Late-Stage Diversification through Manganese-Catalyzed C-H Activation: Access to Acyclic, Hybrid, and Stapled Peptides

Co(iii)-Catalyzed stereospecific synthesis of (E)-homoallylic alcohols with 4-vinyl-1,3-dioxan-2-ones: late-stage C–H homoallylation of indole derivatives

An Co(iii)-catalyzed stereoselective C–H homoallylation reaction to access (E)-homoallylic alcohols was developed. This protocol provides a powerful approach for the late-stage C–H homoallylation of indole-based molecules.

Mangana(iii/iv)electro-catalyzed C(sp3)-H azidation

Manganaelectro-catalyzed azidation of otherwise inert C(sp3)-H bonds was accomplished using most user-friendly sodium azide as the nitrogen-source. The operationally simple, resource-economic C-H azidation strategy was characterized by mild reaction conditions, no directing group, traceless electrons as the sole redox-reagent, Earth-abundant manganese as the catalyst, high functional-group compatibility and high chemoselectivity, setting the stage for late-stage azidation of bioactive compounds. Detailed mechanistic studies by experiment, spectrophotometry and cyclic voltammetry provided strong support for metal-catalyzed aliphatic radical formation, along with subsequent azidyl radical transfer within a manganese(iii/iv) manifold.

Peptide macrocyclization by transition metal catalysis

Peptide macrocyclization has traditionally relied on lactam, lactone and disulfide bond-forming reactions that aim at introducing conformational constraints into small peptide sequences. With the advent of ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis and copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition, peptide chemists embraced transition metal catalysis as a powerful macrocyclization tool with relevant applications in chemical biological and peptide drug discovery. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the reactivity and methodological diversification of metal-catalyzed peptide macrocyclization as a special class of late-stage peptide derivatization method. We report the evolution from classic palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling approaches to more modern oxidative versions based on C-H activation, heteroatom alkylation/arylation and annulation processes, in which aspects such as chemoselectivity and diversity generation at the ring-closing moiety became dominant over the last years. The transit from early cycloadditions and alkyne couplings as ring-closing steps to very recent 3d metal-catalyzed macrocyclization methods is highlighted. Similarly, the new trends in decarboxylative radical macrocyclizations and the interplay between photoredox and transition metal catalysis are included. This review charts future perspectives in the field hoping to encourage further progress and applications, while bringing attention to the countless possibilities available by diversifying not only the metal, but also the reactivity modes and tactics to bring peptide functional groups together and produce structurally diverse macrocycles.

Site-selective aqueous C-H acylation of tyrosine-containing oligopeptides with aldehydes

The development of useful synthetic tools to label amino acids within a peptide framework for the ultimate modification of proteins in a late-stage fashion is a challenging task of utmost importance within chemical biology. Herein, we report the first Pd-catalyzed C-H acylation of a collection of Tyr-containing peptides with aldehydes. This water-compatible tagging technique is distinguished by its site-specificity, scalability and full tolerance of sensitive functional groups. Remarkably, it provides straightforward access to a high number of oligopeptides with altered side-chain topology including mimetics of endomorphin-2 and neuromedin N, thus illustrating its promising perspectives toward the diversification of structurally complex peptides and chemical ligation.

Chemical modifications of tryptophan residues in peptides and proteins

Chemical protein modifications facilitate the investigation of natural posttranslational protein modifications and allow the design of proteins with new functions. Proteins can be modified at a late stage on amino acid side chains by chemical methods. The indole moiety of tryptophan residues is an emerging target of such chemical modification strategies because of its unique reactivity and low abundance. This review provides an overview of the recently developed methods of tryptophan modification at the peptide and protein levels.

Peptide late-stage C(sp3)-H arylation by native asparagine assistance without exogenous directing groups

There is a strong demand for novel native peptide motifs for post-synthetic modifications of peptides without pre-installation and subsequent removal of directing groups. Herein, we report an efficient method for peptide late-stage C(sp3)-H arylations assisted by the unmodified side chain of asparagine (Asn) without any exogenous directing group. Thereby, site-selective arylations of C(sp3)-H bonds at the N-terminus of di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides have been achieved. Likewise, we have constructed a key building block for accessing agouti-related protein (AGRP) active loop analogues in a concise manner.

Macrocyclization via C-H functionalization: a new paradigm in macrocycle synthesis

The growing emphasis on macrocycles in engaging difficult therapeutic targets such as protein-protein interactions and GPCRs via preferential adaptation of bioactive and cell penetrating conformations has provided impetus to the search for de novo macrocyclization strategies that are efficient, chemically robust and amenable to diversity creation. An emerging macrocyclization paradigm based on the C-H activation logic, of particular promise in the macrocyclization of complex peptides, has added a new dimension to this pursuit, enabling efficacious access to macrocycles of various sizes and topologies with high atom and step economy. Significant achievements in macrocyclization methodologies and their applications in the synthesis of bioactive natural products and drug-like molecules, employing strategic variations of C-H activation are captured in this review. It is expected that this timely account will foster interest in newer ways of macrocycle construction among practitioners of organic synthesis and chemical biology to advance the field.

