Synthesis and Properties of a 2-Diazohistidine Derivative: A New Photoactivatable Aromatic Amino-Acid Analog

N^α[(tert-Butoxy)carbonyl]-2-diazo-L -histidine methyl ester 1 was synthesized starting from the corresponding L-histidine derivative. The physico-chemical properties of this new photoactivatable amino-acid derivative were established. The synthetic precursor of 1 , 2-amino-L -histidine derivative 3 , was best isolated and characterized as 2-amino-N^α-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]-N^τ-tosyl-L -histidine methyl ester ( 4 ). Selective deprotections of 4 (N^α-Boc, N^α-Tos, COOMe) were achieved, thus allowing the use of the corresponding products in peptide synthesis. The optically active dipeptides 8 and 9 were synthesized by coupling 2-amino-N^τ-tosyl-L -histidine methyl ester ( 5 ) with N-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]-L -alanine and N^α-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]-N^τ-tosyl-L -histidine ( 6 ) with L-alanine methyl ester, respectively. The question of selective diazotization of a 2-aminohistidine residue in a synthetic peptide was studied using competitive diazotizations between 2-amino-1H-imidazole and several amino-acid derivatives susceptible to undergo nitrosylation. The results show that synthetic photoactivatable peptides incorporating a 2-diazohistidine residue might become useful photoaffinity probes.     

Synthesis of a Building Block for a Nucleic-Acid Analog with a Chiral,Flexible Peptide Backbone

We present here a nine-step synthesis of the thymine-containing amino ester 1 , starting from commercially available methyl N-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]-L -serinate. Amino ester 1 is considered as a building block for the preparation of a new nucleic-acid analog with a chiral, flexible polyamide backbone. Key steps in the synthesis are the vitamin-B₁₂-catalyzed addition of 3-bromo-N-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]-L -alaninate 2 to ethyl acrylate and the homologation of the corresponding N-protected α-amino acid 4 into the β-amino ester 6 by Arndt-Eistert chemistry. The latter was found to proceed with 10% inversion of configuration at the asymmetric center in 6. Resolution to enantiomerically pure material, however, was easily achieved by simple crystallization of 1 .     

Enantioselective Syntheses of α-Amino Acids from 10-(Aminosulfonyl)-2-bornyl Esters and Di(tert-butyl) Azodicarboxylate. Preliminary Communication

Succesive treatment of chiral esters 1 with LiN(i-Pr)₂/Me₃SiCl and di(tert-butyl) azodicarboxylate/TiCl₄/Ti(i-PrO)₄ gave N,N′ -di[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]hydrazino esters 9 which on deacylation, hydrogenolysis, transesterification, and acidic hydrolysis furnished (2S)-α-amino acids 6 in high enantiomeric purity with efficient recovery of the auxiliary alcohol 7 .     

Regioselective hydrolysis of ketenimines derived from NH-acids and acetylenic esters in the presence of tert -butyl isocyanide under neutral conditions

The regioselective hydrolysis of ketenimines derived from NH-acids, such as 2,2,2-trichloro-N-phenylacetamide or ethyl-2-anilino-2-oxoacetates and acetylenic esters in the presence of tert-butyl isocyanide in a THF/H₂O system (1/1) without any catalysis leads to a diastereomeric mixture of dialkyl 2-[(tert-butylamino)carbonyl]-3-[(2,2,2-trichloroacetyl)anilino]succinates and dialkyl 2-[(tert-butylamino)carbonyl]-3-[2-ethoxy-2-oxoacetyl)anilino]-succinates in good yields. Dynamic NMR effects were observed in the ¹³C NMR spectra of diethyl 2-[(tert-butylamino)carbonyl]-3-[(2,2,2-trichloroacetyl)anilino]succinate as a result of restricted rotation around the N-aryl single bond. The free energy of activation (ΔG ^#) for this process is 37.9 kJ mol⁻¹ which leads to an observable atropisomerism.     

