Modulating Secondary Structure Motifs Through Photo-Labile Peptide Staples

Peptide-protein interactions (PPIs) are facilitated by the well-defined three-dimensional structure of bioactive peptides, interesting compounds for the development of new therapeutic agents. Their secondary structure and thus their propensity to engage in PPIs can be influenced by the introduction of peptide staples on the side chains. In particular, light-controlled staples based on azobenzene photoswitches and their structural influence on helical peptides have been studied extensively. In contrast, photolabile staples bearing photocages as a structural key motif, have mainly been used to block supramolecular interactions. Their influence on the secondary structure of the target peptide is under-investigated. Thus, in this study we use a combination of spectroscopic techniques and in silico simulations to systematically study a series of helical peptides with varying length of the photo-labile staple to obtain a detailed insight into the structure-property relationship in such photoresponsive biomolecules.

Photolabile Protecting Groups Based on the Excited State Meta Effect: Development and Application

This review focuses on utilization of the excited state meta effect (ESME) in the development of photolabile protecting groups (PPGs). Structurally simple ESME-based PPGs for release of various functional groups (such as carbonyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, and thiol groups) are discussed. Examples that demonstrate the appealing advantages of these new PPGs are provided, including their efficient release of "poor" leaving groups such as hydroxyl or amino group directly instead of in their respective carbonate or carbamate form. Applications of these PPGs in synthesis, release of biologically important molecules, materials science, and biomedical engineering are also described.

Internal B-O Bond-Facilitated Photoisomerization of Boranes: Ring Expansion Versus Oxyborane Elimination/Intramolecular Diels-Alder Addition

Boron compounds (1-4) containing an internal B-O bond have been found to undergo facile multistructural transformations upon irradiation at 365 or 410 nm, generating rare 8-membered B,O-heterocycles (1c-4c). In addition, 2 and 3 also undergo an intramolecular Diels-Alder addition and oxyborane elimination concomitantly, via intermediates 2b/3b, producing 2d/3d. The pathways to isomer c and product d were found to be a thermal process and a photo process, respectively.

1-[3-(Diethylamino)phenyl]ethyl (DEAPE): A Photolabile Protecting Group for Hydroxyl and Carboxyl Groups

Herein we demonstrate that the photolabile protecting group (PPG), the 1-[3-(diethylamino)-phenyl]ethyl (DEAPE) group, has dramatically different photochemical properties from the parent 3-(diethylamino)benzyl (DEABn) PPG. The new PPG, derived from DEABn by adding a methyl group to the benzylic carbon, has similar reactivity as DEABn in releasing alcohol in MeCN/water; however, it is more efficient than DEABn in releasing carboxylic acid. In particular, it can release carboxylic acid efficiently in aprotic solvents and the PPG itself converts to 3-diethylaminostyrene. Photochemical removal of DEAPE can also be conveniently carried out with sunlight. The results in this work suggest that there probably exist multiple reaction pathways in cleaving the benzylic C-O bond and they can be affected by the benzylic substitution and the reaction conditions.

Using the 3-Diethylaminobenzyl Group as a Photocage in Aqueous Solution

We have demonstrated that the 3-diethylaminobenzyl (DEABn) photolabile protecting group (PPG) is an effective and structurally simple PPG for releasing molecules in aqueous environment. In general, the photoreaction is clean, and the released substrate and the PPG product, i.e., 3-diethylaminobenzyl alcohol, are obtained in high yield. The clean photoreaction can also be achieved under mild ambient conditions with sunlight, while the reactant is stable under indoor lighting. Release of two substrates from one PPG chromophore in aqueous solution has been demonstrated to be feasible. We have also compared the uncaging properties of the DEABn and the widely used o-nitrobenzyl ( o-NB) group, given their comparable structural simplicity. With its clean and efficient photochemical reaction, DEABn should find wide applications, including in the basic and applied research areas where o-NB and its various derivatives are widely used.

Hydroxymethylaniline Photocages for Carboxylic Acids and Alcohols

ortho-, meta- and para-Hydroxymethylaniline methyl ethers 3-5-OMe and acetyl derivatives 3-5-OAc were investigated as potential photocages for alcohols and carboxylic acids, respectively. The measurements of photohydrolysis efficiency showed that the decaging from ortho- and meta-derivatives takes place efficiently in aqueous solution, but not for the para-derivatives. Contrary to previous reports, we show that the meta-derivatives are better photocages for alcohols, whereas ortho-derivatives are better protective groups for carboxylic acids. The observed differences were fully disclosed by mechanistic studies involving fluorescence measurements and laser flash photolysis (LFP). Photoheterolysis for the para-derivatives does not take place, whereas both meta- and ortho-derivatives undergo heterolysis and afford the corresponding carbocations 3-C and 4-C. The ortho-carbocation 4-o-C was detected by LFP in aqueous solution (λ_max = 410 nm, τ ≈ 90 μs). Moreover, spectroscopic measurements for the meta-acetyl derivative 3-m-OAC indicated the formation of cation in the excited state. The application of an ortho-aniline derivative as a protective group was demonstrated by synthesizing several derivatives of carboxylic acids. In all cases, the photochemical deprotection was accomplished in high yields (>80%). This mechanistic study fully rationalized the photochemistry of aniline photocages which is important for the design of new photocages and has potential for synthetic, biological, and medicinal applications.