Enantioselective Solid‐Phase Peptide Synthesis Using Traceless Chiral Coupling Reagents and Racemic Amino Acids

The enantioselective condensing reagent 4,6‐dimethoxy‐1,3,5‐triazine (DMT)/strychnine/BF$\rm{{_{4}^{-}}}$ was obtained by treatment of 2‐chloro‐4,6‐dimethoxy‐1,3,5‐triazine (CDMT) with strychnine tetrafluoroborate. The reagent was useful under typical conditions of solid‐phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) with enantiomerically homogeneous substrates. By SPPS, desired dipeptides were obtained in 84–94% yield using 4 equiv. of racemic Fmoc‐Ala, Fmoc‐Phe, and/or Fmoc‐Tyr for 1 equiv. of Wang resin loaded with Gly, Ala, Leu, Phe, Glu(^tBu), and/or Pro, respectively. For all three Fmoc‐protected amino acids, the configuration of the enantiomer preferred under SPPS conditions was independent of the structure of the acylated component and identical to that established in condensations proceeding in solution. In all cases, the enantiomer ratios L /D (er) were in a similar range, and varied from 9 : 92 to 2 : 98 for alanine, and from 90 : 10 to 100 : 0 for aromatic amino acids. The synthesis of Ac‐L ‐Lys(Ac)‐D ‐Ala‐D ‐Ala‐OH from racemic Fmoc‐Ala gave an L /D ratio of 10 : 90 for the esterification of Wang resin, and 0 : 100 for the formation of peptide bonds.     

Four new ursane‐type saponins from Morina nepalensis var. alba

Four new ursane‐type saponins, monepalosides C–F, together with a known saponin, mazusaponin II, were isolated from Morina nepalensis var. alba Hand.‐Mazz. Their structures were determined to be 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐&[alpha;‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosylpomolic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (monepaloside C, 1 ), 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐&[alpha;‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)]‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosylpomolic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (monepaloside D, 2 ), 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐&[beta;‐D ‐glucopyranosy‐(1 → 2)]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosylpomolic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (monepaloside E, 3 ) and 3‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosylpomolic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (monepaloside F, 4 ) on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. 2D NMR techniques, including ¹H–¹H COSY, HMQC, 2D HMQC‐TOCSY, HMBC and ROESY, and selective excitation experiments, including SELTOCSY and SELNOESY, were utilized in the structure elucidation and complete assignments of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two new acylated flavonoid glycosides from Morina nepalensis var. alba Hand.‐Mazz.

From the whole plant of Morina nepalensis var. alba Hand.‐Mazz., two new acylated flavonoid glycosides ( 1 and 2 ), together with four known flavonoid glycosides ( 3–6 ), were isolated. Their structures were determined to be quercetin 3‐O‐[2″′‐O‐(E)‐caffeoyl]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside (monepalin A, 1 ), quercetin 3‐O‐[2″′‐O‐(E)‐caffeoyl]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (monepalin B, 2 ), quercetin 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside (rumarin, 3 ), quercetin 3‐O‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside ( 4 ), quercetin 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ) and apigenin 4^′‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 6 ). Their structures were determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Complete assignments of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of all compounds were achieved from the 2D NMR spectra, including H–H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and 2D HMQC‐TOCSY spectra. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure of the O‐Glycosylated Conopeptide CcTx from Conus consors Venom

The glycopeptide CcTx, isolated from the venom of the piscivorous cone snail Conus consors, belongs to the κA‐family of conopeptides. These toxins elicit excitotoxic responses in the prey by acting on voltage‐gated sodium channels. The structure of CcTx, a first in the κA‐family, has been determined by high‐resolution NMR spectroscopy together with the analysis of its O‐glycan at Ser7. A new type of glycopeptide O‐glycan core structure, here registered as core type 9, containing two terminal L ‐galactose units {α‐L ‐Galp‐(1→4)‐α‐D ‐GlcpNAc‐(1→6)‐[α‐L ‐Galp‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐Galp‐(1→3)‐]α‐D ‐GalpNAc‐(1→O)}, is highlighted. A sequence comparison to other putative members of the κA‐family suggests that O‐linked glycosylation might be more common than previously thought. This observation alone underlines the requirement for more careful and in‐depth investigations into this type of post‐translational modification in conotoxins.     

