PYRIDINE-BASED THIAZOLIDINES

PURPOSE: To obtain new compounds, having more improved hypoglycemic actions and further antiglycation and aldose reductase inhibiting activities and low toxicity and useful as a preventing and therapeutic agent for diabetes and its complications. CONSTITUTION: The compounds of formula I [X is S or O; X is O, NH, etc.; Y is SO2 or CR R (R is H, a 1-7C alkyl, etc.; R is H, a 3-7C cycloalkyl, etc.); Z is a 1-10C alkyl, phenyl, etc.; R to R are each H, a halogen, etc.; R is H, or together with R , indicates a bond, etc.; (n) is 0 or 1] are their salts, e.g. 5-((5-(2-oxo-2-(2-phenyl-5-methyl-4-oxazolyl)ethoxy)-2-pyridyl)methyl) thiazolidine-2,4-dione. The compounds are obtained by carrying out the dehydrating condensation of, e.g. a compound of formula II with a compound of formula III (R is H or a protecting group of amide) in an organic solvent in the presence of a base. Furthermore, the compound of formula II is a new substance and prepared by using, e.g. 5-hydroxy-2-picoline as a starting substance.