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Using a Soxhlet-apparatus, we demonstrate that a conglomerate-forming clopidogrel precursor undergoing solution phase racemization can be deracemized through cyclic solvent removal and re-addition.

Amplification of enantiomeric excesses (ee) is routinely observed during chiral crystallization of conglomerate crystals for which the enantiomers undergo racemization in solution. Although routes comprising a combination of crystal growth and dissolution are frequently used to obtain enantiopure molecules, crystal growth by itself has rather been considered as a source of enantiomeric erosion and discounted as a potential source of enantiomeric amplification. Counterintuitively, we here demonstrate striking enantiomeric amplification during crystal growth for clopidogrel and

All biological systems are composed of molecules of a single chirality. Although many different scenarios can lead to chiral symmetry breaking, the transmission of the absolute configuration of one compound to another one remains challenging. We here demonstrate that during crystallization-induced chiral symmetry breaking by Viedma ripening, a cascade of different and counteracting processes can occur: solid-solution formation and dissolution inhibition favor symmetry breaking towards the same absolute configuration, while enantioselective growth inhibition favors symmetry breaking towards the opposite absolute configuration. These insights offer a new playground for controlling symmetry breaking processes that are of fundamental and practical importance.

An efficient deracemization method for conversion of the racemate to the desirable (R)-enantiomer of Praziquantel has been developed by coupling incompatible racemization and crystallization processes. By a library approach, a derivative that crystallizes as a conglomerate has been identified. Racemization occurs via reversible hydrogenation over a palladium on carbon (Pd/C) packed column at 130 0C, whereas deracemization is achieved by alternating crystal growth/dissolution steps with temperature cycling between 5-15 0C. These incompatible processes are combined by means of a flow system resulting in complete deracemization of the solid phase to the desired (R)-enantiomer (98 % ee ). Such an unprecedented deracemization by a decoupled crystallization/racemization approach can readily be turned into a practical process and opens new opportunities for the development of essential enantiomerically pure building blocks that require harsh methods for racemization.

Herein we introduce a “chiral switch” – a sequence of operations that alternate between equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions to switch the absolute configuration of a chiral center. The generality and practical potential of the technique are demonstrated with three unnatural α-amino acid precursors.

The Strecker reaction is broadly used for the preparation of α-amino acids. However, control of enantioselectivity remains challenging. We here couple the Strecker reaction to Viedma ripening for the absolute asymmetric synthesis of highly sterically hindered α-amino acids. As proof-of-principle, the enantiomerically pure α-amino acids tert-leucine and α-(1-adamantyl)glycine were obtained.

Viedma ripening allows the conversion of a solid state racemate into a single enantiomer. Using the gradual conversion of a metastable racemic compound into the conglomerate, the speed of deracemization for two amino acid derivatives could be considerably increased from several days to a few hours.

The efrapeptin family of peptide antibiotics produced by the fungus Tolypocladium niveum, and the neo-efrapeptins from the fungus Geotrichum candidumare inhibitors of F(1)-ATPase with promising antitumor, antimalaria, and insecticidal activity. They are rich in C(α)-dialkyl amino acids (Aib, Iva, Acc) and contain one β-alanine and several pipecolic acid residues. The C-terminus bears an unusual heterocyclic cationic cap. The efrapeptins C-G and three analogues of efrapeptin C were synthesized using α-azido carboxylic acids as masked amino acid derivatives. All compounds display inhibitory activity toward F(1)-ATPase. The conformation in solution of the peptides was investigated with electronic CD spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, and VCD spectroscopy. All efrapeptins and most efrapeptin analogues were shown to adopt helical conformations in solution. In the case of efrapeptin C, VCD spectra proved that a 3(10)-helix prevails. In addition, efrapeptin C was conformationally studied in detail with NMR and molecular modeling. Besides NOE distance restraints, residual dipolar couplings (RDC) observed upon partial alignment with stretched PDMS gels were used for the conformational analysis and confirmed the 3(10)-helical conformation.

