The novel uses'and the compounds forming the subject-matter of the invention are defined in the claims which follow.

In particular, the novel uses to which the invention relates concern compounds of formula R-X, wherein X is an optionally salified primary alcoholic-CH2OH or carboxylic-COOH func- tional group or an esterified carboxylic group-COOR3, wherein R3 is Ci-C4 alkyl, preferably ethyl or propyl (and glyceride esters of those acids), and wherein R is a hydro- carbon chain having from 19 to 35 carbon atoms, preferably from 23 to 35 and more preferably from 25 to 31 carbon atoms, and including one or more ethylenic or acetylenic unsatura- tions, preferably from one to five unsaturations; the hydro- carbon chain R is preferably a linear or, optionally, a branched chain, including from one to five methyl branches, which chain may optionally be substituted by one or more hy- droxy groups, for example, by from one to three hydroxy groups.

The invention is also directed to a preferred class of com- pounds which is constituted by compounds of the general for- mula R2 = R1-X, wherein X has the meaning mentioned above and wherein R1 and Ra have a total of from 23 to 35 carbon atoms, preferably from 25 to 31 carbon atoms, and R1 is a saturated linear hydrocarbon chain having from 4 to 15, preferably from 7 to 13 carbon atoms and Rz is a hydrocarbon chain having from 8 to 22, preferably from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, which is saturated or unsaturated, including from one to four ethylenic or acetylenic unsaturations, and preferably linear or optionally branched, including from one to four methyl branches, and optionally substituted by hydroxy, for example, by from one to three hydroxy groups.

Even more preferred are compounds wherein R1 is a linear saturated hydrocarbon chain having 9 carbon atoms and com- pounds wherein R2 is the hydrocarbon chain of a saturated or unsaturated naturally occurring fatty acid, such as, for ex- ample, the hydrocarbon chain of oleic, lineoleic, linolenic, ricinoleic or farnesylic acid.

The compounds according to the invention can be prepared by synthesis processes known in the literature, in particular by the process described in T02002A000521 in the name of the ap- plicant, the description of which is to be regarded as incor- porated herein by reference.

This process comprises a Wittig olefination reaction (cf.

Merck Index, XII ed. , ONR-99 and references mentioned therein) in which a phosphorus ylide (R"P (Ar) 3)-wherein R" is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain including one or more ethylenic or acetylenic unsaturations and wherein Ar is phenyl-is reacted with an n-alkanoic acid R'COOH oxo- substituted in the terminal position or with the C1-C4 alkyl ester of that oxo-substituted alkanoic acid to give the addi- tion product constituted by the alkenoic acid R"= R'-COOH or its alkyl ester (where the term alkenoic refers to the pres- ence of the ethylenic unsaturation introduced as a result of the Wittig reaction), having the desired chain length.

The number of carbon atoms in the group R"of the above- mentioned phosphorus ylide may vary within wide limits and in particular R"may coincide with the group R2 defined above.

Similarly, the length of the chain R'of the above-mentioned n-alkanoic acid, which is formylated in the terminal posi- tion, or its alkyl ester may vary within wide limits and may be selected as a function of the position in which the de- sired compound has the first double bond.

In particular R'may have a number of carbon atoms corre- sponding to the definition of R1 given above and more par- ticularly may be 10-oxo-decanoic acid or the corresponding lower alkyl (preferably ethyl) 10-oxo-decanoate.

The phosphorus ylide R"P (Ar) 3 is prepared by reacting the corresponding halogen derivative (where halogen is preferably bromine or chlorine) with triphenylphosphine, preferably in an aromatic solvent (toluene) while heating under reflux; at the end of the reaction, the solution is concentrated and the phosphonium salt is precipitated, preferably with ether.

Because in the Wittig reaction described above it is prefer- able to use as reagent the alkyl ester, formylated in the terminal position, of an n-alkanoic acid, the process leads directly to the preparation of unsaturated compounds, used within the scope of the invention, having an ester function- ality. The corresponding unsaturated acids can be obtained from the ester by alkaline hydrolysis and the corresponding compounds having a primary alcohol functionality by reduction of the ester, for example, with lithium aluminium hydride.

The process for preparing compounds used within the scope of the invention is further illustrated by the following Exam- ples.

