| abstract |
The compounds are suitable intermediates in the synthesis of substances useful in medicine as antihypercholesterolemic agents, for example semisynthetic derivatives of lovastatin. They have a highly selective and easily removable protection of two of the acylating hydroxyl groups available. The 2,6-dimethyl-maleic acid derivatives have the general formula wherein R 1 and R 2 are alkyl, R 3 is H or alkyl and R 4 is H, 2-methylbutyryl or 2,2-dimethylbutyryl. |