The recently discovered technique of deracemization by means of grinding a racemic conglomerate in contact with a solution wherein racemization occurs has been scaled up using an industrial bead mill to demonstrate the practical applicability. The time needed to reach the enantiopure end state is drastically reduced as a result of the efficient grinding that can be achieved using bead mills.

Change of heart: A solution-phase enantiomeric excess that has the handedness of the minor population of the solid phase is observed during grinding of a slurry of racemic conglomerate crystals. This excess is the driving force for a net flux of molecules from crystals of the minor handedness to crystals of the major handedness, thus explaining the complete deracemization of the solid phase.

Out of all nitrophenyl esters of N(alpha)-protected alpha-amino acids Z-Trp-ONP(o) is the only one which is deep orange colored in the crystalline state. Any change in N(alpha)-protection, nature of amino acid, spatial separation between Trp and the ester-group or position of the nitro-substitutent in the aromatic ring of the ester function results in a loss of this characteristic property. We solved the molecular and crystal structure of Z-l-Trp-ONP(o) by X-ray diffraction analysis and investigated its color changes and visible (vis) and infrared (IR) absorption spectra in the solid state as a function of the amino acid derivative/KBr (w/w) ratio in the pellets. This investigation was extended to toluene solutions of different Z-Trp-ONP(o) concentrations by use of vis absorption and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. The onset of the orange color correlates closely with the appearance of a concentration-dependent absorption band near 500 nm and concentration-dependent shifts of the urethane and indole NH proton resonances. Our observations can be explained by the formation of an intermolecular charge transfer complex involving the Trp indole and the -ONP(o) nitrophenyl as the donor and the acceptor moieties, respectively.

A chemoenzymatic approach to the synthesis of functionalized α-methyl α-substituted amino acids is detailed. This involves amidase-mediated enzymatic resolution of α-methyl α-substituted side-chain ω-unsaturated amino acids followed by functionalization via cross-metathesis.

The two peptides, rich in C(alpha)-tetrasubstituted amino acids, Ac-[Aib-L-(alphaMe)Val-Aib](2)-L-His-NH(2) (1) and Ac-[Aib-L-(alphaMe)Val-Aib](2)-O-tBu (2 a) are prevalently helical. They present the unique property of changing their conformation from the alpha- to the 3(10)-helix as a function of the polarity of the solvent: alpha in more polar solvents, 3(10) in less polar ones. Conclusive evidence of this reversible change of conformation is reported on the basis of the circular dichroism (CD) spectra and a detailed two-dimensional NMR analysis in two solvents (trifluoroethanol and methanol) refined with molecular dynamics calculations. The X-ray diffractometric analysis of the crystals of both peptides reveals that they assume a prevalent 3(10)-helix conformation in the solid state. This conformation is practically superimposable on that obtained from the NMR analysis of 1 in methanol. The NMR results further validate the reported CD signature of the 3(10)-helix and the use of the CD technique for its assessment.

The first total synthesis of (R)-convolutamydine A has been achieved by the organocatalytic addition of acetone to 4,6-dibromoisatin. The absolute configuration was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. DFT studies were used to model the transition states for the aldol reaction and equilibrium geometries of the post-aldol reaction intermediates. The DFT study revealed that the aldol bond forming reaction was considerably endothermic.

A new method for the preparation of α-H-α-amino acids is reported based on the α-alkylation of iminoacetic acid esters or amides. These imines are readily available by the reaction of glyoxylic acid esters with branched primary amines. The subsequent reaction with methanolic ammonia gave the corresponding iminoacetic acid amides. α-Alkylation of these imines with various electrophiles under basic conditions, followed by an acidic hydrolysis, gave α-amino acids, esters, or amides in up to 93% yield. α-Alkylation under chiral PTC conditions resulted in mono-alkylated amino acids with 90% ee.

