NZ247373A

NZ247373A - Azol-2-yl benzimidazole derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions

Info

Publication number: NZ247373A
Application number: NZ247373A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Uwe Ries; Berthold Narr; Wolfgang Wienen; Norbert Hauel; Meel Jacques Van; Michael Entzeroth
Original assignee: Thomae Gmbh Dr K
Priority date: 1992-04-11
Filing date: 1993-04-08
Publication date: 1995-06-27
Also published as: NO931342L; EP0566020A1; IL105356A0; CZ62193A3; HU9301056D0; NO931342D0; SK32493A3; KR930021734A; FI931599A0; HUT64059A; TW232016B; PL298449A1; AU661129B2; JPH0625234A; AU3679693A; DE4224752A1; CA2093785A1; FI931599A; MX9302034A

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £47373 24-7373 r'" "2.11 C!a~-: £9"1 DW-<?3lp>tj 11*.; Ptit.'ic::-;: ; 2.7 J,U N ,1995 P.O. Joi::r,:. !!-.; , _ _ j NO DRAWINGS Patents Form No. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION BENZ IMIDAZOLES WE, DR KARL THOMAE GMBH, a German body corporate of W-7950 Biberach an der Riss, Federal Republic of Germany hereby declare the invention, for which We pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: <• x - 1 JUL 1993 (followed by Page la) { 59340.559 Benzimidazoles The present invention relates to new benzimidazoles, processes for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. EP-A-468470 discloses benzimidazoles which are valuable angiotensin-antagonists. It has been found that certain novel benzimidazoles have particularly valuable pharmacological properties as angiotensin-II-antagonists. Thus, viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides compounds of formula I: (I) (wherein Rx denotes a hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom or a fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl or alkyl group; R2 denotes an imidazol-2-yl group optionally substituted in the 1-position by the group Ra, wherein Ra denotes a phenyl or phenylalkyl group, in which the phenyl nucleus may be mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different, a C3.7- (followed by page 2) ?47V- - 2 - 59340NZ.582 cycloalkyl group or a Ci.g-alkyl group in which the alkyl moiety may additionally be substituted by a group metabolically convertible in vivo into a carboxy group, by a trifluoromethyl. carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkyiaminocarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl group or from position 2 by a hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino or morpholino group, a 5, 5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro-imidazol-4-on-2-yl group optionally substituted by a -alkyl group in the 1-position, an imidazolium-2-yl group substituted in the 1- and 3-positions by groups Rb/ which groups may be identical or different, wherein Rb denotes a phenylalkyl group in which the phenyl nucleus may be mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different, or Rb denotes a C^.g-alkyl group in which the alkyl moiety may additionally be substituted by a group metabolically convertible in vivo into a carboxy group, or by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl group, an oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl group, whilst the above-mentioned imidazolium-2-yl groups may each additionally be substituted in the 4 and/or 5 positions by a C^-alkyl or by a phenyl group (the substituents being identical or different) or an n-propylene or n-butylene bridge may be attached via the 4 and/or 5 positions, or the above-mentioned imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl groups are each substituted in the 4 or 5 - 3 - 7 71 7 / 6 J > position by a phenyl group and may additionally be substituted by a C1.5-alkyl group in the remaining 4 or 5 position or are each substituted in the 4- and 5-position by a Ci-s-alkyl group, or an n-propylene or n-butylene bridge may be attached, via the 4 and/or 5 positions, to the above-mentioned imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl groups, if Rs represents a group which can be metabolised into a carboxy group in vivo (with the exception of an alkoxycarbonyl group having a total of 2 to 5 carbon atoms) or a 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-l,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl group, or Ra denotes a phenyl or phenylalkyl group wherein the phenyl nucleus is mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different, or a C1_6-alkyl group in which the alkyl moiety is substituted by a group which can be metabolised in vivo into a carboxy group, or by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl group or, from position 2, by a hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino or morpholino group, wherein in each case an n-propylene or n-butylene bridge may be attached via the 4 and/or 5 positions, an oxazolin-2-yl or imidazolin-2-yl group substituted in the 4-position by the groups R9 and Rl0 and in the 5-position by the group R8, wherein an imino group may additionally be substituted by Ra or by an R8CO- (R9CR10) -NRa-CO- group, wherein Ra is as hereinbefore defined, and R8, R9 and R10, which may be identical or different, denote hydrogen atoms, C^-alky! groups or phenyl groups,- R3 denotes a C^-alky! group, a C3.5-cycloalkyl group, a 24 - 4 - Cx.4-alkoxy or C^-alkylthio group; and R4 denotes a hydrogen atom or a group of formula wherein Rs denotes a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or denotes a carboxy, cyano, 2, 5-dihydro-5-oxo-l,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, 1H-tetrazolyl, 1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl or 2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl group; whilst unless otherwise specified any alkyl or alkoxy group contains 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and the phrase "a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group" as used herein denotes the esters thereof of formulae - CO - OR \ - CO - 0 - (HCR") - 0 - CO - R1" and - CO - 0 - (HCR") - 0 - CO - OR"' wherein R1 denotes a straight-chained or branched C^g-alkyl group, a C5_7-cycloalkyl group, a benzyl, l-phenylethyl, 2-phenylethyl, 3-phenylpropyl, methoxymethyl or cinnamyl group, R" denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R"1 denotes a straight-chained or branched C^g - alkyl group, a C5_7-cycloalkyl group, a phenyl, benzyl, 1-/. • 2 k 7 37 T 5 4 # phenylethyl, 2-phenylethyl or 3-phenylpropyl group) and (a) Methyl 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate (b) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (c) 41 - [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,3-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazoliumiodide-2-yl)-iH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (d) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (e) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (f) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6- (l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (g) 4'- [ [2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl (h) 4'-t[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylie acid (i) 4'-[(2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(1-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid 2' 7' 6 - (j) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (k) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-benzyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (1) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-sesquihydrate (m) 41 -[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (n) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-1-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (o) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-carboxymethyl-5 , 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate (p) 41 -[[2-Cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate (q) 41 -[[2-cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (r) 41 -[[2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid iC'" j ' f \ (s) 4'-[ [2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5, 6, 7, 8-j ■' T O 47 373 - 7 - tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (t) 4 ' -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (u) 4' -t[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (v) 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (w) 4 ' -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (x) 4'-[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (y) 4 ' - [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6 - (l-isobutyl-5, 6,-7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol~2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (z) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (aa) 41 -[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and the 3-isomers, the 1-, 3-isomer mixtures and salts thereof. Examples of the definitions of groups Rlf R2, R3 and R5 mentioned above are as follows: Rx may denote a hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom or a fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl group; R2 may denote the 5,5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro-imidazol-4-on-2-yl, l-methyl-5,5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro-imidazol-4-on-2-yl, l-ethyl-5,5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro- imidazol-4-on-2-yl, l-n-propyl-5,5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro-imidazol-4-on-2-yl, 1-isopropyl-5,5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro-imidazol-4-on-2-yl, 4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-methyl-5-ethyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-methyl-5-n-propyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-methyl-5-n-butyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-methyl-5-n-pentyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-methyl-5-phenyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4,5-diethyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-ethyl-5-n-propyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-ethyl-5-n-butyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-ethyl-5-n-pentyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-ethyl-5-phenyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4,5-di-n-propyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-n-propyl-5-n-butyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4 -n-propyl-5-n-pentyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4-n-propyl-5-phenyl-oxazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-4-ethyl-oxazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-4-n-propyl-oxazol-2-yl, 4,5-diphenyl-oxazol-2-yl, 5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzoxazol-2-yl, 4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl, 4-methyl-5-ethyl-thiazol-2-yl, 4-methyl-5-n-propyl-thiazol-2-yl, 4-methyl-5-phenyl-thiazol-2-yl, 4,5-diethyl-thiazol-2-yl, 4-ethyl- 5-n-propyl-thiazol-2-yl, 4-ethyl-5-phenyl-thiazol-2-yl, 4, 5-di-n-propyl-thiazol-2-yl, 4,5-di-n-isopropyl-thiazol-2-yl, 4-n-propyl-5-phenyl-thiazol~2-yl, 4,5-diphenyl-thiazol-2-yl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benz-thiazol-2-yl, 4-methyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4-ethyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4-n-propyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4-isopropyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4-n-butyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4-isobutyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4-benzyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4-phenyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4,4-dimethyl^^fi oxazolin-2-yl, 4-methyl-5-phenyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4 dimethyl-5 - n-propyl-oxazolin-2-yl, 4, 5-tetramethytLene- 5 rj oxazolin-2-yl, 4-methyl-imidazolin-2-yl, 4,5-dimethyl-imidazolin-2-yl, 4,5-tetramethylene-imidazolin-2-yl, 4-methyl-imidazol-2-yl, 4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1,4,5-trimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-ethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-n-propyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-isopropyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-n-butyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-isobutyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol- 2-y1, 1-cyclopropy1-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-cyclobutyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-cyclopentyl-4, 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-cyclohexyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-cycloheptyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-benzyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-phenyl-ethyl)-4, 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl-, l-carboxymethyl-4,5-dimethy1-imidazol-2-yl, 3-methoxycarbonylmethy1-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-n-propoxycarbonylmethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-isopropoxycarbonylmethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-aminocarbonylmethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-methylaminocarbonylmethyl-4,5 -dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-ethylaminocarbonylmethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-n-propylaminocarbonylmethyl-4, 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-isopropylamino-carbonylmethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-dimethylaminocarbonylmethy1-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-diethylaminocarbonylmethy1-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol- 2-yl, l-di-n-propylaminocarbonylmethyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl, l-diisopropylaminocarbonylmethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-N-methyl-ethylaminocarbonylmethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-(2-carboxy-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-methoxycarbony1-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-ethoxycarbonyl-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-n-propoxycarbonyl-ethyl)-4, 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-isopropoxycarbonyl-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-aminocarbonyl-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-methylaminocarbonyl-ethyl) -4 , 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2 ryJ5*/ 1- (2-ethylaminocarbonyl-ethyl) -4, 5-dimethyl-imidaid'l-2- 10 - yl, 1-(2-n-propylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)- 4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-isopropylaminocarbonylethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-dimethylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-diethylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imida^ol-2-yl, 1-(2-di-n-propylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-diisopropylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-N-methyl-ethylamino-carbonyl-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2~yl, 1-(3-carboxy-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-(3-methoxycarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-ethoxycarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-n-propoxycarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-isopropoxycarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-aminocarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-methylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-4, 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-ethylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-n-propylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-isopropylaminocarbonylpropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-dimethylaminocarbonyl-propyl) - 4, 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-diethylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-di-n-propylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-(3-diisopropylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol- 2-yl, 1-(3-N-methyl-ethylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(4-hydroxybutyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-methoxypropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(4-methoxybutyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-ethoxyethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-ethoxypropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(4-ethoxybutyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2- /■ v isopropoxyethyl) -4, 5 -dimethyl - imidazol -2 -yl, 1- (3 -fn- - 11 - propoxypropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-y1, 1- (4-isopropoxybutyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-pyrrolidinopropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1- (4-pyrrolidinobutyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-piperidinoethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-piperidinopropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1- (4-piperidinobutyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1- (2-morpholinoethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-morpholinopropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1- (4-morpholinobutyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-phenyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-benzyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(1-phenylethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-phenylethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(1-phenylpropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-phenylpropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-phenylpropyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-methyl-4,5-diethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1, 4,5-triethyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-ethy1-4 -isopropyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1- ethyl-4 -isobutyl- 5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-n-propyl-4-isopropyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-n-propyl-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol- 2-yl, 1,4-diisopropyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-isopropyl-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-dimethylamino-ethyl)-4 -isopropyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-dimethylamino-ethyl) -4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol- 2-yl, 1-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-4-isopropyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol- 2-yl, 1,5-dimethyl-4-ethyl-imidazol-2 -yl, 1,5-dimethyl-4-n-propyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1,5-dimethyl-4-isopropyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1,5-dimethyl-4-isobutyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-methyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-ethyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-n-propyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-isopropyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-carboxymethyl-4, 5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl, 1-methoxycarbonylmethyl^-^'-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl, l-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-4, 5/-^'v / r diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl, 4, 5-trimethylene-imidazolf-2-yl, n\i^ 0/ - 12 - l-methyl-4,5 -trimethylene-imidazol-2-yl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-n-propyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-n-butyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-n-pentyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-n-hexyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-cyclopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-cyclobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-cyclopentyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-cyclohexyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-cycloheptyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-methoxycarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-n-propoxycarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-isopropoxycarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-aminocarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-methylaminocarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-ethylaminocarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-n-propylaminocarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol- 2-yl, 1-isopropylaminocarbonylmethy1-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-dimethylaminocarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-diethylaminocarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-!" etrahydro-benz imidazol-2-yl, 1-di-n-propylaminocarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-diisopropylaminocarbonylmethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-N-methyl-ethylaminocarbonylmethyl-5, 6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-carboxy-ethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-methoxycarbonylr " ° / A " t' ' 13 24737 ethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1- (2-ethoxycarbonyl-ethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2 yl, 1- (2-n-propoxycarbonyl-ethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-isopropoxycarbonyl-ethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1- (2-aminocarbonyl-ethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1- (2-methylaminocarbonyl-ethyl) -5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-ethylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-n-propylaminocarbonyl-ethyl) -5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-isopropylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1- (2-dimethylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)-5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-diethylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-di-n-propylaminocarbonyl-ethyl) -5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-diisopropylaminocarbonyl-ethyl) 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-N-methyl-ethylaminocarbonyl-ethyl)-5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-carboxy-propyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl-propyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-ethoxycarbonyl-propyl) -5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-n-propoxycarbonyl-propyl) -5,6,7,8-tetrahydro benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-isopropoxycarbonyl-propyl)-5,6,7,8 -tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1- (3-aminocarbonyl-propyl)-5,6, 7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2 yl, 1 - (3-methylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-ethylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-n-propylaminocarbony1-propyl)-5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-isopropylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-dimethylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1- (3-diethylaminocarbonyl-propyl) 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-(3-di-n- 3, r propylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro- /' - 24737 - 14 - benzimidazol-2-yl, 1- (3-diisopropylaminocarbonyl-propyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-N-methyl-ethylaminocarbonyl-propyl) -5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benz imidazol-2 -yl , 1- (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, l-benzyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(1-phenylethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(1-phenylpropyl)-5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(2-phenylpropyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1-(3-phenylpropyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl, 1,3-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazolium-2-yl, 1, 3-diethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazolium-2-yl, 1,3-di-n-propyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazolium-2-yl or 1,3-dibenzyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazolium-2-yl group; R3 may denote a methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, n-butyl, 1-methyl-n-propyl, tert.butyl, n-pentyl, 1-methyl-n-butyl, 2-methyl-n-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, methylthio, ethylthio, n-propylthio, isopropylthio, n-butylthio or isobutylthio group; and R5 may denote a carboxy, cyano, 1H-tetrazolyl, 1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl, 2 -1riphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, n-propyloxycarbonyl, isopropyloxycarbonyl, n-butyloxycarbonyl, isobutyloxycarbonyl, tert.butyloxycarbonyl, n-pentyloxycarbonyl, isoamyloxycarbonyl, n-hexyloxycarbonyl, cyclopentyloxycarbonyl, cyclohexyloxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, 1-phenylethyloxycarbonyl, 2- jr, 1 phenylethyloxycarbonyl, 3-phenylpropyloxycarbonyl, f/ methoxymethoxycarbonyl, cinnamyloxycarbonyl, 15 - 2-737 acetoxymethoxycarbonyl, propionyloxymethoxycarbonyl, n-butyryloxymethoxycarbonyl, isobutyryloxymethoxycarbonyl, n-pentanoyloxymethoxycarbonyl, isopentanoyloxy-methoxycarbonyl, pivaloyloxymethoxycarbonyl, n-hexanoyloxymethoxycarbonyl, cyclopentanoyloxy-methoxycarbonyl, cyclohexanoyloxymethoxycarbonyl, phenylacetoxymethoxycarbonyl, 