| abstract |
The present invention relates to certain compounds of the formula (I) the racemic-enantiomeric mixtures and optical isomers of said compounds, prodrugs thereof and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, depicted below, which are β-adrenergic receptor agonists and accordingly have utility as, inter alia, hypoglycemic and antiobesity agents. The invention also relates to methods of use for the compounds and to compositions containing them. The compounds of the present invention also possess utility for increasing lean meat deposition and/or improving the lean meat to fat ratio in animals, e.g., ungulate animals, companion animals, especially dogs, and poultry. The compounds of formula (I) have the following structure ##STR1## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are as defined in the specification. |