N-α-(9-Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)-L-albizziine

T(N) antigen building blocks Nalpha-(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)-O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-L-serine/L-threonine pentafluorophenyl ester [Fmoc-L-Ser/L-Thr(Ac3-alpha-D-GalN3)-OPfp, 13/14] have been synthesized by two different routes, which have been compared. Overall isolated yields [three or four chemical steps, and minimal intermediary purification steps] of enantiopure 13 and 14 were 5-18% and 6-10%, respectively, based on 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-galactal (1). A byproduct of the initial azidonitration reaction of the synthetic sequence, that is, N-acetyl-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosylamine (5), has been characterized by X-ray crystallography, and shown by 1H NMR spectroscopy to form complexes with lithium bromide, lithium iodide, or sodium iodide in acetonitrile-d3. Intermediates 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide (6) and 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranosyl chloride (7) were used to glycosylate Nalpha-(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)-L-serine/L-threonine pentafluorophenyl esters [Fmoc-L-Ser/L-Thr-OPfp, 11/12]. Previously undescribed low-level dehydration side reactions were observed at this stage; the unwanted byproducts were easily removed by column chromatography.

A novel and general backbone amide linker (BAL) strategy has been devised for preparation of C-terminal modified peptides containing hindered, unreactive, and/or sensitive moieties, in concert with N(alpha)()-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) solid-phase synthesis protocols. This strategy comprises (i) start of peptide synthesis by anchoring the penultimate residue, with its carboxyl group orthogonally protected, through the backbone nitrogen, (ii) continuation with standard protocols for peptide chain elongation in the C --> N direction, (iii) selective orthogonal removal of the carboxyl protecting group, (iv) solid-phase activation of the pendant carboxyl and coupling with the desired C-terminal residue, and (v) final cleavage/deprotection to release the free peptide product into solution. To illustrate this approach, several model peptide p-nitroanilides and thioesters have been prepared in excellent yields and purities, with minimal racemization. Such compounds are very difficult to prepare by standard Fmoc chemistry, including the BAL strategy as originally envisaged.

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(alpha)-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. Therefore, peptide scientists who prefer to not use N(alpha)-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(alpha)-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(alpha)-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-S-triphenylmethylcysteine [Fmoc-Cys(Trt)-OH], generating a stable Fmoc-Cys(H)-peptide upon acidolytic cleavage; and (iii) incorporation of N(alpha)-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.