NEW 2,5-DIARYL TETRYHYDROFURANS AND ANALOGS THEREOF AS PAF ANTAGONISTS

Abstract: Compounds of formula: are disclosed wherein R and R¹ are (a) hydrogen; (b) haloloweralkyl; (c) halo; (d) CONR²R³ wherein R² and R³ independently represent hydrogen, C 1-8 alkyl, or C 3-8 cycloalkyl; (e) loweralkenyl; (f) -COR²; (g) -CH₂OR²; (h) loweralkynyl; (i) -CH₂NR²R³; (j) -CH₂SR²; (k) =O; or (l) -OR²; (m) -R²; Ar and Ar¹ are (a) phenyl or substituted phenyl of formula where R⁴-R⁸ independently represent H; R²; YO- wherein Y is loweralkenyl, loweralkynyl, -CH₂ , -CH₂C(O)OR², -CH₂OR², -CH₂C 3-8 cycloalkyl, -CH₂Ar² wherein Ar² is phenyl or substituted phenyl, -CH₂-CH(OH)-CH₂OH; R²S-(O) n wherein R² can only be C 3-8 cycloalkyl and n is 0 to 2; CF₃SO, CF₃SO₂; -CONR²R³; -NR²COR³; -OCONH₂ -CR²R³R⁹ wherein R⁹ is the same as or different from R²; -CH₂OR²; -CH₂CO₂R²; -CH₂OCOR³; -CH₂O-CO-OR²; -NHCH₂COOR²; halo; or N⁺R²R³R⁹X⁻ wherein X⁻ is an anion; (b) monoheteroaryl, di- or polyheteroaryl or fused heteroaryl containing 1 to 3 of any one or more of the heteroatoms N, S or O; (c) heteroarylalkyl; (d) heterocycloalkyl; or (e) heterocycloalkenyl. These compounds are found to have potent and specific PAF (Platelet Activating Factor) antagonistic activities.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Platelet-activating factor (PAF) has recently been identified as an acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (AGEPC), i.e., 1-O-hexadecyl/octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (Hanahan D.J., et al ., J . Biol . Chem . 255 :5514, 1980). Even before its chemical identification, PAF had been linked to various biological activities and pathways making it one of the important mediators responsible for a variety of physiological processes including activation or coagulation of platelets, pathogenesis of immune complex deposition, smooth muscle contraction, inflammation, hypotension, shock, pain, edema as well as respiratory, cardiovascular and intravascular alterations. Since these physiological processes are in turn associated with a large group of diseases, for example, inflammatory disease, cardiovascular disorder, hypotension, shock, psoriasis, allergic and skin diseases, asthma, lung edema, peptic or stomach ulcer, dental pain, and adult respiratory distress syndrome, more and more scientific investigation has been focused on the search of a PAF antagonist or inhibitor for treating or preventing these common diseases. Tetrahydrofuran derivatives which act as PAF antagonists are known from EP-A-0 144 804 and S.-B. Hwang et al., journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol.260, 15639 (1985). Further tetrahydrofuran derivatives which are not described as PAF antagonists are disclosed in US-B-3769350; A.F.A. Wallis et al., journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions C, 1869 (1973); R. Stevenson et al., Tetrahedron, 285 (1977) and Chemical Abstracts, Vol.79, No.23, 361, Abstract No.136925 u (1973). The compounds of the present invention are specific PAF antagonists, They are similar to a subclass of compounds called lignans which characteristically contain two phenylpropyl groups bonded at the β-carbon. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) derivatives can exist in eight different stereoisomers as shown in Scheme I. We have been able to prepare all the possible isomers of the tetrahydrofuran lignan analogs with different substituents and found that activity is stereospecific. Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to prepare the most potent isomers of novel tetrahydrofuran derivatives as PAF antagonists which can be used for the treatment of various diseases including prevention of platelet aggregation, hypotension, inflammation, asthma, lung edema, adult respiratory distress syndrome, various shock syndromes, cardiovascular disorders and other related skeletal-muscular disorders. Another object of the present invention is to develop processes for the preparation of each and every stereoisomer of the 2,5-diaryltetrahydrofuran analogs. A further object of the present invention is to provide acceptable pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of the tetrahydrofuran derivatives and/or analogs as the active ingredient. As PAF antagonists, these novel compositions should be effective in the treatment of various skeletal-muscular related diseases. A therapeutically sufficient amount of these PAF antagonists can be used to treat a patient suffering from various skeletal-muscular disorders including inflammation, e.g., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout, hypotension, shock, psoriasis, allergic or skin diseases, asthma, pain especially dental pain, peptic or stomach ulcer, lung edema, adult respiratory distress syndrome or cardiovascular disorders. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Scope of the Invention This invention relates to PAF antagonists of the structural formula wherein R and R¹ independently are (a) hydrogen; (b) C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, for example, trifluoromethyl; (c) halo especially fluoro; (d) CONR²R³ wherein R² and R³ independently represent C₁₋₆ alkyl e.g., methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, pentyl or hexyl and hydrogen; (e) C₂₋₆ alkenyl e.g., vinyl, allyl, CH₃CH=CH-CH₂-CH₂, or CH₃(CH₂)₃CH=CH-; (f) -COR²; (g) -CH₂OR²; (h) C₂₋₆ alkynyl e.g., -C≡CH; (i) -CH₂NR²R³; (j) -CH₂SR²; (k) =O; (l) -OR²; or (m) -R²; Ar is wherein each R² independently represents hydrogen, or C₁₋₆ alkyl; and Ar¹ is (a) phenyl or substituted phenyl of formula where R⁴-R⁸ independently represent H; YO- wherein Y is R², -CH₂-C(O)OR², or -CH₂-OCH₃; or -OCONH₂; for example, 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl or 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl or R⁴-R⁵, R⁵-R⁶, R⁶-R⁷ and R⁷-R⁸ are joined together and form a bridge, for example, -OCH₂O-, or -OCH₂CH₂-O-; (b) pyrryl or pyrryl substituted with R⁴-R⁶; (c) furyl or furyl substituted with R⁴-R⁶; (d) pyridyl or pyridyl substituted with R⁴-R⁷; (e) thiophene or thiophene substituted with R⁴-R⁶; (f) thiazolyl or thiazolyl substituted with R⁴-R⁵; or (g) pyrimidyl or pyrimidyl substituted with R⁴-R⁶; or both Ar and Ar¹ are 2,3-dimethoxy-5-pyridyl or 2-furanyl and R and R¹ are hydrogen; with the proviso that Ar and Ar¹ must not simultaneously be 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl or 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl. The following compounds are preferred: a) 2,3-dimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; b) 2,5-bis(2,3-dimethoxy-5-pyridyl)tetrahydrofuran; c) 3-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl pyridine; d) 2,5-bis(2-furanyl)tetrahydrofuran; e) 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; f) 2,3-dimethoxy-6-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; g) 2,3,6-trimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; h) 2-methoxy-4-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)thiazole. The compounds of the invention can exist in the eight isomers as described in Scheme I. These various isomers bear a close relationship to the PAF antagonistic activity observed for the compounds within the scope of this invention. Preferably, the PAF antagonists of this invention are of structural formula or an enantiomer thereof wherein Ar and Ar¹ are as previously defined. Even more preferably, the compounds of this invention are of structural formula wherein Ar, R⁴, R⁶ and Y are as previously defined. A further object of the invention is a compound which is defined as follows: B. Preparation of the compounds within the scope of the invention The PAF antagonists of this invention have been prepared largely by stereospecific reactions from diaroylbutanes, bromo-ferulic acid derivatives, substituted phenyl vinyl ketones or styrene derivatives as indicated in the following schemes. (1) Synthesis from reduction of diaroylbutanes, for example: (2) Synthesis by oxidative coupling of bromo-ferulic acid derivatives, for example: (3) Synthesis by acidic cleavage, for example: (4) Synthesis by oxidative dimerization using hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by peroxidase, for example: If necessary, appropriate modification of the starting materials will lead to compounds of the invention. (5) Synthesis of unsymmetrical 