The present invention relates to novel cycloalkyl-hydroxyl compounds, compositions comprising hydroxyl compounds, and methods useful for treating and preventing a variety of diseases and conditions such as, but not limited to aging, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, a disorder of glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, hypertension, impotence, inflammation, insulin resistance, lipid elimination in bile, obesity, oxysterol elimination in bile, pancreatitis, Parkinson's disease, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, phospholipid elimination in bile, renal disease, septicemia, Syndrome X, thrombotic disorder. Compounds and methods of the invention can also be used to modulate C reactive protein or enhance bile production in a patient. In certain embodiments, the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention are useful in combination therapy with other therapeutics, such as hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic agents.

Disclosed are compounds of formula (1) and (2) and/or E/E-, E/Z- or Z/Z geometrical isomer forms thereof; wherein R1-R5, R1-R11 and A are defined as in description. The compounds are used as UV absorbers for protecting household products from photolytic and oxidative degradation, as plastic additives, preferably for food and pharmaceutical packaging applications, for preventing photo-degradation of food by incorporation of the compounds of formula (1) and/or (2) into transparent food containers, for protection of UV-A sensitive drugs from photo-degradation by incorporation of UV absorber in transparent blister foils or transparent pharmacy containers, as additives for photographic and printing applications, as additives for electronic applications and protecting the ingredients in agriculture applications. ##STR00001##