Regioselective hydrolysis of ketenimines derived from NH-acids and acetylenic esters in the presence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl isocyanide under neutral conditions

The regioselective hydrolysis of ketenimines derived from NH-acids, such as 2,2,2-trichloro-N-phenylacetamide or ethyl-2-anilino-2-oxoacetates and acetylenic esters in the presence of tert-butyl isocyanide in a THF/H₂O system (1/1) without any catalysis leads to a diastereomeric mixture of dialkyl 2-[(tert-butylamino)carbonyl]-3-[(2,2,2-trichloroacetyl)anilino]succinates and dialkyl 2-[(tert-butylamino)carbonyl]-3-[2-ethoxy-2-oxoacetyl)anilino]-succinates in good yields. Dynamic NMR effects were observed in the ¹³C NMR spectra of diethyl 2-[(tert-butylamino)carbonyl]-3-[(2,2,2-trichloroacetyl)anilino]succinate as a result of restricted rotation around the N-aryl single bond. The free energy of activation (ΔG ^#) for this process is 37.9 kJ mol⁻¹ which leads to an observable atropisomerism. Correspondence: Dr. Farough Nasiri PhD, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kurdistan, P.O. Box 66315-416, Sanandaj, Iran.     

N-Acylureas in Peptide Synthesis: An X-Ray Diffraction and IR-Absorption Study

An X-ray diffraction analysts of two N-acyl derivatives of symmetrical dialkylureas, N-[N^α-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L -valyl] -N, N′-diisopropylurea ( 1 ) and N-{Nα(tert-butyloxy)carbonyl -L -valyl}-N-N′-dicyclohexylurea ( 2 ), and one N-acyl derivative of an unsymmetrical N-N′-dialkylurea, N-[N^α-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L -valyl] -N′-(tert-butyl)-N-ethylurea ( 3 ), has been performed. It was established that it is the least hindered O-acylisourca N-atom that attacks intramolecularly the carbonyl group of the N^α-protected amino acid activated by the unsymmetrical carbodiimide to form the major rearrangement product. The occurrence and nature of intra- and intermolecularly H? bonded forms of the N-acylureas in the crystal state were also assessed. It was also shown that soluble N-acylureas may compete with intermolecular (peptide)N? H…O?C(peptide) H-bonds in CH₂Cl₂.     

Regioselective Deprotection and Acylation of Penta-N-Protected Thermopentamine

The synthesis of the penta-N-protected polyamide 1 (tert-butyl N-{9-allyl-16-azido-13-(trifluoroacetyl)-4-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethylsulfonyl]-4,9,13-triazahexadecyl]carbamate=tert-butyl N-{3-{{4-{allyl{3-[(3-azidopropyl)(trifluoroacetyl)aminopropyl}amino}butyl}{[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl]sulfonyl}amino}propyl}carbamate) is described, a derivative of thermopentamine (PA 3433) containing five independently removable amino-protecting groups. The selective deprotection of the five protecting groups used, i.e., of allyl, azido, (tert-butoxy)carbonyl (Boc), trifluoroacetyl, and [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl]sulfonyl (SES), as well as the rapid transamidation reaction of the trifluoroacetyl group yielding secondary amides is discussed. Subsequent acylation with 4-methoxycinnamoyl chloride at each N-atom of the pentamine backbone is achieved. For the acylation of the terminal N-atom the azido group is replaced by a (2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethoxy)carbonyl (Tcboc) group.     

Enantioselective Syntheses of Conformationally Rigid,Highly Lipophilic Mesityl‐Substituted Amino Acids

Three N‐Boc‐protected amino acids substituted with a mesityl (=2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl) group were synthesized in enantiomerically pure form, either by asymmetric epoxidation or by aminohydroxylation as the source of chirality. The 3‐mesityloxirane‐2‐methanol 7 , easily available in high enantiomer purity by Sharpless epoxidation, was converted into 3‐{[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]amino}‐3‐mesitylpropane‐1,2‐diol 9 by a regio‐ and stereoselective ring opening with an ammonia equivalent (sodium azide or benzhydrylamine), followed by hydrogenation and in situ treatment with (Boc)₂O (Boc=[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]) (Scheme 3). Oxidative cleavage of the diol fragment in 9 afforded N‐[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]‐α‐mesitylglycine 1 of >99% ee. This amino acid was also prepared in enantiomerically pure form starting from 2,4,6‐trimethylstyrene ( 11 ) by a regioselective Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation, followed by a 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yloxyl (TEMPO)‐catalyzed oxidation (Scheme 4). On the other hand, 1‐[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]‐2‐{{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}methyl}‐3‐mesitylaziridine 14 was prepared from 9 by a sequence involving selective protection of the primary alcohol (as a silyl ether), activation of the secondary alcohol as a mesylate, and base‐induced (NaH) cyclization (Scheme 5). The reductive cleavage of the aziridine ring (H₂, Pd/C), followed by alcohol deprotection (Bu₄NF/THF) and oxidation (pyridinium dichromate (PDC)/DMF or (TEMPO)/NaClO) provided, in high yield and enantiomeric purity, N‐[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]‐β‐mesitylalanine 2 . Alternatively, the regioselective ring opening of the aziridine ring of 14 with lithium dimethylcuprate, followed by silyl‐ether cleavage and oxidation lead to N‐[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]‐β‐mesityl‐β‐methylalanine 3 . A conformational study of the methyl esters of the N‐Boc‐protected amino acids 1 and 3 carried out by variable‐temperature ¹H‐NMR and semi‐empirical (AM1) calculations shows the strong rotational restriction imposed by the mesityl group.     

2,5-Chinonmethide des 1,6-Methano[10]annulens mit S,N- und N,N-Acylketenacetal Struktur

2,5-Quinonemethides of 1,6-Methano[10]annulene with the Structures of S,N- and N,N-Acylketene Acetals Investigation on the chemical reactivities of 2-(tert -butoxy)-1,6-methano[10]annulene and the syntheses of the compounds 2, 4, 6–8, 11, 13–22 are described; the results of ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR-spectroscopic measurements are reported.     

Synthesis of a S-(Carboxymethyl)cysteine Analog of (L-2-Amino-6-adipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine and its Cell Free Biosynthetic Conversion into 6-[2-(D-2-Amino-2-carboxyethyl)thio) acetamido]penicillanic Acid

A new tripeptide (dimer), bis[(L -cysteine-S-acetyl)-L -hemicystinyl(S² → S²)-D -valine] ( 6 ) was synthesized by coupling N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-S-carboxymethyl-L -cysteine benzyl ester ( 1 ) with S-trityl-L -cysteinyl-D -valine benzyl ester and subsequent removal of the protecting groups. After reduction of the disulfide, the free tripeptide Cys (CH₂CO-Cys-D -Val) ( Ib ) was used as a substrate of isopenicillin-N synthetase in a cell-free conversion to 6-[2-((D -2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)thio)acetamido]penicillanic acid ( IIa ).     

Absolute Rate Constants for the Addition of the 1‐(tert‐Butoxy)carbonylethyl Radical to Alkenes in Solution

Absolute rate constants and some of their Arrhenius parameters are reported for the addition of the 1‐[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]ethyl radical (MeC . HCO₂Me₃) to several mono‐ or 1,1‐disubstituted alkenes in acetonitrile as obtained by time‐resolved electron spin resonance spectroscopy. At 295 K, the rate constants range from 470 M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ (but‐1‐ene) to 2.4⋅10⁵ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ (1,1‐diphenylethene), the experimental activation energies range from 26.8 kJ/mol (but‐1‐ene) to 14.7 kJ/mol (styrene), and the frequency factors obey on the average log (A/M ⁻¹ s⁻¹)=7.9±0.5. The rate constants of the secondary 1‐[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]ethyl radical are close to the geometric mean of those of the related primary [(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]methyl and the tertiary 2‐(methoxycarbonyl)propan‐2‐yl radicals. The activation energies for addition of these three carboxy‐substituted alkyl radicals are mainly governed by the addition enthalpy but are also substantially lowered by ambiphilic polar effects. The results support a previously derived predictive analysis, and relations to rate constants of acrylate polymerizations are discussed.     

