title: Synthesis of N alpha-(1-phenyl-2-mercaptoethyl) amino acids, new building blocks for ligation and cyclization at non-cysteine sites: scope and limitations in peptide synthesis.
abstract: A new and convenient method for the synthesis and incorporation of N(alpha)-(1-phenyl-2-mercaptoethyl)-derivatized amino acids applicable to chemical ligation at non-cysteine sites is presented. N(alpha)-Auxiliary derivatives of glycine and alanine were easily prepared using reductive amination approaches. Several strategies for the incorporation of these derivatives into peptide chains were investigated: coupling without protection, with acid-labile protection, with base-labile protection, and via a novel protection strategy using the thiazolidine derivative. All amino acid derivatives were successfully coupled to various peptide resins, and with the exception of those incorporating Boc-protected derivatives, all resins yielded the desired peptide fragments. However, the coupling of the two alanine derivative diastereomers generated some epimerization. Finally, N-terminal auxiliary glycine and alanine peptides were cyclized, and the corresponding native circular peptides were obtained upon successful removal of the auxiliary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Geneva, 1 rue Michel Servet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tchertchian
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Botti
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D010455:Peptides; D003545:Cysteine