Two new complex triterpenoid saponins from Gledistsia dolavayi Franch.

Two new triterpenoid saponins, gledistside A ( 1 ) and gledistside B ( 2 ), isolated from the fruits of Gledistsia dolavayi Franch., were characterized as the 3,28‐O‐bisdesmoside of echinocystic acid acylated with monoterpene carboxylic acids. On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence, their structures were elucidated as 3‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐28‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐{6‐O‐[2,6‐dimethyl‐6(S)‐hydroxy‐2‐trans‐2,7‐octadienoyl]}‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosylechinocystic acid ( 1 ) and 3‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐28‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐{6‐O‐[2‐hydroxymethyl‐6‐methyl‐6(S)‐hydroxy‐2‐trans‐2,7‐octadienoyl]}‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosylechinocystic acid ( 2 ). The complete ¹H and ¹³C assignments of saponins 1 and 2 were achieved on the basis of 2D NMR spectra including HMQC‐TOCSY, TOCSY, ¹H–¹H COSY, HMBC, ROESY and HMQC spectra. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Properties and Reactions of Substituted 1,2‐Thiazetidine 1,1‐Dioxides: Chiral Mono‐ and Bicyclic 1,2‐Thiazetidine 1,1‐Dioxides from α‐Amino Acids

New chiral mono‐ and bicyclic β‐sultams, valuable building blocks for drug synthesis, have been prepared from L ‐Ala, L ‐Val, L ‐Leu, L ‐Ile, L ‐Phe, L ‐Cys, L ‐Ser, L ‐Thr, and D ‐penicillamine by transformation of the COOH group into a methylsulfonyl chloride function, followed by cyclization under basic conditions. Selected properties, derivatives, and reactions of the β‐sultams are described.     

Differentiation of Boc‐protected α,δ‐/δ,α‐ and β,δ‐/δ,β‐hybrid peptide positional isomers by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Two new series of Boc‐N‐α,δ‐/δ,α‐ and β,δ‐/δ,β‐hybrid peptides containing repeats of L ‐Ala‐δ⁵‐Caa/δ⁵‐Caa‐L ‐Ala and β³‐Caa‐δ⁵‐Caa/δ⁵‐Caa‐β³‐Caa (L ‐Ala = L ‐alanine, Caa = C‐linked carbo amino acid derived from D ‐xylose) have been differentiated by both positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). MSⁿ spectra of protonated isomeric peptides produce characteristic fragmentation involving the peptide backbone, the Boc‐group, and the side chain. The dipeptide positional isomers are differentiated by the collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of the protonated peptides. The loss of 2‐methylprop‐1‐ene is more pronounced for Boc‐NH‐L ‐Ala‐δ‐Caa‐OCH₃ (1), whereas it is totally absent for its positional isomer Boc‐NH‐δ‐Caa‐L ‐Ala‐OCH₃ (7), instead it shows significant loss of t‐butanol. On the other hand, second isomeric pair shows significant loss of t‐butanol and loss of acetone for Boc‐NH‐δ‐Caa‐β‐Caa‐OCH₃ (18), whereas these are insignificant for its positional isomer Boc‐NH‐β‐Caa‐δ‐Caa‐OCH₃ (13). The tetra‐ and hexapeptide positional isomers also show significant differences in MS² and MS³ CID spectra. It is observed that ‘b’ ions are abundant when oxazolone structures are formed through five‐membered cyclic transition state and cyclization process for larger ‘b’ ions led to its insignificant abundance. However, b₁⁺ ion is formed in case of δ,α‐dipeptide that may have a six‐membered substituted piperidone ion structure. Furthermore, ESI negative ion MS/MS has also been found to be useful for differentiating these isomeric peptide acids. Thus, the results of MS/MS of pairs of di‐, tetra‐, and hexapeptide positional isomers provide peptide sequencing information and distinguish the positional isomers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Solution Conformation of β‐Hairpin Mimetics Utilizing a Template Derived from (2S,3R,4R)‐Diaminoproline

A novel template was synthesized for stabilizing β‐hairpin conformations in cyclic peptide mimetics. The template is a diketopiperazine derived formally from L ‐aspartic acid and (2S,3R,4R)‐diaminoproline, the latter being available by an efficient synthetic route from vitamin C. The template was incorporated by solid‐phase peptide synthesis into a cyclic loop mimetic containing the sequence (‐Ala‐Asn‐Pro‐Asn‐Ala‐Ala‐template‐). This mimetic was shown by NMR to adopt a stable β‐hairpin conformation in (D₆)DMSO solution. The template may prove to be generally useful for creating small‐molecule mimetics of hairpin loops on proteins of diverse function.     