2,5-diaryltetrahydrofurans: As shown above in schemes (1) to (5), most of the tetrahydrofuran PAF antagonists of this invention have been prepared from 1,4-diaryl-1,4-diketones by a two step reaction which involves reduction of the diketones to 1,4-diols followed by cyclization to the desired tetrahydrofurans. The 1,4-diketones required to make the tetrahydrofurans were made by three different routes. In the first method, sodium, lithium, potassium or other metal generated from aryl ketones and a base such as sodium hydride, potassium hydride, sodium amide, n-butyl lithium, or lithium diisopropylamide were alkylated with α-bromo ketones or 2-iodoketones. This reaction could be carried out in various solvents such as anhydrous ether, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide or liquid ammonia at -78°C to 50°C. The second method of preparing 1,4-diketones involves the coupling of the metal enolates described above by using copper and iron salts such as cupric chloride, cupric triflate, ferric or ferrous chloride. A third method of preparing 1,4-diketones involves the reaction of an aryl aldehyde with an aryl vinyl ketone in the presence of a base such as triethylamine catalyzed by cyanide ion or thiazolium halides. This reaction could be done conveniently in solvents such as ethanol and dimethyl formamide at 25-80°C. Reduction of 1,4-diketones was carried out either catalytically by using hydrogen as the reducing agent or by using metal hydride reducing agents. In the later case, one can use the usual reducing agents such as lithium aluminum hydride in solvents such as ether or tetrahydrofuran or sodium borohydride in methanol, ethanol or similar solvents. These reductions could be carried out at -30 to 50°C by stirring the substrate and the reducing agent dissolved in a solvent for 15 minutes to 24 hours. Alternatively, the 1,4-diketones could be reduced catalytically by using hydrogen and the usual catalysts such as palladium, platinum, rhodium or nickel in various solvents such as methanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, acetic acid, ethyl acetate or benzene. Other acidic, basic or neutral low boiling solvents could also be used for the same purpose. The reaction mixture could be rendered acidic by using the usual mineral and organic acids such as hydrochloride, sulfuric, perchloric, trifluoroacetic or acetic acids. The reaction mixture could also be rendered basic by using the usual inorganic and organic bases such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or triethylamine. The reduction could be carried out by stirring the substrate and the catalyst under hydrogen gas at 2.76-103.4 bar (40-1500 p.s.i.) for 15 minutes to 24 hours at 25-100°C. Cyclization of 1,4-diols to tetrahydrofurans was effected by stirring the diols with methane sulfonyl chloride-triethylamine, triphenylphosphine dibromide or trifluoroacetic acid in solvents such as methylene chloride, acetonitrile or chloroform. The reaction is conducted at -30°C to 50°C for 5 minutes to 4 hours. Alternatively, the 1,4-diols could be cyclized to tetrahydrofurans by heating the diols at 0-50°C above their melting points in the presence of catalytic amounts (.01 -4%) of palladium, platinum and/or copper salts. The preferred metal salts are platinum chloride, platinum acetate, copper acetate and copper nitrate. The tetrahydrofuran PAF antagonists of this invention could also be made from aryl propene or cinnamic acid derivatives either by chemical oxidative coupling reactions, or by using ferric chloride in solvents such as acetone, or enzymatically by using peroxidases such as horseradish peroxidase in solvents such as aqueous acetone. The above reactions are usually carried out at 0-40°C for 1-14 days. C. Utility of the compounds within the scope of the invention This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the PAF antagonists of the invention as the active constituents and a carrier and can be used for the treatment of patients (or mammalian animals raised in the dairy, meat, or fur industries or as pets) suffering from disorders or diseases which can be attributed to PAF as previously described. Accordingly, the compounds of the invention can be used among other things to reduce pain and inflammation, to correct respiratory, cardiovascular, and intravascular alterations or disorders, and to regulate the activation or coagulation of platelets, to correct hypotension during shock, the pathogenesis of immune complex deposition and smooth muscle contractions. For the treatment of inflammation such as rhumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and eye inflammation, cardio-vascular disorder, asthma, shock syndrome or other diseases mediated by the PAF, the compounds of the invention may be administered orally, topically, parenterally, by inhalation spray or rectally in dosage unit formulations containing conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants and vehicles. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous injections, intravenous, intramuscular, intrasternal injection or infusion techniques. In addition to the treatment of warm-blooded animals such as mice, rats, horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, or cats, the compounds of the invention are effective in the treatment of humans. The pharmaceutical compositions containing the active ingredient may be in a form suitable for oral use, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsions, hard or soft capsules, or syrups or elixirs. Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be for example, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, corn starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate may be employed. They may also be coated by the techniques described in the U.S. Patents 4,256,108; 4,166,452; and 4,265,874 to form osmotic therapeutic tablets for control release. Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin, or olive oil. Aqueous suspensions contain the active materials in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Such excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethyleneoxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl, p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose or saccharin. Oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredient in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oily suspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents such as those set forth above, and flavoring agents may be added to provide a palatable oral preparation. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an antioxidant such as ascorbic acid. Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and one or more preservatives. Suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above. Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloring agents, may also be present. The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil, for example olive oil or arachis oil, or a mineral oil, for example liquid paraffin or mixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents may be naturally-occurring gums, for example gum acacia or gum tragacanth, naturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example sorbitan monooleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The emulsions may also contain sweetening and flavoring agents. Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative and flavoring and coloring agents. The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleagenous suspension. This suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butane diol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables. The compounds of the invention may also be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration of the drug. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials are cocoa butter and polyethylene glycols. For topical use, creams, ointments, jellies, solutions or suspensions, containing the compounds of the invention are employed. Dosage levels of the order of from about 0.1 mg to about 140 mg per kilogram of body weight per day are useful in the treatment of the above-indicated conditions (about 0.5 mg to about 7 gms. per patient per day). For example, inflammation may be effectively treated by the administration of from about 0.01 to 50 mg of the compound per kilogram of body weight per day (about 1.0 mg to about 3.5 gms per patient per day). The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated and the particular mode of administration. For example, a formulation intended for the oral administration of humans may contain from 0.5 mg to 5 gm of active agent compounded with an appropriate and convenient amount of carrier material which may vary from about 5 to about 95 percent of the total composition. Dosage unit forms will generally contain between from about 1 mg to about 500 mg of an active ingredient. It will be understood, however, that the specific dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, route of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination and the severity of the particular disease undergoing therapy. D. Bioassay Results Supporting the utility of the compounds of the present invention It has been found that the compounds of the invention exhibit in vitro and in vivo antagonistic activities with respect to PAF: A. In Vitro Assay: In vitro , they inhibit PAF-induced functions in both the cellular and tissue levels by changing the PAF binding to its specific receptor site. The ability of a compound of the invention to inhibit the PAF binding to its specific receptor binding site on rabbit platelet plasma membranes was measured by an assay recently developed by us. The inhibition of H³-PAF binding to the rabbit platelet plasma membrane by a PAF antagonist of the invention was determined by a method employing isotopic labeling and filtration techniques. Generally, a series of Tris-buffered solutions of the selected antagonist at predetermined concentrations were prepared. Each of these solutions contains 1 pmole of ³H-PAF, a known amount of the test antagonist, and a sufficient amount of the pH 7.5 Tris-buffer solution (10mM Tris, 0.25% bovine serum albumin, and 150 mM NaCl per ml water) to make the final volume of 1 ml. After adding into a set of test tubes each with 100 µg of the platelet plasma membrane suspension (S.B. Hwang, et al., Biochemistry , Vol. 22, pp. 4756-4763, 1983) and one of the Tris-buffer solutions described above, the resulting mixture in each test tube was incubated at 0°C for about one hour or until the reaction was complete. Two control samples, one of which (C₁)contains all the ingredients described above except the antagonist and the other (C₂) contains C₁ plus a 1000-fold excess of unlabeled PAF, were also prepared and incubated simultaneously with the test samples. After the incubation was completed, the contents of each test tube were filtered under vacuo through a Whatman GF/C fiberglass filter and the residue washed rapidly several times with a total of 20 ml cold (0°-5°C) Tris-buffer solution. Each washed residue was then suspended in 10 ml scintillation solution (Aquasol 2, New England Nuclear, Connecticut) and the radioactivity was counted in a Packard Tri-Carb 460CD Liguid Scintillation System. Defining the counts from a test sample as "Total binding with antagonist"; the counts from the control sample C₁, as "Total binding C₁"; and the counts from the control sample C₂ as "non-specific binding C₂", the percent inhibition of each test antagonist can be determined by the following equation: From our observation, compounds of the invention inhibit in vitro PAF-induced platelet aggregation (rabbit or human platelets); PAF-induced guinea pig peritoneal PMN (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) aggregation; PAF-induced human PMN secretion; and PAF-induced guinea pig smooth muscle contraction although they are not H₂-receptor antagonists. They are also shown in these inhibition studies to be highly specific to PAF. For example, they do not inhibit the binding of H₁ antagonist (³H-pyrilamine) to guinea pig brain membrane, nor do they inhibit the binding of a cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor based on an assay on isolated rat pancreas membrane. Furthermore, they affect no or only minute inhibition on the histamine-induced ileum contraction from guinea pigs. Results from the In Vitro assay The antagonistic activity of the compounds of the invention is summarized in the following tables (A) & (B): EXAMPLE 1 2,3-Dimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine Step A: Preparation of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-(2,3-dimethoxypyrid-5-yl)-1,4-butanedione Nine grams of 5,6-dimethoxypyridine-3-carboxaldehyde, 12.6 g 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl vinyl ketone, 2.0 g 3-ethyl-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-thiazolium bromide, 7.0 g triethylamine in 300 ml of ethanol was refluxed for 24 hours and left at room temperature and upon cooling to room temperature glittering crystals form. The crystals were filtered off and recrystallized from ethanol to yield: 12.5 g, mp. 133-4°C. Step B: Preparation of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine Twelve grams of the above diketone in 200 ml of methanol was treated with 4 x 1 g of sodium borohydride and refluxed for 1 hour. The solvent was removed and the residue dissolved in ethyl acetate and filtered through a bed of silica. The filtrate, upon evaporation, gave 12.1 g of the diol as viscous liquid. Four grams of this diol, 1.5 g triethylamine, 1.1 g methanesulfonyl chloride in 200 ml of methylene chloride was stirred for 30 minutes and then treated with 100 ml of ether. The organic layer was extracted with 3 x 100 ml of 10% sodium hydroxide, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered through a bed of silica and evaporated to yield 2.6 g of an almost colorless residue which was chromatographed on Whatman Magnum-20 column to yield 750 mg of the trans isomer of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine and the corresponding cis isomer. By following a similar sequence of reactions and using 6-methoxypyridine-3-carboxaldehyde instead of 5,6-dimethoxypyridine-3-carboxaldehyde, 2-methoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine was prepared. EXAMPLE 2 2,5-bis(2,3-dimethoxy-5-pyridyl)tetrahydrofuran(cis and trans isomers) Step A: Preparation of 1,4-bis(2,3-dimethoxypyrid-5-yl)-1,4-butanedione One half gram (2,3-dimethoxy-5-pyridyl) vinyl ketone, 0.45 g 5,6-dimethoxypyridine-3-carboxaldehyde, 100 mg 3-ethyl-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazolium bromide and 250 mg triethyl amine in 20 ml of absolute ethanol was refluxed for 5 hours and cooled to room temperature. The crystalline diketone was recovered by filtration: mp. 171-3°C, 306 mg. Step B: Preparation of trans- and cis-2,5-bis(2,3-dimethoxypyrid-5-yl)tetrahydrofurans 250 mg of the above diketone was reduced with 200 mg of sodium borohydride in methanol as in the previous cases to yield 245 mg of white gummy diol. This diol was dissolved in 20 ml of methylene chloride and treated with 75 mg of triethylamine and 80 mg of methanesulfonyl chloride. After stirring for 30 minutes, solvent was removed and the crude mixture purified by preparative TLC (ethyl acetatehexane 50/50) to yield 182 mg of the cis trans mixture (Rf 0.48). This mixture was separated by HPLC (Whatman Magnum-20 ethyl acetate-hexane 50/50) to yield 38 mg of the trans isomer and 44 mg of the cis isomer. EXAMPLE 3 3-(Tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine Step A: Preparation of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-(3-pyridyl)-1-4-butanedione Three tenth gram sodium cyanide in 15 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) was added dropwise to 1.3 g of pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde dissolved in 10 ml of DMF. To that, 2.0 g of 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl vinyl ketone in 10 ml of DMF added dropwise and the reaction mixture stirred overnight. The next day, 200 ml of distilled water was added and stirring continued while the diketone precipitates out. Filtration and crystallization of the precipitate from methanol gave 1.6 g of the diketone. Step B: Preparation of trans- and cis-3-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4.5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine Following the procedure described in Example 1 Step B, trans- and cis-3-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine were prepared. EXAMPLE 4 2,5-bis[2-furanyl)tetrahydrofuran Step A: