Novel substituted arylhexadienoic acids and esters thereof which can be used for the treatment and prevention of diabetes, dyslipidaemia and atherosclerosis, pharmaceutical compositios comprising them and processes for the preparation of them

1- Compound of the formula I:

• in which
• R1 represents an optionally substituted saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon-based group;
• an optionally substituted saturated and/or aromatic carbocyclic group;
• an optionally substituted saturated and/or aromatic heterocyclic group;
• R2 represents an optionally halogenated saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon-based group;
• an optionally substituted saturated and/or aromatic carbocyclic group;
• a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon-based group which is substituted by an optionally substituted aromatic carbocyclic group;
• or a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon-based group which is substituted by a saturated and/or aromatic heterocyclic group;
• the radicals R3 represent, independently of each other, a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon-based group, which is optionally halogenated and/or optionally interrupted by one or more O or S atoms;
• a halogen atom;
• a nitro group;
• cyano;
• a (C6-C10)aryloxy group, which is optionally substituted by one or more radicals G°;
• a (C6-C10)arylthio group, which is optionally substituted by one or more radicals G°;
• (C1-C10)alkylsulfonyl;
• (C6-C10)arylsulfonyl, in which aryl is optionally substituted by one or more radicals G°;
• 5- to 7-membered heteroaryl which comprises one or more hetero atoms chosen from O, N and S and is optionally substituted by one or more radicals G°;
• (C6-C10)aryloxycarbonyl;
• (C6-C10)arylcarbonylamino;
• (C1-C10)alkoxycarbonyl;
• (C1-C10)alkylcarbonylamino;
• di(C1-C10)alkylamino;
• (C6-C10)aryl(C1-C10)alkyl, in which aryl is optionally substituted by one or more radicals G°;
• (C6-C10)aryl, which is optionally substituted by one or more radicals G°;
• (C1-C10)alkylcarbonyl;
• or (C3-C8)cycloalkyl(C1-C10)alkyl, in which cycloalkyl is optionally substituted by one or more radicals G°;
• G° is chosen from halogen;
• optionally halogenated alkoxy;
• or optionally halogenated alkyl;
• R represents a hydrogen atom;
• a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon-based group;
• an amino group, which is optionally substituted by one or two saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon-based groups;
• or an optionally substituted aromatic carbocyclic group;
• Z represents O;
• CHR4 in which R4 takes any of the meanings given above for R;
• i represents the integer 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4,
• and also the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.