| abstract |
A compound of formula (I) in which formula Q is a C1-C6 hydrocarbylene diradical; Y is either a single bond, a carbonyl group or a methylene, ethylene, —CH(OH)—, —O—(C 6 H 4)— (ortho, meta, para) or —S—(C 6 H 4)—(ortho, meta, para) diradical; R 1 and R 2, which may be the same or different, stand for hydrogen or a C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbyl radical; or R 1 and R 2 , when taken together with the carbon atom (starred in formula 1) bearing the group Z, can form a C 3 -C 6 carbocyclic ring; and Z is hydrogen or hydroxy; with the proviso that when, at the same time, Q is ethylene Y is methylene, R 1 and R 2 stand for methyl or trifluoromethyl, and Z is hydroxy, or when, at the same time, Q is ethylene, Y stands for carbonyl or —CH(OH)—, R 1 and R 2 are methyl, and Z is hydroxy, then the configuration at C-20 cannot be E. The compounds show anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects as well as strong activity in inducing differentiation and inhibiting undesirable proliferation of certain cells. |