Stimuli-responsive polypeptide materials prepared by ring-opening polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides

Design and synthesis of biodegradable stimuli-responsive polypeptides are important areas considering their promising applications in biomedical fields. This article summarizes the most recent progresses in the development of stimuli-responsive polypeptide materials prepared via ring-opening polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides. We discuss the design, synthesis and structure-property correlation of emerging materials including thermo-responsive, redox-responsive, photo-responsive and biomolecule responsive polypeptides. Considering the unique structural features of amino acids, we try to emphasize that the thermo-responsive properties not only depend on the amino acid structure but also rely on the secondary structures of polypeptides. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

Controlled/living ring-opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone catalyzed by phosphoric acid

The bulk ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ?-caprolactone (?-CL) by various phosphoric acids using phenylmethanol as the initiator was conducted. 1,1??-bi-2-Naphthol (BINOL)-based phosphoric acid was found to be an effective organocatalyst for ROP leading to polyesters at 90°C. The overall conversion to poly(?-caprolactone) was more than 96% and poly(?-caprolactone) with M _w of 8400 and polydispersity index of 1.13 was obtained. ¹H NMR spectra of oligomers demonstrated the quantitative incorporation of the protic initiator in the polymer chains and showed that transesterification reactions did not occur to a significant extent. The controlled polymerization was indicated by the linear relationships between the number-average molar mass and monomer conversion or monomer-to-initiator ratio. In addition, the present protocol provided an easy-to-handle, inexpensive and environmentally benign entry for the synthesis of biodegradable materials as well as polyesters for biomedical applications.     

Controlled/living ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone catalyzed by phosphoric acid

The bulk ring-opening polymerization(ROP) of ε-caprolactone(ε-CL) by various phosphoric acids using phenylmethanol as the initiator was conducted.1,1’-bi-2-Naphthol(BINOL)-based phosphoric acid was found to be an effective organocatalyst for ROP leading to polyesters at 90℃.The overall conversion to poly(ε-caprolactone) was more than 96% and poly(ε-caprolactone) with M w of 8400 and polydispersity index of 1.13 was obtained.1 H NMR spectra of oligomers demonstrated the quantitative incorporation of the protic initiator in the polymer chains and showed that transesterification reactions did not occur to a significant extent.The controlled polymerization was indicated by the linear relationships between the number-average molar mass and monomer conversion or monomer-to-initiator ratio.In addition,the present protocol provided an easy-to-handle,inexpensive and environmentally benign entry for the synthesis of biodegradable materials as well as polyesters for biomedical applications.     

N-Alkylation of N-arylsulfonyl-α-amino acid methyl esters by trialkyloxonium tetrafluoroborates

In this work we present the results obtained for the N-alkylation of a series of N-arylsulfonyl-α-amino acid methyl esters bearing different substituents at the 4-position of the sulfonamide aromatic ring. In particular, we compare the reactivity of these species with diazomethane and trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate in N-methylation processes. Diazomethylation is unsuccessful for N-arylsulfonamide derivatives containing electron-releasing groups on the aromatic ring. In these cases trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate is the reagent of choice for the direct and quantitative N-methylation. Further we extend our evaluation to the use of triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate. This reagent shows to be very efficient in order to prepare N-ethyl derivatives of N-arylsulfonyl-α-amino acid methyl esters. An experimental protocol similar to that used for N-methylation with trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate is applied for the N-ethylation.     

Photodecarboxylative additions of N-protected α-amino acids to N-methylphthalimide

Photoreactions involving N,N-dimethylated α-amino acid salts and N-methylphthalimide are dominated by photoreduction and acetone trapping. Only, N-phenyl glycinate underwent photodecarboxylative addition in a moderate yield of 30%. In contrast, N-acylated α-amino acid salts readily gave addition products in fair to high yields of 20-95%. Comparison experiments with N,N-dimethylacetamide and amino-/amido-containing phthalimides revealed the origin of the crucial electron-transfer step and the reactivity order NR₃ »  ? RCONR₂ was established.     

