the invention concerns novel renin - inhibitory compounds which contain an amino - substituted heterocycle at the p 2 position . these are useful for treating renin - associated hypertension , congestive heart failure , glaucoma , hyperaldosteronism , and diseases caused by retroviruses including htlv - i and - iii . processes for preparing the compounds , compositions containing them , and methods of using them are included . also included is a diagnostic method which uses the compounds to determine the presence of renin - associated hypertension , or hyperaldosteronism .