Example 1-Preparation of the ethyl ester of octacosa-10, 19- dienoic acid The synthesis process is illustrated in the following scheme and the associated operating stages are described in Examples la-ld which follow. Ethanol 10 eq OH PTSA o c"H2o02 0 Toluene under reflux 0 Dean Stark O Os0 4 cat. l NMO O O O NalO 4 ° H20/acetone Br Triphenylphosphine C8H3sBr Toluene underreflux i PO \/ 0 "0 0 i o C3oH5602 0 PM 448 \ NaOH aq. 90°C \111/OH C2BHs202 0 PM : 420 NMO: N-methylmorpholine N-oxide Example la-Ethyl ester of undecylenic acid In a 100 ml two-necked flask, 8 ml of ethanol and a spatula tip of p-toluenesulphonic acid are added to 15 g of undecylenic acid (81.4 mmol) dissolved in 35 ml of anhydrous toluene. The whole is heated under reflux for 8 hours with a Dean Stark or Markusson distilling apparatus separating the water of esterification. All of the glassware used has previously been dried in an oven at 120°C. The progress of the reaction is monitored by TLC (silica gel plates), eluant hexane/EtOAc 7: 3. Rf ester = 0.67.

Work-up: the product is diluted with EtOAc, washed twice with a mixture of NaHCO3/H2O 1: 1, then with H20 and a saturated NaCl solution and dried over Na2SO4. 16. 7 g (78.9 mmol) are obtained (Yield 97%). Any traces of starting acid can be eliminated by filtration over a bed of alumina.

Example lb-ethyl 10-oxodecanoate In a 500 ml flask, 2.5 ml of a 0.2 M solution of Os04 in toluene (0.005 eq; 1.03 mmol) and 24.13 g of N-methyl- morpholine-N-oxide (1 eq) are added to 43.67 g of the ethyl ester of undecylenic acid (0.206 mmol) dissolved in 100 ml of a 1: 1 H2O/acetone mixture. The whole is left under agitation for fifteen minutes at 0°C in ice. 79.31 g of NaI04 (1.8 eq; 0.37 mmol) are then added in small portions over a period of 40 minutes at ambient temperature. The reaction is followed by TLC (silica gel plates), eluant hexane/EtOAc 7: 3 Rf prod- uct = 0.5.

Work-up: the product is filtered on a funnel having a sin- tered porous baffle, diluted with EtOAc, washed with a satu- rated NaCl solution and dried over Na2SO4. The product is then purified on a chromatographic column of silica gel (CC) eluant hexane/EtOAc 9: 1.38. 3 g of ethyl 10-oxodecanoate (179.2 mmol) are obtained. (Yield 87%).

Example lc-Phosphonium salt of cis 1-bromo-9-octadecene In a 250 ml flask, 1 eq of triphenylphosphine (24.6 g) is added to 29.8 g of cis 1-bromo-9-octadecene (0.09 mmol) dis- solved in 80 ml of anhydrous toluene. The whole is heated un- der reflux in a heating jacket for 24 hours. It is cooled in a bath of water and ice for approximately 10 minutes and then approximately 15 ml of diethyl ether are added. The phospho- nium salt precipitates in abundance and is filtered on a fun- nel having a sintered porous baffle and is washed with ap- proximately 50 ml of ether. 40.9 g of a pearly pink solid (71.2 mmol) are obtained. (Yield 80%).

Example 1d-Ethyl ester of octacosa-10, 19-dienoic acid In a 1 t two-necked flask, 31.9 g of phosphonium salt (56.0 mmol) are dissolved in 350 ml of anhydrous THF with magnetic agitation in a nitrogen atmosphere. All the glassware used has previously been dried in an oven at 120°C. 1.05 eq of BuLi solution (1.6 M in hexane) (34 ml) are slowly added dropwise; the reaction mixture progressively becomes an or- ange-red colour, which indicates the formation of the ylide.

After approximately 20 minutes, 5 ml of a solution containing 10.78 g of ethyl 10-oxo-decanoate (0.9 eq; 50.4 mmol) are slowly added dropwise; during the addition of the aldehyde, the colour of the solution becomes yellow-orange. The whole is left under magnetic agitation overnight. The reaction is monitored by TLC (silica gel plates), eluant hexane/EtOAc 9: 1. Rf product = 0.67.

Work-up: the product is diluted with a 0. 1N HC1 solution and extracted with EtOAc; washing is effected with a saturated NaCl solution and drying is effected over Na2SO4. 20.2 g of product (45.1 mmol) are obtained. (Yield 90%).

Example 2-Octacosa-10, 19-dienoic acid In a 100 ml flask, 5.3 g of the ethyl ester of octacosa- 10,19-dienoic acid (11.8 mmol) in admixture with an aqueous 3. 5N NaOH solution (30 ml) are heated at 90°C for 2 hours.

The reaction is monitored by TLC (silica gel plates), eluant hexane/EtOAc 8: 2. Rf product = 0.30.

