Optically and therapeutically active compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a member selected from the group consisting of a straight or branched alkyl group of from one to twenty carbon atoms (C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 being preferred), an ethoxycarbonyl group, a benzyloxycarbonyl group, a phenyl group, an ##STR2## WHEREIN R is as defined above and R.sub.3 is a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a methyl group and a phenyl group, and a 2-, 3-, or 4-pyridyl group, or the HX salts thereof, wherein X represents a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt anion, are prepared optically active m-hydroxy-.alpha.-[methylamino)methyl]benzyl alcohol (phenylephrine). The compounds prepared by the process of this invention find therapeutic application to warm-blooded animals (e.g., humans) in the management of asthma, nasal congestion and as decongestants, vasoconstrictors, mydriatic agents, and anti-glaucomatous agents in the practice of ophthalmology. Upon administration, these compounds will enzymatically "cleave," thus releasing optically active phenylephrine (m-hydroxy-.alpha.-[(methylamino)methyl]benzyl alcohol, the therapeutically active moiety thereof.
式子为:##STR1## 其中 R 代表从一到二十个碳原子的直链或支链烷基(C.sub.1-C.sub.5 为首选),乙氧羰基基团,苯甲氧羰基基团,苯基,##STR2## 其中 R 如上所述,R.sub.3 代表从氢原子,甲基基团和苯基中选择的一种,以及2-、3-或4-
吡啶基团或其 HX 盐,其中 X 代表药学上可接受的酸性添加盐阴离子。本发明制备了光学活性的 m-羟基-α-[
甲基氨基甲基]
苯甲醇(苯
肾上腺素)的化合物。本发明制备的化合物在温血动物(例如人类)中具有治疗应用,用于哮喘、鼻塞、作为解除充血、血管收缩剂、瞳孔扩大剂和眼科抗青光眼剂的管理。在给药时,这些化合物将经酶“裂解”,从而释放出光学活性苯
肾上腺素(m-羟基-α-[(甲基
氨基)甲基]
苯甲醇),即其治疗活性的部分。