Glycolamide esters of 4-biphenylacetic acid as potential prodrugs-synthetic and spectral studies

4-Biphenylacetic acid (4-BPA), the active metabolite of NSAID fenbufen has been modified using prodrug approach. A number of glycolamide ester derivatives of 4-BPA have been synthesized as potential prodrugs by masking the free carboxyl group which is mainly responsible for gastric damage, in order to obtain NSAIDs with improved therapeutic index. The structures of these derivatives have been established on the basis of spectral analysis.