IL32089A - P-(pyrryl-1)-phenyl alkanoic acids,their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them - Google Patents

Description

†niK D* *3on ηιπρη 'wni Tnjan New p-(pyrryl-l)-phenyl alkanoic acids, their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them CIBA-GEIGY A.G.

C: 30340 SWITZERLAND 4-2814* PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NEW SUBSTITUTED PHENYL ALKANOIC ACIDS The present invention concerns processes for the production of new, substituted phenyl alkanoic acids, these new compounds and their salts as new substances having valuable pharmacological properties, as well as new pharmacological preparations and the use thereof.

Substituted alkanoic acids of the general formula I wherein Z represents the -C^- or the -CO- group and R^ represents hydrogen or a halogen atom up to atomic number , and their salts with inorganic and organic bases have not been described hitherto.

It has now been found that these new substances possess valuable pharmacological properties, especially analgesic, antiphlogistic and antipyretic activity with a favourable therapeutic index. The analgesic activity of the new carboxylic acids of the general formula I and their salts can be shown, for example, on the mouse according to the method described by E. Siegmund, R. Cadmus and G. Lu, Proc . Soc . Exp .Biol .Med . 95, 729 (1957), whereby the amount of substance is determined which is required to prevent the syndrom produced by the intraperitoneal injection of 2-phenyl-1 ,4-benzoquinone . The antiphlogistic activity is demonstrated, for example, on rats in the bolus alba-Oedema test according to G. Wilhelmi, Jap .J.Pharmacol . , 187 (1965) . The new, substituted alkanoic acids of the general formu¾ I and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts with inorganic and organic bases are suitable as active substances for medicaments, which can be administered orally, rectally or parenterally , for the relief and removal of pains of varying origin and for the treatment of rheumatic and other inflammatory diseases.

The new, substituted alkanoic acids of the general formula I and their salts are produced by reacting a compound of the general formula II wherein R^ and Z have the meaning given under formula I , or a salt thereof with monomeric or polymeric succinaldehyde or with an open or cyclic, reactive functional derivative of the monomeric succinaldehyde and, optionally, converting an obtained acid of the general formula I into a salt with an inorganic or organic base. The succinic aldehyde is added in its monomeric form, (which immediately before the reaction is obtained from a functional derivative or from distillation of polymeric form) or in a polymeric modification (cf. C. Harries Ber. 35, 1183-1189 (1902)). As functional derivatives of the monomeric succinic aldehyde are used preferably open or cyclic acetals, acylals, a-halogen ethers, enol ethers or enol esters corresponding to the general formula III H H Y Y* in which X and X1 are independently of each other, rests of formulae R-0- and R-CO-0 in which R stands for an optional halogen substituted hydrocarbon rest, or chlorine or bromine atoms, or X' together with Y* is also the oxo rest = 0, Y and Y* are independently of each other, rests of the before defined formulae R-0- or R-CO-0- or both together the K E epoxy rest -0-, or each together with Z and Jfl respectively each an additional binding according to the dotted lines and % and i are hydrogen atoms if they do not have ewe the before mentioned meaning/^, in the presence or absence of a diluent and/or condensation agent .

Of the compounds of the general formula III which can be used in place of succinaldehyde, examples of open-chain derivatives of the monomeric succinaldehyde are acetals of the latter such as, e.g. succinaldehyde-mono-diethylacetal , -bis-dimethylaceta 1 , -bis-diethyl-acetal, also acylals thereof such as succinaldehyde-1 , 1-diacetate. (4,4-diacetoxybutyraldehyde), enol ethers thereof such as 1 ,4-diphenoxybutadiene , and enol esters thereof such as 1 ,4-diacetoxybutadiene . Compounds of the general formula III, wherein Y and Y' together form the epoxy radical, are strictly derivatives of tetrahydrofuran which, depending on the meaning of X and X1, react like the acetals or acylals of the succinaldehyde or like open-chain a-halogen ethers. Such compounds are, e.g. the 2,5-dialkoxytetrahydrofurans and related compounds such as 2 ,5-dimethoxy , 2 , 5-diethoxy , 2,5-dipropoxy, 2 , 5-dibutoxy, 2 , 5-bisallyloxy, 2 , 5-bis- (2-chloro-ethoxy) , 2 , 5-diphenoxy and 2 , 5-bis- (3 ,4-xylyloxy) -tetrahydrofuran, also 2 ,5-diacyloxytetrahydrofurans such as 2,5-diacetoxytetrahydrofuran, as well as 2 , 5-dihalogentetra-hydrofurans such as 2 , 5-dichlorotetrahydrofuran and 2,5-dibromotetrahydrofuran and, finally, also compounds which simultaneously fall into two types, such as 2-chloro-5- (2-chloroethoxy) -tetrahydrofuran and 2-allyloxy-5-chlorotetrahydro-furan .

As a medium for the reaction according to the invention, when using free succinaldehyde or succinaldehyde liberated in situ, any solvent is suitable in which the latter is soluble, e.g. water, methanol, ethanol or acetic acid. Acetals and acylals of the succinaldehyde, as well as cyclic, acetal-like derivatives, are advanta eousl reacted in acetic acid as the solvent and condensation agent, or in the presence of catalytic amounts of an acid condensation agent such as p-toluene sulphonic acid, in the presence or absence of an inert organic solvent or diluent such as, e.g. xylol , toluene, o-dichlorobenzene or aceto-nitrile. The reaction of compounds of the general formula III, wherein X and/or X' are halogen atoms, is performed, e.g. in inert organic solvents such as chloroform or those mentioned above. The reaction temperature is preferably between room temperature and boiling temperature of the applied solvent or diluent, whereby the lowest range is suitable, especially in the case of the latter mentioned halogen compounds .

Of the starting substances of the general formula II , the 4- (p-aminophenyl) -butyric acid and the 3- (p-aminobenzoyl) -propionic acid are known. It is possible to produce 4-(4-amino-3-halog-aephenyl) -butyric acids, such as the 4- (4-amino-3-chlorophenyl) -butyric acid, from the likewise known 4-(p-acetamidophenyl) -butyric acid by halogenation, e.g. chlorina-tion by mean s of hydrochloric acid and an alkali chlorate, and subsequent hydrolysis.

