Novel thyroid receptor ligands are provided which have the general formula (I)
where R1 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbons or cycloalkyl of 3 to 7 carbons; R2 and R3 are the same or different and are hydrogen, halogen, alkyl of 1 to 3 carbons or cycloalkyl of 3 to 5 carbons, at least one of R2 and R3 being other than hydrogen; n is an integer from 0 to 4; R4 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon, an aromatic hydrocarbon, carboxylic acid ester thereof, alkenyl carboxylic acid or ester thereof, hydroxy, halogen, cyano, or a phosphonic acid or an ester thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptible salt thereof. A method for treating diseases associated with metabolism dysfunction or which are dependent on the expression of a T3 regulated gene, such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, and goiter, is also provided.