Linear tri- and tetrapeptide precursors of 2,5-piperazinedione were prepared and their conversion to spirocyclic dipeptidase enzymes, the spirocyclic dipeptides (SpDp) were generated from the precursors by a two-step mechanism consisting in the proteolytic release of the C-terminal dipeptide ethyl ester and its subsequent spontaneous cyclization. After intraperitoneal administration of urokinase and Ac-Leu-Lys-Gly-Acp-OEt, a SpDp precursor targeted to endogenous plasmin, or the administration of the activated Hageman factor fragment and Ac-Leu-Arg-Ala-Acp-OEt, a SpDp precursor, targeted to endogenous kallikrein, the generated corresponding C-terminal dipeptide ethylester intermediates and SpDp, cyclo(Gly-Acp) and cyclo (Ala-Acp), respectively, were detected in the blood serum of C57B1 mice. Suppression of partial amnesia induced by sodium nitrite was observed in rats where it was subcutaneously administered with H-Leu-Ala-Acp-OEt, a peptide precursor of alaptide, the active SpDp, i.e. cyclo(1-amino-1-cyclopentanecarbonyl-L-alanyl).