Compounds for the treatment of metabolic disorders

1. A compound of the formula:

wherein

n is 1 or 2;

t is 0 or 1;

m is 0 and r is 1, or m is 1 and r is 0;

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 mono-substituted by methyl or ethyl;

Z is

R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms;

R 4 is hydrogen; —NHCOOC(CH 3 ) 3 ; —NHCH 3 ; or —NHCH 2 CH 3 ;

or when R 1 is hydrogen, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

2. The compound or salt of claim 1 , wherein A is cycloalkyl having from 3 to 6 ring carbon atoms wherein the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or one or both of the ring carbons adjacent to the remainder of the compound of formula II are mono-substituted by methyl or ethyl.

3. The compound or salt of claim 1 , wherein A is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 groups selected from: fluoro, alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, perfluoromethyl, alkoxy having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and perfluoromethoxy.

4. The compound of claim 3 , represented by the formula:

wherein

m is 0 or 1;

r is 0 or 1;

Z is

R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms;

R 4 is hydrogen; —NHCOOC(CH 3 ) 3 ; —NHCH 3 ; or —NHCH 2 CH 3 ;

R 3 is hydrogen or halo;

or when R 1 is hydrogen, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

5. The compound or salt of claim 4 , wherein R 1 is hydrogen or ethyl.

6. The compound or salt of claim 5 , wherein the compound is 3-[(4-(2-fluorobenzyloxy)phenyl)-methylthio]propionic acid.

7. The compound or salt of claim 5 , wherein the compound is 3-[(4-(2,6-difluorobenzyloxy)phenyl)-methylthio]propionic acid.

8. The compound or salt of claim 5 , wherein the compound is (2RS)2-(N-Boc)-3-[2-(4-(2,6-difluorobenzyloxy)phenyl)-2-oxoethyl]thiopropionic acid.

9. A compound of the formula:

wherein

n is 1 or 2;

R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms;

R 14 is hydroxy or hydrogen; and

A is

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 pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

10. The compound of claim 9 , represented by the formula:

wherein

n is 1 or 2;

R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms;

A is

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 pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

11. A compound, ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-oxo-4-(4-(2,6-difluorobenzyloxy)phenyl)but-2-enoate, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

12. A compound, 4-(3-(2,6-Dimethylbenzyloxy)phenyl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

13. A compound of the formula:

wherein

n is 1 or 2;

R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and

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 pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

14. The compound or salt of claim 13 , wherein the compound is 4-(3-(2,6-Dimethylbenzyloxy)phenyl)-3-butenoic acid.

15. A compound of the formula:

wherein

n is 1 or 2;

R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and

A is phenyl 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 pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

16. The compound or salt of claim 15 , wherein the compound is 4-(3-(2,6-Dimethylbenzyloxy)phenyl)butyric acid.

17. A compound of the formula:

wherein

n is 0, 1 or 2;

R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms;

R 15 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms;

R 9 is hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, 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 pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

18. The compound or salt of claim 17 , wherein the compound is 4-{3-[((4-Trifluoromethylbenzylamino)-carbonyl)-4-methoxy]phenyl}-4-oxobutyric acid.

19. The compound or salt of claim 17 , wherein the compound is 4-{3-[((2,6-Dimethyllbenzylamino)-carbonyl)-4-methoxy]phenyl}-4-oxobutyric acid.