Synthetic prostaglandin analogues - are specific and long acting luteolytics, secretion inhibitors, spasmolytics and antihypertensives

Pyrrolidone derivs. of formula (I) and their salts are new. In (1) A is -CH2CH2- or -C C-; B = -CH2CH2- or -CH=CH- but A and B are not both -CH2CH2-; R' = opt. branched alkyl or alkoxy; R2 = H, lower aliphatic hydrocarbon, or cycloaliphatic or araliphatic hydrocarbon of 3-8C; R3 = 1-10C alkyl(opt. substd. by 1-5C O- or S-alkyl), phenoxy (opt. substd. by 1-3C alkyl which may be substd. by halogen, or phenoxy opt. halogenated), O-furyl or O-benzyl (opt. substd. by 1-3C alkyl) and the side chains on the 3- and 4-positions of the pyrrolidone ring are trans to one another. (I) are luteolytics, gastric secretion inhibitors, broncho-spasmolytics and/or anti-hypertensives. Compared with natural prostaglandins they are more specific in action and longer acting. Typical compound is 1-methyl-3-(6-carbomethoxy-2-(I)hexynyl-)-4-(3-(RS)hydroxy-(E)-1- (I) hexenyl) pyrrolidone. The compounds are prepared by an 8-stage process starting from a 4-hydroxymethyl pyrrolidone.