Synthesis of Heavily Glycosylated Peptide αThioester

Erythropoietin (EPO) needs to be heavily glycosylated to exhibit its bioactivity in vivo. In order to synthesize heavily glycosylated EPO analogues, corresponding glycosylated peptide ^αthioesters are essential to prepare glycosylated whole EPO peptide backbones through native chemical ligation. After construction of the peptide ^αthioester corresponding to the 1–32 amino acid sequence in EPO, we aimed to incorporate three complex-type biantennary sialyloligosaccharides to this peptide ^αthioester by the haloacetamide method. The reaction afforded the desired heavily glycosylated peptide ^αthioester.     

Facile peptide thioester synthesis via solution-phase tosylamide preparation

Preparation of peptide thioester is essential for native chemical ligation and block condensation. Our novel methodology involves conversion of the carboxylic acid of a peptide into a thioester using p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate, followed by alkylation, then thiol substitution. Our methodology can also be used for the preparation of glycopeptide thioesters. Furthermore, it is possible to carry out the reaction as a sequential peptide chemical ligation.     

Facile synthesis of N-(benzyl, methyl)-lysine as a building block for site-specifically lysine monomethylated peptides

Facile, mild and efficient one-pot preparation of N^α-Fmoc-N^ε-(benzyl, methyl)-lysine, a building block for monomethylated peptide synthesis, was described. This building block was proved to be efficient for the synthesis of site-specifically monomethylated peptide. Benzyl group, which was incorporated by reductive benzylation and removed via catalytic hydrogenolysis, served as an excellent protecting group.     

Synthesis of a secretoglobin 3A2 type C (98–139) fragment by Dawson’s native chemical ligation

A secretoglobin 3A2 type C (98–139) peptide was synthesized by native chemical ligation between ¹¹⁵Ile and ¹¹⁶Cys residues using Dawson’s linker. The peptide-N-acyl-benzimidazolinone-glycine amide, a C-terminal thioesters precursor, was provided from 3-amino-4-(methylamino)benzoic acid. In addition, an N-terminal cysteine fragment, the (116–139) peptide, was prepared by ordinary Fmoc-solid phase peptide synthesis. Native chemical ligation of the (98–115) fragment with the Dawson’s linker and the (116–139) peptide smoothly proceeded to give SCGB3A2 type C (98–139) peptide.     

Stereoselective Metal‐Free Synthesis of β‐Amino Thioesters with Tertiary and Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

β‐Amino thioesters are important natural building blocks for the synthesis of numerous bioactive molecules. An organocatalyzed Mannich reaction was developed which provides direct and highly stereoselective access to acyclic β²‐ and β^2,3,3‐amino thioesters with adjacent tertiary and quaternary stereocenters. Mechanistic studies showed that the stereochemical course of the reaction can be controlled by the choice of the substrates. The β‐amino thioesters were further functionalized by, for example, stereoselective decarboxylation to access β^2,3‐frameworks. In addition, the value of the β‐amino thioesters was shown in coupling‐reagent‐free peptide synthesis.     

Fmoc-SPPS chemistry compatible approach for the generation of (glyco)peptide aryl thioesters

A new approach is described for the general Fmoc-based solid-phase synthesis of (glyco)peptide aryl thioesters. A peptide alkyl oxoester obtained by standard Fmoc-based chain elongation undergoes an O-to-S acyl shift, and is followed by alkyl thioester exchanges with a large excess of aryl thiol, affording the corresponding peptide aryl thioester. The newly developed methodology is useful for the chemical synthesis of post-translationally modified proteins because of its compatibility with standard Fmoc-SPPS conditions. In addition, the peptide aryl thioesters are essential intermediates for chemical synthesis of proteins by kinetically controlled convergent strategy.     

