Synthesis of pyrazinone ring-containing opioid mimetics and examination of their opioid receptor-binding activity.

Cyclization of dipeptidyl chloromethyl ketones gave 6-(4-aminobutyl)-3-carboxyethyl-5-methyl-2(1H)-pyrazinone, 3-(4-aminobutyl)-6-carboxyethyl-5-methyl-2(1H)-pyrazinone, and 3,6-bis(4-aminobutyl)-5-methyl-2(1H)-pyrazinone, which were inserted into the enkephalin sequence to give opioid mimetics. Thus, it was confirmed that a pyrazinone ring can be easily inserted into a peptide sequence in order to evaluate structural components required for biologically active peptides.