According to a second process, the new, substituted alkanoic acids of the general formula I and their salts are produced by heating a substituted malonic acid of the general formula IV (IV) wherein and Z have the meanings given under formula I, or a monobasic salt thereof, until the equimolecular amount of carbon dioxide has been liberated and, optionally, converting an obtained free monocarboxylic acid of the general formula I into a salt with an inorganic or organic base. Decarboxylation according to the process is performed by heating a substituted malonic acid of the general formula IV or, e.g. an acid alkali salt as such, optionally under vacuum, to temperatures between ca. 160° and 220° until the evolution of carbon dioxide has ceased. The decarboxylation can, however, also be carried out by heating in a higher-boiling organic solvent such as, e.g. o-dichlorobenzene , tetralin or diethylene. glycol dimethylether , and/or accelerated by addition of catalysts such as, e.g. copper powder, or of organic bases such as, e.g. quinoline .

The substituted malonic acids of the general formula IV, which are required as direct starting materials are obtained by hydrolysis of correspondingly substituted malonic acid dialkyl or cyanoacetic acid dialkyl esters esters /e.g. by boiling of the latter in alkanolic or alkanolic-aqueous alkali hydroxide solutions such as, e.g. in methanolic potassium hydroxide solution, and subsequent liberating of the dicarboxylic acid.

The correspondingly substituted malonic acid dialkyl esters and cyanoacetic acid alkyl esters are produced, for their part, by condensation of reactive esters of p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl alcohol or -2-hydroxyacetophenone , optionally substituted according to the definitions for e.g. by condensation of corresponding p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl halides, p-toluene sulphonic acid-p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl esters or p- (1-pyrryl) -phenacyl halides , with sodium compounds of lower malonic acid dialkyl esters, especially malonic acid diethyl ester, or lower cyanoecetic acid alkyl esters in suitable organic solvents such as, e.g. dimethy1formamide , dimethyl sulphoxide, ethanol, butanol or benzene. The reactive esters of p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl alcohol, optionally substituted as defined and which are required for this reaction, are produced from the corresponding alcohols in the usual manner, e.g. by treatment with thionyl chloride, phosphorus tribromide or p-toluene sulphochloride in pyridine. The unsubstituted p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl alcohol, and those substituted according to the definition for are obtained from the corresponding p-amino-phenethyl alcohols by reaction with functional derivatives of the succinaldehyde , analogously to the first mentioned process for producing compounds of the general formula I. If the ring closure is performed in a lower alkanoic acid such as, e.g. acetic acid, then as reaction product is obtained, in addition to the desired p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl alcohol, the corresponding lower alkanoic acid ester thereof, so that the crude product must be firstly subjected to hydrolysis, e.g. by boiling in an alkanolic alkali solution. The subsequent operation referred to can be avoided by using other reaction media, e.g. acetonitrile with a small addition of p-toluene sulphonic acid. By ring closure, analogously to the first stated process for the production of the compounds of the general formula I, the corresponding p- (1-pyrryl) -phenacyl halides are obtained starting with p-amino-phenacyl halides.

Of the p-amino compounds required for the ring closure, the p-aminophenethyl alcohol and the 2-chloro-4 ' -amino-acetophenone (p-aminophenacyl chloride) are known. The compounds with a halogen atom in the 3 position are obtained e.g. by acetylation in the amino group of the (p-aminophenyl) -acetic acid, the obtained N-acetyl derivatives halogenated, e.g. chlorinated by treatment with hydrochloric acid and sodium chlorate, and the corresponding lower 2- (4-amino-3-halogen phenyl) -alkanoic acids obtained are reduced to the corresponding alcohols by means of lithium aluminium chloride.

According to a third process, the new substituted phenyl-alkanoic acids and their salts, which are embraced by the general formula I, wherein Z means the -Cl^- group are obtained by allowing a compound of the general formula V wherein 12 represents a lower alkyl group, and having the meaning given under formula I, to react with an alkalishydroxide in an organic or organic-aqueous medium, and, optionally, liberating the carboxylic acid from the obtained alkali salt of a carboxylic acid of the general formula I and, optionally, converting this, or the firstly obtained alkali salt, into a salt or into another salt with an inorganic or organic base. For example, a compound of the general formula V is boiled in ethanolic sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide solution The substituted acetoacetic acid alkyl esters of the general formula V are produced analogously to the corresponding, above stated, substituted malonic acid dialkyl esters.

According to a fourth process, the new, substituted phenyl alkanoic acids of the general formula I and their salts are produced by hydrolysing a compound of the general formula VI wherein A represents the cyano group or a carboxylic acid ester group or imido ester group, and and Z have the meanings given under formula I , in an alkaline or acid medium and, optionally, liberating the carboxylic acid from an obtained salt, and/or converting an obtained free carboxylic acid into a salt with an inorganic or organic base .

For example, a compound of the general formula VI is boiled in an alkanolic or alkanolic-aqueous alkali hydroxide solution.

The nitriles which are useable as starting materials of the general formula VI are obtained, for example, by partial hydrolysis of the lower [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ]-cyanoacetic acid alkyl esters, optionally substituted according to the definitions for and which are mentioned under the second process for the production of the compounds of the general formula I. The imidoalkyl esters or their hydrochlorides, which are likewise suitable as starting materials of the general formula VI, are obtained by the successive reaction of hydrogen chloride and a lower alkanol on the corresponding, aforementioned nitriles in an anhydrous medium, e.g. in absolute ether. By partial hydrolysis of the imidoalkyl esters, e.g. heating of the imidoalkyl esters or their hydrochlorides with water, are obtained the lower alkyl esters, embraced by the general formula VI, of substituted phenyl alkanoic acids of the general formula I.

These lower alkyl esters can also be obtained from the substituted acetoacetic acid alkyl ester given in the above formula V when they are heated in anhydrous solutions of alkali alcoholate e.g. some hours in an ethanolic solution of sodium ethanolate by refluxing.

According to a fifth process, the compounds of the general formula I, wherein Z means the -CI^- group and their salts are obtained by reducing a compound of the general formula la (la) wherein R-^ has the meaning given under formula I, and, optionally, converting the obtained carboxylic acid, embraced by the general formula I, into a salt with an inorganic or organic base. The compounds of the general formula I a are reduced, for example, according to the Wolff- ishner method, with hydrazine or semicarbazide in the presence of an alkali hydroxide or alkali metal alcoholate at elevated temperature and, optionally, the firstly obtained alkali salt of the 4- [4- (l-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid, optionally halogen-substituted and embraced by the general formula I, is converted into the free acid or into another salt with an inorganic or organic base. The reduction is performed by bringing the stated reaction components together, preferably in a higher-boiling organic solvent, and heating the mixture to temperatures between ca. 140° and 200°. Suitable as a reaction medium are, e.g. mono and diethers of ethylene glycol such as diethylene glycol, its monomethyl ether and triethylene glycol, also higher-boiling alcohols such as benzyl alcohol, octyl alcohol and nitrilotriethanol or, optionally, also a lower alkanol, providing that the reduction is carried out in a closed vessel.

