Construction of Peptide Macrocycles via Radical-Mediated Intramolecular C-H Alkylations

Org Lett. 2021 Feb 5;23(3):716-721. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c03940. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Abstract

Enzyme-catalyzed radical-mediated C-H functionalization reactions allow nature to create natural products of unusual three-dimensional structures from simple linear peptide precursors. In comparison, chemist's ability to harness radical C-H functionalization reactions for synthesis of complex peptides remains limited. In this work, new methods have been developed to construct peptide macrocycles via radical-mediated intramolecular C-H alkylation reactions under photoredox catalysis. Linear peptide precursors equipped with a C-terminal N-(acyloxy)phthalimide ester can cyclize with the α C-H bond of N-terminal glycine or aryl C-H bond of N-heteroarene capping units in high yield and selectivity under mild conditions. The strategy uses the C-H cyclization step to incorporate lysine, homolysine, and various heteroarene-derived amino acid linchpins into peptide macrocycles, enabling convergent and flexible synthesis of complex peptide macrocycles from simple building blocks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Catalysis
  • Cyclization
  • Molecular Structure
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemistry*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Peptides, Cyclic