α-Phosphonocarboxylate compounds are provided which inhibit the enzyme squalene synthetase and thereby inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis. These compounds have the formula
 wherein R¹ is a lipophilic group which contains at least 7 carbons and is substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted arylalkyl or optionally substituted aryl;
   Z is H, halogen, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl or lower alkyl;
   R² and R³ are independently H, metal ion or other pharmaceutically acceptable cation, or a prodrug ester;
   R⁴ is H, metal ion or other pharmaceutically acceptable cation, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, arylalkyl, aryl or a prodrug ester.
                            α-膦酰基
羧酸化合物可抑制
角鲨烯合成酶,从而抑制
胆固醇的
生物合成。这些化合物的
化学式为
 其中 R¹ 是至少含有 7 个碳的亲脂基团,并且是取代的烷基、任选取代的环烷基、任选取代的环烷基烷基、任选取代的烯基、任选取代的炔基、任选取代的芳烷基或任选取代的芳基;
Z 是 H、卤素、羟基、羟烷基或低级烷基;
R² 和 R³ 独立地为 H、
金属离子或其他药学上可接受的阳离子或原药酯;
R⁴ 是 H、
金属离子或其他药学上可接受的阳离子、低级烷基、低级烯基、芳烷基、芳基或原药酯。