| abstract |
Compounds which are useful as inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis and thus as hypocholesterolemic agents are provided which have the structuren including salts thereof, wherein R is OH, or lower alkoxy;n R X is H or alkyl; X is -(CH 2 ) a - (where a is 1, 2 or 3), -CH = CH-, or -C≡C-. n New intermediates used in preparing the above compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and a method for using such compounds to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis are also provided. |