1,3-dioxolane derivatives as cholesterol-lowering agents

Compounds of formula (I): wherein n is 2 or 3; p is 0, 1 or 2; q is 0, 1 or 2; X is oxygen or S(O)t where t is 0, 1 or 2; each R is independently halo, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, or trifluoromethyl; each R is independently halo or lower alkyl; R is nitro or -N(R )R where R is hydrogen or lower alkyl; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkylsulfonyl or -C(Y)R where Y is oxygen or sulfur and R is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or -N(R )R where R is hydrogen or lower alkyl and R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxycarbonyl; or R and R together with N is pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, thiomorpholino or piperazino, wherein the piperazino is optionally substituted at the 4-position by -C(O)R where R is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or amino; and R is hydrogen or lower alkyl, as single stereoisomers or as mixtures thereof; and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, are useful in treating disease-states characterized by hypercholesterolemia.