α-acyl- and α-heteroatom-substituted benzene acetamide glucokinase activators

A compound of the formula:

• wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, halo, cyano, nitro, lower alkylthio, perfluoro loweralkylthio, lower alkyl sulfonyl, or perfluoro-lower alkyl sulfonyl;
• R3 is lower alkyl having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms or a 5 to 7-membered ring which is cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or heterocycloalkyl having one heteroatom selected from oxygen and sulfur;
• R4 is —C(O)NHR5;
• R5 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, hydroxy lower alkyl, halo lower alkyl, —(CH2)n—C(O)—OR7, —C(O)—(CH2)n—C(O)—OR8;
• R7 and R8 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• X is oxygen, sulfur, sulfonyl or carbonyl;
• and
• the * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.