The present invention provides compounds of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein E is an alkylene or alkenylene radical containing 2 carbon atoms, R.sup.1 is a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms, which is optionally substituted by up to 4 lower alkyl radicals, as well as halogen atoms, and can optionally be mono- or polyunsaturated, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which can be the same or different, are further cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing 3 to 7 carbon atoms, hydrogen or halogen atoms, trifluoromethyl radicals or alkyl or alkoxy radicals containing up to 7 carbon atoms which can optionally also be substituted with methyl radicals, X is hydroxyl, Y is a residue of an alcohol or a residue of an amine or the group OZ, Z is hydrogen, an alkali metal or ammonium ion or X and Y taken together are --O--. Thus, these compounds are lactones or hydroxy acids of the formulae: ##STR2## wherein E, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are as stated above, and Z is a hydrogen atom, and alkali metal ion or an ammonium ion; the esters and amides of the free carboxylic acids and the stereoisomeric forms thereof.The present invention also provides processes for the preparation of these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.