Ambient Temperature Synthesis of High Enantiopurity <i>N</i>-Protected Peptidyl Ketones by Peptidyl Thiol Ester−Boronic Acid Cross-Coupling

Abstract

alpha-Amino acid thiol esters derived from N-protected mono-, di-, and tripeptides couple with aryl, pi-electron-rich heteroaryl, or alkenyl boronic acids in the presence of stoichiometric Cu(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate and catalytic Pd(2)(dba)(3)/triethylphosphite to generate the corresponding N-protected peptidyl ketones in good-to-excellent yields and in high enantiopurity. Triethylphosphite plays a key role as a supporting ligand by mitigating an undesired palladium-catalyzed decarbonylation-beta-elimination of the alpha-amino thiol esters. The peptidyl ketone synthesis proceeds at room temperature under nonbasic conditions and demonstrates a high tolerance to functionality.