Phase transfer catalysis in solid phase peptide synthesis

Abstract

Relatively small cyclic peptides that contain functionalized side chains provide interesting model compounds for studying side chain-side chain interactions, peptide backbone flexibility (especially if X-Pro bonds are included), and as potential enzyme mimetics. In order to develop more efficient synthetic routes to compounds such as cyclo(Xxx-Pro-Gly-Yyy-Pro-Gly), using the Merrifield method, we have investigated several orthogonal solid phase synthesis strategies and contrasted the use of two solid phase peptide-resin cleavage techniques for preparing partially protected linear sequences. Phase transfer catalysis using tetrabutyl ammonium hydrogen sulfate in THF with saturated aqueous K2CO3 provides peptide acid salts in which most of the common protecting groups (Arg(NO2), Tyr(Bzl), Z-Lys, Lys(Boc), and Glu(tBu)) are not affected. Using 500 MHz proton NMR, peptides having a cyclo (L-L-Gly-L-L-Gly) sequence generally display two conformers in DMSO-d6 with the major isomer being the bis-cis conformer, while the minor form contains two beta turns. For peptides with a cyclo(D-L-Gly-L-L-Gly) sequence, the major conformer contains one cis and one trans X-Pro bond and one Type II beta turn, as previously predicted for related structure by Kopple and others.