Coupling in the absence of tertiary amines. V Removal of the 2-nitrobenzenesulfenyl (NPS) group with 1-hydroxybenzotriazole in the presence of aniline or N-methylaniline

In a search for conditions of acidolytic removal of amine protecting groups leading to salts of the deblocked amine that can be acylated without addition of a tertiary amine, cleavage of the 2-nitrobenzenesulfenyl (Nps) group with hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol was attempted. The Nps group was smoothly removed, but the resulting salt of the amine component could not be acylated unless deprotonated with a tertiary base. A rationale is now proposed for this unsatisfactory outcome of the cleavage reaction and for the concomitant surprising reduction of HOBt to benzotriazole. Based on the proposed mechanism, a new approach was designed for the removal of the Nps group. It was cleaved with HOBt in the presence of weakly basic nucleophiles such as aniline, N-methylaniline or 8-aminoquinoline. The protecting group was transferred smoothly to the amino group of the nucleophilic acceptor leaving the deblocked amine component in the form of its HOBt salt. This was then readily acylated without addition of a tertiary amine. © Munksgaard 1995.     

Analgesic dipeptides. VI.: Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of N-terminal modified analogues of the analgesic compounds H-Xaa-Trp(Nps)-OMe (Xaa=Lys, Orn, Arg)

In order to determine the influence of the N-terminal amino group of the dipeptide derivatives H-Xaa-Trp(Nps)-OMe[Xaa = Lys (2a), Orn (2b), Arg (2c)] on their antinociceptive effects, the syntheses of their corresponding deaminated, acetylated and dimethylated analogues have been achieved. Deamino and dimethyl analogues of 2a,b,6a,b, and 18a,b were prepared by coupling the corresponding N omega-Z- and N omega-Z-N alpha-Me2 amino acids with H-Trp-OMe, using the DCC/HOSu method, followed by sulfenylation of the resulting compounds and removal of the Z groups. Guanidylation of 6b and 18b provided the arginine analogues 6c and 18c, respectively. Ac-Xaa-Trp(Nps)-OMe [Xaa = Lys (11a), Orn (11b) were synthesized by acetylation of H-Xaa(Z)-Trp(Nps)-OMe with acetic anhydride, in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine, and subsequent removal of the Z groups. Coupling of Ac-Arg-OH.HC1 with H-Trp-OMe, using the DCC/HOSu procedure, followed by sulfenylation of the resulting 8:3 diastereomeric mixture of L,L and L,D dipeptides afforded Ac-ambo-Arg-Trp(Nps)-OMe 11c+11d. The antinociceptive effects of 6a-c, 11a-d, and 18 a-c were evaluated after i.c.v. administration in mice. The N alpha-acetyl dipeptides 11 were found to exhibit a naloxone-reversible antinociceptive effects comparable with those of 2, while N-deaminated and N,N-dimethylated analogues were inactive.     

Unexpected racemization of proline or hydroxy-proline phenacyl ester during coupling reactions with Boc-amino acids

When L-proline or O-benzyl-trans-4–hydroxy-L-proline phenacyl ester was coupled with Boc-amino acids in dimethylformamide using water-soluble carbodiimide (WSCI) in the presence of anhydrous 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) as coupling reagents, extensive racemization was observed at the Cα of the proline or hydroxy-proline residue. The extent of racemization was measured by HPLC after the coupling with Boc-L-Leu-OH in the presence or absence of HOBt. The extent of racemization increased when HOBt was added to the reaction mixture, but greatly decreased when it was not, indicating that HOBt was needed for inducing racemization. Almost no racemization was observed when the coupling reaction was carried out by the mixed anhydride procedure in tetrahydrofuran or by the carbodiimide method in dichloromethane without using HOBt. In the case of coupling reactions with ordinary L-amino acid phenacyl esters, no racemization was observed. Examination of some model systems yielded sufficient evidence to prove that HOBt is an efficient catalyst for racemizing proline or hydroxy-proline phenacyl ester not only in the stage of cyclic intermediate formation but also in the opening of the ring structure. Thus, the racemization reaction was found to be closely related to the formation of the cyclic carbinol-amine derivative.     

