Phosphorus-containing HMG-COA reductase inhibitors

A compound of the structure ##STR113## including salts thereof, wherein R is OH, lower alkoxy or lower alkyl;

• R.sup.x is H or lower alkyl:
• X is --O-- or --NH--;
• n is 1 or 2
• Z is a hydrophobic anchor which is ##STR114## wherein the dotted lines represent optional double bonds, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.2a and R.sup.2b may be the same or different and are H, halogen, lower alkyl, haloalkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl or OR.sup.Y in which R.sup.Y is H, alkanoyl, benzoyl, phenyl, halophenyl, phenyl-lower alkyl, lower alkyl, cinnamyl, haloalkyl, allyl, cycloalkyl-lower alkyl, adamantyl-lower alkyl or substituted phenyl-lower alkyl;
• wherein Z is ##STR115## R.sup.5 and R.sup.5' are the same or different and are H, lower alkyl or OH, one or R.sup.5 and R.sup.5' being present when the carbon to which it is attached is linked to a double bond;
• R.sup.6 is ##STR116## arylCH.sub.2 -;
• R.sup.6a is lower alkyl, hydroxy, oxo or halogen, and q is 0, 1, 2 or 3,
• wherein R.sup.x is hydrogen or lower alkyl in free acid form or in the form of a physiologically-hydrolysable and -acceptable ester in salt form.