Disclosed are compounds which have been identified as inhibitors of phosphate transport. Many of the compounds are represented by Structural Formula (I): Ar.sub.1--W--X--Y--Ar.sub.2; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Ar.sub.1 and Ar.sub.2 are independently a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or an optionally substituted five membered or six membered non-aromatic heterocylic group fused to an optionally substituted monocylic aryl group. W and Y are independently a covalent bond or a C1 C3 substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group. X is a heteroatom-containing functional group, an aromatic heterocyclic group, substituted aromatic heterocyclic group, non-aromatic heterocyclic group, substituted non-aromatic heterocyclic group, an olefin group or a substituted olefin group. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject with a disease associated with hyperphosphatemia, as well as a disease mediated by phosphate-transport function. The methods comprise the step of administering an effective amount of the one of the compounds described above.