A further suitable reduction method is the process according to Clemmensen. For example, a compound of the general formula I a is refluxed for several hours with a largish excess of amalgamated zinc having an enlarged surface area, e.g. zinc wool, in excess hydrochloric acid, initially ca. 4N to 8N, preferably in the presence of a solvent not miscible with water such as, e.g. toluene, and/or a water-miscible solvent such as, e.g. acetic acid, whereby from time to time some concentrated hydrochloric acid is added.

The compounds of the general formula I a, required as starting materials, are, for their part, already embraced by the general formula I and they are obtainable using the aforestated processes for the production of these compounds. For example, they can be obtained starting with acetanilide or o-halogen acetanilides by reaction with succinic anhydride according to the Friedel-Crafts reaction, to give the 3- (p-acetamidobenzoyl) -propionic acid or 3- (4-acetamido-3-halogen benzoyl) -propionic acids, by hydrolytic splitting off of the N-acetyl group and by condensation of the obtained 3- (p-aminobenzoyl)- propionic acid or 3- (4-amino-3-halogen benzoyl) - propionic acids with functional derivatives of the succinaldehyde, e.g. with 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran, corresponding to the first mentioned process for the production of the compounds of the general formula I. If, on the other hand, the aforestated 3- (4- acetamidobenzoyl) -propionic acid or its halogen derivatives are reduced analogously to the compounds ·... of the general formula I a, according to Wolff-Kischner or Clenimensen, then from this is obtained, with simultaneous splitting off of the N-acetyl group, the 4- (p-aminophenyl) -butyric acid or 4- (4-amino-3-halogen phenyl) -butyric acids, i.e. compounds of the general formula II which can be used as starting materials for the first mentioned process for the production of the end materials.

Optionally producible salts of substituted alkanoic acids of the general formula I are, e.g. the sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, calcium and ammonium salts, as well as salts with ethylamine, triethylamine , 2-aminoethanol , 2,2'-iminodiethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, 2-diethylaminoethanol , ethylene diamine, benzylamine, procaine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, morpholine, 1-ethyl piperidine or 2-piperidinoethanol, or with basic ion exchangers.

The new substituted phenyl alkanoic acids of the general formula I and their salts are administered, as previously mentioned, orally, rectally or parenterally.

The daily dosages vary between 50 and 3000 mg for adult patients. Suitable dosage units such as dragees, tablets, suppositories or ampoules, preferably contain, as active substance, 10-500 mg of a compound of the general formula I or of a salt of a free acid, embraced by this formula, with a pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic base. Of acids of the general formula I, wherein R-^ is a methyl or ethyl group, and of corresponding salts, both the racemate and an optically active enantiomer can be used as active substance .

In dosage units for oral administration, the content of active substance is preferably between 10% and 90%.

Such dosage units are produced by combining the active substance with, e.g. solid pulverulent carriers such as lactose, saccharose, sorbitol, mannitol; starches such as potato starch, maize starch or amylopectin, also laminiaria powder or citrus pulp powder; cellulose derivatives or gelatine, optionally, with the addition of lubricants, such as magnesium or calcium stearate or polyethylene glycols, to form tablets or dragee cores. These are coated, for v example, with concentrated sugar solutions which can also contain, e.g. gum arabic, talcum and/or titanium dioxide, or with a lacquer dissolved in Dyestuffs can be added to these coatings, e.g. to distinguish between varying dosages of active substance. Other suitable dosage units for oral administration are hard capsules made of gelatine, as well as soft closed capsules made of gelatine and a softener such as glycerin. The hard capsules preferably contain the active substance as a granulate in admixture with lubricants such as talcum or magnesium stearate and, optionally, stabilisers such as sodium metabisulphite or ascorbic acid. In soft capsules, the active substance is preferably dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids such as liquid polyethylene glycols, whereby stabilisers can also be added.

Suitable dosage units for rectal administration are, e.g. suppositories which consist of a combination of an active substance with a suppository foundation substance based on natural or synthetic triglycerides (e.g. cocoa butter), polyethylene glycols or suitable higher fatty alcohols, and gelatine rectal capsules containing a combination of the active substance with polyethylene glycols .

Ampoule solutions for parenteral, particularly intramuscular or intravenous administration contain, e.g. an aqueous solution of 0.5-5% of a pharmaceutically acceptable, water-soluble salt of an acid of the general formula I.

Further suitable preparations for parenteral administration are, e.g. lotions, tinctures and ointments for percutaneous administration, which are prepared with the usual auxiliary agents.

The following prescriptions further illustrate the production of the various preparations : a) 1000 g of active substance, e.g. 4-{3-chloro- 4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid, are mixed with 550 g of lactose and 292 g of potato starch. The mixture is moistened with an alcoholic solution of 8 g of gelatine and is then granulated through a sieve. After drying, 60 g of potato starch, 60 g of talcum and 10 g of magnesium stearate and 20 g of highly dispersed silicon dioxide are mixed in and the mixture pressed into 10,000 tablets each weighing 200 mg and each containing 100 mg of active substance. Optionally, the tablets can be provided with grooves for more accurate adjustment of the dosage amount. b) 200 g of active substance, e.g. 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) phenyl] -butyric acid, are well mixed with 16 g of maize starch and 6 g of highly dispersed silicon dioxide. The mixture is moistened with a solution of 2 g of stearic acid, 6 g of ethyl cellulose and 6 g of stearin in ca. 70 ml of isopropyl alcohol and is granulated through a sieve III (Ph. Helv. V). The granulate is dried for ca. 14 hours and is then put through sieve III-IIIa. It is then mixed with 16 g of maize starch, 16 g of talcum and 2 g of magnesium stearate and the mixture is pressed into 1000 dragee cores. These are coated with a concentrated syrup of 2 g of shellac, 7.5 g of gum arabic, 0.15 g of dyestuff, 2 g of highly dispersed silicon dioxide, 25 g of talcum and 53.35 g of sugar, and dried. The obtained dragees each wei,gh 360 mg and each contain 200 mg of active substance. c) 50.0 g of 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid are dissolved in a mixture of 218 ml of IN sodium hydroxide solution and 500 ml of boiled, pyrogen-free water. The solution is made up to 2000 ml with pyrogen- free water, is then filtered and used to fill 1000 ampoules each containing 2 ml, and sterilised.

