Process for preparing certain 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroindolizinyl (ethyl or ethynyl)-hydroxy or methoxy-phosphinyl-3-hydroxy-butanoates and derivatives thereof

摘要

Compounds which are useful as inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis and thus as hypocholesterolemic agents are provided which have the structure <IMAGE> including salts thereof, wherein R is OH, or lower alkoxy; Rx is H or alkyl; X is -(CH2)a- (where a is 1, 2, or 3), -CH=CH-, or -C 3BOND C-. New intermediates used in preparing the above compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and a method for using such compounds to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis are also provided.