CYCLOHEXANEALKANOIC ACIDS

Abstract: The present invention is directed to 2-hydroxy-4-alk­ ylidenecyclohexanealkanoic acids having a mercaptoalkanoic acid substituent at the 3-position. Esters and amides corresponding to the acids referred to above are also encompassed by the present invention. These compounds are useful in the treatment of bronchial asthma and they are obtained by the reaction of an appropriate 2,3-epoxy-4-­ alkylidenecyclohexanealkanoate with a mercapto alkanoic acid ester in the presence of a tertiary amine. The indi­ cated process gives the esters of the present invention which can be hydrolyzed to the corresponding free acids by standard procedures. The compoudns described can be sub­ jected to other known reactions to give the other compounds of the present invention.

Description: The present invention relates to a group of compounds which are substituted cyclohexanealkanoic acids. More particularly, the present invention relates to compounds having the following general formula: wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5; n is an integer from 0 to 2; R is a straight-chain alkyl containing from 8 to 15 carbon atoms; X is hydrogen or, when n is 1 or 2, X can be -NH₂; Y is hydroxy, -0-(lower alkyl), -NH₂, -NH(lower alkyl), or -N-(lower alkyl)₂ or -NH--COOH wherein R' is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or benzyl; and Z is hydroxy, -O-(lower alkyl), -NH₂, -NH-(lower alkyl), or -N-­ (lower alkyl)₂. The lower alkyl groups referred to above contain 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Stereoisomerism is possible with the present compounds and the chemical structure as presented above is considered as encompassing all of the possible stereoisomers and also racemic mixtures of such stereoisomers. More specifically, where the substituent in the above structure is attached to the cyclohexane ring by a single bond, two isomers are pos­ sible at each point, depending on whether the substituent is above or below the plane of the cyclohexane ring. Such isomers are not possible when the substituent is attached to the ring by a double bond but, in that case, geometric (cis-trans) isomerism is possible, depending on the posi­ tion of the R-group in the doubly-bonded substituent rela­ tive to the remainder of the molecule. Generally, racemic mixtures can be obtained more readily than individual opti­ cal isomers so that the compounds as described and obtained in the present application should be considered as racemic mixtures unless indicated otherwise. Where absolute confi­ guration is specified for a compound, that indicates the major optical isomer present in what is generally a mixture containing a small amount of the enantiomer. The lower alkyl groups, as indicated above, contain 1 to 4 carbon atoms and this same definition applies to any use of the term below. Examples for such alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl. Examples of the alkyl groups for R are octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl and pentadecyl. The therapeutically acceptable salts of the foregoing acids, i.e., where Y and/or Z are -OH, are also included within the scope of the present invention. These basic salts would include, but would not be limited to, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, triethylamine, tromethamine, dicyclohexylamine and the like as is well-known in the art. Such base salts can be obtained by standard procedures using the free acids of the present invention and the appropriate base. The preferred compounds of the present invention, however, are those wherein both Y and Z are hydroxy. As examples of compounds of the present invention are the following: (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carbamoylmethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetamide. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(N-Methylcarbamoylmethyl)thio]-2-­ hydroxy-N-methyl-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetamide. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(N,N-Diethylcarbamoylmethyl)thio]-2-­ hydroxy-N,N-diethyl-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetamide. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ hexadecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ decylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexanehexanoic acid. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexaneoctanoic acid. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(3-Carboxypropyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(2-Amino-2-carboxyethyl)thio]-2-­ hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[N-(Carboxymethyl)carbamoylmethyl]-­ thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[N-(1-Carboxybutyl)carbamoylmethyl]-­ thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[N-(1-Carboxy-2-phenylethyl)carbamo­ ylmethyl]thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid. The compounds of the present invention are prepared by reacting an epoxide of the formula: wherein m and R are defined as above and Z' is -O-(lower alkyl), -NH₂, -NH(lower alkyl), or -N-(lower alkyl)₂, with a mercaptoalkanoic acid derivative of the formula: HS-(CH₂) n ---Y' wherein n is an integer from 0 to 2; X' is hydrogen or, when n is 1 or 2, X' can be Q-NH- wherein Q is an amine-­ protecting group; Y' is -O-(lower alkyl), -NH₂, -NH(lower hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or benzyl and Y" is -O-(lower alkyl); in an appropriate solvent in the presence of base, optionally followed, when Y', Y" or Z' are -O-­ (lower alkyl), by treatment with a strong inorganic base followed by acidification with strong acid to give those compounds wherein Y, Y" or Z are -OH. Although a protecting group is not specifically neces­ sary when X is -NH₂, the amine group can be protected by one of the standard protecting groups in amino acids. Tri­ fluoroacetyl is a preferred group for this purpose since it would be hydrolyzed at the same time as any Y or Z ester groups to leave a free amino group. Benzyloxycarbonyl is also a useful protecting group although the conditions necessary for hydrolysis are stronger than those for a trifluoroacetyl group. However, the benzyloxycarbonyl group can also be removed by catalytic hydrogenation without affecting any ester groups present elsewhere in the molecule. The base used in the epoxide opening process is pre­ ferably a tertiary amine such triethylamine. The solvent used for the reaction should be one which dissolves the reactants but is inert with respect to the reaction itself. Lower alkanols are the preferred solvents and, particular­ ly, lower alkanols which would correspond to the alcohol portion of any ester used in the reaction. Thus, methanol would be used in the case of methyl esters while ethanol would be used in the case of ethyl esters. The subsequent saponification of the esters