A 2 ml ampoule contains 50 mg of 4- [p- (1-pyrryl)-phenyl] -butyric acid as active substance in the form of the sodium salt. d) 50 g of 4- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ]-butyric acid and 1950 g of finely ground suppository foundation substance (e.g. cocoa butter) are thoroughly mixed and then melted. From the melt, maintained homogeneous by stirring, are obtained 1000 suppositories each containing 50 mg of active substance and each weighing 2 g. e) 60.0 g of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, 30.0 g of sorbitan monostearate, 150.0 g of paraffin oil and 120.0 g of stearyl alcohol are melted together. 50.0 g of 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid (finely pulverised) are added and 590 ml of water, preheated to 40°, are added to form an emulsion. The emulsion is stirred until it has cooled down to room temperature and is then filled into tubes .

The following examples further illustrate the production of the new compounds of the general formula I but they in no way limit the scope of the invention. The temperatures are given in degrees Centigrade.

/ Example 1 A mixture is prepared of 19.9 g of 4- (p-aminophenyl) butyric acid [L.R. Moffet and H. . Vaughan, J.Org.Chem. 25, 1238 (I960)], 14.6 g of 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran and 31 ml of glacial acetic acid, whereupon the mixture is refluxed for 10 minutes . The hot reaction mixture is poured into 150 ml of water, the obtained suspension is cooled to 20°, the precipitate is filtered off, washed twice with 50 ml of water each time, and is then dried at 80°. The obtained crude 4- [p- (1-pyrryl)-phenyl] -butyric acid is a brown powder which melts at 103-110°. After repeated recrystallisation, firstly from methylene chloride and then from methanol/water , the pure substance, M.P. 113-114°, is obtained. Ehrlich-reaction for pyrroles positive.

Example 2 A mixture of 16.5 g of crude 4- (4-amino-3-chlorophenyl) butyric acid (see below) and 10.2 g of 2 , 5-dimethoxy- tetrahydrofuran and 22 ml of glacial acetic acid is refluxed for 40 minutes . The reaction mixture is then cooled to room temperature and dissolved in 300 ml of ether. The ethereal solution is decanted to remove negligibly adhesive by-products and is then washed, firstly with 55 ml of 3N hydrochloric acid, and twice with IN hydrochloric acid using each time 25 ml. The ethereal solution is then extracted with 220 ml of IN sodium hydroxide solution. The ether phase is discarded and the aqueous phase is washed twice with 200 ml of ether . The aqueous phase is then acidified with 80 ml of 3N hydrochloric acid and subsequently extracted, firstly with 200 ml and then with 100 ml of ether. The ethereal solution is concentrated by evaporation to dryness and the residue is distilled in high vacuum, whereby the 4- [4- (1-pyrryl) -3-chlorophenyl ] -butyric acid, B.P. 177°/0.07 Torr, M.P. 58-60°, n^5 - 1.5803, is obtained. Positive Ehrlich-reactio .

The 4- (4-amino-3-chlorophenyl) -butyric acid, required as starting material, is produced as follows: a) An amount of 40.0 g of 4- (p-acetamidophenyl)-butyric acid [M.N. Bogdanov et al., Vysokomolekul .

Soedin. 3^, 1326 (1961)] is suspended in a mixture of 70 ml of acetic acid and 75 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Whilst stirring vigorously, a solution of 7.0 g of sodium chlorate in 8.5 ml of water is added dropwise at -10° within 45 minutes. The obtained suspension is heated to 0° and stirred for 15 minutes at this temperature. An addition is then made of 50 ml of hydrochloric acid and the mixture is refluxed for 2 hours . The reaction solution is concentrated by evaporation to dryness on the water bath (100°) under 10 Torr. The residue is dissolved, as far as possible, in water, is filtered off from undissolved matter and the filtrate washed twice with, each time, 20 ml of water. The filtrate and washing water are combined and the pH value adjusted to 4 by the addition of 3N sodium hydroxide solution. The obtained dispersion is extracted with ether, the ether solution is dried and concentrated by evaporation, whereby 30.5 g of oily crude product are obtained. The latter is dissolved in 100 ml of 3N sodium hydroxide solution and the solution washed twice with, together, 100 ml of ether . After acidifying with 65 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid, the aqueous phase is extracted four times with, each time, 100 ml of ether and, by the addition of 3N sodium hydroxide solution (130 ml) , the pH value is adjusted to 3. The precipitated oil is dissolved in ether by extraction with three portions each of 150 ml. The combined ether solutions are dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation to dryness. This yields 19.3 g (50% of theoretical amount) of crude 4- (4-amino-3-chlorophenyl) -butyric acid, M.P. 65-69°, which can be directly further reacted. After crystallising several times, firstly from water/methanol and then from benzene/cyclohexane, the analytically pure substance, M.P. 70-74°, is obtained .

Example 3 11 g of crude, oily [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -malonic acid diethyl ester are refluxed for 6 hours with a solution of 12 g of potassium hydroxide in 100 ml of ethanol and 70 ml of water. The solvent is then distilled off under reduced pressure. The concentrated residue is distributed between 100 ml of ether and 200 ml of water . The aqueous phase is separated, filtered and adjusted to pH 1-2 with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The precipitated acid is extracted twice using, each time, 100 ml of ether . The ether extract is dried and concentrated by evaporation. The thus obtained crude, oily [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -malonic acid is heated gradually to 160-200° (ca. 20 minutes). When the evolution of gas has ceased, the product is distilled in a bulb tube at 160-170°/0.01 Torr.

The pure 4- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ]-butyric acid melts at 58-60° (from isopropanol) .

The substituted malonic ester, required as starting material, is produced by way of the following stages : a) 149 .0 g p- (acetamido) -pheu»fc4¾yl acetic acid [S.Gabriel, Chem.Ber. JL5 , 834 (1882) ] are suspended in a mixture of 485 ml glacial acetic acid, 165 ml water and 348 ml cone, hydrochloric acid. To this mixture is dropped, while strongly stirring at -5° a solution of 32 .3 g sodium chlorate in 65 ml water within 1 hour.

The reaction mixture is brought to 0° and stirred for 15 minutes.

