(3-substituted benzyl)thiazolidine-2,4-diones as structurally new antihyperglycemic agents.

A series of 3-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]benzamide derivatives was prepared as part of a search for antidiabetic agents. A structure-activity relationship study of these compounds led to the identification of 5-[(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[4-(trifluorome thyl)-phenyl]methyl]benzamide (KRP-297) as a candidate drug for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.