Synthesis of the unnatural amino acid N-N-(ferrocene-1-acetyl)-l-lysine: A novel organometallic nuclease

The synthesis of a new unnatural amino acid, N^α-N^ε-(ferrocene-1-acetyl)-l-lysine, was achieved by coupling a ferroceneacetic acid molecule onto the side chain amine of a lysine. The structure of the compound provides options for incorporation of the molecule into peptides or large proteins. In addition, N^α-N^ε-(ferrocene-1-acetyl)-l-lysine exhibits nuclease activity. It is expected that incorporation of this ferrocenyl amino acid into any nucleic acid-binding protein will endow the protein with nuclease capability.