Novel compounds of the general formula (I), in which the variables are as defined in claim 1, the use of these compounds as pharmaceutical compositions, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of treatment employing these compounds and compositions. The present compounds are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of conditions mediated by Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPAR), in particular the PPAR.delta. subtype, namely, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, syndrome X (including the metabolic syndrome, i.e. impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hyper triglyceridaemia and/or obesity), cardiovascular diseases (including atherosclerosis) and hypercholesterolaemia.