Convenient synthesis of N-methylamino acids compatible with Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis

N(alpha)-Methylamino acid containing peptides exhibit interesting therapeutic profiles and are increasingly recognized as potentially useful therapeutics. Unfortunately, their synthesis is hampered by the high price and unavaibility of many N(alpha)-methylamino acids. An efficient and practical preparation of N(alpha)-methyl-N(alpha)-(o-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)-alpha-amino acids without extensive purification is described. The procedure is based on the well-known N-alkylation of N(alpha)-arylsulfonylamino esters which was improved by using dimethyl sulfate and DBU as base. Ester cleavage is efficiently achieved by using an S(N)2-type saponification with lithium iodide, avoiding racemization observed with lithium hydroxide hydrolysis. Compatibility of the synthesized N(alpha)-methylamino acids with Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis is demonstrated by using normal coupling conditions to efficiently prepare N-methyl dipeptides. The described procedure allows the preparation of N(alpha)-methylamino acids in a very short period of time and a rapid synthesis of N-methyl peptides using Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis.     

Efficient enantioselective synthesis of orthogonally protected (R)-α-alkylserines compatible with the solid phase peptide synthesis

The Schöllkopf methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids, which was previously not applicable to the construction of quaternary α-amino acids, has been rendered not only suitable but also practical for this purpose and applied to a highly efficient enantioselective synthesis of orthogonally protected (R)-α-alkylserines suitable for the solid phase synthesis.     

Understanding protease catalysed solid phase peptide synthesis

A protease (thermolysin) was used to directly synthesise a number of dipeptides from soluble Fmoc-amino acids onto a solid support (PEGA1900) in bulk aqueous media, often in very good yields. This shift in equilibrium toward synthesis is remarkable because for soluble dipeptides in aqueous solution hydrolysis rather than synthesis is observed. Three possible reasons for the equilibrium shift were considered: (i) using a solid support makes it easy to use an excess of reagents, so mass action contributes towards synthesis; (ii) reduction in the unfavourable hydrophobic hydration of the Fmoc group within the solid support compared with the free amino acid in solution and (iii) suppression of the ionization of amino groups linked to the solid phase due to mutual electrostatic repulsion. It was found that under the conditions studied the second effect was most important.     

A new environment-sensitive fluorescent amino acid for Fmoc-based solid phase peptide synthesis

A new 4-(N,N-dimethylamino) phthalimide-based environment-sensitive fluorescent building block for solid phase peptide synthesis, has been synthesized and incorporated into peptides. Peptides incorporating this residue show great potential for biological applications in sensing protein/protein interactions.     

Enabling routine fluorous capping in solid phase peptide synthesis

We describe here the use of polyfluorinated trivalent iodonium salts as efficient and robust capping reagents during solid phase peptide synthesis using either t-Boc or Fmoc chemistry. Standard protocols established for solid phase peptide synthesis can be utilized without any change in solvent or reagent conditions. The capping reaction was carried out at sites where amino acid coupling steps failed. At the termination of the synthesis, the crude peptide mixture obtained from release of materials from the resin, is either simply centrifuged in aqueous solution to yield pure peptide, or purified by passage through fluorous silica gel in solvents with high water content. We envision that the chemistry and reagents described here will find wide use in peptide and protein chemistry, and also in combinatorial library synthesis where terminal amines are coupled to reaction partners.     

Design and synthesis of a multi-detachable benzhydrylamine-resin for solid phase peptide synthesis

Peptides with C-terminal α-carboxamides were synthesized from a multi-detachable benzhydrylamine-resin containing a Boc-(4-acetoxy)benzhydryl-amine handle of unambiguous origin. The peptides bound to the new resin are stable to trifluoroacetic acid, but are cleavable by hydrogen fluoride, base and nucleophiles to give unprotected or protected peptide fragments.     

A faster solid phase peptide synthesis method using ultrasonic agitation

Solid phase-supported synthesis is a widely used strategy in peptide chemistry. A factor which limits the product purity is the individual stages yields. Here, we reported that the use of ultrasonic agitation allows to reduce tenfold the time of synthesis in the Fmoc strategy and improve the purity of the final product. Our method is a promising alternative to traditional synthetic methods and microwave synthesizers.     

Zinc chloride-catalyzed chloromethylation of resins for solid phase peptide synthesis

Zinc chloride has been found to catalyze chloromethylation of resins for solid phase peptide synthesis, producing low levels of chloromethylation more accurately and under more convenient conditions than does SnCl₄. The preparation of a stable solution of the ZnCl₄ catalyst in THF is described, and data are presented detailing the effects of varying temperature, time, and the concentrations of catalyst and chloromethyl methyl ether on the chloromethylation reaction.     