Then there are added 75 ml cone, hydrochloric acid, the solution is refluxed for 2 hours and then evaporatedj on a steam bath of 80° and under 15 Torr, to dryness. The residue from evaporation is mixed hot with 250 ml ethanol to remove the last water by azeotropic distillation and to this mixture are added 750 ml benzene and then it is evaporated in vacuo again. The dry crystalline residue is refluxed with a solution of 60 ml cone, hwric sultofti-e- acid in 1 .5 1 abs . ethanol for 20 hours. The ethanol is then distilled off in a bath of 30° and 15-20 Torr. The residue which is obtained after evaporation is brought to p^ 9-10 with a mixture of same amounts of ice and concentrated sodium hydroxide and extracted with 1.5 1 methylenchloride. · The methylenchloride solution is washed with 100 ml ice water dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated. The residue of ' the evaporation is subjected to fractional distillation using a 10 cm long Vigreux column and the (4-amino-3-chloro-phenyl) -acetic acid ethyl ester (83 g) which boils at 110-115° /0.001 Torr is separated. b) 55 .5 g (4-amino-3-chloro-phenyl) -acetic acid ethyl ester, 500 ml glacial acetic acid and 34.3 g 2 , 5-dimethoxy-tetrahydro- furane are refluxed for 40 minutes. The cooled reaction mixture is evaporated under reduced pressure, finally under 10 Torr at a bath temperature of 70° . The resulting black oil is distilled in a bulb tube. It boils under 0.01 Torr at an air bath temperature of 120-130° . The obtained [3-chloro-4- (1 -pyrryl) -phenyl ]- acetic acid ethyl ester crystallises on longer standing or if inoculated. A sample recrystallised from ligroin (boiling range 80-95° ) melts at 36-37 ° . c) A mixture of 62 .0 g [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -acetic ethyl acid /ester, 200 ml toluene and 260 ml diethylcarbonate is warmed to 70° . At 75-80° a solution of 5 .6 g sodium in 200 ml abs. ethanol is dropped rapidly thereinto while stirring. The ethanol is thereafter distilled off from the reaction mixture. 2 .2 g lithium aluminium hydride are suspended in 200 ml abs. ether. While stirring^ a solution of 15 .0 g [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -acetic acid ethyl ester [see examples 3a) and b) ] in 300 ml abs. ether, is dropped into the reaction mixture in such a way that the reaction mixture refluxes. After the addition of the ester the reaction mixture is refluxed while stirring for hours. Then it is decomposed while cooling with ice by addition of 15 ml water and then of 50 ml 207o hydrochloric acid. The ether phase is separated, washed with 50 ml 107o potassium bicarbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated. The as oil resulting reaction product^ can be recrystallised from isopropanol/petrol ether (B.P. 45-60° ) . The obtained 3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl alcohol melts at 59-61° . d) 2.0 g of p-toluene sulphonic acid- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ester] and 4.5 g of sodium propionate are reacted analogously to example 24.

By bulb-tube distillation of the crude product at 110°/0.001 Torr, the propionic acid-3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ester is obtained.

The p-toluene sulphonic acid- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) phenethyl ester] is produced according to E. Jenny and S. Winstein, Helv. Chim. Acta 41, 820 (1958) from 1.8 g of 3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl alcohol (cp. example 4) and 2.0 g of p-toluene sulphonic acid chloride in 10 ml of pyridine. The compound is oily. It is chromatographed on silica gel and exhibits nD22 = 1.590. e) 8.0 g of malonic acid diethyl ester, dissolved in 100 ml of dimethyl sulphoxide, are mixed in the course of 15 minutes with 2.1 g of a 50% sodium hydride dispersion in mineral oil and the mixture is stirred for 1 hour. A solution of 18.8 g of p-toluene sulphonic acid- (3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ester in 40 ml of dimethyl sulphoxide is then added. The reaction mixture is stirred for 5-7 hours at 100° bath temperature. After neutralising with glacial acetic acid, the solvent is distilled off under 10 Torr in a bath at 80-100°. The concentrated residue is distributed between 300 ml of ether and 100 ml of water. The ether layer is separated, dried and concentrated by evaporation. This yields the crude [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -malonic acid diethyl ester as a brown oil, which is further processed in the crude form.

Example 4 3.4 g of 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyronitrile , 3.3 g of sodium hydroxide, 30 ml of ethanol and 10 ml of water are refluxed together for 18 hours . The solvent is then distilled off under reduced pressure in a rotary evaporator. The residue is taken up in 30 ml of water and extracted with 70 ml of ether.

The aqueous phase is separated and acidified with 7 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid whilst cooling with ice. The precipitated colourless crystals are filtered with suction and washed with ml of ice water. After drying under 20 Torr over sulphuric acid, 3.0 g of crude 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) - phenyl ] -butyric acid, M.P. 109.114°, are obtained. The pure acid, M.P. 113-114°, is obtained by crystallisation from isopropanol .

The butyronitrile, required as starting material, is obtained by way of the following stages : a) 76.0 g of p-nitrocinnamic acid ethyl ester are hydrogenated in 750 ml of ethanol in the presence of g of Raney nickel at room temperature and under normal pressure. After 24 hours, the calculated amount of hydrogen has been absorbed. The catalyst is filtered off and the filtrate is concentrated by evaporation. The residue is distilled in high vacuum.

The 3- (p-aminophenyl) -propionic acid ethyl ester boils at 121-123°/0.02 Torr. i b) 9.7 g of 3- (p-aminophenyl) -propionic acid ethyl ester, 6.6 g of 2 , 5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran and 50 ml of glacial acetic acid are refluxed for 45 minutes.

The residue remaining after distilling off the glacial acetic acid in the water-jet vacuum, is distilled in a bulb tube at ca. 130° bath temperature and 0.05 Torr . This yields 9.2 g of 3- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -propionic acid ethyl ester as a yellowish oil, which gradually solidifies to form a crystalline substance. / c) From 23.0 g of 3- [ p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -propionic acid ethyl ester and 3.8 g of lithium aluminium hydride in 700 ml of absolute ether are produced, analogously to example 4, 18.0 g of 3- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -1-propanol, M.P. 84-86°. d) 17.8 g of 3- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -1-propanol are dissolved in 90 ml of anhydrous pyridine and to this solution are added in portions, while stirring and at 5-10°, 19.0 g of p-toluene sulphonic acid chloride.

