Glaxo Group Limited

Brian D Judkins

Alan Naylor

Harry Finch

Lawrence H Lunts

Ian F Skidmore

Ian B Campbell

William L Mitchell

Stephen Swanson

Charles Willbe

Clive A Meerholz

Roger Barrett

The invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I) ##STR1## and physiologically acceptable salts and solvates thereof; wherein;

Phenethandamine derivatives and pharmaceutical use thereof

A process is described for the preparation of a compound of formula (2) ##STR1## (wherein R is a C.sub.1-6 alkyl or a C.sub.7-20 aralkyl group) and the salts thereof, which comprises reducing a compound of formula (3) ##STR2## (or a salt thereof), using a reducing system comprising borohydride ions and metal ions selected from lanthanide ions, alkaline earth metal ions or yttrium ions in solution. The reduction system may be provided by a borohydride (e.g. NaBH.sub.4) and a metal salt (e.g. CeCl.sub.3). The ester (2) may then if desired be hydrolyzed to give the parent acid.

Preparation of piperidinylcyclopentylheptenoic acid derivatives

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Ware, United Kingdom

Brian D Judkins