While the significant improvements in diastereomeric salt resolution using Dutch resolution have been experimentally established, little is known about the mechanism involved when more than one member of a family of resolving agents are added to a racemate. Investigation into the (−)-ephedrine−cyclic phosphoric acid resolution system has revealed a nucleation inhibition effect introduced by a member of the family that hinders the crystallization of the more soluble diastereomeric salt. In this way, the less soluble diastereomer is obtained with largely improved enantiomeric excess and yield. Comparison between experimental results and known phase diagrams indicates that for this system nucleation inhibition only occurs between compounds that are able to form (partial) solid solutions. It is suggested that adsorbed inhibitor molecules block the growth of the (super)critical 3D nuclei at the earliest stages of their development and thus delay the nucleation of the undesired salt.

A stereoregular poly(phenylacetylene) bearing the aza-18-crown-6 ether pendants (poly-1) was found to form a predominantly one-handed helix upon complexation with optically active C(alpha)-methylated alpha-amino acids and their amide derivatives including typical meteoritic C(alpha)-methylated alpha-amino acids such as C(alpha)-methyl norvaline and C(alpha)-methyl valine. The complexes exhibited an induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV-visible region of the polymer backbone. Therefore, poly-1 can be used as a novel probe for detection of the chirality of C(alpha)-methylated alpha-amino acids. The effect of the enantiomeric excess (ee) of C(alpha)-methylated alpha-amino acids on the helicity induction in poly-1 was also investigated.

We synthesized by solution-phase methods three analogues, [L-Leu6-OMe], [L-(αMe)Leu3, L-Leu6-OMe], and [L-(αMe)Val4, L-Leu6-OMe] of halovir A. The [L-Leu6-OMe] analogue is known to be biologically equipotent to its naturally occurring, antiviral, lipopentapeptide amide parent compound. The preferred conformations of the L-(αMe)Leu- and L-(αMe)Val-containing analogues, with a potentially reinforced helicity, were compared with those of [L-Leu6-OMe] halovir A and the natural peptide itself by use of a combination of FT-IR absorption and NMR techniques. Measurements of the antiviral activities against herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) of halovir A and its three analogues were also carried out. Interestingly, the [L-(αMe)Val4, L-Leu6-OMe] analogue exhibits the most significant activity in reducing HSV-1 infectivity, notably higher than that of halovir A itself. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An induced axial chirality in the biphenyl core of the 2',1':1,2;1'',2'':3,4-dibenzcyclohepta-1,3-diene-6-amino-6-carboxylic acid (Bip) residue, a conformationally labile, atropoisomeric, C(alpha)-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acid, was observed by CD and (1)H NMR spectroscopic techniques in the linear dipeptides Boc-Bip-Xaa*-OMe where Boc=tert-butoxycarbonyl, OMe=methoxy, and Xaa*=D- and/or L-Ala, -Val, -Leu, -Phe, -(alphaMe)Val and -(alphaMe)Leu. Chiral induction was significantly lower in the isomeric dipeptides Boc-Xaa*-Bip-OMe, with the Xaa* residue located at the N-terminus of Bip, as well as in the cyclic dipeptide cyclo-[Bip-L-Ala]. The results obtained in solution were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis of a crystalline sample of Boc-(R)-Bip-D-Ala-OMe.

In the development and understanding of the resolution of diastereomeric salts, phase diagrams are of great importance. This study constitutes the first example of phase diagrams of diastereomeric complexes formed from simple chiral compounds, as used in inclusion resolutions. Simple melting diagrams and DSC thermograms could not be used, because of the decomposition of the complex caused by the escape of the guest from the inclusion complex upon heating. A ternary solution phase diagram was constructed from the diastereomeric inclusion complexes of phenethylamine with a taddol. Solid solution behavior was found and confirmed by powder diffraction and X-ray studies. The limited scope of inclusion resolutions, as already indicated by our earlier studies, was confirmed by these results.