Peptide o‐Aminoanilides as Crypto‐Thioesters for Protein Chemical Synthesis

Fully unprotected peptide o‐aminoanilides can be efficiently activated by NaNO₂ in aqueous solution to furnish peptide thioesters for use in native chemical ligation. This finding enables the convergent synthesis of proteins from readily synthesizable peptide o‐aminoanilides as a new type of crypto‐thioesters. The practicality of this approach is shown by the synthesis of histone H2B from five peptide segments. Purification or solubilization tags, which are sometimes needed to improve the efficiency of protein chemical synthesis, can be incorporated into the o‐aminoanilide moiety, as demonstrated in the preparation of the cyclic protein lactocyclicin Q.     

Synthesis of β3‐Peptides and Mixed α/β3‐Peptides by Thioligation

Five β‐peptide thioesters ( 1 – 5 , containing 3, 4, 10 residues) were prepared by manual solid‐phase synthesis and purified by reverse‐phase preparative HPLC. A β‐undecapeptide ( 6 ) and an α‐undecapeptide ( 7 ) with N‐terminal β³‐HCys and Cys residues were prepared by manual and machine synthesis, respectively. Coupling of the thioesters with the cysteine derivatives in the presence of PhSH (Scheme and Fig. 1) in aqueous solution occurred smoothly and quantitatively. Pentadeca‐ and heneicosapeptides ( 8 – 10 ) were isolated, after preparative RP‐HPLC purification, in yields of up to 60%. Thus, the so‐called native chemical ligation works well with β‐peptides, producing larger β³‐ and α/β³‐mixed peptides. Compounds 1 – 10 were characterized by high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HR‐MS) and by CD spectroscopy, including temperature and concentration dependence. β‐Peptide 9 with 21 residues shows an intense negative Cotton effect near 210 nm but no zero‐crossing above 190 nm, (Figs. 2–4), which is characteristic of β‐peptidic 3₁₄‐helical structures. Comparison of the CD spectra of the mixed α/β‐pentadecapeptide ( 10 ) and a helical α‐peptide (Fig. 5) indicate the presence of an α‐peptidic 3.6₁₃ helix.     

Efficient synthesis of N-Me, N-Boc-protected α-hydrazinoacids: access to 1:1:1 [N-Me α-hydrazino/α/N-Me α-hydrazino]trimers

The preparation of optically pure N^α-Me, N^β-Boc-protected α-hydrazinoacids in large scale is described via a S_N2 protocol. These compounds were used as starting materials for the synthesis of 1:1:1 [N^α-Me α-hydrazino/α/N^α-Me α-hydrazino]trimers.     

N-trifluoroacyl lysine derivatives in the synthesis of L-Lysyl-L-glutamic acid

Conditions were developed for simultaneous preparation of N ^å-trifluoroacetyl-L-lysine and N ^α,N ^å-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-L-lysine at overall conversion of initial lysine monohydrochloride up to 82%. By reaction of dimethyl L-glutamate with N ^α,N ^å-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-L-lysyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine or with N ^α-carboxyanhydride of N ^å-trifluoroacetyl-L-lysine with subsequent removing protecting groups in the formed dipeptides by treating with water-ethanol solution of sodium hydroxide we obtained L-lysyl-L-glutamic acid. Physicochemical characteristics of samples obtained coincided with characteristics of L-lysyl-L-glutamic acid described in the literature thus suggesting that no racemization occurred either at the stage of peptide bond formation or at deprotection.     

