Novel biphenyl derivatives of the formula:
wherein R¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl group, aminothiocarbonyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkoxycarbonyl group, cyano group, or a group of the formula:
one or two of R² to R⁷ are hydrogen atom, and the remaining groups are the same or different and are each a lower alkoxy group, a phenyl­(lower)alkoxy group or hydroxy group, or the adjacent two groups thereof combine to form a lower alkylenedioxy group, and Alk¹ is a lower alkylene group, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which are useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of hepatic diseases, and processes for preparing the same, and intermediates therefor.