Polymer supports for solid-phase organic synthesis

Thirteen decades of peptide synthesis: key developments in solid phase peptide synthesis and amide bond formation utilized in peptide ligation

A historical overview of peptide chemistry from T. Curtius to E. Fischer to M. Bergmann and L. Zervas is first presented. Next, the fundamentals of peptide synthesis with a focus on solid phase peptide synthesis by R. B. Merrifield are described. Immobilization strategies to attach the first amino acid to the resin, coupling strategies in stepwise peptide chain elongation, and approaches to synthesize difficult peptide sequences are also shown. A brief comparison between tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc)/benzyl (Bzl) strategy and 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)/tert-butyl (t -Bu) strategy utilized in solid phase peptide synthesis is given with an emphasis on the latter. Finally, the review focuses on the discovery and development of peptide ligation and the latest advances in this field including native amide bond formation strategies, these include the native chemical ligation, α-ketoacid-hydroxylamine ligation, and serine/threonine ligation which are the most commonly used chemoselective ligation methods that provide amide bond at the ligation site. This review provides an overview of the literature concerning the most important advances in the chemical synthesis of proteins and peptides covering the period from 1882 to 2017.

Optimization of the solid-phase synthesis of [18F] radiolabeled peptides for positron emission tomography

Establishing improved methods for the radiolabeling of peptides with fluorine-18 via solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) is desirable for the efficient synthesis of peptide-based molecular imaging agents. This work focuses on the development of a standardized platform to facilitate the reliable and efficient synthesis of high-purity fluorine-18 radiolabeled peptides for in vivo imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). Seven commercially available resins were selected for solid-phase radiolabeling of the model peptide VQAAIDYING with 4-[(18)F]fluorobenzoic acid ([(18)F]FBA). A wide range of radiochemical yields (18.8 ± 1.5% to 41.2 ± 5.3%) was obtained using standard conditions (coupling: 3 eq amino acid, 3 eq HATU, 6 eq DIPEA, 1.5 h, r.t.; cleavage: 94% TFA, 3 h, r.t.). After modification of coupling reagents and employing heated reactions to 37°C, radiochemical yields were improved by as much as 35.3% over standard conditions. When the optimized conditions were applied to the synthesis of [(18)F]FBA-PEG(28)-A20FMDV2, which targets the α(v)β(6) integrin in vivo, radiochemical yields improved by as much as 73.4% over those obtained using standard coupling and cleavage conditions. This platform can be utilized to improve the synthesis of peptide-based molecular probes for molecular imaging with PET.

Asymmetric catalysis on sequentially-linked columns

We report a catalytic asymmetric reaction process that involves the use of solid-phase reagents and catalysts that constitute the packing of a series of "reaction columns". This process was applied to the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of beta-lactams, to yield pure products with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivity. We have identified several advantages to conducting chemical reactions on sequential columns, including ease of catalyst and reagent recovery and simplified purification steps that preclude the need for chromatography.

Influence of resin cross-linking on solid-phase chemistry

A range of PS-DVB resins were prepared by suspension polymerization with styrene, p-chloromethyl styrene, and DVB. Yields of polymerization increased (from 40% to almost 80%) with increasing cross-linking. The beads exhibited the expected swelling characteristics, with the 0.3% resin swelling to almost 9 times its dry volume in CHCl3. Kinetics of cleavage of the dye Methyl Red from the range of Rink linked resins showed rate enhancements of up to 500% between the 6.0 and the 0.3% cross-linked resins. Total synthesis of Kawaguchipeptin B was carried out on the resins, and their performance during the syntheses was investigated. Contrary to expectations, the purities of the cyclic peptide product increased with increasing resin cross-linking doubling from the 0.3-6.0% resin. A Suzuki reaction showed the half-lives of reaction increased with increasing resin cross-linking with an 11-fold increase in half-life between the 0.3-2.7% resin. Surprisingly, we observed very little reaction in the case of the 3.0 and 6.0% cross-linked resins.

Column asymmetric catalysis for beta-lactam synthesis

[structure] A catalytic asymmetric reaction process was designed involving the use of solid-phase reagents and catalysts that constitute the packing of a series of "reaction columns". This process was applied to the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of beta-lactams, yielding pure product after crystallization with exceptional enantio- and diastereoselectivity.

Photolabile dendrimers using o-nitrobenzyl ether linkages

[reaction: see text] Benzyl aryl ether dendrimers containing photosensitive, veratryl-based o-nitrobenzyl AB linkages (bold bonds) were prepared to the third generation and shown to undergo site-specific degradation when irradiated with ultraviolet light.