Cyclobutane derivatives as novel nonpeptidic small molecule agonists of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor.

A novel cyclobutane class of nonpeptidic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, exemplified by 3, was identified using receptor binding and multiple response element/cAMP response element (MRE/CRE)-driven reporter gene assays. The structures of 3 and its three isomers were elucidated by NMR, HRESIMS, and X-ray crystallography. A series of structural modifications were also made based on the core structure of 3 with different substitution groups at the west and east ends. Among these analogues, compound 16 was found to be 4- to 5-fold more potent than 3 both in vitro and in vivo.