Solid-phase synthesis of peptide and glycopeptide thioesters through side-chain-anchoring strategies

An efficient new strategy for the synthesis of peptide and glycopeptide thioesters is described. The method relies on the side-chain immobilization of a variety of Fmoc-amino acids, protected at their C-termini, on solid supports. Once anchored, peptides were constructed using solid-phase peptide synthesis according to the Fmoc protocol. After unmasking the C-terminal carboxylate, either thiols or amino acid thioesters were coupled to afford, after cleavage, peptide and glycopeptide thioesters in high yields. Using this method a significant proportion of the proteinogenic amino acids could be incorporated as C-terminal amino acid residues, therefore providing access to a large number of potential targets that can serve as acyl donors in subsequent ligation reactions. The utility of this methodology was exemplified in the synthesis of a 28 amino acid glycopeptide thioester, which was further elaborated to an N-terminal fragment of the glycoprotein erythropoietin (EPO) by native chemical ligation.     

Chemoselective elaboration of O-linked glycopeptide mimetics by alkylation of 3-thioGalNAc.

A critical branch point in mucin-type oligosaccharides is the beta 1-->3 glycosidic linkage to the core alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) residue. We report here a strategy for the synthesis of O-linked glycopeptide analogues that replaces this linkage with a thioether amenable to construction by chemoselective ligation. The key building block was a 2-azido-3-thiogalactose-Thr analogue that was incorporated into a peptide by fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-based solid-phase peptide synthesis. Higher order oligosaccharides were readily generated by alkylation of the corresponding 3-thioGalNAc with N-bromoacetamido sugars. The rapid assembly of "core 1"and "core 3" O-linked glycopeptide mimetics was accomplished in this fashion.     

Chemoselective ligation applied to the synthesis of a biantennary N-linked glycoform of CD52

We report here a strategy for the synthesis of N-linked glycopeptide analogues that replace the glycosidic linkages extending from the core pentasaccharide with thioethers amenable to construction by chemoselective ligation. The key building block, a pentasaccharide-Asn analogue containing two thiol residues, was incorporated into CD52 by 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-based solid-phase peptide synthesis. An undecasaccharide mimetic was then readily generated by alkylation of this glycopeptide with an N-bromoacetamido trisaccharide. The rapid assembly of a complex type N-linked glycopeptide mimetic was accomplished using this technique.     

Glycopeptide ligation via direct aminolysis of selenoester

In this work, the selenoester of unprotected glycopeptide was readily prepared, and the direct aminolysis of glycopeptide selenoester was successfully applied to synthesize MUC1 mucin sequence.     

Alkylated sugar amino acids: a new entry toward highly functionalized dipeptide isosters

[reaction: see text] Novel highly functionalized dipeptide isosters are synthesized via a diastereoselective alkyl/arylation protocol of a glucose-derived (R)-tert-butanesulfinylimine. One of these novel sugar amino acid derivatives, a D-Ala-Ser/Thr isostere, was applied in a peptide synthesis protocol to afford a cyclic tetramer.     

Biomimetic studies on the mechanism of stereoselective lanthionine formation

Selenocysteine derivatives are useful precursors for the synthesis of peptide conjugates and selenopeptides. Several diastereomers of Fmoc-3-methyl-Se-phenylselenocysteine (FmocMeSec(Ph)) were prepared and used in solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Once incorporated into peptides, the phenylselenide functionality provides a useful handle for the site and stereospecific introduction of E- or Z-dehydrobutyrine residues into peptide chains via oxidative elimination. The oxidation conditions are mild, can be performed on a solid support, and tolerate functionalities commonly found in peptides, including variously protected cysteine residues. Dehydropeptides containing unprotected cysteine residues undergo intramolecular stereoselective conjugate addition to afford cyclic lanthionines and methyllanthionines, which have the same stereochemistry as found in lantibiotics, a family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide antibiotics. The observed stereoselectivity is shown to originate from a kinetic rather than a thermodynamic preference.     

Use of optically active cyclic diethyl sulfamidate 2-phosphonates as chiral synthons for the synthesis of β-substituted α-amino phosphonates

Optically active protected sulfamidate 2-phosphonates have been synthesized from either (R)- or (S)-N-benzyl-2-phosphonoserine for use as chiral synthons. These sulfamidates have been shown to undergo nucleophilic substitution with select nucleophiles, to afford following N-sulfate removal, the β-substituted α-amino-2-phosphonates. N-Sulfate removal was accomplished using boron trifluoride etherate in the presence of either n-propylthiol or N-hydroxysuccinimide allowing retention of the diethylphosphonate ester groups. Replacement of the unpleasant smelling n-propylthiol with N-hydroxysuccinimide provides higher yields of the desired products. Synthesis of β-S-substituted analogues required the use of cesium carbonate as a base. The sulfamidates described have excellent stability and have been demonstrated, using chiral HPLC, to be greater than 97% enantiomerically pure.     

