Methods of using alpha -phosphonosulfonate squalene synthetase inhibitors including the treatment of atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia

摘要

alpha -Phosphonosulfonate compounds are provided which inhibit the enzyme squalene synthetase and thereby inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis. These compounds have the formula <IMAGE> wherein R2 is OR5 or R5a; R3 and R5 are independently H, alkyl, arylalkyl, aryl or cycloalkyl; R5a is H, alkyl, arylalkyl or aryl; R4 is H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or cycloalkyl;, Z is H, halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkenyl; and R1 is a lipophilic group which contains at least 7 carbons and is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, mixed alkenyl-alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, cycloheteroalkylalkyl; as further defined above; including pharmaceutically acceptable salts and or prodrug esters of the phosphonic (phosphinic) and/or sulfonic acids.