Configurationally locked retinoids

A group of retinoids having "vitamin A type" activity which have the structure ##STR1## wherein R3 is a trimethylcyclohexenylethylene, tetramethyltetrahydronaphthalene or methoxytrimethylphenylethylene group; R1 and R2 which are different are selected from --OH, --OR4 and --NHR, provided one of R1 and R2 is OH; R4 is alkyl of 1 to 20 carbons; and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbons, hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 4 carbons, alkylhydroxyalkyl of 1 to 4 carbons, phenyl, hydroxyphenyl and carboxyphenyl, and R5 is a lactone or lactam of the structure ##STR2## and X is oxygen or NR where R is as above, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.