3,5-dihydroxy-6,8-nonadienoic acids and derivatives as hypocholesterolemic agents

A compound having the following stereochemical formula ##STR9## wherein R is hydrogen, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkyl, phenyl, benzyl or a conventional radical forming an ester group which is hydrolyzable under physiological conditions;

• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, when taken separately, and R.sup.3 are each independently hydrogen, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkyl, benzyl, naphthyl, phenyl or phenyl mono or disubstituted with the same or different substituents selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkyl, CF.sub.3, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkoxy, benzyl and phenyl;
• with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is other than hydrogen or (C.sub.2 -C.sub.3)alkyl;
• and
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, when taken together, are combined with the double bonded carbon atom to which they are attached to form a diradical ylidene group of the formula ##STR10## wherein n is 0 or 1 and Y is oxygen, OCH.sub.2, sulfur, SCH.sub.2, methylene or ethylene;
• with the proviso that R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are taken together when R is hydrogen, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3) alkyl, phenyl or benzyl;
• or
• a pharmaceutically acceptable cationic salt thereof when R is hydrogen.