A Novel Amination Reaction with Diphenyl Phosphorazidate: Synthesis of α-amino-acid derivatives

The reaction of enolates of α-unsubstituted carboxamides 3 with diphenyl phosphorazidate (DPPA) and di(tert-butyl) dicarbonate (‘Boc anhydride’) in THF at ?78° yielded 2-{[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]amino}carboxamides 5 (Scheme 2) which are derivatives of α-amino acids. In this reaction, DPPA acts as an electrophilic amination reagent. A reaction mechanism is proposed in Scheme 3.     

Versatile Stereoselective Synthesis of Completely Protected Trifunctional α-Methylated α-Amino Acids Starting from Alanine

A new route to completely protected α-methylated α-amino acids starting from alanine is described (see Scheme). These derivatives, which are obtained via base-catalyzed opening of the oxazolidinones (2S,4R)- and (2R,4S)- 2 , can be directly employed in peptide synthesis. The synthesis of both enantiomers of Z-protected α-methylaspartic acid β-(tert-butyl)ester (O⁴-(tert-butyl) hydrogen 2-methylaspartates (R) or (S)- 4a ), α-methyl-glutamic acid γ-(tert-butyl) ester (O⁵-(tert-butyl) hydrogen 2-methylglutamate (R)- or (S)- 4b ), and of N^ε-bis-Boc-protected α-methyllysine (N⁶,N⁶-bis[(tert-butyloxy)carbonyl]-2-methyllysine (R)- or (S)- 4c ) is described in full detail.     

Arene ruthenium oxinato complexes: Synthesis, molecular structure and catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide in aqueous solution

Two families of arene ruthenium oxinato complexes of the types [(η⁶-arene)Ru(η²-N,O-L)Cl] and [(η⁶-arene)Ru(η²-N,O-L)(OH₂)]⁺ have been synthesized from the dinuclear precursors [(η⁶-arene)RuCl₂]₂ (arene = para-cymeme or hexamethylbenzene) and the corresponding oxine LH (LH = 8-hydroxyquinoline, 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dichloro-8-hydroxyquinoline, 5-nitro-8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dimethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dichloro-2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline). The molecular structures of the neutral chloro complexes [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(η²-N,O-L)Cl] (LH = 8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dichloro-2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline) and [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)Ru(η²-N,O-L)Cl] (LH = 5,7-dichloro-2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline) as well as those of the cationic aqua derivatives [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)Ru(η²-N,O-L)(OH₂)]⁺ (LH = 8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dimethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline), isolated as the tetrafluoroborate salts, show in all cases a piano-stool arrangement with the arene ligand, the chelating oxinato ligand and the chloro or the aqua ligand surrounding the ruthenium center in a pseudo-tetrahedral fashion. The analogous reaction of [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)RuCl₂]₂ with other N,O-chelating ligands such as 2-pyridinemethanol or tetrahydrofurfurylamine did not give the expected analogs but resulted in the formation of the complexes [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)Ru(η²-NC₅H₄CH₂OH)Cl]⁺ and [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)Ru(η¹-NHCH₂C₄H₃O)Cl₂]. The neutral and cationic complexes of the types [(η⁶-arene)Ru(η²-N,O-L)Cl] and [(η⁶-arene)Ru(η²-N,O-L)(OH₂)]⁺ have been found to catalyze the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to give formate in alkaline aqueous solution with catalytic turnovers up to 400.     

Well-Defined Aminophenolate Zinc and Magnesium Complexes as Excellent Inhitiators for the ROP of Lactides

A series of molecular homo and heteroleptic zinc and magnesium compounds with aminophenolate ligands [(µ,η²-L²)ZnEt]₂ ( 1 ), [(η²-L²)Zn(µ-BnO)]₂ ( 2 ), [Zn(η²-L²)₂] ( 3 ), [Zn(η²-L³)₂] ( 4 ), [Mg(η²-L³)₂] ( 5 ) (L²-H = N-[methylene(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)]-N-methyl-N-cyclohexylamine, L³-H = N-[methylene(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)]-N-methyl-N-methyl-1,3-dioxolaneamine) have been prepared and characterized. The homoleptic complexes 3–5 are most probably a mixture of diastereoisomers that in solution show an interesting dynamics which plays an important role in their catalytic behavior. The complexes 2 – 5 are efficient initiators in ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactides to produce polymers with desired molecular weight and narrow polydispersity.     

Novel synthesis of 1,4-thiazin-2-one O-(tert-butyl) oximes and benzo[b][1,4]thiazin-2-one O-(tert-butyl) oximes in the presence of K2CO3/SiO2

A simple and efficient method was developed for the synthesis of 1,4-thiazin-2-one O-(tert-butyl) oximes and benzo[b][1,4]thiazin-2-one O-(tert-butyl) oximes from N-tert-butoxy acyl imidoyl bromides and 2-aminothiols in the presence of K₂CO₃/SiO₂. Twenty five novel compounds were readily synthesized in excellent yields using this procedure. The products possessed Z-stereochemistry with regard to the CN double bond. The reaction proceeded with initial substitution of bromine in the N-tert-butoxy acyl imidoyl bromides by mercapto groups in the presence of K₂CO₃/SiO₂, and subsequent intramolecular Schiff base formation.     

An indirect measurement of the absolute rate constant of the self-reaction of tert-butoxy radicals

No reliable rate constant is available for the self-reaction of tert-;butoxy radicals. We have set up a competition between hydrogen abstraction and self-reaction of tert-butoxy radicals in a flash photolysis electron spin resonance study to extract this information. Experimental values of hydrogen abstraction product radical concentrations under various hydrogen donor concentrations were then compared with theoretically calculated values with different values of 2k₄ to obtain the best fit. Hydrogen donors such as cyclopentane, anisole, methyl tert-butyl ether, and methanol were chosen for the study. A value of (1.3 ± 0.5) × 10⁹M^?1 sec^?1 for the rate constant of the self-reaction of tert-butoxy radicals has been determined at 293°K.     

Triethylantimony(V) complexes with bidentate O,N-, O,O- and tridentate O,N,O′-coordinating o-iminoquinonato/o-quinonato ligands: Synthesis, structure and some properties

The novel triethylantimony(v) o-amidophenolato (AP-R)SbEt₃ (R = i-Pr, 1; R = Me, 2) and catecholato (3,6-DBCat)SbEt₃ (3) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy (AP-R is 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-dialkylphenyl)-o-amidophenolate, alkyl = isopropyl (1) or methyl (2); 3,6-DBCat is 3,6-di-tert-butyl-catecholate). Complexes 1–3 have been obtained by the oxidative addition of corresponding o-iminobenzoquinones or o-benzoquinones to Et₃Sb. The addition of 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-o-iminobenzoquinone to Et₃Sb at low temperature gives hexacoordinate [(AP-AP)H]SbEt₃ (4) which decomposes slowly in vacuum with the liberation of ethane yielding pentacoordinate complex [(AP-AP)]SbEt₂ (5). [(AP-AP)H]²⁻ is O,N,O′-tridentate amino-bis-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-phenolate-2-yl) dianion and [(AP-AP)]³⁻ is amido-bis-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-phenolate-2-yl) trianion. The decomposition of 4–5 accelerates in the presence of air. o-Amidophenolates 1 and 2 bind molecular oxygen to give spiroendoperoxides Et₃Sb[L-iPr]O₂ (6) or Et₃Sb[L-Me]O₂ (7) containing trioxastibolane rings. This reaction proceeds slowly and reaches the equilibrium at 15–20% conversion five times more than for (AP-R)SbPh₃ analogues. Molecular structures of 1 and 5 were determined by X-ray analysis.     

