Selective linear peptides with melanocor tin-4 receptor (MC4-R) agonist activity

Abstract

Peptides of formulae I, II and III that selectively activate melanocortin-4 (MC-4) receptor activity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A compound of the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 m is 0 or 1;  
 n is 0 or 1;  
 R 1  is an unsubstituted linear or branched alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; linear or branched alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms mono-substituted by phenyl or carboxyl; unsubstituted phenyl; or phenyl mono-substituted by fluoro, chloro or linear or branched alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;  
 X is  
                     
 wherein R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently hydrogen or a linear or branched alkoxy having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein when R 3  is alkoxy, R 2  and R 4  are both hydrogen;  
 R 9  is hydrogen, linear or branched alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbons, linear or branched alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbons, or unsubstituted phenoxy;  
 R 11  is cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, or a branched alkyl having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms;  
 R 6  is hydrogen or methyl;  
 R 7  is  
                     
 
       Y is 
 and R 8  is hydrogen or methyl; or  
 Y is  
                     
 and R 8  is hydrogen.