Terminally protected homopeptides of tert-leucine, from the dimer to the hexamer, co-oligopeptides of tert-leucine in combination with alpha-aminoisobutyric acid or glycine residues up to the hexamer level, and simple dipeptides representing known scaffolds for catalysts in asymmetric organic reactions were prepared by solution methods and fully characterized. The results of conformation analysis, performed by use of FT-IR absorption, NMR, CD, and X-ray diffraction techniques, indicate that this hydrophobic alpha-amino acid with tetrasubstitution at the Cbeta atom is structurally versatile. We show that it prefers extended or semiextended conformations, but can also be accommodated in folded structures, provided that these are biased by the presence of helicogenic residues. The current large-scale production of Tle, combined with its conformational preferences unravelled in this work, should make this bulky, hydrophobic, Calpha-trisubstituted alpha-amino acid a regular building block of any strategy seeking to tailor peptides with improved catalytic and pharmacological properties.

Resolution of enantiomers through selective crystallisation of diastereomeric inclusion compounds can extend the scope of traditional racemate resolution beyond salt forming compounds. To assess the practical value of this approach the literature was carefully screened and promising results were checked. Also an extensive range of new inclusion hosts suitable for resolution processes, derived from simple hydroxyand amino acids were prepared and tested. Several techniques, including the Dutch Resolution approach utilizing mixtures of resolving agents, were applied. Over 70 potential resolving agents were tested in combinations with 34 racemates (over 100 racemates if literature results are included). Reproducibility of literature results was found to be problematic. Also the number of successful new resolutions found was very limited: only two efficient resolutions out of 1200 combinations of racemate and resolving agent tested in over 10.000 experiments! Crystal studies of representative combi

alpha-Azido carboxylic acids have recently emerged as versatile N-protected equivalents for alpha-amino acids, especially valuable when the sterically hindered C-u-dialkylated alpha-amino acids have to be incorporated. Unsymmetrically substituted C-u-dialkylated alpha-azido carboxylic acids can be obtained in enantiomerically pure form by enzymatic resolution of alpha-azido carboxamides. A L-amidase from Ochrobactrum anthropi NCIMB 40321 accepts 2-azido-2,4-dimethylpentanamide as the substrate and provides both the corresponding S-configured alpha-azido carboxylic acid and the R-configured alpha-azido carboxamide in excellent enantiomeric purity. The former is a valuable synthetic precursor of alpha-methylleucine [(alpha-Me)Leu] in peptide synthesis, as demonstrated by the successful synthesis of a (alpha-Me)Leu containing efrapeptin C analogue.

Reactions of a racemic amine with chiral, Nα-acetylated, Cα-methyl l-phenylglycine-based dipeptide 5(4H)-oxazolones proceed diastereoselectively to give predominantly dipeptide alkylamides comprising d-α-phenylethylamine. Diastereoselectivity is remarkably sensitive to solvent polarity and reaction temperature but not significantly to the nature of the Cα-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid at position 1 of the dipeptide. The β-turn 3D structures of the aminolysis products were established in CDCl3 solution by FT-IR absorption and in one case in the crystal state by X-ray diffraction as well. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Chirality 17:481–487, 2005.