4-Sulfobenzyl ester – an anionic protecting group for peptide synthesis

The preparation of the 4-sulfobenzyl esters of 18 amino acid derivatives is described. This carboxyl protecting group was introduced according to Hubbuch et al. (1980). The caesium or dicyclohexylammonium salts of N-terminal protected amino acids were reacted with 4-(bromomethyl)benzenesulfonate (1). After N-terminal deblocking, the amino acid-4-sulfobenzyl esters were isolated as zwitterions. The protecting group was removable by catalytic hydrogenation and by saponification. The 4-sulfobenzyl esters could be easily converted to amides and hydrazides. They were stable to 2 M hydrogen bromide in acetic acid as well as to a 10-fold excess of trifluoromethane sulfonic acid in trifluoro-acetic acid. The behaviours of ⁺H₂-Gly-Phe-Leu-OBzl-SO^-₃ and the corresponding methyl, benzyl and 4-nitrobenzyl esters were compared under various conditions.     

Carbonyldiimidazole/1-hydroxybenzotriazole activation in polymer phase synthesis of the arginine rich proalbumin hexapeptide extension

The synthesis on different polymer phases of Arg-Gly-Val-Phe-Arg-Arg, the proalbumin extension, is reported. The peptide was prepared both on a 0.5% cross-linked polystyrene gel containing 2-oxoethyl bromide anchor functions and on a 1% cross-linked chloromethyl polystyrene. For temporary blocking of the amino groups we utilized the 2-(3, 5-dimethoxyphenyl)propyl-(2)-oxycarbonyl (Ddz). The guanidino groups of the three arginine moieties were protected by the 4-toluenesulfonyl (Tos) group. As coupling procedure we used 1 equiv. carbonyldiimidazole (CDI)/2 equiv. 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt). The C-terminal activation of the Ddz-amino acids with CDI/HOBt made it possible to recover the excess Ddz-amino acids in 60–80% yield. We also investigated different procedures to cleave the 2-oxoethyl ester bond between the peptide and the polymer. This bond was completely stable against trifluoro-methanesulfonic acid and was split by 1 N triethylamine in methanol/dioxane 1:1 (v/v) + 1 vol% 1 N NaOH. The optical rotation and HPLC properties of Arg-Gly-Val-Phe-Arg-Arg from this synthesis are identical to the product from a different synthesis published earlier.     

Chemical synthesis of urotensin II,a somatostatin-like peptide in the caudal neurosecretory system of fishes

In the goby, Gillichthys mirabilis, urotensin II (a bioactive neuropeptide present in the urophysis of teleost fish) has the dodecapeptide sequence, H₂N-AGTADC-FWKYCV-OH, which is homologous with mammalian somatostatin at positions 1, 2 and 7–9. The Merrifield solid phase synthesis of Gillichthys urotensin II (UII) was accomplished by stepwise assembly from the carboxy terminus using N^α-tert.-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) amino acids containing benzyl-derived groups for protection of side-chain functionalities. Coupling of amino acids to the growing peptide was mediated by diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) in the presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt). Residual α-amino groups remaining after coupling were blocked by acetylation with 1-acetylimidazole. Crude, synthetic UII was extracted from the HF-treated, protected peptide-resin product, reduced with dithiothreitol (DTT), reoxidized at high dilution with O₂, and separated into its components using a single, preparative, reverse-phase HPLC step. The pure, synthetic UII, obtained in 7.6% yield from oxidized crude UII, was indistinguishable from pure, native UII in specific bioactivity, amino acid sequence, and retention time in each of two different HPLC systems.     

Racemization studies in peptide synthesis through the separation of protected epimeric peptides by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography

Separation of protected epimeric peptides, Z-Gly-Xaa-Xbb-OMe (where Xaa and Xbb = chiral amino acid residues), by reversed-phase HPLC was utilized for studying racemization in peptide synthesis. Thus, the following factors which might affect the extent of racemization during the coupling by the carbodiimide method were investigated: the combination of amino acid residues to be coupled, coexisting tertiary amine salts, and the relative configuration of the amino acid residues. The following points were revealed: the combination of bulky residues at the coupling site results in extensive racemization in a polar solvent such as DMF, the amine hydrochlorides cause less racemization than the p-toluenesulfonates in DMF, and the influence of relative configuration differs depending on the solvent and the individuality of the amino components. Furthermore, the racemization-suppressing effect of some additives in the carbodiimide method was reevaluated by employing the same procedure.     

