lower alkyl esters, or with isocyanates to N-monosubstituted amides. Furthermore, it is also possible to convert nitriles, in a manner known per se, into N-unsubstituted amides or into esters, especially lower alkyl esters. The reaction of free carboxylic acids embraced by the general formula I with hydroxyl compounds is performed advantageously in the presence of an acid catalyst splitting off water, such as a protonic acid, for example hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid, sulfuric, phosphoric or boric acid, benzenesulfonic or toluenesulfonic acid, or a Lewis acid, for example of boron-trifluoride etherate, in an excess of the employed hydroxyl compound and/or in an inert solvent, for example in a hydrocarbon of the benzene series, such as benzene or toluene, in a halogenated hydrocarbon, such as chloroform, methylene chloride or chlorobenzene, or in an ether-like solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran, if necessary with removal by distillation, for example azeotropic distillation, of the water released during the reaction. The reactions can also be performed in the presence of other water-binding condensation agents, for example carbodiimides substituted by hydrocarbon radicals, such as N,N'-diethyl-, N,N'-dicyclohexyl- or N-ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide, in inert organic solvents, for example in the aforementioned. Halides and other mixed anhydrides are reacted for example in the presence of acid-binding agents, for example organic, especially tertiary, nitrogen bases, for example triethylamine, N,N-diisopropyl-N-ethylamine or pyridine, or in the presence of inorganic bases, for example alkali metal- or alkaline-earth metal-hydroxides or -carbonates, such as sodium, potassium or calcium hydroxide or -carbonate, in inert organic solvents, for example in the above-mentioned, and if necessary with heating. The reactions of reactive esters of carboxylic acids embraced by the general formula I, for example the cyanomethyl esters or p-nitrobenzyl esters, with hydroxyl compounds are performed for example in a solvent inert to the reactants, for example in a hydrocarbon, such as toluene or xylene, in an ethereal solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran or dioxane, or at moderate temperatures also an ester, such as ethyl acetate, in the temperature range of about 0.degree. to about 120.degree. C., preferably at room temperature up to about 60.degree. C. For transesterification of lower alkyl esters of carboxylic acids embraced by the general formula I, there are preferably used hydroxyl compounds having a boiling point clearly above that of the esterified lower alkanols, and the reaction is performed for example in an excess of the hydroxyl compound and/or in an inert organic solvent preferably having a boiling point clearly above that of the lower alkanol, preferably in the presence of a catalyst, for example an alkali metal-lower-alkoxide, such as sodium or potassium methoxide or -ethoxide, at elevated temperature, and preferably with removal of the liberated lower alkanol by distillation. The hydrolysis of imido esters, especially imido-lower-alkyl esters, of carboxylic acids embraced by the general formula I is performed for example by means of aqueous mineral acid, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, whereby for example the imido ester hydrochlorides obtained by the addition reaction of hydrogen chloride with nitriles and reaction of the product with anhydrous hydroxyl compounds, particularly lower alkanols, can, after the addition of water, be hydrolysed directly to the corresponding esters; or from a mixture for example of nitrile, hydroxyl compound and sulfuric acid of suitable water content, there can be obtained, without isolation of the imido ester formed in situ, the corresponding ester embraced by the general formula I. The reaction of free carboxylic acids embraced by the general formula I with ammonia or with primary or secondary amines is performed for example in the presence of the above-mentioned water-binding agents and in the inert organic solvents mentioned above; it is also possible however to convert the ammonium salts, formed from the free carboxylic acids and ammonia or amines, by heating, optionally in a suitable organic solvent having a medium or higher boiling point, for example xylene, chlorobenzene or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, and removal, by distillation, optionally azeotropic distillation, of the water liberated during the reaction, into amides embraced by the general formula I. Suitable reactive functional derivatives of carboxylic acids embraced by the general formula I for reaction with ammonia or with primary or secondary amines, and appertaining condensation agents and solvents are essentially the same as those given above for reactions with hydroxyl compounds, with the difference that the acid-binding agent used can also be an excess of the ammonia to be reacted, and the acid-binding agent and optionally sole reaction medium used can be, in place of others, that is to say, tertiary organic bases, also an excess of the amine to be reacted. The partial hydrolysis of the corresponding nitriles, which is a further possibility for the formation of N-unsubstituted amides, can be performed for example by means of aqueous mineral acids, such as hydrochloric acid or dilute sulfuric acid, at room temperature or at a moderately elevated temperature. Furthermore, nitriles can be converted into the corresponding N-unsubstituted amides by treatment with peroxides or peroxy acids, for example hydrogen peroxide, in an inert reaction medium, for example in an aqueous lower alkanol, with moderate heating. In the process according to the invention, those starting materials of the formulae II, III and IV are in general to be reacted and those process measures applied which do not yield compounds of the general formula I which have been excluded in the second definition of this formula for the novel compounds as being known per se. Acid addition salts of compounds of the formula I are obtained in customary manner, for example by treating with an acid or a suitable anion exchanger. The resulting salts can be converted into the free compounds in a manner known per se, for example by treating with a suitable basic agent, for example a metal hydroxide, ammonia or a hydroxyl ion exchanger. On the other hand, compounds having a phenolic hydroxy group can be converted into an alkali metal salt in a manner known per se by treating, for example, with an alkali metal hydroxide. The free compounds can be obtained by treating with an acid. The therapeuctically acceptable salts mentioned above are preferred. These or other salts, for example the picrates, can also be used in the purification of free bases. The bases are converted into their salts, the salts are separated and the bases are liberated from the salts. Owing to the close relationships between the novel compounds in free form and in the form of their salts, hereinbefore and hereinafter there shall optionally be understood by free compounds and salts, where appropriate with regard to meaning and purpose, also the corresponding salts and free compounds, respectively. Starting materials and end products that are isomeric mixtures can be separated into the individual isomers by methods known per se, for |