1-phenylpropionyloxymethoxycarbonyl, 2-phenylpropionyloxymethoxycarbonyl, 3-phenylbutyryloxymethoxycarbonyl, benzoyloxymethoxycarbonyl, 1-acetoxyethoxycarbonyl, 1-propionyloxyethoxycarbonyl, 1-n- butyryloxyethoxycarbonyl, 1-isobutyryloxyethoxycarbonyl, 1-n-pentanoyloxyethoxycarbonyl, 1-isopentanoyloxy-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-pivaloyloxyethoxycarbonyl, 1-n-hexanoyloxyethoxycarbonyl, 1- eyelopentanoyloxy-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-cyclohexanoyloxyethoxycarbonyl, 1-phenylacetoxyethoxycarbonyl, 1-(1-phenylpropionyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(2-phenylpropionyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(3-phenylbutyryloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-benzoyloxyethoxycarbonyl, methoxycarbonyloxy-methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyloxyraethoxycarbonyl, n-propyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, isopropyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, n-butyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, isobutyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, tert.butyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, n-pentyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, isoamyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, n-hexyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, cyclopentyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, cyclohexyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, 1-phenylethoxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, 2 -phenylethoxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, 3-phenylpropyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, cinnamyloxycarbonyloxymethoxycarbonyl, 1- 24737 - 16 - (methoxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(ethoxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(n-propyloxycarbonyloxy) -ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(isopropyloxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1- (n-butyloxycarbonyloxy) -ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(isobutyloxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(tert.butyloxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1- (n-pentyloxycarbonyloxy) -ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(isoamyloxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1- (n-hexyloxycarbonyloxy) - ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(cyclopentyloxy-carbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(cyclohexyloxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(benzyloxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(1-phenylethoxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1- (2-phenylethoxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(3-phenylpropyloxycarbonyloxy) -ethoxycarbonyl, 1-(cinnamyloxycarbonyloxy)-ethoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, methylaminocarbonyl, ethylaminocarbonyl, n-propylaminocarbonyl, isopropylaminocarbonyl, dimethylaminocarbonyl, diethylaminocarbonyl, di-n-propylaminocarbonyl, diisopropylaminocarbonyl, N-methyl-ethylaminocarbonyl, N-ethyl-isopropylaminocarbonyl or 2, 5-dihydro-5-oxo-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl group. Preferred compounds according to the invention include those of formula I wherein Rx denotes a hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom, a trif luoromethyl group or a C-^-alkyl group; R2 denotes an imidazol-2-yl group optionally substituted in the 1-position by the group Ra, wherein Ra denotes a phenyl group, a phenyl (C^-alkyl) group, a C5_7-cycloalkyl group or a C^.s-alkyJ/gfoup . f' ' *" m which the alkyl moiety may additionally^'be substituted by a group metabolically convertable in - 17 - vivo into a carboxy group, or by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, methylaminocarbonyl or dimethylaminocarbonyl group or from position 2 by a hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino or morpholino group, a 5, 5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro-imidazol-4-on-2-yl group, an imidazolium-2-yl group substituted in the 1- and 3-position by groups Rb, which may be identical or different, wherein Rb denotes a C^-alkyl or phenyl (C^-alkyl) group, an oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl group, whilst the above-mentioned imidazolium-2-yl groups may each additionally be substituted in the 4 and/or 5 positions by a C^-alkyl or by a phenyl group (the substituents being identical or different) or an n-butylene bridge may be attached via the 4 and/or 5 positions, or the above-mentioned imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl groups are each substituted in the 4 or 5 position by a phenyl group and may additionally be substituted by a -alkyl group in the remaining 4 or 5 position or are each substituted in the 4 and 5 position by a C^-alkyl group, or an n-butylene bridge may be attached, via the 4 and/or 5 positions, to the above-mentioned imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl groups, if R5 represents a group which can be metabolised into a carboxy group in vivo (with the exception of an alkoxycarbonyl group having a total of 2 to 5 carbon atoms) or a 2,5- dihydr o - 5 -•©«©-= . ■ 'TCl'TICE ^7)1995 1 - 18 - 1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl group, or Ra denotes a Cx.5-alkyl group in which the alkyl moiety is additionally substituted by a group which may be metabolised in vivo into a carboxy group, by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, methylaminocarbonyl, or dimethylaminocarbonyl group or from the 2-position by a hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino or morpholino group, wherein in each case an n-propylene or n-butylene bridge may be attached via the 4 and/or 5 positions, an oxazolin-2-yl or imidazolin-2-yl group substituted by the groups R8, R9 and R10, wherein an imino group may additionally be substituted by Ra, wherein R8, Rg, R10 and Ra each represent a hydrogen atom or a C^-alkyl group; R3 denotes a C2_5-alkyl group, a C3_5-cycloalkyl group, a C2_4-alkoxy or C2_4-alkylthio group; and R4 denotes a 4-biphenylylmethyl group subsituted in the 2'-position by the group Rs, wherein R5 denotes a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or denotes a carboxy, cyano, 1H-tetrazolyl, 1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl or 2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl group; whilst the expression "a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group" as used hereinbefore denotes, for example, the esters thereof of the formulae - CO - OR■, - CO - 0 - (HCR") - 0 - CO - R1" and - CO - O - (HCR") - 0 - CO - OR'" wherein R' denotes a straight-chained or branched C^-alkyl 24?: - 19 - group or a C5_7-cycloalkyl group, R" denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R"' denotes a straight-chained or branched C^-alkyl group or a C5_7-cycloalkyl group; and (a) Methyl 4'- [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate (b) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5, 6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (c) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,3-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazoliumiodide-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol 1-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (d) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (e) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8 -tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1H tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (f) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (g) 41 -[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl (h) 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2 -yl) - lH-benzimidazol-1-ylfl« 247 37 - 20 - methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (i) 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(1-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (j) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (k) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-benzyl-5,6, 7, 8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (1) 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-sesquihydrate (m) 41 -[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (n) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (o) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate (p) 41 -[[2-Cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate (q) 4 ' - [ [2-cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6- (l-methyl-5, 6,7, t , . tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2 -yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-ylW1^'" methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl w 24737 - 21 - (r) 41 -[ [2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (s) 41 -[ [2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (t) 41 -[ [2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (u) 4'-[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (v) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (w) 41 -[ [2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (x) 4'- [ [2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -IH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (y) 4'-[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (z) 4'-[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8 tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl) biphenyl /•■r (aa) 41 - [ [2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5,6,7,8- - 22 - 247373 tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and the 3-isomers, the 1-, 3-isomer mixtures and the salts thereof. Particularly preferred compounds according to the invention include those of formula I above wherein R3 and R4 are as hereinbefore defined; R2 is in the 6-position and has the meanings given above; and Rx in the 4-position denotes a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom, a trif luoromethyl group or a C^-alkyl group; and the 3-isomers, the 1-, 3-isomer mixtures and the salts thereof. More particularly preferred compounds according to the invention include those of formula I above wherein R2 in the 6-position denotes one of the imidazolyl groups mentioned above; and the 3-isomers, the 1-, 3-isomer mixtures and salts thereof. The present invention particularly relates to the following compounds of formula I: (a) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]- methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; /' (b) 41 -[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8f \\ . \ r - 23 - tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; (c) 4 1 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl; (d) 4' -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-benzyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; (e) 41 -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; (f) 4 1 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8 tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; (g) 4 ' -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5 ,6,7,8-tetrahydro benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl; (h) 4 ' -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,4-dimethyl-oxazolin-2 yl) -IH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; (i) 4 ' -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2 carboxylic acid; and (k) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isopropyl-1, 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; and the salts thereof. 24737 24 Viewed from a further aspect, the invention provides a process for the preparation of compounds of the invention, said processing comprising at least one of the following steps: a) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes an oxazol-2-yl, thiazol-2-yl or imidazol-2-yl group, in which an n-butylene bridge is added via the 4,5-positions and additionally the imino group in the imidazole ring may be substituted by a Ci.g-alkyl group, by a phenyl (C^-alkyl) group or by a phenyl group) reacting a compound of formula II (wherein R1( R3 and R4 are as hereinbefore defined and X denotes an oxygen or sulphur atom or an imino group optionally substituted by a C^g-alkyl group, by a phenyl (C1.3-alkyl) group or by a phenyl group) with an a-haloketone of formula III r 4 (II) o b) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes - 25 - o p *7 ■ -1- / one of the imidazol-2-yl groups mentioned hereinbefore optionally substituted in the 1-position by the group Ra) reacting a compound of formula IV R, \ hH N i H (wherein Rx and R3 are as hereinbefore defined and R2' denotes one of the above-mentioned oxazol-2-yl groups) with an amine of formula V H2N - R6 (V) (wherein R6 has the meanings given for Ra hereinbefore or denotes a hydrogen atom); c) (to prepare benzimidazoles of formula I wherein R4 denotes a group of the formula: R5 -ch=-C^I) reacting a compound of formula VI - 26 - (VI) (wherein R1; R3 and R4 are as hereinbefore defined and R2" has the meanings given for R2 hereinbefore, with the exception of the imidazol-2-yl and imidazolin-2-yl groups unsubstituted in the 1-position) with a biphenyl compound of formula VII (VII) (wherein R5 is as hereinbefore defined and Z2 denotes a nucleophilic leaving group such as- a halogen atom, e.g. a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom, or a substituted sulphonyloxy group, e.g. a methanesulphonyloxy, phenylsulphonyloxy or p-toluenesulphonyloxy group); d) (to prepare a compound of formula I wherein R5 denotes a carboxy group) converting a compound of formula VIII 27 3 7 3 - 27 - R R 2 (VIII) (wherein R1( R2 and R3 are as hereinbefore defined and R51 denotes a group which can be converted into a carboxy group by hydrolysis, thermolysis or hydrogenolysis) into a compound of formula I by hydrolysis, thermolysis or hydrogenolysis; e) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes a 5, 5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro-imidazol-4-on-2-yl group) treating a benzimidazole of formula IX (wherein R1( R3 and R4 are as hereinbefore defined and R2"' denotes an imidazol-2-yl group in which an n-butylene group is attached via the 4,5-position) with a base in the presence of air and light; f) (to prepare a compound of formula I wherein R5 denotes a 1H-tetrazolyl group) cleaving a protective group from a compound of formula X ' 0 R 4 (IX) R R 2 (X) (wherein Rlf R2 and R3 are as hereinbefore defined and R5" denotes a 1H-tetrazolyl or 2H-tetrazolyl group protected in the 1- or 2-position by a protecting group); g) (to prepare a compound of formula I wherein R5 denotes a 1H-tetrazolyl group) reacting a compound of formula XI (wherein R1( R2 and R3 are as hereinbefore defined) with hydrazoic acid or a salt thereof; h) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the above-mentioned imidazol-2-yl groups which may be substituted in the 1-position by a phenylalkyl group (whilst the phenyl nucleus may be mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different) , or by a Ci.g-alkyl group, whilst the alkyl group may additionally be substituted by a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl (XI) 247373 - 29 - alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl group, or R2 denotes one of the imidazolium-2-yl groups mentioned hereinbefore) reacting a compound of formula XII (XII) (wherein Rx and R3 are as hereinbefore defined, R2"" represents one of the imidazol-2-yl groups unsubstituted in the 1-position mentioned for R2 hereinbefore and R5"' denotes a carboxy group or a group which can be converted into a carboxy group by hydrolysis, thermolysis or hydrogenolysis, or a 1H-tetrazolyl or 2H-tetrazolyl group protected by a protecting group) with a compound of formula XIII Z3 - R7 (XIII) (wherein R7 denotes a phenylalkyl group (whilst the phenyl nucleus may be mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different) , or a C1.6-alkyl group, whilst the alkyl group may additionally be substituted by a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or ^ dialkylaminocarbonyl group, and ° /. >' r Z3 denotes a nucleophilic leavig group such as a halogen . >. . •'' - 30 - atom, e.g. a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom) and subsequently, if necessary, cleaving any protecting group used; i) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 represents one of the imidazol-2-yl groups mentioned hereinbefore substituted by the groups R8 and Rg) reacting an aminoketone of formula XIV R, R9 1 9 rg—co-c-nr «- -co— >-R3 I R „ ^-n 10 I R4 (XIV) (wherein Rlf R3, R4, R8 and R9 are as hereinbefore defined R10 must denote a hydrogen atom, and Ra' has the meanings given for Ra hereinbefore or denotes a hydrogen atom) with an ammonium salt of a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid; j) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the oxazolin-2-yl or imidazolin-2-yl groups mentioned hereinbefore) dehydrating a compound of formula XV (wherein Ri i R-3 / R*4 • R8 Rg . . i i Y-ch-c-nh- co )—R3 i R10 / O R4 (XV)/S »i R8, Rg and R10 are as hereinbefore defined and \ ' 7 - 31 - Y denotes a hydroxy or HNRa group wherein Ra is as hereinbefore defined); k) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the imidazolin-2-yl groups mentioned hereinbefore) reacting a compound of formula XVI (XVI) (wherein Ri, R3 and R4 are as hereinbefore defined and R2"denotes one of the oxazolin-2-yl groups mentioned for R2 hereinbefore, substituted by groups R8, R9 and R10) with an amine of formula XVII H2N- (RaCH) - (R9CR10) -NH2 (XVII) (wherein R8, R9 and R10 are as hereinbefore defined); 1) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the oxazol-2-yl groups mentioned hereinbefore substituted by groups Re and R9) dehydrating an aminoketone of formula XVIII t. *t. * (XVIII) (wherein R1; R3/ R4/ R8 and R9 are as hereinbefore defined and R10 must denote a hydrogen atom); m) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the imidazol-2-yl groups mentioned hereinbefore, substituted by the groups R8 and Rg) dehydrogenating a compound of formula XIX (XIX) (wherein Ri, R3 and R4 are as hereinbefore defined and R2""" denotes one of the imidazolin-2-yl groups mentioned for R2 hereinbefore, substituted by the groups R8 and Rg and R10 must denote a hydrogen atom) ; n) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R5 denotes a 2, 5-dihydro-5-oxo-l, 2, 4-oxadiazol-3-yl group)- reacting an amidoxime of formula XX N-OH (wherein R1( R2 and R3 are as hereinbefore defined) optioj^L-ly 0 ~ prepared in the reaction mixture, with a compound of formula XXI {{ »• : ' 24737 - 33 - Z4 - CO - ORu (XXI) (wherein Z4 denotes a nucleophilic leaving group such as a halogen atom, e.g. a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom, and RX1 denotes an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, preferably a lower alkyl group such as a methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl group) and subsequently cyclisizing an acylated amidoxime thus obtained; o) converting a compound of formula I thus obtained into a salt thereof, more particularly for pharmaceutical use into a physiologically acceptable salt thereof with an inorganic or organic acid or base, or converting a salt of a compound of formula I into the free compound; and p) performing a process as defined in any one of steps (a) to (o) above on a corresponding protected compound and subsequently removing the protecting group used. The reaction of step (a) is preferably carried out in the presence of a suitable solvent such as dimethylformamide, diethyleneglycoldimethylether, triethyleneglycoldimethyl-ether or sulpholane, optionally in the presence of a base such as potassium carbonate, pyridine, triethylamine, N-ethyl-diisopropylaminc or N-ethyl-dicyclohexylamine, at temperatures between 0 and 250°C. If X in formula II denotes an oxygen or sulphur atom, the reaction is preferably carried out in a solvent having a boiling point above 150DC or in a melt at temperatures between 150 and 250°C, preferably at temperatures between 175 and 225°C. ^ -t If X in formula II denotes an optionally alkyl- /• substituted imino group the reaction is preferably V -/ \ 247 - 34 - carried out in the presence of a corresponding amine as solvent, e.g. in the presence of liquid ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine, n-propylamine or isopropylamine, at temperatures between 0 and 100oC, preferably at temperatures between 20 and 75°C. The reaction of step (b) is expediently carried out in an excess of the amine used and preferably in the presence of a corresponding formamide of formula HCONHR6 as solvent, optionally in a pressurised vessel at elevated temperatures, e.g. at temperatures between 100 and 250°C, preferably at temperatures between 175 and 225°C. During the reaction of step (b), any substituted carboxy group present in the group R4 is simultaneously converted into a carboxy group or any substituted tetrazolyl group present is converted into a 1H-tetrazol-5-yl group. The reaction of step (c) is conveniently carried out in a solvent or mixture of solvents such as methylene chloride, diethylether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethylsulphoxide, dimethylformamide or benzene, optionally in the presence of an acid binding agent such as sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium tert.-butoxide, triethylamine or pyridine, whilst the latter two may simultaneously also be used as solvent, preferably at temperatures between 0 and 100°C, e.g. at temperatures between ambient temperature and 50°C. The reaction of step (c) preferably produces a mixture of the 1- and 3-isomers which may subsequently, if desired, be resolved into the corresponding 1- and 2 7r- isomers, preferably by chromatography using a carrier / such as silica gel or aluminium oxide. <:'* 2->7373 - 35 - In step (d) functional derivatives of the carboxy group such as optionally substituted amides, esters, thiolesters, orthoesters, iminoethers, amidines or anhydrides, a nitrile group or a tetrazolyl group may be converted into a carboxy group by hydrolysis, esters with tertiary alcohols, e.g. a tert.butylester, may be converted into a carboxy group by thermolysis and esters with aralkanols, e.g. a benzylester, may be converted into a carboxy group by hydrogenolysis. The hydrolysis of step (d) is conveniently carried out in the presence of an acid such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, trichloroacetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid, optionally in the presence of a reaction accelerator such as hexadecyl-tributyl-phosphonium bromide, in a suitable solvent such as water, water/methanol, ethanol, water/ethanol, water/isopropanol or water/dioxane, at temperatures between -10°C and 12 0°C, e.g. at temperatures between ambient temperature and the boiling temperature of the reaction mixture. If R5' in a compound of formula VIII represents a cyano or aminocarbonyl group, these groups may also be converted into a carboxy group with a nitrite, e.g. sodium nitrite, in the presence of an acid such as sulphuric acid, which may also be simultaneously used as solvent, at temperatures between 0 and 50°C. If R5' in a compound of formula VIII represents, for example, a tert.