Acid-labile anchoring linkages for solid phase synthesis of C-terminal asparagine peptides using the Fmoc strategy

Two acid-labile substituted benzylamine type anchoring linkages, 4-benzoxy-2,6-dimethoxybenzylamine and 2-benzoxy-4,6-dimethoxybenzylamine, for solid phase synthesis of peptide amides were prepared. The N^a-9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) amino acids could be easily attached to the resins with DCC/HOBt (loading 0.5–0.6 mmol/g resin). After final removal of the N^a-protecting groups, treatment with TFA (50–95%) yielded amino acid and peptide amides in high purity. As we could show for the synthesis of thymulin (FTS, pGlu-Ala-Lys-Ser-Gln-Gly-Gly-Ser-Asn), these two resins with anchoring linkages are well suited for the synthesis of C-terminal Asn peptides using protected aspartic acid derivative as starting material.     

Coupling in the absence of tertiary amines

Several weak acids were tested as acidolytic reagents for the removal of acid sensitive amine-blocking groups. Cleavage with tetrazole in trifluoroethanol yielded amine salts which could be acylated with active esters without the addition of a tertiary amine. Concurrent deprotection-acylation was also possible. Scope and limitations of the tetrazole approach are discussed.     

Utilization of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole in mixed anhydride coupling reactions

The coupling of Boc-Val-OH to either H-Pro-OBzl or H-Pro-Gly-Val-Gly-OBzl by the mixed anhydride method leads to the formation of a urethane by-product in yields of 40–60%. This side reaction can be suppressed by the addition of HOBt to the reaction mixture before the amino component is added. This results in a substantially increased yield of the desired peptide.     

Coupling in the absence of tertiary amines: II

Formate salts of amino-components obtained by acidolysis of tert. butyloxy-carbonyl-derivatives with formic acid were converted to the tetrazolate salts which in turn were acylated with active esters. Addition of a tertiary base was not necessary for ready coupling. Further improvement was achieved by using a solution of tetrazole in formic acid for the removal of the tert.butyloxy-carbonyl group.     

Synthesis of protected peptides with the sequence 8–13-1-3 and 4–13-1-3 of mycobacillin and their analogs

We have synthesized both a protected nonapeptide of the mycobacillin 8–13-1-3 amino acid sequence and a protected tridecapeptide of the 4–13-1-3 sequence, which are a fragment and a open chain analog of this antibiotic, respectively. Some of their analogs with a reversed configuration of the amino acids at fixed positions have also been synthesized. The nonapeptides were obtained by coupling partially protected mycobacillin fragments with the sequence 8–10 and 11–13-1-3 while the tridecapeptides were synthesized by coupling partially protected fragments 4–7 and 8–13-1-3. Configuration analogs of these fragments were also used. The coupling methods applied were DCCI/HONSu or DCCI/HOBt. The purification of the synthesized peptides was achieved by means of recrystallization or column chromatography on silica gel. They were characterized mainly by m.p., degree of optical rotation, elemental and amino acid analysis.     

Racemization free coupling of peptide segments

The total synthesis of the insect neuropeptide derivative Z-Gly-Gly-Ser-Leu-Tyr-Ser-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH₂ has been carried out by a convergent solid phase strategy. For the coupling of the N-terminal pentapeptide to the C-terminal tetrapeptide, three different methods were assayed. Racemization of the acyl activated amino acid during the fragment condensation reaction was monitored by HPLC. Best results were obtained by enzymatic coupling in a low water containing media using adsorbed α-chymotrypsin. An optically pure product was obtained in 82% yield after 1 h of reaction. Chemical methods such as DIC/HOBt and BOP/HOBt NMM always rendered highly optically impure products containing 10-20% of the d -epimer.     