1H and 13C NMR assignments of eight nitrogen containing compounds from Nocardia alba sp.nov (YIM 30243T)

An unprecedented new natural product named nocarsin A (1), 5H‐4a,6,7a‐triazacyclopenta[cd]indene‐5,7(6H)‐dione (1), together with seven known compounds lumichrome (2), cyclo (L ‐Leu‐L ‐Tyr) (3), cyclo (L ‐Ala‐L ‐Ile) (4), cyclo (L ‐Ala‐L ‐Leu) (5), cyclo (L ‐Val‐L ‐Ala) (6), 5‐methyluracil (7) and uracil (8), was isolated from Nocardia alba sp.nov (YIM 30243^T), which was isolated from a soil sample collected from Yunnan Province, P. R. China. NMR techniques including COSY, HSQC, ROESY, and HMBC were used to elucidate the structures of these compounds. We report the unambiguous assignments of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of the new compound nocarsin A (1). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cucurbit[7]uril: A High‐Affinity Host for Encapsulation of Amino Saccharides and Supramolecular Stabilization of Their α‐Anomers in Water

Cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), an uncharged and water‐soluble macrocyclic host, binds protonated amino saccharides (D ‐glucosamine, D ‐galactosamine, D ‐mannosamine and 6‐amino‐6‐deoxy‐D ‐glucose) with excellent affinity (K_a=10³ to 10⁴ M ^?1). The host–guest complexation was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and MALDI‐TOF mass spectral analyses. NMR analyses revealed that the amino saccharides, except D ‐mannosamine, are bound as α‐anomers within the CB[7] cavity. ITC analyses reveal that CB[7] has excellent affinity for binding amino saccharides in water. The maximum affinity was observed for D ‐galactosamine hydrochloride (K_a=1.6×10⁴ M ^?1). Such a strong affinity for any saccharide in water using a synthetic receptor is unprecedented, as is the supramolecular stabilization of an α‐anomer by the host.     

Structure elucidation and total assignment of 1H and 13C NMR data for a new bisdesmoside saponin from Cordia piauhiensis

Extensive 1D (¹H NMR, HBBD‐¹³C NMR, DEPT‐¹³C NMR) and 2D (COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC) NMR analysis was used to characterize the structure of a new bisdesmoside saponin isolated from the methanol extract of stems of Cordia piauhiensis Fresen as 3β‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]ursolic acid 28‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl] ester. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solution 1H and 13C NMR of new chiral 1,4‐oxazepinium heterocycles and their intermediates from the reaction of 2,4‐pentanedione with α‐L‐amino acids and (R)‐(—)‐2‐phenylglycinol

The reaction of 2,4‐pentanedione ( 1 ) with (R)‐(—)‐2‐phenylglycine methyl ester ( 2 ), (R)‐(—)‐2‐phenylglycinol ( 3 ) and the proteinogenic amino acids (2S,3R)‐(—)‐2‐amino‐3‐hydroxybutyric acid (L ‐threonine) ( 4 ) and (R)‐(—)‐2‐amino‐3‐mercaptopropionic acid (L ‐cysteine) ( 5 ) methyl esters was investigated. The corresponding enamines 6 , 7 and 8 were isolated and characterized spectroscopically whereas 9 , which is unstable, was transformed in situ into 13 . Treatment of 7 , 8 and 9 with boron trifluoride etherate afforded the new [1,4]oxazepines 10 , 11 and [1,4]thiazepine ( 12 ) as their BF₃O^? salts. The structures of the enamines and their corresponding seven‐membered heterocycles were assessed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Variable‐temperature experiments revealed different molecular mobility behavior among these heterocycles. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microstructural characterization of terpolymers of leucine, β‐benzyl aspartate,and valine

