A class of phosphono-hydroisoquinoline compounds is described for treatment to reduce neurotoxic injury associated with anoxia or ischemia which typically follows stroke, cardiac arrest or perinatal asphyxia. The treatment includes administration of a phosphono-hydroisoquinoline compound alone or in a composition in an amount effective as an antagonist to inhibit excitotoxic actions at major neuronal excitatory amino acid receptor sites. Compounds of most interest are those of Formula I: <CHEM> wherein each of R<1> through R<4> is hydrido, wherein each of Z<1> and Z<2> is hydroxyl, wherein W is a single bond connecting the phosphorus atom with the aromatic ring and wherein the A ring is aromatic. Also disclosed are two classes of intermediate compounds having a fully unsaturated A ring, which intermediate compounds are useful in methods to make product compounds of Formula I.
PHOSPHONO-HYDROISOQUINOLINE COMPOUNDS USEFUL IN REDUCING NEUROTOXIC INJURY