Preparation of 1,4-bis(2-furanyl)-1,4-butanedione LDA was prepared from 20 ml of THF, 10.1 g diisopropyl amine and 38.5 ml 2.1 M n-butyl lithium at -10°C. The temperature was lowered to -40°C and 11 g of 2-acetyl furan added and stirring continued at -78°C for 1 hour. Then 13 g of anhydrous cupric chloride was added and stirring continued for 4 hours. To that, 500 ml of 1N HC1 was added and the mixture extracted with methylene chloride. The organic layer was dried (sodium sulfate), filtered and evaporated to yield 5.3 g of dark oil. Flash column chromatography on a silica column and elution of the Rf .37 band with hexane-ethyl acetate (75/25) gave 830 mg of the desired diketone which was further recrystallized from methylene chloride-hexane: mp. 131-2°C. Step B: Preparation of 2,5-bis(2-furanyl)tetrahydrofuran Four hundred and forty mg of the above diketone was suspended in 25 ml of THF and reduced to the diol with 20 mg of lithium aluminum hydride at 0°C. The 440 mg of uncrystallized diol obtained as such was dissolved in 25 ml of methylene chloride and treated with 240 mg triethylamine and 230 mg methanesulfonyl chloride. After an hour, the reaction mixture was treated with 80 ml of ether and the organic layer washed successively with 2 x 50 ml 1N HC1, 2 x 50 ml 5% NaOH, and distilled water. The residue obtained after drying, filtration and evaporation of the organic layer was separated by flash colum chromatography (silica gel eluted with ethyl acetate-hexane 5/95) to yield 33 mg of the trans isomer and 30 mg of the cis isomer. EXAMPLE 5 2,6-Dimethoxy-4-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine-trans Step A: Preparation of 2,6-dimethoxyisonicotinaldehyde 2,6-Dimethoxyisonicotinaldehyde was prepared from citrazinic acid according to the known method [E. L. Stogryn, J. Het. Chem. , 11 , 251 (1974)]: mp. 75-77°C (lit. mp. 74-75°C). Step B: Preparation of 1-(2,6-dimethoxypyrid-4-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione A mixture of 2,6-dimethoxyisonicotinaldehyde (2.11 g), 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl vinyl ketone (2.81 g) and 3-ethyl-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl thiazolium bromide (0.42 g) was dissolved in boiling absolute ethanol (15 ml). To this solution was added triethylamine (1.21 g) and the reaction solution was heated to reflux for 14 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness and the residue was recrystallized three times from ethanol to give 1.8 g of the diketone mp. 81-83°C. Step C: Preparation of 1-(2,6-dimethoxypyrid-4-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol A solution of 1-(2,6-dimethoxypyrid-4-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione (1.0 g) in methanol (150 ml) was refluxed with sodium borohydride 0.23 g) for 10 minutes. The mixture was evaporated to dryness. The residue was purified via preparative TLC using 2 mm silica gel plates developed with 5% methanol in methylene chloride to give 1.0 g of the title compound as an oil. Step D: Preparation of 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine-(trans - and cis-) To a solution of 1-(2,6-dimethoxypyrid-4-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol (1.0 g) and triethylamine (0.28 g) in methylene chloride (50 ml) at room temperature was added methanesulfonyl chloride (0.28 g) dropwise. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and quenched with 10% NaOH (10 ml). The organic layer was washed with brine and dried (Na₂SO₄). Removal of solvent gave the crude mixture which was purified via preparative TLC using 1 mm silica gel plates developed with 30% ethyl acetate in hexane to give the purified cis - trans product (210 mg) and unreacted starting material (200 mg). The cis - trans mixture was further separated by HPLC using a Partisil ® 10 column and eluted with 30% ethyl acetate in hexane at 10 ml/minute to give the trans product 4 (80 mg; retention time = 33 minutes) and the cis isomer (100 mg; retention time = 41 minutes). EXAMPLE 6 2,3-Dimethoxy-6-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine-trans Step A: Preparation of 2,3-dimethoxy-6-pyridinealdehyde 2,3-Dimethoxy-6-pyridinealdehyde was isolated as a by-product from the synthesis of 5,6-dimethoxynicotinaldehyde according to the known method (E. L. Stogryn, J. Het. Chem. , 11 , 251 (1974)): mp. 86-87°C. Step B: Preparation of 1-(2,3-dimethoxypyrid-6-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimetboxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione Following essentially the procedure of Example 5, Step B, the title compound was obtained in 70% yield: mp. 130.5-132.5°C. Step C: Preparation of 1-(2,3-dimethoxypyrid-6-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol A solution of the product from Step B (1.25 g) in methanol (50 ml) was refluxed with sodium borohydride (0.26 g) for 10 minutes. The evaporated residue was purified via preparative TLC using 2 mm silica gel plates developed with 60% ethyl acetate in methylene chloride to give 1.1 g of 1-(2,3-dimethoxypyrid-6-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol as an oil. Step D: Preparation of 2,3-dimethoxy-6-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine-trans To a solution of the product from last step (0.60 g) and triethylamine (0.22 g) in methylene chloride (30 ml) at room temperature was added methane sulfonyl chloride (0.14 g) during 10 minutes. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour and quenched with 10% NaOH (10 ml). The organic layer was washed with brine and dried (Na₂SO₄). Removal of solvent gave the residue which was purified via preparative TLC using 1 mm silica gel plates developed with 50% ethyl acetate in methylene chloride to give the purified cis - trans product (300 mg) and the recovered starting material 7 (120 mg). The cis-trans mixture was separated by HPLC using a Partisil ® 10 column and eluted with 35% ethyl acetate in hexane at 10 ml/minute to give the trans product 2,3-dimethoxy-6-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine-trans (140 mg; retention time = 51 minutes) and the cis isomer (135 mg; retention time = 61 minutes). EXAMPLE 7 2,3,6-Trimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine (trans) Step A: Preparation of 5,6-dibromo-2,3-dimethoxypyridine Bromine (10.4 g) in acetic acid (13.5 ml) was added to an acetic acid solution (45 ml), at 10-12°C containing 2,3-dimethoxypyridine (3.4 g) and sodium acetate (5.0 g). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, poured into ice-water and neutralized with 25% sodium hydroxide. Extraction with methylene chloride, evaporation of the solvent and recrystallization of the residue from ether-chloroform gave 1.6 g of 5,6-dibromo-2,3-dimethoxypyridine. Step B: Preparation of 5-bromo-2,3,6-trimethoxypyridine A mixture of 5,6-dibromo-2,3-dimethoxypyridine (1.6 g), sodium methoxide (1.5 g) and methanol (2 ml) in dioxane (8 ml) was refluxed for 17 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was extracted with methylene chloride. The extract was filtered through silica gel and evaporated to dryness. The residue was recrystallized from hexane to give 5-bromo-2,3,6-trimethoxypyridine (500 mg): mp. 74.5-75.5°C. Step C: Preparation of 2,3,6-trimethoxy-5-pyridinealdehyde A 10% ether solution of 5-bromo-2,3,6-trimethoxypyridine was reacted with a slight excess of n-butyl lithum at -35°C with stirring. The mixture was further stirred at -35°C for 1 hour. A two-fold excess of DMF was added and the reaction allowed to proceed at -20°C for 1 hour. The reaction was treated with an ammonium chloride solution. The solid product was collected, purified to give 2,3,6-trimethoxy-5-pyridinealdehyde. Step D: Preparation of 1-(2,3,6-trimethoxypyrid-6-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-buntanedione Following substantially the procedure of Example 5, Step B, 1-(2,3,6-trimethoxypyrid-6-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione was obtained. Step E: Preparation of 1-(2,3,6-trimethoxypyrid-6-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol Following the procedure of Example 6, Step C, the title compound was obtained. Step F: Preparation of 2,3,6-trimethoxy-5-[tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl]pyridine-trans Following substantially the procedure of Example 6, Step D, the trans isomer of the title compound was obtained. EXAMPLE 8 2-Methoxy-4-[tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl]thiazole Step A: Preparation of methyl 2-methoxythiazole-4-carboxylate Ethyl 2-bromothiazole-4-carboxylate (0.85 g) was refluxed with methoxide methanol solution (0.15 g sodium in 8 ml of methanol) for 30 minutes. