Phosphorus-containing squalene synthetase inhibitors, new intermediates and method

Abstract

Compounds which are useful as inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis and thus as hypocholesterolemic agents are provided which have the structure ##STR1## wherein Q is ##STR2## or a bond; Z is --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- or --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --CH.dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --, wherein n is 1 to 5; p is 0, 1 or 2; m is 0, 1 or 2; R, R.sup.1 and R.sup.1a are the same or different and are H, lower alkyl or a metal ion; and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be the same or different and are H or halogen. New intermediates used in preparing the above compounds and method for preparing same, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and a method for using such compounds to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis are also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.