Melanocortin receptor ligands

Abstract

The present invention relates to compounds which comprise a nitrogen-containing ring scaffold substituted by an R 1 alkyl units selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 12 linear or branched alkyl, C 3 -C 8 cyclic alkyl, C 2 -C 12 linear or branched alkenyl, or haloalkyl, for example, the 2-keto-3-alkylpiperazines having the formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, and 4-chlorophenyl; R 1 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexylmethyl, benzyl, allyl, 1-methylallyl, 2-methylallyl, but-2-enyl, and propargyll; R 7a is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —CO 2 H, —CONH 2 , —CONHCH 3 , and —CON(CH 3 ) 2 ; R 8 is benzyl, substituted benzyl, or naphthalen-2-ylmethyl.

1 . A compound having the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidin-2-yl, 4-difluoropyrrolidin-2-yl, 1-aminocycloprop-1-yl, azetidin-2-yl, piperidin-2-yl, piperidin-4-yl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-4-yl, thiophen-2-yl, furan-2-yl, pyran-4-yl, isoquinolin-1-yl, tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl, tetrahydroisoquinolin-3-yl, and isoquinolin-3-yl;  
       R is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, and 4-chlorophenyl;  
       R 1  is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopropylmethyl, methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, and ethoxymethyl;  
       R 7a  is selected from the group consisting of  
       i) hydrogen;  
       ii) —CO 2 H;  
       iii) —CO 2 CH 3 ;  
       iv) —CONH 2 ;  
       v) —CONHCH 3 ;  
       vi) —CON(CH 3 ) 2 ;  
       vii) —CONH(CH 2 CH 2 F);  
       viii) —CONCH(CH 3 ) 2 ;  
       ix) —CONH(C 3 H 5 );  
       x) —CONHCH 2 (C 3 H 5 );  
       R 8  is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, (2-chlorophenyl)methyl, (3-chlorophenyl)methyl, (4-chlorophenyl)methyl, (2,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl, (3,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl, (2-fluorophenyl)-methyl, (3-fluorophenyl)methyl, (4-fluorophenyl)methyl, and naphthalen-2-ylmethyl.  
     
   
   
       2 . A compound according to  claim 1  wherein R is 4-fluorophenyl.  
   
   
       3 . A compound according to  claim 1  wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidin-2-yl, 4-difluoropyrrolidin-2-yl, 1-aminocycloprop-1-yl, azetidin-2-yl, piperidin-2-yl, piperidin-4-yl, isoquinolin-1-yl, isoquinolin-3-yl, tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl, tetrahydroiso-quinolin-3-yl.  
   
   
       4 . A compound according to  claim 3  wherein Q is pyrrolidin-2-yl, 4-difluoropyrrolidin-2-yl, or piperidin-2-yl.  
   
   
       5 . A compound according to  claim 1  wherein R 1  is methyl, ethyl, methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, or ethoxymethyl.  
   
   
       6 . A compound according to  claim 5  wherein R 1  is ethyl or methoxymethyl.  
   
   
       7 . A compound according to  claim 1  wherein R 7a  is —CONH 2 ; —CONHCH 3 ; —CONH(C 3 H 5 ); —CONH(CH 2 CH 2 F); or —CO 2 CH 3 .  
   
   
       8 . A compound according to  claim 1  wherein R 8  is benzyl, (2-chlorophenyl)methyl, (4-chlorophenyl)methyl, (2,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl, or naphthalen-2-ylmethyl  
   
   
       9 . A compound selected from the group consisting of: 
 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid [2-[2-cyclopropyl-methyl-4-(1-methylcarbamoyl-2-naphthalen-2-yl-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (1R-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[1-methylcarbamoyl-2S-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-oxo-2S-propyl-piperazin-1-yl}-2-oxo-ethyl)-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-{4-[1-allylcarbamoyl-2S-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethyl]-3-oxo-2S-propyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1R-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-{4-[2S-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-phenylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-3-oxo-2S-propyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1R-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-{4-[2S-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-ethylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-3-oxo-2S-propyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1 S-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-[4-(1-allylcarbamoyl-2S-naphthalen-2-yl-ethyl)-3-oxo-2S-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-1R-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1R-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-[4S-(2-naphthalen-2-yl-1-phenylcarbamoyl-ethyl)-3-oxo-2S-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-isopropoxy-phenyl)-1-methylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl}-2-oxo-ethyl)-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-{4-[2-(4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-1-methylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    [2-{4-[2S-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1-isopropylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-3-oxo-2S-propyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1R-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-carbamic acid methyl ester;    [2-{4-[2S-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1-isopropylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-3-oxo-2S-propyl-piperazin-1-yl)-1R-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-carbamic acid methyl ester;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-[4-(1-ethylcarbamoyl-2S-naphthalen-2-yl-ethyl)-3-oxo-2S-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-1R-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-[2-methyl-4-(1-methylcarbamoyl-2-naphthalen-2-yl-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide; and    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2-fluoroethylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide.    
   
   
       10 . A compound selected from the group consisting of: 
 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide; and    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide.    
   
   
       11 . A compound selected from the group consisting of: 
 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-propyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluoro-benzyl)-2-[2-methoxymethyl-4-(1-methyl carbamoyl-2-naphthalen-2-yl-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide;    1-Amino-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid [2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-2-methoxymethyl-piperazine-1-yl}-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid[2-{4-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-2-methoxymethyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid [2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-2-methoxymethyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1-(4-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    1-Amino-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid [2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-carbamoyl-ethyl]-2-methoxymethyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1-(4-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    1-Methylamino-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid [2-{4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-carbamoyl-ethyl]-2-methoxymethyl-piperazin-1-yl}-1-(4-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-amide;    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(3-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide; and    Pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid {1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2-{4-[2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-ethyl)-3-oxo-2-cyclopropylmethyl-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide.    
   
   
       12 . A compound having the stereochemical formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidin-2-yl, 4-difluoropyrrolidin-2-yl, 1-aminocycloprop-1-yl, azetidin-2-yl, piperidin-2-yl, piperidin-4-yl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-4-yl, thiophen-2-yl, furan-2-yl, pyran-4-yl, isoquinolin-1-yl, tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl, tetrahydroisoquinolin-3-yl, and isoquinolin-3-yl;  
       R is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, and 4-chlorophenyl;  
       R 1  is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopropylmethyl, methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, and ethoxymethyl;  
       R 7a  is selected from the group consisting of  
       i) hydrogen;  
       ii) —CO 2 H;  
       iii) —CO 2 CH 3 ;  
       iv) —CONH 2 ;  
       v) —CONHCH 3 ;  
       vi) —CON(CH 3 ) 2 ;  
       vii) —CONH(CH 2 CH 2 F);  
       viii) —CONCH(CH 3 ) 2 ;  
       ix) —CONH(C 3 H 5 );  
       x) —CONHCH 2 (C 3 H 5 );  
       R 8  is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, (2-chlorophenyl)methyl, (3-chlorophenyl)methyl, (4-chlorophenyl)methyl, (2,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl, (3,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl, (2-fluorophenyl)-methyl, (3-fluorophenyl)methyl, (4-fluorophenyl)methyl, and naphthalen-2-ylmethyl.  
     
   
   
       13 . A composition comprising: 
 A) an effective amount of one or more compounds according to  claim 1;  and    B) one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.    
   
   
       14 . A method for controlling obesity in humans and higher mammals, said method comprising the step of administering to a human or higher mammal a compound according to  claim 1.