Therapeutic DNP derivatives and methods using same

A method of ameliorating a disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof,

• wherein the disease or disorder is at least one selected from the group consisting of non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome, and diabetes,
• the method comprising:
• administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:
• wherein:
• R1, R2, and R3 are H;
• X1 is OR4,
• R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of —C1-C3 alkyl -(aryl), —C1-C3 alkyl-(C3-C6 cycloalkyl), and —C1-C3 alkyl-heteroaryl;
• wherein the aryl is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and naphthyl;
• wherein the heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of thienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,3,4-triazolyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, and 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl;
• and
• wherein the aryl, cycloalkyl, or heteroaryl is independently optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, halogen, acetamido, —CN, —NH2, —OH, —NH (CH3), —N (CH3)2, —CF3, —CH2CF3, —OCF3, —OCH2CF3, and nitro.