Versatile synthesis of chiral 2-substituted-5-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1,4-benzodiazepines as novel scaffolds for peptidomimetic building

The stereocontrolled synthesis of phenylalanine and tryptophan derived 5-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1,4-benzodiazepine derivatives is described. This new methodology involves a modified Strecker reaction of N-Boc protected amino aldehydes and methyl anthranilate, reduction of the resulting α-amino nitriles, and lactamization. The resulting 2-substituted-5-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1,4-benzodiazepines were further functionalized at position 4 by alkylation or acylation reactions. One of these new tryptophan-derived 1,4-benzodiazepines showed significant selective binding affinity at cholecystokinin CCK₁ receptors (IC₅₀=156.5±33.2 nM).