BENZANILIDE DERIVATIVE

PURPOSE:To obtain a compound, having strong and selective bronchodilator actions and useful as a therapeutic agent for airway disorders such as reversible airway obstruction or asthma. CONSTITUTION:This compound is expressed by formula I (R is H, a 1-6C alkyl, a 1-6C alkoxy, a halogen, cyano, a trihalomethyl or nitro), e.g. 2- isopropyloxy-5-nitrobenzanilide. The compound of formula I is obtained by reacting a benzoic acid derivative of formula II (Z is OH, a halogen, an acyloxy or an active ester residue) with an aniline derivative of formula III. When Z in the compound of formula II is OH, the reaction is carried out in the presence of a dehydration condensing agent (e.g. dicyclohexylcarbodiimide) in a solvent (e.g. dichloromethane) at 0-150 deg.C, preferably in an inert gas atmosphere (e.g. nitrogen gas).