A compound having the structure: ##STR1## wherein (a) W is --C(X')--NRR' or --NR--C(X')R'; (b) X and X' are independently O or S; (c) each Y is independently hydrogen or straight, branched or cyclic alkanyl having from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, or the two Y's are bonded to form an alkanyl ring having from 3 to about 7 carbon atoms; (d) Z is unsubstituted branched or cyclic alkyl, or unsubstituted or alkanyl-substituted phenyl or benzyl, Z having from 3 to about 10 atoms other than hydrogen; (e) R and R' are each independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy straight, branched or substituted alkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, and cyclic alkyl having from 3 to about 7 carbon atoms; unsubstituted or substituted aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclic groups; or R and R' are bonded together to form a ring having from from 3 to about 8 atoms wherein about 1 to about 4 atoms may be heteroatoms; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating inflammation or pain using such compounds.

A compound having the structure: ##STR1## wherein (a) X is oxygen or sulfur; (b) each Y is independently hydrogen or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic alkanyl having from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, or the two Y's are bonded to form an alkanyl ring having from 3 to about 7 carbon atoms; (c) Z is hydrogen or unsubstituted branched or cyclic alkyl, or unsubstituted or alkanyl-substituted phenyl, having from 3 to about 10 atoms other than hydrogen; (d) W is straight, branched or cyclic alkyl or aryl, unsubstituted or substituted, saturated or mono- or di-unsaturated with double bonds except that no terminal carbon atom of W is part of a double bond; W having from 1 to about 15 atoms other than hydrogen; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating inflammation or pain using such compounds.

The subject invention involves compositions comprising 4-(3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxobutanamide, or 4-(3,5-bis-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. The subject invention also involves methods for treating diseases characterized by inflammation and/or pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, in humans or lower animals by administration of a safe and effective amount of this compound to the human or lower animal in need of such treatment.

The present invention involves compounds having the structure: ##STR1## wherein: (a) --A.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of --OH, --H, and --O.sub.2 CR; (b) --A.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted or substituted, saturated or unsaturated, straight, branched and cyclic alkyl having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; (c)--A.sup.3 is selected from --C(CH.sub.3).sub.3, --Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3, and --CF.sub.3 ; and (d) --Y is selected from certain low molecular weight alkyl chains which terminate in specific unsaturated functional groups: ##STR2## and aldehydes in the form of their acetals; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; and methods for treating inflammation by administering such compounds.

A compound having the structure: ##STR1## wherein (a) n is from 1 to about 3; (b) X is selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO, or SO.sub.2 ; (c) Y is independently hydrogen or straight, branched or cyclic alkyl having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, or the Y's are bonded together to form an alkanyl ring having from 3 to about 7 atoms; (d) Z is hydrogen or straight, branched or cyclic alkyl having from 3 to about 10 atoms other than hydrogen; (e) W is hydrogen or straight, branched or cyclic alkyl, aryl, hydroxy or alkoxy; and (f) R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently hydrogen or straight, branched or cyclic alkyl having from one to 10 carbon atoms, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, hydroxy, or alkoxy; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are bonded together to form a ring having from from 3 to about 7 atoms wherein one to three atoms may be heteroatoms. pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating inflammation or pain using such compounds.