NOVEL COMPOUNDS OF THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA (I) ARE ACTIVATORS OF AMP-PROTEIN KINASE AND ARE USEFUL IN THE TREATMENT, PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF DISEASES MEDIATED BY THE AMPK-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE. THE COMPOUNDS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION ARE USEFUL IN THE TREATMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES, HYPERGLYCEMIA, METABOLIC SYNDROME, OBESITY, HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA, AND HYPERTENSION. (NO SUITABLE