The present invention relates to a method of treating obesity in a subject by administering to the subject a compound having the formula: ##STR00001## wherein n is from 0 to 8; R.sup.1 is CH.sub.2OH, CH(OH)R.sup.5, CH.sub.2OR.sup.5, CO.sub.2R.sup.5, C(O)NH.sub.2, C(O)NHR.sup.5, C(O)NR.sup.5R.sup.6, C(O)NHNH.sub.2, C(O)NHNHR.sup.5, C(O)NHNR.sup.5R.sup.6, C(O)NR.sup.5NH.sub.2, C(O)NR.sup.5NHR.sup.6, C(O)NR.sup.5NR.sup.6R.sup.7, C(O)NHNH(C(O)R.sup.5), C(O)NHNR.sup.5(C(O)R.sup.6), C(O)NR.sup.5NH(C(O)R.sup.6), C(O)NR.sup.5NR.sup.6(C(O)R.sup.7), CN, or C(O)R.sup.5; R.sup.2 is H, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, YH, YR.sup.8, YR.sup.8R.sup.9, YR.sup.8YR.sup.9YR.sup.10, YC(O)R.sup.8, C(O)YR.sup.8, C(O)NH.sub.2, C(O)NHR.sup.8, C(O)NR.sup.8R.sup.9, NH.sub.2, NHR.sup.8, NR.sup.8R.sup.9, NHC(O)R.sup.8, or NR.sup.8C(O)R.sup.9; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, halogens, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, OH, OR NH.sub.2, NHR.sup.10, NR.sup.10R.sup.11, NHC(O)R.sup.10, or NR.sup.10C(O)R.sup.11; R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, and R.sup.11 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted alkyl, substituted alkyl, unsubstituted aryl and substituted aryl; R.sup.12 is selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted alkyl, and substituted alkyl; and Y is O or S; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.