Three different characterization methods—¹³C NMR spectroscopy, a terminal terpolymerization model, and a probability analysis based on the Poisson distribution—were used to determine the microstructure of random terpolymers. The methods were used to determine the amino acid sequence distribution of random terpolymers prepared from the polymerization of N‐carboxyanhydrides that contained L ‐leucine, β‐benzyl‐L ‐aspartate, and L ‐valine. Poly(L ‐leucine‐L ‐aspartic acid‐L ‐valine) [poly(LDV)] was designed as a target specific substrate for the α₄β₁ integrin that recognizes the tripeptide sequence leucine‐aspartic acid‐valine (LDV). The presence of the tripeptide sequence LDV within the polymer was determined to be eight LDV triad sequences on average in terpolymers of approximately 100 kDa. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4328–4337, 2006     

Imidazole‐initiated polymerizations of α‐amino acid N‐carboxyanhydrides – simultaneous chain‐growth and step‐growth polymerization

The N‐carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) of sarcosine (Sar), D ,L ‐leucine (D ,L ‐Leu), D ,L ‐phenylalanine (D ,L ‐Phe), and L ‐alanine (L ‐Ala) were polymerized in dioxane. Imidazole served as initiator and the NCA/initiator ratio was varied from 1/1 to 40/1. The isolated polypeptides were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, by MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry, by viscosity measurements, and by SEC measurements in the case of poly(sarcosine). Cyclic oligopeptides were found in all reaction products and in the case of polySar, poly(D ,L ‐Leu), and poly(D ,L ‐Phe) the cycles were the main products. In the case of poly(L ‐Ala), rapid precipitation of β‐sheet lamellaes prevented efficient cyclizations and stabilized imidazolide endgroups. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5690–5698, 2005     

NMR analysis of mono‐ and difructosyllactosucrose synthesized by 1F‐fructosyltransferase purified from roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Two novel oligosaccharides, mono‐ and difructosyllactosucrose {[O‐β‐D ‐fructofuranosyl‐(2 → 1)]_n‐β‐D ‐fructofuranosyl‐O‐[β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)]‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside, n = 1 and 2} were synthesized using 1^F‐fructosyltransferase purified form roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). Their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were assigned using several NMR techniques. The spectral analysis was started from two anomeric methines of aldose units, galactose and glucose, since they showed separate characteristic signals in their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. After assignments of all the ¹H and ¹³C signals of two units of aldose, they were discriminated as galactose and glucose using proton–proton coupling constants. The HMBC spectrum revealed the galactose residue attached to C‐4 of glucose, fructose residue attached to the C‐1 of glucose, and further fructosyl fructose linkage extended from the glucosyl fructose residues. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solid‐Phase Synthesis Using (Allyloxy)carbonyl(Alloc) Chemistry of a Putative Heptapeptide Intermediate in Vancomycin Biosynthesis Containing m‐Chloro‐3‐hydroxytyrosine

A convenient method for the solid‐phase synthesis of putative linear heptapeptide intermediates in vancomycin biosynthesis is described, in particular, the heptapeptide D ‐Leu‐Cyt‐L ‐Asn‐Hpg‐Hpg‐Cyt′‐Dhpg (Cyt=(2R,3R)‐m‐chloro‐3‐hydroxytyrosine, Hpg=(R)‐2‐(p‐hydroxyphenyl)glycine, Cyt′=(2S,3R)‐m‐chloro‐3‐hydroxytyrosine and Dhpg=(S)‐2‐(3,5‐dihydroxyphenyl)glycine). The synthesis was performed on chlorotrityl resin and employed the (allyloxy)carbonyl protecting group for temporary N(α) protection during peptide‐chain assembly.     

