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Herein reported is a nickel-catalyzed reductive aryl thiocarbonylation of alkene via thioester group transfer strategy by using simple and readily available thioesters. In contrast to traditional activation of weaker C(acyl)-S bond, the C(acyl)-C bond of thioester was selectively cleaved to enable this reaction under mild conditions. Furthermore, this approach features operational simplicity and broad substrate scope, providing a complementary and practical route for thioester synthesis without requiring toxic thiol or CO gas.

An interesting procedure for thioester synthesis via nickel-catalyzed thiocarbonylation of arylboronic acid with sulfonyl chlorides as the sulfur source has been explored. Using Mo(CO)6 as a solid ...

The preparation of thioesters through the lipase-catalysed transesterification reaction of thiols with vinyl carboxyl esters is described. The reactions were carried out by Lipase TL IM from Thermomyces lanuginosus as a catalyst and performed under a continuous flow microreactor. We first found that lipase TL IM can be used in the reaction of thioester synthesis with high efficiency. Various reaction parameters were investigated including substrate molar ratio, reaction time, and temperature. Maximum conversion (96%) was obtained under the optimal condition of a substrate molar ratio of 1:2 (4-methylbenzyl mercaptan:vinyl esters) at 50 °C for about 30 min. Compared with other methods, the salient features of this work include mild reaction conditions (50 °C), short reaction times (30 min), high yields, and environment-friendliness.

The chemical synthesis of proteins has facilitated functional studies of proteins due to the site-specific incorporation of post-translational modifications, labels, and non-proteinogenic amino acids. Moreover, native chemical ligation provides facile access to proteins by chemical means. However, the application of the native chemical ligation reaction in the synthesis of parallel formats such as protein arrays has been complicated because of the often cumbersome and time-consuming synthesis of the required peptide thioesters. An Fmoc-based peptide thioester synthesis with self-purification on the sulfonamide ‘safety-catch’ linker widens this bottleneck because HPLC purification can be avoided. The method is based on an on-resin cyclization–thiolysis reaction sequence. A macrocyclization via the N-terminus of the full-length peptide followed by a thiolytic C-terminal ring opening allows selective detachment of the truncation products and the full-length peptide. A brief overview of the chemical aspects of this method is provided including the optimization steps and the automation process. Furthermore, the application of the cyclization–thiolysis approach combined with the native chemical ligation reaction in the parallel synthesis of a library of 16 SH3-domain variants of SHO1 in yeast is described, demonstrating the value of this new technique for the chemical synthesis of protein arrays. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Peptide thioester synthesis by N→S acyl transfer is being intensively explored by many research groups the world over. Reasons for this likely include the often straightforward method of precursor assembly using Fmoc-based chemistry and the fundamentally interesting acyl migration process. In this review we introduce recent advances in this exciting area and discuss, in more detail, our own efforts towards the synthesis of peptide thioesters through N→S acyl transfer in native peptide sequences. We have found that several peptide thioesters can be readily prepared and, what's more, there appears to be ample opportunity for further development and discovery.

Various thioesters were obtained through an efficient phase-transfer catalysis method, by treating several thiophenols with different acyl chlorides, in a biphasic system composed of 10% aqueous NaOH and dichloromethane in the presence of tetrabutylammonium chloride. The thiolation reaction was complete in only 5 minutes, at 0°C.

A series of thio and selenoesters were efficiently obtained employing stable diorganyl chalcogenides, acyl chlorides, and In as reducing agent in BMIM·PF6. Recycling of the ionic liquid was also performed, which was reused three times.

The synthesis of short chain S-methyl thioesters was investigated in Geotrichum candidum strain GcG. The results indicated the involvement of an enzymatic reaction in this microorganism that led to the synthesis of S-methyl thioacetate (MTA) when methanethiol and acetyl-CoA were used as substrates. MTA was generated from these substrates by enzymatic or spontaneous reactions, whose relative importance depended largely on pH and temperature. For longer chain acyl-CoA compounds (C3 to C6), thioester synthesis was primarily spontaneous. Short chain fatty acid activation by a CoA residue probably is a prerequisite for the synthesis of S-methyl thioesters.

A series of thio and selenoesters were efficiently obtained employing stable diorganyl chalcogenides, acyl chlorides, and In as reducing agent in BMIM·PF6. Recycling of the ionic liquid was also performed, which was reused three times.

Peptide and protein thioesters are playing an increasingly prominent role in the chemical toolbox for protein assembly and modification through Native Chemical Ligation (NCL). In this Emerging Area we highlight recent developments in a somewhat surprising route to thioesters: selective disruption of amides, the more stable carboxylic acid derivatives.

Peptide thioesters readily prepared through N--S acyl transfer of a specific C-terminal motif provide access to biologically active mini-proteins using native chemical ligation.