A cleavage method which minimizes side reactions following Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis

The success of solid phase peptide synthesis utilizing 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) amino acids is often limited by deleterious side reactions which occur during TFA peptide-resin cleavage and side-chain deprotection. The majority of these side reactions modify susceptible residues, such as Trp, Tyr, Met, and Cys, with TFA-liberated side-chain protecting groups and linkers. The purpose of this study was to assess the relative effectiveness of various scavengers in suppressing these side reactions. We found that the cleavage mixture 82.5% TFA: 5% phenol: 5% H₂O : 5% thioanisole : 2.5% EDT (Reagent K) was maximally efficient in inhibiting a great variety of side reactions. Synthesis and cleavage of 10 peptides, each containing 20-50 residues, demonstrated the complementarity of Fmoc chemistry with Reagent K for efficient synthesis of complex peptides.     

Solid-phase synthesis of protected peptides using new cobalt(III) ammine linkers†

Cobalt(III) ammine complexes of the type cis-[CoL₄(4-AMB)O-AA-Boc](CF₃SO₃)₂, where L₄= bisethylenediamine (en)₂ or tetraammine (NH₃)₄, and 4-AMB = 4-(aminomethyl)benzoic acid, have been synthesized and used as linkers to polystyrene resins for solid-phase synthesis of protected peptides. Boc/t-Bu-protected [Leu⁵]enkephalin was assembled on the two different Co(III) resins, and then cleaved from the resins by reduction of the Co(III) center in 93–96%; yield. HPLC-purified protected [Leu⁵]enkephalin was obtained in 67–69% overall yield and characterized by amino acid analysis and ¹H NMR. Stepwise synthesis on the Co(en)₂-resin was also used in the assembly of Boc-Asp(OcHex)-Arg(Mts)-Gly-Asp(OcHex)-Ala-Pro-Lys(2Cl-Z)-Gly-OH, a sequence from collagen α1 Type 1. The protected peptide was cleaved from the Co(III) resin in 74% yield, and the HPLC-purified nonapeptide was characterized by amino acid analysis, ¹H NMR and liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS). New routes are described for the synthesis of isomerically pure Co(III) anchor complexes. The Co(III) resins were found to be compatible with both the tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) and the 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) N^α-protecting group strategies used in solid-phase peptide synthesis.     

Efficient Fmoc/solid-phase synthesis of Abu(P)-containing peptides using Fmoc-Abu(PO3Me2)-OH

The synthesis of the two 4-phosphono-2-aminobutanoyl-containing peptides, Leu-Arg-Arg-Val-Abu(P)-Leu-Gly-OH.CF₃CO₂H and Ile-Val-Pro-Asn-Abu(P)-Val-Glu-Glu-OH.CF₃CO₂H was accomplished by the use of Fmoc-Abu(PO₃Me₂)-OH in Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis. The protected phosphoamino acid, Fmoc-Abu(PO₃Me₂)-OH, was prepared from Boc-Asp-O'Bu in seven steps, the formation of the C—P linkage being effected by the treatment of Boc-Asa-O'Bu with dimethyl trimethylsilyl phosphite. Peptide synthesis was performed using Wang Resin as the polymer support with both peptides assembled by the use of PyBOP® for the coupling of Fmoc amino acids and 20%, piperidine for cleavage of the Fmoc group from the Fmoc-peptide after each coupling cycle. Cleavage of the peptide from the resin and peptide deprotection was accomplished by the treatment of the peptide-resin with 5%, thioanisole/TFA followed by cleavage of the methyl phosphonate group by 1 M bromotrimethylsilane/l M thioanisole in TFA.     

Deprotectum of Nin-formyl tryptophan using 1,2-ethanedithiol in liquid hydrogen fluoride

Deprotection of Nⁱⁿ-formyl tryptophan (Trp) occurs during liquid hydrogen fluoride treatment at 0° when 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT), or 1,4-butanedithiol, is present. Deformylation, as evidenced by amino acid analysis and ultraviolet spectral analysis, is complete after 10 min at 0° when Trp(CHO) is treated with HF: anisole: EDT(85:10:5) or HF: EDT(95:5). HF treatment of a peptidyl-resin containing Trp(CHO) yielded a peptide whose ultraviolet spectrum was typical of Trp (maximum at 280 nm) rather than Trp(CHO) (maximum at 300 nm). However, in the absence of dithiol during HF treatment, the expected spectrum for Trp(CHO) was obtained. The efficiency of HF cleavage of a 49-pe?tidyl-resin was unaffected by EDT; 77% was cleaved in the presence of EDT, and 76% in the absence of EDT. In a model study, dithiol deformylation as a synthetic tactic was used for the solid-phase synthesis of Trp-Met-Asp-Phe amide. When the Trp(CHO)-Met-Asp(Bzl)-Phe-NH-methylbenzhydrylamine resin was treated with HF:anisole: EDT(85:10:5) for 30 min at 0°, the major peptide component observed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was identical to the control tetrapeptide amide made without CHO-group protection of Trp.     