High-pressure-promoted Fmoc-aminoacylation of N-ethylcysteine: preparation of key devices for the solid-phase synthesis of peptide thioesters

In this study synthesis of Fmoc-aminoacyl-N-ethyl-S-triphenylmethylcysteine, a new N→S acyl migratory device for the preparation of peptide thioesters by Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) is described. Condensation of Fmoc-aminoacyl fluoride and N-ethyl-S-triphenylmethylcysteine allyl ester, readily prepared from known S-triphenylmethylcysteine allyl ester, was efficiently promoted in CH₂Cl₂ under high-pressure (800 MPa). When the reaction was performed with the additive DIEA, considerable epimerization at the chiral centers occurred, affording a mixture of diastereomers. When the preparation procedure for N-ethyl-S-triphenylmethylcysteine allyl ester was changed and the additive DIEA in the high-pressure reaction was excluded, Fmoc-aminoacyl-N-ethyl-S-triphenylmethylcysteines was obtained as a single stereoisomer without epimerization. The Fmoc-l-leucine adduct thus prepared was deallylated and used for the SPPS of a known decapeptide. A remarkable increase (44%) in the overall yield of the decapeptidethioester was achieved, compared to the 7% obtained by the stepwise on-resin Leu-Cys condensation method.     

Development of a Chemical Methodology for the Preparation of Peptide Thioesters Applicable to Naturally Occurring Peptides Using a Sequential Quadruple Acyl Transfer System

Peptide thioesters are very useful in protein chemistry, and chemistry- and biochemistry-based protocols are used for the preparation of thioesters. Among such protocols, only a few biochemistry-based approaches have been use for naturally occurring peptide sequences. The development of chemistry-based protocols applicable to natural sequences remains a challenge, and the development of such methods would be a major contribution to protein science. Here, we describe the preparation of peptide thioesters using innovative methodology that features nickel(II)-mediated alcoholysis of a naturally occurring peptide sequence, followed by O−N and N−S acyl transfers. This protocol involves sequential quadruple acyl transfer, termed SQAT. Notably, the SQAT system consists of sequential chemical reactions that allow naturally occurring peptide sequences to be converted to thioesters without requiring an artificial chemical unit.     

Synthesis of N-Z, N-Fmoc or Boc protected α-hydrazinoacids and study of the coupling reaction in solution of N-Z-α-hydrazinoesters

The preparation of chiral orthogonally protected N^α-Z, N^β-Fmoc- or Boc-α-hydrazinoacids derivatives, directly suitable for SPPS, is described in six steps with good yields starting from the corresponding α-aminoacids. The coupling reaction assays performed in liquid phase between N^α-Z-hydrazinoesters and N-Fmoc-α-aminoacids demonstrated the low reactivity of the hydrazinoester derivatives. However, we found that the acid fluoride method allowed the formation of hydrazinodipeptides almost quantitatively.     

Peptide thioester preparation based on an N-S acyl shift reaction mediated by a thiol ligation auxiliary

Formation of peptide thioesters, based on an N to S acyl shift mediated by an auxiliary, N-4,5-dimethoxy-2-mercaptobenzyl (Dmmb) group, under acidic conditions, is described. The protected peptide was assembled on a hydroxymethylphenylacetamidomethyl resin via an N-Dmmb-amino acid residue according to standard Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis following treatment with trifluoroacetic acid. The peptide α-thioester was released from the resin by reaction with 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid in the presence of N,N-diisopropylethylamine.     

Synthesis of retro-inverso peptides employing isocyanates of N-Fmoc-amino acids/peptide acids catalyzed by DMAP

The Goldschmidt-Wick type reaction between isocyanates of N^α-Fmoc-amino acids/peptide acids and N^α-Boc-/Z-/Bsmoc-amino acids catalyzed by DMAP leads to the incorporation of a reversed peptide bond. It was found to be a simple, efficient and clean reaction. All the retro-inverso peptides made were obtained as crystalline compounds in 70-92% yields.     

