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Seventeen analogues of the selective, competitive cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist asperlicin 1 were prepared. These compounds were tested as inhibitors of the binding of [125I]CCK to rat pancreas and guinea pig brain receptors. Compounds 4, 7, and 8 were more potent than asperlicin on the pancreatic CCK receptor. One analogue, 17, displayed potency equivalent to asperlicin on the pancreas CCK receptor and showed a marked improvement in aqueous solubility, thereby facilitating the use of this class of CCK antagonists in physiological and pharmacological studies.

A series of 4-substituted 4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepines was prepared by standard methodology. These compounds were tested in vitro as antagonists of the binding of [125I]cholecystokinin (CCK) to rat pancreas and guinea pig brain receptors and of the binding of [125I]gastrin to guinea pig gastric glands. All compounds proved to have greater affinity for the peripheral CCK receptor with some analogues having IC50's in the subnanomolar range. In vivo activity of selected compounds in mice is presented and the structure/activity profile of this class of benzodiazepines as CCK antagonists is discussed.

Coupling of the benzophenones (I) with D-tryptophan methyl ester hydrochloride (II) gives the benzodiazepinones (III).