Ester-mediated peptide formation promoted by deep eutectic solvents: a facile pathway to proto-peptides

Chem Commun (Camb). 2020 Oct 14;56(80):11949-11952. doi: 10.1039/d0cc03319g. Epub 2020 Sep 15.

Abstract

The ester-amide exchange reaction enables spontaneous formation of prebiotic proto-peptides under mild conditions. However, this reaction also leads to oligomers with a vast sequence diversity of ester and amide linkages. Here, we demonstrate using deep eutectic solvents as a universal strategy to regulate the reaction pathways and promote the formation of amino acid-enriched oligomers with peptide backbones.

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Esters / chemistry
  • Peptide Biosynthesis
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Polymerization
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Amides
  • Amino Acids
  • Esters
  • Peptides
  • Solvents