Practical and robust method for stereoselective preparations of ketene silyl (thio)acetal derivatives and NaOH-catalyzed crossed-Claisen condensation between ketene silyl acetals and methyl esters

We developed an efficient, practical, and robust method for stereoselective preparations of (Z)-ketene trimethylsilyl (TMS) thioacetals from thioesters and alkyl (1Z)- or (1Z,3E)-1,3-bis(TMS)dienol ethers from alkyl β-ketoesters. The former preparation was performed by convenient procedure (LDA-TMSCl, 0-5 °C, 2.5 h), while the latter preparation involved convenient method A (2NaHMDS-2TMSCl) and cost-effective method B (NaH, NaHMDS-2TMSCl). The first catalytic NaOH-catalyzed crossed-Claisen condensation between ketene silyl acetals and methyl esters proceeded successfully to give a variety of α-monomethyl β-ketoesters and inaccessible α,α-disubstituted β-ketoesters. For further extension, a couple of Claisen-aldol tandem reactions of the obtained β-ketoester analogues utilizing TiCl₄ and TiCl₄-Bu₃N reagents smoothly proceeded with good to excellent stereoselectivity.     

Designing New α,β‐Unsaturated Thioesters for the Catalytic,Enantioselective Friedel?Crafts Alkylation of Indoles

A new class of α,β‐unsaturated S‐(1,3‐benzoxazol‐2‐yl) thioesters of type 2 have been synthesized and effectively employed as electrophiles in the stereoselective alkylation of indoles. The combination of electronic as well as steric properties of such Michael acceptors allowed us to carry out Friedel? Crafts alkylations of various substituted indoles in the presence of a catalytic amount (20 mol‐%) of chiral cationic [Pd^II(Tol‐binap)] complexes. With the optimized catalytic system (PdCl₂(MeCN)₂/Tol‐binap/AgSbF₆), the desired β‐indolyl‐substituted thioderivatives 4 were obtained in good yield, with an enantiomeric excess (ee) of up to 86%. The remarkable versatility of the enantiomerically enriched thioesters 4 was demonstrated by quantitatively transforming them into optically active β‐indolyl esters and amides under mild conditions. With this stereoselective, catalytic Friedel? Crafts reaction, we open up the way towards new α,β‐unsaturated compounds that could be suitable candidates for the preparation of a number of optically active β‐substituted carboxylic compounds.     

A facile and one-pot synthesis of N-Fmoc/Bsmoc/Boc/Z-protected ureidopeptides and peptidyl ureas employing diphenylphosphoryl azide [DPPA]

Diphenylphosphoryl azide (DPPA) mediated one-pot synthesis of N^α-Fmoc/Bsmoc/Boc/Z-protected ureidopeptides and peptidyl ureas as well as phenyl/succinimidyl (N^α-urethane protected) methyl carbamates starting from N^α-protected amino acids is reported. The formation of an azide, its rearrangement and coupling with an amino component is accomplished in a sequence of one-pot operations. The protocol has incorporated urea linkages in a sterically hindered peptide.     

Selenocysteine‐Mediated Native Chemical Ligation

C‐Terminal peptide thioesters are shown to react efficiently with peptide fragments containing an N‐terminal selenocysteine to give selenoproteins. In analogy to the native chemical ligation of thioesters and peptides containing N‐terminal cysteines, the selenol presumably attacks the thioester nucleophilically to give a selenoester intermediate that subsequently rearranges to give a native chemical bond. The utility of this procedure was demonstrated by the synthesis of a selenium‐containing derivative of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) in which Cys³⁸ is replaced by selenocysteine. The artificial selenoprotein folds into a conformation similar to that of wild‐type BPTI and inhibits trypsin and chymotrypsin with unaltered affinity.     

Pyruvoyl, a novel amino protecting group on the solid phase peptide synthesis and the peptide condensation reaction

In one of the peptide condensation methods termed thioester method, an amino protecting group is required in the lysine side chain. In this study, to investigate the efficiency of the pyruvoyl group as an amino protecting group, we synthesized N^α-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-N^ε-pyruvoyl-lysine and introduced it into peptides and glycopeptides by the ordinary Fmoc-based solid phase peptide synthesis. The pyruvoyl peptide could be condensed with a peptide thioester by the thioester method, and this protecting group was easily removed by o-phenylenediamine treatment without significant side reactions.