Mixed anhydrides in peptide synthesis. A study of urethane formation with a contribution on minimization of racemization
A study of the factors contributing to urethane formation during the coupling of N-alkoxycarbonylamino acids with an amino acid ester by the mixed carboxylic–carbonic acid anhydride method has been carried out, using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Chemistry |
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Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1987
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/v87-105 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/v87-105 |
Summary: | A study of the factors contributing to urethane formation during the coupling of N-alkoxycarbonylamino acids with an amino acid ester by the mixed carboxylic–carbonic acid anhydride method has been carried out, using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography for the quantitation of products. Urethane formation is associated primarily with reactions of activated hindered residues such as isoleucine and N-methylamino acids. Of prime importance in dictating the amount of urethane generated is the tertiary amine/solvent combination. N-Methylpiperidine/dichloromethane is the best combination for minimizing urethane formation, N-methylmorpholine/tetrahydrofuran is a good combination, while triethylamine/dichloromethane is a particularly bad one. In dimethylformamide, the differences between these amines are marginal. Aqueous dimethylformamide is a good solvent for mixed anhydride generation and coupling. A small excess of substrate reduces the amount of urethane. Less racemization accompanies the coupling of peptide acids in tetrahydrofuran than in halogen-containing solvents, N-methylpiperidine being the superior base in these solvents, but not in dimethylformamide. Racemization is reduced by one half when menthyl chloroformate instead of isobutyl chloroformate is used in the couplings. |
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