Investigation of hydration of α-amino acids by means of absorption millimeter spectroscopy

The hydration indexes for 19 protein -amino acids are measured by means of absorption millimeter spectroscopy (AMS) at 31.42 GHz. The plot of the hydration indexes on the area of surface of aliphatic amino acid molecules accessible for water is a straight line located above the points corresponding to aromatic or polar amino acids. The contribution of nonpolar groups in the hydration index is greater than that of polar groups provided that their accessible surface areas are equal. The contribution to hydration of -OH and-CONH₂ groups in Ser. Gin, and Asn coincides in sign with that of pure hydrophobic hydration but the value of the contribution is significantly smaller. The change in mobility of water molecules, which is the basis of the AMS method, may serve as the physicochemical foundation for the construction of a new hydrophobicity scale for amino acids comparable with the already existing scales.Deceased September 2, 1995.Translated fromIzvestiya Akodemii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 618–622, March, 1996.     

Highly active zinc alkyl cations for the controlled and immortal ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

Zinc alkyl cations supported by N,N-BIAN-type bidentate ligands were found to be highly active in the immortal ROP of ε-caprolactone to yield narrowly disperse and chain length-controlled poly(ε-caprolactone), whether in solution or bulk polymerization conditions.     

Photocatalytic aerobic cross-coupling reaction of N-substituted anilines with N-aryl glycine esters: Synthesis of α-aryl α-amino esters

A novel photocatalytic cross dehydrogenative coupling reaction of N-aryl glycine esters with N-substituted anilines has been developed. The reaction proceeds effectively using methylene blue as a photocatalyst under visible light irradiation without any metal, chemical oxidant or additive. A variety of α-aryl α-amino derivatives were prepared in moderate to excellent yields with a high para-regioselectivity.     

Investigation of the reaction of α-thioamides, α-esters and α-nitriles with N-halosuccinimides

Investigation of the reaction of α-thioamides, α-esters and α-nitriles with NBS and NCS is described. The scope of this stereoselective oxidative transformation to the β-haloacrylamides, β-acrylates and β-acrylonitriles has been determined. A mechanistic rationale to explain the observed differences in reactivity between the amide, ester and nitrile series is proposed.     

On-line sample stacking of peptides in capillary electrophoresis for the study of prebiotic reactions between α,α-dialkylated amino acids and amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides

The reaction between α,α-dialkylated amino acids and amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides is slow leading to low concentrations of products (peptides). The detection by capillary electrophoresis of the analytes contained in such samples is therefore a challenging issue. In this work, on-line sample pre-concentration methods based on field-amplified sample stacking have been implemented and compared. Because of the high ionic strength present in the sample matrix, samples were diluted with an organic solvent prior to analysis to decrease the sample conductivity. Different modes of sample injection (field amplified sample injection (FASI), hydrodynamic normal sample stacking (NSS) or large volume sample stacking (LVSS)) were compared. Pre-concentration factors of 20 for FASI, about 30–40 for NSS and 60 for LVSS were obtained for the analysis of (l,l) dipeptide of valine in a large excess of isovaline and 0.2 M of ionic strength. For LVSS application and resolution optimisation, a new non-covalent coating based on the partial modification of the capillary surface was used to tune the electroosmotic flow magnitude and to pump the sample matrix out of the capillary. This on-line sample pre-concentration step allowed confirming that oligopeptides including α,α-dialkylated amino acids are formed during the reaction between α,α-dialkylated amino acids and N-carboxyanhydride amino acids.     

Lewis acid/base modulation in β-diiminate zinc-catalyzed switchable ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide

Two β-diiminate zinc complexes were prepared and found to show high activity and well-controlled catalytic behavior in the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide. Coordination of the Lewis acid to the zinc complexes completely terminated the polymerization. The coordinated Lewis acid was easily cleaved by using a Lewis base, so that the polymerization could resume.Thus, switchable polymerization could be realized by the subsequent addition of a Lewis acid and a Lewis base. This work provides a new strategy to control the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide.     

Synthetic application of in situ generation of N-acyliminium ions from α-amido p-tolylsulfones for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles

In the presence of catalytic amount of bismuth bromide (5 mol %) the α-amido p-tolylsulfones are converted into N-acyliminium ions, which undergo the nucleophilic addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) to provide the N-protected α-amino nitriles in very good yield. A variety of α-amido p-tolylsulfones were prepared from aromatic as well as aliphatic aldehydes for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles.     

