Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. Part 16: Stereomeric 3-aryl-biphenylyl-hydroxy-propionic acids.

As part of a wider research project on structure-activity relationships of chiral arylalkanoic acids, stereomeric aryl- biphenylyl-hydroxypropionic acids 3a-d have been prepared and their antiinflammatory activity evaluated. Diastereomeric racemic erythro- and threo-acids have been synthesized by reaction of alpha-lithiated biphenylyl-acetic acid salts with the appropriate aldehyde. They were separated, and after attribution of their relative configuration by 1H-NMR analysis, resolved. The antiinflammatory activities of the enantiomeric potassium salts were determined by the carrageenan test.