COMPOUNDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF METABOLIC DISORDERS

1 . A method for treating a mammalian subject with a condition selected from the group consisting of insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis comprising administering to the subject an amount of a biologically active agent effective to treat the condition, wherein the agent is 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 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 V′ by a ring carbon;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent is administered orally.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the agent is administered in an amount from one milligram to four hundred milligrams per day.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition is insulin resistance syndrome or Type II Diabetes.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition is Type 1 Diabetes.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment reduces a symptom of diabetes or the chances of developing a symptom of diabetes, wherein the symptom is selected from the group consisting of: atherosclerosis, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, foot ulceration and cataracts, associated with diabetes.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent is a compound of the formula:

wherein

n is 1 or 2;

R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 7 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 V by a ring carbon;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the agent is 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 2 and R 3 are each independently selected from hydrogen, halo, alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, perfluoromethyl, alkoxy having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and perfluoromethoxy;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is hydrogen or ethyl.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the compound is ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-oxo-4-(4-(2,6-difluorobenzyloxy)phenyl)but-2-enoate.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the compound is 4-(3-(2,6-Dimethylbenzyloxy)phenyl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid.