Compounds of the formula provide pharmacological agents which are potent agonists of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). Accordingly, the compounds of the instant invention are useful for the treatment of conditions mediated by the PPAR receptor activity in mammals. Such conditions include dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesteremia, atherosclerosis, hypertriglyceridemia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, vascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, obesity, inflammation, arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, skin disorders, respiratory diseases, ophthalmic disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The compounds of the present invention are particularly useful in mammals as hypoglycemic agents for the treatment and prevention of conditions in which impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance are implicated, such as type-1 and type-2 diabetes, and Syndrome X. Preferred are the compounds of the invention which are dual agonists of PPAR.alpha. and PPAR.gamma. receptors.