Compounds having the general structure II are provided:
##STR1##
A is selected from the group consisting of C or CH and X and Y are independently
selected from the group consisting of CH2, N, CO, CS,
(CR6R7)n, SO, SO2, O, NR9,
S, C(O)—(CR6R7)n, and C(S)—(CR6R7)n
where n is 1, 2, or 3. W is selected from the group consisting of
##STR2##
and Z1, Z2, and Z3 are independently selected
from the group consisting of substituted carbon and nitrogen. L is selected from
the group consisting of N, O, S, SO, SO2, C(O), NC(O), NC(S),
OC(O), OC(S), C(NR10), C(NOR10), and a covalent bond. Compounds
of formula II are agonists of the melanocortin-4 receptor ("MC4-R") and therefore
may have useful properties for controlling diseases related to MC4-R action in
humans, such as obesity and type II diabetes.
