New thyroid receptor ligands are provided which have the general formula I
1
wherein
R.sub.1 is halogen, trifluoromethyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl,
substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl, or substituted or
unsubstituted C.sub.3-7 cycloalkyl;
R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each independently hydrogen, halogen, substituted
or unsubstituted C.sub.1-4 alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted
C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, wherein at least one of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is
other than hydrogen;
R.sub.4 is a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of
(CH.sub.2).sub.nCOOH, (CH).sub.2COOH, NHCO(CH.sub.2).sub.nCOOH,
CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.nCOOH and NH(CH.sub.2).sub.mCOOH;
n is an integer from 0 to 4; and
m is an integer from 1 to 4.
In addition, a method is provided for preventing, inhibiting or treating a
disease associated with metabolism dysfunction or which is dependent upon
the expression of a T.sub.3 regulated gene, wherein a compound as
described above is administered in a therapeutically effective amount.