Synthesis of N-carboxyalkyl and N-aminoalkyl functionalized dipeptide building units for the assembly of backbone cyclic peptides

Abstract: To improve the assembly of backbone cyclic peptides, N-functionalized dipeptide building units were synthesized. The corresponding N-aminoalkyl or N-carboxyalkyl amino acids were formed by alkylation or reductive alkylation of amino acid benzyl or tert-butyl esters. In the case of N-aminoalkyl amino acid derivatives the aldehydes for reductive alkylation were obtained from N,O-dimethyl hydroxamates of N-protected amino acids by reduction with LiAlH₄. N-carboxymethyl amino acids were synthesized by alkylation using bromoacetic acid ester and the N-carboxyethyl amino acids via reductive alkylation using aldehydes derived from formyl Meldrums acid. Removal of the carboxy protecting group leads to free N-alkyl amino acids of very low solubility in organic solvents, allowing efficient purification by extraction of the crude product. These N-alkyl amino acids were converted to their tetramethylsilane-esters by silylation with N,O-bis-(trimethylsilyl)acetamide and could thus be used for the coupling with Fmoc-protected amino acid chlorides or fluorides. To avoid racemization the tert-butyl esters of N-alkyl amino acids were coupled with the Fmoc-amino acid halides in the presence of the weak base collidine. Both theN-aminoalkyl and N-carboxyalkyl functionalized dipeptide building units could be obtained in good yield and purity. For peptide assembly on the solid support, the allyl type protection of the branching moiety turned out to be most suitable. The Fmoc-protected N-functionalized dipeptide units can be used like any amino acid derivative under the standard conditions for Fmoc-solid phase synthesis.     

Multiple peptide synthesis using a single support (MPS3)

An automated multiple peptide synthesis method to synthesize, cleave, and purify several peptides simultaneously in a single batch has been developed. The technique is based on the synthesis of multiple peptides on a single solid phase support and is easily adapted to manual or to automated methods. The approach relies on coupling of amino acid mixtures to the resin and it has been found that DCC/HOBt gives the best coupling performance. Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (FAB-MS) was used to rapidly and efficiently identify the peptides in each synthetic mixture which significantly assisted the purification process by HPLC. The method has been successfully applied to the synthesis of magainin 2 and angiotensinogen peptides.     

Analgesic dipeptide derivatives. 4. Linear and cyclic analogues of the analgesic compounds arginyl-2-[(o-nitrophenyl)sulfenyl]tryptophan and lysyl-2-[(o-nitrophenyl)sulfenyl]tryptophan

The syntheses of Trp(Nps)-Arg-OMe.HCl (15) [Trp(Nps) = 2-[(o-nitrophenyl)sulfenyl]tryptophan], its three stereoisomers, and their corresponding cyclic analogues are reported. The preparation of Trp(Nps)-Lys-OMe (19) and its cyclic analogue is also described. All these compounds have been designed as analogues of the analgesic dipeptide derivatives X-Trp(Nps)-OMe (1b, X = Arg; 2b, X = Lys). In the case of dipeptides containing Arg or D-Arg, the coupling reactions were achieved via the isobutyl chloroformate and N-methylmorpholine mediated mixed anhydride procedure, while in the case of the Lys analogue, the N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide method was employed. Sulfenylation reactions were carried out with Nps-Cl in acidic media. Cyclization to the diketopiperazines was achieved by using acetic acid as catalyst. The antinociceptive effects of all these new Trp(Nps)-containing dipeptides were evaluated after icv administration in mice, and the effects were compared with those of 1b, 2b, Tyr-Arg (Kyotorphin), and Tyr-D-Arg. The most active compounds, 15 and 19, were found to exhibit a naloxone-reversible antinociceptive effect similar to those of 1b and 2b and approximately 50 and 12.5 times higher than those of Kyotorphin and its D isomer, respectively. Trp(Nps)-D-Arg-OMe.HC1, D-Trp(Nps)-Arg-OMe.HC1, and cyclo[Trp(Nps)-Arg].HC1 were also more effective than Kyotorphin (5, 10, and 10 times, respectively). In view of the structure-activity relationships obtained, several similarities between this series of Trp(Nps)-containing dipeptides and that of Kyotorphin analogues have emerged.     

