Design and Synthesis of New Protease‐Triggered CO‐Releasing Peptide–Metal‐Complex Conjugates

Abstract

Aiming at the development of novel protease‐triggered CO‐releasing molecules (PT‐CORMs) we designed a series of oxycyclohexadiene‐Fe(CO)3 complexes, which are connected through a self‐immolative linker with a plasmin‐specifying peptide unit. The challenging synthesis of these compounds was elaborated employing a combination of solid‐phase peptide synthesis and solution chemical synthesis. Late‐stage attachment of the organometallic unit and Pd‐catalyzed cleavage of an alloc‐protected lysine side chain afforded the target compounds in good yields and high purity.