The synthesis of a cyclic melanocortin analogue (H-pz-bAla-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH 2), where the Boc-protected derivative of a metal-chelating pyrazolyl ligand (pz) was inserted as N-terminal residue, was addressed by several different Fmoc/tBu and Boc/Bzl solid-phase strategies. On-resin cyclization was achieved immediately following incorporation of Asp, by condensation of the Asp side chain carboxyl with the Lys side chain primary amine after selective and simultaneous removal of side chain protecting groups. The success of the synthesis was highly dependent on the chemical strategy employed, with Boc/Bzl chemistry giving the best results. On the light of our findings, Fmoc/tBu strategies are not advantageous for the solid-phase synthesis of this particular type of lactam-bridged peptides. Last, but not least, the target peptide was recently found to have promising tumorseeking properties (
The use of the ring‐closing enyne metathesis (RCEYM) as a methodology for the synthesis of the azonino[5,4‐b]indole system, featuring the tricyclic substructure of the alkaloids cleavamine and quebrachamine, has been explored. Three series of enyne substrates were studied for their compatibility with the RCEYM reaction. In addition to the usual substrates bearing either a terminal or an internal alkyne, for the first time enynes with an alkynyl halide moiety were also considered. Although the metathesis cyclization allowed for assembly of the azoninoindole nucleus in all three series, an effective catalytic cycle was only noted for internal alkyne substrates. On the basis of the experimental results, the “yne‐then‐ene” pathway seems to be the mechanism at play in these reactions.
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