Potential latentiation forms of biologically active compounds based on action of leucine aminopeptidase. Dipeptide derivatives of the tricycloaliphatic alpha-amino acid, adamantanine.

Some glycine, leucine and phenylalanine dipeptide derivatives of the transport inhibitory, tricycloaliphatic alpha-amino acid, adamantanine (1), have been synthesized using classical methods of peptide synthesis with the aim of improving the latter's bioavailability. Although test doses of glycyladamantanine and L-leucyladamantanine appeared to be absorbed in vivo as evidenced by its appearance in the uring following intraperitoneal administration, they were not hydrolyzed by a purified preparation of leucine aminopeptidase in vitro. Indeed, they were inhibitors of this enzyme. Adamantanylglycine, adamantanyl-L-leucine, and adamantanyl-L-phenylalanine were also not hydrolyzed by leucine aminopeptidase.