On the basis of our study on the structure-activity relationships of 1, 3, 7-alkylxanthines and condensed-purines on cAMP-phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE 4) isoenzyme inhibitor, we investigated the synthesis and the inhibitory activity of 3-phenylxanthine and 4-phenyl[i]condensed-purine derivatives. Xanthines and condensed-purines with the phenyl group exhibited potent and selective PDE 4 inhibitory activity.