Abstract: The use of azetidinone compounds that are inhibitors of cholesterol absorption as tools for discovering and characterizing proteins involved in trafficking or absorption of cholesterol and/or cholesteryl esters in biological systems is presented. These compounds can serve as tools for competitive binding assays to discover and characterize other chemical agents useful as cholesterol absorption inhibitors. New compounds of the present invention are also highly efficacious inhibitors of cholesterol absorption.

Abstract: The use of azetidinone compounds that are inhibitors of cholesterol absorption as tools for discovering and characterizing proteins involved in trafficking or absorption of cholesterol and/or cholesteryl esters in biological systems is presented. These compounds can serve as tools for competitive binding assays to discover and characterize other chemical agents useful as cholesterol absorption inhibitors. New compounds of the present invention are also highly efficacious inhibitors of cholesterol absorption.

Abstract: Hydroxy-substituted azetidinone hypocholesterolemic agents of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are aryl or R.sup.4 -substituted aryl;Ar.sup.3 is aryl or R.sup.5 -substituted aryl;X, Y and Z are --CH.sub.2 --, --CH(lower alkyl)-- or --C(dilower alkyl)--;R and R.sup.2 are --OR.sup.6, --O(CO)R.sup.6, --O(CO)OR.sup.9 or --O(CO)NR.sup.6 R.sup.7 ;R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are H or lower alkyl;q is 0 or 1; r is 0 or 1; m, n and p are 0-4; provided that at least one of q and r is 1, and the sum of m, n, p, q and r is 1-6; and provided that when p is 0 and r is 1, the sum of m, q and n is 1-5;R.sup.4 is selected from lower alkyl, R.sup.5, --CF.sub.3, --CN, --NO.sub.2 and halogen;R.sup.5 is selected from --OR.sup.6, --O(CO)R.sup.6, --O(CO)OR.sup.9, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.1-5 OR.sup.6, --O(CO)NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 (CO)R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 (CO)OR.sup.9, --NR.sup.6 (CO)NR.sup.7 R.sup.8, --NR.sup.6 SO.sub.2 R.sup.9, --COOR.sup.6, --CONR.sup.

Abstract: Hydroxy-substituted azetidinone hypocholesterolemic agents of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are aryl or R.sup.4 -substituted aryl;Ar.sup.3 is aryl or R.sup.5 -substituted aryl;X, Y and Z are --CH.sub.2 --, --CH(lower alkyl)-- or --C(dilower alkyl)--;R and R.sup.2 are --OR.sup.6, --O(CO)R.sup.6, --O(CO)OR.sup.9 or --O(CO)NR.sup.6 R.sup.7 ;R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are H or lower alkyl;q is 0 or 1; r is 0 or 1; m, n and p are 0-4; provided that at least one of q and r is 1, and the sum of m, n, p, q and r is 1-6; and provided that when p is O and r is 1, the sum of m, q and n is 1-5;R.sup.4 is selected from lower alkyl, R.sup.5, --CF.sub.3, --CN, --NO.sub.2 and halogen R.sup.5 is selected from --OR.sup.6, --O(CO)R.sup.6, --O(CO)OR.sup.9, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.1-5 OR.sup.6, --O(CO)NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, --NR.sub.6 R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 (CO)R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 (CO)OR.sup.9, --NR.sup.6 (CO)NR.sup.7 R.sup.8, --NR.sup.6 SO.sub.2 R.sup.9, --COOR.sup.6, --CONR.sup.

Abstract: Sulfur-substituted azetidinone hypocholesterolemic agents of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are disclosed, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and a method of lowering serum cholesterol by administering said compounds, alone or in combination with a cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor.

