Racemic analogues of platelet activating factor (PAF) that contain a methylene group between the C2 and C3 carbon atoms (39) or between the C1 and C2 carbon atoms (40) have been synthesized. These compounds show reduced platelet aggregation and hypotensive activity as measured against racemic C16 PAF. Compounds in which the C1 carbon atom of PAF is substituted with one or two methyl groups (41 and 42, respectively) or the C3 carbon is substituted with a single methyl group (43) have been synthesized. Platelet aggregation and hypotensive responses produced by these compounds are significantly less than those obtained with racemic C16 PAF. None of the above compounds exhibit a separation of the platelet aggregation and hypotensive activities.