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. Purification of the residue via preparative TLC using 2 mm silica gel plates developed with methylene chloride gave pure methyl 2-methoxythiazole-4-carboxylate (0.41 g); m.p. 57-58.5°. Step B: Preparation of 4-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxythiazole Methyl 2-methoxythiazole-4-carboxylate (1.7 g) in tetrahydrofuran (50 ml) was treated with lithium aluminum hydride (0.45 g) in portions. After the reaction was complete (ca. 10 min.), to the mixture was added saturated sodium sulfate solution dropwise until all the solid turned white. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. The residue was purified via preparative TLC using 2 mm silica gel plates developed with 10% methanol in methylene chloride to give 4-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxythiazole (0.37 g). Step C: Preparation of 4-formyl-2-methoxythiazole To a solution of 4-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxythiazole (0.50 g) in pyridine (10 ml) was added lead tetraacetate (1.75 g). The mixture was stirred at 60° for 1-1/2 hours, and quenched with ice-water (50 ml). The mixture was extracted with ether (30 ml x 3). The ether layer was washed with 1N hydrochloric acid (30 ml x 2) and dried (Na₂SO₄). Removal of solvent gave the amide product which was purified via preparative TLC using 2 mm silica gel plates developed with methylene chloride to give pure 4-formyl-2-methoxythiazole (0.27 g). Step D: Preparation of 1-(2-methoxythiazol-4-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione Following the procedure of Example 5, Step B, the title compound was obtained from 5-formyl-2-methoxythiazole. Step E: Preparation of 1-(2-methoxythiazol-4-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol Following the procedure of Example 5, Step C, but 1-(2-methoxythiazol-4-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol was obtained from 1-(2-methoxythiazol-4-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione. Step F: Preparation of 2-methoxy-4-[tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl]thiazole-trans Following the procedure of Example 6, Step D, the trans isomer of the title compound was obtained from 1-(2-methoxythiazol-4-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol. EXAMPLE 9 Trans-2,5-bis[3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran Step A: Preparation of 3-Dimethylamino-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone A mixture of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-ethanone (210 g, 1 mole), dimethylamine hydrochloride, paraformaldehyde (45 g, 1.5 mole) and ethanol (300 ml) containing 1 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid was heated under reflux in a N₂ atmosphere for 1 hour. Paraformaldehyde (30 g, 1 mole) was added, and the heating continued for an additional 2 hours. The warm reaction mixture was poured with vigorous stirring into acetone (2.4 l). The slurry was heated at 60° for 15 minutes, cooled, and filtered. The solid was washed with acetone and dried to give 196 g (65%) of 1 , m.p. 175°. A mixture of 1 (147.5 g, 0.48 moles) in 1N NaOH (750 ml) was shaken with EtOAc (4 x 100 ml). The combined organic extracts were washed with saturated brine, dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated in vacuo to give 126 g (97%) of 3-dimethylamino-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone, m.p. 45-47°. Step B: Preparation of 1,2-bis(3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzoyl)ethane A solution of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (16.1 g, 82 mmoles) in DMF (20 ml) was added over 1.5 hours to a mechanically stirred suspension of NaCN (0.4 9, 8 mmoles) in DMF (20 ml) with heating at 35°C in a N₂ atmosphere. After an additional 0.5 hour at 35°C, a solution of 3-dimethylamino-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-ethanone(22 g, 82 moles) in DMF (20 ml) was added over 2 hours, and the mixture stirred at 35°C for 18 hours. After dilution with H₂O (400 ml) and acidification with dilute hydrochloric acid, the resulting slurry was filtered, and the solid washed with H₂O and ethanol (4 x 125 ml) and dried to give 26.4 g (77%) of 1,2-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)ethane, m.p. 193-196°C. Step C: Preparation of 1,4-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol 1,2- bis (3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)ethane (49.9 g, 0.12 mole) was added in portions over 20 minutes to a slurry of lithium aluminum hydride (9.1 g, 0.24 mole) in THF (625 ml) in a N₂ atmosphere while the temperature was maintained below 0°C. After one hour at 0°C the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. After cooling to 0°C EtOAc (38 ml) was added dropwise, followed by CH₂Cl₂ (500 ml) and 5% NaOH (100 ml). The slurry was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes, filtered, and the solid washed well with CH₂Cl₂. The residue after evaporation of the filtrate in vacuo was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂, washed with H₂O, dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated in vacuo. Crystallization of the residue from hexane-CH₂Cl₂ gave 40.1 g (80%) of 1,4-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol, m.p. 127-130°. Step D: Preparation of trans -2,5- bis (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran To a solution of 1,4- bis (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol (103 g, 0.24 moles) in CHCl₃ (1030 ml) cooled to -30°C was added over 0.5 hour a 10% (v/v) solution of trifluoroacetic acid in CHCl₃ (1030 ml). The mixture was kept at -20° for 90 hours and then washed with ice-cold 5% NaOH (2100 ml), H₂O (2000 ml), dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated in vacuo . The syrupy residue (108 g) was chromatographed on silica gel (1100 g). After elution first with CH₂Cl₂ (2 l) and 1:3 EtOAc-hexane (4 1), the crude product (81 g) was eluted with 1:1 EtOAc-hexane. Trituration with hot hexane (3 x 750 ml) gave 63.8 g of crude crystalline product. Three recrystallizations from cyclohexane-EtOAc (20:1) gave pure trans -2,5- bis (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran containing less than 1% cis isomer, m.p. 140-142°C. Calc. for C₂₂H₂₈O₇: C, 65.33; H, 6.98. Found: C, 65.60; H, 6.80. Following substantially the same procedure as described in Steps A-D, there were prepared the following related compounds: NMR (CDCl₃): δ0.22 - 0.30 (m, 2H, cyclopropane C-1 + C-2 (CH's(9)) 0.48 - 0.58 (m, 2H, cyclopropane C-1 + C-2 CH's (6)) 1.20 - 1.32 (m, 1H, cyclopropane C-3) 1.86 - 2.10 (m, 2H, THF C-3 and C-4 (c+d)) 2.32 - 2.56 (m, 2H, THF C-3 and C-4 (c+d)) 3.8 (d, 2H, cyclopropyl methyl CH₂'s) 3.88 (s, 6H, e & f methoxy CH₃'s) 3.90 (s, 6H, e & f methoxy CH₃'s) 3.86 (s, 3H, g methoxy CH₃'s) 5.16 - 5.26 (m, 2H, THF C-2 + C-5 CH's) 6.64 (s, 2H aromatic protons) 6.66 (s, 2H aromatic protons) NMR (CDCl₃): δ1.9 - 2.12 (m, 2H, THF C-3 + C-4 (d + e)) 2.4 - 2.56 (m, 2H, THF C-3 + C-4 (d + e)) 3.86 (s, 3H, h methoxy CH₃'s) 3.88 (s, 6H, methoxy CH₃'s (g + f)) 3.90 (s, 6H, methoxy CH₃'s (g + f)) 4.52 (d, 2H, C-1 of allyloxy group) 5.18 - 5.28 (m, 2H, C-2 + C-5 THF CH's) 5.14 - 5.38 (m, 2H, C-3 CH₂'s of allyloxy group (a + b)) 6.04 - 6.22 (m, 1H, C-2 CH of allyloxy group) 6.66 (s, 4H, aromatic protons) EXAMPLE 10 Step A: Preparation of 4-Allyloxy-5-iodo-3-methoxybenzaldehyde Allyl bromide (27.5 ml, 0.32 mol) was added to a solution of 5-iodovanillin (50.0 g, 0.18 mol) in DMF (200 ml) containing potassium carbonate (48 g, 0.35 mol) at 80°C. The mixture was stirred at this temperature for 1 hour, filtered, and the filtrate was evaporated to a residue, which was purified by HPLC (hexane-ethyl acetate, 4:1, v/v) to give 4-allyloxy-5-iodo-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (48 g, 84%). Step B: Preparation of 1-(4-Allyloxy-5-iodo-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione A mixture of 4-allyloxy-5-iodo-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (46 