Efficient Fmoc/solid-phase peptide synthesis of O-phosphotyrosyl-containing peptides and their use as phosphatase substrates

A general synthetic method for the efficient preparation of Tyr(P) -containing peptides is described by the use of Fmoc-Tyr(PO₃¹Bu₂) -OH in Fmoc/solid-phase synthesis followed by simultaneous cleavage of the peptide from the resin and peptide deprotection by acidolytic treatment. The applicability of this approach is demonstrated by the synthesis of H-Ser-Ser-Ser-Tyr(P) -Tyr(P) -OH.TFA and the synthesis of the phosphorylated forms of the two physiological peptides, angiotensin II and neurotensin 8–13. In addition, the three phosphorylated peptides were used as substrates in the study of the local specificity determinants of T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase. In a competition assay using ³²P-radiolabeled [Tyr(P)]⁴-angiotensin II, both un-labeled synthetic [Tyr(P)]⁴-angiotensin II and Ser-Ser-Ser-Tyr(P) -Tyr(P) reduced the release of ³²P and indicated that they efficiently competed as substrates for the phosphatase. Conversely, [Tyr(P)]⁴-neurotensin 8–13 was ineffective as a competitive substrate and indicated that this particular Tyr(P) -containing peptide sequence was not recognized by the enzyme. The marked difference in the recognition of Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr(P) -Ile-His-Pro-Phe and Arg-Arg-Pro-Tyr(P) -Ile-Leu is consistent with the presence of an acidic residue in the -3 position relative to the Tyr(P) residue.     

Application of the allyloxycarbonyl protecting group for the indole of Trp in solid-phase peptide synthesis*

The synthesis and stability of allyloxycarbonyl (Aloe) indole-protected Trp derivatives and their application in solid-phase peptide synthesis are reported. The study shows that the Aloe protection on the indole moiety is suitable for orthogonal protection in the Fmoc/tBu strategy if the Fmoc group is cleaved with DBU. Several tryptophan-containing peptides have been synthesized including dynorphin A-(1-13), which has been intensively studied with respect to side reactions during the final TFA cleavage procedure. The results demonstrate the protective function of the Aloe group on the Trp during final deprotection. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that Trp(Aloe)-containing peptides can be isolated and that the Aloe group can then be removed in a second step. The synthesis of phosphorylated delta sleep inducing peptide (P-DSIP) using the global phosphorylation approach provides another example in which Trp indole protection by Aloe prevents the formation of oxidative side products.     

Preparation of protected peptidyl thioester intermediates for native chemical ligation by Nα‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry: considerations of side‐chain and backbone anchoring strategies,and compatible protection for N‐terminal cysteine*,†

Abstract: Native chemical ligation has proven to be a powerful method for the synthesis of small proteins and the semisynthesis of larger ones. The essential synthetic intermediates, which are C‐terminal peptide thioesters, cannot survive the repetitive piperidine deprotection steps of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. Therefore, peptide scientists who prefer to not use N^α‐t‐butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) chemistry need to adopt more esoteric strategies and tactics in order to integrate ligation approaches with Fmoc chemistry. In the present work, side‐chain and backbone anchoring strategies have been used to prepare the required suitably (partially) protected and/or activated peptide intermediates spanning the length of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). Three separate strategies for managing the critical N‐terminal cysteine residue have been developed: (i) incorporation of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐S‐(N‐methyl‐N‐phenylcarbamoyl)sulfenylcysteine [Fmoc‐Cys(Snm)‐OH], allowing creation of an otherwise fully protected resin‐bound intermediate with N‐terminal free Cys; (ii) incorporation of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐S‐triphenylmethylcysteine [Fmoc‐Cys(Trt)‐OH], generating a stable Fmoc‐Cys(H)‐peptide upon acidolytic cleavage; and (iii) incorporation of N^α‐t‐butyloxycarbonyl‐S‐fluorenylmethylcysteine [Boc‐Cys(Fm)‐OH], generating a stable H‐Cys(Fm)‐peptide upon cleavage. In separate stages of these strategies, thioesters are established at the C‐termini by selective deprotection and coupling steps carried out while peptides remain bound to the supports. Pilot native chemical ligations were pursued directly on‐resin, as well as in solution after cleavage/purification.     