Dynamic kinetic resolution in the stereoselective synthesis of 4,5-diaryl cyclic sulfamidates by using chiral rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

The dynamic kinetic resolution of 4,5-diaryl cyclic sulfamidate imines was achieved via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation using a HCO(2)H/Et(3)N mixture as the hydrogen source and chiral Rh catalysts (R,R)- or (S,S)-RhCl(TsDPEN)Cp* affording the corresponding cyclic sulfamidates in good yields with up to >20 : 1 dr and up to >99% ee.     

Total synthesis of microcin B17 via a fragment condensation approach

The total synthesis of the 43 amino acid antibacterial peptide Microcin B17 (MccB17) is described. The natural product was synthesized via a convergent approach from a heterocycle-derived peptide and peptide thioester fragments prepared via Fmoc-strategy solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Final assembly was achieved in an efficient manner using two Ag(I)-assisted peptide ligation reactions to afford MccB17 in excellent overall yield.     

Sugar-assisted glycopeptide ligation

The chemical synthesis of glycopeptides and glycoproteins from readily available materials presents an attractive route to homogeneous products for structural and functional studies. Chemical synthesis of glycopeptides and glycoproteins based on native chemical ligation represents one of the useful methods for the synthesis of natural glycopeptide structures. Here we describe a method that allows for the synthesis of glycopeptides from cysteine-free peptides. This method utilizes a peptide thioester and a glycopeptide in which the sugar moiety is modified with a thiol handle at the C-2 position. Upon completion of the ligation reaction, the thiol handle can be reduced with H2/metal to the acetamide moiety, furnishing the unmodified glycopeptides. Together, this sequence of reactions displays an attractive potential in glycopeptides and glycoproteins synthesis.     

Stereoselective synthesis of orthogonally protected alpha-methylnorlanthionine

[reaction: see text] As the unusual amino acid norlanthionine (nor-Lan) has previously been incorporated into cyclic peptide analogues of the ring C of lantibiotic nisin, we report here the stereoselective synthesis of the new (S,R)- and (R,R)-alpha-methylnorlanthionines (alpha-Me-nor-Lan). The orthogonally protected derivatives of these compounds have also been prepared. The key step in the synthesis of these bisamino acids was the S(N)2 opening reaction of the corresponding cyclic sulfamidates with the SH group of appropriately protected l-cysteine derivatives.     

Efficient synthesis of S-linked glycopeptides in aqueous solution by a convergent strategy

In naturally occurring glycopeptides and glycoproteins the glycan residues generally possess N- and O-linkages to the peptide backbone. Here we report the synthesis of the corresponding S-linked glycopeptides by a convergent strategy to provide compounds which should be quite stable to glycosidases. To this end, peptides that contain beta-bromoalanine and gamma-bromohomoalanine were generated either directly by bromination of serine and homoserine residues, respectively, or by standard ligation of the corresponding amino acids. 1-Thiosugars of O-acetyl protected GalNAc, GlcNAc, and lactose were prepared by known procedures. Reaction of the thiosugars with these peptides in an ethyl acetate/water two-phase system, which contained TBAHS and NaHCO(3), or in a one-phase system that consists of DMF/water and which contains NaHCO(3), led to the desired S-linked glycopeptides cleanly and in almost quantitative yield. This reaction also worked well for O-unprotected 1-thiosugars.     

Synthesis of the protected glycotetrapeptide corresponding to the N-terminal amino acid sequence of [Thr3-0-α-D-galactopyranosyl]-vespulakinin 1

The synthesis of the protected glycopeptide Z-Thr(tBu)-Ala-Thr-[α-D-Gal(Bzl)₄ ]-Thr(tBu)-NHNH-Boc was performed in solution by a stepwise coupling strategy. Fmoc-Thr[(α+β)-D- Gal(Bzl)₄]-0Su, obtained from the reducing sugar and the protected amino acid by the trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride procedure, was reacted with H-Thr(tBu)-NHNH-Boc. The two diastereoisomers of the resulting glycosylated dipeptide derivative were purified and separated by column chromatography. The anomeric configuration of the 0-glycosidic linkage was assigned by ¹H-NMR-spectroscopy. The α-anomeric glycodipeptide, obtained in a larger amount, was selectively deblocked at the amino function and acylated with Z-Thr(tBu)-Ala-OH in the presence of either IIDQ or EEDQ, to afford the desired protected glycotetrapeptide.     

