Compounds which inhibit the enzyme cholesterol ester hydrolase (CEH) thus inhibit the formation of esterified cholesterol. Esterified cholesterol is absorbed through the intestine and inhibition of the enzyme therefore results in inhibition of cholesterol absorption. The compounds of this invention inhibit cholesterol ester hydrolase and have the formula: IMAGE I wherein Z is -Ar1, -Ar1-Ar2, -Ar1-O-Ar2, -Ar1-S-Ar2, IMAGE IMAGE -Ar1-(CH2)1-20-Ar2, -Ar1-(CH2)1-20-O-Ar2, -Ar1-O-(CH2)1-20-Ar2, -Ar1-(CR6=CR6)1-3-Ar2 or -Ar1-NR7-Ar2; and A is a hydrocarbon linking group which may be interrupted by a heteroatom or a cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, or an azacycloalkyl group; and R4 and R5 are independently alkyl, alkenyl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl or H or R4 and R5 together with the interposed nitrogen form a saturated heterocyclic ring.
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