Synthesis of novel fullerene α-amino acid conjugates

Aspartic acid and glutamic acid with protectedα-amino andα-carboxyl groups had been used to react with the activated hydroxyl group of N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine.The products were deprotected,affording two monofullereneα-amino acids,monofullerene aspartic acid(mFas)and monofullerene glutamic acid(mFgu).Then a bifullerene glutamic acid conjugate (bFguC)was synthesized by reaction of mFgu containing protected amino group with N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine.     

Synthesis of novel fullerene α-amino acid conjugates

Aspartic acid and glutamic acid with protected α-amino and α-carboxyl groups had been used to react with the activated hydroxyl group of N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine. The products were deprotected, affording two monofuUerene α-amino acids, monofullerene aspartic acid （mFas） and monofullerene glutamic acid （mFgu）. Then a bifullerene glutamic acid conjugate （bFguC） was synthesized by reaction of mFgu containing protected amino group with N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine.     

Syntheses and lipophilicity measurement of N/N-terminus-1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkylated α-amino acids and small peptides

(1,1-Dihydroperfluoroalkyl)phenyliodonium N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imides (4, n = 0-2) were synthesized and used to transfer the corresponding 1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkyl groups to the α-amino group of (l)tyrosine. The obtained N^α-2,2,2-trifluoroethylated (l)tyrosine (6, n = 0) was further used as the N-terminus in the solid phase peptide synthesis of leucine enkephalin analogue. The lipophilicity of the N^α-1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkylated (l)tyrosines (6, n = 0-2) and N-terminus-2,2,2-trifluoroethylated leucine enkephalin analogue (7), as well as the corresponding parent compounds, was measured.     

Transition-metal-free synthesis of multisubstituted N-arylindoles via reaction of arynes and α-amino ketones

A simple transition-metal-free protocol for the synthesis of indoles has been developed using aryne cycloaddition. The in situ-generated arynes couple with α-amino ketones through a one-step N-arylation–nucleophilic addition process under mild conditions and efficiently produce multisubstituted N-arylindoles.     

Synthesis of α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives by using nanocrystalline magnesium oxide

The Mannich-type reaction between alkyl, aryl and heterocyclic aldimines and sulfonium salts for the synthesis of α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives by using nanocrystalline magnesium oxide (NAP-MgO) is described. These products are obtained in moderate to high yields with moderate diastereoselectivities. The configuration of ethyl-3-{[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]amino}-2-(methylsulfanyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)propanoate (major isomer) has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction technique to be anti, and consistent with the assignment based on ¹H NMR spectroscopy. These α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives are important building blocks for pharmaceuticals with potent biological activity.     

A simple method for the oxidation of α-amino acid esters to α-oximino esters

Magnesium bis(monoperoxyphthalate) hexahydrate (MMPP) was found to be an effective reagent for the oxidation of various α-amino acid esters to the corresponding α-oximino acid esters. This transformation could be completed under mild conditions within 2.5 h using 1.1 equiv of MMPP in THF. Clean oximino esters were obtained after quenching and extracting the reaction from sodium thiosulfate solution. The O-phosphorylated derivative of 2-oximinoglutarate exhibited slow binding inhibitory potency for the metallopeptidase prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) with an IC₅₀ value of 58 nM.     

Investigation of the hydration process in 3CaO⋅SiO2-plasticizer-water systems by X-ray diffraction

The development of the hydration-hydrolysis processes in the 3CaO. SiO(2)-H(2)O system is studied by X-ray diffraction in presence of varying contents of a new plasticizer, belonging to the lignosulphonates class. The influence of the additives upon these processes with increasing time is observed and it is shown to depend on the nature and content of the additives and the reaction time. This influence of the additives on the kinetics of the hydration-hydrolysis processes, retardation or acceleration, is due to the strong adsorption of these admixtures on the surface of the anhydrous or partially hydrated particles of the system. The influence of the additives also appears during the development of the formed hydrocompounds according to structure and composition. As a result of these complex actions provided in the forming system (3CaO. SiO(2)-H(2)O), the mechanical strength is favorized mainly by certain proportions of plasticizer admixtures (0.1% LSC and 2% ADCOM).