HETEROCYCLIC-ANALOGS OF THE BENZOLACTAM NUCLEUS OF THE NONPEPTIDIC GROWTH-HORMONE SECRETAGOGUE L-692,429

A series of analogs of the non-peptidic benzolactam growth hormone sec retagogue L692,429 was prepared with heteroatom substitutions at the 5 -position of the benzolactam ring. Replacement of the 5-position with sulfur or oxygen resulted in secretagogues of approximate equal potenc y to L-692,429 in the rat pituitary cell assay. Substitution of the 5- position with a carbonyl group or hydroxyl group and replacement of th e benzolactam with the 1,4-benzodiazapin-2-one ring system gave analog s of greatly diminished in vitro activity.