Acid-Catalyzed Rearrangement of 3-Aza-8-oxatricyclo[3.2.1. 02,4]octan-6-one Acetals. Highly Stereoselective Total Synthesis of 3-Amino-3-deoxy-D-altrose and Derivatives

Ethyl and tert-butyl azidoformate added to 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one dimethyl ( 5 ) and dibenzyl ( 6 ) acetals to give mixtures of regioisomeric triazolines. The latter gave the corresponding aziridines (6,6-dialkoxy-3-aza-8-oxatricyclo[3.2.1.0^2,4]octane-3-carboxylates 15 , 19 , 23 , and 27 and 31 ) on UV irradiation. In the presence of protic acids, the aziridines were rearranged into protected amines ([3-endo-alkoxy-5-oxo-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-exo-yl]carbamates 16 , 20 , 24 , and 28 and 33 ). Using (+)-(1R, 4R)-5,5-bis(benzyloxy)7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene((+)- 6 ) derived from furan and l-cyanovinyl (1S)-camphanate, the method was applied to prepare 2-O-benzyl-3-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyiamino]-5-O-(3-chlorobenzoyl)-3-deoxy-β-D -altrofuranurono-6,1-lactone ((?)- 37 ). This compound was converted to methyl 3-amino-3-deoxy-α-D-altropyranoside hydrochloride ( 44 ) and several derivatives.     

C-Alkylation of Peptides Containing Aminomalonate and (Amino)(cyano)acetate Residues

N-Acetyl-, N-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl](Boc)-, and N-[(benzyloxy)carbonyl](Z)-protected tri-, penta-, and heptapeptide methyl esters, 1 – 8 , with a central aminomalonate (Ama) (allyl, methyl, benzyl, or tert-butyl) or (amino)(cyano)acetate (Aca) residue have been prepared by conventional techniques (Schemes 4 – 6). The new peptides with acidic backbone-bound CH groups can be C-alkylated with primary alkyl, allyl, and benzyl halides, under mildly basic conditions (1 equiv. MeONa or t-BuOK in THF); also, they can be added to Michael acceptors such as acrylates, acrylonitrile, methyl vinyl ketone, or nitrostyrene (catalytic amounts of alkoxide bases in THF) (Schemes 7 – 16). In most cases, the products, 48 – 100 , are formed in excellent yields (average of 77%); one of the epimeric products prevails (2 : 1 to > 20 : 1), and the epimers have been separated, isolated in pure form, and fully characterized (without configurational assignments); addition of the co-solvent 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1,3-dimethylpyrimidin-2(1H)-one (DMPU) or of LiBr may improve or even reverse the ratio of epimeric products formed; the heptapeptide derivative 8 had to be solubilized for alkylations in THF by the addition of 30 equiv. of LiBr. Cleavage of the Ama groups (benzyl with H₂/Pd-C, t-Bu with HCl/Et₂O) gave carboxylate derivatives which are actually peptides containing the alkylated aminomalonic acid, the lower homolog of aspartic acid, as residue in the central position. These acids are quite resistant to decarboxylation which had to be achieved by heating at reflux in THF in the presence of 2 equiv. of LiBr and of catalytic amounts of pyridine (Schemes 17 and 18). A one-step removal of the allyl aminomalonate group is possible with Pd/PPh₃/formate (Scheme 19). The resulting peptides, 101 – 115 , were formed as separable 1 : 1 mixtures of two epimers. The CN group of the alkylated Aca residue can be removed reductively (Na/NH₃; Scheme 20). The value of the new method is compared with that of existing methods of peptide-backbone modification.