Total synthesis of five proline-enriched cyclic heptapeptides from the marine sponge Stylissa carteri

The total synthesis of five naturally occurring cyclic proline-enriched heptapeptides from the marine sponge Stylissa carteri was reported. The five cyclic heptapeptides were synthesized by applying a two-step solid-phase/solution synthesis strategy. The linear heptapeptides were assembled by standard Fmoc chemistry on 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin, cleaved off-resin with acetic acid/trifluoroethanol/dichloromethane to keep side-chain protecting groups intact, and subsequently cyclization was achieved by a solution method. The final products were purified by a preparative RP-HPLC system, and their structures were characterized by HR-QTOF-MS NMR. The spectral data of synthetic peptides were found to be identical to that reported for the natural products.