The crystal-state conformations of three protected tripeptides, four tetrapeptides, and one pentapeptide, heavily based on the chiral C(alpha)-methylated alpha-amino acids Iva, (alpha Me)Nva, and (Me)Val, were assessed by X-ray diffraction analyses. The eight peptide sequences are as follows: Z-(D-Iva)2-D-Val-OMe, Z-D-Iva-L-Iva-Gly-OtBu, Z-L-Pro-D-Iva-L-Iva-Gly-OtBu, Z-L-Pro-L-Iva-D-Iva-Gly-OtBu, Z-Aib-[L-(alpha Me)Nva]2-OtBu, Ac-[L-(alpha Me)Val]3-D-(alpha Me)Val-OtBu, Z-[L-(alpha Me)Val]4-OH, and Z-L-Ala-[L-(alpha Me)Nva]4-OtBu. Two independent molecules were observed in the asymmetric units of Z-D-Iva-L-Iva-Gly-OtBu and Z-Aib-[L-(alpha Me)Nva]2-OtBu, while three independent molecules were seen in Z-L-Ala-[L-(alpha Me)Nva]4-OtBu. All peptides are folded in a single or multiple beta-turn conformations. Interestingly: (i) a water bridge within the N-terminal beta-turn is seen in Z-L-Pro-L-Iva-D-Iva-Gly-OtBu (dihydrate), and (ii) the hydroxyl group of the C-terminal carboxyl functionality of Z-[L-(alpha Me)Val]4-OH generates an oxy-analogue of a beta-turn. The N-terminal beta-turn is missing in molecules A and B, but it does occur, although poorly stabilized, in molecule C, of Z-L-Ala-[L-(alpha Me)Nva]4-OtBu.

Peptide deformylases (PDFs) catalyze the removal of the N-terminal formyl group from nascent polypeptides. In spite of the vast amount of literature on PDF, no information whatsoever is available on its use in organic synthesis. To be able to explore the potential of E. coli PDF (EcPDF) in biocatalytic applications, a simple and efficient purification procedure was developed. This method, which was based on one affinity chromatographic step, furnished about 200 mg of pure EcPDF from 1 L of E. coli culture. The enzyme combined a good activity (tof ≥5 s−1) with an almost complete enantioselectivity (E ratio >500) in the resolution of N-formylated α- and β-amino acids, α-amino acid amides and α-aminonitriles. N-Formyl derivatives of non-functionalized amines and β-amino alcohols were hydrolyzed with low to moderate activity and enantioselectivity. EcPDF was also successfully applied in the enantioselective formylation of α-aminonitriles, yielding, e.g. (S)-N-formyl-phenylalanine nitrile with >99.5% ee. The enzyme also proved very suitable for the mild and selective deprotection of N-formyl peptides as was shown for N-formyl-Leu-Tle-NHCH3. This deprotection increased the diastereomeric excess of the dipeptide, which was unsatisfactory because of racemization of the N-terminal amino acid in the chemical peptide coupling step.

The novel Calpha-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acid Calpha-methyl, Calpha-cyclohexylglycine was prepared by hydrogenation of its Calpha-methyl, Calpha-phenylglycine precursor. Terminally protected homodi-, homotri-, and homotetrapeptides from Calpha-methyl, Calpha-cyclohexylglycine and co-oligopeptides to the pentamer level in combination with Gly or alpha-aminoisobutyric acid residues were prepared by solution methods and fully characterized. The results of a conformational analysis, performed by use of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer absorption, 1H NMR, and X-ray diffraction techniques, support the contention that this Calpha-methylated, Cbeta-trisubstituted aliphatic alpha-amino acid is an effective beta-turn and 3(10)-helix inducer in tri- and longer peptides as its Calpha-methyl valine parent compound, but partially divergent from the corresponding aromatic Calpha-methyl, Calpha-diphenylmethylglycine residue, known to promote folded and fully extended structures to a significant extent in these oligomers.

A proper understanding of the detailed nature and mechanism of physicochemical interactions depends heavily upon our ability to design and synthesize conformationally constrained 3D structures whose intercomponent geometry (either rigorously rigid or able to undergo destructuration, if required, but in all cases precisely tunable) would be well defined. To this end we have recently reported a few initial studies and we are currently working on the exploitation of stable, short, helical peptide spacers based on achiral and/or chiral Cα-tetrasubstituted α-amino acids. These building blocks are known to force the peptides either to predominantly fold into a 310-helical structure or to adopt a fully extended, planar 2.05-helix. The systems under investigation involve a donor and an acceptor moiety linked to the N- and C-termini of the oligopeptide spacer main chain. By increasing the number of intervening residues the donor···acceptor separation can be easily modulated. This review highlights details of these two novel peptide secondary structures and their use as molecular spacers in physicochemical investigations. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci), 2004