Abstract: Novel compounds of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R.sub.1 is ##STR2## R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from --CH.sub.2 --, --CH(lower alkyl)--, --C(di-lower alkyl)--, --CH.dbd.CH-- and --C(lower alkyl).dbd.CH--; or R.sub.1 with R.sub.2, or R.sub.1 with R.sub.3, form --CH.dbd.CH-- or --CH.dbd.C(lower alkyl)--;u and v are independently 0-3, provided both are not zero;R.sub.4 is B--(CH.sub.2).sub.m C(O)--; m is 0-5;B--(CH.sub.2).sub.q --; q is 0-6;B--(CH.sub.2).sub.e --Z--(CH.sub.2).sub.r ; Z is --O--, --C(O)--, phenylene, --N(R.sub.8)-- or --S(O).sub.0-2 --, e and r is 0-5; the sum of e and r is 0-6;B--(C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkenylene)--; B'--(C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 alkadienylene)--;B--(CH.sub.2).sub.t --Z--(C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkenylene)--; t is 0-3; the sum of t and the number of carbon atoms in the alkenylene chain is 2-6;B--(CH.sub.2).sub.f --V--(CH.sub.2).sub.g --; V is cycloalkylene, f is 1-5, g is 0-5; the sum of f and g is 1-6;B--(CH.sub.2).sub.t --V--(C.

Abstract: Novel compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is --CH.dbd.CH--B; --C.tbd.C--B; --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --X--B, and X is a bone, --NH-- or --S(O).sub.0-2 --; optionally substituted heteroaryl or benzofused heteroaryl; --C(O)--B; or ##STR2## D is B'--(CH.sub.2).sub.m C(O)--, B'--(CH.sub.2).sub.q --, B'--(CH.sub.2).sub.e --Z--(CH.sub.2).sub.r, wherein Z is --O--, --C(O)--, phenylene, --NR.sub.8 -- or --S(O).sub.0-2 --, B'--(alkenylene)--; B'--(alkadienylene)--; B'--(CH.sub.2).sub.t --Z--(alkenylene), B'--(CH.sub.2).sub.f --V--(CH.sub.2).sub.g --, wherein V is cycloalkylene, B'--(CH.sub.2).sub.t --V--(alkenylene) or B'--(alkenylene)--V--(CH.sub.2).sub.t --, B'--(CH.sub.2).sub.a --Z--(CH.sub.2).sub.b --V--(CH.sub.2).sub.d --, T--(CH.sub.2).sub.s --, wherein T is cycloalkyl; naphthylmethyl or optionally substituted heteroarylmethyl;B is optionally substituted phenyl;B' is naphthyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl or optionally substituted phenyl;R is hydrogen, fluoro, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or B--(CH.sub.2).sub.

Abstract: 4-[(Heterocycloalkyl or heteroaromatic)-substituted phenyl]-2-azetidinone hypocholesterolemic agents of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: A is optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, benzofused heterocycloalkyl, or benzofused heteroaryl;Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are optionally substituted aryl;Q is a bond or, with the 3-position ring carbon of the azetidinone, forms a spiro group; andR.sup.1 is alkylene; alkylene wherein a carbon in the chain is replaced by --O--, --C(O)--, phenylene, --NR.sup.8 --, --S(O).sub.0-2 -- or cycloalkylene; or alkenylene; or, when Q is a bond, R.sup.1 can be alkylene substituted by one or two hydroxy groups or hydroxy derivatives, wherein the alkylene chain can optionally be joined to Ar.sup.1 through --O-- or --S(O).sub.0-2 -- or joined to the azetidinone ring through a --S(O).sub.

Abstract: Sulfur-substituted azetidinone hypocholesterolemic agents of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: Ar.sup.1 is aryl, R.sup.10 -substituted aryl or heteroaryl;Ar.sup.2 is aryl or R.sup.4 -substituted aryl;Ar.sup.3 is aryl or R.sup.5 -substituted aryl;X and Y are --CH.sub.2 --, --CH(lower alkyl)-- or --C(dilower alkyl)--;R is --OR.sup.6, --O(CO)R.sup.6, --O(CO)OR.sup.9 or --O(CO)NR.sup.6 R.sup.7 ; R.sup.1 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or aryl; or R and R.sup.1 together are .dbd.O;q is 0 or 1; r is 0, 1 or 2; m and n are 0-5; provided that the sum of m, n and q is 1-5;R.sup.4 is selected from lower alkyl, --OR.sup.6, --O(CO)R.sup.6, --O(CO)OR.sup.9, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.1-5 OR.sup.6, --O(CO)NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 (CO)R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 (CO)OR.sup.9, --NR.sup.6 (CO)NR.sup.7 R.sup.8, --NR.sup.6 SO.sub.2 R.sup.9, --COOR.sup.6, --CONR.sup.6 R.sup.7, --COR.sup.6, --SO.sub.2 NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, S(O).sub.0-2 R.sup.9, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.1-10 --COOR.sup.6, --O(CH.

