| abstract |
Novel 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors which are useful as antihypercholesterolemic agents and are represented by the following general structural formulae (I) or (II):wherein:n is 1 to 5;O R is hydrogen or (C<sub>1-5</sub> alkyl)C-;R' is hydrogen or methyl;R<sup>2</sup> is hydrogen or methyl; andR<sup>3</sup> is hydrogen, C<sub>1-5</sub> alkyl or C<sub>1-5</sub> alkyl substituted with amember of the group consisting of phenyl, dimethylamino, or acetylamino; andthe dotted lines at a, b and c represent optional double bonds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds (II) in which R<sup>3 </sup>is hydrogen are disclosed. |