We synthesized by solution methods a water-soluble, terminally blocked heptapeptide based on five markedly helicogenic, Cα-tetrasubstituted α-amino acids Cα-methyl-L-norvalines and two strongly hydrophilic 2-amino-3-[1-(1,4,7-triazacyclononane)]-L-propanoic acid residues at positions 2 and 5. A Fourier transform infrared absorption and NMR analysis in deuterated chloroform and aqueous solutions of the heptapeptide and two side-chain protected synthetic precursors confirmed our working hypothesis that all oligomers are folded in the 310-helical conformation. Based on these findings, we exploited this heptapeptide as a chiral reference compound for detailed electronic CD, vibrational CD, and Raman optical activity characterizations of the 310-helix in aqueous solution. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers, 2004

A series of N α -protected, monodispersed homo-oligopeptide esters to the octamer level from L-C α -methyl, C α -n-propylglycine [or C α -methylnorvaline, (αMe)Nva] has been synthesized by solution methods and fully characterized. The preferred conformation of these homo-oligomers in solution has been assessed by FT-IR absorption and 1 H NMR techniques. Moreover, the molecular structures of the homotrimer and homotetramer have been determined in the crystal state by X-ray diffraction. The obtained results strongly support the view that right-handed, single or multiple, and consecutive β bends are preferentially adopted by the conformationally restricted L-(αMe)Nva homo-oligomers. In particular, 3 10 helices are formed by the longest homo-oligomers. It is our contention that the [(αMe)Nva] n peptides represent the best available choice among C-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid-based homo-oligomers for the construction of relatively easy to make, rigid foldamers with a well-defined screw-sense bias.

Porphyrins are promising chromophores for the investigation of the still unexplored area of 3-dimensional structural studies of proteins by using the exciton coupled circular dichroism (CD) method. The synthesis, conformational characterization by FTIR absorption and 1H-NMR, and CD properties are described for a model bis-porphyrin system based on homooligo-[L-(αMe)Val]n peptides as rigid spacers. In particular, the coupled CD phenomenon is experimentally detected, the intensity of which is modulated by the interchromophoric distance. These results extend and integrate those already reported with steroid, dimeric steroid, and brevetoxin bridges. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Biospectroscopy) 72: 105–115, 2003

Dutch Resolution is the term given to the use of mixtures (families) of resolving agents in classical resolutions. In this status report an overview is given of the latest results and new (possible) families of resolving agents are introduced. The concept of families is discussed as well as the factors that come into play on use of fam- ilies. Practical aspects of Dutch Resolution in particular and resolu- tions in general are discussed.

Using a combined chemical/chiral chromatographic approach we synthesized an N-protected derivative of (R)-c(3)Val, a severely conformationally restricted C(alpha)-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acid characterized by a C(beta,beta)-dimethylated cyclopropane system. A set of terminally protected derivatives and model peptides (to the heptamer level), containing one or two (R)-c(3)Val residues in combination with either Aib or Gly residues, was prepared by solution methods. A detailed solution and crystal-state conformational investigation, based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption, (1)H-NMR, and x-ray diffraction techniques, performed in comparison with a similar study on related derivatives and peptides rich in (alphaMe)Val, the prototype of C(alpha)-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acids of this subfamily, allowed us to conclude the following: (a) c(3)Val is a good beta-bend and helix former, although less efficient than (alphaMe)Val. (b) The relationship between alpha-carbon chirality and screw sense of the folded structure formed is the same as that of (alphaMe)Val, i.e., the (R)-enantiomer has a strong left-handed bias. (c) c(3)Val seems more prone than (alphaMe)Val to fold into a gamma-bend conformation. The conformational propensities of C(beta,beta)-disubstituted Ac(3)c residues are also discussed in comparison with those of the parent cyclopropane residue.

