| abstract |
The present invention provides compounds of the general formula: <IMAGE> wherein E is an alkylene or alkenylene radical containing 2 carbon atoms, R1 is a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms, which is optionally substituted by up to 4 lower alkyl radicals, as well as halogen atoms, and can optionally be mono- or polyunsaturated, R2 and R3, which can be the same or different, are further cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing 3 to 7 carbon atoms, hydrogen or halogen atoms, trifluoromethyl radicals or alkyl or alkoxy radicals containing up to 7 carbon atoms which can optionally also be substituted with methyl radicals, X is hydroxyl, Y is a residue of an alcohol or a residue of an amine or the group OZ, Z is hydrogen, an alkali metal or ammonium ion or X and Y taken together are -O-. Thus, these compounds are lactones or hydroxy acids of the formulae: <IMAGE> wherein E, R1, R2 and R3 are as stated above, and Z is a hydrogen atom, and alkali metal ion or an ammonium ion; the esters and amides of the free carboxylic acids and the stereoisomeric forms thereof. The present invention also provides processes for the preparation of these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. |