-butyloxycarbonyl group, the tert. butyl group may also be thermally cleaved, optionally in an inert solvent such as methylene chloride, chloroform, benzene, toluene, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane and f ' \ preferably in the presence of a catalytic amount of/'.an acid such as trif luoroacetic acid, p-toluenesulphorilc acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid or polyphos^horic 247373 - 36 - acid, preferably at the boiling temperature of the solvent used, e.g. at temperatures between 40°C and 100°C. If R5' in a compound of formula VIII represents, for example, a benzyloxycarbonyl group, the benzyl group may also be hydrogenolytically cleaved in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst such as palladium/charcoal, in a suitable solvent such as methanol, ethanol, ethanol/water, glacial acetic acid, ethyl acetate, dioxane or dimethylformamide, preferably at temperatures between 0 and 50°C, e.g. at ambient temperature, and under a hydrogen pressure of 1 to 5 bar. During hydrogenolysis, other groups may be reduced at the same time, e.g. a nitro group to an amino group, a benzyloxy group to a hydroxy group, a vinylidene group to the corresponding alkylidene group or a cinnamic acid group to the corresponding phenyl-propionic acid group, or they may be replaced by hydrogen atoms, e.g. a halogen atom by a hydrogen atom. The reaction of step (e) is conveniently carried out in the presence of a base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in a suitable solvent such as water, water/methanol, ethanol, water/ethanol, water/isopropanol or water/dioxane, at temperatures between -10°C and 120°C, e.g. at temperatures between ambient temperature and the boiling temperature of the reaction mixture. During the reaction of step (e), any ester group present in the group R4 is simultaneously converted into a carboxy group. Suitable protecting groups for use in step (f) includis, for example, the triphenylmethyl, tributyl tin or/, triphenyl tin groups. f - • ■ - 37 - The cleaving of a protective group used in step (f) is preferably carried out in the presence of a hydrohalic acid, preferably in the presence of hydrochloric acid, in the presence of a base such as sodium hydroxide or alcoholic ammonia, in a suitable solvent such as methylene chloride, methanol, methanol/ammonia, ethanol or isopropanol, at temperatures between 0 and 100°C, but preferably at ambient temperature or, if the reaction is carried out in the presence of alcoholic ammonia, at elevated temperatures, e.g. at temperatures between 100 and 150°C, preferably at temperatures between 120 and 140°C. The reaction of step (g) is preferably carried out in a solvent such as benzene, toluene or dimethylformamide, at temperatures between 80 and 150°C, preferably at 125°C. Conveniently, either the hydrazoic acid is liberated during the reaction from an alkali metal azide, e.g. from sodium azide, in the presence of a weak acid such as ammonium chloride, or a tetrazolide salt obtained in the reaction mixture during the reaction with a salt of hydrazoic acid, preferably with aluminium azide or tributyl tin azide, which is also preferably produced in the reaction mixture by reacting aluminium chloride or tributyl tin chloride with an alkali metal azide such as sodium azide, is subsequently liberated by acidification with a dilute acid such as 2N hydrochloric acid or 2N sulphuric acid. The reaction of step (h) is conveniently carried out in a solvent or mixture of solvents such as methylene chloride, diethylether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethylsulphoxide, dimethylformamide or benzene optionally in the presence of an acid binding agent, such as sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium hydride, potassium tert.butoxide, triethylamine or pyridine, whilst the latter two .may 24737 - 38 - simultaneously be used as solvents, preferably at temperatures between 0 and 100°C, e.g. at temperatures between ambient temperature and 50°C. If the reaction of step (h) is carried out in the presence of an excess of the compound of formula XIII used, a corresponding imidazolium-2-yl compound of formula I is obtained at the same time. The subsequent cleaving of a protecting group is preferably carried out by hydrolysis, thermolysis or hydrogenolysis. The hydrolytic cleaving of a protecting group used is preferably carried out in the presence of an acid such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, trichloroacetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid, optionally in the presence of a reaction accelerator such as hexadecyl-tributyl-phosphonium bromide in a suitable solvent such as water, water/methanol, ethanol, water/ethanol, water/isopropanol or water/dioxane at temperatures between -10°C and 120°C, e.g. at temperatures between ambient temperature and the boiling temperature of the reaction mixture. The thermolytic cleaving of a protecting group such as the tert.butyloxycarbonyl group is preferably effected in an inert solvent such as methylene chloride, chloroform, benzene, toluene, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane and preferably in the presence of a catalytic amount of an acid such as p-toluenesulphonic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid or polyphosphoric acid, preferably at the boiling temperature of the solvent used, e.g. at temperatures between 40°C and 100°C. The hydrogenolytic cleaving of a protecting group such as the benzyloxycarbonyl group is effected in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst such as palladium/charcoal in a suitable solvent such as methanol, ethanol, ethanol/water, glacial acetic acid, ethyl acetate, dioxane or dimethylformamide, preferably at temperatures between 0 and 50°C, e.g. at ambient temperature, and a hydrogen pressure of 1 to 5 bar. The reaction of step (i) is conveniently carried out with an ammonium salt of a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid such as ammonium acetate or ammonium propionate, preferably in the presence of a solvent such as glacial acetic acid or propionic acid at elevated temperatures, but preferably at the boiling temperature of the reaction mixture, e.g. at temperatures between 100 and 150°C. The dehydration of step (j) is conveniently carried out in the presence of a dehydrating agent such as phosphorusoxychloride, sulphuric acid, polyphosphoric acid or thionyl chloride, the latter preferably being used as solvent at the same time, at elevated temperatures, e.g. at the boiling temperature of the dehydrating agent used, e.g. at temperatures between 105 and 150°C. The reaction of step (k) is conveniently carried out in a solvent such as toluene, dimethylformamide or dimethylsulphoxide, but preferably in an excess of the amine of formula XVII used, at elevated temperatures, e.g. at temperatures between 100 and 150°C. However, the reaction is preferably carried out without a solvent. The dehydration of step (1) is conveniently carried""out in the presence of a dehydrating agent such as r, phosphorusoxychloride, phosphoric acid or sulphuric ^ /. "7 T ^ - 40 - acid, which is preferably used as solvent at the same time, at elevated temperatures, e.g. at the boiling temperature of the dehydrating agent used, e.g. at temperatures between 105 and 150°C. During the reaction with phosphorus-oxychloride any tert.butylester present can simultaneously be cleaved. The dehydrogenation of step (m) is conveniently carried out in the presence of a dehydrogenating agent such as palladium/charcoal, barium manganate or selenium dioxide, in a suitable solvent such as toluene or methylene chloride at elevated temperatures, e.g. at the boiling temperature of the solvent used, e.g. at temperatures between 110 and 150°C. The reaction of step (n) is conveniently carried out in a solvent such as methylene chloride, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane or acetonitrile preferably in the presence of an inorganic base, such as sodium or potassium carbonate, or an organic base such as triethylamine or pyridine whilst the latter two may simultaneously also be used as solvent at temperatures between 0 and 2 0°C. The subsequent cyclization of a thus obtained acylated amidoxime is conveniently carried out in an organic solvent such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane at elevated temperatures, e.g. at temperatures between 50 and 100°C, preferably at the boiling temperature of the solvent used. The necessary starting amidoxime is conveniently prepared by reaction of a corresponding nitrile of formula XI with hydroxylamine in the presence of a solvent such as methanol, ethanol, methylene chloride, chloroform, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane in the presence of a suitable base such as 24737 - 41 - sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, triethylamine, sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide or sodium hydride at temperatures between 50 and 100°C. In the reactions described hereinbefore, any reactive groups present such as hydroxy, amino or alkylamino groups may be protected during the reaction by conventional protecting groups which may be cleaved after the reaction. Examples of suitable protecting groups for a hydroxy group include trimethylsilyl, acetyl, benzoyl, methyl, ethyl, tert.butyl, benzyl and tetrahydropyranyl groups and suitable protecting groups for an amino, alkylamino or imino group include acetyl, benzoyl, ethoxycarbonyl and benzyl groups. The optional subsequent cleaving of a protecting group used is preferably carried out by hydrolysis in an aqueous solvent, e.g. in water, isopropanol/water, tetrahydrofuran/water or dioxane/water, in the presence of an acid such as hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid or in the presence of an alkali metal base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, at temperatures between 0 and 100°C, preferably at the boiling temperature of the reaction mixture. However, a benzyl group is preferably split off by hydrogenolysis, e.g. with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst such as palladium/charcoal in a solvent such as methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate or glacial acetic acid, optionally with the addition of an acid such as hydrochloric acid at temperatures between 0 and 50°C, but preferably at ambient temperature, under a hydrogen pressure of 1 to 7 bar, preferably 3 to 5 bar. An isomer mixture of a compound of formula I thus obtained may, if desired, be separated, preferably by - 42 - chromatography using a carrier such as silica gel or aluminium oxide. The compounds of formula I obtained may be converted into the acid addition salts thereof, more particularly for pharmaceutical use into the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids. Suitable acids for this purpose include, for example, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid and maleic acid. Furthermore, the new compounds of formula I thus obtained, if they contain a carboxy or 1H-tetrazolyl group, may if desired subsequently be converted into the salts thereof with inorganic or organic bases, more particularly for pharmaceutical use into the physiologically acceptable salts thereof. Suitable bases for this purpose include, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, cyclohexylamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine. The compounds of formulae II to XXI used as starting materials are known from the literature in some cases or may be obtained by methods known from the literature. Thus, for example, compounds of formulae II, IV, VI, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII may be obtained by acylation of a corresponding o-phenylenediamine and subsequent cyclisation or by acylation of a corresponding o-amino-nitro compound, subsequent reduction of the nitro group and cyclisation, whilst an NH-benzimidazole can optionally be converted by alkylation with a corresponding biphenyl derivative into a compound which is correspondingly substituted in the 1-position, with optional subsequent cleaving of any protecting groyp e, used. i \ 247373 43 The conversions of oxazol-2-yl compounds of formula IV into imidazol-2-yl compounds substituted in the 1-position, as described in this application, may be carried out analogously to the synthesis of IH-imidazole described in Angew. Chem. 21: 761 (1959) (conversion of oxazoles into lH-imidazoles using formamide/ammonia). The oxazoles of formulae IV, VI, VIII, X and XI may be prepared by acylation of a corresponding ot-aminoketone with a corresponding carboxylic acid chloride or carboxylic acid anhydride followed by cyclisation analogously to J. Chem. Soc. iL5.: 2167 (1909) and Synthesis 1970. 648, using as condensation agents strong acids such as sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrofluoric acid or P0C13. A starting compound of formula XV is conveniently obtained by acylation of a corresponding p-amino-alcohol and a compound of formula XVI is obtained by cyclisation of a compound of formula XV thus obtained. The acylated a-aminoketones mentioned above can also be converted directly into the corresponding substituted imidazoles by treatment with ammonium acetate in glacial acetic acid analogously to Chem. Ber. 106: 2415 (1973). Starting compounds of formulae XIV and XVIII may be obtained by acylating a corresponding a-amino-acetone with a corresponding activated benzimidazole carboxylic acid, to obtain the desired a-amino-acetone from the corresponding a-amino acids according to Dakin/West (see Chem. Soc. Rev. 17.: 91 (1988)). A starting compound of formula XIX may be obtained by-acylating a corresponding p-amino-alcohol with a the resulting compound subsequently being cycli / corresponding activated benzimidazole carboxylic/-acid, - 44 - 24737 then reacted with a corresponding ethylenediamine. The compounds of formula I and the physiologically acceptable salts thereof have valuable pharmacological properties. They are angiotensin-antagonists, particularly angiotensin-II-antagonists. Those compounds of formula I wherein R5 denotes a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or denotes a carboxy or 1H-tetrazolyl group, have particularly valuable pharmacological properties, since they are angiotensin-antagonists, more particularly angiotensin-II-antagonists. The other compounds of formula I wherein R4 denotes a hydrogen atom or R5 denotes a cyano, 1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl or 2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl group are valuable intermediates for preparing the compounds mentioned above. By way of example, the following compounds: A = 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; B = 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; C = 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl; D = 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl- 6 -(1-benzyl-5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; - 45 - E = 41 -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(1-phenyl-5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-hydrate,- F = 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6 -(1-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate; G = 41 -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl-hydrate; H = 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6 -(4,4-dimethyl-oxazolin-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-di-trifluoroacetate; I = 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-hydrate; and K = 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6- (4-isopropyl-1,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid x 1.25 water were tested for their biological effects as follows: Description of method: Angiotensin Il-receptor bonding The tissue (rats lung) is homogenised in Tris-buffer (50 mMol Tris, 150 mMol NaCl, 5 mMol EDTA, pH 7.40) and centrifuged twice for 20 minutes at 20,000 x g. The finished pellets are resuspended in incubating buffer (50 mMol Tris, 5 mMol MgCl2, 0.2% BSA, pH 7.40) 1:75, based on the moist weight of the tissue. Each 0.1 ml of homogenate is incubated for 60 minutes at 37°C with 50 pM [125I] -angiotensin II (NEN, Dreieich, FRG) with; increasing concentrations of the test substance in a 24737 - 46 - total volume of 0.25 ml. Incubation is ended by rapid filtration through glass fibre filter mats. The filters are each washed with 4 ml of ice cold buffer (25 mMol Tris, 2.5 mMol MgCl2, 0.1% BSA, pH 7.40) . The bound radioactivity is measured using a gamma-counter. The corresponding IC50 value is obtained from the dose-activity curve. In the test described, substances A to K show the following IC50 values: Substance IC™ [nM] A 12.0 B 3.8 C 2.6 D 6.0 E 46.0 F 38.0 G 1.6 H 37.0 I 3.2 K 19.5 Moreover, when the above-mentioned compounds were administered in a dose of 3 0 mg/kg i.v. no toxic side effects, e.g. no negative inotropic effects and no disorders in heart rhythm, were observed. The compounds are therefore well tolerated. In view of their pharmacological properties, the new compounds and the physiologically acceptable salts thereof are suitable for the treatment of hypertension and cardiac insufficiency and also for treating ischaemic peripheral circulatory disorders, myocardial ischaemia (angina) , for the prevention of the /• progression of cardiac insufficiency after myocardial V" i,' 247 - 47 - infarction and for treating diabetic nephropathy, glaucoma, gastrointestinal diseases and bladder diseases. The new compounds and the physiologically acceptable salts thereof are also suitable for treating pulmonary diseases, e.g. lung oedema and chronic bronchitis, for preventing arterial re-stenosis after angioplasty, for preventing thickening of blood vessel walls after vascular operations, and for preventing arteriosclerosis and diabetic angiopathy. In view of the effects of angiotensin on the release of acetylcholine and dopamine in the brain, the new angiotensin-antagonists are also suitable for alleviating central nervous system disorders, e.g. depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson syndrome, bulimia and disorders of cognitive function. Thus, viewed from a further aspect the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof together with at least one physiologically acceptable carrier or excipient. Viewed from a still further aspect the invention provides the use of a compound of formula I or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof for the manufacture of a therapeutic agent having an angiotensin-antagonistic activity. In particular, the invention provides the use of a compound of formula I or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof for the manufacture of a therapeutic agent for the treatment of hypertension and cardiac insufficiency, for treating ischaemic peripheral circulatory disorders, myocardial ischaemia (angina) , for the prevention of the progression of cardiac , 247373 - 48 - insufficiency after myocardial infarction and for treating diabetic nephropathy, glaucoma, gastrointestinal diseases and bladder diseases, in particular for treating pulmonary diseases, for preventing arterial re-stenosis after angioplasty, for preventing thickening of blood vessel walls after vascular operations, and for preventing arteriosclerosis and diabetic angiopathy. More particularly, the invention provides the use of a compound of formula I or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof for the manufacture of a therapeutic agent for alleviating central nervous system disorders. Viewed from a yet still further aspect the invention provides a method of treatment of the human or non-human animal body to combat hypertension and cardiac insufficiency, for treating ischaemic peripheral circulatory disorders, myocardial ischaemia (angina), for the prevention of the progression of cardiac insufficiency after myocardial infarction and for treating diabetic nephropathy, glaucoma, gastrointestinal diseases and bladder diseases, in particular to combat pulmonary diseases, arterial restenosis after angioplasty, for preventing thickening of blood vessel walls after vascular operations, and for preventing arteriosclerosis and diabetic angiopathy, said method comprising administering to said body a compound of formula I or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof. More particularly, the invention provides a method of treatment of the human or non-human animal body to alleviate central nervous system disorders, said method comprising administering to said body a compound of formula I or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof. 247 373 - 49 - The dosage required to achieve these effects in adults is appropriately, when administered intravenously, 0.5 to 100 mg, preferably 1 to 70 mg, and, when administered orally, 0.1 to 200 mg, preferably 1 to 100 mg, 1 to 3 times a day. For this purpose, the compounds of formula I prepared according to the invention, optionally in conjunction with other active substances, such as hypotensives, ACE inhibitors, diuretics and/or calcium antagonists, may be incorporated together with one or more inert conventional carriers and/or diluents, e.g. with corn starch, lactose, glucose, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, citric acid, tartaric acid, water, water/ethanol, water/glycerol, water/sorbitol, water/ polyethyleneglycol, propyleneglycol, cetylstearyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose or fatty substances such as hard fat or suitable mixtures thereof, in conventional galenic preparations such as plain or coated tablets, capsules, powders, suspensions or suppositories. Additional active substances which may be included in the combinations mentioned above include, for example, bendroflumethiazide, chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, benzothiazide, cyclothiazide, ethacrinic acid, furosemide, metoprolol, prazosine, atenolol, propranolol, (di)hydralazine-hydrochloride, diltiazem, felodipin, nicardipin, nifedipin, nisoldipin, nitrendipin, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, cilazapril, quinapril, fosinopril and ramipril. The dosage for these active substances is appropriately 1/5 of the lowest recommended dose up to 1/1 of the normally recommended dose, i.e., for example, 15 to 200 mg of hydrochlorothiazide, 125 to 2000 mg of chlorothiazide, 15 to 200 mg of ethacrinic acid, 5 to 80 mg of furosemide, 20 to 480 mg of propranolol, 5 to 60 mg.of felodipine, 5 to 60 mg of nifedipin or 5 to 60 mg of nitrendipin. The following non-limiting Examples are provided to illustrate the invention. All percentages and ratios are by weight, other than eluant or solvent ratios which are by volume. - 51 - 247 Example 1 Methyl 41 - [ [2-n-propyl-4-methvl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylate a) Methyl 4'-[ (2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-amidino-lH-benz imidazol-1-yl)-methyll-biphenyl-2-carboxylate Hydrogen chloride gas is piped into a solution of 6.2 g (14.6 mMol) of methyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-cyano-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate in 750 ml of absolute methanol for 3 hours at ambient temperature and the mixture is stirred for a further 2 hours at ambient temperature. After removal of the solvent the mixture is evaporated down in vacuo, the residue is taken up twice with 50 ml of methanol and 50 ml of ether and evaporated down once more. Then the residue is dissolved in 750 ml of absolute methanol and mixed with 30 g of ammonium carbonate. After 12 hours at ambient temperature, 50 g of silica gel (particle size: 0.06-0.3 mm) are added. After filtration and evaporation of the filtrate the residue is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size 0.032-0.063 mm) using as eluant mixtures of methylene chloride and methanol of increasing polarity (9:1, 4:1, 3:1 and 1:1). The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. Yield: 4.3 g (57% of theory), Foam, Rf value: 0.14 (silica gel; methylene chloride/ethanol = 9:1) b) Methyl 41 - [ (2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7, 8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyll-biphenyl-2-carboxylate 0.5 g (1.0 mMol) of methyl 4 ' - [ (2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6- • amidino-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate, 0.13 g (1.0 mMol) of 2-chloro-cyclohexanone and 10 ml of liquid ammonia are heated to 60°C in a bomb 473 52 for 15 hours. After cooling and evaporation of the ammonia the residue is dissolved in methanol/methylene chloride (2:1) and chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm), using as eluant mixtures of methylene chloride and ethanol of increasing polarity (19:1 and 9:1). The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. Yield: 0.1 g (19% of theory), Foam, Rf value: 0.50 (silica gel; methylene Example 2 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6- (5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid 0.1 g (0.2 mMol) of methyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6- (5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1- yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and 10 mg (0.02 mMol) of hexadecyl-tributylphosphonium bromide are taken up in 10 ml of (48%) hydrobromic acid and heated to 110°C for 15 minutes. After cooling, 20 ml of ether are poured over and the mixture is diluted with 10 ml of water. After extraction the organic phase is separated off. The aqueous phase is adjusted to pH 7 with ammonia, the precipitate thus formed is suction filtered, washed with water and taken up in methylene chloride/ethanol (4:1). The solvent is evaporated off, the residue is triturated with ether and dried. The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm), using as eluant methylene chloride/ethanol (9:1). The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. The residue is triturated with ether and dried. / /" •*. • Yield: 64 mg (64% of theory), /V chloride/ethanol = 9:1) Melting point: 231-235°C (decomp.) C32H32N40, (504.64) 32n32iM1~'2 - 53 Mass spectrum: (M + H)+ = 505 Example 3 4 ' -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,5-spiro-cyclopentano)-dihydroimidazol-4-on-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate 0.05 g (0.1 mMol) of methyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-{5,6,1,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-1-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate are dissolved in 4 ml of ethanol, mixed with 2 ml of 1 N sodium hydroxide solution and stirred for 4 days at ambient temperature. After the addition of 4 ml of water the pH is adjusted to 6 using glacial acetic acid, the precipitate formed is suction filtered, washed with water and dried over potassium hydroxide. The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm), using as eluant methylene chloride/ethanol/glacial acetic acid (50:1:0.1 and 30:1:0.1) . The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. The residue is triturated with ether and dried. Yield: 30 mg (59% of theory), Melting