Novel Series of Highly Potent Non-peptide Growth Hormone Secretagogues with Im- proved Bioavailability

Abstract

The discovery and the SAR of acylproline derivatives as highly potent growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs) with good oral bioavailability are described. One representative compound, N-[3-(2,2-dimethylpropylamino)-2-hydroxypropyl]-2(R)-[l-(2,2-dimethylpropionyl)pyrrolidine-2(S)-carbonylamino]-3-naphthalen-2-ylpropionamide (4e), showed potent GHS activity (ED 50 =1 nM) and good oral bioavailability (BA=33.2%). Moreover, the optically pure N-[3-(2,2-dimethylpropylamino)-2(S)-hydroxypropyl]-2(R)-[1-(2,2-dimethylpropionyl)pyrrolidine-2(S)-carbonylamino]-3-naphthalen-2-ylpropionamide ((2S)-4e) showed a good metabolic stability against in vitro clearance (human liver microsome) with potent GHS activity.