A series of novel hydroxamates has been prepared and tested for inhibitory activity towards rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) in vitro and towards neutrophil migration in the rat air pouch model of inflammation in vivo. Many 3, 4-dihydronaphthyl compounds were potent inhibitors of 5-LO, and several compounds were potent inhibitors of neutrophil migration. The most potent 3, 4-dihydronaphthyl compound, N-[[(3, 4-dihydro-5-phenoxy)-2-naphthyl]methyl]-N-hydroxy-N'-ethylurea (FR122788, 18) had an IC₅₀ of 25 nM in the 5-LO assay, and strongly reduced neutrophil migration in the rat air pouch model at 1 mg/kg (p.o.). FR122788 also had an ameliorating effect in a rat hepatiatis model induced by D-galactosamine, with an ED<50> values of 14.6 mg/kg (p.o.) for glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and 16.8 mg/kg (p.o.) for glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT).