One-pot isomerization-cross metathesis-reduction (ICMR) synthesis of lipophilic tetrapeptides

Cyclic Peptide Mimetic of Damaged Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in humans and the major component of human skin. Collagen mimetic peptides (CMPs) can anneal to damaged collagen in vitro and in vivo. A duplex of CMPs was envisioned as a macromolecular mimic for damaged collagen. The duplex was synthesized on a solid support from the amino groups of a lysine residue and by using olefin metathesis to link the N termini. The resulting cyclic peptide, which is a monomer in solution, binds to CMPs to form a triple helix. Among these, CMPs that are engineered to avoid the formation of homotrimers but preorganized to adopt the conformation of a collagen strand exhibit enhanced association. Thus, this cyclic peptide enables the assessment of CMPs for utility in annealing to damaged collagen. Such CMPs have potential use in the diagnosis and treatment of fibrotic diseases and wounds.

Stereoisomerism of stapled peptide inhibitors of the p53-Mdm2 interaction: an assessment of synthetic strategies and activity profiles

Staple composition can influence target binding and bioactivity of peptides. We present strategies to modulate E/Z ratios and access saturated analogues.

All-hydrocarbon, i, i+7 stapled peptide inhibitors of the p53-Mdm2 interaction have emerged as promising new leads for cancer therapy. Typical chemical synthesis via olefin metathesis results in the formation of both E- and Z-isomers, an observation that is rarely disclosed but may be of importance in targeting PPI. In this study, we evaluated the effect of staple geometry on the biological activity of five p53-reactivating peptides. We also present strategies for the modulation of the E/Z ratio and attainment of the hydrogenated adduct through repurposing of the metathesis catalyst.

Solid-supported cross-metathesis and a formal alkane metathesis for the generation of biologically relevant molecules

Solid-phase synthetic strategies toward the generation of libraries of biologically relevant molecules were developed using olefin cross-metathesis as a key step. It is remarkably the formal alkane metathesis based on a one-pot, microwave-assisted, ruthenium-catalyzed cross-metathesis and reduction to obtain Csp3-Csp3 linkages.