i stimulate the expression of abca1 in mammalian cells and may thereby increase cholesterol efflux and raise hdl levels in plasma thus the compounds of formula i are useful for treating conditions treatable by increasing abca1 expression including but not limited to coronary artery disease dyslipidiemia and metabolic syndrome and may also be useful in treating other conditions related to high cholesterol low hdl levels in mammals activity testing is conducted as described in those patents and patent applications referenced above and in the examples below and by methods apparent to one skilled in the art the compounds of formula i are usually administered in the form of pharmaceutical compositions this invention therefore provides pharmaceutical compositions that contain as the active ingredient one or more of the compounds of formula i or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients carriers including inert solid diluents and fillers diluents including sterile aqueous solution and various organic solvents permeation enhancers solubilizers and adjuvants the compounds of formula i may be administered alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents such compositions are prepared in a manner well known in the pharmaceutical art see e g remington 39 s pharmaceutical sciences mace publishing co philadelphia pa 17 th ed 1985 and u201c modern pharmaceutics u201d marcel dekker inc 3 rd ed g s banker amp c t rhodes eds the compounds of formula i may be administered in either single or multiple doses by any of the accepted modes of administration.