Fluorescent Isoindole Crosslink (FlICk) Chemistry: A Rapid,User‐friendly Stapling Reaction

The stabilization of peptide secondary structure via stapling is a ubiquitous goal for creating new probes, imaging agents, and drugs. Inspired by indole‐derived crosslinks found in natural peptide toxins, we employed ortho‐phthalaldehydes to create isoindole staples, thus transforming inactive linear and monocyclic precursors into bioactive monocyclic and bicyclic products. Mild, metal‐free conditions give an array of macrocyclic α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) derivatives, of which several isoindole‐stapled α‐MSH analogues (K_i≈1 nm ) are found to be as potent as α‐MSH. Analogously, late‐stage intra‐annular isoindole stapling furnished a bicyclic peptide mimic of α‐amanitin that is cytotoxic to CHO cells (IC₅₀=70 μm ). Given its user‐friendliness, we have termed this approach FlICk (fluorescent isoindole crosslink) chemistry.