Synthesis and aldose reductase inhibitory activities of novel O-substituted hydroxyphenylacetic acid derivatives.

In continuation of our work aimed towards the preparation of novel aldose reductase inhibitors, several O-substituted hydroxyphenylacetic acid derivatives were investigated. The highest inhibitory activity was found for compounds 7b and 7c bearing a cyclohexylmethyl substituent. This result demonstrates that within these series, this moiety is a useful surrogate for the 4-bromo-2-fluorobenzyl residue which can be often found in potent aldose reductase inhibitors.