Efficient solution-phase synthesis of multiple O-phosphoseryl-containing peptides related to casein and statherin

The multiple Ser(P)-containing peptides, H-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Glu-Glu-NHMe-TFA, H-Asp-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Glu-Glu-NHMe-TFA and H-Glu-Ser(P)-Ser(^P)-Glu-Glu-NHMe-TFA were prepared by the use of Boc-Ser(PO₃Ph₂)-OH in the Boc mode of solution phase peptide synthesis followed by platinum-mediated hydrogenolytic de-protection of the Ser(PO₃Ph₂)-containing peptides. The protected peptides were assembled using the mixed anhydride coupling methods with 40% TFA/CH₂C1₂ used for removal of the Boc group from intermediate Boc-protected peptides.     

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.     

Sulfonation of arginine residues as side reaction in Fmoc-peptide synthesis

Several arginine-rich peptides containing the C-terminus of neuropeptide Y (NPY) were prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis using Fmoc chemistry and cleaved from the resin with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The products were characterized by fast atom bombardment-MS, LC-thermospray-MS, ion spray-MS/MS, and Edman degradation. The side products could be identified as peptides with sulfonated arginine residues resulting from an unexpected cleavage of Mtr or Pmc protecting groups. The degree of sulfonation depended on the choice and composition of the cleavage solution. Several scavenger mixtures were used and a mixture of thioanisole/thiocresol was found to be the most efficient for suppressing sulfonation. Furthermore treatment with the enzyme arylsulfate-sulfohydrolase desulfonated the peptides yielding the correct sequence.     

Evaluation of new base‐labile2‐(4‐nitrophenylsulfonyl)ethoxycarbonyl (Nsc)‐amino acids for solid‐phase peptide synthesis

Abstract: The 2‐(4‐nitrophenylsulfonyl)ethoxycarbonyl (Nsc) group is a new base‐labile protecting group for solid‐phase peptide synthesis, completely interchangeable with the fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) protecting group, but with certain advantages. In this paper, we report a methodology with N^α‐Nsc‐protected amino acids for the synthesis of some melanotropins important to our research, namely, γ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (γ‐MSH), its [Nle³]‐analogue, and a cyclic α‐MSH/β‐MSH hybrid. We developed an efficient protocol for the synthesis of the cyclic MSH analogue that yielded this peptide in > 98% purity. The γ‐MSH synthesis, which gave problems with both the Boc and Fmoc strategies, yielded the desired peptide by Nsc‐chemistry but was accompanied by side products. Finally, the Nle³‐γ‐MSH analogue was synthesized more efficiently using the Fmoc strategy, suggesting that Nsc‐chemistry might not be the best methodology for certain sequences.     

Synthesis and biological activity of novel backbone-bicyclic Substance-P analogs containing lactam and disulfide bridges

A biased library of 60 novel backbone-bicyclic Substance P analogs was prepared by the simultaneous multiple peptide synthesis method. The peptides, containing both a lactam and a disulfide ring, were synthesized by combined Boc and Fmoc chemistries, and were cyclized on the resin. Cleavage of the S-benzyl group and oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups was enabled by adaptation of the diphenylsulfoxide-trichloromethylsilane method to solid-phase synthesis. The peptides were screened for NK-1 and NK-3 activity, and were found to be weak agonists. © Munksgaard 1997.     

Improved synthesis of 5‐hydroxylysine (Hyl) derivatives*

Abstract: The synthesis of 5‐hydroxylysine (Hyl) derivatives for incorporation by solid‐phase methodologies presents numerous challenges. Hyl readily undergoes intramolecular lactone formation, and protected intermediates often have poor solubilities. The goals of this work were twofold: first, develop a convenient method for the synthesis of O‐protected Fmoc‐Hyl; secondly, evaluate the efficiency of methods for the synthesis of O‐glycosylated Fmoc‐Hyl. The 5‐O‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) fluoren‐9‐ylmethoxycarbonyl‐Hyl (Fmoc‐Hyl) derivative was conveniently prepared by the addition of tert‐butyldimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate to copper‐complexed Hyl[?‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl (Boc)]. The complex was decomposed with Na⁺ Chelex resin and the Fmoc group added to the α‐amino group. Fmoc‐Hyl(?‐Boc, O‐TBDMS) was obtained in 67% overall yield and successfully used for the solid‐phase syntheses of 3 Hyl‐containing peptides. The preparation of Fmoc‐Hyl[?‐Boc, O‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl)] was compared for the thioglycoside, trichloroacetimidate and Koenigs–Knorr methods. The most efficient approach was found to be Koenigs–Knorr under inverse conditions, where Fmoc‐Hyl(?‐Boc)‐OBzl and peracetylated galactosyl bromide were added to silver trifluoromethanesulfonate in 1,2‐dichloroethane, resulting in a 45% isolated yield. Side‐reactions that occurred during previously described preparations of glycosylated Hyl derivatives, such as lactone formation, loss of side‐chain protecting groups, orthoester formation, or production of anomeric mixtures, were avoided here. Research on the enzymology of Lys hydroxylation and subsequent glycosylation, as well as the role of glycosylated Hyl in receptor recognition, will be greatly aided by the convenient and efficient synthetic methods developed here.     

