Dialkyl (dialkoxyphosphinyl)methyl phosphates as anti-inflammatory agents

A compound of formula

• wherein
• R.sub.1 is independent and selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, --C.sub.6 H.sub.5 ;
• adjacent R.sub.1 taken together may be --CH.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.n CH.sub.2 --or --CH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 CH.sub.2 --;
• R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, --CH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.n Ar, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 Ar, --CH(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2, and 1 '- or 2 '-(1',2',3',4'-tetrahydro)naphthylene;
• R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, --CO(CH.sub.2).sub.m CH.sub.3, --CO.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Ar, and --COAr;
• n is 0, 1, or 2;
• m is 0 thru 9;
• Ar is selected from the group consisting of
• (a) phenyl, 1- or 2-naphthyl, 3-indolyl, 2-, 3-, or 4-pyridinyl, or 1-imidazolyl,
• (b) phenyl optionally substituted with 1 thru 5 --F or --Cl,
• (c) phenyl optionally substituted with 1 thru 3 --Br, --I, --CF.sub.3, --R.sub.4, or --OR.sub.4,
• (d) phenyl substituted with --COOR.sub.4, --OCOR.sub.4, --SO.sub.2 NH.sub.2, --NHSO.sub.2 R.sub.4, and --NHCOR.sub.4 ;
• R.sub.4 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl;
• provided, however, when R.sub.1 is --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, neither R.sub.2 nor R.sub.3 may be --C.sub.3 H.sub.7 ;
• and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.