point: 310-311°C (decomp.) C32H32N4O3 (520.64) Mass spectrum: (M + H)+ = 521 Example 4 Tert.butyl 4'- [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate a) 2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro- benzoxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole 2.17 g (10 mMol) of 2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-aminocarb'bnyl-lH-benzimidazole and 10.25 g (77 mMol) of 2-chloro4 24737 - 54 - cyclohexanone are heated to 190°C for one hour. After cooling to ambient temperature the reaction mixture is triturated with ether and suction filtered. The residue is taken up in water and mixed with concentrated ammonia. Then it is extracted with methylene chloride, the organic phase is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and evaporated down. The residue is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm) using as eluant mixtures of methylene chloride and ethanol of increasing polarity (50:1, 25:1 and 20:1) . The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. Yield: 1.9 g (64% of theory), Foam, Rf value: 0.20 (silica gel; ethyl acetate) b) Tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]- methyll -biphenyl-2-carboxylate 3.3 g (11 mMol) of 2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazole are dissolved in 15 ml of dimethylformamide and at 5-10°C 1.5 g (13.2 mMol) of potassium tert.butoxide are added in batches. After 15 minutes at 5°C 4.6 g (13.2 mMol) of tert.butyl 4'-bromomethyl-biphenyl-2-carboxylate are added. After a further 45 minutes at 5°C the reaction mixture is stirred into 200 ml of water. The precipitate formed is suction filtered, washed with water and taken up in 200 ml of ethyl acetate. The solution is washed with water and with saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over magnesium sulphate and evaporated down. The residue is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm) using as eluant methylene chloride/ethanol (50:1). The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. Yield: 4.8 g (78% of theory), Foam, Rf value: 0.23 (silica gel; methylene chloride/ethanol = 49:1) Example 5 41 -t[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl- 2 -carboxylate 2.0 g (3.56 mMol) of tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6- (5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate, 16 ml (40 mMol) of formamide and 40 ml of ammonia (liquid) are heated to 200°C in the bomb for 14 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture is diluted with water, the precipitate thus formed is suction filtered. The filtrate is adjusted to pH 6 with glacial acetic acid, the precipitate formed is removed by centrifuging and washed with water. The residue is taken up in 50 ml of 2 N hydrochloric acid. By the addition of concentrated ammonia the pH is adjusted to 6 and the precipitate thus formed is suction filtered, washed with water and dried. Yield: 1.3 g (72% of theory), Melting point: from 235°C (decomp.) Example 6 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,3-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazolium iodide-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid 0.85 g (1.7 mMol) of 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid are dissolved in 9 ml of dimethylsulphoxide, mixed with 420 mg (3.7 mMol) of potassium tert .butoxide at 5°C and stirred for 10 minutes. After the addition of 570 mg (4.0 mMol) of methyliodide the reaction mixture is heated to 70°C for 25 minutes. After cooling, it is poured onto ice, thef. precipitate formed is suction filtered and washed with water. The residue is taken up in 50 ml of ethanol, - 56 - combined with 12 ml of 1 N sodium hydroxide solution and stirred for 5 days at ambient temperature. The solvent is evaporated off in vacuo. the residue is mixed with ice and acidified with aqueous citric acid (5%). The precipitate thus formed is suction filtered, washed with water and dried. Yield: 470 mg (42% of theory), Melting point: 240-242°C (decomp.) C34H37N402I (660.61) Calculated: C 61.82 H 5.65 N 8.48 Found: 61.69 5.88 8.72 Example 7 41 -[ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-hydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-methylformamide/methylamine. Yield: 27% of theory, Melting point: 183-186°C C33H34N402 x H20 (536.68) Calculated: C 73.85 H 6.76 N 10.44 Found: 74.22 6.97 10.48 Example 8 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-semihydrate a) 4 1 - [ [2- n-propyl-4-methyl -6-(5,6,7,8- ff' . tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl) -lH-benz imidazol-l-yl]/Vv methyll-2-(l-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)bipipnyl Prepared analogously to Example 4b from 2-n-propylW- 2':737 - 57 - methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole and 4'-bromomethyl-2-(1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl. Oil, Rf value: 0.67 (silica gel; ethyl acetate) b) 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -2- (lH-tetrazol-5-vl)biphenyl-semihydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from 2-n-propyl-4- methyl-6-(5,6,7, 8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-1H- benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1-triphenylmethyl- tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl and formamide/ammonia. Yield: 70% of theory, Melting point: from 230°C (decomp.) C32H32N8 x 0.5 H20 (537.68) Calculated: C 71.48 H 6.19 N 20.84 Found: 71.43 6.46 21.20 Example 9 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-semihydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from 4'- [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl) -1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl and N-methyl-formamide/methylamine. Yield: 63% of theory, Melting point: from 240°C (decomp.) C33H34N8 x 0.5 H20 (551.71) Calculated: C 71.84 H 6.40 N 20.31 Found: 71.63 6.45 20.64 ^ 2473 - 58 - Example 10 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzoxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid 1.2 g (24 mMol) of tert.butyl 2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate are dissolved in 25 ml of methylene chloride, mixed with 8.5 ml of trifluoroacetic acid and stirred for 3 hours at ambient temperature. Then the solvent is evaporated off in vacuo. the residue is mixed with ice and made alkaline with conc. ammonia. After one hour the pH is adjusted to 5 by the addition of citric acid. The precipitate thus formed is suction filtered, washed with water and dried. The crude product is purified on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 nm) using ethyl acetate as eluant. The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. Yield: 33% of theory, Melting point: 229-232°C (decomp.) C32H31N303 (5 05.62) Mass spectrum: M+ = 505 Example 11 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl-hydrate a) 2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2- yl)-lH-benzimidazole Prepared analogously to Example 4a from 2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-aminocarbonyl-lH-benzimidazole and 2-chloro-cyclohexanone. Yield: 60% of theory, ; 4737 - 59 - Oil, Rf value: 0.17 (silica gel; ethyl acetate) b) 4'- [ [2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl-2-(1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl Prepared analogously to Example 4b from 2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole and 41-bromomethyl-2-(1-triphenylmethyl-tet'razol-5-yl) -biphenyl. Yield: 63% of theory, Oil, Rf value: 0.69 (silica gel; ethyl acetate) c) 41 - [ [2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methvl-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-vl)-biphenvl-hydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from 4'-[[2-ethyl-4- methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-1H- benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl-2-(2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol- 5-yl)-biphenyl and N-methyl-formamide/methylamine. Yield: 51% of theory, Melting point: from 180°C (decomp.) C32H32N8 x H20 (546.69) Calculated x H20: C 70.31 H 6.27 N 20.50 Found: 70.07 6.55 20.60 Mass spectrum: M+ = 528 Example 12 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-hydrate a) tert.butyl 4'-[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]- methyll -biohenyl-2-carboxylate ^ Prepared analogously to Example 4b from 2-ethyl-4- f I methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-1H- 5 benzimidazole and tert.butyl 4'-bromomethyl-bipheny^-2-^ - 60 - carboxylate. Yield: 77% of theory, Melting point: 160-162°C b) 4'-[[2-ethyl-4-methyl~6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]- methyll-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-hydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-methylformamide/methylamine. Yield: 34% of theory, Melting point: 292-300°C (decomp.) C32H32N4O2 x H20 (522.66) Calculated x H20: C 73.54 H 6.56 N 10.72 Found: 73.38 6.76 10.67 Mass spectrum: M+ = 504 Example 13 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-hydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'- [[2-ethyl-4-methyl~6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2- yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-formyl-anilide/aniline. Yield: 13% of theory, Melting point: 255-257°C (decomp.) C37H34N402 x H20 (584.73) Calculated x H20: C 76.00 H 6.20 N 9.58 Found: 76.36 6.18 9.59 Mass spectrum: M+ = 566 - 61 - Example 14 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl- 2 -carboxylic acid-semihydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-formyl-anilide/aniline. Yield: 23% of theory, Melting point: 258-260°C (decomp.) C38H36N4O2 x 1/2 H20 (589.75) Calculated x 1/2 H20: C 77.39 H 6.32 N 9.50 Found: 77.03 6.30 9.39 Mass spectrum: M+ = 580 Example 15 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-benzyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-benzyl-formamide/benzylamine. Yield: 54% of theory, Melting point: 256-258°C (decomp.) C39H36N402 (594.77) Calculated: C 78.76 H 6.44 N 9.42 Found: 78.50 6.49 9.35 Mass spectrum: M+ = 594 Lp. ^ . «J L> - 62 - Example 16 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-sesquihydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2 yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylat and N-ethyl-formamide/ethylamine. Yield: 17% of theory, Melting point: from 228°C (decomp.) C34H36N402 X 1.5 H20 (559.71) Calc. x 1.5 H20: C 72.96 H 7.02 N 10.01 Found: 73.04 6.90 9.77 Mass spectrum: M+ = 532 Example 17 4 1 -[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'- [[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2- yl) -IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylat and N-isopropyl-formamide/isopropylamine. Yield: 2% of theory, Melting point: 197°C C34H36N402 (532.69) Mass spectrum: M+ = 532 - S3 - Example 18 4 1 - [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6- (l-isobutyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'- [[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2- yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and isobutylamine/water. Yield: 5% of theory, C36H40N4O2 (560.75) Mass spectrum: (M+H) + = 561 Example 19 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,3-dibenzyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazolium acetate-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol- 1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate Prepared analogously to Example 6 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol- 2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and benzylbromide/sodium hydroxide solution/glacial acetic acid. Yield: 76% of theory, Melting point: sintering from 80°C C46H44N402 x CH3COOH X 1/2 H20 (753.95) Calc. x CH3COOH x 1/2 H20: C 76.47 H 6.55 N 7.43 Found: 76.46 6.65 7.76 Mass spectrum: M+ = 684 X 7 / vj - 64 - Example 20 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate Prepared analogously to Example 6 from 41 - [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid and ethyl bromoacetate/sodium hydroxide solution. Yield: 34% of theory, Melting point: 239-242°C C34H34N4O4 x 1/2 H20 (571.69) Calc. x 1/2 H20: C 71.43 H 6.17 N 9.80 Found: 71.39 6.19 9.81 Mass spectrum: M+ = 562 Example 21 4'- [ [2-Cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'- [[2-cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]- methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-methyl- formamide/methylamine. Yield: 50% of theory, Melting point: 285-289°C C33H32N402 x 1/2 H20 (525.66) Calculated: C 75.40 H 6.33 N 10.66 Found: 75.24 6.44 10.42 Mass spectrum: M+ = 516 The following compounds may be obtained analogously'to 1/ the preceding Examples: '■ - 65 (1) 41 -[[2-cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8 tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (2) 4'-[[2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (3) 41 -[[2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (4) 4'-[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6- (l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (5) 4 ' -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8 tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (6) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8 tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (7) 41 -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (8) 4 1 -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (9) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (10) 4 ' - [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6- (1-carboxymethyl- 2 737 - 66 - 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (11) 41 - [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-4,5-trimethylene-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (12) 4'- [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-4,5-trimethylene-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl Example 22 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl Prepared analogously to Example 10 from 41 - [ [2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and hydrochloric acid in methanol. Yield: 15% of theory, Melting point: 140-142°C (decomp.) C3iH29N70 (515.63) Mass spectrum: (M+H) + = 516 Example 23 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2 -yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl-hydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from 4'- [ [2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzoxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and N-ethyl- ' formamide/ethylamine. , b.l\l t * \J / - 67 - Yield: 25% of theory, Melting point: from 180°C (decomp.) C33H34N8 x H20 (560.72) Calculated: C 70.68 H 6.47 N 19.99 Found: 70.46 6.44 19.56 Mass spectrum: M+ = 542 Example 24 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,4-dimethyl-oxazolin-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid di-trifluoroacetate Prepared analogously to Example 10 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,4-dimethyl-oxazolin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and trifluoroacetic acid. Yield: 60% of theory, Melting point: 158-159°C C3OH3lN303 x 2 CF3COOH (709.64) Calculated: C 57.55 H 4.69 N 5.92 Found: 57.76 4.72 6.02 Mass spectrum: M+ = 481 Example 25 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-hydrate a) Tert.butyl 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-[N-(1-benzoyl-ethyl)-methylaminocarbonyl]-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]- methyll -biphenvl-2-carboxylate . To a solution of 1.0 g (2.0 mMol) of tert.butyl 4' - C.C-2-n-propyl-4-methyl -6 -chlorocarbonyl- lH-benzimidazol-4-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-carboxylate in 20 ml of methylene chloride are added 20 ml of toluene and 0.44 g | 47 68 (2.2 mMol) of 2-methylamino-propiophenone. The reaction mixture is heated to 85DC and 10 ml of pyridine are added dropwise within 4 hours. Then the reaction mixture is evaporated down, the residue is mixed with ice water and extracted twice with methylene chloride. The combined organic phases are dried over magnesium sulphate and evaporated down. The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm) using as eluant methylene chloride to start with and later methylene chloride/ethanol/ammonia (50:1:0.25 and 25:1:0.01). The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. Yield: 1.0 g (79% of theory), Foam, Rf value: 0.5 0 (silica gel; methylene b) Tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]- methyll-biphenyl-2-carboxylate A solution of 1.0 g (1.5 mMol) of tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-[N-(l-benzoyl-ethyl)-methylaminocarbonyl]-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and 15 g of ammonium acetate in 80 ml of glacial acetic acid is refluxed for 2.5 hours. Then the reaction mixture is evaporated down to half, the residue is mixed with ice water and extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The combined organic phases are washed with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and evaporated down. The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm) using as eluant methylene chloride with increasing amounts of ethanol (3%, 10% and 20%). The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. Yield: 0.68 g (74% of theory), Foam, Rf value: 0.40 (silica gel; methylene chloride/ethanol = 9:1) chloride/ethanol = 19:1) 24737 - 69 - c) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]- biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-hydrate Prepared analogously to Example 10 from tert.butyl 4'- [[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-imidazol- 2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2- carboxylate and trifluoroacetic acid. Yield: 90% of theory, Melting point: from 152°C (decomp.) C36H33N402 x H20 (572.72) Calculated: C 75.50 H 6.34 N 9.78 Found: 75.95 6.48 9.92 Mass spectrum: M+ = 554 Example 26 4 ' -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-sesquihydrate a) Tert.butyl 41-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyll-biphenyl-2-carboxylate Prepared analogously to Example 25b from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-[N-(1-benzoyl-benzyl)-methylaminocarbonyl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and ammonium acetate in glacial acetic acid. Yield: 27% of theory, Oil, Rf value: 0.40 (silica gel; methylene chloride/ethanol = 19:1) b) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-sesquihydrate Prepared analogously to Example 10 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2- 247373 - 70 - carboxylate and trifluoroacetic acid. Yield: 60% of theory, Melting point: 325-328°C (decomp.) C41H36N402 x 1.5 H20 (643.79) Calculated: C 76.49 H 6.11 N 8.70 Found: 76.53 6.15 8.75 Mass spectrum: M+ = 616 Example 27 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5-methyl-4-isopropyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-dihydrate-acetate a) Tert.butyl 4'- [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5-methyl-4-isopropyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methvll-biphenvl-2-carboxylate Prepared analogously to Example 25b from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-[N-(l-acetyl-2-methyl-n-propyl)-methylaminocarbonyl]-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and ammonium acetate in glacial acetic acid. Yield: 45% of theory, Oil, Rf value: 0.10 (silica gel; ethyl acetate/ petroleum ether = 2:1) b) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5-methyl-4-isopropyl-imidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-dihydrate-acetate Prepared analogously to Example 10 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5-methyl-4-isopropyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylate and trifluoroacetic acid. Yield: 75% of theory, Melting point: from 155°C (decomp.) C32H34N402 X CH3COOH X 2 H20 (602.74) Calculated: C 67.75 H 7.02 N Found: 67.69 7.02 9 .30 \ ' N - 71 - Mass spectrum: M+ = 506 Example 2 8 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-methyl-imidazolin-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-di-trifluoroacetate a) Tert.butyl 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-methyl-imidazolin-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl- 2 -carboxylate A mixture of 0.43 g (0.8 mMol) of tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4, 4-dimethyl-oxazolin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and 0.67 ml (5.8 mMol) of 1,2-diaminopropane is heated to 120°C for 48 hours. The yellow solid obtained after cooling to ambient temperature is stirred with water for 1 hour, suction filtered and dried. The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm) using as eluant methylene chloride/ethanol/ammonia (50:1:0.05, 20:1:0.02 and 7:1:0.07) . The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. Yield: 0.26 g (62% of theory), Foam, Rf value: 0.2 0 (silica gel; methylene chloride/ethanol = 9:1 + ammonia) b) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-methyl-imidazolin-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-di-trifluoroacetate Prepared analogously to Example 10 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-methyl-imidazolin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and trifluoroacetic acid. Yield: 72% of theory, Melting point: 115-118°C (decomp., sinters from lOCC) C29H3ON402 x 2 CF3COOH (694.63) Calculated: C 57.06 H 4.64 N 8.07 2473 - 72 - Found: 57.02 5.02 8.13 Mass spectrum: M+ = 466 Example 29 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isopropyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid 3.9 g (6.7 mMol) of tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-[N-(l-acetyl-2-methyl-n-propyl)-aminocarbonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate are dissolved in 50 ml of phosphorusoxychloride and stirred for 2.5 hours at 105°C. Then the phosphorusoxychloride is removed, the residue is decomposed with water at 80°C and, after cooling, mixed with conc. ammonia. The pH is adjusted to 5 by the addition of glacial acetic acid, the precipitate thus formed is suction filtered, washed with water, taken up in methylene chloride/methanol (9:1) and dried over magnesium sulphate. The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm) using as eluant petroleum ether/ethyl acetate/glacial acetic acid (1:1:0.002) and methylene chloride/ethanol/glacial acetic acid (20:1:0.002). The uniform fractions are combined, evaporated down, triturated with ether and suction filtered. Yield: 2.4 g (71% of theory), Melting point: 222-223°C C32H33N3O3 (507.64) Calculated: C 75.71 Found: 75.61 Mass spectrum: M+ = 507 H 6.55 N 8.28 6.59 8.36 - 73 - 2*73 Example 30 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isopropyl-1,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid x 1.25 water Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'- [[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isopropyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2- yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-methyl-formamide/methylamine. Yield: 38% of theory, Melting point: from 150°C (decomp.) C33H36N402 x 1.25 H20 (543.20) Calculated: C 72.97 H 7.14 N 10.32 Found: 72.95 7.02 9.94 Mass spectrum: M+ = 520 Example 31 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-ethyl-4-isopropyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isopropyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-ethyl-formamide/ethylamine. Example 32 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-4-isopropyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'- • [[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isopropyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-isopropyl-formamide/isopropylamine. 