ALIPHATIC REPLACEMENTS OF THE BIPHENYL MOIETY OF THE NONPEPTIDYL GROWTH-HORMONE SECRETAGOGUES L-692,429 AND L-692,585

Replacement of the central phenyl ring of the biphenyl moiety in the n ovel growth hormone (GH) secretagogues L-692,429 and L-692,585 with pa rtially or completely saturated surrogates has been investigated. The cyclohexenyl analogue 37 displayed GH releasing activity comparable to L-692,585, indicating that the aromaticity of this central ring is no t critical for bioactivity and that this ring may serve primarily to o rient the benzolactam and phenyltetrazole pharmacophores.