The reaction mixture is then stirred over night at room temperature. The pyridine is evaporated off under reduced pressure. The residue is dissolved in 250 ml of methylene chloride and the solution washed successively, twice with 2N sodium hydroxide solution using 50 ml each time, twice with 2N hydrochloric acid using 50 ml each time and, finally, with 50 ml of water. After drying over magnesium sulphate, the methylene chloride is distilled off, whereby 13.7 g of a partially crystalline substance remain. This is applied to a column of 280 g of silica gel and is extracted with benzene (50 ml fractions) . The fractions 2-14 contain 6.9 g of l-chloro-3- [p- (1-pyrryl)- phenyl] -propane, M.P. 67-69°. This is used for the following test.

(The fractions 19-32 contain 3.2 g of p-toluene sulphonic acid-3- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -propyl ester, M.P. 78-79° (from ethanol)) . e) 5.1 g of l-chloro-3- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -propane are dissolved in 60 ml of dimethyl sulphoxide and are stirred under nitrogen with 1.3 g of sodium cyanide for 4 hours at 100-110°. The reaction mixture is now cooled, stirred together with 60 ml of water and extracted twice with ether using 300 ml each time. The ether extracts are combined, washed with 30 ml of water, dried (MgSO^) and concentrated by evaporation. The crystalline residue is crystallised from 10 ml of isopropanol and yields 3.5 g of 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyronitrile , M.P. 96-99°.

Example 5 18.9 g of 3- (p-aminobenzoyl) -propionic acid [cp.

J.Am.Chem.Soc. J57, 2264 (1945)], 12.9 g of dimethoxy-tetrahydrofuran and 41 ml of glacial acetic acid are mixed together and refluxed for 15 minutes . The hot reaction mixture is cooled and allowed to stand for about 15 hours. The precipitated, slightly yellowish-brown crystals are filtered off, washed twice with acetic acid using 15 ml each time, then with 15 ml of methanol and 30 ml of ether, and dried at 70°.

The obtained 3- [p- (l-pyrryl)-benzoyl] -propionic acid melts in an evacuated tube at 191-193°. Recrystallisation from isopropanol and decolourisation with activated charcoal yield white crystals, M.P. 193-194°. The substance produces a positive Ehrlich-reaction and an orange-red precipitation with dinitrophenyl hydrazine in hydrochloric acid.

Example 6 a) 3.6 g of 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid ethyl ester and 20 ml of 2N sodium hydroxide solution are refluxed for 1/2 hour and stirred. After cooling, the homogeneous reaction solution is extracted with ml of ether . The aqueous phase is made acid with 4-5 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid hereby precipitates. It is filtered off, washed with water and recrystallised from isopropanol, M.P. 113-114°.

The 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid ethyl ester, required as starting material, is produced in the following manner : b) 1.0 g of hydrochloric acid gas is introduced at 0 to 5° into a solution of 4.2 g of 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyronitrile (cp. example 4) in 1.5 ml of absolute alcohol and 10 ml of methylene chloride .

The reaction mixture is left closed for 2 days at 0 to 5° and then 10 ml of ether are added to the mixture. The 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid-imido-ethyl ester hydrochloride precipitates out. An addition of 30 ml of 2N sodium hydroxide solution and 100 ml of ether is now made and the whole is vigorously shaken for 3 minutes. The organic phase is then separated, washed with 20 ml of water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation.

This yields the 4- [ p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid •V ethyl ester, which is purified by distillation in the bulb tube at 140°/0.001 Torr; i^22 = 1.553.

The 4- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid, M.P. 58-60° (from isopropanol), is produced, analogously to example 6a, by hydrolysis of 1.0 g of 4- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid ethyl ester with 5 ml of 2N sodium hydroxide solution.

The 4- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl butyric acid ethyl ester, required as starting material, is produced in the following manner : c) 15 g of crude 4- (4-amino-3-chlorophenyl) -butyric acid are dissolved in 200 ml of ethanol and, while introducing hydrochloric acid gas, the solution is refluxed overnight. The reaction mixture is concentrated by evaporation under reduced pressure, 20 ml of ice water are added and the mixture is adjusted to pH 9-10 with ice-cold potassium hydroxide solution.

The free amino ester is extracted with 200 ml of ether, the ether solution is dried over potash, concentrated by evaporation and the residue distilled in the bulb tube. The 4- (4-amino-3-chlorophenyl) -butyric acid ethyl ester, a colourless oil, boils at 140° bath temperature under 0.005 Torr. d) 14.0 g of 4- (4-amino-3-chlorophenyl) -butyric acid ethyl ester, 150 ml of acetonitrile and 7.7 g of 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran are heated to boiling.

A solution of 0.4 g of p-toluene sulphonic acid in ml of acetonitrile is then added and the solution kept boiling for 10 minutes. After evaporating off the solvent under reduced pressure, a dark residue remains.

This is extracted with 300 ml of ether, the ether solution is washed with 15 ml of 107o potassium bicarbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation. The obtained 4- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid ethyl ester boils at 140-145°/0.005 Torr; i^22 = 1.551. e) The 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid ethyl ester necessary as starting material for Example 6a) may also be obtained as follows: 1.4 g 2- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -acetoecetic acid ethyl ester (cp- Example 14a)) are refluxed for 16 hours with a solution of 0.11 g sodium in 30 ml absolute ethanol. The solution is neutralised with glacial acetic acid and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue is dissolved in 30 ml ether, the solution washed with 5 ml water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated. The remaining oil is distilled in a bulb tube at 130° /0.002 Torr. 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) - 22 phenyl ] -butyric acid ethyl ester n„ 1.553 is obtained.

Example 7 2.95 g of 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid are dissolved in 13 ml of IN sodium hydroxide solution. The solution is filtered and concentrated by evaporation in the water-jet vacuum. The residue is recrystallised from methanol. The sodium salt of the 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid, M.P. 263-267°, is thus obtained.

Example 8 1.5 g of [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -malonic acid diethyl ester, 20 ml of 30% potassium hydroxide solution and 15 ml of ethanol are refluxed for 6 hours. The solution is concentrated in the water-jet vacuum, the residue dissolved in 20 ml of water and extracted with 10 ml of ether . The aqueous phase is separated and adjusted to pH 1-2 with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The precipitated crystals are filtered with suction, washed twice with water using ml each time and are then dried in a desiccator over concentrated sulphuric acid. The crude [ p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -malonic acid melts at 170-174° with an intense evolution of gas. The thus obtained crude acid is gradually heated with 50 mg of copper powder to 180°, until no further evolution of gas is observed (ca. 10 minutes) . The acid is extracted with 50 ml of ether from the reaction residue. The ether is evaporated and the residue distilled in a bulb tube at 180-200° bath temperature / 0.005 Torr, to obtain pure 4- [ p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid, M.P. 113-114°.

