Abstract: Novel aminoethylphenoxyacetic acid derivatives represented by the general formula: (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or an aralkyl group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; the carbon atom marked with (R) represents a carbon atom in (R) configuration; and the carbon atom marked with (S) represents a carbon atom in (S) configuration) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which have stimulating effects on both &bgr;2- and &bgr;3-adrenoceptors and are useful as agents for relieving pain and promoting the removal of calculi in urolithiasis.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel phenylaminoalkyl-carboxylic acid derivatives represented by the general formula: (wherein R1 represents a hydroxy group, a lower alkoxy group, an aralkoxy group, an amino group, an alicyclic amino group or a mono or di(lower alkyl)amino group which may have a hydroxy group or a lower alkoxy group as a substituent; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; R4 and R5 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a lower alkyl group; A represents a lower alkylene group; the carbon atom marked with (R) represents a carbon atom in (R) configuration; and the carbon atom marked with (S) represents a carbon atom in (S) configuration) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which have excellent &bgr;3-adrenoceptor stimulating effects and are useful as agents for the prevention or treatment of obesity, hyperglycemia, the diseases caused by intestinal hypermotility