Efficient and stereoselective synthesis of novel cis-4-substituted proline analogues

Proline, a unique amino acid whose polymer, polyproline II helix, and its analogues are involved in many biological processes: a review

Proline is a unique amino acid in that its side-chain is cyclised to the backbone, thus giving proline an exceptional rigidity and a considerably restricted conformational space. Polyproline forms two well-characterized helical structures: a left-handed polyproline helix (PPII) and a right-handed polyproline helix (PPI). Usually, sequences made only of prolyl residues are in PPII conformation, but even sequences not rich in proline but which are rich in glycine, lysine, glutamate, or aspartate have also a tendency to form PPII helices. Currently, the only way to study unambiguously PPII structure in solution is to use spectroscopies based on optical activity such as circular dichroism, vibrational circular dichroism and Raman optical activity. The importance of the PPII structure is emphasized by its ubiquitous presence in different organisms from yeast to human beings where proline-rich motifs and their binding domains are believed to be involved in vital biological processes. Some of the domains that are bound by proline-rich motifs include SH3 domains, WW domains, GYF domains and UEV domains, etc. The PPII structure has been demonstrated to be essential to biological activities such as signal transduction, transcription, cell motility, and immune response.

Pyrrolidine ring puckering and prolyl amide bond configurations of 2-methyl-allo-hydroxyproline-based dipeptides

An expeditious method for the synthesis of homo and heterochiral dipeptides containing l-alanine and d/l 2-methyl allo-hydroxyl prolines was developed using direct aminolysis of bicyclic lactones derived from d/l alanine. The impact of C-2 methylation and its spatial orientation on the pyrrolidine ring puckering and prolyl amide bond configuration was ascertained by solution NMR studies. The present studies reveal that C-2 methylation causes the prolyl amide bond to exist exclusively in the trans geometry in both homo- and heterochiral dipeptides. However, the spatial orientation of the C-2 methyl group and its i + 2 position in appropriately capped model dipeptides may nucleate into a turn like structure.

Divergent Chemical Synthesis of Prolines Bearing Fluorinated One-Carbon Units at the 4-Position via Nucleophilic 5-Endo-Trig Cyclizations

N-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)homoallyl]sulfonamides, prepared via ring opening of (S)-glycidyl ethers or 2-aryloxiranes with 1-(trifluoromethyl)vinyllithium, underwent intramolecular addition or S(N)2'-type reaction in the normally disfavored 5-endo-trig fashion, leading to 2-substituted 4-(trifluoromethyl)- or 4-(difluoromethylene)pyrrolidines. Both alpha- and beta-face-selective hydrogenation of the 4-difluoromethylene group afforded syn- and anti-4-(difluoromethyl)pyrrolidines, respectively. These sequences, followed by the oxidation of a 2-hydroxymethyl or 2-aryl group, successfully provided prolines with a trifluoromethyl, difluoromethylene, or difluoromethyl group at the 4-position, including optically active prolines.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a new class of small molecule peptide mimetics targeting the melanocortin receptors

A new bicyclic template has been developed for the synthesis of peptide mimetics. Straightforward synthetic steps, starting from amino acids, allow the facile construction of a wide range of analogs. This system was designed to target the melanocortin receptors (MCRs), with functional group selection based on a known pharmacophore and guidance from molecular modeling to rationally identify positional and stereochemical isomers likely to be active. The functions of hMCRs are critical to myriad biological activities, including pigmentation, steroidogenesis, energy homeostasis, erectile activity, and inflammation. These G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targets for drug discovery in a number of areas, including cancer, pain, and obesity therapeutics. All compounds from this series tested to date are antagonists which bind with high affinity. Importantly, many are highly selective for a particular MCR subtype, including some of the first completely hMC5R-selective antagonists reported.