Comparison of 55% TFA/CH2Cl2 and 100% TFA for Boc group removal during solid-phase peptide synthesis

Two parallel syntheses of 40 C-terminal amide peptides, ranging in length from 4 to 20 residues, have been carried out using simultaneous multiple peptide synthesis. All synthetic steps, other than the removal of the Boc group, were performed simultaneously under identical experimental conditions. The two sets of peptides were deprotected with either 55% TFA/DCM for 30 min or 100% TFA for 5 min. The purity of the peptides obtained when deprotecting with 55% TFA/DCM was, on average, 9% higher than with 100% TFA. The major impurity obtained during synthesis when 100% TFA was used for Boc removal corresponded to the omission of the second amino-acid residue added. Volumetric measurements of the swelling of the resin in the different deprotection solvents were carried out. These showed that the omission analogs generated are probably due to insufficient swelling of the resin, resulting in limited solvent transfer of 100% TFA into the resin and, in turn, incomplete Boc removal.     

Solid-phase synthesis of peptides with C-terminal asparagine or glutamine

Attempts to anchor Fmoc-asparagine or glutamine as p-alkoxybenzyl esters for solid-phase peptide synthesis are fraught with difficulties. A convenient and effective method to prepare peptides with C-terminal asparagine or glutamine involves quantitative attachment of N^x -Fmoc-C^x -tert.-butyl aspartate or glutamate via the free ω-carboxyl groups to a tris(alkoxy)benzylamino (PAL) support. Chain elongation proceeds normally by standard Fmoc chemistry, and treatment with acid, e.g., CF₃COOH—CH₂Cl₂, 90 min at 25°, releases the desired peptides in >95% yields without side reactions at the C-terminus. Feasibility of the approach has been demonstrated by the syntheses of the C-terminal octapeptide from human proinsulin, H-Leu-Ala-Leu-Glu-Gly-Ser-Leu-Gin-OH, and the serum thymic factor pGlu-Ala-Lys-Ser-Gln-Gly-Gly-Ser-Asn-OH.     

Peptide synthesis on SepharoseTM beads

NHS-activated Pharmacia HiTrap Sepharose^TM was modified with 1,3-diaminopropane to give an amino-functionalized support suitable for solid-phase peptide synthesis. The amide linker p-[(R,S)-α-[1-(9H-fluoren-9-yl)-methoxyformamido]-2,4-dimethoxybenzyl]phenoxyacetic acid was incorporated and the acyl carrier protein sequence 65-74 was synthesized manually on this support by the Fmoc procedure under controlled conditions with monitoring of the coupling reactions. The performance of the support in automated multiple synthesis in open reactors, with an Abimed AMS 422 according to standard protocols, was evaluated by the synthesis of the acyl carrier protein sequence 65-74 and two other 15-mer and 18-mer peptides. The quality of the resulting crude peptides was determined by HPLC and MALDI-MS, and compared with the same sequences synthesized in parallel on the commercial peptide synthesis resin TentaGel S RAM. The modified HiTrap material was found to be particularly suited for Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis and should be advantageous for the utilization of immobilized peptides and peptide libraries in biological assays. © Munksgaard 1997.     