Abstract: A process for preparing compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R.sup.2 are independently --OH, --O(lower alkyl) or --0-benzyl and the remaining variables are as defined in the specification, comprising(a) treating with a strong base in an anhydrous organic solvent a lactone of the formula ##STR2## respectively, wherein Ar.sup.10 is Ar.sup.1 or a suitably protected hydroxy- or amino-substituted aryl, and R' and R.sup.2' are R and R.sup.2 as defined above or are suitably protected hydroxy groups;(b) reacting a product of step (a) with an imine of the formula ##STR3## wherein Ar.sup.20 and Ar.sup.30 are Ar.sup.2 or Ar.sup.3 or suitably protected hydroxy- or amino-substituted aryl;c) quenching the reaction with an acid; andd) removing protecting groups as necssary.

Abstract: Sulfur-substituted azetidinone hypocholesterolemic agents of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: Ar.sup.1 is aryl or R.sup.10 -substituted aryl;Ar.sup.2 is aryl or R.sup.4 -substituted aryl;Ar.sup.3 is aryl or R.sup.5 -substituted aryl;X and Y are --CH.sub.2 --, --CH(lower alkyl)-- or --C(dilower alkyl)--;R is --OR.sup.6, --O(CO)R.sup.6, --O(CO)OR.sup.9 or --O(CO)NR.sup.6 R.sup.7 ; R.sup.1 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or aryl; or R and R.sup.1 together are .dbd.O;q is 0 or 1; r is 0, 1 or 2; m and n are 0-5; provided that the sum of m, n and q is 1-5;R.sup.4 is selected from lower alkyl, --OR.sup.6, --O(CO)R.sup.6, --O(CO)OR.sup.9, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.1-5 OR.sup.6, --O(CO)NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 (CO)R.sup.7, --NR.sup.6 (CO)OR.sup.9, --NR.sup.6 (CO)NR.sup.7 R.sup.8, --NR.sup.6 SO.sub.2 R.sup.9, --COOR.sup.6, --CONR.sup.6 R.sup.7, --COR.sup.6, --SO.sup.2 NR.sup.6 R.sup.7, S(O).sub.0-2 R.sup.9, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.1-10 --COOR.sup.6, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.

Abstract: Hydroxy-substituted azetidinone hypocholesterolemic agents of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: Ar1 and Ar2 are aryl or R4-substituted aryl; Ar3 is aryl or R5-substituted aryl; X, Y and Z are —CH2—, —CH(lower alkyl)— or —C(dilower alkyl)—; R and R2 are —OR6, —O(CO)R6, —O(CO)OR9 or —O(CO)NR6R7; R1 and R3 are H or lower alkyl; q is 0 or 1; r is 0 or 1; m, n and p are 0-4; provided that at least one of q and r is 1, and the sum of m, n, p, q and r is 1-6; and provided that when p is O and r is 1, the sum of m, q and n is 1-5; R4 is selected from lower alkyl, R5, —CF3, —CN, —NO2 and halogen R5 is selected from —OR6, —O(CO)R6, —O(CO)OR9, —O(CH2)1-5OR6, —O(CO)NR6R7, —NR6R7, —NR6(CO)R7, —NR6(CO)OR9, —NR6(CO)NR7R8, —NR6SO2R9, —COOR6, —CONR6R7, —COR6, —SO2NR6R7, S(O)0-2R9, —O(CH2)1-10—COOR