Arylation of Phe and Tyr side chains of unprotected peptides by a Suzuki-Miyaura reaction in water

Iron-Catalyzed C-H Alkylamination of Tyrosine Derivatives

An efficient method for the direct alkylamination of tyrosine derivatives via iron-catalyzed C-H amination has been developed. The method, using O-benzoyl-N,N-dialkylhydroxylamines as aminating agents, provides various C-amino-functionalized tyrosine derivatives in up to 77% yield. The utility of this method is showcased by its application to the direct introduction of drug molecules into tyrosine, facilitating access to structurally diverse amino-functionalized tyrosine derivatives.

Thermally Triggered Triazolinedione-Tyrosine Bioconjugation with Improved Chemo- and Site-Selectivity

A bioconjugation strategy is reported that allows the derivatization of tyrosine side chains through triazolinedione-based "Y-clicking". Blocked triazolinedione reagents were developed that, in contrast to classical triazolinedione reagents, can be purified before use, can be stored for a long time, and allow functionalization with a wider range of cargoes and labels. These reagents are bench-stable at room temperature but steadily release highly reactive triazolinediones upon heating to 40 °C in buffered media at physiological pH, showing a sharp temperature response over the 0 to 40 °C range. This conceptually interesting strategy, which is complementary to existing photo- or electrochemical bioorthogonal bond-forming methods, not only avoids the classical synthesis and handling difficulties of these highly reactive click-like reagents but also markedly improves the selectivity profile of the tyrosine conjugation reaction itself. It avoids oxidative damage and "off-target" tryptophan labeling, and it even improves site-selectivity in discriminating between different tyrosine side chains on the same protein or different polypeptide chains. In this research article, we describe the stepwise development of these reagents, from their short and modular synthesis to small-molecule model bioconjugation studies and proof-of-principle bioorthogonal chemistry on peptides and proteins.

On-resin Cα-functionalization of N-arylglycinyl peptides with boronic acids

A late-stage α-C-H functionalization reaction of resin-bound, electron-rich N-aryl peptides with boronic acid nucleophiles under mild conditions is reported. We explore the impact of the N-arylglycinyl peptide structure on reactivity, and present a scope of the optimized reaction where both the peptide sequence and nature of boronic acid derivatives are varied.

Artificial Organelles: Towards Adding or Restoring Intracellular Activity

Compartmentalization is one of the main characteristics that define living systems. Creating a physically separated microenvironment allows nature a better control over biological processes, as is clearly specified by the role of organelles in living cells. Inspired by this phenomenon, researchers have developed a range of different approaches to create artificial organelles: compartments with catalytic activity that add new function to living cells. In this review we will discuss three complementary lines of investigation. First, orthogonal chemistry approaches are discussed, which are based on the incorporation of catalytically active transition metal-containing nanoparticles in living cells. The second approach involves the use of premade hybrid nanoreactors, which show transient function when taken up by living cells. The third approach utilizes mostly genetic engineering methods to create bio-based structures that can be ultimately integrated with the cell's genome to make them constitutively active. The current state of the art and the scope and limitations of the field will be highlighted with selected examples from the three approaches.

Site-selective aqueous C-H acylation of tyrosine-containing oligopeptides with aldehydes

The development of useful synthetic tools to label amino acids within a peptide framework for the ultimate modification of proteins in a late-stage fashion is a challenging task of utmost importance within chemical biology. Herein, we report the first Pd-catalyzed C-H acylation of a collection of Tyr-containing peptides with aldehydes. This water-compatible tagging technique is distinguished by its site-specificity, scalability and full tolerance of sensitive functional groups. Remarkably, it provides straightforward access to a high number of oligopeptides with altered side-chain topology including mimetics of endomorphin-2 and neuromedin N, thus illustrating its promising perspectives toward the diversification of structurally complex peptides and chemical ligation.

Peptide Ligation via the Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reaction

Chemoselective ligation of two 28-mer peptides has been accomplished using the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction at or near physiological temperature in an aqueous solution containing sodium dodecyl sulfate in 83% yield. The effects of Pd source, solvent, base, and temperature were investigated, and the optimized reaction conditions were studied for compatibility with naturally present and artificially introduced functional groups in peptides including S-protected thiol and azide. The peptide conjugations were carried out in high yield (90%) with their functional groups intact. This method also allowed for facile introduction of an affinity tag or fluorescent probe into 20-mer peptides in >80% yield. These results suggest that the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling is useful for multiple conjugations of peptides in conjunction with conventional conjugation reactions performed in sequence.

Arylation Chemistry for Bioconjugation

Bioconjugation chemistry has been used to prepare modified biomolecules with functions beyond what nature intended. Central to these techniques is the development of highly efficient and selective bioconjugation reactions that operate under mild, biomolecule compatible conditions. Methods that form a nucleophile-sp2 carbon bond show promise for creating bioconjugates with new modifications, sometimes resulting in molecules with unparalleled functions. Here we outline and review sulfur, nitrogen, selenium, oxygen, and carbon arylative bioconjugation strategies and their applications to modify peptides, proteins, sugars, and nucleic acids.

Modifications of amino acids using arenediazonium salts

Aryl transfer reactions from arenediazonium salts have started to make their impact in chemical biology with initial forays in the arena of arylative modifications and bio-conjugations of amino acids, peptides and proteins.

Chemical space screening around Phe3 in opioid peptides: Modulating µ versus δ agonism by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings

In this study, affinities and activities of derivatized analogues of Dmt-dermorphin[1-4] (i.e. Dmt-d-Ala-Phe-GlyNH2, Dmt = 2',6'-dimethyl-(S)-tyrosine) for the µ opioid receptor (MOP) and δ opioid receptor (DOP) were evaluated using radioligand binding studies, functional cell-based assays and isolated organ bath experiments. By means of solid-phase or solution-phase Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings, various substituted regioisomers of the phenylalanine moiety in position 3 of the sequence were prepared. An 18-membered library of opioid tetrapeptides was generated via screening of the chemical space around the Phe3 side chain. These substitutions modulated bioactivity, receptor subtype selectivity and highly effective ligands with subnanomolar binding affinities, contributed to higher functional activities and potent analgesic actions. In search of selective peptidic ligands, we show here that the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction is a versatile and robust tool which could also be deployed elsewhere.

Residue-Specific Peptide Modification: A Chemist's Guide

Advances in bioconjugation and native protein modification are appearing at a blistering pace, making it increasingly time consuming for practitioners to identify the best chemical method for modifying a specific amino acid residue in a complex setting. The purpose of this perspective is to provide an informative, graphically rich manual highlighting significant advances in the field over the past decade. This guide will help triage candidate methods for peptide alteration and will serve as a starting point for those seeking to solve long-standing challenges.

A 2-((4-Arylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl)phenol ligated Pd(ii) complex: an efficient, versatile catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions

N,N,O-Tridentate palladium(ii) complex 4a was found to be an efficient catalyst for the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides (iodo-, bromo- and chloro-), which afforded cross-coupling products in good to excellent yields.

A study on the trastuzumab conjugation at tyrosine using diazonium salts

Herein, we report on the conjugation of trastuzumab with 2,5-difluorobenzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate.

Suzuki–Miyaura reaction by heterogeneously supported Pd in water: recent studies

This review summarizes the progress made essentially in the last fifteen years in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction by heterogeneous palladium catalysis in water as the sole solvent.

Understanding and applying tyrosine biochemical diversity

This review highlights some of the recent advances made in our understanding of the diversity of tyrosine biochemistry and shows how this has inspired novel applications in numerous areas of molecular design and synthesis, including chemical biology and bioconjugation. The pathophysiological implications of tyrosine biochemistry will be presented from a molecular perspective and the opportunities for therapeutic intervention explored.

