Understanding Tetrahydropyranyl as a Protecting Group in Peptide Chemistry

Tetrahydropyranyl (Thp) is recognized as a useful protecting group for alcohols in organic synthesis. It has several advantages, including low cost, ease of introduction, general stability to most non-acidic reagents, it confers good solubility, and the ease with which it can be removed if the functional group it protects requires manipulation. However, little attention has been paid to Thp in peptide chemistry. Provided here is a concise analysis of the Thp protection of various amino acid functionalities (OH, SH, NH and COOH) and its application to peptide synthesis. Thp is a useful moiety for the side-chain protection of serine, threonine and cysteine and is suitable for the Fmoc/tBu solid-phase peptide synthesis strategy. The immobilized version of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran, the so-called Ellman resin, is also discussed as a useful solid support for anchoring the side chains of serine, threonine and tryptophan residues.

Tetrahydropyranyl: A Non-aromatic, Mild-Acid-Labile Group for Hydroxyl Protection in Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis

The use of the tetrahydropyranyl (Thp) group for the protection of serine and threonine side-chain hydroxyl groups in solid-phase peptide synthesis has not been widely investigated. Ser/Thr side-chain hydroxyl protection with this acid-labile and non-aromatic moiety is presented here. Although Thp reacts with free carboxylic acids, it can be concluded that to introduce Thp ethers at the hydroxyl groups of N-protected Ser and Thr, protection of the C-terminal carboxyl group is unnecessary due to the lability of Thp esters. Thp-protected Ser/Thr-containing tripeptides are synthesized and the removal of Thp studied in low concentrations of trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of cation scavengers. Given its general stability to most non-acidic reagents, improved solubility of its conjugates and ease with which it can be removed, Thp emerges as an effective protecting group for the hydroxyl groups of Ser and Thr in solid-phase peptide synthesis.