Non-protein amino acids in peptide design

An overview of the use of non-protein amino acids in the design of conformationally well-defined peptides, based on work from the author’s laboratory, is discussed. The crystal structures of several designed oligopeptides illustrate the useα-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) in the construction of helices, D-amino acids in the design of helix termination segments and^DPro-Xxx segments for nucleating ofβ-hairpin structures.β- andγ-amino acid residues have been used to expand the range of designed polypeptide structures. Dedicated to Professor C N R Rao on his 70th birthday     

Characterization of reduced iso‐α‐acids derived from hops (Humulus lupulus) by NMR

Reduced forms of iso‐α‐acids (isohumulones), used in modern beer brewing were separated and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Components from mixtures of rho‐iso‐α‐acids, tetrahydro‐iso‐α‐acids, and hexahydro‐iso‐α‐acids were isolated using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analyzed by use of one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR experiments. The data presented assign the identities of the main peaks in the HPLC traces for the reduced iso‐α‐acids. Previous tentative assignments regarding the cis and trans configurations and the structures of the acyl residues of the reduced iso‐α‐acids were confirmed and extensive NMR assignments were made. Furthermore, the previously unknown stereochemistry in the C‐4 side‐chain of the rho‐ and hexahydro‐iso‐α‐acids was assigned. 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.     

Synthesis of thieno[3.2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyrrolenine derivatives under the Fischer reaction conditions

The reaction of alkyl 4-(2-acetylhydrazino)-2-methyl-3-thiophenecarboxylates with 3-methylbutan-2-one was carried out under the Fischer reaction conditions. The influence of Lewis acids and solvents on the process was studied. A convenient method for the synthesis of thieno [3.2-b]pyrrolenine derivatives was proposed.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 725–729, March, 2005.     

Reactions of esters of tetracoordinated phosphorus acids with nucleophilic reagents in highly organized media

Characteristic features of reactions involving esters of phosphorus-containing acids in highly organized media (micelles, liquid crystals, vesicles, and emulsions) are surveyed.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 298–312, February, 1996.     

Low frequency vibrational spectra of some amino acids

Far-IR absorption and reflection spectra, as well as laser Mandelshtam–Brillouin and Raman scattering spectra of -glycine, β-alanine, -histidine, -tryptophane single crystals in the 0.2–400 cm⁻¹ range were investigated. It was revealed that the far-IR and Raman spectra of the amino acids under study contain more bands than predicted by factor-group analysis, thus indicating a possible contribution of low-energy intramolecular vibrations and overtones, as well as an emergence of forbidden vibrations. Some of the low-frequency bands have never, to our knowledge, been detected previously.     

HPLC determination of pyroglutamic acid as a degradation product in parenteral amino acid formulations

Summary The aminoacid glutamine in aqueous solution and in conditions of high temperature and long term storage is partly transformed into pyroglutamic acid which exhibits potential neurotoxic effects.Commercially available aminoacid mixtures supplemented with glutamine are heat-sterilized and some losses of glutamine and formation of pyroglutamic acid may occur.The aim of the work was to set up an easy and reliable HPLC method which allows the determination of pyroglutamic acid as a degradation product of glutamine. The column was a 5 m Hypersil ODS (100×4.6 mm) and the mobile phase 100% 0.007 M phosphate buffer pH 3.5.Stability studies in different conditions of temperature and time of storage were performed on aminoacid mixture available in the commerce.     

Synthesis of derivatives of ketocarboxylic acids by the decomposition of 1,4-cyclohexanedione monoethyleneketal hydroperoxide

The decomposition of 1,4-dihydroxy-1,4-dihydroperoxycyclohexane under the action of FeSO₄ and the decomposition of 1,4-cyclohexanedione monoethyleneketal hydroperoxide under the action of Fe^II salts in the presence of various ligands or under the action of Cu^II sulfate have been studied. A preparative method for the synthesis of derivatives of diketodicarboxylic or -functionally substituted ketocarboxylic acids from 1,4-cyclohexanedione monoethyleneketal has been developed.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1231–1235, July, 1993.     

The six-membered annulation reaction involving sequential palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation and Michael addition: scope and limitations

The palladium-catalyzed condensation of a variety of active methylene compounds with methyl 6-acetoxymethyl-hepta-2,6-dienoate was investigated. The six-membered adducts resulting from a η³ palladium complex alkylation-Michael addition sequence were obtained with moderate to good yields. In some cases, further evolution of the primary adduct was observed. The process has been expanded to access nitrogen heterocycles by using sodium p-toluenesulfonamide as the nucleophilic partner.     

A hybrid foldamer with unique architecture from conformationally constrained aliphatic-aromatic amino acid conjugate

In this paper, we describe the design and synthesis of a novel hybrid foldamer, derived from a conformationally constrained aliphatic-aromatic amino acid conjugate that adopts a well-defined, compact, three-dimensional structure, governed by a combined conformational restriction imposed by the individual amino acids from which the foldamer is composed. Conformational investigations confirmed the prevalence of a unique doubly bent conformation for the foldamer, in both solid and solution states, as evidenced from single crystal X-ray and 2D NOESY studies, respectively. The findings suggest that constrained aliphatic-aromatic amino acid conjugates offer new avenues for the de novo design of hybrid foldamers with distinctive structural architectures. Furthermore, the de novo design strategy disclosed herein has the potential for significantly augmenting the ‘tool-box’ of the modern day peptidomimetic chemist, as well as providing a novel approach to the field of rational design.