A cleavage cocktail for methionine-containing peptides

Abstract: A new cocktail has been developed for cleavage and deprotection of methionine-containing peptides synthesized by 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-based solid-phase peptide synthesis methodology. The cocktail (trifluoroacetic acid 81%, phenol 5%, thioanisole 5%, 1,2-ethanedithiol 2.5%, water 3%, dimethylsulphide 2%, ammonium iodide 1.5% w/w) was designed to minimize methionine side-chain oxidation. Application of the new cocktail (Reagent H) is demonstrated with the synthesis of a model pentadecapeptide from the active site of DsbC, a periplasmic protein involved in protein disulphide bond formation. The model peptide, which contains one methionine and two cysteine residues, was cleaved with several cleavage cocktails, including Reagent H. The crude peptides obtained with the widely used cocktails K, R and B were found to be 15% to 55% in the methionine sulphoxide form, whereas no methionine sulphoxide was detected in the crude peptide obtained by cleavage and deprotection with Reagent H. Also, no methionine sulphoxide was detected when 1.5% w/w NH₄I was added to cocktails K, R and B; however, the yield of the desired peptide was less than with Reagent H. A second 28 amino acid model peptide of the active site of DsbC was also cleaved and deprotected with Reagent H. The reduced dithiol form of the peptide was found to be the major component (51% yield) of the crude peptide obtained by cleavage for 3 h. When the cleavage time was extended to 10 h, the peptide was converted to the intramolecular disulphide form (35% yield). A proposed mechanism for the in situ oxidation of cysteine with Reagent H is presented.     

Practical approach to solid-phase synthesis of C-terminal peptide amides under mild conditions based on a photolysable anchoring linkage1

Several 3-nitro-4-(N-protected aminomethyl)benzoic acids, with protection provided by tert.-butyloxycar-bonyl (Boc), 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc), trifluoroacetyl (Tfa), dithiasuccinoyl (Dts), or phthaloyl (Phth), have been prepared by reproducible routes. Synthesis of Dts-handle 6 illustrates some particularly novel and efficient chemistry, and is preferred over more intricate routes to Boc-handle 3 and Fmoc-handle 4. The five handles were each evaluated for their application to the synthesis of peptide amides. Coupling onto amino-functionalized supports provided a general starting point for peptide chain assembly. The handle amino function was deblocked (Boc, Fmoc, Dts), the C-terminal residue was coupled as its N^x-protected free acid, and ultimately the ortho-nitrobenzylamide anchoring linkage was cleaved photolytic-ally to give the corresponding amide. Starting with handles 3, 4, and 6, several free and protected peptide amides were synthesized.     

New C-protective group for peptide synthesis

To investigate the possibility of using the 2-(1-adamantyl)-2-propyl (Adp) ester group for carboxyl protection during peptide synthesis, the tetrapeptide Boc-Phe-Arg(NO₂)-Phe-Pro-OAdp (IV) was prepared by the carbodiimide method. In this synthesis the Z group was removed by transfer hydrogenation and the Nps group by treatment with 2-thiopyridone. The Adp group was then cleaved with 3 % TFA/DCM, yielding Boc-Phe-Arg(NO₂)-Phe-Pro-OH. For subsequent kinetics studies the decapeptide Boc-Leu— Z-Orn-Arg(NO₂)-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser(Bzl)-Pro-Pro-OAdp (VIII) was synthesized by a 9 + 1 scheme. This peptide was also selectively deblocked. Comparing reaction abilities of Z-Pro-OAdp and Z-Pro-OBu^t, it was demonstrated that the Adp ester is cleaved by 3% TFA/DCM 230 times faster than the Bu^t ester. For peptides IV and VIII the ratios between the rates of competitive elimination of the Adp and Boc groups by 3% TFA/DCM are 19 and 64, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterization of indolicidin,a tryptophan-rich antimicrobial peptide from bovine neutrophils *

Indolicidin, a novel tryptophan-rich microbicidal tridecapeptide amide isolated originally from granules of bovine neutrophils, has been prepared by optimized manual and automated protocols of stepwise solid-phase synthesis with N^α-9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) amino acid derivatives. Both standard polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene glycol-polystyrene (PEG-PS) graft supports were used in combination with handles that provide C-terminal peptide amides: 5-(4-Fmoc-aminomethyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenoxy)valeric acid (PAL) or 5-(9-Fmoc-aminoxanthen-2-oxy)valeric acid (XAL). Final deprotection/cleavage was carried out with reagent K, trifluoroacetic acid–phenol–water–thioanisole–1,2-ethanedithiol (82.5:5:5:5:2.5), or reagent B, trifluoroacetic acid–phenol–water–tri(isopropyl)silane (88:5:5:2), and related cocktails. Initial purities as high as 93% were obtained immediately following cleavage. In the largest-scale synthesis carried out, 0.8 g of HPLC-purified indolicidin (> 99% pure) was obtained, representing a 39% overall yield based on C-terminal Arg(Pmc) anchored to PAL-PS-resin. The main synthetic product, and some by-products, were characterized by analytical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), sequencing, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS). The antimicrobial potencies of natural and synthetic indolicidin, as determined by in vitro antibacterial and antifungal assays, were identical. Further, the reactivities of natural and synthetic peptides with anti-indolicidin antibody were indistinguishable. © Munksgaard 1995.