1, 2-dialkoxyethanes as 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors

A compound having the structure ##STR21## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen or alkyl of one to four carbon atoms;

• L.sup.1 is a valence bond or is selected from alkylene of one to three carbon atoms, propenylene, and propynylene;
• Y is selected from the group consisting of oxygen,
• >NR.sup.5 wherein R.sup.5 is hydrogen or alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, and ##STR22## where n=0, 1, or 2;
• Ar.sup.2 is phenyl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of
• alkyl of one to four carbon atoms,
• alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms,
• haloalkyl,
• halogen,
• cyano,
• amino,
• alkoxycarbonyl of one to four carbon atoms, and
• dialkylaminocarbonyl where the alkyl portions are each independently of one to four carbon atoms;
• L.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of
• (a) ##STR23## wherein R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, and R.sup.7 is alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, and
• (b) ##STR24## wherein R.sup.8 is hydrogen or alkyl of one to four carbon atoms;
• and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, or taken together with the oxygen atoms to which they are attached, form a ring of the structure ##STR25## wherein R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are independently selected from the group consisting of
• hydrogen,
• alkyl of one to four carbon atoms,
• alkoxy of one to four carbon atoms, and
• haloalkyl of one to four carbon atoms.