According to the generally accepted mechanism by which bacterial enzymes react with cephalosporins, opening of the beta-lactam ring can lead to the expulsion of a 3'-substituent. A series of dual-action cephalosporins was prepared in which antibacterial quinolones were linked to the cephalosporin 3'-position through an ester bond in the expectation that, in addition to exerting their own beta-lactam activity, these cephalosporins would act as prodrugs for the second antibacterial agent. Compared to parent cephalosporins in which the 3'-substituent was acetoxy, the bifunctional cephalosporins exhibited a broadened antibacterial spectrum, suggesting that a dual mode of action may indeed be operative.

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The design and synthesis of peptide mimetics of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in which the peptide backbone is entirely replaced by a cyclohexane framework are described. The cis-1,3,5-trisubstituted ring was expected to permit key pharmacophoric groups to adopt conformations consistent with proposed bioactive conformations of the peptide. Compounds were synthesized by a stereoselective synthesis starting from L-glutamic acid. In a behavioral model of cognition in which TRH is active, the mimetics are potent, active compounds, exhibiting oral activity. One analog (26, (1S,3R,5(2S),5S)-5-[[5-oxo-1-(phenylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl]-methyl]-5- [(1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]cyclohexaneacetamide) was radiolabeled for binding studies and evaluated in other binding assays and pharmacological tests. Competition binding of 26 vs [3H]MeTRH to rat brain slices suggests a two-site model for ligand binding with IC50's of 1 microM and 3 mM. Direct binding of [3H]-26 shows a biphasic curve with IC50's of 80 and 49 microM, respectively. Further studies would be needed to establish a link between the novel binding site(s) and the behavioral activity of 26 and TRH analogs.

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