Synthesis and dopamine receptor modulating activity of 3-substituted γ-lactam peptidomimetics of L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycinamide

γ-Lactam peptidomimetic 2 of Pro-Leu-Gly-NH₂ (PLG) was substituted at the 3-position with isobutyl, butyl, and benzyl moieties to give the PLG peptidomimetics 3-5, respectively. These compounds were synthesized to test the hypothesis that attaching a hydrophobic moiety to the lactam ring to mimic the isobutyl side chain of the leucyl residue of PLG would increase the dopamine receptor modulating activity of such peptidomimetics. These peptidomimetics were tested for their ability to enhance the binding of [³H]-N-propylnorapomorphine to dopamine receptors isolated from bovine striatal membranes. The rank order of effectiveness of the 3-substituent was benzyl > n-butyl > isobutyl > H.