Structural characterization of a cyclic dipeptidomimetic: the effect of ring size on a...

A series of dipeptidomimetics derived from C(alpha)(i)-to-N(i-1) side chain-to-backbone amide cyclization of adjacent amino acids are structurally characterized. The resulting ring systems are either 1,2,5-trisubstituted-3-oxo-1,4-diazepine (DAP) structurally related to benzodiazepines, commonly used in drug candidates and therapeutic agents, or higher homologs of it. Here, we examine the structural consequences of enlarging the ring size from seven members to eight-, nine-, and ten-membered rings. The structural features determined by high-resolution NMR methods, relying largely on homo- and heteronuclear coupling constants, indicate that variation of the ring leads to alternative conformations and topological orientations of the attached chemical moieties or functional groups. Controlling the topological display of the ring substituents required for biological action, using a molecular scaffold made up entirely of functional groups found in peptides, should facilitate the rational, stepwise transformation of peptide lead candidate into a nonpeptidic drug candidate.