Boronic acids are an increasingly important compound class for many applications, including C−C bond formation reactions, medicinal chemistry, and diagnostics. The deprotection of boronic ester intermediates is frequently a problematic and inefficient step in boronic acid syntheses. We describe an approach that highly facilitates this transformation by leveraging the volatility of methylboronic acid and its diol esters. The method is performed under mild conditions, provides high yields, and eliminates cumbersome and problematic purification steps.

New macrocyclic plasmin inhibitors based on our previously optimized P2-P3 core segment have been developed. In the first series, the P4 residue was modified, whereas the 4-amidinobenzylamide in P1 position was maintained. The originally used P4 benzylsulfonyl residue could be replaced by various sulfonyl- or urethane-like protecting groups. In the second series, the P1 benzamidine was modified and a strong potency and excellent selectivity was retained by incorporation of p-xylenediamine. Several analogues inhibit plasmin in the subnanomolar range, and their potency against related trypsin-like serine proteases including trypsin itself could be further reduced. Selected derivatives have been tested in a plasma fibrinolysis assay and are more effective than the reference inhibitor aprotinin. The crystal structure of one inhibitor was determined in complex with trypsin. The binding mode reveals a sterical clash of the inhibitor's linker segment with the 99-hairpin loop of trypsin, which is absent in plasmin.

A new strategy for the synthesis of peptide-boronic acids (PBAs) is presented. 20 Fmoc-protected natural amino acids with orthogonal side chain protection were straightforwardly converted into their corresponding boron analogues...