A practical synthesis of fully protected l-γ-carboxyglutamic acid

Synthesis and Evaluation of Radiogallium Labeled Bone-Imaging Probes Using Oligo-γ-Carboxy Glutamic Acid Peptides as Carriers to Bone

We investigated the importance of the carboxy group density in bone affinity during the development of peptide-based bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals and carriers. Oligo-γ-carboxy glutamic acid peptides [(Gla)n] with higher carboxy group density than oligo-glutamic acid peptides [(Glu)n] and oligo-aspartic acid peptides [(Asp)n] were chosen. Using the radiogallium chelator N,N'-bis-[2-hydroxy-5-(carboxyethyl)benzyl]ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (HBED-CC), we synthesized [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)n (n = 1, 2, 5, 8, 11, or 14) with high yields. Hydroxyapatite-binding assays, biodistribution, and SPECT imaging showed higher affinity and bone accumulation for [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)n compared to [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Glu)n. Notably, [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)8 and [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)11 exhibited superior bone accumulation and rapid blood clearance. SPECT/CT imaging with [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)8 exclusively visualized the bone tissue. These findings support the potential use of [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)n as excellent bone-imaging PET probes, suggesting (Gla)n peptides are superior bone-seeking carriers.

Enhanced stereoselectivity of a Cu(II) complex chiral auxiliary in the synthesis of Fmoc-L-γ-carboxyglutamic acid

L-γ-Carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) is an uncommon amino acid that binds avidly to mineral surfaces and metal ions. Herein, we report the synthesis of N-α-Fmoc-L-γ-carboxyglutamic acid γ,γ'-tert-butyl ester (Fmoc-Gla(O(t)Bu)(2)-OH), a suitably protected analogue for Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis. The residue was synthesized using a novel chiral Cu(II) complex, whose structure-based design was inspired by the blue copper protein rusticyanin. The five-coordinate complex is formed by Shiff base formation between glycine and the novel ligand (S)-2-(N-(2-methylthio)benzylprolyl)aminobenzophenone in the presence of copper. Michael addition of di-tert-butyl methylenemalonate to the α-carbon of the glycine portion of the complex occurs in a diastereoselective fashion. The resulting (S,S)-complex diastereomer can be easily purified by chromatography. Metal complex decomposition followed by Fmoc protection affords the enantiomerically pure amino acid. With the use of this novel chiral complex, the asymmetric synthesis of Fmoc-Gla(O(t)Bu)(2)-OH was completed in nine steps from thiosalicylic acid in 14.5% overall yield.

A general approach to chiral building blocks via direct amino acid-catalyzed cascade three-component reductive alkylations: formal total synthesis of HIV-1 protease inhibitors, antibiotic agglomerins, brefeldin A, and (R)-gamma-hexanolide

Multicatalysis cascade (MCC) process for the synthesis of highly substituted chiral building blocks (2-alkyl-CH-acids, 2-alkylcyclohexane-1,3-diones, 2-alkylcyclopentane-1,3-diones, and H-P ketone analogues) is presented based on the cascade three-component reductive alkylation's (TCRA) platform. Herein, we developed the high-yielding alkylation of a variety of CH-acids with (R)-glyceraldehyde acetonide/(S)-Garner aldehyde and Hantzsch ester through amino acid-catalyzed TCRA reaction without racemization at the alpha-position to carbonyl. Direct sequential combination of the L-proline-catalyzed TCRA reaction with other reactions like cascade alkylation/ketenization/esterification (A/K/E), alkylation/ketenization/esterification/alkylation (A/K/E/A), Brønsted acid-catalyzed cascade hydrolysis/lactonization/esterification (H/L/E), hydrolysis/esterification (H/E), hydrolysis/oxy-Michael/dehydration (H/OM/DH), and Robinson annulation (RA) of CH-acids, chiral aldehydes, Hantzsch ester, diazomethane, methyl vinyl ketone, various active olefins, and acetylenes furnished the highly functionalized chiral building blocks in good to high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. In this context, many of the pharmaceutically applicable chiral building blocks were prepared via MCC reactions.