Disclosed is a phenyl boronic acid compound represented by Structural Formula (I): ##STR1## Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. Z and Z' are independently --O--. --NH-- or --S--. X is an electron withdrawing group. R is a substituted or unsubstituted straight chained hydrocarbyl group optionally comprising one or more amine, ammonium, ether, thioether or phenylene linking groups and Y is --H, an amine, --[NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.q ].sub.r --NH.sub.2, halogen, --CF.sub.3, thiol ammonium, alcohol, --COOH, --SO.sub.3 H, --OSO.sub.3 H or phosphonium group covalently bonded to the terminal position of R. Each --NH-- in --[NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.q ].sub.r --NH.sub.2 is optionally N-alkylated or N,N-dialkylated and --NH.sub.2 in --[NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.q ].sub.r --NH.sub.2 is optionally N-alkylated, N,N-dialkylated or N,N,N-trialkylated. q is an integer from 2 to about 10 and r is an integer from 1 to about 5. R.sub.1 and R.sub.1' are independently --H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group, or, taken together, are a C2-C5 substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group optionally comprising an amine linking group [--N.sup.+ (R.sup.1a)--]. Each R.sub.1 is Structural Formula (I) is preferably --H. R.sup.1a is --H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, phenyl or substituted phenyl. Also disclosed is a method of treating obesity in a subject by administering an effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

Disclosed is a phenyl boronic acid compound represented by Structural Formula (I): ##STR00001## Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. Z and Z' are independently --O--. --NH-- or --S--. X is an electron withdrawing group. R is a substituted or unsubstituted straight chained hydrocarbyl group optionally comprising one or more amine, ammonium, ether, thioether or phenylene linking groups and Y is --H, an amine, --[NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.q].sub.r--NH.sub.2, halogen, --CF.sub.3, thiol, ammonium, alcohol, --COOH, --SO.sub.3H, --OSO.sub.3H or phosphonium group covalently bonded to the terminal position of R. Each --NH-- in --[NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.q].sub.r--NH.sub.2 is optionally N-alkylated or N,N-dialkylated and --NH.sub.2 in --[NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.q].sub.r--NH.sub.2 is optionally N-alkylated, N,N-dialkylated or N,N,N-trialkylated. q is an integer from 2 to about 10 and r is an integer from 1 to about 5. R.sub.1 and R.sub.1' are independently --H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group, or, taken together, are a C2 C5 substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group optionally comprising an amine linking group [--N.sup.+(R.sup.1a)--]. Each R.sub.1 is Structural Formula (I) is preferably --H. R.sup.1a is --H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, phenyl or substituted phenyl. Also disclosed is a method of treating obesity in a subject by administering an effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

Disclosed is a phenyl boronic acid compound represented by Structural Formula (I): ##STR00001## Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. Z and Z' are independently --O--, --NH-- or --S--. X is an electron withdrawing group. R is a substituted or unsubstituted straight chained hydrocarbyl group optionally comprising one or more amine, ammonium, ether, thioether or phenylene linking groups and Y is --H, an amine, --[NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.q].sub.r--NH.sub.2, halogen, --CF.sub.3, thiol, ammonium, alcohol, --COOH, --SO.sub.3H, --OSO.sub.3H or phosphonium group covalently bonded to the terminal position of R. Each --NH-- in --[NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.q].sub.r--NH.sub.2 is optionally N-alkylated or N,N-dialkylated and --NH.sub.2 in --[NH--CH.sub.2).sub.q].sub.r--NH.sub.2 is optionally N-alkylated, N,N-dialkylated or N,N,N-trialkylated. q is an integer from 2 to about 10 and r is an integer from 1 to about 5. R.sub.1 and R.sub.1' are independently --H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group, or, taken together, are a C2-C5 substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group optionally comprising an amine linking group [--N.sup.+(R.sup.1a)--]. Each R.sub.1 is Structural Formula (I) is preferably --H. R.sup.1a is --H, alkyl, substituted alkyl phenyl or substituted phenyl. Also disclosed is a method of treating obesity in a subject by administering an effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

Disclosed are polymers comprising one or more phenyl boronate ester, boronamide or boronate thioester groups. The phenyl boronate ester, boronamide and boronate thioester groups are represented by one of the following structural formulas: ##STR00001## Ar in Structural Formulas (I) and (II) is substituted or unsubstituted; and each Z is --O--, --NH-- or --S-- and is independently selected. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the polymer are also included. The aryl boronate ester, boronamide or boronate thioester can be cleaved to release the corresponding aryl boronic acid.Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polymers of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent; and methods of treating a subject for obesity with the polymers of the present invention.