g, 0.15 mol), 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl vinyl ketone (38 g, 0.16 mol) and thiazole catalyst (6 g, 0.07 mol) in triethylamine (200 ml) was heated, with stirring, at 70°C for 2 hours, and kept at room temperature overnight. Ethanol was added to the solid mass, filtered, and the filtrate was evaporated to a residue, which was purified by HPLC (hexane-ethyl acetate; 2:1, v/v). The combined yield of 1-(4-allyloxy-5-iodo-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione was 65 g (83%), m.p. 113-114°C. Step C: Preparation of 1-(4-Allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-buntanedione A mixture of 1-(4-allyloxy-5-iodo-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione (5.0 g, 9.3 mmol) and copper thiomethyl (3.0 g, 27.1 mmol) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (50 ml) was heated at 158°C (bath temperature) for 2 hours, cooled, and evaporated to dryness. The reaction mixture was separated by Preparative HPLC (dichloromethane-ethyl acetate; 98:2, v/v) to give the unreacted starting material (1.5 9), 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione (1.2 g, 40% based on unreacted starting material); n.m.r. (CDCl₃): δ2.49 (s, SCH₃), 3.45 (s, CH₂CH₂), 3.93, 3.94, 3.96 (3s, 4 OCH₃), 4.65 (d, CH ₂CH=CH₂) 5.21-5.45 (CH₂CH= CH ₂), 6.13 (m, CH₂ CH =CH₂), 7.27 (s, ArH-C₄), 7.41, 7.49 (2d, ArH-C₁). Step D: Preparation of 1-(4-Allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol Lithium aluminum hydride (100 mg) was added to a solution of 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione (1.0 g, 2.2 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (10 ml) at 0°C. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour and quenched with 2N sodium hydroxide. The cake was filtered and washed with THF-Et₂O (1:1, v/v). The combined filtrates were evaporated to give 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol (1.0 g, 99%), which was used directly in the next experiment without further purification. The title compound had n.m.r. (CDCl₃): δ0.88 (b, CH₂CH₂), 2.43 (s, SCH₃), 3.85, 3.86, 3.87 (3s, 4 OCH₃), 4.54 (d, CH ₂CH=CH₂), 4.72 (b, 2 CHOH), 5.22-5.45 (CH₂CH= CH ₂), 6.16 (m, CH₂ CH -CH₂), 6.60, 6.74 (2s, ArH). Step E: Preparation of Cis- and trans -2-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofurans Trifluroacetic acid (10% in chloroform, 10 ml) was added to a solution of 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol (1.0 g, 2.2 mmol) in chloroform (15 ml) at 0°C. The solution was kept at room temperature for 2 hours, diluted with chloroform and washed with diluted sodium hydroxide and water. The organic layer was dried and evaporated to a residue, which was put on a flash column of silica gel and eluted with hexane-ethyl acetate (2:1, v/v) to give the trans isomer, (417 mg, 43%; a more mobile component) and the cis isomer, (208 mg, 22%). Cis -2-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) tetrahydrofuran had n.m.r. (CDCl₃): δ2.02, 2.45 (2m, CH₂CH₂), 2.40 (s, SCH₃), 3.861 3.87 (2s, 4 OCH₃), 4.55 (br d, CH ₂CH=CH₂), 5.07 (H-2, H-5, br t), 5.23-5.46 (CH₂CH= CH ₂), 6.17 (m, CH₂ CH =CH₂), 6.69 (s, ArH-C₅), 6.83-6.85 (2d, ArH-C₂). The corresponding trans isomer had n.m r. (CDCl₃); δ2.01, 2.49 (2m, CH₂CH₂), 2.46 (s, SCH₃), 3.87, 3.90, 3.91 (3s, 4 OCH₃), 4.56 (br d, CH ₂CH=CH₂), 5.23 (H-2, H-5, br t), 5.23-5.46 (CH₂CH= CH ₂), 6.18 (m, CH₂ CH =CH₂), 6.67 (s, ArH-C₅), 6.82-6.83 (2d, ArH-C₂). EXAMPLE 11 Trans-2-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran 3-Chloroperbenzoic acid (33 mg, 0.19 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of trans -2-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl-5(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (80 mg, 0.18 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 ml). After 0.5 hour, the solution was diluted with dichloromethane and washed with aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate, water, dried and evaporated to a residue. The product was purified by flash column chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate; 1:1, v/v) to give trans -2(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (56 mg, 68%) as an isomeric mixture. EXAMPLE 12 Trans-2-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylsulfonylphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran 3-Chloroperbenzoic acid (62 mg, 0.36 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of trans -2-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (80 mg, 0.18 mmol) in dichloromethane (4 ml). After 1 hour, the reaction mixture was worked up as usual and purified by flash column chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate; 2:1, v/v) to give trans -2-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylsulfonylphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (60 mg, 70%); which crystallized upon standing, m.p. 97-98°C (Et₂O-Pet.Et₂O); n.m.r. (CDCl₃): δ1.99, 2.49 (2m, CH₂CH₂), 3.25 (s, SO₂CH₃), 3.84, 3.88, 3.93 (3s, 4 OCH₃), 4.67 (2t, J 6.0, 1.0 Hz CH ₂CH=CH₂), 5.15-5.26 (H-2, H-5, CH₂CH=CH₂), 6.18 (m, CH₂ CH =CH₂), 6.61 (s, ArH-C₅), 7.27, 7.51 (2d, J 2.0 Hz, ArH-C₂). EXAMPLE 13 Trans-2-(3-methoxy-5-methylthio-4-propoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyltetrahydrofuran A solution of trans -2(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-methylthiophenyl-5-3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (100 mg) in ethyl acetate (3 ml) containing 10% palladium-on-charcoal (80 mg) was hydrogenated for 1 hour. The mixture was filtered and washed with ethyl acetate. The combined filtrates were evaporated to give trans -2-(3-methoxy-5-methylthio-4-propoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (90 mg, 90%), which was used directly in the next example without further purification. EXAMPLE 14 Trans-2-(3-methoxy-5-methylsulfonyl-4-propoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran 3-Chloroperbenzoic acid (44 mg, 0.25 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of the product from Example 13 (54 mg, 0.12 mmol) in dichloromethane (4 ml). After 1 hour, the reaction mixture was worked up as usual and purified by flash column chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate; 3:1, v/v) to give trans -2-(3-methoxy-5-methylsulfonyl-4-propoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (40 mg, 69%), which crystallized upon standing, m.p. 95-96°C (Et₂O-Pet.Et₂O); n.m.r. (CDCl₃): δ1.05 (t, J 7.5 Hz, CH₃), 1.89 (m, CH₂ CH ₂CH₃), 1.89, 2.49 (2m, H-3, H-4), 3.26 (s, SO₂CH₃), 3.85, 3.89, 3.93 (3s, 4 OCH₃), 4.12 (t, CH ₂CH₂CH₃), 5.16-5.28 (H-2, H-5), 6.62 (s, ArH-C₅), 7.27, 7.51 (2d, ArH-C₂). EXAMPLE 15 Alternative Synthesis of Trans-2-(3-methoxy-5-methylthio-4-propoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran Step A: Preparation of 1-(5-iodo-3-methoxy-4-propoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione A solution of 5-iodo-3-methoxy-4-propoxy-benzaldehyde (26 g, 0.08 mol) in DMF (75 ml) was added over 15 minutes to a stirred solution of sodium cyanide (4 g, 0.08 mol) in DMF (100 ml) at 35°C. After stirring for 20 minutes, a solution of 3-dimethylamino-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone (18 g, 0.07 mol) in DMF (100 ml) was added over 0.5 hour. The mixture was stirred at 35°C for 1 hour and kept at room temperature overnight. It was poured into ice-cold 20% hydrochloric acid (2 l), and the solid was filtered, dried by suction, and taken up in ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness. Crystallization from Et₂O-hexane gave 1-(5-iodo-3-methoxy-4-propoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione (24 g, 61%), m.p. 111-112°C. Step B: Preparation of 1-(3-methoxy-5-methylthio-4-propoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione A mixture of copper (10 g, 0.16 mol), methyl disulfide (10 ml, 0.11 mol) in 2,4-lutidine (100 ml) was heated with stirring at 125°C for 2 hours. 