3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors. 5. 6-(Fluoren-9-yl)- and 6-(fluoren-9-ylidenyl)-3,5-dihydroxyhexanoic acids and their lactone derivatives.

A limited study was conducted to determine the biological consequences of rendering the phenyl rings of the previously reported 7-(3,5-disubstituted [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl)-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoic acids coplanar. Such constraint substantially diminished intrinsic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity.