Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone which is produced in the mammalian kidney and has a molecular weight of about 34,000 daltons. Its primary role is stimulation of mitotic cell division and differentiation of erythrocyte precursor cells. As a result this hormone regulates the production of erythrocytes, the hemoglobin contained therein and the <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> blood's ability to carry oxygen. The commercial product Epogen 0 is used in the treatment of anemia. This drug is produced by recombinant techniques and formulated in aqueous isotonic sodium chloride/sodium citrate. Even though it has been used successfully in the treatment of anemia, it is a costly drug that is administered intravenously. This method of administration is both costly and inconvenient for the patient; therefore it would be desirable to find a EPO mimetic which has the potential for oral activity.

A small molecule EPO mimetic has advantages over the natural protein. The immune response associated with large peptides is unlikely to occur with small molecules. In addition, the variety of pharmaceutical formulations that may be used with small molecules are technically unfeasible for proteins. Thus the use of relatively inert formulations for small molecules is possible. The most important advantage of small molecules is their potential for oral activity. Such an agent would ease administration, cost less and facilitate patient compliance.

Although compounds which mimic EPO are useful in stimulating red blood cell synthesis, there are diseases where the overproduction of red blood cells is a problem.

Erythroleukemia and polysythemia vera are examples of such diseases. Since EPO is an agent

responsible for the maturation of red blood cell precursors, an antagonist of EPO would have utility treating either of those diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disclosed invention is drawn to a series of small molecules which demonstrate competitive binding with the natural ligand for the EPO receptor. As such these compounds are potentially useful in the treatment of diseases or conditions associated with this receptor.

In addition, the invention contemplates methods of producing these compounds and intermediates used in their production.

The invention includes compounds of the Formula I: I wherein: Ri is the side chain of a natural or unnatural-amino acids, where if said side chain contains a protectable group, that group may be protected with a member of the group consisting of succinyl, glutaryl, 3,3-dimethylglutaryl, Cl 5alkyl, C, 5alkoxycarbonyl, acetyl, N- (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl), trifluoroacetyl, omega-carboxyCl-5alkylcarbonyl, t-butoxycarbonyl, benzyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, 2-chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl, phenylsulfonyl, ureido, t- butyl, cinnamoyl, trityl, 4-methyltrityl, 1- (4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo- cyclohexylidene) ethyl, tosyl, 4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonyl, phenylureido, and substituted phenylureido (where the phenyl substituents are phenoxy, halo, Cl 5alkoxyvarbonyl);

R2 and R3 may be taken together to form a six-membered aromatic ring which is fused to the depicted ring, or are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, Ci-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino, phenyl, phenoxy, phenylCI 5alkyl, phenyl Cl 5alkoxy, substituted phenyl (where the substituents are selected from Ci-5alkyl, ¬1-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), substituted phenoxy (where the substituents are selected from C1_5 alkyl, Cl-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), substituted phenylCi-5alkyl (where the substituents are selected from CI-5 alkyl, Cl-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), substituted phenylCI-5alkoxy (where the substituents are selected from CI-5 alkyl, CI-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), and substituted amino (where the substituents are selected from one or more members of the group consisting of Cl_5alkyl, halosubstitutedCl 5alkyl, Cl 5alknyl, Cl 5alkenyl, phenyl, phenylCI 5alkyl, Cl 5alkylcarbonyl, halo substituted C1, 5alkylcarbonyl, carboxyC1-5alkyl, C1-5alkoxyC1-5alkyl, cinnamoyl, naphthylcarbonyl, furylcarbonyl, pyridylcarbonyl, Ci-5alkylsulfonyl, phenylcarbonyl, phenylCI-5alkylcarbonyl, phenylsulfonyl, phenylCi-5alkylsulfonyl substituted phenylcarbonyl, substituted phenylCI-5alkylcarbonyl, substituted phenylsulfonyl, substituted phenylCI-5alkylsulfonyl, substituted phenyl, and substituted phenylCi-5alkyl [where the aromatic phenyl, phenylCl-5alkyl, phenylcarbonyl, phenylCl 5alkylcarbonyl, phenylsulfonyl, and

phenylCI-5alkylsulfonyl substitutents are independently selected from one to five members of the group consisting of Ci-5alkyl, Ci-5alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino]); R4 and R5 may be taken together to form a six-membered aromatic ring which is fused to the depicted ring, or are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C_5 alkyl, Cl-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino, phenyl, phenoxy, phenylCI-5alkyl, phenyl Cl 5alkoxy, substituted phenyl (where the substituents are selected from Cialkyi, ¬1-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), substituted phenoxy (where the substituents are selected fromCI_5 alkyl, C 5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), substituted phenylCI 5alkyl (where the substituents are selected from Cl_5 alkyl, C1-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), substituted phenylCI-5alkoxy (where the substituents are selected from CI-5 alkyl, Cl-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, halo, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), and substituted amino (where the substituents are selected from one or more members of the group consisting of Cl_5alkyl, halosubstitutedCI 5alkyl, Ci-5alknyl, Ci-5alkenyl, phenyl, phenylCI 5alkyl, Cl salkylcarbonyl, halo substituted C1-5alkylcarbonyl, carboxyC1-5alkyl,C1-5alkoxyC1-5alkyl, cinnamoyl, naphthylcarbonyl, furylcarbonyl, pyridylcarbonyl, Ci-salkylsulfonyl, phenylcarbonyl, phenylCl 5alkylcarbonyl, phenylsulfonyl, phenylC, 5alkylsulfonyl substituted phenylcarbonyl, substituted phenylCl-salkylcarbonyl, substituted phenylsulfonyl,

substituted phenylCi-salkylsulfonyl, substituted phenyl, and substituted phenylC1-5alkyl [where the aromatic phenyl, phenylC 5alkyl, phenylcarbonyl, phenylCI-5alkylcarbonyl, phenylsulfonyl, and phenylCI-5alkylsulfonyl substitutents are independently selected from one to five members of the group consisting of Ci-5alkyl, Ci-5alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino]); W is selected from the group consisting of-CH=CH-,-S-, and-CH=N- ; Q is selected from the group consisting of-CH=CH-,-S-, and-CH=N- ; X is selected from the group consisting of carbonyl, C, 5alkyl, C, 5alkenyl, Ci-5alkenylcarbonyl, and (CH2) m-C (O)- where m is 2-5; Y is selected from the group consisting of carbonyl, Cl 5alkyl, Cl 5alkenyl, Ci-5alkenylcarbonyl, and (CH2) m-C (O)-where m is 2-5; n is 1,2, or 3; Z is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C1_5 alkoxy, phenoxy, phenylCI-5alkoxy, amino, CI-salkylamino, diCl-5alkylamino, phenylamino, phenylCz 5alkylamino, piperidin-1-yl substituted piperidin-1-yl (where the substituents are selected from the group consisting of C1-5alkyl, C1-5alkoxy, halo, aminocarbonyl, Ci-5alkoxycarbonyl, and oxo; substituted phenylCI-5alkylamino (where the aromatic substitutents are selected from the group consisting of C1-5alkyl, C1-5alkoxy,

phenylCI-5alkenyloxy, hydroxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), substituted phenoxy (where the aromatic substitutents are selected from the group consisting of Ci-5alkyl, Ci-5alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), substituted phenylCi-5alkoxy (where the aromatic substitutents are selected from the group consisting of Cl 5alkyl, Cl 5alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, nitrile, and amino), <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> -OCH2CH2 (OCHZCHZ) OCH2CH20-,<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> -NHCH2CH2 (OCH2CH2) sOCH2CH2NH-,-NH (CH2) pO (CH2) qO (CH2) pNH-, -NH (CH2) qNCH3 (CH2) sNH-,-NH (CH2) sNH-, and (NH (CH2) s) 3N, where s, p, and q are independently selected from 1-7 with the proviso that if n is 2, Z is not hydroxy, C1_5 alkoxy, amino, Ci-5alkylamino, diCi-salkylamino, phenylamino, phenylCi-5alkylamino, or piperidin-1-yl, with the further proviso that if n is 3, Z is (NH (CH2) s) 3N. and the salts thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The terms used in describing the invention are commonly used and known to those skilled in the art."Independently"means that when there are more than one substituent, the substitutents may be different. The term"alkyl"refers to straight, cyclic and branched-chain alkyl groups and"alkoxy"refers O-alkyl where alkyl is as defined supra."Cbz"refers to benzyloxycarbonyl."Boc"refers to t-butoxycarbonyl and"Ts"refers to toluenesulfonyl. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <P>"DCC"refers to 1, 3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide,"DMAP"refers to 4-N', N- dimethylaminopyridine and"HOBT"refers to 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate."Fmoc"refers to N- (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl),"DABCO"refers to 1, 4-Diazabicyclo [2. 2. 2] octane, <BR> <BR> <BR> "EDCI"refers to 1- (3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide, and"Dde"refers to 1- (4, 4-

dimethyl-2,6-dioxocyclohexylidene) ethyl. The side chains of a-amino acids refer to the substituents of the stereogenic carbon of an a-amino acid. For example if the amino acid is lysine, the side chain is 1-aminobutan-4-yl. The term natural amino acid refers to the 20 a- amino acids of the L configuration which are found in natural proteins. Unnatural a-amino acids include synthetic amino acids such as,-aminoadipic acid, 4-aminobutanoic acid, 6- aminohexanoic acid,-aminosuberic acid, 5-aminopentanoic acid, p-aminophenylalanine,- aminopimelic acid-carboxyglutamic acid, p-carboxyphenylalanine, carnitine, citrulline, -diaminopropionic acid,-diaminobutyric acid, homocitrulline, homoserine, and statine as well as D-configuration amino acids. The term"protectable group"refers to a hydroxy, amino, carboxy, carboxamide, guanidine, amidine or a thiol groups on an amino acid side. Compounds of the invention may be prepared by following general procedures known to those skilled in the art, and those set forth herein.

The compounds of the invention may be prepared by liquid phase organic synthesis techniques or by using amino acids which are bound to a number of known resins. The underlying chemistry, namely, acylation and alkylation reactions, peptide protection and deprotection reactions as well as peptide coupling reactions use similar conditions and reagents. The main distinction between the two methods is in the starting materials. While the starting materials for the liquid phase syntheses are the N-protected amino acids or the lower alkyl ester derivatives of the N-protected amino acids, the starting material for the resin syntheses are amino acids which are bound to resins by their carboxy terminuses.

General Procedure For The Solid-Phase Synthesis Of Symmetrical N, N-Dis ubstituted Amino Acids Scheme 1.

An equivalent of an N-Fmoc-protected amino acid which is bound to a resin la is suspended in a suitable solvent such as DMF. This solvent is removed and the nitrogen protecting group (Fmoc) is removed by stirring the resin bound amino acid with an organic base, such as piperidine, and an addition portion of the solvent. A solution of

about two to three equivalents of an appropriately substituted halide, lb, and a suitable base such DIEA is added to the resin bound amino acid and this mixture is shaken for 18- 36 h. The resulting mixture is washed with several portions of a suitable solvent and is suspended and shaken in an acidic solution, such as 50% TFA/CH2Cl2, over several hours to cleave the acid from the resin and give the N-disubstituted amino acid lc.

By varying the resin bound amino acid la, one may obtain many of the compounds of the invention. The following resin bound amino acids may be used in Scheme I: alanine, N-g- (4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonyl) arginine,- (4- methyltrityl) asparagine, aspartic acid (-t-butyl ester), S- (trityl) cysteine,- (4- methyltrityl) glutamine, glutamic acid (-t-butyl ester), glycine, N-imidazolyl- (trityl) histidine, isoleucine, leucine, N-- (2-chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl) lysine, N-- (t- butoxycarbonyl) lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, 0- (t-butyl) serine, 0- (t- butyl) threonine, N-indolyl- (t-butoxycarbonyl) tryptophan, 0- (t-butyl) tyrosine, valine,- alanine,-aminoadipic acid, 4-aminobutanoic acid,, 6-aminohexanoic acid, aminosuberic acid, 5-aminopentanoic acid, p-aminophenylalanine,-aminopimelic acid-carboxyglutamic acid, p-carboxyphenylalanine, carnitine, citrulline, diaminopropionic acid,-diaminobutyric acid, homocitrulline, homoserine, and statine. In addition, the choice of"W"and"X"can be varied by using known halide derivatives of lb. For example using benzylchloride, 2-chloromethylthiophene, or 2- chloromethylpyridine gives compounds of the invention where"W"is-CH=CH-,-S-, or -CH=N-, respectively. For variations in"X", the use of 2-chloroethylphenyl, 3-chloro-1- propenylbenzene, or benzeneacetyl chloride as lb, give compounds where Y is (CH2) 2, -CH=CH-CH2-, or-CH2C (O)- respectively. Still further, Scheme 1 may be used to produce combinatorial mixtures of products. Using mixtures of resin bound amino acids, la, with only one lb produces said combinatorial mixtures. Alternatively, using one amino acid la with a mixture of lb as well as mixture of la with mixtures of lb gives a large range of combinatorial mixtures.

Scheme 1 1. piperidine, DMF 2. DIEA R2 R2 3 R H o R2 w 1b Fmoc'XWang > R3 <$ X) o Resin W 3. TFA, CH2CI2 (X)'OH 1a 1c

General Procedure For The Solid-Phase Synthesis Of Unsymmetrical N, N-D isubstituted Amino Acids.

Scheme 2, Step A An equivalent of an N-Fmoc-protected amino acid which is bound to a resin la is suspended in a suitable solvent such as DMF. This solvent is removed and the nitrogen protecting group (Fmoc) is removed by stirring the resin bound amino acid with an organic base, such as piperidine, and an addition portion of the solvent. Trimethyl orthoformate and an appropriately substituted aldehyde 2a (5 equivalents) is added and the mixture is shaken under N2 overnight. This mixture is treated with a suspension of NaBH (OAc) 3 (5 equivalents) in CH2Cl2 and shaken under N2 overnight. After filtration and washing with a suitable solvent, the resulting product, resin bound N- monosubstituted amino acid 2b, is rinsed with a suitable solvent and its identity is confirmed by MS and or HPLC analysis after treatmet of a portion of the resin with 50% TFA/CH2C12.

Scheme 2, Step B The resin 2b is suspended in an appropriate solvent such as DMF and is filtered.

The appropriately substituted alkyl or arylkyl halide, 2c, and an appropriate base such as DIEA are added with some additional solvent and the mixture is shaken under N2 for 18- 36 h. The resin bound N, N-disubstituted amino acid, 2d, is isolated from the suspension and the resin is cleaved with an acidic solution to give the free acid 2e.

Scheme 2 1. piperidine, DMF 2 R 2. (MeO) 3CH, R3\ R U 1 R2 H 9, R ts. N ° Fmoc'NWang 2a s 1 Resin (X) vWang R 3. NaBH (OAc) 3, CH2CI2 R1 Resin 1a 2b Ra R4 DIEA,R (Y) R4 2c Ra 4 2c R 4 TFA, CH2CI2 R/I () O . N 2 R 3)OH Resin R RI 2d 2e

Scheme 3, Step C A resin bound amine, 2d, where R4 is nitro, is suspended in a suitable solvent, such as DMF, and is filtered. This mixture is treated with SnCl2 dihydrate in DMF and shaken under N2 overnight. The solvent is removed and the resin is washed successive portions of a suitable solvent to give the resin bound compound 3a where R4 is amino.

The resin is suspended in a suitable solvent and is combined with an organic base, such as pyridine an appropriately substituted carboxylic acid anhydride, acid chloride, or sulfonyl chloride. The mixture is shaken under N2 overnight and is filtered to give the resin bound amino acid 3b. This material is treated with an acid and a suitable solvent to give the free amino acid 3b.

Scheme 3, Step D

The resin bound amine 3a is treated with TMOF and an appropriately substituted aldehyde 3c is added and the mixture is shaken under N2 overnight. The resulting mixture is drained and treated with a suspension of NaBH (OAc) 3 in an appropriate solvent and this mixture is shaken under N2 overnight. The resin bound 3-aralkylaminophenyl amino acid is identified my spectral techniques after clevage to give the free acid 3d as previously described.

Scheme 3, Step E Resin bound, 2d, where R'is (CH2) 4NH (Dde) is mixed with a suitable solvent, such as DMF, and shaken with successive portions of 2% solution of hydrazine hydrate in DMF over about 30 min. The resin is filtered and treated with a suitable solvent and a cyclic anhydride derivative 3e, and a base such as DMAP and pyridine. This mixture is shaken under N2 overnight and filtered to give the resin bound amine, 3f. This material is identified by spectral techniques after clevage to give the free acid 3f as previously described.

Scheme 3 Ra Ra \/ Vs') R'= o R1 = (CH2) 4NH (Dde) R (y) 0 1 X z 1. 2/o N2H4, DMF 3 (x) OH R R1 Resin O R3 2d (R 10) ) R4 0 3e HO (R'. NH 3. TFA, CH2CI2 3f Rs (CO or SO2) NH2 1. R6COCI, (R6C0) 20, Y 1 or R5SO2CI, pyridine R 2. TFA, CH2CI2 2 2 X. N 3af (X) N tOH R) A Y ? l ruz R$/I Rs 1. (MeO) 3CH, R8 CH- 3c R5 NH 2. NaBH (OAc) 3, CH2CI2 3. TFA, CH2C12 \4 2 RR1 3d R R 3d Scheme 4, Step F

Resin bound 2b, where R2 is nitro is suspended in CH2C12 and is treated with an organic base, such as pyridine, and 9-fluorenylmethoxy chloride. This mixture is shaken under N2 overnight, filtered and resuspended in a suitable solvent. This mixture is treated with SnCl2 dihydrate in DMF and shaken under N2 overnight. The solvent is removed and the resin is washed successive portions of a suitable solvent and filtered to give the resin bound compound 4a where R2 is amino. The resin 4a is then suspended in a suitable solvent, such as CH2C12, and is combined with 0.4 mmol of pyridine and 0.25-0.4 mmol of the appropriately substituted carboxylic acid anhydride, acid chloride, or sulfonyl chloride. The mixture is shaken under N2 overnight, filtered, and washed successively with three portions each of CH2Cl2 and MeOH. This resin is suspended in DMF, filtered, and shaken under N2 with 5 mL of a 40% solution of piperidine in DMF. After 1 h, the solvent is drained and the resin was washed successively with three portions each of suitable solvents to give the resin bound 4b. The identity of the compound was confirmed by spectral analysis after cleveage as previously described.

Scheme 4 O R2 = 4-N02 H2N I F N c O 3 1. Fmoc-Cl, pyridine, CH2CI2 3 2. R1 Resin 2. SnCl2, DMF R R1 Resin 1. R6COCI, (R6CO) 20, or R6SO2CI, pyridine 2. piperidine, DMF R6- (CO or S02) O ( 3 N-IAWang R Resin 4b Scheme 5

The resin 2b (0.2 mmol) is suspended in CH2Cl2, filtered, and is resuspended in CH2C12. This suspension is treated with diethyl phosphonoacetic acid and diisopropylcarbodiimide or other suitable carbodiimide reagent, and the mixture is shaken under N2 overnight. The solvent is drained and the resulting resin 5a was washed successively with three portions each of CH2C12 and MeOH. The resin is suspended in DMF and filtered. A solution of the appropriately substituted aldehyde 5b (0.6-1.0 mmol) in 3-5 mL of DMF, lithium bromide (0.6-1.0 mmol), and a suitable base such as DIEA or Et3N (0.6-1.0 mmol) is added and the mixture is shaken under N2 overnight. The solvent is removed and the resin is washed successively with three portions each of DMF, CH2C12, and MeOH. The identity of the resin bound substituted amino acid 5c was confirmed spectral techniques. The resin bound material may be treated with 50% TFA/CH2C12 over 1-1.5 h, to give the acid 5c.

Scheme 5

(EtO) 2p (EtO)2POCH2CO2H, es X, 0 o diisopropylcarbodiimide 2 0 R Won Wang Rs R'1 R Resm R3 R1 Resin R R1 ResinResin 2b 5a Ra R4 DIEA, LiBr, DMF, R5 ts CHU 5 TFA, CH2CI2 5b R it 0 To R 0 . N OH R R 5c Scheme 6

To prepare compounds where n is 2 and Z is NH (CH2) sNH, products of Schemes 1-5 may be used in Scheme 6. Treatment of two equivalents of the substituted amino acid I c with an equivalent of the diamine 6a, in the presence of HOBT and a peptide coupling agent such as EDCI and a base such as DIEA at room temperature over 16 h gives the dimer 6b.

Scheme 6

General Procedure For The Solution-Phase Synthesis Of Symmetrical N, N-D isubstituted Amino Acids Scheme 7, Step A A solution of of amino acid ester 7a, an appropriately substituted halide derivitive lb, and an appropriate base such as DIEA, Na2C03, or Cs2C03 in a suitable solvent, such as DMF, is heated at 50-100 °C under N2 overnight, or until the starting material is exhausted, to give a mixture of the di and mono-substituted amines, 7b and 7c respectively. If the side chains of Rlcontain acid cleavable protecting groups, those groups may be cleaved by treatment with 30-80% TFA/CH2C12. Esters 7b and 7c may be

independently converted to the corresponding acids 7d and 7e by hydrolysis with an appropriate base such as aqueous NaOH.

Scheme 7 General Procedure For The Solution-Phase Synthesis Of Unsymmetrical N N-D i substituted Amino Acids Scheme 8, Step A

A solution of 1 mmol of amino acid ester 8a (or the corresponding HCl salt and 1.1 mmol of DIEA) and 1-1.5 mmol of the appropriately substituted aldehyde 2a in 3-5 mL of trimethyl orthoformate was stirred at room temperature under N2 overnight. The solution was either concentrated and used directly for the next reaction, or was partitioned between EtOAc and water, washed with brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give crude product, which was purified by MPLC to give mono-substituted product 8b.

Scheme 8, Step B Amino ester 8b was dissolved in DMF, combined with 1.1-1.5 mmol of the appropriately substituted chloride or bromide 2c, and heated at 50-100 °C overnight. The reaction mixture was cooled and partitioned between water and EtOAc. The organic layer was washed three times with water and once with brine, dried over Na2SO4, and concentrated. The crude product was purified by MPLC to give pure 8c. For examples of 8c wherein the side chain Rl contained an acid-cleavable protecting group such as t- butylcarbamate, t-butyl ester, or t-butyl ether, 8c was stirred in 30-80% TFA/CH2Cl2 for 1-3 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and optionally dissolved in HOAc and freeze-dried to give the deprotected form of 8c. For examples of 8c where R9 was equal to t-butyl, 8c was stirred in 30-80% TFA/CH2C12 for 1-3 h and treated as described above to give acid 8d. For examples of 8c where R9 was equal to methyl, ethyl, or other primary or secondary alkyl esters, 8c was stirred with with 1-2 mmol of aqueous LiOH, NaOH, or KOH in MeOH, EtOH, or THF at 20-80 °C until TLC indicated the absence of 8c. The solution was acidified to pH 4-5 with aqueous citric acid or HCl and was extracted with CH2Cl2 or EtOAc. The organic solution was washed with brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give 8d.

Scheme 8, Step C For examples of amino acid ester 8c where Rl = (CH2) 4NHBoc, 8e (1 mmol) was stirred in 30-80% TFA/CH2C12 for 1-3 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated to provide 8e as the TFA salt. Optionally, the TFA salt was dissolved in CH2Cl2 or EtOAc

and washed with aqueous NaOH or Na2C03, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give 8e as the free base.

Scheme 8, Step D A solution of 1 mmol of 8e, 1-4 mmol of an appropriate base such as DIEA, and 1-2 mmol of the appropriately substituted cyclic anhydride 3e was stirred in CH2Cl2 or DMF under N2 overnight. The resulting mixture was diluted with CH2Cl2 or EtOAc and washed with aqueous HCI, water, and brine, was dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to provide 8f. Alternatively, 1 mmol of 8e, 14 mmol of an appropriate base such as DIEA, and 1-2 mmol of the appropriately substituted carboxylic acid anhydride (Rl l CO) 20 or acid chloride RIlCOCl was stirred in CH2Cl2 or DMF under N2 overnight and worked up as above to provide 8g. Alternatively, 1 mmol of 8e, 1-4 mmol of an appropriate base such as DIEA, and 1-2 mmol of the appropriately substituted isocyanate Rl2NCO was stirred in CH2Cl2 or DMF under N2 overnight and worked up as above to provide 8h.

Scheme 8. 1. piperidine, DMF 2. (MeO) 3CH, R2 \ roi FiX) Fmoc'N9OR9 2a 3 tl H ° . N R 3. NaBH (OAc) 3, CH2CI2 OR 8a 8b R4 DIEA,5 r,-\, R (Y) Br or Cl 2c 2c Ra Ra t < R54 R5- R5 2CI2 (Rg t-Bu) Tua, cl X YX) N OR9 NAOH or KOH (R9 Me, 3 R 1 8cR 8dR Ru | R1 = 4NHBoc R TFA,CH2CI2 2 (XrOR9 o J Y : I (y) 0 FOR Ra R3 O Ro 2 (T) 0 3e HO (Rlo) NH (X) (X)-N'Y-r OR9 0 0 R3 8f R R11COCI or (ruz(R11CO) 20 R11 NH NH2 Y 0 8e 8g R12NCO, H NNH I I o 0 8h

Scheme 9, Step A For examples of 8c where R = N02, a solution of 1 mmol of 8c (where R2, R3, R4, or) and 10-12 mmol of SnCl2 dihydrate was stirred in MeOH, EtOH, or DMF at 20-80 °C for 0.5-24 h under N2. The solution was taken to room temperature and poured into aqueous Na2CO3 with rapid stirring. The resulting mixture was extracted with EtOAc or CH2Cl2 and the organic extracts were washed with brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give the aminophenyl product 9a, which was purified by MPLC or used without further purification.

Scheme 9, Step B A solution of 1 mmol of aminophenyl compound 9a and 1-1.5 mmol of the appropriately substituted aldehyde 2a in 3-5 mL of trimethyl orthoformate was stirred at room temperature under N2 overnight. The solution was either concentrated and used directly for the next reaction, or was partitioned between EtOAc and water, washed with brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give crude product, which was purified by MPLC to give 9b. For examples of 9b wherein the side chain Ri or R9 contained an acid- cleavable protecting group such as t-butylcarbamate, t-butyl ester, or t-butyl ether, 9b was stirred in 30-80% TFA/CH2C12 for 1-3 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and optionally dissolved in HOAc and freeze-dried to give the deprotected form of 9b.

Scheme 9, Step C A solution of 1 mmol of 3-aminophenyl compound 9a, 1.1-2 mmol of pyridine, and 1-1.5 mmol of the appropriately substituted acid chloride, acid anhydride, or sulfonyl chloride in 3-5 mL of CH2C12 or CICH2CH2Cl was stirred at room temperature under N2 overnight. The solution was partitioned between EtOAc and water, washed with water, saturated aqueous NaHC03, and brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give crude product which was optionally purified by MPLC to give amide or sulfonamide 9c. For examples of 9c wherein the side chain RI or R9 contained an acid-cleavable protecting group such as t-butylcarbamate, t-butyl ester, or t-butyl ether, 9c was stirred in 30-80% TFA/CH2Cl2 for 1-3 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and optionally dissolved in HOAc and freeze-dried to give the deprotected form of 9c.

Scheme 9.

R4 NN2 Rk Pk 5 R4 4 v R5 = N02 \-DMF I N y -ri y A 8c 9a R8 1. (MeO) 3CH, R7,/R6COCI CHO/ (R6CO) 20, 3c 2. NaBH (OAc) 3, CH2CI2/ py pyridine R A-Vs/ R HN'CO or SO2 H NY R4 R \ \ Han i () O I R4X (X). N Rs 3 R (y) 0 R R 2-R R2 N Rs 9c R3 pu R3 11 R 9b General Procedure For The Solution-Phase Synthesis Of Symmetrical N, N-D i substituted Amino Amides And Their Dimers and Trimers Scheme 10, Step A A solution of 1 mmol of N-Cbz-protected amino acid 10a and the appropriate amine (ZH, 1 mmol), diamine (ZH2,0.5 mmol), or triamine (ZH3 0.33 mmol), was treated with 1.1 mmol of HOBt, 1.1 mmol of DIEA, and 2.1 mmol of EDCI in 3-6 mL of CH2Cl2

or DMF. [Alternatively, 1 mmol of the pentafluorophenyl ester or N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of 10a was mixed with the appropriate portion of amine (ZH), diamine (ZH2), or triamine (ZH3) in 3-6 mL of DMF.] The solution was stirred at room temperature under N2 for 12-24 h, and EtOAc was added. The organic solution was washed with 5% aqueous citric acid, water, saturated NaHCO3, and brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated. The crude product was optionally purified by MPLC to afford amide lOb.

Compound 10b was stirred in 30-80% TFA/CH2CI2 for 1-3 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated to provide the TFA salt which was dissolved in CH2C12 or EtOAc and washed with aqueous NaOH or Na2C03, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give 10c as the free base.

Scheme 10, Step B A solution of 1 mmol of amino acid ester 10c (n = 1), 2.5-3 mmol of the appropriately substituted chloride or bromide 2c, and 2.5-3 mmol of an appropriate base such as DIEA, Na2C03, or Cs2C03 in 3-5 mL of DMF was heated at 50-100 °C under N2 for 18-24 h. (For examples of 10c where n = 2 or 3, the amounts of 2c and base were increased by two-or three-fold, respectively.) The reaction mixture was cooled and partitioned between water and EtOAc. The organic layer was washed three times with water and once with brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated. The crude product was purified by MPLC to give pure amide 10d.

Alternatively, a solution of 1 mmol of amino acid ester 10c (n = 1), 2.5-3 mmol of the appropriately substituted aldehyde 2a, and 2.5-3 mmol of borane-pyridine complex in 3-5 mL of DMF or EtOH was stirred at room temperature under N2 for 3-5 days.. (For examples of 10c where n = 2 or 3, the amounts of 2c and borane-pyridine complex were increased by two-or three-fold, respectively.) The mixture was concentrated to dryness and was partitioned between water and CH2C12, washed with brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated. The crude product was purified by MPLC to give pure amide 10d.

Scheme 10, Step C

For examples of 10d where Rl = CH2CH2CO2-t-Bu or CH2CO2-t-Bu, 10d was stirred in 30-80% TFA/CH2Cl2 for 1-24 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and optionally dissolved in HOAc and freeze-dried to give acid 10e.

Scheme 10, Step D For examples of 10d where Rl is equal to (CH2) 4NHBoc, 10d was stirred in 30- 80% TFA/CH2Cl2 for 1-24 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and optionally dissolved in HOAc and freeze-dried to give amine 10f as the TFA salt which was optionally dissolved in CH2Cl2 or EtOAc, washed with aqueous NaOH or Na2CO3, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give lOfas the free base.

Scheme 10, Step E A solution of 1 mmol of 10f, 1-4 mmol of an appropriate base such as DIEA, and 1-2 mmol of the appropriately substituted cyclic anhydride 3e was stirred in CH2C12 or DMF under N2 overnight. The resulting mixture was diluted with CH2C12 or EtOAc and washed with aqueous HCI, water, and brine, was dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to provide acid 10g. Alternatively, 1 mmol of 10f, 1-4 mmol of an appropriate base such as DIEA, and 1-2 mmol of the appropriately substituted carboxylic acid anhydride (RIlCO) or acid chloride RIlCOCl was stirred in CH2C12 or DMF under N2 overnight and worked up as above to provide 10h. Alternatively, 1 mmol of 8e, 1-4 mmol of an appropriate base such as DIEA, and 1-2 mmol of the appropriately substituted isocyanate R12NCO was stirred in CH2Cl2 or DMF under N2 overnight and worked up as above to provide 10i.

Scheme 10. H ° ZHn, EDCI, H ° Pd-C, NH4HC02 O Cbz'NOH HOBt, DIEA CbzN or Pd-C, H2 H2N Ri Ri-nz Xill-nz R L K Jn L R-In 10a 10b 10c R2 \ R2 \ R2 (X)' (X*y CHO *. CHO 2c 2a R2 R2 R'CH2CO2-t-Bu, CH2CH2CO2-t-Bu O 2X) O 2N TFA, CH2CI2 R l 3 (CH2) m J Z 10d Rl n H02C n 10d 10e R1 = (CH2) 4NHBoc R2 R TFA, CH2CI2 R3 u Y V 3 R I l. N _2 r (x) o - (R10) (X) 0 3e 0--0 R 3 z O Ro 3e R3 j 2 in il O O 10g RI RCOCI or L NH2 J (RCOO T' nu2 10f R\/NH R NU 10h R12NCO, H R, 2, NNH I I o 0 10i Although the claimed compounds are useful as competitive binders to the EPO receptor, some compounds are more active than others and are either preferred or particularly preferred.

The preferred compounds of the invention include:

The particularly preferred"Rl"s are the side chain of lysine, ornithine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, cysteine, methionine, serine, and threonine.

The particularly preferred"R2 and R3"s are phenoxy, substituted phenoxy, benzyloxy, and substituted benzyloxy.

The particularly preferred"R4 and R5"s are phenoxy, substituted phenoxy, benzyloxy, and substituted benzyloxy.

The particularly preferred"W"is-CH=CH- The particularly preferred"Q"is-CH=CH- The particularly preferred"X"are Cl-5alkenyl and CH2.

The particularly preferred"Y"are C1_5alkenyl and CH2.

The particularly preferred"n"are 1 and 2.

The particularly preferred"Z"are hydroxy, methoxy, phenethylamino, substituted phenethylamino, and-NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2NH-.

Pharmaceutically useful compositions the compounds of the present invention, may be formulated according to known methods such as by the admixture of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Examples of such carriers and methods of formulation may be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. To form a pharmaceutically acceptable composition suitable for effective administration, such compositions will contain an effective amount of the compound of the present invention.

Therapeutic or diagnostic compositions of the invention are administered to an individual in amounts sufficient to treat or diagnose disorders in which modulation of EPO receptor-related activity is indicated. The effective amount may vary according to a variety of factors such as the individual's condition, weight, sex and age. Other factors include the mode of administration. The pharmaceutical compositions may be provided to the individual by a variety of routes such as subcutaneous, topical, transdermal, oral and parenteral.

The term"chemical derivative"describes a molecule that contains additional chemical moieties which are not normally a part of the base molecule. Such moieties may improve the solubility, half-life, absorption, etc. of the base molecule.

Alternatively the moieties may attenuate undesirable side effects of the base molecule or decrease the toxicity of the base molecule. Examples of such moieties are described in a variety of texts, such as Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Compounds disclosed herein may be used alone at appropriate dosages defined by routine testing in order to obtain optimal inhibition of the EPO receptor or its activity while minimizing any potential toxicity. In addition, co-administration or sequential administration of other agents may be desirable.

The present invention also has the objective of providing suitable topical, transdermal, oral, systemic and parenteral pharmaceutical formulations for use in the novel methods of treatment of the present invention. The compositions containing compounds according to this invention as the active ingredient for use in the

modulation of EPO receptors can be administered in a wide variety of therapeutic dosage forms in conventional vehicles for administration. For example, the compounds or modulators can be administered in such oral dosage forms as tablets, capsules (each including timed release and sustained release formulations), pills, powders, granules, elixirs, tinctures, solutions, suspensions, syrups and emulsions, or by transdermal delivery or injection. Likewise, they may also be administered in intravenous (both bolus and infusion), intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, topical with or without occlusion, transdermal, or intramuscular form, all using forms well known to those of ordinary skill in the pharmaceutical arts. The compounds of the present invention may be delivered by a wide variety of mechanisms, including but not limited to, transdermal delivery, or injection by needle or needle-less injection means. An effective but non-toxic amount of the compound desired can be employed as an EPO receptor modulating agent.

The daily dosage of the products may be varied over a wide range from 0.01 to 1,000 mg per patient, per day. For oral administration, the compositions are preferably provided in the form of scored or unscored tablets containing 0.01,0.05,0.1,0.5,1.0, 2.5,5.0,10.0,15.0,25.0, and 50.0 milligrams of the active ingredient for the symptomatic adjustment of the dosage to the patient to be treated. An effective amount of the drug is ordinarily supplied at a dosage level of from about 0.0001 mg/kg to about 100 mg/kg of body weight per day. The range is more particularly from about 0.001 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg of body weight per day. The dosages of the EPO receptor modulators are adjusted when combined to achieve desired effects. On the other hand, dosages of these various agents may be independently optimized and combined to achieve a synergistic result wherein the pathology is reduced more than it would be if either agent were used alone.

Advantageously, compounds or modulators of the present invention may be administered in a single daily dose, or the total daily dosage may be administered in divided doses of two, three or four times daily. Furthermore, compounds or

modulators for the present invention can be administered in intranasal form via topical use of suitable intranasal vehicles, or via transdermal routes, using those forms of transdermal skin patches well known to those of ordinary skill in that art. To be administered in the form of a transdermal delivery system, the dosage administration will, of course, be continuous rather than intermittent throughout the dosage regimen.

For combination treatment with more than one active agent, where the active agents are in separate dosage formulations, the active agents can be administered concurrently, or they each can be administered at separately staggered times.

The dosage regimen utilizing the compounds or modulators of the present invention is selected in accordance with a variety of factors including type, species, age, weight, sex and medical condition of the patient; the severity of the condition to be treated; the route of administration; the renal and hepatic function of the patient; and the particular compound thereof employed. A physician or veterinarian of ordinary skill can readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the drug required to prevent, counter or arrest the progress of the condition. Optimal precision in achieving concentrations of drug within the range that yields efficacy without toxicity requires a regimen based on the kinetics of the drug's availability to target sites. This involves a consideration of the distribution, equilibrium, and elimination of a drug.

In the methods of the present invention, the compounds or modulators herein described in detail can form the active ingredient, and are typically administered in admixture with suitable pharmaceutical diluents, excipients or carriers (collectively referred to herein as"carrier"materials) suitably selected with respect to the intended form of administration, that is, oral tablets, capsules, elixirs, syrups and the like, and consistent with conventional pharmaceutical practices.

For instance, for oral administration in the form of a tablet or capsule, the active drug component can be combined with an oral, non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier such as ethanol, glycerol, water and the like. Moreover, when

desired or necessary, suitable binders, lubricants, disintegrating agents and coloring agents can also be incorporated into the mixture. Suitable binders include, without limitation, starch, gelatin, natural sugars such as glucose or beta-lactose, corn sweeteners, natural and synthetic gums such as acacia, tragacanth or sodium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, waxes and the like. Lubricants used in these dosage forms include, without limitation, sodium oleate, sodium stearate, magnesium stearate, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, sodium chloride and the like.

Disintegrators include, without limitation, starch, methyl cellulose, agar, bentonite, xanthan gum and the like.

For liquid forms the active drug component can be combined in suitably flavored suspending or dispersing agents such as the synthetic and natural gums, for example, tragacanth, acacia, methyl-cellulose and the like. Other dispersing agents which may be employed include glycerin and the like. For parenteral administration, sterile suspensions and solutions are desired. Isotonic preparations which generally contain suitable preservatives are employed when intravenous administration is desired.

Topical preparations containing the active drug component can be admixed with a variety of carrier materials well known in the art, such as, e. g., alcohols, aloe vera gel, allantoin, glycerine, vitamin A and E oils, mineral oil, PPG2 myristyl propionate, and the like, to form, e. g., alcoholic solutions, topical cleansers, cleansing creams, skin gels, skin lotions, and shampoos in cream or gel formulations.

The compounds or modulators of the present invention can also be administered in the form of liposome delivery systems, such as small unilamellar vesicles, large unilamellar vesicles and multilamellar vesicles. Liposomes can be formed from a variety of phospholipids, such as cholesterol, stearylamine or phosphatidylcholines.

Compounds of the present invention may also be delivered by the use of monoclonal antibodies as individual carriers to which the compound molecules are coupled. The compounds or modulators of the present invention may also be coupled

with soluble polymers as targetable drug carriers. Such polymers can include polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, pyran copolymer, polyhydroxypropylmethacryl-amidephenol, polyhydroxy-ethylaspartamidephenol, or polyethyl-eneoxidepolylysine substituted with palmitoyl residues. Furthermore, the compounds or modulators of the present invention may be coupled to a class of biodegradable polymers useful in achieving controlled release of a drug, for example, polylactic acid, polyepsilon caprolactone, polyhydroxy butyric acid, polyorthoesters, polyacetals, polydihydro-pyrans, polycyanoacrylates and cross-linked or amphipathic block copolymers of hydrogels, and other suitable polymers known to those skilled in the art.

For oral administration, the compounds or modulators may be administered in capsule, tablet, or bolus form or alternatively they can be mixed in the animals feed. The capsules, tablets, and boluses are comprised of the active ingredient in combination with an appropriate carrier vehicle such as starch, talc, magnesium stearate, or di-calcium phosphate. These unit dosage forms are prepared by intimately mixing the active ingredient with suitable finely-powdered inert ingredients including diluents, fillers, disintegrating agents, and/or binders such that a uniform mixture is obtained. An inert ingredient is one that will not react with the compounds or modulators and which is non-toxic to the animal being treated. Suitable inert ingredients include starch, lactose, talc, magnesium stearate, vegetable gums and oils, and the like. These formulations may contain a widely variable amount of the active and inactive ingredients depending on numerous factors such as the size and type of the animal species to be treated and the type and severity of the infection. The active ingredient may also be administered as an additive to the feed by simply mixing the compound with the feedstuff or by applying the compound to the surface of the feed. Alternatively the active ingredient may be mixed with an inert carrier and the resulting composition may then either be mixed with the feed or fed directly to the animal. Suitable inert carriers include corn meal, citrus meal, fermentation residues, soya grits, dried

grains and the like. The active ingredients are intimately mixed with these inert carriers by grinding, stirring, milling, or tumbling such that the final composition contains from 0.001 to 5% by weight of the active ingredient.

The compounds or modulators may alternatively be administered parenterally via injection of a formulation consisting of the active ingredient dissolved in an inert liquid carrier. Injection may be either intramuscular, intraruminal, intratracheal, or subcutaneous, either by needle or needle-less means.

The injectable formulation consists of the active ingredient mixed with an appropriate inert liquid carrier. Acceptable liquid carriers include the vegetable oils such as peanut oil, cotton seed oil, sesame oil and the like as well as organic solvents such as solketal, glycerol formal and the like. As an alternative, aqueous parenteral formulations may also be used. The vegetable oils are the preferred liquid carriers. The formulations are prepared by dissolving or suspending the active ingredient in the liquid carrier such that the final formulation contains from 0.005 to 10% by weight of the active ingredient.

Topical application of the compounds or modulators is possible through the use of a liquid drench or a shampoo containing the instant compounds or modulators as an aqueous solution or suspension. These formulations generally contain a suspending agent such as bentonite and normally will also contain an antifoaming agent. Formulations containing from 0.005 to 10% by weight of the active ingredient are acceptable. Preferred formulations are those containing from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the instant compounds or modulators.

The compounds of Formula I may be used in pharmaceutical compositions to treat patients (humans and other mammals) with disorders or conditions associated with the production of erythropoietin or modulated by the EPO receptor. The compounds can be administered in the manner of the commercially available product or by any oral or

parenteral route (including but not limited to, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, dermal patch), where the preferred route is by injection. When the method of administration is intravenous infusion, compound of Formula I may be administered in a dose range of about 0.01 to 1 mg/kg/min. For oral administration, the dose range is about 0.1 to 100 mg/kg.

The pharmaceutical compositions can be prepared using conventional pharmaceutical excipients and compounding techniques. Oral dosage forms may be used and are elixirs, syrups, capsules, tablets and the like. Where the typical solid carrier is an inert substance such as lactose, starch, glucose, methyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, dicalcium phosphate, mannitol and the like; and typical liquid oral excipients include ethanol, glycerol, water and the like. All excipients may be mixed as needed with disintegrants, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants, binders and the like using conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art of preparing dosage forms.

Parenteral dosage forms may be prepared using water or another sterile carrier.

Typically the compounds of Formula I are isolated as the free base, however when possible pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be prepared. Examples of such salts include hydrobromic, hydroiodic, hydrochloric, perchloric, sulfuric, maleic, fumaric, malic, tartaric, citric, benzoic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, hydroethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, oxalic, pamoic, 2-naphthalenesulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, cyclohexanesulfamic and saccharic.

In order to illustrate the invention the following examples are included. These examples do not limit the invention. They are only meant to suggest a method of practicing the invention. Those knowledgeable in chemical synthesis and the treatment of EPO related disorders may find other methods of practicing the invention. However those methods are deemed to be within the scope of this invention.

BIOLOGICAL EXAMPLES

The compounds of the invention were evaluated for the ability to compete with EPO in the following immobilized EPO receptor preparation (EBP-Ig, EPO binding protein-Ig).

EBP-Ig fusion protein (as disclosed in W097/27219 which is herein incorporated by reference) was purified by affinity chromatography from the conditioned media of NSO cells engineered to express a recombinant gene construct which functionally joined the N-terminal 225 amino acids of the human EPO receptor and an Ig heavy chain as described herein. The interaction of biotin and streptavidin is frequently employed to capture and effectively immobilize reagents useful in assay protocols and has been employed here as a simple method to capture and immobilize EBP-Ig. EBP-Ig is initially randomly modified with an amine reactive derivative of biotin to produce biotinylated- EBP-Ig. Use of streptavidin coated plates allows the capture of the biotinylated EBP-Ig on the surface of a scintillant impregnated coated well (Flash plates, NEN-DuPont). Upon binding of [125I] EPO to the ligand binding domain, specific distance requirements are satisfied and the scintillant is induced to emit light in response to the energy emitted by the radioligand. Unbound radioligand does not produce a measurable signal because the energy from the radioactive decay is too distant from the scintillant. The amount of light produced was quantified to estimate the amount of ligand binding. The specific assay format was suitable for the multi-well plate capacity of a Packard TopCount Microplate Scintillation counter. Compounds which were capable of reducing the amount of detected signal through competitive binding with the radioligand were identified.

Biotinylated EBP-Ig was prepared as follows. EBP-Ig (3 mL, OD280 2.9) was exchanged into 50 mM sodium bicarbonate, pH 8.5 using a Centriprep 10 ultrafiltration device. The final volume of the exchanged protein was 1.2 mL (OD280 2.6, representing about 2 mg total protein). 10 L of a 4 mg/ml solution of NHS-LC-Biotin (Pierce) was added and the reaction mixture placed on ice in the dark for two hours. Unreacted biotin was removed by exchange of the reaction buffer into PBS in a Centriprep 10 device and the protein reagent aliquoted and stored at-70 °C.

Each individual binding well (200 L) contained final concentrations of 1 g/mL of biotinylated EBP-Ig, 0.5 nM of ['"IJEPO (NEN Research Products, Boston, 100 C i/g) and 0-500 M of test compound (from a 10-50 mM stock in 100% DMSO).

All wells were adjusted to a final DMSO concentration of 5%. All assay points were performed in triplicate and with each experiment a standard curve for unlabelled EPO was performed at final concentration of 2000,62,15,8,4, and 0 nM. After all additions were made, the plate was covered with an adhesive top seal and placed in the dark at room temperature overnight. The next day all liquid was aspirated from the wells to limit analyte dependent quench of the signal, and the plates were counted on a Packard TOPCOUNT Microplate Scintillation Counter. Non-specific binding (NSB) was calculated as the mean CPM of the 2000 nM EPO wells and total binding (TB) as the mean of the wells with no added unlabelled EPO. Corrected total binding (CTB) was calculated as: TB-NSB = CTB. The concentration of test compound which reduced CTB to 50% was reported as the IC5o. Typically the IC50 value for unlabelled EPO was ca. 2-7 nM and EMP1 was 0.1 M. Table 1 lists the average % inhibition, and if determined the IC50 and IC30 values for compounds of Formula I, where the compound numbers refer to the compounds in the tables accompanying the preparative examples.

Inhibition of EPO binding to EBP-Ig Table 1 cpd % inh@50 M ic30, M * ic50, M*- 11 70 nd nd 12 59 nd nd 14 30 nd nd 15 48 nd nd 77 52 30 40 82 32 nd nd 86 37 nd nd 100 34 nd nd 101 32 nd nd 104 78 10 30 105 70 25 35 107 78 30 42 108 81 23 36 110 54 6 10 112 59 2 10 114 37 10 nd 115 35 nd nd 116 32 nd nd 117 34 nd nd 118 36 2 10 119 34 nd nd 120 35 nd nd 121 45 6 nd 137 60 5 30 139 46 2 10 178 36 nd nd 179 30 nd nd 183 36 nd nd 184 53 10 nd 203 37 50 nd 211 62 20 65 220 45 30 50 221 48 10 80 222 56 5 nd 224 51 25 50 227 48 20 50 230 42 nd nd 231 36 nd nd 235 49 20 50 237 55 30 70 238 39 nd nd 239 46 8 50 243 75 2-18 244 66 1 28 246 79 10 75 247 47 7 18 248 56 7 20 249 72 7 1 250 78 7 20 227 48 20 50 230 42 nd nd 231 36 nd nd 235 49 20 50 237 55 30 70 238 39 nd nd 239 46 8 50 243 75 2 18 244 66 1 28 246 79 10 75 247 47 7 18 248 56 7 20 249 72 7 10 250 78 7 20 251 49 10 45 251 19 10 45 261 51 1. 5 2 262 93 1 1. 5 263 88 1 1.5 264 89 1.5 8 265 65 1 6 266 82 1 4 267 83 2 6 268 40 nd nd 269 55 8 85 270 56 7 100 271 77 2 7 272 78 5 10 285 41 nd nd 285 41 nd nd 286 46 35 65 287 36 nd nd *nd = not determined PREPARATIVE EXAMPLES Unless otherwise noted, materials used in the examples were obtained from commercial suppliers and were used without further purification. Melting points were determined on a Thomas Hoover apparatus and are uncorrected. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ('H NMR) spectra were measured in the indicated solvent with tetramethylsilane (TMS) as the internal standard using a Bruker AC-300 NMR spectrometer. NMR chemical shifts are expressed in parts per million (ppm) downfield from internal TMS using the d scale. H NMR data are tabulated in order: multiplicity, (s, singlet; d, doublet; t, triplet; q, quartet; m, multiplet), number of protons, coupling constant in Hertz). Electrospray (ES) mass spectra (MS) were determined on a Hewlett Packard Series 1090 LCMS Engine. Elemental analyses were performed by Quantitative Technologies, Inc. (QTI), PO Box 470, Salem Industrial Park, Bldg #5, Whitehouse, NJ 08888-0470. Analytical thin layer chromatography (TLC) was done with Merck Silica Gel 60 F254 plates (250 micron). Medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) was done with Merck Silica Gel 60 (230-400 mesh).

Example 1 N, N-bis (3-Phenoxycinnamyl) Glu (O-t-Bu)-OMe and N- (3-phenoxycinnamyl) Glu (O-t-Bu)- OMe A solution of 500 mg (1.97 mmol) of H-Glu (O-t-Bu) OMeHCl, 997 mg (3.45 mmol) of 3-phenoxycinnamyl bromide (Jackson, W. P.; Islip, P. J.; Kneen, G.; Pugh, A.; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> Wates, P. J. J. Med. Chem. 31 1988; 499-500), and 0.89 mL (5.1 mmol, 660 mg) of DIEA in 5 mL of DMF was stirred under N2 at room temperature for 40 h. The mixture was partitioned between EtOAc and water and the organic layer was washed with water and brine. After drying over Na2S04, the organic solution was concentrated to give 1.24 g of orange oil. The crude residue was purified by MPLC using a solvent gradient ranging from 10-30% EtOAc/hexanes to give two products. The less polar product (235 mg, 19% based on starting amino acid), cpd 96, was isolated as a pale yellow oil; 1H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz) 1.39 (s, 9H), 2.0 (m, 2H), 2.33 (dt, 2H, J = 2,7 Hz), 3.24 (dd, 2H, J = 8,15 Hz), 3.5, (m, 3H), 3.69 (s, 3H), 6.13 (m, 2H), 6.47 (d, 2H, J = 16 Hz), 6.86 (dd, 2H, J = 1.5,8 Hz), 7.0-7.4 (complex, 16H); MS (ES+) m/z 634 (MH+). The more polar product (422 mg, 50% based on starting amino acid), N- (3-phenoxycinnamyl) Glu (O-t-Bu)-OMe, was isolated as a pale yellow oil;'H NMR (CDC13,300 MHz) 1.42 (s, 9H), 1.9 (m, 2H), 2.35 (t, 2H, J = 7.5 Hz), 3.2-3.4 (complex, 3H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 6.17 (dt, 1H, J = 16,6 Hz), 6.46 (d, 1H, J = 16 Hz), 6.87 (dd, 1H, J = 1.5,8 Hz), 7.01 (m, 3H), 7.10 (t, 2H, J = 7.5 Hz), 7.2-7.4 (complex, 3H); MS (ES+) m/z 426 (MH+). Anal. Calcd for C25H31NO5: C, 70.57; H, 7.34; N, 3.29. Found: C, 70.29; H, 7.14; N, 3.08.

Example 2 N- (3-Phenoxycinnamyl) Glu-OMe A solution of 95 mg (0.22 mmol) of N- (3-phenoxycinnamyl) Glu (O-t-Bu)-OMe in 3 mL of 50% TFA/CH2C12 was stirred for 2 h at room temperature. The mixture was concentrated and the residue was dissolve in acetic acid and freeze-dried to give 117 mg of N- (3-phenoxycinnamyl) Glu-OMe as an off-white solid;'H NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 2.3-2.7 (complex, 4H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 3.81 (d, 2H, J = 7 Hz), 4.09 (t, 1H, J = 5 Hz), 6.17 (dt, 1H, J = 16,7 Hz), 6.55 (d, 1H, J = 16 Hz), 6.9 (m, 4H), 7.11 (t, 2H, J = 7.5 Hz), 7.3 (m, 4H); MS (ES+) m/z 370 (MH+), 209. Anal. Calcd for C21H23NO5C2HF302: C, 57.14; H, 5.00; N, 2.90. Found: C, 57.07; H, 5.02; N, 2.73.

Example 3 N, N-bis (3-Phenoxycinnamyl) Asp (O-t-Bu)-O-t-Bu cpd 106 A solution of 1.00 g (3.55 mmol) of Asp (0-t-Bu)-0-t-Bu*HCl, 2.05 g (7.1 mmol) of 3-phenoxycinnamyl bromide, and 1.86 mL (10.7 mmol, 1.38 g) of DIEA in 15 mL of DMF was heated under N2 at 60 °C overnight. Additional 3-phenoxycinnamyl bromide (1.0 g, 3.4 mmol) and DIEA (0.95 mL, 0.705 g, 5.4 mmol) were added and heating was continued for an additional 14 h. The mixture was cooled and partitioned between EtOAc and water. The organic layer was washed twice with water, once with brine, and was dried over Na2S04. The solution was concentrated to give 3.5 g of an amber oil which was purified by MPLC using a solvent gradient ranging from 2.5-3% EtOAc/hexanes to afford 1.21 g of cpd 106 as a pale yellow oil;'H NMR (CDC13,300 MHz) 1.41 (s, 9H), 1.48 (s, 9H), 2.49 (dd, 1H, J = 5 Hz), 2.70 (dd, 1H, J =7.5,15.5 Hz), 3.26 (dd, 2H, J = 7.5,14.5 Hz), 3.47 (dd, 2H, J = 4,14.5 Hz), 3.88 (t, 1H, J = 7.5), 6.13 (m, 2H), 6.48 (d, 2H, J = 16 Hz), 6.86 (dd, 2H, J = 2,8 Hz), 7.0 (m, 6H), 7.1 (m, 4H), 7.2-7.4 (complex, 6H); MS (ES+) m/z 662 (MH+).

Example 4 N, N-bis (3-Phenoxycinnamyl) Asp-OH cpd 107 A solution of 1.14 g (1. 62 mmol) of cpd 106 in 16 mL of 50% TFA/CH2Cl2 was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. The solution was concentrated and pumped to give 1.37 g (-100%) cpd 107 as an amber oil; IH NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 3.1 (m, 2H), 4.0 <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (dd, 2H, J = 8,14 Hz), 4.27 (dd, 2H, J = 8,16 Hz), 4.70 (t, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 6.38 (2H, dt, J = 16,8 Hz), 6.7-7.4 (complex, 20H); MS (ES-) m/z 562 ([M-H] +).

Example 5 N, N-bis (4-Benzyloxybenzyl) Lys (Boc)-OMe (cpd 111) and N- (4-Benzyloxy- benzyl) Lys (Boc)-OMe A solution of 594 mg (2.0 mmol) of Lys (Boc)-OMeHCl, 524 mg (2.25 mmol) of 4-benzyloxybenzyl chloride, 75 mg (0.5 mmol), of NaI, and 0.61 mL (3.5 mol, 452 mg) of DIEA was warmed at 50-70 °C under N2 overnight. The mixture was cooled and partioned between EtOAc and water. The organic layer was washed twice with water, once with brine, and was dried over Na2S04. The organic solution was concentrated to give 0.83 g of amber oil which was purified by MPLC using a solvent gradient ranging from 15-40% EtOAc/hexanes to give two products. The less polar product (296 mg), cpd 111, was isolated as a pale yellow oil;'H NMR (CDCl3,300 MHz) 1.28 (m, 4H), 1.43 (s, 9H), 1.70 (m, 2H), 3.03 (m, 2H), 3.28 (t, 1H, J = 7 Hz), 3.40 (d, 2H, J = 13.5 Hz), 3.74 (s, 3H), 3.81 (d, 2H, J = 13.5 Hz), 5.05 (2,4H), 6.92 (d, 4H, J = 8.5), 7.23 (d, 4H, J = 8.5), 7.25-7.5 (complex, 10H); MS (ES+) m/z 653 (MH+). The more polar product (406 mg), N- (4-Benzyloxybenzyl) Lys (Boc)-OMe, was isolated as a white solid;'H NMR (CDC13, 300 MHz) 1.4 (, 4H), 1.43 (s, 9H), 1.65 (m, 3H), 3.08 (m, 2H), 3.23 (t, 1H, J = 6.5 Hz), 3.54 (d, 1H, J = 12.5 Hz), 3.71 (s, 3H), 3.73 (d, 1H, J = 12.5 Hz), 5.05 (s, 2H), 6.92 (d, 2H, J = 8.5 Hz), 7.23 (d, 2H, J = 8.5 Hz), 7.25-7.5 (complex, 5H); MS (ES+) m/z 457 (MH+).

Example 6 N- (4-Benzyloxybenzyl)-N- (3-nitrobenzyl) Lys (Boc)-OMe cpd 113 A solution of 374 mg (0.82 mmol) of N- (4-Benzyloxybenzyl) Lys (Boc)-OMe, 221 mg (1.03 mmol) of 4-nitrobenzyl bromide, and 197 L (1.13 mmol, 146 mg) of DIEA was warmed at 50-70 °C for 4 h, then at 40-50 °C overnight. After the addition of 0.2 mL of IN aqueous HCI, the mixture was partioned between EtOAc and water. The organic layer was washed twice with water, once with brine, and was dried over Na2S04. The organic solution was concentrated to give 610 mg of an amber oil which was purified by MPLC 1: 3 EtOAc/hexanes to afford 436 mg (90%) cpd 113 as a pale yellow oil; IH NMR (CDC13,300 MHz) 1.35 (m, 4H), 1.42 (s, 9H), 1.75 (broad q, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 3.06 (broad q, 2H, J = 6 Hz), 3.28 (t, 1H, J = 7.5 Hz), 3.48 (d, 1H, J = 13.5 Hz), 3.66 (d, 1H, J = 14.5 Hz), 3.76 (s, 3H), 3.79 (d, 1H, J = 13.5 Hz), 3.97 (d, 1H, J = 14.5 Hz), 4.47 (broad s, 1H), 5.05 (s, 2H), 6.93 (d, 2H, J = 8.5 Hz), 7.22 (d, 2H, J = 8.5 Hz), 7.3-7.5 (complex, 6H), 7.65 (d, 1H, J = 7.5 Hz), 8.09 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 8.22 (s, 1H); MS (ES+) m/z 592 (MH+).

Example 7 N- (3-Aminobenzyl)-N- (4-benzyloxybenzyl) Lys (Boc)-OMe A solution of 361 mg (0.61 mmol) of cpd 113 and 835 mg (3.7 mmol) of SnCl2 dihydrate was stirred under N2 at room temperature for 6 h. The slightly cloudy mixture was poured into 200 mL of 5% aqueous Na2C03 with rapid stirring. The resulting milky suspension was extracted with three 75 mL portions of CH2Cl2 and the combined organic layers were washed with brine and dried over Na2S04. The extracts were concentrated to give 344 mg of colorless oil which was purified by MPLC using 1: 2 EtOAc/hexanes to provide 291 mg of N- (3-aminobenzyl)-N- (4-benzyloxybenzyl) Lys (Boc)-OMe as a yellow oil;'H NMR (CDC13,300 MHz) 1.25 (m, 4H), 1.44 (s, 9H), 1.70 (m, 2H), 3.31 (dd, 1H, J = 6,9 Hz), 3.38 (d, 1H, J = 14 Hz), 3.40 (d, 1H, J = 13.5 Hz), 3.74 (s, 3H), 3.81 (d, 1H, J = 14 Hz), 3.83 (d, 1H, J = 13.5 Hz), 4.52 (broad s, 1H), 5.05 (s, 2H), 6.50 (broad d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 6.70 (m, 2H), 6.92 (d, 2H, J = 8.5 Hz), 7.08 (t, 1H, J = 7.5 Hz), 7.2-7.5 (complex, 7H); MS (ES+) m/z 562 (base, MH+), 506.

Example 8 N- (4-Benzyloxybenzyl)-N- (3- ( (2-furancarbonyl) amino) benzyl) Lys-Ome cpd 117 A solution of 42 mg (0.075 mmol) of N- (3-aminobenzyl)-N- (4- benzyloxybenzyl) Lys (Boc)-OMe and 12 L (12 mg, 0.15 mmol) of pyridine in 0.5 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane was combined with 8.1 L (11 mg, 0.083 mmol) and stirred under N2 overnight. EtOAc (3 mL) was added and the solution was washed twice with 2 mL of water and 2 mL of saturated aqueous NaHC03. The EtOAc solution was filtered through a pad of Na2S04 and concentrated to give 44 mg of N- (4-benzyloxybenzyl)-N- (3- ( (2- furancarbonyl) amino) benzyl) Lys (Boc)-OMe; MS (ES+) m/z 356 (MH+). The Boc- protected intermediate was stirred in 2 mL of 50% TFA/CH2Cl2 for 2 h and was concentrated and pumped at high vacuum to provide 66 mg of cpd 117 as the bis-TFA salt;'H NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 1.55 (m, 2H), 1.65 (m, 2H), 2.10 (m, 2H), 2.93 (t, 2H, J = 7 Hz), 3.68 (t, 1H, J = 7 Hz), 3.78 (s, 3H), 4.20 (m, 4H), 5.09 (s, 2H), 6.66 (dd, 1H, J = 1.5,3.5 Hz), 7.03 (d, 2H, J = 8.5 Hz), 7.1-7.6 (complex, 11 H), 7.76 (m, H), 8.07 (m, 1H); MS (ES+) m/z 556 (base, MH+), 360,197.

Example 9 N, N-bis (3-Nitrobenzyl) Asp (O-t-Bu)-O-t-Bu cpd 62 A solution of 0.50 mg (1.77 mmol) of Asp (O-t-Bu)-O-t-Bu*HCl, 1.17 g (5.42 mmol) of 3-nitrobenzyl bromide, and 1.25 mL (0.93 g, 7.2 mmol) of DIEA in 6 mL of DMF was stirred at room temperature under N2 for 24 h and was heated at 70-80 °C overnight. The reaction mixture was partitioned between EtOAc and water and the organic layer was washed twice with water and once with brine. After drying over Na2S04, the organic solution was concentrated to give 0.86 g of a yellow oil which was purified by MPLC using 1: 9 EtOAc/hexanes to afford 0.849 g (93%) cpd 62 as a pale yellow oil;'H NMR (CDC13,300 MHz) 1.43 (s, 9H), 1.57 (s, 9H), 2.59 (dd, 1H, J = 7.5, 16 Hz), 2.76 (dd, 1H, J = 7,16 Hz), 3.72 (t, 1H, J = 7.5 Hz), 3.78 (d, 2H, J = 14 Hz), 3.92 (d, 2H, J = 14 Hz), 7.47 (t, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.67 (d, 2H, J = 7.5 Hz), 8.09 (broad d, 2H J = 8 Hz), 8.16 (broad s, 2H); MS (ES+) m/z 538 (MNa+), 516 (base, MH+), 460,404,237.

Example 10 N, N-bis (3-Aminobenzyl) Asp (O-t-Bu)-O-t-Bu A solution of 0.644 g (1.25 mmol) of cpd 62 and 2.82 g (12.5 mmol) of SnCl2p2 H20 in 12 mL of absolute EtOH was refluxed for 1.5 h. The mixture was cooled and poured into 300 mL of 5% aqueous Na2C03 with rapid stirring. The cloudy mixture was extracted with three 150 mL portions of CH2C12 and the organic extracts were washed with brine and dried over Na2S04. The CH2C12 solution was concentrated to afford 210 mg (37%) of N, N-bis (3-aminobenzyl) Asp (O-t-Bu)-O-t-Bu as a cloudy yellow oil which was used without purification;'H NMR (CDCl3,300 MHz) 1.40 (s, 9H), 1.52 (s, 9H), 2.48 (dd, 1H, J = 7,16 Hz), 2.76 (dd, 1H, J = 8,16 Hz), 3.48 (d, 2H, J = 14 Hz), 3.55 (m, 1H), <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> 3.73 (d, 2H, J = 14 Hz), 6.56 (broad d, 2H J = 8 Hz), 6.70 (broad s, 2H), 6.77 (d, 2H, J = 7.5 Hz), 7.08 (t, 2H, J = 8 Hz); MS (ES+) m/z 478 (MNa+), 456 (base, MH+), 400,344.

Example 11 N, N-bis (3- (4-Methylbenzoyl) aminobenzyl) Asp (O-t-Bu)-O-t-Bu To a solution of 109 mg (0.24 mmol) of N, N-bis (3-aminobenzyl) Asp (O-t-Bu)-O-t-Bu, 29 mg (0.24 mmol) of DMAP, 125 L (93 mg, 0.72 mmol) of DIEA in 1 mL of CH2C12 was added 95 L (111 mg, 0.72 mmol) of 4-methylbenzoyl chloride. The solution was stirred under N2 overnight and was then partitioned between EtOAc and water. The organic layer was washed with saturated aqueous NaHC03 and brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give 177 mg of yellow oil. The crude material was purified by MPLC using a solvent gradient ranging from 20-25% EtOAc/hexanes to provide 87 mg of N, N- bis (3- (4-methylbenzoyl) aminobenzyl) Asp (O-t-Bu)-O-t-Bu as a pale yellow oil;'H NMR (CDCl3,300 MHz) 1.36 (s, 9H), 1.55 (s, 9H), 2.35 (s, 6H), 2.53 (dd, 1H, J = 6,16 Hz), 2.76 (dd, 1H, J = 9,16 Hz), 3.69 (d, 2H, J = 14), 3.77 (dd, 1H, J = 6,9 Hz), 3.83 (d, 2H, J = 14), 7. 01 (m, 6H), 7.26 (t, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.59 (m, 6H), 8.11 (s, 2H), 8.49 (s, 2H); MS (ES+) m/z 714 (MNa+), 692 (base, MH+), 636, 580.

Example 12 N, N-bis (3- (4-Methylbenzoyl) aminobenzyl) Asp-OH cpd 64 A solution of 87 mg (0.13 mmol) of N, N-bis (3- (4-methylbenzoyl) amino- benzyl) Asp (O-t-Bu)-O-t-Bu in 1 mL of 50% TFA/CH2Cl2 was stirred overnight. The mixture was concentrated and the residue was dissolved in HOAc and freeze-dried to afford 77 mg cpd 64 as a white solid;'H NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 2.40 (s, 6H), 2.85 (dd, 1H, J = 6,16.5 Hz), 2.98 (dd, 1H, J = 8,16.5 Hz), 4.02 (d, 2H, J = 13.5 Hz), 4.08 (d, 4H, J = 13.5 Hz), 4.10 (t, 1H, J = 6.5 Hz), 7.22 (m, 6H), 7.34 (t, 2H, J = 7.5 Hz), 7.60 (broad d, 2H, J = 9 Hz), 7.76 (d, 4H, J = 8 Hz), 7.88 (broad s, 2H); MS (ES+) m/z 580 (base, MH+).

Example 13 [N-Cbz-Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 To a solution of 1.69 g (5.0 mmol) of N-Cbz-Glu (O-t-Bu)-OH, 0.365 mL (0.371 g, 2.5 mmol) of 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane, 0.743 g (5.5 mmol) of HOBT, and 1.05 mL (0.776 g, 6.0 mmol) of DIEA in 15 mL of CH2C12 was added 1.05 g (5.5 mmol) of EDCI in one portion. After stirring at room temperature under N2 overnight, the mixture was partitioned between EtOAc and 10% aqueous citric acid. The organic layer was washed with water, saturated NaHCO3, and brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give 1.87 g of (N-Cbz-Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2) 2 as a colorless oil;'H NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 1.43 (s, 18H), 1.85 (m, 2H), 2.05 (m, 2H), 2.31 (t, 4H, J = 8 Hz), 3.37 (t, 4H, J = 5 Hz), 3.52 (t, 4H, J = 5 Hz), 3.58 (s, 4H), 4.15 (m, 2H), 5.09 (dd, 4H, J = 12,16 Hz), 7.30 (m, 10H); MS (ES+) m/z 809 (base, MNa+), 787 (MH+).

Example 14 [Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 Ammonium formate (0.78 g, 12.4 mmol) and 0.16 g of 10% palladium on carbon were added to a solution of (N-Cbz-Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH2OCH2) 2 in 12 mL of MeOH and the resulting suspension was stirred under N2 at room temperature overnight. The mixture was diluted with CH2C12 and filtered through a Celite pad. The solids were washed thoroughly with CH2Cl2 and the combined organic filtrates were concentrated to dryness. The residue was partitioned between CH2Cl2 and saturated aqueous NaHCO3, washed with brine, dried over Na2SO4, and concentrated to give 1.13 g of (Glu (O-t-Bu)- NHCH2CH2OCH2) 2 as a colorless oil; 1.44 (s, 18H), 1.81 (m, 2H), 2.08 (m, 2H), 2.35 (m, 4H), 3.39 (dd, 2H, J = 5,7.5 Hz), 3.47 (t, 4H, J = 5 Hz), 3.58 (t, 4H, J = 5 Hz), 7.53 (m, 2H).

Example 15 [N, N-bis (4-Benzyloxybenzyl) Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 cpd 245 A solution of 199 mg (0.384 mmol) of [Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2,403 mg (1.73 mmol) of 4-benzyloxybenzyl chloride, 30 mg (0.2 mmol) of NaI, and 334 L (248 mg, 1.92 mmol) of DIEA was stirred under N2 at room temperature for several days. The solution was partitioned between EtOAc and water and the organic layer was washed three times with water and once with brine. After drying over Na2S04, the solution was concentrated to give 528 mg of yellow oil which was purified by MPLC using a solvent gradient ranging from 42-50% EtOAc/hexanes to afford 318 mg (64%) of cpd 245 as a white foam; lH NMR (CDC13,300 MHz) 1.42 (s, 18H), 2.01 (m, 4H), 2.38 (m, 2H), 2.55 (m, 2H), 3.03 (dd, 2H, J = 5,8 Hz), 3.31 (m, 2H), 3.4-3.6 (complex, 18H), 4.99 (s, 8H), 6.89 (d, 8H, J = 8.5), 7.1-7.4 (complex, 30H).

Example 16 [N, N-bis (4-Benzyloxybenzyl) GIuNHCH2CH20CH2] 2 cpd 246 A solution of 219 mg (0.168 mmol) of cpd 245 in 2 mL of 33% TFA/CH2C12 was stirred ad room temperature overnight. The mixture was concentrated to give a crude product which was dissolved in HOAc and freeze-dried to afford 251 mg of cpd 246 as an amber oil;'H NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 2.1-2.6 (complex, 8H), 3.3-3.6 (complex, 8H), 3.57 (s, 4H), 3.78 (m, 2H), 4.25 (broad d, 4H, J = 14 Hz), 4.36 (broad d, 4H, J = 14 Hz), 5.09 (s, 8H), 7.03 (d, 8H, J = 8 Hz), 7.3-7.5 (complex, 28H); MS (ES+) m/z 1192 (MH+), 995,596,197 (base).

Example 17 [N- (3-Phenoxybenzyl) Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 A solution of 680 mg (0.76 mmol) of [Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 and 278 L (317 mg, 1.6 mmol) of 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde in 3 mL of TMOF was stirred overnight at room temperature under N2. The mixture was concentrated and pumped at high vacuum to give a colorless oil which was dissolved in 3 mL of CH2Cl2 and treated with 678 mg (3.2 mmol) of NaBH (OAc) 3. After stirring under N2 for 2 days, 50 mL of saturated aqueous NaHC03 was added and the mixture was extracted with CH2C12. The organic layers were combined, dried over Na2SO4, and concentrated and the crude product (1.01 g) was purified by MPLC using a solvent gradient ranging from 2-4% MeOH/CH2Cl2 to afford 490 mg of [N- (3-phenoxybenzyl) Glu (O-t-Bu)- NHCH2CH2OCH2] 2 as a colorless oil;'H NMR (CDC13,300 MHz) 1.41 (s, 18H), 1.89 (m, 4H), 2.31 (m, 4H), 3.12 (t, 2H, J = 6 Hz), 3.45 (m, 8H), 3.55 (s, 4H), 3.60 (d, 2H, J = 13.5 Hz), 3.73 (d, 2H, J = 13.5 Hz), 6.86 (dd, 2H, J = 1.5,8 Hz), 7.00 (m, 8H), 7.2-7.4 (complex, 8H); MS (ES+) m/z 883 (MH+), 589,442,414,386 (base), 183.

Example 18 [N- (3-Nitrobenzyl)-N- (3-phenoxybenzyl)-Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 DIEA (269 L, 199 mg, 1.54 mmol), 3-nitrobenzyl bromide (322 mg, 1.49 mmol), and [N- (3-phenoxybenzyl) Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH2OCH2] 2 (482 mg, 0.546 mmol) were combined in 2 mL of DMF and heated at 60-70 °C under N2 for 2 days. The reaction mixture was cooled and partitioned between 100 mL of EtOAc and water. The organic layer was washed with three times with water and once with brine, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give 661 mg (-100%) of [N- (3-nitrobenzyl)-N- (3-phenoxybenzyl)-Glu (O- t-Bu)-NHCH2CH2OCH2] 2 which was used without purification; MS (ES+) m/z 1154 (MH+), 577,130 (base).

Example 19 [N- (3-Aminobenzyl)-N- (3-phenoxybenzyl)-Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 A solution of 661 mg (0.54 mmol) of crude [N- (3-nitrobenzyl)-N- (3-phenoxy-benzyl)- Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 and 2.71 g (12.0 mmol) of SnCl2 2 H20 in 20 mL of absolute EtOH was refluxed under N2 for 30 min. The cooled solution was poured into 500 mL of 2.5% aqueous Na2CO3 with rapid stirring and the resulting cloudy mixture was extracted thoroughly with EtOAc. The slightly cloudy organic extracts were washed twice with brine, dried over Na2S04, anc concentrated to give 604 mg of yellow oil which was purified by MPLC using 3% MeOH/CH2Cl2 to provide 350 mg (59%) of [N- (3- aminobenzyl)-N- (3-phenoxybenzyl)-Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 as a pale yellow oil; IH NMR (CDC13,300 MHz) 1.41 (s, 18H), 1.97 (m, 4H), 2.25 (m, 4H), 2.48 (m, 4H), 3.03 (dd, 2H, J = 5,8 Hz), 3.30 (m, 2H), 3.4-3.8 (complex, 24H), 6.47 (d, 2H, J = 7.5 Hz), 6.65 (m, 4H), 6.85 (d, 2H, J = 9.5 Hz), 6.9-7.15 (complex, 12H), 7.2-7.4 (complex, 8H); MS (ES+) m/z 1094 (MH+), 547 (base).

Example 20 [N- (3-Phenoxybenzyl)-N- (3- (pentanoylamino) benzyl)-Glu-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2 cpd 247 Pentanoyl chloride (16 uL, 16 mg, 0.136 mmol) was added dropwise to a solution of 68 mg (0.062 mmol) of [N- (3-aminobenzyl)-N- (3-phenoxybenzyl)-Glu (O-t-Bu)- NHCH2CH20CH2] 2,20 L (20 mg, 0.25 mmol) of pyridine in 0.3 mL of 1,2- dichloroethane. The mixture was shaken under N2 overnight and was then partitioned between EtOAc and water. The organic layer was washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO3, dried over Na2S04, and concentrated to give 77 mg of [N- (3-phenoxybenzyl)-N- (3- (pentanoylamino) benzyl)-Glu (O-t-Bu)-NHCH2CH20CH2] 2; MS (ES+) m/z 1073,575 (base, MH+/2). The crude product was dissolved in 1 mL of 50% TFA/CH2Cl2 and allows to stand overnight. The solution was concentrated and the resulting oil was dissolved in HOAc and freeze-dried to provide 82 mg of cpd 247; IH NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 3.98 (t, 6H, J = 7.5 Hz), 1.39 (sextet, 4H, J = 7.5 Hz), 1.66 (quintet, 4H, J = 7.5 Hz), 1.65 (m, 2H), 1.78 (m, 2H), 2.35 (t, 4H, J = 7.5 Hz), 2.45 (m, 4H), 3.38 (m, 4H), 3.50 (t, 2H, J = 5), 3.57 (m, 4H), 4.10 (broad s, 8H), 6.9-7.25 (complex, 14H), 7.25-7.4 (complex, 10H), 7.71 (s, 2H); MS (ES+) m/z 1150 (MH+), 575 (base).

