Synthesis of the Phenylpyridal Scaffold as a Helical Peptide Mimetic

Phenylpyridal‐ and phenyldipyridal‐based scaffolds have been designed and synthesized as novel helical peptide mimetics. The synthesis required optimisation and selective alkylation in producing 2,6‐functionalized 3‐hydroxypyridine derivatives for a convergent scheme. The pyridine analogues were coupled by a series of Suzuki/Stille types cross‐coupling reactions. A series of biaryl and ter‐aryl substituted heterocycles were produced. The synthetic approach was concise and high yielding allowing large variability at the wanted side‐chain attachment points. A number of compounds were synthesised to show the versatility of the strategy.