Phenol derivatives

A phenol derivative of the formula:

• NU--A--X--R.sup.1
• where NU is a bis-phenolic nucleus of the general formula ##STR35## wherein one of R.sup.13 and R.sup.23, and one of R.sup.33 and R.sup.43, has the formula R.sup.3 0-, wherein each R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, is hydrogen or alkyl, cyaloalkyl, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyalkanoyl, or aroyl each of up to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein the other of R.sup.13 and R.sup.23, and the other of R.sup.33 and R.sup.43, is hydrogen:
• wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.14, which may be the same or different, each is hydrogen or alkyl of up to 5 carbon atoms, or R.sup.4 and R.sup.14 are joined together so that CR.sup.4 -CR.sup.14 is an olefinic double bond;
• wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together form a direct link or --CH.sub.2 --, --CH(CH.sub.3)--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --(CH.sub.2).sub.3 -- or --CH.dbd.CH--, and R.sup.15 is hydrogen;
• and wherein the aromatic rings B and C each is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halogen or methyl or ethyl substituents;
• where A is straight- or branched-chain alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene each of from 4 to 12 carbon atoms;
• or A has the formula:
• --A.sup.1 --Y.sup.3 --A.sup.21 --
• wherein A.sup.1 is alkylene or alkenylene and A.sup.21 is a direct link or alkylene, alkenylene or cycloalkylene, such that A.sup.1 and A.sup.21 together have a total of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and Y.sup.3 is phenylene or naphthylene which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halogen or methyl or ethyl substituents;
• wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, halogenoalkyl, each of up to 10 carbon atoms, phenyl, chlorophenyl, o-ethylphenyl, p-cyanophenyl, p-hydroxyphenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms which bears a phenyl, tolyl, halogenophenyl or trifluoromethylphenyl substituent, .alpha.-methylbenzyl, 3,4-dichlorobenzyl, p-cyanobenzyl or p-methylthiobenzyl;
• and wherein X is --S--, --SO-- or --SO.sub.2 --;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound wherein R.sup.3 is carboxyalkanoyl.