with a strong base followed by acidification of the resulting salt mixture to give the corresponding free acid are all stan­ dard procedures in organic chemistry so that it should not be necessary to elaborate on the reagants and reaction conditions used. The process as described above gives those compounds wherein the hydroxy and the thio substituents on the cyclo­ hexane ring bear a trans -relationship to each other. To obtain the compounds wherein the indicated substituents have a cis -relationship, it is necessary to carry out a further series of reactions starting with the trans -­ compounds. Thus, an appropriate trans -diester (before saponification to the acid) is oxidized using oxalyl chlo­ ride, dimethylsulfoxide and a tertiary amine such trieth­ ylamine in an inert solvent such as dichloromethane. In this reaction, the hydroxy group is oxidized to the corres­ ponding ketone which is then reduced back to an alcohol using a reagent such as sodium borohydride in methanol. This reduction gives an alcohol with a configuration that is different from the original alcohol or it gives a mix­ ture of epimeric alcohols which can be separated by stan­ dard procedures. Once the alcohol with the desired confi­ guration is obtained in this way, any ester groups present in the molecule can be hydrolyzed in the same way as described previously. The epoxides used as the starting materials in the general process described above can be obtained from avail­ able starting materials using an appropriate series of reactions. Thus, in one process, the hydroxy group in 2-­ cyclohexen-1-ol is protected with a tert -butyldiphenylsilyl group and the double bond is oxidized to the corresponding epoxide using a peroxide such as m -chloroperbenzoic acid. Treatment of the resulting epoxide with lithium diethyl­ amide in ether brings about ring opening with introduction of a double bond to give 2-( tert -butyldiphenylsilyloxy)-5-­ cyclohexene-1-ol. This compound is then reacted with 1,1,­ 1-triethoxyethane to introduce an acetic acid ester group by a Claisen rearrangement followed by removal of the silyl protecting group by means of tetra- n -butylammonium fluo­ ride. An alkyl 4-hydroxycyclohex-2-eneacetate results from this process. The double bond in this compound is oxidized to the epoxide using an appropriate peroxide and the hy­ droxy group is oxidized to the ketone using oxalyl chloride and dimethylsulfoxide in the presence of a tertiary amine to give the corresponding epoxy ketone. This ketone is subjected to a Wittig reaction using an appropriate reagent to give the desired starting materials referred to earlier. In another approach to the preparation of the inter­ mediates desired, a 4-methoxybenzenealkanoic acid is used as the starting material. This treatment with lithium and ammonia in tert -butanol in an ether solvent to bring about partial reduction of the benzene ring and give 4-oxocyclo­ hex-1-enepropionic acid. This acid is treated with an appropriate alkanol in the presence of a strong acid such as sulfuric acid to esterify the free acid to the corres­ ponding ester and to isomerize the double bond into conju­ gation with the carbonyl of the cyclic ketone. The ketone is then reduced to the corresponding alcohol using sodium borohydride in methanol in the presence of cerium chloride followed by oxidation of the double bond to the corres­ ponding epoxide using an appropriate peroxide. The resulting epoxyhydroxycyclohexanealkanoate is then oxidized using oxalyl chloride and dimethylsulfoxide in the presence of a tertiary amine such as triethylamine to convert the hydroxy group to the corresponding ketone and this ketone is subjected to a Wittig reaction with an appropriate reagent to give the epoxide desired as described pre­ viously. In those instances where the final product desired is an amide, such compounds can be obtained by using the appropriate reagents in the procedures described above. Alternatively, the esters of the present invention obtained as described previously can be converted to the corres­ ponding amides by reaction with ammonia or an appropriate amine. The specific conditions used in the processes referred to above are described in more detail in the examples below. The compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment of allergic diseases and, particularly, in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Thus, SRS-A (slow-­ reacting substance of anaphylaxis) is known as a substance which is a very important mediator in allergic bronchial asthma. Specifically, SRS-A is a substance which is syn­ thesized and released in or near target tissues, in a sen­ sitive allergic subject, shortly after challenge by the appropriate antigen with the human bronchus being particu­ larly sensitive to SRS-A. Thus, a substance which would counteract the effects of SRS-A would be useful in the treatment of bronchial asthma. More recent studies have established that SRS-A is actually a mixture of substances which can be described as peptido-leukotrienes. LTD₄ is one of these leukotrienes and can be considered as representative of them so that an­ tagonism of this specific substance would provide effects similar to the antagonism of SRS-A generally. Specifical­ ly, the compounds of the present invention are useful as antagonists of LTD₄ so that they are useful in the treat­ ment of allergic diseases and, particularly in the treat­ ment of bronchial asthma. The present compounds are selec­ tive in this antagonist activity in that they are not considered as competitive against histamine or carbachol. The activity of the compounds of the present invention can be demonstrated by the following test procedures. Longitudinal Muscle of Guinea Pig Ileum Male, Hartley-Duncan, guinea pigs were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The terminal portion of the ileum was removed, rinsed, and placed in Burn's modified Tyrode's solution. The longitudinal muscle was then carefully dissected from the circular muscle of the ileum. The longitudinal muscle was cut into 1-2 cm. segments which were placed in a tissue bath containing oxygenated Burn's modified Tyrode's solution warmed to 37°C. A tension of 1.0 gram was then placed on each segment of muscle. After equilibration for 1 hour, 1 µM Indomethacin was added to each bath. After 5 minutes, each tissue segment was then exposed to a concentration of 60 nM leukotriene D₄. This response was then considered to be the initial maximal con­ traction that each segment will produce. After washing the tissue several times, over a 1 hour period, 1 µM Indometha­ cin was again added to each bath. After a 5 minute period the test agent or vehicle was added to the bath. After 15 minutes, a concentration-response curve was generated using cumulatively increasing concentrations of leukotriene D₄. The concentration-response was then compared to the initial maximum contraction. A test compound was considered ac­ tive, if at concentrations up to 100 µM, it produces a sig­ nificant shift to the right of the concentration-response relationship to leukotriene D₄. The antagonist activity was quantitated in terms of a pA₂ value calculated according to the method described by Arunlakshana and Schild, (Brit. J. Pharmac. Chemotherap. 