Example 21 [N-Cbz-Lys(Boc)-NHcH2cH2] 3N A solution of 1.0 g (2.63 mmol) of N-Cbz-Lys (Boc) OH, 0.131 mL (0.128 g, 0.876 mmol) of tris (2-aminoethyl) amine, 0.391 g (2.98 mmol) of HOBt, 0.555 g (2.89 mmol) of EDCI, and 0.55 mL (0.408 g, 3.16 mmol) of DIEA in 5 mL of CH2C12 was stirred under N2 at room temperature overnight. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed with 10% aqueous citric acid, saturated aqueous NaHCO3, and brine. The solution was dried over Na2S04 and concentrated to give 0.872 g of [N-Cbz-Lys (Boc)-NHCH2CH2] 3N as an off-white solid;'H NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 135 (m, 12H), 1.40 (s, 27H), 1.60 (m, 3H), 1.72 (m, 3H), 2.51 (m, 6H), 2.99 (m, 6H), 3.10 (m, 3H), 3.21 (m, 3H), 4.12 (m, 3H), 5.00 (d, 3H, J = 12.5 Hz), 5.08 (d, 3H, J = 12.5 Hz), 7.29 (m, 15H); MS (ES+) m/z 1243 (base, MH+), 567,467.

Example 22 [Lys(Boc)-NHCH2CH2] 3N A solution of 0.841 g (0.682 mmol) [N-Cbz-Lys (Boc)-NHCH2CH2] 3N, 0.252 g of 10% Pd-C, and 0.774 g (12.3 mmol) of ammonium formate in 10 mL of MeOH was stirred for 5 h at room temperature under N2. The mixture was filtered through a Celite pad, the solids were washed with CH2Cl2, and the reslulting solution was concentrated to dryness. The residue was partitioned between CH2Cl2 and brine; the organic layer was dried over Na2S04 and concentrated to provide 0.191 g of [Lys (Boc)-NHCH2CH2] 3N as an off-white solid;'H NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 1.40 (s, 27H), 1.45 (m, 12H), 1.75 (m, 6H), 2.62 (m, 6H), 3.01 (m, 6H), 3.28 (m, 6H), 3.64 (m, 3H); MS (ES+) m/z 853 (MNa+), 831 (MH+), 266 (base).

Example 23 [N, N-bis (3-Phenoxybenzyl) Lys (Boc)-NHCH2CH2] 3N A solution of 65 mg (0.078 mmol) of [Lys (Boc)-NHCH2CH2] 3N, 120 L (140 mg, 0.70 mmol) of 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde, and 71 L (65 mg, 0.70 mmol) of borane- pyridine complexin 3 mL of absolute EtOH was stirred for 4 days at room temperature under N2. The mixture was concentrated to dryness and partitioned between water and CH2C12. The organic layer was concentrated to give a yellow oil which was purified by MPLC using 2.5% MeOH/CH2Cl2 to give 78 mg of [N, N-bis (3-phenoxybenzyl) Lys (Boc)- NHCH2CH2] 3N as a yellow oil; MS (ES+) m/z 872 (base, [M-Cl3Hl20)/2] +), 611,443.

Example 24 [N, N-bis (3-Phenoxybenzyl) Lys-NHCH2CH2] 3N cpd 277 A solution of 78 mg (0.048 mmol) of [N, N-bis (3-phenoxybenzyl) Lys (Boc)- NHCH2CH2] 3N in 2 mL of 50% TFA/CH2Cl2 was stirred for 2 h at room temperature.

The mixture was diluted with CH2C12, washed with water and 5% Na2C03, and concentrated to give 57 mg of cpd 277 as an off-white foam; lH NMR (CD30D, 300 MHz) 1.35 (m, 6H), 1.52 (m, 6H), 1.76 (m, 6H), 2.75 (m, 6H), 3.19 (m, 6H), 3.40 (m, 6H), 3.60 (m, 9H), 3.77 (m, 6H), 6.79 (d, 6H, J = 8 Hz), 6.93 (m, 24H), 7.05 (m, 6H), 7.19 (m, 6H), 7.29 (m, 12H); MS (ES+) m/z 813 ([MH2/2] +), 721,542 (base, [MH/3] +).