The substituted malonic ester, required as starting material, is produced in the following manner : a) p-nitro-phenethyl bromide is reduced with stannous chloride to the p-amino-phenethyl bromide hydrochloride, M.P. 195-200°. b) The base is liberated from 3.5 g of p-amino-phenethyl bromide hydrochloride using concentrated potassium hydroxide solution, it is extracted with ether and dried over magnesium sulphate.

The crude p-amino-phenethyl bromide (2.7 g), which remains after distilling off the ether in a water-jet vacuum at 30° bath temperature, is refluxed with 30 ml of glacial acetic acid and 1.8 g of 2.5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran for 15 minutes in an oil bath preheated to 130°. The reaction mixture is then, concentrated by evaporation under 12 Torr and the residu is distilled in the bulb tube at 140-150°/0.002 Torr. The crystalline p- (1-pyrryl)- phenethyl bromide is recrystallised from methanol, whereupon it melts at 101 - 103°. c) A quantity of 0.3 g of sodium hydride suspension (50% in oil) is added to 0.95 g of malonic acid diethyl ester, dissolved in 30 ml of dimethyl formamide and the mixture is stirred for 1/2 hour at 90°. An addition is then made of 1.3 g of p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl bromide and the reaction mixture is stirred for 3 hours at 100°. After evaporating off the solvent in vacuo, the concentrated residue is neutralised with glacial acetic acid, taken up in 50 ml of ether and shaken out with 10 ml of water . The organic phase is dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation. The crude [ p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -malonic acid diethyl ester is thus obtained as a brownish oil, Example 9 A.3 g of 4- (4-amino-3-chlorophenyl) -butyric acid (cp. example 2a) and 3.8 g of 2,5-diacetoxy-tetrahydrofuran are refluxed in 10 ml of glacial acetic acid for 1 hour. The reaction mixture is then concentrated by evaporation under 10 Torr and the residue is distilled in the bulb tube. The 4- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid distills at 180° bath temperature under 0.01 Torr. After recrystallisation from isopropanol, the acid melts at 58-60°.

Example 10 1.9 g of 2 j 5-diacetoxytetrahydrofuran are stirred together with 10 ml of 0.1N hydrochloric acid until a homogeneous solution is obtained (ca. 15 minutes). This solution of succinaldehyde is added to a solution of 1.8 g of 4- (p-aminophenyl) -butyric acid and 0.9 g of sodium hydroxide in 12 ml of water and allowed to stand for 2 hours at 20°. The reaction mixture is then refluxed for 1 hour, cooled, filtered and acidified with 8 ml of 3N hydrochloric acid. The precipitate is extracted twice with ether using 50 ml each time. The combined ethereal extracts are washed with 10 ml of water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation. The residue is sublimed at 130°/0.001 Torr and then recrystallised from methanol/water . The 4- [ p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid melts at 113-114°.

Example 11 The crude 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid imidoethyl ester hydrochloride, produced as in example 6b. is refluxed in a mixture of 50 ml of 2N sodium hydroxide solution and 200 ml of ethanol for 2 hours. After evaporating off the ethanol under reduced pressure, the volume of the solution is made up with water to 40 ml and its pH value adjusted to 1-with 6N hydrochloric acid. The precipitated acid is filtered off and recrystallised from methanol/ water. The pure 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid melts at 113-114°.

Example 12 A mixture of 2.43 g of 3- [p- (1-pyrryl) -benzoyl ]- propionic acid (cp. example 5), 2.3 g of potassium hydroxide, 1.8 ml of 80% hydrazine hydrate and 12 ml of triethylene glycol is prepared and refluxed for 90 minutes. The reflux condenser is then removed and the temperature of the reaction mixture is increased to 195°, whereby the excess hydrazine is distilled off, this temperature being then maintained for 4 hours .

The reaction mixture is then cooled and acidified with 6N hydrochloric acid to obtain pH 1 (ca. 6 ml). The formed brown precipitate is filtered off, washed with 15 ml of water and dried at 80°, whereby 4- [p- (1-pyrryl)-phenyl] -butyric acid, M.P. 109-113°, is obtained. After recrystallisation from methanol, the substance melts at 111-114°. Subsequent sublimation yields pure 4- [ p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl3-butyric acid as white crystals, M.P. 113-114°. 5rt~ Example 13 A quantity of 12.0 g of zinc wool is shaken for minutes with a solution of 0.9 g of mercur (II)- chloride in 0.6 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 15 ml of water. The solution is decanted and to the amalgamated zinc are added, 7.5 ml of water, 17.5 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid, 10 ml of toluene and 3.0 g of 3- [p- (1-pyrryl)-benzoyl ]- •5 propionic acid (cp. example ) . The reaction mixture is refluxed whilst vigorously boiling in a bath at 150°. After 3 hours and after 6 hours are added, each time, 5 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid through the condenser. After 7 hoars, the reaction mixture is cooled and extracted with ca. 100 ml of chloroform. The organic phase is separated, washed twice with, each time, 15 ml of water, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation.

The obtained red-brown oil is distilled in a bulb tube under 0.01 Torr with a furnace temperature of 160-180°. The 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl] -butyric acid is obtained as a yellowish oil which crystallises spontaneously. After recrystallisation from ligroin/ ether and from isopropanol, and subsequent sublimation, the acid melts at 113-114°.

In an analogous manner using 2.5 g 3- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -benzoyl ]-propionic acid is obtained the 4-[3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid, M.P. 58-60° (from isopropanol) .

Example 14 0.7 g of crude 2- [ p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -acetoacetic acid ethyl ester and 20 ml of 50% potassium hydroxide solution are stirred for 6 hours at 120°. The reaction mixture is then diluted with 30 ml of water and extracted with 50 ml of ether . The aqueous phase is separated, filtered and adjusted with concentrated hydrochloric acid to pH 1-2. The precipitated acid is extracted with 50 ml of ether, the ether extract is washed with 10 ml of water, dried and concentrated by evaporation. The obtained crystalline residue is distilled in a bulb tube at 160-180°/0.001 Torr. The obtained 4- [p- (1-pyrryl)-phenyl ] -butyric acid melts at 113-114° after recrystallisation from isopropanol. The substituted acetoacetic acid ethyl ester, required as starting material, is produced in the following manner: a) A quantity of 0.68 g of sodium hydride dispersion (50% in mineral oil) is added to 1.6 g of acetoacetic acid ethyl ester, dissolved in 30 ml of dimethyl formamide . The solution is stirred at room temperature for 20 minutes and is then stirred with a solution of 2.5 g of p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl bromide (cp. example 8) in 10 ml of dimethyl formamide for 16 hours at 100°.