Silanol: a bifunctional group for peptide synthesis and late-stage functionalization

Chemical modification of a specific amino acid residue on peptides represents an efficient strategy to improve their pharmacokinetics and facilitates the potential to achieve post-synthetic diversification of peptides. Herein, we reported the first Pd-catalyzed late-stage ortho-olefination of Tyr residues on peptides with high chemo- and site-selectivity, by employing the easily attached and removable silanol as a bifunctional protecting group and directing group. Up to hexapeptides with variation on amino acid sequences or locations of the Tyr residue and different olefins were compatible with this protocol, which enriched the chemical toolbox for late-stage modification via C(sp2)-H functionalization. Furthermore, the orthogonal protection strategies of Tyr were also developed and could be applied to SPPS.

Hydrosilylation of Esters Catalyzed by Bisphosphine Manganese(I) Complex: Selective Transformation of Esters to Alcohols

Selective and efficient hydrosilylations of esters to alcohols by a well-defined manganese(I) complex with a commercially available bisphosphine ligand are described. These reactions are easy alternatives for stoichiometric hydride reduction or hydrogenation, and employing cheap, abundant, and nonprecious metal is attractive. The hydrosilylations were performed at 100 °C under solvent-free conditions with low catalyst loading. A large variety of aromatic, aliphatic, and cyclic esters bearing different functional groups were selectively converted into the corresponding alcohols in good yields.

Late-stage C(sp2)-H and C(sp3)-H glycosylation of C-aryl/alkyl glycopeptides: mechanistic insights and fluorescence labeling

C(sp³)–H and C(sp²)–H glycosylations of structurally complex amino acids and peptides were accomplished through the assistance of triazole peptide-isosteres. The palladium-catalyzed peptide–saccharide conjugation provided modular access to structurally complex C-alkyl glycoamino acids, glycopeptides and C-aryl glycosides, while enabling the assembly of fluorescent-labeled glycoamino acids. The C–H activation approach represents an expedient and efficient strategy for peptide late-stage diversification in a programmable as well as chemo-, regio-, and diastereo-selective fashion.

C–H glycosylations of complex amino acids and peptides were accomplished through the assistance of triazole peptide-isosteres. The palladium-catalyzed glycosylation provided access to complex C-glycosides and fluorescent-labeled glycoamino acids.

Visible-Light-Promoted C(sp3 )-H Alkylation by Intermolecular Charge Transfer: Preparation of Unnatural α-Amino Acids and Late-Stage Modification of Peptides

Disclosed herein is the visible-light-promoted deaminative C(sp³ )-H alkylation of glycine and peptides using Katritzky salts as electrophiles. Simple reaction conditions and excellent functional-group tolerance provide a general strategy for the efficient preparation of unnatural α-amino acids and precise modification of peptides with unnatural α-amino-acid residues. Mechanistic studies suggest that visible-light-promoted intermolecular charge transfer within a glycine-Katritzky salt electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex induces a single-electron transfer process without the assistance of photocatalyst.

Photo-induced preparation of unnatural α-amino acids: synthesis and characterization of novel Leu5-enkephalin analogues

2.6-Fold more long-lasting compared to Leu⁵-enkephalin.

Asymmetric N-aminoalkylation of 3-substituted indoles by N-protected N,O-acetals: an access to chiral propargyl aminals

A direct enantioselective N1 aminoalkylation of 3-substituted indoles is efficiently catalyzed by a phosphoric acid catalyst under mild conditions, which could be applied to the modification of tryptophan containing oligopeptides.

Weak Coordination-Guided Regioselective Direct Redox-Neutral C4 Allylation of Indoles with Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts

A weak carbonyl coordination-guided regioselective C4 allylation of indoles is demonstrated using the versatile Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct in the presence of Rh catalysts in a redox-neutral fashion. The substrate scope, functional group diversity, oxidant free character, mechanistic aspects, and synthetic utilities are important practical features.

Pd-catalyzed site-selective C(sp2)-H radical acylation of phenylalanine containing peptides with aldehydes

The site-selective functionalization of C-H bonds within a peptide framework remains a challenging task of prime synthetic importance. Herein, the first Pd-catalyzed δ-C(sp2)-H acylation of Phe containing peptides with aldehydes is described. This oxidative coupling is distinguished by its site-specificity, tolerance of sensitive functional groups, scalability, and enantiospecificity and exhibits entire chemoselectivity for Phe motifs over other amino acid units. The compatibility of this dehydrogenative acylation platform with a number of oligopeptides of high structural complexity illustrates its ample opportunities for the late-stage peptide modification and bioconjugation.