| abstract |
Compounds of the general formulas either (I) or (II), in which R1 represents a phenyl group substituted C1-8 alkyl, C3-8 cycloalkyle, C3-8 cycloalkyle (C1-8) alkyl, C2-8 alkenyl, or C1 -6 alkyl, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent R4 or M, R4 represents a C1-5 alkyl group, or a C1-5 alkyl group replaced by a group chosen from phenyl, dimethylamino or acetylamino substituted, R5 represents a hydrogen atom or C1-3 alkyl group, M represents a cation capable of forming a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, Q represents C = O or CHOH, and each of the elements a and b independently represents a single or double bond. Said compounds are potent inhibitors of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and therefore are useful in the treatment or prevention of hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and atherosclerosis. |