24737 - 74 - Example 3 3 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-cyclohexyl-4-isopropyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl~6-(4-isopropyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-cyclohexyl-formamide/cyclohexylamine. Yield: 10% of theory, C38H44N402 (588.80) Rf value: 0.24 (silica gel; methylene chloride/ethanol/acetic acid = 9:1:0.01) Mass spectrum: (M+H)+ = 589 Example 34 4 ' -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6- [1-(2-dimethylamino-ethyl)-4-isopropyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isopropyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(2-dimethylamino-ethyl)-formamide/2-dimethylamino-ethyl amine . Yield: 48% of theory, Melting point: 192-195°C (decomp.) C3eH43N502 X 0.5 H20 (586.79) Calculated: C 73.69 H 7.56 N 11.93 Found: 73.53 7.55 11.94 Mass spectrum: M+ = 577 247373 - 75 - Example 3 5 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,5-dimethyl-4-isobutyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-methyl-formamide/methylamine. Yield: 64% of theory, Melting point 155-157°C (decomp.) C34H38N402 x 0.75 H20 (548.22) Calculated: C 74.49 H 7.28 N 10.22 Found: 74.45 7.29 10.35 Mass spectrum: M+ = 534 Example 3 6 4' -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid x 0.25 water Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-ethyl-formamide/ethylamine. Yield: 62% of theory, Melting point: 239-241°C C33H35N303 X 0.25 H20 (526.17) Calc. x 0.25 H20: C 75.33 H 6.80 N 7.99 Found: 75.35 6.75 7.96 Mass spectrum: M+ = 527 473 - 76 - Example 37 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-tert.butyl-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-tert.butyl-formamide/tert.butylamine. Example 38 4 ' -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl~6-(l-benzyl-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6- (4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-benzyl-formamide/benzylamine. Example 39 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6- [1- (2-morpholino-ethyl)-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylat and N- (2-morpholino-ethyl) -formamide/2-morpholino-ethylamine. Yield: 30% of theory, Melting point: 201-203°C (decomp.) C39H47N503 (633.85) Calculated: C 73.90 H 7.47 N 11.05 Found: 73.65 7.45 11.07 - 77 - Mass spectrum: M+ = 633 Example 40 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-hydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-formamide/2-methoxy-ethylamine. Yield: 29% of theory, Melting point: 135-137°C (decomp., sintering from 110°C) C36H42N4O3 x H20 (596.78) Calculated: C 72.46 H 7.43 N 9.39 Found: 72.50 7.45 9.77 Mass spectrum: M+ = 578 Example 41 4 ' -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-formamide/2-hydroxy-ethylamine. Example 42 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-4 -isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid /*' Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4' [[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol- 247 37 78 yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-formamide/3-dimethylamino-propylamine. Example 43 4'- [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-carboxymethyl-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-formylglycineethylester/glycineethylester. Example 44 41 - [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-aminocarbonylmethyl-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-formyl-glycinamide/glycinamide. Example 45 41 - [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-carboxy-ethyl)-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isobutyl-5-methyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and ethyl 3-formylamino-propionate/ethyl 3- aminopropionate. 473 - 79 - The following may be obtained analogously: 41 -[[2-n-propylL4-methyl-6-(1,5-dimethyl-4-isobutyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl 4 1 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-n-propyl-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-dimethylamino-ethyl)-4-isobutyl-5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl Example 46 Methyl 41 -[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-methyl-imidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate A solution of 0.35 g (0.7 mMol) of methyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-methyl-imidazolin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate in 10 ml of toluene is mixed with 0.16 g palladium (10% on activated charcoal) under nitrogen and the mixture is refluxed for 66 hours. Then the toluene is evaporated off, the residue is taken up in methylene chloride, filtered and evaporated down. The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm) using as eluant methylene chloride to start with, later followed by methylene chloride/ethanol/ ammonia (50:1:0.05, 20:1:0.02, 10:1:0.01 and 5:1:0.005) . The uniform fractions are combined and evaporated down. Yield: 0.30 g (9% of theory), Mass spectrum: M+ = 478 24737 80 Example 47 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,4,5-1rimethyl-imidazol-2-yl) -IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid 0.25 x H20 Prepared analogously to Example 5 from t* .butyl 4■- [ [2- n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H- benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N- methyl-formamide/methylamine. Yield: 61% of theory, Melting point: 217-219°C (decomp.) C3iH32N402 x 0.25 H20 (497.13) Calculated: C 74.90 H 6.59 N 11.27 Found: 74.84 6.58 11.26 Mass spectrum: M+ = 492 Example 48 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl) -1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-ethylformamide/ethylamine. Example 49 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-4,5-diethyl-imidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl Prepared analogously to Example 5 from 4 1 - [ [2-n-propyl-. 4-methyl-6-(4,5-diethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl] -methyl] -2- (2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl) -.biphenyl and N-methyl-formamide/methylamine. 2/ "7 T 4 / o - 81 - Example 50 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl Prepared analogously to Example 5 from 41 - [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6 -(4,5 -dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-2-(2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and N-ethyl-formamide/ethylamine. Example 51 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-isopropyl-formamide/isopropylamine. Example 52 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-dimethylamino-ethyl)-4, 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl] -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4, 5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(2 -dimethylamino-ethyl)f ormamide/2-dimethylamino-ethylamine. 24737 - 82 - Example 53 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-morpholino-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(2-morpholino-ethyl)-formamide/2-morpholino-ethylamine. Example 54 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-morpholino-ethyl)-4,5-diethyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl Prepared analogously to Example 5 from 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl~6- (4,5-diethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl] -methyl]-2-(2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and N-(2-morpholino-ethyl)-formamide/2-morpholino-ethylamine. Example 55 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6- [1-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-formamide/2-methoxy-ethylamine. 2473? - 83 - Example 56 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl Prepared analogously to Example 5 from 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-2-(2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and N-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-formamide/2-methoxy-ethylamine. Example 57 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-carboxy-ethyl)-4, 5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-biphenyl-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and ethyl N-formyl-3-aminopropionate/ethyl 3-aminopropionate. Example 58 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-4,5-diethyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid x 0.25 H20 Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-diethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-methyl-formamide/methylamine. Yield: 65% of theory, Melting point: 247-249°C (decomp.) C33H36N402 X 0.25 H20 (525.18) Calculated: C 75.47 H 7.01 N 10.67 j Found: 75.43 7.11 10.68 I. My, - 84 - Mass spectrum: M+ = 520 Example 5 9 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-imidazolin-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared by heating tert.butyl 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl- 6-[2-(N-methylamino)-ethylaminocarbonyl]-1H- benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate in phosphorusoxychloride and isolating analogously to Example 10. Yield: 30% of theory, C29H3oN402 (466.59) Rf value: 0.50 (methylene chloride/methanol/acetic acid = 2:1:0.02) Mass spectrum: (M+H)+ = 467 Example 60 4 ' -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-dimethylamino-ethyl)-4, 5-diethyl-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-dihydrate- trihydrochloride Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6~(4,5-diethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(2 -dime thy1amino-e thy1)-f ormamide/2 -dime thylamino-ethylamine. Yield: 14% of theory, Melting point: 210°C (decomp.) C36H43N502 X 3 HC1 x 2 H20 (723.21) Calculated: C 59.79 H 6.97 N 9.69 CI 14.71 Found: 59.28 6.92 9.75 14. 24737 - 85 - Example 61 41 - [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-morpholino-ethyl)-4,5-diethyl-imidazol-2-yl] -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]- biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4, 5-diethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(2-morpholino-ethyl)-formamide/2-morpholino-ethylamine. Yield: 41% of theory, Melting point: from 196°C (decomp.) C38H45N503 (619.82) Mass spectrum: M+ = 619 Example 62 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-[1-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-4,5-diethyl-imidazol-2-yl] -IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]- biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid hydrate Prepared analogously to Example 5 from tert.butyl 4'-[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4, 5-diethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylate and N-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-formamide/2-methoxy-ethylamine. C35H40N4O3 x H20 (582.76) Calculated x H20 C 72.14 H 7.27 N 9.61 Found: 71.99 7.19 9.84 Mass spectrum: (M-H)" = 563 Example 63 4'-[ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-diethyl-oxazol-2-yl] -1H- benzimidazol-1-yl1-methyll -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 29 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6- [N-(1-propionyl-n-propyl)-aminocarbonyl] -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl] -biphenyl-^-"'.., X''' ' carboxylate and phorusoxychloride. Yield: 9 7% of theory, f:- 247 - 86 - Melting point: 250-255°C C32H33N3O3 (507.64) Calculated: C 75.71 Found: 75.77 Mass spectrum: M+ = 507 Example 64 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-diethyl-lH-imidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl- biphenyl Prepared analogously to Example 25b from 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-[N-(1-propionyl-n-propyl)-aminocarbonyl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and ammonium acetate/glacial acetic acid. Yield: 27% of theory, Melting point: 221-223°C C32H34N8 x H20 (530.69) Calculated: C 70.05 H 6.61 N 20.42 Found: 70.79 6.98 18.83 Mass spectrum: M+ = 530 Example 65 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl]-IH-benzimidazol-l-yll-methyll -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid Prepared analogously to Example 29 from tert.butyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-[N-(1-acetyl-ethyl)-aminocarbonyl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate and phosphorusoxychloride. Yield: 88% of theory, Melting point: 259-260°C (decomp.) C30H29N3O3 X 0.25 HjO (4 84.09) Calculated: C 74.44 H 6.14 N 8.68 /'V' Found: 74.33 6.14 8.69 Mass spectrum: M+ = 479 H 6.55 N 8.28 6.59 8.46 - 87 - Example 6 6 4 1 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2'-(2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-l,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-biphenyl a) 4'- [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyll-21 -(hydroxycarbamimidoyl)-biphenyl To a solution of 8.4 g (0.12 Mol) of hydroxylamine-hydrochloride in 3 0 ml of dimethylsulfoxide are added 30ml of a sodium methoxide solution (30% in methanol) at room temperature. After 10 minutes, 4.5 g (10 mMol) of 4 ' -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2'-cyano-biphenyl are added to this solution and the suspension obtained is heated to 90°C for 12 hours. After cooling to room temperature the reaction mixture is poured into 200 ml of ice water. The precepitate obtained is suction filtered, washed with water, dissolved in methylene chloride and chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.023-0.063 mm) using as eluant mixtures of ethyl acetate, ethanol and concentrated ammonia (19:1:0.06, 19:1:0.08, 19:1:0.1 and 9:1:0.2). The uniform fractions are combined, evaporated, triturated with ether and dried. Yield: 1.2 g (25% of theory), Melting point: 221-224°C (decomp.) b) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-21 -(2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)- biphenyl To a solution of 0.5 g (1 mMol) of 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-" methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl]-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-21 -(hydroxycarbamimidoyl)- - 88 - biphenyl and 0.14 ml (1 mMol) of triethylamine in 40 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added a solution of 0.1 ml (1 mMol) of ethyl chloroformate in 1 ml of methylene chloride at 5°C. After 2 hours at room temperature, the precipitate formed is suction filtered. After evaporation of the filtrate the residue obtained is dissolved in 5 ml of xylene and refluxed for 90 minutes. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture is mixed with 20 ml of ethyl acetate, washed with water and dried over magnesium sulfate. After evaporating the organic phase, the obtained residue is chromatographed on silica gel (particle size: 0.032-0.063 mm) using as eluant methylene chloride with increasing amounts of ethanol (0 to 10%). The uniform fractions are combined, evaporated, triturated with ether and dried. Yield: 80 mg (14% of theory), Melting point: 199°C (decomp.) Rf-value: 0.33 (silica gel; ethyl acetate/methanol = 3:1) C34H34N602 (558.59) Mass spectrum: (M-H)" = 557 The following compound may be obtained analogously to Example 66: 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,4,5-trimethyl-imidazol-2-yl] -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2'-(2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1.2.4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-biphenyl In the Examples of Pharmaceutical Formulations which follow, any suitable compound of formula I, particularly those compounds wherein R5 denotes a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or R5 denotes a carboxy or 1H-tetrazolyl group, may be used as the active substance: l • - 89 - Example I Ampoules containing 50 mg of active substance per 5 ml Active substance 50 mg KH2P04 2 mg Na2HP04 x 2H20 50 mg NaCl 12 mg Water for injections && 5 ml Preparation: The buffer substances and isotonic substance are dissolved in some of the water. The active substance is added and, once it has been completely dissolved, water is added to make up the required volume. Example II Ampoules containing 100 mg of active substance per 5 ml Active substance 100 mg Methyl glucamine 3 5 mg Glycofurol 1000 mg Polyethyleneglycol-polypropylene- glycol block polymer 250 mg Water for injections ad. 5 ml Preparation: Methyl glucamine is dissolved in some of the water and the active substance is dissolved with stirring and^tT' heating. After the addition of solvents, water is^'added to make up the desired volume. J ; ir. - 90 - Example III Tablets containing 50 mg of active substance Active substance 50 .0 mg Calcium phosphate 70 .0 mg Lactose 40 .0 mg Corn starch 35 .0 mg Polyvinylpyrrolidone 3 .5 mg Magnesium stearate 1, ,5 mg 200 , .0 mg Preparation: The active substance, CaHP04, lactose and corn starch are uniformly moistened with an aqueous PVP solution. The mass is passed through a 2 mm screen, dried at 50°C in a circulating air dryer and screened again. After the lubricant has been added, the granules are compressed in a tablet making machine. Example IV Coated tablets containing 50 mg of active substance Active substance 50.0 mg Lysine 25.0 mg Lactose 60.0 mg Corn starch 34.0 mg Gelatin 10.0 mg Magnesium stearate 1.0 mg 180.0 mg ' Preparation: ff ~ r L The active substance is mixed with the excipients and Y 2*7 37 - 91 - moistened with an aqueous gelatin solution. After screening and drying the granules are mixed with magnesium stearate and compressed to form cores. The cores thus produced are covered with a coating by known methods. A colouring may be added to the coating suspension or solution. Example V Coated tablets containing 100 mg of active substance Active substance 100.0 mg Lysine 50.0 mg Lactose 86.0 mg Corn starch 50.0 mg Polyvinylpyrrolidone 2.8 mg Microcrystalline cellulose 60.0 mg Magnesium stearate 1.2 mg 350.0 mg Preparation: The active substance is mixed with the excipients and moistened with an aqueous PVP solution. The moist mass is passed through a 1.5 mm screen and dried at 45°C. After drying, it is screened again and the magnesium stearate is added. This mixture is compressed into cores. The cores thus produced are covered with a coating by known methods. Colourings may be added to the coating suspension or solution. - 92 - Example VI Capsules containing 250 mg of active substance Active substance 250.0 mg Corn starch 68.5 mg Magnesium stearate 1.5 mg 320.0 mg Preparation: The active substance and corn starch are mixed together and moistened with water. The moist mass is screened and dried. The dry granules are screened and mixed with magnesium stearate. The final mixture is packed into size 1 hard gelatin capsules. Example VII Oral suspension containing 50 mg of active substance per 5 ml Active substance 50.0 mg Hydroxyethylcellulose 50.0 mg Sorbic acid 5.0 mg 70% sorbitol 600.0 mg Glycerol 200.0 mg Flavouring 15.0 mg Water ad 5.0 ml Preparation: The distilled water is heated to 70°C and the hydroxyethylcellulose is dissolved therein with stirring. With the addition of sorbitol solution;and glycerol the mixture is cooled to ambient temperature. - </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> - 93 - At ambient temperature, sorbic acid, flavouring and active substance are added. The suspension is evacuated with stirring to remove any air. One dose of 50 mg is contained in 5.0 ml. Example VIII Suppositories containing 100 mg of active substance Active substance 100.0 mg Solid fat 1600.0 mg 1700.0 mg Preparation: The hard fat is melted. At 40°C the ground active substance is homogeneously dispersed in the melt. It is cooled to 3 8°C and poured into slightly chilled suppository moulds. 94 WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Compounds of formula I r r 2 r 4 (I) (wherein Rx denotes a hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom or a fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl or alkyl group; R2 denotes an imidazol-2-yl group optionally substituted in the 1-position by the group Ra, wherein Ra denotes a phenyl or phenylalkyl group, in which the phenyl nucleus may be mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different, a C3.7-cycloalkyl group or a C^g-alkyl group in which the alkyl moiety may additionally be substituted by a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl group or from position 2 by a hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino or morpholino group, a 5, 5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro-imidazol-4-on-2-yl group optionally substituted by a C^-alkyl group in the 1-position, 2473 95 an imidazolium-2-yl group substituted in the 1- and 3-positions by groups Rb, which groups may be identical or different, wherein Rb denotes a phenylalkyl group in which the phenyl nucleus may be mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different, or Rb denotes a Ci.g-alkyl group in which the alkyl moiety may additionally be substituted by a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl group, an oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl group, whilst the above-mentioned imidazolium-2-yl groups may each additionally be substituted in the 4 and/or 5 positions by a C^-alkyl or by a phenyl group (the substituents being identical or different) or an n-propylene or n-butylene bridge may be attached via the 4 and/or 5 positions, or the above-mentioned imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl groups are each substituted in the 4 or 5 position by a phenyl group and may additionally be substituted by a C^.s-alkyl group in the remaining 4 or 5 position or are each substituted in the 4 and 5 position by a C^.s-alkyl group, or an n-propylene or n-butylene bridge may be attached, via the 4 and/or 5 positions, to the above-mentioned imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl groups, if R5 represents a group which can be metabolised into a carboxy group in vivo (with the exception of an alkoxycarbonyl group having a total of 2 to 5 carbon atoms) or a 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-l,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl group ~~ \ I hi J -9 a 7 * £. "r / 96 Ra denotes a phenyl or phenylalkyl group wherein the phenyl nucleus is mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different, or a Ci.g-alkyl group in which the alkyl moiety is substituted by a group which can be metabolised in vivo into a carboxy group, or by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl group or, from position 2, by a hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino or morpholino group, wherein in each case an n-propylene or n-butylene bridge may be attached via the 4 and/or 5 positions, an oxazolin-2-yl or imidazolin-2-yl group substituted in the 4-position by the groups Rg and R10 and in the 5-position by the group R8, wherein an imino group may additionally be substituted by Ra or by an R8CO-(R9CR10)-NRa-CO- group, wherein Ra is as hereinbefore defined, and R8, Rg and R10, which may be identical or different, denote hydrogen atoms, C^-alkyl groups or phenyl groups; R3 denotes a C^-alkyl group, a C3.5-cycloalkyl group, a Cx_4 — alkoxy or C^-alkylthio group; and R4 denotes a hydrogen atom or a group of formula wherein 24737 - 97 - R5 denotes a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or denotes a carboxy, cyano, 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-l, 2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, 1H-tetrazolyl, 1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl or 2-triphenylmethy1-tetrazolyl group; whilst unless otherwise specified any alkyl or alkoxy group contains 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and the phrase "a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group" as used herein denotes the esters thereof of formulae - CO - OR', - CO - 0 - (HCR") - 0 - CO - R"1 and - CO - 0 - (HCR") - 0 - CO - OR"' wherein R' denotes a straight-chained or branched C^g-alkyl group, a C5_7-cycloalkyl group, a benzyl, 1-phenylethyl, 2-phenylethyl, 3-phenylpropyl, methoxymethyl or cinnamyl group, R" denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R"1 denotes a straight-chained or branched Cx.g-alkyi group, a Cs_7-cycloalkyl group, a phenyl, benzyl, 1-phenylethyl, 2-phenylethyl or 3-phenylpropyl group); and (a) Methyl 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate (b) 4 ' - [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6- (5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydrp^*^, ,"."•- / < " ' ' . benzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]/*-■-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid ijr V' , (c) 4 1 - [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6- (1, 3-dimethyl-5,-6, 8- 2473 - 98 - tetrahydro-benzimidazoliumiodide-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (d) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (e) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (f) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (g) 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl (h) 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (i) 41 -[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (j) 4'-[ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (k) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-benzyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (1) 4 1 - [ [2 - n-Propyl-4-methyl-6 - (l-ethyl-5, 6,7, 8'-; tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-sesqu 24737 - 99 - (m) 41 - [ [2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (n) 4'- [ [2-n-Propyl~4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-1-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (o) 4'- [ [2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-1 yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate (p) 4'- [ [2-Cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate (q) 4'-[ [2-cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (r) 41 - [ [2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (s) 41 -[ [2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (t) 41 - [ [2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (u) 4'- [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]- . methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (v) 4 ' - [ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6- (l-isopropyl-5, 6, 7;, 8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-ylk- is - 100 - methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (w) 41 -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (x) 4'-[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (y) 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (z) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-carboxymethyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (aa) 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and the 3-isomers, the 1-, 3-isomer mixtures and the salts thereof.

2. Compounds of formula I as claimed in claim 1, wherein Rx denotes a hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom, a trif luoromethyl group or a C^-alkyl group; R2 denotes an imidazol-2-yl group optionally substituted in the 1-position by the group Ra, wherein Ra denotes a phenyl group, a phenyl (C^-alkyl) /■,' group, a C5.7-cycloalkyl group or a C^-alkyl /(group !( in which the alkyl moiety may additionally bejp' substituted by a group metabolically convertable^in - 101 - vivo into a carboxy group, by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, methylaminocarbonyl or dimethylaminocarbonyl group or from position 2 by a hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino or morpholino group, a 5,5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydroimidazol-4-on-2-yl group, an imidazolium-2-yl group substituted in the 1- and 3-positions by groups Rb, which may be identical or different, wherein Rb denotes a C^-alkyl or phenyl (C^-alkyl) group, an oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl group, whilst the above-mentioned imidazolium-2-yl groups may each additionally be substituted in the 4 and/or 5 positions by a C^-alkyl or by a phenyl group (the substituents being identical or different) or an n-butylene bridge may be attached via the 4 and/or 5 positions, or the above-mentioned imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl groups are each substituted in the 4 or 5 position by a phenyl group and may additionally be substituted by a C^-alkyl group in the remaining 4 or 5 position or are each substituted in the 4 and 5 position by a C^-alkyl group, or an n-butylene bridge may be attached, via the 4 and/or 5 positions, to the above-mentioned imidazol-2-yl, oxazol-2-yl or thiazol-2-yl groups, if Rs represents a group which can be metabolised into a carboxy group in vivo (with the exception of an alkoxycarbonyl group having a total of 2 to 5 carbon atoms) or a 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo- 73 102 1, 2, 4-oxadiazol-3-yl group, or Ra denotes a C^-alkyl group in which the alkyl moiety is additionally substituted by a group which may be metabolised in vivo into a carboxy group, by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, methylaminocarbonyl, or dimethylaminocarbonyl group or from the 2-position by a hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino or morpholino group, wherein in each case an n-propylene or n-butylene bridge may be attached via the 4 and/or 5 positions, an oxazolin-2-yl or imidazolin-2-yl group substituted by the groups R8, R9 and R10, wherein an imino group may additionally be substituted by Ra, wherein Ra, R9, R10 and Ra each represent a hydrogen atom or a C^-alkyl group; R3 denotes a C2-5-alkyl group, a C3.5-cycloalkyl group, a C2_4-alkoxy or C2.4-alkylthio group; and R4 denotes a 4-biphenylylmethyl group substituted in the 2'-position by the group Rs, wherein R5 denotes a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or denotes a carboxy, cyano, lH-tetrazolyl, 1-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl or 2-triphenylmethyl-tetrazolyl group; whilst the expression "a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group" as used hereinbefore denotes the esters thereof of the formulae CO - OR1 CO - 0 - (HCR") - 0 - CO - R"1 and CO - O - (HCR") - 0 - CO - OR*" 3 - 103 - v/herein R1 denotes a straight-chained, or branched C1.4-alkyl group or a C5_7-cycloalkyl group, R" denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R"1 denotes a straight-chained or branched -alkyl group or a C5_7-cycloalkyl group; and (a) Methyl 4'-[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylate (b) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (c) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1,3-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazoliumiodide-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol 1-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (d) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (e) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(1H tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (f) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenz.imidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (g) 4'-[ [2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5, 6,7,8 tetrahydro-benz imidazol- 2-yl)-lH-benz imidazol-methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl - 104 - (h) 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (i) 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (j) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (k) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-benzyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (1) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-sesquihydrate (m) 4'-[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (n) 41 -[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (o) 4'-[[2-n-Propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate (p) 4'-[[2-Cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5, 6,7,8 tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] - , methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid-semihydrate j (q) 4'-[[2-cyclopropyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7, - 105 - tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-IH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (r) 4'-[[2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (s) 41 -[[2-ethoxy-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (t) 41 -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (u) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (v) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isopropyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (w) 41 -[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6- (l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (x) 4'-[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (y) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-isobutyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-2- (lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (z) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-carboxymethyl-®,^ ,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2 -yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-y&T- - 106 - methyl]-2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl (aa) 41 -[[2-Ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl] -2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl and the 3-isomers, the 1-, 3-isomer mixtures and the salts thereof.