The reaction mixture is then cooled, neutralised with glacial acetic acid and concentrated by evaporation under 12 Torr. The residue is dissolved in 100 ml of ether, the solution then being washed with 20 ml of water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation. The fraction boiling at 130° bath temperature under 0.003 Torr, in the form of a yellowish oil, contains the 2- [ p- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -acetoacetic acid ethyl ester, which is hydrolysed without further purification .

Example 15 Analogously to example 14, 1.6 g of 2-[3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -acetoacetic acid ethyl ester are hydrolysed with 40 ml of 50% potassium hydroxide solution for 5 hours at 100° to yield the 4- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid, M.P. 58-60 (from methanol/water) .

The 2-[ 3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ] -acetoacetic acid ethyl ester, required as starting material, is obtained, according to example 14a), as a brownish oil which boils in the bulb tube at 140-150°/0.001 Torr, by the use of 7.5 g of p-toluene sulphonic acid- [3-chloro-4- (1-pyrryl) -phenethyl ester] (cp. example 3d), 3.2 g of acetoacetic acid ethyl ester, 1.3 g of sodium hydride (507o dispersion in mineral oil) and 70 ml of dimethyl formamide .

Claims (29)

What we claim is :

1. Substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I wherein Z represents the -CIL,- or the -CO- group and represents hydrogen or a halogen atom up to the atomic number 35 , and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

2. Substituted phenylalkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 1 but wherein Z represents the -CIL,- group only and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

3. 4- [4- (1-pyrryl) -3-chlorophenyl ] -butyric acid.

4. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of 4- [4- (1-pyrryl) -3-chlorophenyl ] -butyric acid.

5. 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid.

6. Pharmaceu ically acceptable salts of 4- [p- (1-pyrryl) -phenyl ] -butyric acid.

7. 3- [p- (1-pyrryl) -benzoyl ] -propionic acid.

8. Pharmaceutically acceptable aalts of 3- [p- (1-pyrryl) -benzoyl ] -propionic acid.

9. Process for the production of substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 1 and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, comprising reacting a compound having the general formula II wherein Z and have the meanings given in claim 1 for formula I, or a salt thereof, with monomeric or polymeric succinaldehyde or with an open or cyclic reactive functional derivative of monomeric succinaldehyde, and, if desired, converting an acid thus obtained into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof .

10. Process as claimed in claim 9 wherein an open or cycl reactive functional derivative of monomeric succinaldehyde employed having the general formula III H H - - wherein X and X1 represent, independently of each other, chlorine or bromine atoms or groups of the formulae R-0- and R-CO-0-, wherein R represents an optionally halogen substituted hydrocarbon group,. Y and Υ' represent, independently of each other, groups of the formulae R-0- and R-CO-0- as defined above for X and X', or, together the epoxy group (-0-). or ' together with X', r e p r es ent s7 the oxo group (=0) and K and Κ' represent, independently of each other, hydrogen atoms or together with Y and Y1 respectively additional bonds as indicated by the dotted lines.

11. Process as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein, in the compound having the general formula II and consequently in the product also, Z represents specifically the -CH^- group.

12. Process for the production of substituted phenylalkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 1 and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, comprising heating a substituted malonic acid having the general formula IV R 1 wherein Z and R-^ have the meanings given in claim 1 for formula I , or a monobasic salt thereof, until the equimolar amount of carbon dioxide has been liberated and, if desired, converting an acid thus obtained into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

13. Process as claimed in claim 12 wherein, in the substituted malonic acid having the general formula IV and consequently in the product also, Z represents specifically the -C^- group. /

14. Process for the production of substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 2 and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, comprising reacting a compound having the general formula V wherein R repr esents a lower alkyl group and R-^ has the meaning given in claim 1 for formula I, with an alkali metal hydroxide in an organic or organic-aqueous medium and optionally liberating the free acid from the alkali metal salt thus obtained and /or, if desired, converting an obtained free acid or alkali metal salt, into, or into another, pharmaceutically acceptable salt .

15. Process for the production of substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 1 and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, comprising hydrolysing wherein A represents the cyano group or a carboxylic acid ester group or an imido ester group, and Z and have the meanings given in claim 1 for formula I and, optionally, liberating the free acid fom a salt thus obtained and/or, if desired, converting an obtained free acid or salt, into, or into another, pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

16. Process as claimed in claim 15 wherein, in the compound having the general formula VI and consequently in the product also, Z represents specifically the -Cl^- group.

17. Process for the production of substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 2 and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts , comprising reducing a compound having the general formula la wherein R-^ has the meaning given in claim 1 for formula I and, optionally, liberating the free acid from a salt thus obtained and/or, if desired, converting an obtained free acid or salt, into, or into another, pharmaceutically acceptable, salt.

18. Process as claimed in claim 17 wherein the reduction is effected according to the Wolff-Kishner method.

19. Process as claimed in claim 17 wherein the reduction is effected according to the Clemmensen method.

20. A substituted phenyl alkanoic acid having the general formula I as defined in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof whenever prepared by a process as claimed in any one of claims 9, 10, 12, 15 or 17 to 19.

21. A substituted phenyl alkanoic acid having the general formula I as defined in claim 2 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof whenever prepared by a process as claimed in any one of claims 11, 13, 14 or 16.

22. Process for the production of substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described in Example 1 or 2.

23. Process for the production of substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 1 subst antially as hereinbefore described in Example 12 or 13. - 51 - GB etc.

24. Process for the production of substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described in any one of Examples 3 to 11, 14 and 15.

25. Substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 2 whenever prepared by a process as claimed in claim 22.

26. Substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 1 whenever prepared by a process as claimed in claim 23.

27. Substituted phenyl alkanoic acids having the general formula I as defined in claim 1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof whenever prepared by a process as claimed in claim 24.

28. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a substituted phenyl alkanoic acid as claimed in claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier therefor.

29. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a substituted phenyl alkanoic acid as claimed in claim 2 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier therefor.