Agents useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as
insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, hyper-lipidemia, fatty liver
disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are
disclosed. Formula (I) wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 2 or 3; q is 0 or 1; t
is 0 or 1; R.sup.2 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R.sup.3 is
hydrogen, halo, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or alkoxy having
from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; A is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by 1
or 2 groups selected from: halo, alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms,
perfluoromethyl, alkoxy having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and perfluoromethoxy;
or cycloalkyl having from 3 to 6 ring carbon atoms wherein the cycloalkyl
is unsubstituted or one or two ring carbons are independently
mono-substituted by methyl or ethyl; or a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic
ring having 1 or 2 ring heteroatoms selected from N, S and O and the
heteroaromatic ring is covalently bound to the remainder of the compound
of formula I by a ring carbon; and R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1
or 2 carbon atoms. Alternatively, when R.sup.1 is hydrogen, the
biologically active agent can be a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of
the compound of Formula (I).