Compounds of the formula:


Wherein A completes a 5 or 6 membered carbocyclic ring which may be saturated or monounsaturated; R 1 is H or (C 1 -C 4 )alkyl; R and R 4 are H, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, benzyl, or an alternative biolabile ester-forming group;
Y is either a direct bond or an alkylene group of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
R 2 is H, aryl, heterocyclyl, R 6 CONR 5- , R 7 NR 5 CO-, R 7 NR 5 SO 2 - or R 8 SO 2 NR 5 -, with the proviso that Y is not a direct bond when R 2 is H, aryl or heterocyclyl;
wherein R 5 is H, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl or aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; R 6 is (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, aryl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl or a group of the formula R 9 R 10 R 11 C-wherein R 9 is H, OH, (C 1 -C 6 )alkoxy, (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl, hydroxy(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 2 -C 6 )alkenyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, R 12 CONH-, R 12 SO 2 NH- or (R 13 ) 2 N-; R 10 and R 11 are H or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; or R 10 is H and R" is amino(C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl, imidazolylmethyl, aryl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkoxy(C 1 -C 6 )alkoxy, hydroxy(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl or methylthio(C I -C 6 )alkyl; or the two groups R 10 and R 11 form a 3 to 6 membered carbocyclic ring or a pyrrolidine or piperidine ring which may optionally be substituted by amino, (C 2 -C 4 )alkanoyl or aroyl; R 12 is (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 7 )cycloalkyl, aryl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; each R 13 is H, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl or the two groups R' 3 form a pyrrolidinyl, piperidino, morpholino, piperazinyl or N-(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-piperazinyl group;
R 7 is (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, aryl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl or a group of the formula R 10 R 11 R 14 C-wherein R 10 and R 11 are as previously defined and R 14 is (R' 3 ) 2 NCO-, R 12 0CH 2 - or R 15 OCO, wherein R 12 and R 13 are as previously defined and R 15 is (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 7 )cycloalkyl or aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl; and
R 8 is (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, aryl, aryl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl(C 1 -C 6 )alkyl;
R 3 is a group of the formula:
wherein R 16 is H, halo, 4-OH, 4-(C 1 -C 6 alkoxy), 4-(C 3 -C 7 cycloalkoxy) 4-(C 2 -Cs alkenyloxy), 4-[(Ci-Cs alkoxy)carbonyloxy], 4-[(C 3 -C 7 cycloalkoxy)carbonyloxy], or 3-(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)S0 2 NH-; and R 20 is H, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkanoyl or halo; or R 3 is a group of the formula:
wherein said groups may optionally be substituted in the fused benzene ring by C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, OH, halo or CF 3 ; are antihypertensive agents of utility in the treatment of hypertension, heart failure and renal insufficiency.