7-thiaprostaglandins e, and process for producing same

Abstract

7-thiaprostaglandins E.sub.1 which are compounds represented by the following formula [I] or their enantiomers or mixtures thereof in any ratio: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.2) alkyl group, or one equivalent cation; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, represent a hydrogen atom, a tri (C.sub.1 -C.sub.7) hydrocarbon silyl group, or a group forming an acetal linkage together with an oxygen atom of a hydroxyl group; R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a vinyl group; R.sup.5 represents a linear or branched C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkyl group, a linear or branched C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkenyl group, a linear or branched C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkynyl group, a phenyl group which may be substituted, a phenoxy group which may be substituted, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 cycloalkyl group which may be substituted, or a linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl group which may be substituted with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy group, a phenyl group which may be substituted, a phenoxy group which may be substituted or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 cycloalkyl group which may be substituted; X represents an ethylene group, a vinylene group or an ethylene group; n represents 0 or 1; the expression represents an ethylene group or a vinylene group, provided that when n is o and x is an ethylene group, R.sup.5 is not a linear or branched C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkyl group or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 cycloalkyl group which may be substituted. Such compounds are especially useful for the treatment and prevention of digestive organ diseases such as a duodenal ulcer or a gastric ulcer.