1-(5-iodo-3-methoxy-4-propoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione (14 g, 0.03 mol) was added to the mixture, and the contents were heated at 160°C for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated to a residue, which was taken up in dichloromethane. The organic phase was filtered through silica gel (100 g), and the solid was washed with dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. The combined filtrates were evaporated to dryness. Ethyl ether was added and crystals were collected (8.85 g, 73%), m.p. 113-114°C. Step C : Preparation of 1-(3-methoxy-5-methylthio-4-propoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol The title compound was prepared following the same procedure as described in Example 10, Step D in near quantitative yield. Step D: Preparation of Cis - and trans -2-(3-methoxy-5-methylthio-4-propoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran The title compounds were prepared similarly by the procedures described in Example 10, Step E in 65% yield ( trans : cis , 2:1). EXAMPLE 16 Trans-2-(4-Allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran Step A: Preparation of 4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde 5-Nitrovanillin was treated with excess allyl bromide in dry DMF in the presence of potassium carbonate to give 4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde: mp 67-68°. Anal . Calcd for C₁₁H₁₁NO₅: C, 55.69; H, 4.67; N, 5.91 Found: C, 55.56; H, 4.64; N, 5.76. Step B: Preparation of 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione A mixture of trimethoxyphenyl vinyl ketone (2.22 g, 10 mmole), the aldehyde of Step A (2.37 g, 10 mmole) and thiazolium bromide catalyst (0.30 g) was mixed thoroughly at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to a viscous mass. To this mixture was added triethylamine (1.50 ml) and again mixed thoroughly at room temperature for 10 minutes. The mixture was then heated at 70-80° for 5 hours. The resulting reaction mixture was triturated with absolute ethanol (10 ml) in the cold. The solid product was collected and recrystallized from methanol to give 2.3 g of pure 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione (50% yield): mp 142.5-143.5°. Anal . Calcd for C₂₃H₂₅NO₉: C, 60.12; H, 5.48; N. 3.05. Found: C, 60.16; H, 5.46; N, 2.79. Step C: Preparation of 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol The diketone 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanedione (1.6 g) in tetrahydrofuran (100 ml) was treated with LiAlH₄ (0.2 g) at 0 to 5° for 1/2 hour and at room temperature for 1 hour. After the work up, the crude mixture was purified via preparative tlc using silica gel plates (2000 µm) developed with 20% hexane in ethyl acetate. The diol 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol (1.4 g) was obtained 87% yield: mp. 110-111.5°. Anal Calcd for C₂₃H₂₉NO₉: C, 59. 60; H, 6.31; N, 3.02. Found: C, 59.45; H, 6.33; N, 3.00. Step D : Preparation of Trans-2-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran The diol 1-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,4-butanediol (0.71 g) in methylene chloride (50 ml) was added 10% trifluoroacetic acid (6 ml) at room temperature. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1-3 hours until the complete disappearance of the product of Example 16, Step C and then quenched with cold 1N NaOH (15 ml). The organic layer was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄). Removal of solvent gave the crude cis - trans mixture which was carefully recrystallized from hexane-methylene chloride to give the fine needles of trans-2-(4-allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (0.30 g); mp 119-120°. EXAMPLE 17 Trans-2-(4-Alkoxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran Step A: Preparation of trans-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran Trans-2-(4-Allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (1.1 g) in t-butanol (40 ml) was treated with excess potassium t-butoxide under nitrogen in a sealed tube. The mixture was heated at 105° for 2 hours and cooled to room temperature. The reaction mixture was poured onto ice-water, and acidified with acetic acid. The resulting mixture was extracted with methylene chloride and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Removal of solvent gave the crude product which was purified via preparative tlc using silica gel plates (2000 µm ) developed with 30% hexane in ethyl acetate. Trans-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (0.92 g) was isolated in ca. 95% purity which was used for the preparation of a series of 4-alkoxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl analogs. Recrystallization from methanol gave trans-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran: mp about 260° (dec). Step B: Preparation of Trans-2-(4-Alkoxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran Trans-2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (50 mg), alkyl iodide or bromide (0.5 ml) and pulverized potassium carbonate (1.0 g) in dry DMF (1.5 ml) were stirred at room temperature for 16-68 hours. The mixture was quenched in water, and extracted with methylene chloride. The isolated product was further purified via preparative tlc using silica gel plates (1000 µm ) developed with 30% hexane ethyl acetate to give trans-2-(4-alkoxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran. The following are a few selected examples: EXAMPLE 18 Trans-2-(4-Allyloxy-5-N-alkylamino-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran Step A: Preparation of Trans-2-(4-allyloxy-5-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran Trans-2-(4-Allyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (1.0 g) in THF (50 ml) and glacial AcOH (16 ml) at 10-15° was added powdered zinc (3.5 g) in portions over 10-15 minutes (slight exothermic). The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature (25-35°) for 2 hours and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was taken up in methylene chloride and filtered. The organic solution was concentrated to dryness and the residue recrystallized from hexane-methylene chloride to give 0.86 g of trans-2-(4-allyloxy-5-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (92% yield): mp 94-95°. Step B: Preparation of Trans-2-(4-Allyloxy-5-ethoxycarbonylmethylamino-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran Trans-2-(4-Allyloxy-5-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (50 mg), ethyl bromoacetate (0.7 ml) and pulverized potassium carbonate (1.0 g) in dry DMF (2 ml) were stirred at room temperature for 20 hours. The mixture was evaporated in high vacuum and the residue purified via preparative tlc using a silica gel plate (1000 µm) developed with 30% ethyl acetate in hexane to give trans-2-(4-allyloxy-5-ethoxycarbonylmethylamino-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (30 mg) as an oil: mass m/e 501. Following essentially the same procedures, the following compounds were prepared: EXAMPLE 19 Trans-2-(4-Allyloxy-5-methanesulfonylamino-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran To a stirred solution of trans-2-(4-allyloxy-5-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (43 mg) in methylene chloride (2 ml) containing triethylamine (36 mg) at 0 to 5° was added a solution of methanesulfonyl chloride (20 mg) in methylene chloride (0.5 ml) dropwise. The mixture was stirred at 5° for 1 hour at ca. 70% conversion. The reaction solution was quenched with 1% NaOH solution (0.3 ml). The organic solution was dried, concentrated and the residue purified via preparative tlc using silica gel plates (1000 µm) developed with 50% ethyl acetate in hexane to give trans-2-(4-allyloxy-5-methanesulfonylamino-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (23 mg): mp 149-150.5°. Following essentially the same procedures, the following compounds were prepared: EXAMPLE 20 Step A: Preparation of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-cyanophenyl)-1,4-butanedione A mixture of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-cyanophenyl)-1,4-butanedione (20.0 g, 36 mmole) and CuCN (30.0 g, 330 mmole) was suspended in 200 ml dry N-metylpyrrolidinone, heated to 140°C under nitrogen atmosphere for two hours. The dark reddish brown solution was cooled and poured into 500 ml of ice/water. Extracted twice with 500 ml portions of CH₂Cl₂. The combined extracts were filtered through celite ® and then washed three times with 100 ml portions of saturated NaCl solutions. The methylene chloride solution was then filtered through a plug of silica (200 g) to remove red color. The filtrate was concentrated to a light orange color oil. It was crystallized from ethyl acetate/hexane to yield 13.5 g