3-NITRO-2-PYRIDINESULFENYL (Npys) GROUP

The novel 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl (Npys) group, which is useful for the protection and the activation of amino and hydroxyl groups for peptide synthesis, is reported. The Npys group is readily introduced by treatment of amino acids with 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl chloride. The Npys group is easily removed by treatment with very dilute HCl, e.g. 0.1-0.2 N HCl in dioxane, but it is resistant to trifluoroacetic acid and 88% formic acid. Npys is also selectively removed under neutral conditions using triphenylphosphine or 2-pyridinethiol 1-oxide without affecting benzyloxycarbonyl (Z), tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), 2-(4-biphenylyl) propyl(2) oxycarbonyl (Bpoc), 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc), benzyl (Bzl) or tert-butyl (tBu) protecting groups. The N-Npys and O-Npys groups when activated in the presence of RCOOH by the addition of tertiary phosphine form peptide or ester bonds via oxidation-reduction condensation. The important features of the Npys group are demonstrated through the synthesis of peptides in solution and by solid phase methodology without a formal deprotection procedure. In solid phase synthesis, 4-(Npys-oxymethyl) phenylacetic acid is used as the key intermediate for the introduction of the trifluoroacetic acid resistant 4-(oxymethyl) phenylacetamido linking group to the resin.     

Improved selectivity in the removal of the tert.-butyloxycarbonyl group

Removal of the tert.-butyloxycarbonyl group by trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of benzyloxycarbonyl groups, benzyl esters and benzyl ethers is rendered more selective by dilution with acetic acid. Trifluoroacetic acid-acetic acid mixtures, however, cause acetylation of hydroxyl groups and also some formation of tert.-butyl esters at free carboxyls. Hence, such mixtures are useful only for the deprotection of intermediates in which the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups are fully blocked. A search for a diluent without such inherent limitation led to the application of a mixture of phenol and p-cresol. Dilution of trifluoroacetic acid with phenols both improved the selectivity in the removal of the tert.-butyloxycarbonyl group and suppressed the alkylation of amino acid side chains as well. A 4:3:3 mixture of trifluoroacetic acid, phenol and p-cresol was found useful in the practical execution of partial deprotection.     

Use of Fmoc-N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl) amino acids in peptide synthesis

The use of N, O-bisFmoc-N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl) amino acid derivatives in the synthesis of peptides with difficult sequences has already been described. With these amino acid derivatives the reversible protecting group 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl (Hmb) for the backbone amide bonds of peptide chains is introduced, and thus the aggregation due to hydrogen-bond interchain association is inhibited. This paper describes the synthesis and use of Fmoc-N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)amino acid derivatives as an alternative means of introducing Hmb backbone protection. These new monoFmoc derivatives were obtained in higher yield than the bisFmoc derivatives. Coupling yields to the amino peptide resin were the same as those obtained with bisFmoc derivatives, under the TBTU/HOBt/DIEA conditions. We also compared different syntheses of a difficult peptide with the Fmoc approach [triple coupling, capping, use of chaotropic agents, backbone protection using monoFmoc (Hmb)Ala] and with optimized Boc chemistry. Both the backbone protection and optimized Boc chemistry approaches gave the desired product in excellent yield and purity. © Munksgaard 1997.     

SIDE REACTIONS IN PEPTIDE SYNTHESIS. VI.

The acid catalyzed O → C migration of the benzyl group in the side chain of tyrosine could be reduced by applying HBr in a mixture of phenol and p-cresol instead of HBr in trifluoroacetic acid for acidolytic deprotection. This side reaction occurs also during the removal of Boc groups. The loss of O-benzyl protection and the formation of 3-benzyltyrosine residues could be suppressed by the application of a 7:3 mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and acetic acid. The acid- and base-catalyzed ring closure of β-benzylaspartyl residues to aminosuccinyl derivatives was also studied. In this case HBr in trifluoroacetic acid was found to be relatively harmless. Deprotection with HBr in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and p-cresol can be applied for peptides that contain both β-benzylaspartyl and O-benzyltyrosyl residues. An attempt to reduce the rate of the base-catalyzed side reaction by application of hindered tertiary amines was abandoned because the tertiary amines which were effective in this respect led to significant reduction of the rate of the desired reaction, the aminolysis of active esters, as well. A satisfactory solution for the problem was found in the selective catalysis of the active ester reaction with 1-hydroxybenzotriazole o 4-dimethylaminopyridine. These catalysts do not enhance the rate of ring closure and in their presence essentially pure β-benzylaspartyl peptides can be produced in good yield.