Table 2 cpd % inh R' (amino acid side chain) R2 R3 W, 11 70 Asn, Asp, Gln, Glu 3-PhO CH=CH 12 59 Cys, Met, Ser, Thr 3-PhO CH=CH 13 nd Arg, Gly, His, Pro 3-PhO CH=CH 14 30 Lys (2-Cl-Cbz), Phe, Trp, Tyr 3-PhO CH=CH 15 48 Ala, Ile, Leu, Val 3-PhO CH=CH 16 nd Glu, Asp 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 17 nd Cys, Met 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 18 nd Ser, Thr 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 19 nd His, Arg (Mtr) 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 20 nd Pro, Gly 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 21 nd Phe, Tyr 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 22 nd Trp, Lys (2-Cl-Cbz) 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 23 nd Ile, Ala 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 24 nd Val, Leu 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 25 nd Asn, Lys 2, 3-benzo CH=CH 26 nd Ala, Ile 3,4-benzo CH=CH 27 nd Arg (Mtr), Lys (2-Cl-Cbz) 3,4-benzo CH=CH 28 nd Asp, Glu 3,4-benzo CH=CH 29 nd Cys, Met 3,4-benzo CH=CH 30 nd IGly, Pro __ 3,4-benzo 31 nd His, Lys 3,4-benzo CH=CH 32 nd Leu, Val 3,4-benzo CH=CH 33 nd Lys (2-Cl-Cbz), Phe 3,4-benzo CH=CH 34 nd Ser, Thr 3,4-benzo CH=CH 35 nd Trp, Tyr 3, 4-benzo CH=CH Table 3 EPO/EBP-Ig MS cpd % inh 50 M R'R R9 W, Q MH+ 36 nd CH3 4-CF3 H CH=CH 458 37 19 H 4-CF3 H CH=CH 430 38 nd (CH2) 4NH (2-Cl-Cbz) 4-F H CH=CH 448 40 nd CH3 4-F H CH=CH 223 41 nd CH2CO2H 4-F H CH=CH 266 42 nd CH2CH2CO2H 4-F H CH=CH 281 43 nd (CH2) 3NHC (=NH) NH2 4-F H CH=CH 308 45 nd PhCH2 4-F H CH=CH 299 46 nd 4-HO-PhCH2 4-F H CH=CH 315 47 nd CH20H 4-F H CH=CH 238 48 nd CH (OH) CH3 4-F H CH=CH 253 49 1 (CH2) 3NHC (=NH) NH2 H H S 419 50-6 (CH2) 4NH2 H H S 391 51 nd CH (CH3) CH2CH3 H H S 376 52 21 CH2CH2CO2H H H S 392 53 14 CH2CO2H H H S 378 54 18 CH3 H H S 334 55 4 CH2CH2CONH2 H H S 391 56 nd (CH2) 4NHCbz H Me S 539 57 0 (CH2) 4NHCbz H CH2Ph S 615 58 nd CH2 (indol-3-yl) H Me S 463 59 26 CH2CH2CO2-t-Bu H Me S 462 60 9 CH2CH2C02Et H Me S 4 4 61 14 CH2CH2C02H H Me S 406 Table 4 EPO/EBP-Ig MS cpd % inh @ 50 M Ra R2 R4 R9 MH+ 62 nd t-Bu N02 N02 t-Bu 516 63 20 H PhCH2NH PhO H 511 64-4 H 4-MePhCONH 4-MePhCONH H 580 65-7 H 4-MePhSO2NH 4-MePhSO2NH H 652 66-16 H 3-CIPhCH2NH PhO H 546 67-8 H 3-BrPhCH2NH PhO H 590 68-13 H 2-FPhCH2NH PhO H 529 69-13 H 2-MePhCH2NH PhO H 525 70-8 H 4-FPhCH2NH PhO H 529 71-6 H 3-ClPhCH2NH 4-Me-PhO H 560 72-14 H F5-PhCH2NH 4-Me-PhO H 615 73-13 H 2-FPhCH2NH 4-Me-PhO H 543 74-7 H 3-CNPhCH2NH 4-Me-PhO H 550 75-2 H PhCH2NH 4-Me-PhO H 525 Table 5 EPO/EBP-Ig MS cpd % inh & commat 50 Ra R2 R3 R4 R5 R9 n MH+ M 76 25 t-Bu PhO H PhO H t-Bu 1 636 77 52 H PhO H PhO H H 1 524 78 nd H H 4-MePhCONH H PhCH2 H 2 593 0 79 nd H H n-BuCONH H PhCH2 H 2 559 O 80 nd H H 2-naphthyl CONH H PhCH2 H 2 629 O 81 nd H H 2-furyl CONH H PhCH2 H 2 569 O 82 32 H H 4-MeO-PhCONH H PhCH2 H 2 609 _.. O 83 18 H H H02C (CH2) 3CONH H PhCH2 H 2 589 O 84 14 H H C2F5CONH H PhCH2 H 2 621 O 85 20 H H CF3CONH H PhCH2 H 2 571 O 86 37 H H 4-pyridyl-CONH H PhCH2 H 2 580 O 87 23 H H 4-MePhSO2NH H PhCH2 H 2 629 O 88 10.3 H H HO2CCH2 (1, 1- H PhCH2 H 2 643 cyclopentyl) O CH2CONH 89 22 H H PhOCONH H PhCH2 H 2 595 o 90 29 H H 4-Ph-PhCONH H PhCH2 H 2 655 O 91 19 H H 4-NO2-PhCONH H PhCH2 H 2 624 O Table 6 EPO/EBP-Ig MS cpd % inh (50 Ra R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R9 MH M + 92 20 H H H H H 2 Me 394 93 20 t-Bu H H H H 2 Me 450 94 25 Et H H H H 2 Me 422 95 15 t-Bu 2, 3-benzo 2, 3-benzo _ 2 96-5 t-Bu PhO H PhO H 2 Me 634 97 14 t-Bu 3,4-benzo 3, 4-benzo 2 H 536 98 12 t-Bu H Ph H Ph 2 Me 602 99 13 t-Bu 3,4-di-Cl- H 3,4-di-Cl- H 2 Me 772 PhO PhO 100 34 H H Ph H Ph 2 Me 546 101 32 H 3,4-di-Cl- H 3,4-di-Cl- H 2 Me 716 PhO PhO 102 5 t-Bu 4-t-Bu-PhO H 4-t-Bu-PhO H 2 t-789 Bu 103 17 t-Bu 3-CF3-PhO H 3-CF3-PhO H 2 t-812 Bu 104 78 H 4-t-Bu-PhO H 4-t-Bu-PhO H 2 H 676 105 70 H 3-CF3-PhO H 3-CF3-PhO H 2 H 700 106 20 t-Bu PhO H PhO H 1 t-662 Bu 107 78 H PhO H PhO H 2 H 562* 108 81 H PhO H PhO H 1 H 550 *[M-H]- Table 7 EPO / EBP- Ig MS cpd % inh R R R3 R4 R5 R9 MH @ 50 + M 109 7 Boc PhCH20 H PhCH20 H Me 653 110 54 H H PhCH2 H PhCH2 Me 553 O O 111 5 Boc H PhCH2 H PhCH2 Me 653 O O 112 59 H PhCH20 H PhCH20 H Me 553 113 24 Boc H PhCH2 N02 H Me 592 O 114 37 H H PhCH2 N02 H Me 492 O 115 35 H H PhCH2 NH2 H Me 462 0 116 32 H H PhCH2 n-BuCONH H Me 546 O 117 34 H H PhCH2 2-furylCONH H Me 556 O 118 36 H H PhCH2 4-MePhCONH H Me 580 1 0 1 1 119 34 H H PhCH2 i-Pr-CONH H Me 532 _ O 120 35 H H PhCH2 4-pyridyl-H Me 567 O CONH 121 45 H H PhCH2 2-naphthyl-H Me 616 O CONH 122 nd Boc PhCH2NH H PhCH2NH H Me 651 123 nd Boc 2-H 2-MePhCH2NH H Me 679 MePhCH2NH 124 nd Boc 4-MeO-H 4-MeO-H Me 711 PhCH2NH PhCH2NH 125 nd Boc 3,4-di-MeO- H 3,4-di-MeO- H Me 771 PhCH2NH PhCH2NH 126 nd Boc-NH2 H-NH2 H Me 471 127 nd H PhCH2NH H PhCH2NH H Me 551 128 nd H 2-H 2-MePhCH2NH H Me 579 MePhCH2NH 129 nd H 4-MeO-H 4-MeO-H Me 611 PhCH2NH PhCH2NH 130 nd H 3,4-di-MeO- H 3,4-di-MeO- H Me 671 _ PhCH2NH PhCH2NH _ 131 nd H PhCH2CH2N H PhCH2CH2NH H Me 579 H 132 nd HO2CCH2CH2 PhCH2NH H PhCH2NH H Me 651 CO 133 nd H02CCH2CH2 2-H 2-MePhCH2NH H Me 679 CO MePhCH2NH 134 nd H02CCH2CH2 4-MeO-H 4-MeO-H Me 711 CO PhCH2NH PhCH2NH 135 nd H02CCH2CH2 3,4-di-MeO- H 3,4-di-MeO- H Me 771 CO PhCH2NH PhCH2NH 136 nd HO2CCH2CH2 PhCH2CH2N H PhCH2CH2NH H Me 679 CO H _ Table 8 |EPO/EBP-Ig l MS cpd % inh & commat 50 Ra R2 R4 Rs R9 MH+ M 137 nd H PhO PhO H Me 551 138 nd Boc 4-t-Bu-PhO PhCH20 H Me 721 139 nd H 4-t-Bu-PhO PhCH20 H Me 621 140 nd H (CF3CO) 2N PhCH20 H H 666 141 nd H PhCONH PhCH20 H H 578 142 nd H 4-pyridyl-CONH PhCH20 H H 579 143 nd H (CF3CO) 2N PhO H H 652 144 nd H PhCONH 564 145 nd H 4-pyridyl-CONH PhO H H 565 146 nd H (CF3CO) 2N MeO MeO H 620 147 nd H PhCONH MeO MeO H 532 148 nd H 4-pyridyl-CONH MeO MeO H 533 149 nd H (CF3CO) 2N H PhO H 652 150 nd H PhCONH H 564 151 nd H 4-pyridyl-CONH H PhO _ 565 152 nd H PhCONH H PhCH2 H 578 O 153 nd H 4-pyridyl-CONH H PhCH2 H 579 O 154 nd H (CF3CO) 2N H PhCH2 H 666 O 155 nd H02CCH2CH2C 4-MeO-PhO H H 694 O PhCONH 156 nd H02CCH2CH2C PhCONH PhO H H 664 O 157 nd HO2CCH2CH2C 2-naphthyl-PhO H H 714 O CONH 158 nd H02CCH2CH2C 4-Me-PhSO2NH PhO H H 714 O 159 nd H02CCH2CH2C 4-MeO-2, 3-benzo H 652 O PhCONH 160 nd HO2CCH2CH2C PhCONH 2,3-benzo H 622 O 161 nd H02CCH2CH2C 2-naphthyl-2, 3-benzo H 672 O CONH 162 nd HO2CCH2CH2C 4-Me-PhSO2NH 2,3-benzo H 672 O 163 nd HO2CCH2CH2C 4-MeO-H F H 620 0 PHCONH O PhCONH 164 nd HO2CCH2CH2C PhCONH H F H 590 164 nd H02CCH2CH2C PhCONH H F H 590 O 165 nd HO2CCH2CH2C 2-naphthyl-H F H 640 O CONH 166 nd H02CCH2CH2C 4-Me-PhSO2NH H F H 640 O 167 nd H02CCH2CH2C 4-MeO-PhCH20 H H 708 O PhCONH O PhCONH 168 nd HO2CCH2CH2C PhCONH PhCH20 H H 678 O 169 nd HO2CCH2CH2C 2-naphthyl-PhCH20 H H 728 O CONH 170 nd H02CCH2CH2C 4-Me-PhSO2NH PhCH20 H H 728 O Table 9 EPO EBP- Ig %inh R3 MS cpd @ 50 Ra R2 R4 R5 R9 MH M + 171nb Cbz H H H H Me 527 172 15 Cbz H H H H H 513 173 5 Cbz H H H H t-569 Bu 174 23 Cbz H MeO Me 587 175 1 Cbz 3, 4- 3, 4- Me 627 benzo benzo benzo benzo 176-4 Cbz PhO H Me 711 177 nd Cbz 2, 3-benzo 2, 3-benzo Me 627 178 36 Boc H NO2 H NO2 Me 583 179 30 Boc H NO2 H NO2 H 569 180-4 Boc PhO H PhO H Me 677 181-9 Boc 4-t-Bu-PhO H 4-t-Bu-PhO H Me 790 182 18 H 4-t-Bu-PhO H 4-t-Bu-PhO H Me 689 183 36 Boc NO2 H NO2 H Me 583 184 53 H N02 H N02 H Me 483 185 29 _ NH2 H NH2 H Me 423 186 nd H n-Bu-CONH H n-Bu-CONH H Me 591 187 nd H 2-furyl-CONH H 2-furyl-CONH H Me 611 188 nd H PhCONH H PhCONH H Me 631 189 nd H 4-Me-PhCONH H 4-Me-PhCONH H Me 659 190 nd H 4-NO2-PhCONH H 4-NO2-PhCONH H Me 721 191 nd H 4-Me-PhS02NH H 4-Me-PhS02NH H Me 731 192 nd H Cbz-NH H Cbz-NH H Me 691 193 nd H 4-Br-PhCONH H 4-Br-PhCO H Me 789 194 nd H 2-MeO-PhCONH H 2-MeO-PhCONH H Me 691 195 nd H 3-MeO-PhCONH H 3-MeO-PhCONH H Me 691 196 nd H 4-MeO-PhCONH H 4-MeO-PhCONH H Me 691 197 nd H CH3CH=CHCON H CH3CH=CHCON H Me 559 H H 198 nd H C2PsCONH H C2FsCONH H Me 715 199 nd H 2-naphthyl-CONH H 2-naphthyl-CONH H Me 731 200 nd H EtO2CCH2CH2CO H Et02CCH2CH2CO H Me 679 NH NH 201 nd H CF3CONH H CF3CONH H Me 615 202 nd H MeSO2NH H MeSO2NH IH Me 579 Table 10 PO EBP- Ig MS cpd % inh Ra R2 R3 R4 RS Z MH @ 50 + M 203 37 Boc H H H H 4- (MeCOCH2CH2)-PhNH 640 204-6 H H H H4-(MeCOCH2CH2)-PhNH 540 205 26 H H H H H n-Bu-NH 434 206 17 2-MeO-PhCO H H H H n-Bu-NH 568 207 20 4-MeO-PhCO H H H H n-Bu-NH 568 208 22 PhCO H H H H n-Bu-NH 538 209 25 2-MeO-PhCO H H H H n-Bu-NH 568 210 nd Boc H H H H 4-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 612 211 62 H H H H H 4 MeO PhCH2CH2NH 512 212-10 H H H H H n-Pr-NH 420 214 nd Boc H H H H 3,4-di-MeO- 642 PhCH2CH2NH 215 nd Boc H H H H 3-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 612 216 10 Boc H H H H 4- (PhCH=CHCH20)- 700 PhCH2NH 217 nd Boc H H H H 4-HO-PhCH2NH 584 218 nd Boc H H H H EtNH 506 219 nd Boc H H H H MeNH 492 220 45 H H H H H 4- (PhCH=CHCH20)- 600 PhCH2NH 221 48 H H H H H 3,4-di-MeO- 542 PhCH2CH2NH 222 56 H H H H H 3-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 512 223 nd Boc H H H H 2-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 612 224 51 H H H H H 2-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 512 225 10 Boc PhO H PhO H 4-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 797 226 nd Boc H H H H PhCH2CH2NH 582 227 48 H H H _ H PhCH2CH2NH 482 228 21 PhNHCO PhO H PhO H 4-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 816 229 22 4-PhO-PhNHCO H H H H 4-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 723 230 42 3,4-di-Cl- H H H H 4-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 700 PhNHCO 231 36 4-EtO2C-H H H H 4-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 703 PhNHCO 232 14 4-PhO-PhNHCO PhO H PhO H 4-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 908 233 18 H H NO H NO 3-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 602 2 2 234 nd Boc H H H H PhCH2NH 568 235 49 H H H H H PhCH2NH 468 236 nd Boc H Ph H Ph 4-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 765 237 55 HO2CCH2CH2CO H H H H 3-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 612 238 39 H H Ph H Ph 4-MeO-PhCH2CH2NH 664 239 46 H PhO H PhO H PhCH2CH2NH 666 240 nd H02CCH2CH2CH PhO H PhO H PhCH2CH2NH 780 2CO 285 40 H H H H H 4-(NH2CO) piperidin-1-yl 489 Table 11 EPO/ EBP- Ig MS cpd % inh Ra R2 R3 R4 R5 Z r [MH2/2 50 M 241 2 t-H PhCH2 H PhCH2 NH (CH2) sO (CH2) 40 (CH2) 3 1 666 Bu O O NH 241 2 t-H PhCH2 H PhCH2 NH (CH2) 30 (CH2) 40 (CH2) 3 1 666 Bu O O NH 242 1 t-H PhCH2 H PhCH2 NH (CH2) 30 (CH2CH20) 2 (C 1 674 Bu O O H2) 3NH 243 75 H H PhCH2 H PhCH2 NH (CH2) 30 (CH2) 40 (CH2) 3 1 610 O O NH 244 66 H H PhCH2 H PhCH2 NH (CH2) 30 (CH2CH20) 2 (C 1 618 O O H2) 3NH 245 0 t-H PhCH2 H PhCH2 NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2 2 652 Bu O O NH 246 79 H H PhCH2 H PhCH2 NH (CH2) 2O (CH2) 2O (CH2) 2 2 596 O O NH 247 47 H n-Bu-H Ph H NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2 2 575 CONH O NH 248 56 H 2-furyl-H Ph H NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2 2 585 CONH O NH 249 72 H 4-Me-H Ph H NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2 2 609 PhCON O NH H 250 78 H 4-Me-H Ph H NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2 2 645 PhSO2N O NH H Table 12 EPO/EBP-MS cpd Ig Ra R2 R4 Z r [MH2/2 % inh & commat 50 ] + M 251 49 H H H NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2 2 436 252-4 t-Bu 4-t-Bu-4-t-Bu-NH (CH2) 3O (CH2) 4O (CH2) 3 1 803 PhO PhO NH 253-5 t-Bu 4-t-Bu-4-t-Bu-NH (CH2) 30 (CH2CH20) 2 (C 1 811 PhO PhO H2) 3NH 254-9 t-Bu 4-t-Bu-4-t-Bu-NH (CH2) IONH 1 787 PhO PhO 255 0 t-Bu 4-t-Bu-4-t-Bu-NH (CH2) 12NH 1 801 PhO PhO 256 10 t-Bu 4-t-Bu-4-t-Bu-NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2 1 789 Ph0 Ph0 NH Table 13 EPO/EBP-Ig MS cpd % inh @ 50 Ra Z [MH2/2] M + 257-26 Boc NH (CH2) 3O (CH2CH2O) 2 (CH2 731 )3NH 258-24 Boc NH (CH2) 30 (CH2) 40 (CH2) 3N 723 H 259-13 Boc NH (CH2) l2NH 721 260-12 Boc NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2N 695 H 261 51 H NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2N 595 I IN 262 93 H02CCH2CH2CO NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2N 695 H 263 88 H02C (CH2) 3CO NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (CH2) 2N 709 H 264 89 HOZCCHZCMe2CH2 NH (CH2) 2O (CH2) 2O (CH2) 2N 737 CO H 265 65 HO2CCH2CH2CO NH (CH2) 30 (CH2) 40 (CH2) 3N 723 H H 266 82 H02C (CH2) 3CO NH (CH2) 30 (CH2) 40 (CH2) 3N 737 H 267 83 HO2CCH2CMe2CH2 NH (CH2) 30 (CH2) 40 (CH2) 3N 765 CO H 268 40 HO2CCH2CMe2CH2 NH (CH2) i2NH 764 CO 269 55 HO2CCH2CH2CH2C NH (CH2) 2NH 735 O 270 56 HO2CCH2CH2CO NH (CH2) 12NH 721 271 77 HO2CCH2CH2CO NH (CH2) 30 (CH2CH20) 2 (CH2 731 ) 3NH 272 78 HO2CCH2CH2CH2C NH (CH2) 30 (CH2CH20) 2 (CH2 745 O) 3NH Table 14 EGO EBP- Ig % inh MS cpd & commat 50 Ra R2 R4 Z n [MH2/2 M + 273 nd HO2CCH2CH2 4-Me-4-Me-PhO NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (C 2 695 CO PhO H2) 2NH 274 nd H02CCH2CH2 PhO PhO NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (C 2 667 H2) 2NH _ 275 nd H02CCH2CH2 4-MeO-4-MeO-NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (C 2 727 CO PhO PhO H2) 2NH 276 nd H02CCH2CH2 4-t-Bu-4-t-Bu-NH (CH2) 20 (CH2) 20 (C 2 780 CO PhO PhO H2) 2NH 277 nd H PhO PhO (NHCH2CH2) 3N 3 813 278 nd H-Me-4-Me-PhO (NHCH2CH2) 3N 3 855 PhO 279 nd H-MeO-4-MeO- (NHCH2CH2) 3N 3 903 PhO PhO 280 nd H02CCH2CH2 4-MeO-4-MeO- (NHCH2CH2) 3N 3 1053 CO PhO Ph0 281 nd H02CCH2CH2 4-Me-4-Me-PhO (NHCH2CH2) 3N 3 1005 CO hO 282 nd H02CCH2CH2 PhO PhO (NHCH2CH2) 3N 3 963 ce 283 nd Boc hO PhO NH (CH2) 3NMe 2 666 1 1 1 (CH2) 3NH 284 nd Boc 4-Me-4-Me-PhO NH CH2) 3NMe 2 694 PhO (CH2)3NH Table 14 EPO/EBP-Ig _ cpd l% inh & commat, 50 M Rl R2 R3 MS, MH+ 285-28 Me H H 473 286 46 H PhCH20 H 565 287 36 H 4-MePhO H 565 288 27 H 4-tBuPhO H 607 289 20 H H Ph0 551