PRODUCTION OF INDOLE DERIVATIVES AND COMPOSITION CONTAINING SAME

1478007 Substituted 3-carboxy-2-methylindol- 5-yloxyacetic acids and their esters MERCK PATENT GmbH 20 April 1976 [22 April 1975] 16001/76 Heading C2C The invention comprises compounds of formula and their physiologically acceptable salts, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each H or C 1-6 alkyl; R4 is H or Me; and R6 is Me, Ph, or ClC 6 H 4 . In examples, these compounds are prepared by (1) etherifying 5-hydroxyindoles; (2) esterifying acids; (3) hydrolysing to the acids the corresponding amides, nitriles or esters; (4) N- or alpha-substitution. Therapeutic compositions having activity with respect to cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid levels, and inducing liver enzyme, comprise compounds of the above formula, and may be administered orally, parenterally or rectally.