Derivatives of 9-hydroxy-13-trans-prostenoic acid

An optically active compound of the formula:

• ##STR49## or a racemic compound of that formula wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, lower alkoxy, and .omega.-hydroxy substituted lower alkoxy;
• R.sub.2 is a moiety selected from the group consisting of those of the formulae:
• ##STR50## wherein P is hydroxy, R' is a straight chain alkyl group having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms or a straight chain alkyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and having one branched alkyl group of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R" is a straight chain alkyl group having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and substituted with an hydroxy, a straight chain alkyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and having one branched alkyl group of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and substituted with an hydroxy group, a straight chain alkenyl group having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and substituted with a hydroxy, or a straight chain alkyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and having one branched alkyl group of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and substituted with a hydroxy;
• with the proviso that a hydroxy group may not be on a tertiary carbon when R" is alkyl or alkenyl;
• R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy and an alkoxy group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms;
• Y is a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of those of the formulae:
• ##STR51## and Z is a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of those of the formulae:
• ##STR52## wherein n is an integer from 3 to 8 inclusive, R.sub.4 is an alkyl group having up to 3 carbon atoms, and R.sub.5 is an alkyl group having up to 3 carbon atoms a fluorine atom or a phenyl group;
• and the pharmacologically acceptable cationic salts thereof when R.sub.3 is hydroxy.