Synthesis of optically active phthaloyl D-aminooxy acids from L-amino acids or L-hydroxy acids as building blocks for the preparation of aminooxy peptides

β-Pseudopeptide foldamers. The homo-oligomers of (4R)-(2-oxo-1,3-oxazolidin-4-yl)-acetic acid (D–Oxac)

A total synthesis in solution and a conformational analysis of the homo-oligomers of (4R)-(2-oxo-1,3-oxazolidin-4-yl)-acetic acid (D-Oxac) to the tetramer level are described. As the D-Oxac building block contains both an oxazolidin-2-one and a beta-amino acid group, it may represent a new type of conformationally constrained tool for the construction of beta-pseudopeptide foldamers. A conformational investigation using NMR and an extensive, unconstrained analysis with a Monte Carlo search to the octamer level, both in water and in chloroform, showed that these homo-oligomers tend to fold in a regular helical structure in a competitive solvent, such as water. Since aqueous solutions are of major relevance for biological systems, these molecules are good candidates for application to these environments.

NMR Studies on Turn Mimetic Analogs Derived from Melanocyte-stimulating Hormones

Oligomers with alpha-aminooxy acids are reported to form very stable turn and helix structures, and they are supposed to be useful peptidomimetics for drug design. A recent report suggested that homochiral oxa-peptides form a strong eight-member-ring structure by a hydrogen bond between adjacent aminooxy-acid residues in a CDCl3 solution. In order to design an alpha-MSH analog with a stable turn conformation, we synthesized four tetramers and one pentamer, based on alpha-MSH sequence, and determined the solution structures of the molecules by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and simulated annealing calculations. The solution conformations of the three peptidomimetic molecules (TLV, TDV, and TLL) in DMSO-d6 contain a stable 7-membered-ring structure that is similar to a gamma-turn in normal peptides. Newly-designed tetramer TDF and pentamer PDF have a ball-type rigid structure that is induced by strong hydrogen bonds between adjacent amide protons and carbonyl oxygens. In conclusion, the aminooxy acids, easily prepared from natural or unnatural amino acids, can be employed to prepare peptidomimetic analogues with well-defined turn structures for pharmaceutical interest.

Novel consecutive beta- and gamma-turn mimetics composed of alpha-aminooxy tripeptides

[structure: see text] To develop novel consecutive beta- and gamma-turn mimetics, we designed and characterized alpha-aminooxy tripeptides (trimers) consisting of oxanipecotic acid dimer and alpha-aminooxy acid. According to FT-IR and NMR data, as well as ab initio quantum calculations, the trimers adopted unusual folded structures with consecutive beta- and gamma-turnlike conformations.

Solution-phase synthesis of aminooxy peptoids in the C to N and N to C directions

[structure: see text] Aminooxy peptoids, which are potential peptidomimetics, were synthesized by a stepwise monomer assembly. Ns-protected N-substituted aminooxyacetate tert-butyl esters were used as a monomer in both the C to N and the N to C directions. Submonomer synthesis of aminooxy peptoids is also described.

Conformational study and enantioselective, regiospecific syntheses of novel aminoxy trans-proline analogues derived from an acylnitroso Diels-Alder cycloaddition

The cis/trans isomerization of the proline amide bond has many implications in biological processes. The conformations of representative acylnitroso-derived proline analogues derived from cyclopentadiene were shown to exist exclusively as the E or trans conformation in CD2Cl2. The energetically favored conformations were determined using COSMO self-consistent reaction field calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G level of theory in addition to low temperature 1H NMR studies. The syntheses of the acylnitroso-derived peptides utilized two methods to selectively functionalize either of two chemically similar esters in the acylnitroso-derived amino acids. A novel transpeptidation of the amino acid that controlled the absolute stereochemistry in the acylnitroso Diels-Alder cycloaddition took advantage of an activated aminoxy amide linkage to control regiochemistry. Alternatively, an enantioselective and regiospecific enzymatic resolution of a racemic dimethyl ester provided a novel aminoxy acid.