α/β-Chimera peptide synthesis with cyclic β-sugar amino acids: the efficient coupling protocol

Abstract

The synthesis of α/β-chimeras comprises peptide bond formation from α- to β-, from β- to β-, and from β- to α-amino acid residues. The fine-tuned solid phase synthesis of –GXXG– chimera peptides containing the simplest achiral α-amino acid glycine and two cyclic SAAs of different ring size [X denoting cyclic β-Sugar Amino Acids (β-SAA)] is reported, variants containing Fmoc–RibAFU(ip)–OH a furanoid-, and Fmoc–GlcAPU(Me)–OH a pyranoid-type structural “ Lego -element”. Systematic search for the best coupling strategy with both H–β-SAA–OHs is described, including the comparison of the different coupling reagents and conditions. Selecting the optimal reagent (from commonly used PyBOP, HATU and HOBt) was assisted by time-resolved 1 H-NMR: formation and stability of the Fmoc protected active esters were compared. We found that PyBOP is the best choice for successfully coupling both H–β-SAA–OH prototypes. The present comparative results open a reasonable route for building efficiently various –β-SAA– containing homo- and heterooligomers.