14; 48, 1959). 3H-LTD₄ - Specific Receptor Binding in Guinea Pig Lung Membranes Male guinea pigs were sacrificed and the lungs were removed and placed in ice cold 50 mM tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4. The lungs were then homogenized with a Polytron homo­ genizer and the homogenate was centrifuged at 1000 g for 10 minutes at 4°C. The supernatant was then centrifuged at 30,000 g for 15 minutes at 4°C to obtain the membrane pellet. This pellet was resuspended in 50 mM Tris-HCl to provide the working suspension of lung membranes. Binding assays were then carried out in 50 mM Tris-HCl at pH 7.6 and 37°C using incubation periods of 20-40 min. Separation of bound ³H-LTD₄ from free ³H-LTD₄ were performed by rapid vacuum filtration through Whatman GF/B glass fiber filters using ice cold Tris-HCl buffer and three 4 ml washes. Fil­ tration and washing were completed in less than 8 seconds. The radioactivity on the filters was then measured. Speci­ fic binding of ³H-LTD₄ was defined as the binding of ³H-­ LTD₄ in the absence of unlabelled LTD₄ minus the binding of ³H-LTD₄ in the presence of 2 x 10 ⁻⁷M unlabelled LTD₄. Specific binding of ³H-LTD₄ was 60-80% of total binding. Studies with test agents demonstrate the ability of the test compound to inhibit the specific binding of ³H-LTD₄. In these tests increasing concentrations of the agent are used to block the ³H-LTD₄ specific binding. The concentra­ tions that reduces the specific binding of ³H-LTD₄ by 50% is termed the IC₅₀. The specific activity observed for some compounds of the present invention when tested by the above procedures is summarized in the table below. Variations in activity occur, however, and it appears that activity decreases with a decrease in the length of the R-alkyl groups from the tetradecylidene compounds included in the table. In Vivo Biological Activity Compounds of the present invention were also tested for in vivo leukotriene D₄ antagonist activity in anesthe­ tized guinea pigs using a modified Konzett-Rössler prepa­ ration. Specifically, the guinea pigs were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and surgically prepared for artificial ventilation by a constant volume respirator. The inflation pressure produced by the respirator was measured for each inflation of the guinea pig's lungs. Increases in inflation pressure above baseline are indica­ tive of bronchoconstriction. After establishing a base­ line inflation pressure, the guinea pig was exposed for 1 minute to an aerosol generated ultrasonically from a 1 µg/ml solution of leukotriene D₄. After the inflation pressure returned to baseline, the guinea pig was exposed to an aerosol generated from a solution of a test com­ pound. Ten to twenty minutes later, the guinea pig was re-exposed to a 1 minute aerosol generated from 1 µg/ml leukotriene D₄. This response was then compared to the initial response and the % inhibition of the response was determined. The results can be summarized as follows: The compounds of the present invention may be admi­ nistered either as individual therapeutic agents or as mixtures with other therapeutic agents. They may be admi­ nistered alone but are generally administered in the form of pharmaceutical compositions, i.e., mixtures of the active agents with suitable pharmaceutical carriers or diluents. Examples of such compositions include tablets, lozenges, capsules, powders, aerosol sprays, aqueous or oily suspensions, syrups, elixirs and aqueous solutions for injection. The compounds are most preferably administered in oral dosage forms. The nature of the pharmaceutical composition and the pharmaceutical carrier or diluent will, of course, depend on the desired route of administration, i.e. orally, parenterally or by inhalation. Oral compositions may be in the form of tablets or capsules and may contain conven­ tional excipients such as binding agents (e.g., syrup, acacia, gelatin, sorbitol, tragacanth or polyvinylpyrroli­ done), fillers (e.g., lactose, sugar, maize-starch, calcium phosphate, sorbitol or glycine), lubricants (e.g., mag­ nesium stearate, talc, polyethylene glycol or silica), disintegrants (e.g., starch) or wetting agents (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate). Oral liquid preparations may be in the form of aqueous or oily suspensions, solutions, emul­ sions, syrups, elixirs, etc., or may be presented as a dry product for reconstitution with water or other suitable vehicle before use. Such liquid preparations may contain conventional additives such as suspending agents, flavoring agents, diluents or emulsifying agents. For parenteral administration or inhalation, solutions or suspensions of a compound of the present invention with conventional pharma­ ceutical vehicles may be employed, e.g., as an aerosol spray for inhalation, as an aqueous solution for intra­ venous injection or as an oily suspension for intramuscular injection. The compounds may also be administered by means of inhalers or other devices which permit the active compounds in the form of dry powders to come into direct contact with the lungs. Procedures for the preparation of compositions as discussed above are described in standard texts, such as Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences , Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pennsylvania. The compounds of the present invention or pharmaceu­ tical compositions thereof may be administered to human asthmatic patients at dosages in the range from about 0.1 to about 40 mg/kg. Single oral doses of approximately 1-­ 1000 mg of active ingredient and multiple oral doses totaling up to about 4000 mg/day of active ingredient can be used. When administered by inhalation, lower doses are generally given, i.e., on the order of about 0.1 of the normal dosage for the particular compound in question. These values are illustrative only, however, and the physi­ cian or course will ultimately determine the dosage most suitable for a particular patient on the basis of factors such as age, weight, diagnosis, severity of the symptoms and the particular agent to be administered. The following examples are presented to illustrate the present invention but they should not be construed as limiting it in any way. EXAMPLE 1 A solution of 5.0 g of 2-cyclohexen-1-ol, 7.6 g of imidazole and 14.6 ml of tert -butylchlorodiphenylsilane in 100 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide was stirred at room temper­ ature for 16 hrs. The mixture was then partitioned between 100 ml of saturated brine and 250 ml of ether. The layers were separated and the organic layer was washed with 100 ml of water and dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo to give 3-( tert -butyldiphenylsilyl­ oxy)cyclohexene as a viscous oil which was used without further purification. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃)δ 1.05 (s, 9 H); 4.10 (m, 1 H); 5.50 (br s, 2 H); 7.20-7.70 (m, 10 H). EXAMPLE 2 A stirred solution of 17.1 g of 3-( tert -butyldiphenyl­ silyloxy)cyclohexene in 300 ml of dichloromethane was cooled in an ice-water bath and 11.1 g of m -chloroperoxy­ benzoic acid was added in one portion and the resulting mixture was stored in a refrigerator at 4°C for 20 hours. The resulting mixture was then filtered to remove precipi­ tated m -chlorobenzoic acid and the filtrate was washed successively with 100 ml of 1N aqueous sodium hydroxide, 100 ml of saturated brine, and 100 ml of water. The resulting solution was dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo . Purification of the residue by means of a Waters Prep 500 LC (silica gel, 1:49 ethyl acetate-hexane) gave (1α,2α,3β)-1,2-epoxy-3-( tert -­ butyldiphenylsilyloxy)cyclohexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.10 (s, 9 H); 3.05 (m, 2 H); 4.00 (m, 1 H); 7.2-7.8 (m, 10 H). EXAMPLE 3 To a solution of 23.3 g of diethylamine in 600 ml of anhydrous ether, cooled in an ice-water bath, was added dropwise 117 ml of 2.7M n-butyllithium in hexane and the resulting yellow solution was stirred at 0°C under a nitro­ gen atmosphere for 15 minutes. A solution of 45 g of (1α,2α,3β)-1,2-epoxy-3-( tert -butyldiphenylsilyloxy)cyclo­ hexane in 100 ml of anhydrous ether was then added dropwise over 30 minutes. The cooling bath was removed and the mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature over a period of 1 hour and then refluxed for 18 hours. The mix­ ture was then cooled 0°C, 100 ml of water was added, and the organic layer was separated and washed successively with 100 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid and 100 ml of saturated brine. It was then dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo . Purification of the resi­ due by means of a Waters Prep 500 LC (silica gel), 1:9 ethyl acetate-hexane) gave (1α,2β)-2-( tert -butyldiphenyl­ silyloxy)-5-cyclohexen-1-ol as a clear viscous oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.08 (s, 9 H); 3.71-3.78 (m, 1 H); 4.14 (br s, 1 H); 7.21-7.6 (m, 10 H). EXAMPLE 4 A mixture of 29.2 g of (1α,2β)-2-( tert -butyldiphenyl­ silyloxy)-5-cyclohexen-1-ol, 76 ml of triethyl orthoace­ tate, and 0.3 ml of propionic acid in 500 ml of o -xylene was heated in an oil bath at 138°C for 48 hours. The mix­ ture was cooled and volatile material was distilled off by means of bulb to bulb distillation (80°/2 mm Hg). The residual oil was purified by means of Waters Prep 500 LC (silica gel, 1:19 ethyl acetate-hexane) to give ethyl (1α,4β)-4-( tert -butyldiphenylsilyloxy)cyclohex-2-eneace­ tate. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.05 (s, 9 H); 1.15 (t, 3 H); 4.00 (q, 2 H); 4.00-4.20 (m, 1 H); 5.45 (br s, 2 H); 7.20-7.70 (m, 10 H). EXAMPLE 5 To a stirred solution of 16.3 g of ethyl (1α,4β)-4-­ ( tert -butyldiphenylsilyloxy)cyclohex-2-eneacetate in 78 ml of tetrahydrofuran, cooled in an ice-water bath, was added dropwise 77 ml of 1M tetrabutylammonium fluoride over a period of 10 minutes. The cooling bath was removed and the mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 3 hours. The mixture was partitioned between 200 ml of water and 200 ml of ether and the 2 layers were separated. The aqueous layer was washed with 100 ml of ethyl acetate and the washing was combined with the original organic layer and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was purified by means of a Waters Prep 500 LC (silica gel, 1:4 ethyl acetate-hexane) to give ethyl (1α,4β)-4-hydroxycyclohex-2-eneacetate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.25 (t, 3 H); 4.14 (q, 2 H); 4.18-­ 4.25 (m, 1 H); 5.72 (dd, 2 H). EXAMPLE 6 A stirred solution of 4.2 g of ethyl (1α,4β)-4-hydro­ xycyclohex-2-eneacetate in 150 ml of dichloromethane was cooled in an ice-water bath and 5.1 g of m -chloroperoxy­ benzoic acid was added in one portion and the mixture was stored in a refrigerator at 4°C for 20 hours. It was then filtered to remove precipitated m -chlorobenzoic acid and the filtrate was washed successively with 50 ml of cold 1N aqueous sodium hydroxide, 50 ml of saturated brine and 50 ml of water. It was then dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated to leave a residue which was purified by Waters Prep 500 LC (silica gel, 2:3 ethyl acetate-hexane) to give ethyl (1α,2β,3β,4β)-4-hydroxy-2,3-­ epoxycyclohexaneacetate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 4.40 (q, 2 H); 4.22 (m, 1 H); 3.56 (m, 1 H); 3.40 (d, 1 H); 1.30 (t, 3 H). Epoxidation of ethyl (1α,4β)-4-( tert -butyldiphenylsil­ yloxy)cyclohex-2-eneacetate by the procedure described above followed by removal of the silyl protecting group by the procedure described in Example 5 gave ethyl (1α,2α,3α,­ 4β)-4-hydroxy-2,3-epoxycyclohexaneacetate. EXAMPLE 7 To a solution of 1.5 ml of oxalyl chloride in 50 ml of dichloromethane, cooled to -65°C in a dry ice-acetone bath, was added 2.6 ml of dimethylsulfoxide while keeping the temperature below -55°C. Stirring was continued for 10 minutes. A solution of 2.9 g of ethyl (1α,2β,3β,4β)-4-­ hydroxy-2,3-epoxycyclohexaneacetate in 10 ml of dichloro­ methane was added dropwise, the mixture was stirred at -65° to -60°C for 20 minutes, and then 10.8 ml of triethylamine was added dropwise at -60°C. The cooling bath was removed and the mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature over a period of 1 hour. At the end of this time, 30 ml of water was added and the stirring was continued for 10 minutes. The two layers were separated and the aqueous layer was washed with 50 ml of dichloromethane. The washing was combined with the original organic layer and dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was evapora­ ted. Purification of the residue by Waters Prep 500 LC gave ethyl (1α,2β,3β)-2,3-epoxy-4-oxocyclohexaneacetate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 4.18 (q, 2 H); 3.54 (m, 1 H); 3.24 (d, 1 H); 2.85 (m, 1 H); 1.28 (t, 3 H). Ethyl (1α,2α,3α)-2,3-epoxy-4-oxocyclohexaneacetate was also obtained by using the appropriate starting material and following the procedure described above. Using the same procedure and the appropriate starting materials, the following additional compounds were obtained: Ethyl [1 R -(1β,2α,3α)]-2,3-epoxy-4-oxocyclohex­ aneacetate, [α] D = +30°; Ethyl [1 S -(1α,2β,3β)-2,3-epoxy-­ 4-oxocyclohexaneacetate, [α] D = -36°. The starting material for the first compound was obtained by starting with ( S )-2-cyclohexen-1-ol and carrying out the reactions as described in Examples 1-6. ( S )-2-Cyclohexen-1-ol and the processes of Examples 1-6 were also used to prepare the starting material for the second compound except that the process of the examples were carried out in the following order: Examples 2, 1, 3, 4, 6 and 5. EXAMPLE 8 To a stirred solution of 4.4 g of 4-methoxybenzene­ propionic acid and 75 ml of tert -butanol, 50 ml of tetra­ hydrofuran and 300 ml of liquid ammonia there was added 0.85 g of lithium wire in 2-3 cm pieces over a 10 minute period to give a mixture which had a persistent deep blue color. After an additional 10 minutes, 13.4 g of powdered ammonium chloride was added and the ammonia was allowed to evaporate. The residue was dissolved in 300 ml of water and washed twice with 200-ml portions of ether. The aqueous mixture was acidified with concentrated hydrochlo­ ric acid and extracted thoroughly with three 200-ml portions of ether. The combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated to give 4-oxocyclohex-1-enepropionic acid as a clear oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 2.20-2.80 (br m, 20 H); 5.45 (m, 1H); 11.3 (br s, 1 H). EXAMPLE 9 A solution of 3.5 g of 4-oxocyclohex-1-enepropionic acid in 16.5 ml of methanol and 0.9 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid was refluxed for 30 minutes. The mixture was cooled and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pres­ sure. The resulting residue was partitioned between 50 ml of 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate and 100 ml of ether. The separated aqueous layer was washed twice with 100-ml por­ tions of ether and the washings were combined with the original organic layer and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated to give a crude product which was found to be a 1:1 mixture of double bond isomers by NMR analysis. Flash chromatography of this crude product (silica gel, 3:7 ethyl acetate-hexane) separated the com­ pounds and gave methyl 4-oxocyclohex-2-enepropionate as a clear oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 3.60 (s, 3 H); 5.70-6.00 (dd, 1 H); 6.60-6.95 (d of m, 1 H). EXAMPLE 10 To a mixture of 0.36 g of methyl 4-oxocyclohex-2-ene­ propionate and 500 ml of 0.4 M cerium chloride in methanol there was added carefully 0.07 g of sodium borohydride and the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at room temperature. The reaction was quenched with 2 ml of water and the methanol solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was partitioned between 10 ml of water and 50 ml of ether and the separated organic layer was dried over magne­ sium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent from the organic solution gave methyl 4-hydroxycyclohex-2-enepropionate as a clear oil which was used without further purification. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 3.56 (s, 3 H); 3.90-4.30 (m, 1 H); 5.50-5.75 (m, 2 H). EXAMPLE 11 To a solution of 3.3 g of methyl 4-hydroxycyclohex-2-­ enepropionate in 75 ml of dichloromethane, cooled in an ice-water bath, was added 3.6 g of m -chloroperoxybenzoic acid in one portion and the mixture was stored in a refri­ gerator at 4°C for 16 hours. It was filtered to remove precipitated m -chlorobenzoic acid and the filtrate was washed with 25 ml of 10% aqueous potassium carbonate. The aqueous washing was itself washed twiced with 25-ml por­ tions of ether and the washings were combined with the original organic phase and dried over magnesium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure gave a residual oil which was purified by Waters Prep 500 LC to a 2:1 mixture of stereoisomers in which the major isomer was methyl 2,3-epoxy-4-hydroxycyclohexanepropionate. This mixture was used without further separation and showed the following spectral data. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 2.85-3.30 (m, 2 H); 3.55 (s, 3 H); 3.75-4.00 (m, 1 H). EXAMPLE 12 To a solution of 0.36 ml of oxalyl chloride in 5 ml of dichloromethane, cooled to -65°C in a dry ice-acetone bath, was added dropwise 0.6 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide while keeping the temperature below -55°C. Stirring was con­ tinued for 10 minutes. A solution of 0.69 g of the mixture of alcohols obtained in Example 11, and 5 ml of dichloro­ methane, was added dropwise, the mixture was stirred at -65°C to -60°C for 20 minutes and then 1.6 ml of triethyl­ amine was added dropwise at -60°C. The cooling bath was removed and the mixture was allowed to warm to room temper­ ature over a period of one hour. At the end of this time, 5 ml of water was added and stirring was continued for 10 minutes. The two layers were separated and the aqueous layer was washed with 10 ml of dichloromethane. The washing was combined with the original organic layer and dried over magnesium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent gave a crude product which was a mixture of isomers. This was separated by flash chromatography (silica gel 3:7 ethyl acetate-hexane) to give methyl (1α,2α,3α)-2,3-epoxy-4-oxo­ cyclohexanepropionate and methyl (1α,2β,3β)-2,3-epoxy-4-­ oxocyclohexanepropionate. The second compound was obtained as an oil which exhibited the following spectral data. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 3.22 (d, 1 H); 3.44 (m, 1H); 3.71 (s, 3 H). EXAMPLE 13 To a solution of 0.74 g of n -tetradecyltriphenylphos­ phonium bromide in 10 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran, cooled to -35°C in a dry ice-acetonitrile bath, was added 0.78 ml of 1.75 M n -butyllithium in hexane and the resul­ ting orange solution was stirred for 25 minutes, during which time a temperature of -42°C was attained. To this mixture was added dropwise 0.27 g of ethyl (1α,2β,3β)-2,3-­ epoxy-4-oxocyclohexaneacetate in 5 ml of tetrahydrofuran and the resulting chalky white mixture was stirred for two hours at -42°C to -35°C. The cooling bath was removed and the reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature. After two hours, 10 ml of saturated aqueous ammonium chlo­ ride was added and the tetrahydrofuran was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was extracted twice with 50-­ ml portions of ether and the combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was purified by Waters Prep 500 LC (silica gel, 1:30 ethyl acetate-hexane) to give ethyl (1α,2β,3β,-­ 4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate as a waxy solid. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.58 (br t, 2 H); 3.71 (d, 1 H); 3.20 (br d, 1 H); 2.46-2.19 (m, 2 H); 1.25 (br m, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). The procedure described above was repeated using the appropriate alkyltriphenylphosphonium bromide and the appropriate 2,3-epoxy-4-oxocyclohexane. The exact proce­ dure used can be varied to quench the reaction mixture with saturated aqueous sodium chloride instead of saturated aqueous ammonium chloride and extracting the mixture with ether without evaporating the tetrahydrofuran. In addi­ tion, the final purification can be carried out using flash chromatography (silica gel, 1:9 ethyl acetate-hexane). The following additional compounds were obtained: Methyl (1α,2β,3β,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecylidenecyc­ lohexanepropionate as a solid melting at room temperature. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 0.88 (s, 3 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 2.45 (t, 2 H); 3.25 (d, 1 H); 3.70 (s, 3 H); 3.70 (m, 1 H); 5.60 (t, 1 H). Methyl (1α,2α,3α,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecylidenecyc­ lohexanepropionate as a solid melting at room temperature. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.60 (t, 1 H); 3.70 (s, 3 H); 3.70 (m, 1 H); 3.25 (d, 1 H); 2.45 (t, 2 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). Ethyl (1α,2α,3α,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclo­ hexaneacetate. Ethyl (1α,2β,3β,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-nonylidenecyclohexane­ acetate. Methyl (1α,2β,3β,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclo­ hexanebutyrate. The necessary starting material was obtained by starting with 4-methyloxybenzenebutyric acid and following the procedures of Examples 8-12. Ethyl [1 R -(1β,2α,3α,4E)]-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecylidene­ cyclohexaneacetate, [α] D = -39°. Ethyl [1 S -(1α,2β,3β,4E)]-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecylidene­ cyclohexaneacetate, [α] D = +33°. EXAMPLE 14 A solution of 0.21 g of ethyl (1α,2β,3β,4E)-2,3-epoxy-­ 4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate in 4 ml of absolute ethanol containing 0.22 ml of triethylamine was added to 0.12 ml of ethyl 2-mercaptoacetate and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. Volatile materials were removed under reduced pressure and the resulting residue was purified by using Waters Prep 500 LC (silica gel, 1:9 ethyl acetate-hexane) to give ethyl (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.45 (br t, 1 H); 4.20 (q, 2 H); 4.14 (q, 2 H); 3.91 (br d, 1 H); 3.79 (br q, 1 H); 3.32-3.24 (m, 2 H); 2.64-2.48 (m, 2 H); 1.25 (m, 28 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). The above general procedure was repeated using similar reactants to give the corresponding products with the conditions being varied to use methanol as the solvent when the reactants were methyl esters and to use a slightly different proportion of ethyl acetate-hexane (1:4 or 1.5:8.5) in the final purification. In this way, the fol­ lowing compounds were obtained: Ethyl (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]thio]-­ 2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.41 (t, 1 H); 4.20-4.08 (octet, 4 H); 3.80-3.70 (m, 2 H); 1.26 (m, 28 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). Methyl (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]­ thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.50 (t, 1 H); 3.70 (s, 3 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.90 (t, 3 H). Methyl (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]­ thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.55 (t, 1 H); 3.70 and 3.65 (2 s, 6 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.90 (t, 3 H). Methyl (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]­ thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 0.88 (s, 3 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 3.25 (s, 2 H); 3.69 (s, 3 H); 3.72 (s, 3 H); 5.45 (t, 1 H). Methyl (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]­ thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionate. Ethyl (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]thio]-­ 2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate. Ethyl (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]thio]-­ 2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate. Ethyl (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]thio]-­ 2-hydroxy-4-nonylidenecyclohexaneacetate. Ethyl (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]thio]-­ 2-hydroxy-4-nonylidenecyclohexaneacetate. Methyl (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]­ thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexanebutyrate. Ethyl [1 R -(1 β ,2 α ,3 β ,4E)]-3-[[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]­ thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate, [α] D = +39°. Ethyl [1 S -(1α,2β,3α,4E)]-3-[[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]­ thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate, [α] D = -44°. EXAMPLE 15A A solution of 0.21 g of potassium hydroxide in 7 ml of methanol and 8 ml of water was added to 0.21 g of ethyl (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate and the mixture was stirred for 18 hours at room temperature. The resulting solution was then partitioned between 10 ml of water and 15 ml of ether and the layers were separated. The aqueous layer was acidified with 1 ml of 5N hydrochloric acid and extracted twice with 50-ml portions of ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent evaporated to leave a waxy residue. This was recrystallized from 1:30 ethyl ether-hexane to give (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid as a white powder melting at about 79.5-81.5°C. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.3-6.2 (br s, 1 H); 5.43 (t, 1 H); 3.99 (dd, 1 H); 3.84 (d, 1 H); 3.42-3.34 (m, 2 H); 2.69 (dd, 1 H); 2.54 (dd, 1 H); 2.36 (m, 1 H); 2.07 (m, 3 H); 1.85 (m, 1 H); 1.49 (m, 1 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). This compound has the following struc­ tural formula: EXAMPLES 15B - 15M When the procedure of Example 15A was repeated using the appropriate starting materials, the following compounds were obtained: B. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(2-Carboxyethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-­ 4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid as a white powder melting at about 86°-88°C after recrystallization from 1:30 ethyl ether-hexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.44 (br t, 1 H); 3.90 (dd, 1 H); 3.79 (d, 1 H); 2.9-2.5 (br m, 6 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). C. (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid as a clear oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.51 (t, 1 H); 1.30 (br s; 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). D. (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[(2-Carboxyethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-­ 4-tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.40 (t, 1 H); 1.30 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). E. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid as a white powder melting at about 85°C-86°C after recrystallization from hexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 0.88 (s, 3 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 3.45-3.60 (dd, 2 H); 4.02 (d, 1 H); 4.35 (m, 1 H); 5.41 (t, 1 H). F. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carboxyethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid as a white powder melting at about 87.7-88.2°C after recrystallization from 1:30 ethyl ether-hexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.40 (t, 1 H); 4.30 (m, 1 H); 3.85 (d, 1 H); 2.9-2.5 (br m, 6 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.90 (t, 3 H). G. (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[(Carboxyethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid as a clear oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.51 (t, 1 H); 4.50 (s, 1 H); 4.30 (s, 1 H); 4.00 (s, 1 H); 2.9-2.5 (br m, 5 H); 1.30 (br s, 22 H); 0.90 (t, 3 H). H. (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid as a white powder melting at about 108-111.5°C after recrystallization from 1:30 ethyl ether-hexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.57 (t, 1 H); 4.51 (m, 2 H); 3.27 (s, 2 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). I. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(2-Carboxyethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-­ 4-nonylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid as a white powder melting at about 77-78.5°C after crystallization from 1:30 ethyl ether-hexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.41 (t, 1 H); 3.90 (t, 1 H); 3.79 (d, 1 H); 2.89-2.51 (m, 5 H); 1.25 (br s, 14 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). J. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ nonylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid as a white powder melting at about 96-98°C after crystallization from 1:30 ethyl ether-hexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.42 (t, 1 H); 4.04 (m, 1 H); 3.80 (m, 1 H); 3.44 (q, 1 H); 1.27 (br s, 14 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). K. (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-­ tetradecylidenecyclohexanebutyric acid as a white powder melting at about 72.5-74°C after recrystallization from 1:20 ethyl ether-hexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.45 (t, 1 H); 3.88 (s, 2 H); 3.31 (dd, 2 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). L. (+)-[1 R -(1β,2α,3β,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-­ hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid as a white powder melting at about 76-80°C after crystallization from 1:30 ethyl ether-hexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.44 (t, 1 H); 3.88 (br s, 1 H); 3.78 (m, 1 H); 3.28 (q, 2 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H); [ ] = +48°; (∼ 74% e.e.). M. (-)-[1 S -(1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(Carboxymethyl)thio]-2-­ hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid as a white powder melting at about 76-78.5°C after recrystallization from 1:30 ethyl ether-hexane. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.43 (t, 1 H); 4.03 (dd, 1 H); 3.81 (d, 1 H); 3.41 (q, 2 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H); [α] = -60°; (∼ 90% e.e.). EXAMPLE 16 To a solution of 0.11 ml of oxalyl chloride in 10 ml of dichloromethane, cooled to -65°C in a dry ice-acetone bath, was added 0.19 ml of dimethylsulfoxide while keeping the temperature below -55°C. Stirring was continued for 10 minutes. A solution of 0.48 g of methyl (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-­ [[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetradecyli­ denecyclohexaneacetate in 5 ml of dichloromethane was added dropwise and the mixture was stirred at -65°C to -60°C for 20 minutes. Then, 0.79 ml of triethylamine was added drop­ wise at -60°C. The cooling bath was removed and the mix­ ture was then allowed to warm to room temperature over a period of one hour. At the end of this time, 5 ml of water was added and stirring was continued for 10 minutes. The two layers were separated and the aqueous layer was washed with 20 ml of dichloromethane. The dichloromethane washing was combined with the original organic layer and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was purified by means of Waters Prep 500 LC (silica gel, 1:9 ethyl acetate-hexane) to give methyl (1α,3α,4E)-3-­ [[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]thio]-2-oxo-4-tetradecylidenecy­ clohexaneacetate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.47 (t, 1 H); 4.42 (s, 1 H); 3.74 and 3.69 (2s, 6 H); 3.29-3.25 (d, 2 H); 2.77 (m, 1 H); 1.25 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). EXAMPLE 17 Sodium borohydride (0.01 g) was added in one portion to a mixture of 0.25 g of methyl (1α,3α,4E)-3-[[(methoxy­ carbonyl)methyl]thio]-2-oxo-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexane­ acetate and 5 ml of methanol and this was stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. The solvent was then removed under reduced pressure and the residue was partitioned between 10 ml of water and 25 ml of ether. The organic layer was separated and dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated to leave a crude oily product. This was purified by means of Waters Prep 500 LC (silica gel, 1:4 ethyl acetate-hexane) to give methyl (1α,2α,3α,­ 4E)-3-[[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexaneacetate as an oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.31 (t, 1 H); 4.22 (d, 1 H); 3.74 and 3.68 (2(s), 6 H); 3.36 (m, 1 H); 3.31-3.27 (d, 2 H); 1.28 (br s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H). EXAMPLE 18 A solution of 0.19 g of potassium hydroxide in 4 ml of ethanol and 2.5 ml of water was added to 0.11 g of methyl (1α,2α,3α,4E)-3-[[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]thio]-2-hydroxy-­ 4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetate and the mixture was stirred for 18 hours at room temperature. The solution was then partitioned between 10 ml of water and 15 ml of ether and the layers were separated. The aqueous layer was cooled in an ice-water bath and acidified with 1 ml of 5N hydrochloric acid at 0°C. The acidified mixture was extracted twice with 40-ml portions of ethyl acetate and the combined organic extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated to leave a residual white solid which was recrystallized from 1:30 ethyl ether-­ hexane to give (1α,2α,3α,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-­ hydroxy-4-tetradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid as a white powder melting at about 124-127°C. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.28 (t, 1 H); 4.26 (d, 1 H); 3.29 (s, 6 H); 3.21-3.03 (dd, 2 H); 1.25 (s, 22 H); 0.88 (t, 3 H).