Triazene as a powerful tool for solid-phase derivatization of phenylalanine containing peptides: zygosporamide analogues as a proof of concept

A novel method for the synthesis of para-substituted phenylalanine containing cyclic peptides is described. The main features of this strategy are the coupling of phenylalanine to the solid support through its side chain via a triazene linkage, on-resin cyclization of the peptide chain, cleavage of the cyclic peptide from the resin under mild acidic conditions and further transformation of the resulting diazonium salt. The usefulness of this approach is exemplified by the solid-phase synthesis of some derivatives of the naturally occurring cyclic depsipeptide zygosporamide.

Copper(II)-mediated O-arylation of protected serines and threonines

An effective protocol toward the O-arylation of β-hydroxy-α-amino acid substrates serine and threonine has been developed via Chan-Lam cross-coupling. This Cu(II)-catalyzed transformation involves benign open-flask conditions that are well-tolerated with a variety of protected (Boc-, Cbz-, Tr-, and Fmoc-) serine and threonine derivatives and various potassium organotrifluoroborates and boronic acids.

Click chemistry in complex mixtures: bioorthogonal bioconjugation

The selective chemical modification of biological molecules drives a good portion of modern drug development and fundamental biological research. While a few early examples of reactions that engage amine and thiol groups on proteins helped establish the value of such processes, the development of reactions that avoid most biological molecules so as to achieve selectivity in desired bond-forming events has revolutionized the field. We provide an update on recent developments in bioorthogonal chemistry that highlights key advances in reaction rates, biocompatibility, and applications. While not exhaustive, we hope this summary allows the reader to appreciate the rich continuing development of good chemistry that operates in the biological setting.

Highly stereoselective modifications of peptides via Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of internal peptide amide enolates

Pd-catalyzed allylations are excellent tools for stereoselective peptide modifications, showing several advantages compared to normal alkylations. Reactions of internal peptide amide enolates with Pd-allyl complexes proceed not only with high yields of up to 86%, they show also high regio- and diastereoselectivities (88-99%), giving rise to the trans-configured products. Therefore, this protocol is a powerful synthetic tool for the synthesis of natural product and drug molecules.

Direct peptide bioconjugation/PEGylation at tyrosine with linear and branched polymeric diazonium salts

Direct polymer conjugation at peptide tyrosine residues is described. In this study Tyr residues of both leucine enkephalin and salmon calcitonin (sCT) were targeted using appropriate diazonium salt-terminated linear monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)s (mPEGs) and poly(mPEG) methacrylate prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization. Judicious choice of the reaction conditions-pH, stoichiometry, and chemical structure of diazonium salt-led to a high degree of site-specificity in the conjugation reaction, even in the presence of competitive peptide amino acid targets such as histidine, lysines, and N-terminal amine. In vitro studies showed that conjugation of mPEG(2000) to sCT did not affect the peptide's ability to increase intracellular cAMP induced in T47D human breast cancer cells bearing sCT receptors. Preliminary in vivo investigation showed preserved ability to reduce [Ca(2+)] plasma levels by mPEG(2000)-sCT conjugate in rat animal models.

Highly chemoselective Baylis-Hillman and aldol reactions of 2H-thiopyran-4(3H)-one using tertiary amine catalysts in aqueous media

For the first time, the Baylis-Hillman (BH) reaction of 2H-thiopyran-4(3H)-one is investigated, and surprisingly, the reaction of 2H-thiopyran-4(3H)-one with aldehydes in the presence of different tertiary amines shows excellent chemo- and regioselectivity in water. At room temperature, DBU affords BH adducts, but with DABCO, aldol products were obtained. In the case of DABCO, Et(3)N, or DMAP, domino aldol-rearrangement reactions occurred at 45-50 °C.

A convenient catalyst for aqueous and protein Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling

A phosphine-free palladium catalyst for aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling is presented. The catalyst is active enough to mediate hindered, ortho-substituted biaryl couplings but mild enough for use on peptides and proteins. The Suzuki-Miyaura couplings on protein substrates are the first to proceed in useful conversions. Notably, hydrophobic aryl and vinyl groups can be transferred to the protein surface without the aid of organic solvent since the aryl- and vinylboronic acids used in the coupling are water-soluble as borate salts. The convenience and activity of this catalyst prompts use in both general synthesis and bioconjugation.