| abstract |
Seco-mevinic acid derivatives are provided which have the structure <IMAGE> including all stereoisomers thereof, wherein Z is <IMAGE> R is H, alkali metal or lower alkyl, R1 is H, lower alkyl, aryl, lower alkoxy, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl or heterocyclic; R2 is lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl, and X is O or NR5 wherein R5 is H or lower alkyl, and are HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and thus are useful as antihypercholesterolemic agents and in treating atherosclerosis. New intermediates for preparing the above seco-mevinic acid derivatives are also provided. |