N-Substituted 2-Amino-4-pentenoic Acids for Amino Acid Protection and Resolution

Synthetic applications of aliphatic unsaturated α-H-α-amino acids

This article provides an overview of the literature concerning synthetic applications of unsaturated aliphatic amino acids in the period May 2000 to December 2004.

Selective tert-Butyl Ester Deprotection in the Presence of Acid Labile Protecting Groups with Use of ZnBr2

Chemoselective hydrolysis of tert-butyl esters in the presence of other acid-labile groups has been explored by employing alpha-amino esters and ZnBr(2) in DCM. Although N-Boc and N-trityl groups were found to be labile, PhF protected amines were compatible with these Lewis acid deprotection conditions such that a variety of N-(PhF)amino acids were prepared in good yields from their corresponding tert-butyl esters.

Facile N-Derivatization of α-Amino Esters and Amides via Benzotriazolylmethyl Derivatives

Alpha-(N-substituted amino)esters were prepared in a two-step procedure from available unsubstituted alpha-amino esters. alpha-Amino esters are first converted into the corresponding N-benzotriazolylmethyl derivatives; in the second step, the benzotriazole group is substituted by various nucleophiles with or without the presence of a Lewis acid to give substituted alpha-amino esters in high overall yield under mild conditions with no signs of racemization. Boc-protected amino acids were converted into alpha-amino amides; subsequent deprotection allowed the conversion into N-substituted derivatives analogously to the alpha-amino esters, without racemization in high yields under mild conditions.

Caging proteins through unnatural amino acid mutagenesis

The caging of specific residues of proteins is a powerful tool. This discussion attempts to alert the reader to the considerations that must be made in preparing and analyzing a caged protein through nonsense suppression. Although the suppression methodology is conceptually straightforward, it not possible to provide a failsafe "cook book" method for using caged unnaturals. We have emphasized the preparation of caged receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes, but these approaches can clearly be adapted to many other systems.