of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-cyanophenyl)-1,4-butanedione (83% yield). Step B: Preparation of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-cyanophenyl)-1,4-butanediol A mixture of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-cyanophenyl)-1,4-butanedione (13.5 g, 30 mmole) and NaBH₄ (2.0 g, 53 mmole) in 100 ml of absolute ethanol and 25 ml ethyl acetate was stirred under nitrogen atmosphere. The temperature was raised to 40°C and maintained for one hour. The cooled reaction mixture was added to 200 ml icy water and was extracted twice with 300 ml portions of methylene chloride. The combined methylene chloride extracts were dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated to a yellow oil (12.0 g, 89% yield). The product was used directly in the next reaction without further purification. Step C: Preparation of Trans-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-cyanophenyl)tetrahydrofuran In a round bottom flask, 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-cyanophenyl)-1,4-butanediol (12.0 g, 27 mmole) dissolved in 75 ml chloroform was stirred at room temperature under nitrogen atmosphere. A 10% solution of trifluoroacetic acid in chloroform (75 ml) was added slowly. The mixture was stirred for three hours. Twenty milliliters more of 10% TFA solution were added and stirred for additional 30 minutes. A solution of 10% NaOH in water (200 ml) was added. The cholorform layer was concentrated to a colorless oil. Flash column chromatography (30% EtOAc/hexane) separated trans- product from cis- product (2:1 ratio) and six grams of desired trans- product trans-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-cyanophenyl)tetrahydro furan was recovered after recrystallization from CH₂Cl₂/hexane. (53% yield) m.p. 128-130°C. Cis-isomer was recovered as a by-product (28% yield). Step D: Preparation of Trans-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-carboxyamidephenyl)-tetrahydrofuran A suspension of trans-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-cyanophenyl)tetrahydrofuran (5.1 grams, 14 mmole) in 100 ml ethanol and 25 ml 20% NaOH in water was heated to reflux for two hours. An additional 10 ml 20% NaOH in water was added and refluxed for another one and half hours. The Cooled reaction mixture was concentrated and extracted 3 times with 100 ml portions of CH₂Cl₂. Flash column chromatography (50% EtOAc/hexane) yielded 3.2 grams of trans-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-(3-methoxy-4-propoxy-5-carboxyamide-phenyl)tetrahydrofuran (60% yield) after recrystallization from EtOAc/hexane; m.p. 108-110°C.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : BE, CH, DE, FR, GB, IT, LI, LU, NL, SE A compound of formula: wherein R and R¹ independently are (a) hydrogen; (b) C₁₋₆ haloalkyl; (c) halo; (d) CONR²R³ wherein R² and R³ independently represent hydrogen, or C₁₋₆ alkyl; (e) C₂₋₆ alkenyl (f) -COR²; (g) -CH₂OR²; (h) C₂₋₆ alkynyl; (i) -CH₂NR²R³; (j) -CH₂SR²; (k) =O; (l) -OR²; or (m) R²; Ar is wherein each R² independently represents hydrogen, or C₁₋₆ alkyl; and Ar¹ is (a) phenyl or substituted phenyl of formula where R⁴-R⁸ independently represent H; YO- wherein Y is R², -CH₂C(O)OR², or -CH₂OCH₃; or -OCONH₂; or R⁴-R⁵, R⁵-R⁶, R⁶-R⁷ and R⁷-R⁸ are joined together forming a bridge; (b) pyrryl or pyrryl substituted with R⁴-R⁶ ; (c) furyl or furyl substituted with R⁴-R⁶; (d) pyridyl or pyridyl substituted with R⁴-R⁷; (e) thiophene or thiophene substituted with R⁴-R⁶; (f) thiazolyl or thiazolyl substituted with R⁴-R⁵ ; or (g) pyrimidyl or pyrinidyl substituted with R⁴-R⁶; or both Ar and Ar¹ are 2,3-dimethoxy-5-pyridyl or 2-furanyl and R and R¹ are hydrogen; with the proviso that Ar and Ar¹ must not simultaneously be 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl or 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl. The compound of Claim 1 which is: a) 2,3-dimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; b) 2,5-bis(2,3-dimethoxy-5-pyridyl)tetrahydrofuran; c) 3-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; d) 2,5-bis(2-furanyl)tetrahydrofuran; e) 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; f) 2,3-dimethoxy-6-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; g) 2,3,6-trimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; h) 2-methoxy-4-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)thiazole. A compound which is defined as follows: A pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease or a disorder mediated by PAF comprising a pharmaceutical carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1. The composition of Claim 4 wherein the active compound is a compound of Claim 2. The composition of Claim 4 wherein the active compound is a compound of Claim 3. A process for preparing the compound of claim 1 comprising (a) treating a compound of formula: with a reducing agent; or (b) oxidizing a compound of formula wherein A and B independently are H, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy or C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; or (c) treating a compound of formula: with an aqueous acid, wherein R, R¹, Ar and Ar¹ are as defined in Claim 1. A process for preparing the compound of claim 3 according to the process of claim 7. Claims for the following Contracting State : AT A process for preparing a compound of formula: wherein R and R¹ independently are (a) hydrogen; (b) C₁₋₆ haloalkyl; (c) halo; (d) CONR²R³ wherein R² and R³ independently represent hydrogen, or C₁₋₆ alkyl; (e) C₂₋₆ alkenyl; (f) -COR²; (g) -CH₂OR²; (h) C₂₋₆ alkynyl; (i) -CH₂NR²R³; (j) -CH₂SR²; (k) =O; (1) -OR²; or (m) R²; Ar is wherein each R² independently represents hydrogen, or C₁₋₆ alkyl; and Ar¹ is (a) phenyl or substituted phenyl of formula where R⁴-R⁸ independently represent H; YO- wherein Y is R², -CH₂C(O)OR², or -CH₂OCH₃; or -OCONH₂; or R⁴-R⁵, R⁵-R⁶, R⁶-R⁷ and R⁷-R⁸ are joined together forming a bridge; (b) pyrryl or pyrryl substituted with R⁴-R⁶; (c) furyl or furyl substituted with R⁴-R⁶; (d) pyridyl or pyridyl substituted with R⁴-R⁷; (e) thiophene or thiophene substituted with R⁴-R⁶; (f) thiazolyl or thiazolyl substituted with R⁴-R⁵; or (g) pyrimidyl or pyrimidyl substituted with R⁴-R⁶; or both Ar and Ar¹ are 2,3-dimethoxy-5-pyridyl or 2-furanyl and R and R¹ are hydrogen; with the proviso that Ar and Ar¹ must not simultaneously be 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl or 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl, comprising (a) treating a compound of formula: with a reducing agent; or (b) oxidizing a compound of formula wherein A and B independently are H, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy or C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; or (c) treating a compound of formula: with an aqueous acid, wherein R, R¹, Ar and Ar¹ are as defined above. The process of Claim 1 for preparing a compound which is: a) 2,3-dimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; b) 2,5-bis(2,3-dimethoxy-5-pyridyl)tetrahydrofuran; c) 3-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; d) 2,5-bis(2-furanyl)tetrahydrofuran; e) 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; f) 2,3-dimethoxy-6-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; g) 2,3,6-trimethoxy-5-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)pyridine; h) 2-methoxy-4-(tetrahydro-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl)thiazole. A process according to the process of claim 1 for preparing a compound which is defined as follows: A process for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease or a disorder mediated by PAF comprising combining a pharmaceutical carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a compound prepared by the process of Claim 1. The process of Claim 4 for preparing a pharmaceutical composition wherein the active compound is a compound prepared by the process of Claim 2. The process of Claim 4 for preparing a pharmaceutical composition wherein the active compound is a compound prepared by the process of Claim 3.

Inventors: BEATTIE, THOMAS R., BIFTU, TESFAYE, DOEBBER, THOMAS W., HWANG, SAN-BAO, SHEN, TSUNG-YING
Applicants: MERCK & CO. INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C07D307
IPC codes: C07D417, A61K31, C07D307, A61P37, A61P9, A61P11, C07D407, C07D409, C07D405, A61P1, A61P7, C07D333