Abstract: Certain novel imidazole derivatives N-substituted by a vinyl group itself carrying a mevalonic acid derivative or corresponding lactone are inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase and are useful for lowering blood plasma cholesterol levels.The compounds are of general formula (I): ##STR1## in which one of the groups R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted by one to three halogen atoms and the other represents a phenyl ring optionally substituted by one to five substituents selected from halogen atoms and hydroxyl, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, S(O).sub.n C.sub.1-3 alkyl, (CH.sub.2).sub.m NR.sup.a R.sup.b, (CH.sub.2).sub.m NR.sup.c COR.sup.d and trifluoromethyl groups;R.sup.3 represents a phenyl ring optionally substituted by one to five substituents selected from halogen atoms and hydroxyl, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, S(O).sub.n C.sub.1-3 alkyl, (CH.sub.2).sub.m NR.sup.a R.sup.b, (CH.sub.2).sub.m NR.sup.c COR.sup.

Abstract: There are provided compounds of general formula ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group;R.sup.2 is a hydrogen or halogen atom or a methyl group;and one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a group --NR.sup.5 R.sup.6 [where R.sup.5 is a hydrogen atom and R.sup.6 is a group --COCH.sub.2 NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 (wherein R.sup.7 and R.sup.8, which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.3-7 cycloalkyl group of a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group optionally substituted by a hydroxyl or benzoyloxy group, or --NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 forms a saturated heterocyclic amino group which has 5-7 ring members and optionally contains in the ring an oxygen or sulphur atom or a group --NH-- or --N(R)-- where R is a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group optionally substituted by a hydroxyl group) or R.sup.6 is a group --COCH.sub.2 NH(CH.sub.2).sub.n NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 (where n is an integer from 2 to 5 inclusive and R.sup.7, R.sup.8 and --NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 are as defined above) or R.sup.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group;R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy or C.sub.2-4 alkanoyloxy group;R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, or (when R.sup.2 is other than a hydrogen atom) optionally a hydroxyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy or C.sub.2-4 alkanoyloxy group, or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together are a methylenedioxy group;R.sup.4 is a hydrogen or halogen atom or a methyl group;R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 is each a hydrogen atom or a group --OCOCH.sub.2 NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 [where R.sup.7 and R.sup.8, which may be the same or different, each is a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.3-7 cycloalkyl group or a straight or branched C.sub.1-4 alkyl group optionally substituted by a hydroxyl group, or --NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 forms a saturated heterocyclic amino group which has 5-7 ring members and optionally contains in the ring an oxygen or sulphur atom or a group --NH-- or --N(R) where R is a C.sub.