The self‐assembled of cyclic D,L‐α‐peptide systems: Insights into the structure and energetics

Cyclic D,L ‐α‐peptides are able to self‐assemble to nanotubes, although the inherent reason of the stability of this kind of nanotube as well as the intrinsic driving force of self‐assembly of the cyclic D ,L ‐α‐peptides still remain elusive. In this work, using several computational approaches, we investigated the structural and energy characteristics of a series of cyclo[(‐L ‐Phe‐D ‐Ala‐)₄] and cyclo[(‐L ‐Ala‐D ‐Ala‐)₄] oligomers. The results reveal that the thermodynamic stability, cooperativity, and self‐assembly patterns of cyclic D ,L ‐α‐peptide nanotubes are mainly determined by the interactions between cross‐strand side chains instead of those between backbones. For cyclo[(‐L ‐Phe‐D ‐Ala‐)₄] oligomers, the steric interaction between cross‐strand side chains, especially the electrostatic repulsion between the phenyls in Phe residues, brings anticooperative effect into parallel stacking mode, which is responsible for the preference of self‐assembling nanotube in antiparallel vs. parallel stacking orientation. Based on our results, a novel self‐assembling mechanism is put forward—it is the L ‐L antiparallel dimer of cyclo[(‐L ‐Phe‐D ‐Ala‐)₄], instead of the commonly presumed monomer, that acts as the basic building block in self assembly. It explains why these cyclic peptides uniquely self‐assemble to form antiparallel nanotubes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Solid‐Phase Approach for the Synthesis of 2‐Amido‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles

A new solid‐phase approach for the synthesis of 2‐amido‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles has been developed. In this synthesis, hydroxypentyl JandaJel polymer support was treated with excess of oxalyl chloride to give resin‐bound 2‐chloro‐2‐oxoacetate, and this intermediate was then coupled with different hydrazides to give resin‐bound 2‐(N′‐acylhydrazinyl)‐2‐oxoacetate. Intramolecular dehydrative cyclization of resulting resin‐bound linear precursor followed by direct amidation using aluminum amide reagent provided 5‐substituted 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles as 2‐carboxamides. To explore the scope of this reaction sequence, we synthesized a small set of library using a combination of hydrazides and amines, and the desired products were obtained in good to high yields.     

The Design of α/β‐Peptides: Study on Three‐Residue Turn Motifs and the Influence of Achiral Glycine on Helix and Turn

Novel three‐residue helix‐turn secondary structures, nucleated by a helix at the N terminus, were generated in peptides that have ‘β‐Caa‐L ‐Ala‐L ‐Ala,’ ‘β‐Caa‐L ‐Ala‐γ‐Caa,’ and ‘β‐Caa‐L ‐Ala‐δ‐Caa’ (in which β‐Caa is C‐linked carbo‐β‐amino acid, γ‐Caa is C‐linked carbo‐γ‐amino acid, and δ‐Caa is C‐linked carbo‐δ‐amino acid) at the C terminus. These turn structures are stabilized by 12‐, 14‐, and 15‐membered (mr) hydrogen bonding between NH(i)/CO(i+2) (i+2 is the last residue in the peptide) along with a 7‐mr hydrogen bond between CO(i)/NH(i+2). In addition, a series of α/β‐peptides were designed and synthesized with alternating glycine (Gly) and (S)‐β‐Caa to study the influence of an achiral α‐residue on the helix and helix‐turn structures. In contrast to previous results, the three ‘β–α–β’ residues at the C terminus (α‐residue being Gly) are stabilized by only a 13‐mr forward hydrogen bond, which resembles an α‐turn. Extensive NMR spectroscopic and molecular dynamics (MD) studies were performed to support these observations. The influence of chirality and side chain is also discussed.     

C‐Glycosyl Amino Acids through Hydroboration–Cross‐Coupling of exo‐Glycals and Their Application in Automated Solid‐Phase Synthesis

O‐Glycosylation is one of the most important post‐translational modifications of proteins. The attachment of carbohydrates to the peptide backbone influences the conformation as well as the solubility of the conjugates and can even be essential for binding to specific ligands in cell–cell interactions or for active transport over membranes. This makes glycopeptides an interesting class of compounds for medical applications. To enhance the long‐term availability of these molecules in vivo, the stabilization of the glycosidic bond between the amino acid residue and the carbohydrate is of interest. The described modular approach affords β‐linked C‐glycosyl amino acids by a sequence of Petasis olefination of glyconolactones, stereoselective hydroboration and a mild B‐alkyl‐Suzuki coupling reaction. The coupling products were transformed to C‐glycosyl amino acid building‐blocks suitable for solid‐phase synthesis and successfully incorporated into a partial sequence of the tumor‐associated MUC1‐glycopeptide. The resulting C‐glycopeptides are candidates for the development of long‐term stable mimics of O‐glycopeptide vaccines.