A practical synthesis of gramicidin s and sugar amino Acid containing analogues

A practical gram-scale and high-yielding synthesis of the antimicrobial peptide gramicidin S is presented. An Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis protocol is employed for the generation of the linear decapeptide precursor, which is cyclized in solution to afford the target compound. The versatility of our method is demonstrated by the construction of eight gramicidin S analogues (15a-h) having nonproteinogenic sugar amino acid residues (4-7) incorporated in the turn regions.     

A Novel Multistep Mechanism for the Stereocontrolled Ring Opening of Hindered Sulfamidates: Mild,Green, and Efficient Reactivity with Alcohols

Cyclic hindered sulfamidates exhibited an outstanding performance in their ring‐opening reactions with alcohols and in the absence of any external activator. The mechanism of this unprecedented transformation was thoroughly studied both experimentally and theoretically. As a result, a nontrivial stepwise pathway involving solvent‐induced conversion of the sulfamidates to activated aziridinium and then to oxazolinium cations, which are finally opened at their 5‐position with inversion of configuration, is proposed. The presence of the SO₃ moiety in the sulfamidate was revealed as a “built‐in activator”. In fact, the spontaneous SO₃ cleavage takes place under the reaction conditions and avoids the subsequent step of hydrolysis after the ring opening of the sulfamidates. This is another important improvement of this methodology with respect to the standard basic conditions, allowing a greater compatibility with other functional groups. Furthermore, the carbamate group plays a key role in this mechanism. Briefly, a highly chemoselective and stereoespecific formal solvolysis of hindered sulfamidates with alcohols without further activation is described. This reaction takes place exclusively at the quaternary center with inversion of configuration, providing a new straightforward synthetic route to O‐substituted α‐methylisoserines.     

Bis(2-sulfanylethyl)amino native peptide ligation

The reaction of a peptide featuring a bis(2-sulfanylethyl)amino (SEA) group on its C-terminus with a cysteinyl peptide in water at pH 7 and 37 °C leads to the chemoselective and regioselective formation of a native peptide bond. This method called SEA ligation enriches the native peptide ligation repertoire available to the peptide chemist. Preparation of an innovative solid support which allows the straightforward synthesis of peptide SEA fragments using standard Fmoc/tert-butyl solid phase peptide synthesis procedures is also described.     

Microwave assisted DIC-promoted intramolecular cyclization for solid phase synthesis of trisubstituted imidazolidinones and pyrimidinones

A convenient solid phase synthesis of trisubstituted imidazolidinones and pyrimidinones via microwave assisted DIC-promoted intramolecular cyclization is described. Intramolecular cyclization of a resin-bound thiourea prepared by acylation of a dipeptide with an aryl isothiocyanate was rapidly promoted with DIC under microwave to afford imidazolidinones and tetrahydropyrimidinones in good yield and purity.     

New Synthetic Amino Acids for the Design and Synthesis of Peptide-Based Metal Ion Sensors

The syntheses of two new nonstandard amino acids, Flu (6) and XBp (20), and a new synthesis of Dmd (12) are reported. These residues exhibit fluorescence, metal-coordination, and fluorescence-quenching properties, respectively. These building blocks have been incorporated into peptides via solid phase peptide synthesis to afford the prototype for a photoinduced electron transfer-based metal ion chemosensor. The fluorescence of the peptides is modulated upon metal binding. This results from a metal ion-induced conformational change that brings the side chains of the Flu and Dmd amino acids into proximity, thereby favoring photoinduced electron transfer (PET) fluorescence quenching.     

Stereoselective synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidines from 1,2-cyclic sulfamidates

Diastereoselective synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidines from 1,2-cyclic sulfamidates is described. Regioselective ring-opening reactions of 1,2-cyclic sulfamidates derived from L-phenylalanine, alanine, valine, norvaline with the ketal protected acetylide with a phenyl substituent proceed smoothly to form the N-sulfamate intermediates which on acidic hydrolysis give alkynylated amines with the ketal group intact. Hydrogenation of the alkynylated amines, debenzylation, ketal deprotection, subsequent cyclization (of aminoketones) and stereoselective hydrogenation of the cyclic iminium ion intermediates afford the corresponding cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidines in high diastereoselectivity (98%?≥?d.e.) with good chemical yields (68–86%). The present approach provides a novel route for the stereoselective synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidines.     

Enzyme-cleavable linkers for peptide and glycopeptide synthesis

Hydroxymethylphenoxy linkers that are commonly used in solid phase peptide synthesis are surprisingly susceptible to efficient cleavage by the protease chymotrypsin with a broad range of amino acid residues being tolerated at the scissile bond; this enzyme-cleavable linker system has been applied to peptide and glycopeptide synthesis.