Abstract: A compound of the formula:Ar.sub.1 --B--Ar.sub.2wherein Ar.sub.1 is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, thienyl, furanyl, or pyrrolyl, in which each substituent of the substituted phenyl, substituted thienyl, substituted furanyl, and substituted pyrrolyl, independently, is aldehyde, acyl, ester, carboxyl, amido, nitrile, nitro, cyano, acetal, ketal, oxoalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, haloalkyl, iminoalkyl, acid halide, aminoalkylaminoalkyl, aminoalkylaminoalkylamino, hydroxyalkylaminoalkyl, or hydroxyalkylaminoalkylaminoalkyl; B is, --CH.dbd.CH--, or --C C--, in which R is H, alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, ester, aldehyde, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, carboxyl, --CH(OR.sub.1).sub.2, or NR.sub.2 R.sub.3, where each R.sub.1, independently, is H, alkyl, or acyl; and each of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, independently, is H, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or aminoalkyl; and Ar.sub.

Abstract: An acylation process using a sulfonic acid, a salt of the sulfonic acid, or a mixture thereof, as a catalyst. Compound 6 is prepared by protecting the 4-hydroxyl group on the pyranone ring of the 8'-hydroxy compound 2 to form a .beta.-protected compound 3, acylating the 8-hydroxy group on the polyhydronaphthyl ring of compound 3 to give protected ester, compound 4, then removing the protecting group, where the compounds 6, 2, 3 and 4 are as described in the specification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a group of polyheterocyclic compounds covered by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein each of X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, and X.sub.4, independently, is O, S, NH, or N(C.sub.1-6 alkyl), but one of them must be O, NH, or N(C.sub.1-6 alkyl); each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6, independently, is H or a substituent (e.g., halogen, CN, NO.sub.2, or C.sub.1-4 haloalkyl), but at least one of them must be a substituent; each of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, independently, is H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, CHO, CH.sub.2 OH, or CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 ; and each of m and n, independently, is 0 or 1.

Abstract: The process for preparing compound 2 by reacting the compound 1, each as described in the specification hereof, with a tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide having the formula R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 N.sup.+ OH.sup.-, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl group or a (C.sub.6 -C.sub.10) aryl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10) alkyl group, to obtain an triol carboxylate thereof, acidifying the triol carboxylate, then lactonizing the product to obtain diol lactone, a key intermediate for production of antihypercholesterolemia agents.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is aryl of 6 to 12 carbon atoms or aralkyl of 7 to 14 carbon atoms either optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, lower alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, lower alkylthio of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, lower alkylsulfinyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, lower alkylsulfonyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, halogen, trihalomethyl, nitro, cyano or carboxyl; alkyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 3 to 10 carbon atoms, lower alkenyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or lower alkynyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, all optionally substituted with 1 to 3 halogen atoms; lower alkoxyalkylene; lower alkylene carbalkoxy; lower alkylthioalkylene; lower alkylsulfinylalkylene; or lower alkylsulfonylalkylene; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 12 carbon atoms, or thienyl, or taken together form an alkylene bridge to give a cycloalkyl group of 3 to 10 carbon atoms; and R.sup.