.alpha.-phosphonosulfinic squalene synthetase inhibitors

A compound having the structure ##STR110## wherein R.sup.2 is OR.sup.5 or R.sup.5a,

• R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 are independently H, alkyl, arylalkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, metal ion or other pharmaceutically acceptable salt;
• R.sup.5a is alkyl, arylalkyl or aryl;
• R.sup.4 is H, metal ion, or other pharmaceutically acceptable salt;
• R.sup.1 is Ar.sup.1 --O--Ar.sup.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --, wherein Ar.sup.1 is an aryl group and Ar.sup.2 is an aryl group, and p is 1 to 15;
• and
• Z is H, halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkenyl.

##STR112## wherein x is 1 to 8 ##STR113## wherein m is 1 to 5;

• or ##STR114## wherein n=1 to 15;
• R.sup.11, R.sup.11a, R.sup.11b, and R.sup.11c are independently selected from H, alkyl, halo, alkoxy, alkenyl;
• ##STR115## wherein R.sup.12, R.sup.12a and R.sup.12b are independently selected from H, aryl, alkylphenyl, alkyl containing 1 to 20 carbons, halo, alkoxy, alkenyl, arylalkyloxy, alkenyloxy, aryloxy, phenylalkyl, alkylphenoxy, alkenylphenyl;
• or ##STR116## wherein R.sup.14 is aryl, heteroaryl, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and p' and p" are independently 1 to 4;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, an ester thereof or a mixed ester-salt thereof.