Application of solid phase peptide synthesis to engineering PEO–peptide block copolymers for drug delivery

This work describes a simple, versatile solid-phase peptide-synthesis (SPPS) method for preparing micelle-forming poly(ethylene oxide)-block-peptide block copolymers for drug delivery. To demonstrate its utility, this SPPS method was used to construct two series of micelle-forming block copolymers (one of constant core-composition and variable length; the other of constant core length and variable composition). The block copolymers were then used to study in detail the effect of size and composition on micellization. The various block copolymers were prepared by a combination of SPPS for the peptide block, followed by solution–phase conjugation of the peptide block with a proprionic acid derivative of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to form the PEO-b-peptide block copolymer. The composition of each block component was characterized by mass spectrometry (MALDI and ES-MS). Block copolymer compositions were characterized by ¹H NMR. All the block copolymers were found to form micelles as judged by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light scattering analysis. To demonstrate their potential as drug delivery systems, micelles prepared from one member of the PEO-b-peptide block copolymer series were physically loaded with the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). Micelle static and dynamic stability were found to correlate strongly with micelle core length. In contrast, these same micellization properties appear to be a complex function of core composition, and no clear trends could be identified from among the set of compositionally varying, fixed length block copolymer micelles. We conclude that SPPS can be used to construct biocompatible block copolymers with well-defined core lengths and compositions, which in turn can be used to study and to tailor the behavior of block copolymer micelles.     

New side chain cholesterol-functionalised aliphatic polycarbonate copolymer: synthesis and phase behaviour

A new side cholesterol-functionalised liquid crystal (LC) copolymer based on aliphatic polycarbonate backbone was synthesised. The chemical structures of the block copolymers obtained in this study were characterised with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR) spectra. Their thermal stability and phase behaviours were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarising optical microscopy. The molecular organisation in the mesophase was studied by temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction (XRD). As a result, the block copolymer bearing side cholesteryl groups showed a glass transition at 15.8°C and a smectic A (SmA) to isotropic phase transition at 151.3°C on heating cycle. XRD indicated that the block LC copolymer showed an interdigitated molecular arrangement of the mesogenic units within the smectic layers. This partial bilayer structure was similar to the SmA phase formed by polar mesogens.     

Application of gel-phase 13c-nmr to monitor solid phase peptide synthesis

The results presented in this article show the general applicability of gel-phase ¹³C-NMR to monitor solid phase peptide synthesis on the most commonly used polystyrene-based resins. The optimal conditions to acquire gel-phase ¹³C-NMR spectra of copoly(styrene-l%-divinylbenzene) has been determined. The technique proved to be applicable to characterize polystyrene-based starting supports as well as to the determination of their degree of functionality and purity. The stage-by-stage ¹³C-NMR characterization of the growing peptide chain during the synthesis of tripeptide H-Asn-(N-Me)Ala-Thr-NH₂ on a benzhydrylamine resin is described. The structural information, derived from this technique is relevant for the synthetic process as the spectra can be acquired under similar conditions. The characteristics of the spectra facilitate monitoring of coupling and deprotection reactions.     

Conversion of NGurethane protected arginine to ornithine in peptide solid phase synthesis

It is shown that Di-Adoc or Boc as guanidino protecting groups do not prevent the acylation and the subsequent conversion of arginine to ornithine in Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis.     

N-Terminal peptide aldehydes as electrophiles in combinatorial solid phase synthesis of novel peptide isosteres

N-Terminal peptide aldehydes were synthesized on a solid support and utilized as electrophiles in nucleophilic reactions in order to furnish novel and diverse peptide isosteres. The aldehyde moiety of the peptide was synthesized by coupling a protected aldehyde building block to the peptide and deprotecting it quantitatively in less than 3 min. It was found that protection of the two succeeding amide nitrogens was necessary in order to avoid reaction between the aldehyde and backbone amides. The N-terminal peptide aldehydes were successfully reacted in the following way: (a) reductive amination with a large variety of amines, leading to N-alkyl-gamma-aminobutyric peptide isosteres positioned centrally in the peptide; (b) reductive amination with amino esters, leading to N-terminal 2,5-diketopiperazine peptides; (c) Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination, leading to unsaturated peptide isosteres positioned centrally in the peptide; and (d) Pictet-Spengler condensations, leading to tetrahydro-beta-carbolines either positioned centrally in a peptide or fused with a diketopiperazine ring in the N-terminus of the peptide.     

Preparation and application of new acid labile anchor groups for the synthesis of peptide amides by FMOC solid phase synthesis

The synthesis and application of new linkage agents for the preparation of peptide amides using a modified Fmoc strategy is described.     

Convenient access to bis-indole alkaloids. Application to the synthesis of topsentins

Topsentins and related bis-indole alkaloids may be efficiently synthesized through an addition/oxidation sequence leading to 2-(3-indolylcarbonyl)-imidazole derivatives followed by a Pd-catalyzed heteroarylation with the appropriate 3-stannylindoles.