We describe the X-ray diffraction structure of the terminally protected dipeptide amide Boc-Aib-L-Mag-NHBzl (Aib is alpha-aminoisobutyric acid and Mag is C-alpha-methyl, C-a-allyl-glycine) and the results of conformational energy computations on Ac-L-Mag-NHMe, Ac-Aib-L-Mag-NHMe, and Ac-L-Mag-Aib-NHMe. On the basis of these data, we performed conformational energy computations on the sequence -Aib-Xxx-(Aib)(2)-Xxxx-Aib- (Xxx = L-Mag) to check the feasibility of ring-closing metathesis, a currently extensively investigated reaction useful to enhance peptide helicity and metabolic stability, on this 3(10)-helix forming model hexamer with the two olefinic amino acids at the i, i+3 relative positions. Computations were extended to peptides based on olefinic residues with the side chains elongated by one (L-hMag) or two (L-hhMag) carbon atoms. A comparison was also made with peptides characterized by the related, non-C-alpha-methylated (C-alpha-trisubstituted) L-Agl (C-alpha-allyl-L-glycine), L-hAgl, and L-hhAgl residues. We conclude that, to achieve ring-closing metathesis with an unperturbed 3(10)-helical conformation and a symmetrical all-hydrocarbon tether, the side-chain length for each of the two i, i+3 olefinic amino acids requires at least five carbon atoms (hhMag or hhAgl), thereby producing an 18-atom macrocycle.

By a chemo-enzymatic approach we performed a large-scale, stereoselective synthesis of the Cα-methylated α-hydroxy acid L-(αMe)Hyv. We also prepared model depsipeptides based on this sterically demanding residue in combination with the α-amino acids L-Ala, L-Val, and Aib. From solution (FT-IR absorption and 1H NMR) and crystal-state (X-ray diffraction) conformational analyses we found that L-(αMe)Hyv forces depsipeptides to fold into right-handed β-turn/helical structures by analogy with the reported propensity of L-(αMe)Val, its α-amino acid counterpart.

Two analogs of the ten-amino acid residue, membrane-active lipopeptaibiotic trichogin GA IV, mono-labeled with 4-cyano-α-methyl-L-phenylalanine, a potentially useful fluorescence and IR absorption probe of the local microenvironment, were synthesized by the solid-phase methodology and conformationally characterized. The single modification was incorporated either at the N-terminus (position 1) or near the C-terminus (position 8) of the peptide main chain. In both cases, the replaced amino acid was the equally helicogenic α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residue. We performed a solution conformational analysis by use of FT-IR absorption, CD, and 2D-NMR spectroscopies. The results indicate that both labeled analogs essentially maintain the overall helical propensity of the naturally occurring lipopeptaibiotic. Peptide-membrane interactions were assessed by fluorescence and ATR-IR absorption techniques. Analogies and differences between the two peptides were highlighted. Taken together, our data confirm literature results that some of the spectroscopic parameters of the 4-cyanobenzyl chromophore are sensitive markers of the local microenvironment.

A set of both enantiomeric forms of non-proteinogenic, unsaturated α-H-α-amino acids was efficiently synthesized using a biocatalytic pathway. This route involved the straightforward synthesis of the required unsaturated amino acid amides, followed by resolution with an aminopeptidase present in Pseudomonas putida ATCC 12633 and/or a genetically modified organism, leading to the (S)-acids and (R)-amides. Undesired amino acid racemase activity was identified in the wild-type strain, which was absent in the newly developed organism. The (R)-amides were hydrolyzed under mild conditions using an amidase present in whole cells from Rhodococcus erythropolis NCIMB 11540 to the (R)-acids. The viability of this procedure was demonstrated with the multi-gram synthesis of a variety of unsaturated amino acids in excellent enantiopurity.