Work-up: the mixture is acidified with IN HC1 and extracted with CH2Cl2. The organic phase is washed with a saturated NaCl solution and dried over Na2SO4. 4.7 g of octacosa-10,19- dienoic acid (11.2 mmol) are obtained. (Yield 950).

Example 3-Octacosa-10,19-dienol The alcohol mentioned above can be obtained from the ethyl ester of octacosa-10,19-dienoic acid (Example Id) by reduc- tion, for example with lithium aluminium hydride.

Example 4-Octacosa-10, 19,22-trienoic acid The acid mentioned above, its corresponding ester (preferably ethyl ester) and the corresponding primary alcohol can be prepared by following the procedure described in Examples 1- 3, using as reagent in the Wittig reaction the phosphonium salt of 1-brom-9, 12-octadecadiene (derivative of linoleic alcohol).

Example 5-Octacosa-10, 19, 22, 25-tetraenoic acid The acid mentioned above, its corresponding ester (preferably ethyl ester) and the corresponding primary alcohol can be prepared by following the procedure described in Examples 1- 3, using as the starting compound in the Wittig reaction the phosphonium salt of 1-brom-9, 12,15-octadecatriene (deriva- tive of linolenic alcohol).

Example 6-14,18, 22-trimethyltricosa-10, 13, 17,21-tetraenoic acid The acid mentioned above, its corresponding ester (preferably ethyl ester) and the corresponding primary alcohol can be prepared by following the procedure of Examples 1-3, using in the Wittig reaction the phosphonium salt of 1-brom-3, 7,11- trimethyl-2,6, 10-dodecatriene (derivative of farnesol).

In general, the compounds described have a better activity than do the corresponding polycosanols and polycosanoic acids and can therefore be used advantageously in the pharmaceuti- cal, cosmetic and nutritional field (particularly for die- tetic nutritional integrators) in which the polycosanols and polycosanoic acids are typically used.

The compounds described have a high degree of anti-oxidant activity and a high degree of activity in the capture of free radicals, which enables them to be used both in cosmetic and nutritional compositions as anti-oxidants, in order to pre- vent the oxidative deterioration of those compositions, and in cosmetic and dermatological compositions for topical use, for the prevention and treatment of skin damage caused by free radicals, such as, in particular, for the treatment and prevention of inflammatory and ageing effects of the skin.

The compounds are also characterized by a higher hypocholes- terolaemic and/or hypolipidaemic activity in addition to a favourable effect on the lipoprotein picture (increase in HDL) compared with the corresponding polycosanols; they are therefore suitable for use in the preparation of medicaments and pharmaceutical compositions useful for the treatment and prevention of pathologies related to hypercholesterolaemia and hyperlipidaemia, such as, for example, cardiovascular diseases of the ischaemic or atherosclerotic type and periph- eral vascular diseases, and also for the prevention and cure of pathologies associated with an increased ability of the blood platelets to aggregate and with reduced oxygenation and nutrition of tissue, such as, for example, peripheral neu- ropathies and, in particular, diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The compounds described have exhibited a high degree of ac- tivity in restoring the membrane fluidity of ghost cells or blood platelets and in improving the anti-oxidant defences of the plasma, liver, brain and heart.

Pharmaceutical compositions containing those compounds are therefore useful in general in the treatment of ageing proc- esses, including cerebral ageing and degenerative brain dis- eases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, se- nile dementia, loss of memory and confused states, and also conditions of stress and depression.

A further use of the compounds described is in the therapeu- tic treatment and the prevention of obesity, and also in com- positions of dietetic nutritional integrators aimed at weight loss and the prevention and treatment of cellulite.

The compounds described can also be used in the preparation of compositions of nutritional integrators intended for strengthening muscle and suitable for increasing physical fitness in humans and animals.

The forms of administration for pharmaceutical compositions and dietetic integrators are preferably forms of administra- tion by the oral route, such as, in particular, tablets, pas- tilles and capsules, including vehicles and/or excipients that are pharmaceutically acceptable and for nutritional use.

The compounds can also be used in compositions comprising other active ingredients, in particular anti-oxidant vita- mins, such as vitamin E, lipoic acid, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12.

Also useful is the utilisation of the compounds in associa- tion with L-carnitine or an alkanoyl derivative thereof, par- ticularly in the treatment of the above-mentioned pathologies caused by altered lipid metabolism.

The compounds having an acid functionality may be used in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts or in the form of tri-, di-and mono-glycerides, esters of phospholipids or also as salts with amino acids (such as, for example, argin- ine, lysine, methionine, cysteine and the like).