Claims: 1. A compound of the formula: wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5; n is an integer from 0 to 2; R is straight-chain alkyl containing from 8 to 15 carbon atoms; X is hydrogen or, when n is 1 or 2, X can be -NH₂; Y is hydroxy, -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -NH₂, -NH(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂ or -NHCH₂COOH; and Z is hydroxy, -O-(C₁-C₄) alkyl, -NH₂, -NH-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, or -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂. 2. A compound according to claim 1 which has the formula: wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5; n is an integer from 0 to 2; R is straight-chain alkyl containing from 8 to 15 carbon atoms; and X is H or, when n is 1 or 2, X can be -NH₂. 3. A compound according to claim 1 which has the formula: wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5; and n is an integer from 0 to 2. 4. A compound according to claim 1 which is (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid. 5. A compound according to claim 1 which is (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(2-carboxyethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-te­ tradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid. 6. A compound according to claim 1 which is (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid. 7. A compound according to claim 1 which is (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[(2-carboxyethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid. 8. A compound according to claim 1 which is (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid. 9. A compound according to claim 1 which is (1α,2α,3α,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid. 10. A process for preparing a compound of the formula: wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5; n is an integer from 0 to 2; R is alkyl containing from 8 to 15 carbon atoms; X is hydrogen or, when n is 1 or 2, X can be -NH₂; Y is hydroxy, -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -NH₂, -NH(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂ or -NHCH₂COOH; and Z is hydroxy, -O-(C₁-C₄) alkyl, -NH₂, -NH-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, or -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂, which comprises reacting an epoxide of the formula: wherein m and R are defined as above and Z' is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -NH₂, -NH(C₁-C₄)alkyl, or -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂, with a mercaptoalkanoic acid deri­ vative of the formula: wherein n is an integer from 0 to 2; X' is hydrogen or, when n is 1 or 2, X' can be Q-NH- wherein Q is an amine protecting group; Y' is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -NH₂, -NH(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂ or wherein Y" is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl; in an appropriate solvent in the presence of base, optionally followed, when Y', Y" or Z' are -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, by treatment with a strong inorganic base followed by acidification with strong acid to give those compounds wherein Y, Y" or Z are -OH. 11. A pharmaceutical composition containing a compound of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 12. Use of a compound of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 for preparing a medicament for use in the treatment of allergic diseases. CLAIMS FOR THE CONTRACTING STATE: AT 1. A process for preparing a compound of the formula: wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5; n is an integer from 0 to 2; R is straight-chain alkyl containing from 8 to 15 carbon atoms; X is hydrogen or, when n is 1 or 2, X can be -NH₂; Y is hydroxy, -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -NH₂, -NH(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂ or -NHCH₂COOH; and Z is hydroxy, -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -NH₂, -NH-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, or -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂, which comprises reacting an epoxide of the formula: wherein m and R are defined as above and Z' is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -NH₂, -NH(C₁-C₄)alkyl, or -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂, with a mercaptoalkanoic acid derivative of the formula: wherein n is an integer from 0 to 2; X' is hydrogen or, when n is 1 or 2, X' can be Q-NH- wherein Q is an amine protecting group; Y' is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -NH₂, -NH(C₁-C₄)alkyl, -N-[(C₁-C₄)alkyl]₂ or wherein Y" is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl; in an appropriate solvent in the presence of base, optionally followed, when Y', Y" or Z' are -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, by treatment with a strong inorganic base followed by acidification with strong acid to give those compounds wherein Y, Y" or Z are -OH. 2. A process according to claim 1 for preparing a compound of the formula: wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5; n is an integer from 0 to 2; R is a straight-chain alkyl containing from 8 to 15 carbon atoms; and X is hydrogen or, when n is 1 or 2, X can be -NH₂; which comprises reacting an epoxide of the formula: wherein m and R are defined as above and Z' is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, with a mercaptoalkanoic acid derivative of the formula: wherein n is an integer from 0 to 2; X' is hydrogen or, when n is 1 or 2, X' can be Q-NH- wherein Q is an amine protecting group; Y' is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl; in an appropriate solvent in the presence of base, followed by treatment with a strong inorganic base followed by acidification with strong acid. 3. A process according to claim 1 for preparing a compound of the formula: wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5; n is an integer from 0 to 2; which comprises reacting an epoxide of the formula: wherein m is defined as above and Z' is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, with a mercaptoalkanoic acid derivative of the formula: wherein n is an integer from 0 to 2; Y' is -O-(C₁-C₄)alkyl; in an appropriate solvent in the presence of base, followed by treatment with a strong inorganic base followed by acidification with strong acid. 4. A process according to claim 1 for preparing (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-te­ tradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid which comprises reacting ethyl (1α,2β,3β,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecyli­ denecyclohexaneacetate with ethyl 2-mercaptoacetate in the presence of triethylamine, followed by treatment with potassium hydroxide and then acidification with hydrochloric acid. 5. A process accoding to claim 1 for preparing (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(2-carboxyethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-te­ tradecylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid which comprises reacting ethyl (1α,2β,3β,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecyli­ denecyclohexaneacetate with ethyl 3-mercaptopropionate in the presence of triethylamine, followed by treatment with potassium hydroxide and then acidification with hydrochloric acid. 6. A process according to claim 1 for preparing (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid which comprises reacting methyl (1α,2α,3α,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecyli­ denecyclohexanepropionate with methyl 2-mercaptoacetate in the presence of triethylamine, followed by treatment with potassium hydroxide and then acidification with hydrochloric acid. 7. A process according to claim 1 for preparing (1α,2α,3β,4E)-3-[(2-carboxyethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-te­ tradecylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid which comprises reacting methyl (1α,2α,3α,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecyli­ denecyclohexanepropionate with methyl 2-mercapto­ propionate in the presence of triethylamine, followed by treatment with potassium hydroxide and then acidifica­ tion with hydrochloric acid. 8. A process according to claim 1 for preparing (1α,2β,3α,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexanepropionic acid which comprises reacting methyl (1α,2β,3β,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecy­ lidenecyclohexanepropionate with methyl 2-mercapto­ acetate in the presence of triethylamine, followed by treatment with potassium hydroxide and then acidifica­ tion with hydrochloric acid. 9. A process according to claim 1 for preparing (1α,2α,3α,4E)-3-[(carboxymethyl)thio]-2-hydroxy-4-tetra­ decylidenecyclohexaneacetic acid which comprises reacting methyl (1α,2α,3α,4E)-2,3-epoxy-4-tetradecyli­ denecyclohexaneacetate with methyl 2-mercaptoacetate in the presence of triethylamine, followed by treatment with potassium hydroxide and then acidification with hydrochloric acid.

Inventors: CREGGE, ROBERT J., SABOL, JEFFREY S.
Applicants: MERRELL DOW PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C07C321
IPC codes: C07F7, C07C323, A61K31, C07C53, C07C67, C07D303, C07C313