The present invention provides compounds useful, for example, for treating metabolic disorders in a subject. Such compounds have the general formula I: ##STR00001## where the definitions of the variables Q, L.sup.1, ##STR00002## L.sup.2, M, X, L.sup.3, and A are provided herein. The present invention also provides compositions that include, and methods for using, the compounds in preparing medicaments and for treating metabolic disorders such as, for example, type II diabetes.