3. Compounds of formula I as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein R2 is in the 6-position; and Rx in the 4-position denotes a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom, a trif luoromethyl group or a C^-alkyl group; and the 3-isomers, the 1-, 3-isomer mixtures and the salts thereof.

4. Compounds of formula I as claimed in claim 3, wherein R2 in the 6-position denotes an imidazolyl group; and the 3-isomers, 1-, 3-isomer mixtures and the salts thereof.

5. Compounds as claimed in claim 1 being: (a) 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; (b) 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; - 107 - (c) 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl] -2-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl; (d) 41 -[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-benzyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; (e) 4'-[ [2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; (f) 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(l-carboxymethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; (g) 4'-[[2-ethyl-4-methyl-6-(l-ethyl-5, 6,7, 8-tetrahydro-benzimidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl; (h) 4'-[ [2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4, 4-dimethyl-oxazolin-2-yl) -lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl] -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid ; (i) 4' -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1, 5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl] -methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; or (k) 41 -[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(4-isopropyl-l,5-dimethyl-imidazol-2-yl)-lH-benzimidazol-l-yl]-methyl]-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid; and the salts thereof. .■■'-''Z'* <*■

6. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 being a physiologically acceptable salt of a compound-d£ - 108 - as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A pharmaceutical composition containing a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof together with one or more physiologically acceptable carriers or excipients.

