BRIDGED CYCLIC KETAL DERIVATIVES

摘要

Compounds are described of the formula wherein R<1> represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl, acyloxy, carbonate, carbamate or ether group; R<2> represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a group -OCOR<7> or a group -OCO2R<7> (where R<7> is a group selected from C1-8alkyl, aryl, arylC1-4alkyl and C3-8cycloalkyl); R<3> represents a group selected from (where the dotted line represents the absence or presence of a single bond, R<8> represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl, acyloxy, C1-6alkoxy or C1-4alkyl group, R<9> represents a hydrogen atom and R<1><0> represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl, C1-6alkoxy or acyloxy group or CR<9>R<1><0> forms a group C=0, R<1><1> represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-4alkyl group, R<1><2> represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R<1><3> represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, m represents 1 or 2 and n represents zero or 1); R<4> and R<5> may each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R<6> represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxymethyl group; and salts thereof; with the proviso R<1> and R<2> cannot both represent hydrogen atoms. These compounds inhibit the enzyme squalene synthase and/or are intermediates for the preparation of compounds which inhibit the enzyme squalene synthase. Compounds of the invention may be formulated for use in a variety of conditions where a lowering of the level of blood plasma cholesterol in animals would be beneficial and for use in combating fungal infections in animals.