Vulpinic acids as potential antiinflammatory agents. 1. Vulpinic acids with substituents in the aromatic rings.

The preparation of a series of vulpinic acids, substituted in either or both of the aromatic rings, is described. The compounds were found to be active in the adjuvant arthritis test in rats. High activity combined with an acceptable therapeutic ratio was confined to analogs with electron-withdrawing substituents in the meta positions of the rings.