8. A process for the preparation of compounds as claimed in claim 1, said process comprising at least one of the following steps: a) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes an oxazol-2-yl, thiazol-2-yl or imidazol-2-yl group, in which an n-butylene bridge is added via the 4,5-positions and additionally the imino group in the imidazole ring may be substituted by a C^g-alky! group, by a phenyl (Chalky 1) group or by a phenyl group) reacting a compound of formula II (wherein RX/ R3 and R4 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and X denotes an oxygen or sulphur atom or an imino group optionally substituted by a C^.g-alkyl group, by a phenyl(Cx.3-alkyl) group or by a phenyl group) with an a-haloketone of formula III r 4 (II) 12 APR 1995 2, 4^ 109 - (III) (wherein Zx denotes a halogen atom); b) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the imidazol-2-yl groups mentioned in any one of claims 1 to 5 optionally substituted in the 1-position by the group Ra) reacting a compound of formula IV (IV) (wherein Rlf R3 and R4 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and R21 denotes one of the oxazol-2-yl groups mentioned in any one of claims 1 to 5) with an amine of formula V H2N - R6 (V) (wherein R6 has the meanings given for Ra in any one of claims 1 to 5 or denotes a hydrogen atom); /> c) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R4 denotes a group of the formula j. V v - 110 - 2473 > reacting a compound of formula VI (VI) (wherein Rx and R3 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and R4 denotes a hydrogen atom R2" has the meanings given for R2 in any one of claims 1 to 5, with the exception of the imidazol-2-yl and imidazolin-2-yl groups unsubstituted in the 1-position) with a biphenyl compound of formula VII (VII) (wherein R5 is as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and Z2 denotes a nucleophilic leaving group); d) (to prepare a compound of formula I wherein R5 denotes a carboxy group) converting a compound of formula VIII - Ill - (VIII) (wherein R-l, R2 and R3 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and Rs' denotes a group which can be converted into a carboxy group by hydrolysis, thermolysis or hydrogenolysis) into a compound of formula I by hydrolysis, thermolysis or hydrogenolysis; e) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes a 5,5-spiro-cyclopentano-dihydro-imidazol-4-on-2-yl group) treating a benzimidazole of formula IX (IX) (wherein R1; R3 and R4 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and R2"' denotes an imidazol-2-yl group in which an n-butylene bridge is added via the 4,5-position) with a base in the presence of air and light; f) (to prepare a compound of formula I wherein R5 denotes a 1H-tetrazolyl group) cleaving a protecting group from a compound of formula X \ f '' V - 112 - 2473 71 (wherein R1( R2 and R3 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and R5" denotes a 1H-tetrazolyl or 2H-tetrazolyl group protected in the 1- or 2-position by a protecting group); g) (to prepare a compound of formula I wherein R5 denotes a 1H-tetrazolyl group) reacting a compound of formula XI (XI) (wherein Rlr R2 and R3 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5) with hydrazoic acid or a salt thereof; h) (to prepare compounds of formula I in which R2 denotes one of the imidazol-2-yl groups mentioned in any one of claims 1 to 5, which may be substituted in the 1-position by a phenylalkyl group (whilst the phenyl nucleus may be mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different), or by a CVg-alkyl group, whilst the alkyl group may additionally be substituted by a group ^ 1 "1 4- 113 - metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl group, or R2 denotes one of the imidazolium-2-yl groups mentioned in claims 1 to 5) reacting a compound of formula XII (XII) (wherein Rx and R3 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, R2"" denotes one of the imidazol-2-yl groups unsubstituted in the 1-position mentioned for R2 in any one of claims 1 to 5 and R5"1 denotes a carboxy group or a group which can be converted into a carboxy group by hydrolysis, thermolysis or hydrogenolysis, or a 1H-tetrazolyl or 2H-tetrazolyl group protected by a protecting group) with a compound of formula XIII Z3 - R7 (XIII) (wherein R7 denotes a phenylalkyl group (whilst the phenyl nucleus may be mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, hydroxy or alkoxy groups and the substituents may be identical or different), or a C^g-alkyl group, whilst the alkyl group may additionally be substituted by a group metabolically convertable in vivo into a carboxy group, or by a trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, /T •' aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl or ft~ dialkylaminocarbonyl group, and - 114 - Z3 denotes a nucleophilic leaving group) and subsequently if necessary any protecting group used is cleaved; i) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the imidazol-2-yl groups mentioned in any one of claims 1 to 5 substituted by the groups R8 and R9) reacting an aminoketone of formula XIV R5 and R10 are as defined in any one of but Rg or R10 must represent a hydrogen (XIV) (wherein K-li R-3 ' ^4 ' ®-8i claims 1 to 5, atom, and Ra' has the meanings given for Ra in any one of claims 1 to 5 or represents a hydrogen atom) with an ammonium salt of a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid,- j) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the oxazolin-2-yl or imidazolin-2-yl groups mentioned in any one claims 1 to 5) dehydrating a compound of formula XV (XV) (wherein n f - 115 - R1( R3, R4, R8, R9 and R10 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and Y denotes a hydroxy or HNRa group wherein Ra is as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5); k) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the imidazolin-2-yl groups mentioned in any one of claims 1 to 5) reacting a compound of formula XVI (XVI) (wherein R1( R3 and R4 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and R2"im denotes one of the oxazolin-2-yl groups mentioned for R2 in any one of claims 1 to 5 and substituted by the groups Rs, R9 and R10) with an amine of formula XVII H2N- (R8CH) - (R9CR10) -NH2 (XVII) (wherein R8, R9 and R10 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5) ; 1) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the oxazol-2-yl groups mentioned in any one of claims 1 to 5 and substituted by the groups R8 and R9) dehydrating an aminoketone of formula XVIII V V - 116 - r r 4 (XVIII) (wherein R1( R3, R4i R8 and R9 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, and R10 must denote a hydrogen atom); m) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R2 denotes one of the imidazol-2-yl groups mentioned in any one of claims 1 to 5, substituted by the groups R8 and R9) dehydrogenating a compound of formula XIX (wherein Rx, R3 and R4 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and R2""" denotes one of the imidazolin-2-yl groups mentioned for R2 in any one of claims 1 to 5 and substituted by the groups Ra and R9 and R10 must denote a hydrogen atom) ; n) (to prepare compounds of formula I wherein R5 denotes a 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-l,2, 4-oxadiazol-3-yl group) reacting an amidoxime of formula XX r 4 (XIX) r 117 R R 2 NH..-C <- ii ii N-OH (wherein Rx, R2 and R3 are as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5) optionally prepared in the reaction mixture, with a compound of formula XXI (wherein Z4 denotes a nucleophilic leaving group and RX1 denotes an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group) and subsequently cyclising an acylated amidoxime thus obtained; o) converting a compound of formula I thus obtained into a salt thereof, more particularly for pharmaceutical use into a physiologically acceptable salt thereof with an inorganic or organic acid or base, or converting a salt of a compound of formula I into the free compound; and p) performing a process as defined in any one of steps (a) to (o) above on a corresponding protected compound and subsequently removing the protecting group used.

9 . A compound of formula I as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof for the manufacture of a therapeutic agent having an angiotensin-antagonistic activity.

10 . Use of a compound as claimed in claim 9 for the treatment of hypertension and cardiac insufficiency, for treating ischaemic peripheral circulatory disorders, myocardial ischaemia (angina), for the Z4 - CO - 0R1X (XXI) 2473 - 118 - prevention of the progression of cardiac insufficiency-after myocardial infarction and for treating diabetic nephropathy, glaucoma, gastrointestinal diseases and bladder diseases in non-human animals.

11. Use of a compound as claimed in claim 9 for treating pulmonary diseases, for preventing arterial re-stenosis after angioplasty, for preventing thickening of blood vessel walls after vascular operations, and for preventing arteriosclerosis and diabetic angiopathy in non-human animals.

12 . Use of a compound as claimed in claim 9 for alleviating central nervous system disorders in non-human animals.

13 . A method of treatment of the non-human animal body to combat hypertension and cardiac insufficiency, for treating ischaemic peripheral circulatory disorders, myocardial ischaemia (angina), for the prevention of the progression of cardiac insufficiency after myocardial infarction and for treating diabetic nephropathy, glaucoma, gastrointestinal diseases and bladder diseases, said method comprising administering to said body a compound of formula I as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.

14. A method of treatment of the non-human animal body to combat pulmonary diseases, for preventing arterial re-stenosis after angioplasty, for preventing thickening of blood vessel walls after vascular operations, and for preventing arteriosclerosis and diabetic angiopathy, said method comprising administering to said body a compound of formula I as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.

15. A method of treatment of the non-human animal body t o a 11 ey±a-t£~~&e-Rt ina]? nervous system disorders, said Ik 7373 119 method comprising administering to said body a compound of formula I as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.

16. A compound of formula I as claimed in claim 1 or a pharmaceutical composition thereof as herein disclosed in any one of the Examples. DR KARL THOMAE GmbH By Their Attorneys BALDWIN, SON & CAREY </div>