The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 4-(61-methoxy-21-naphthyl)butan-2-one and to certain compounds for use in that process. British Pat. Spec. No. 1,474,377 discloses inter alia that 4-(61-methoxy-21-naphthyl) butan-2-one possesses useful anti-inflammatory activity. A particularly favored process has now been discovered that can be used to produce 4-(61-methoxy-21-naphthyl) butan-2-one in particularly good yield. The present invention provides a process for the preparation of 4-(61-methoxy-21-naphthyl)butan-2-one which process comprises the hydrogenation of a compound of the formula (I): IMAGE (I) wherein Ar is a 6-methoxy-2-naphthyl group; X and Y are each hydrogen atoms or together represent a second bond between the carbon atoms to which they are attached; and R is a group such that -CO2R represents an ester group convertible by hydrogenation to a CO2H group.
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