“…Histidine analogs (i.e., thienylalanine, furylalanine, triazolylalanine, tetrazolylalanine, thiazolylalanine, imidazolylalanine, and pyrazolylalanine) have been used to study the importance of the hydrogen bond acceptor and donator properties of the imidazole side chain. − Components of naturally occurring peptides from marine organisms, amino acids bearing five-membered heterocycle side chains have been employed in peptidomimetics, macromolecular scafolds, and high-throughput synthesis . Although pyrrolylalanine ( 1 , Figure ) represents a promising histidine surrogate, few syntheses give an enantiopure product suitable for peptide chemistry. , For example, the natural pyrrolylalanine analog from the poisonous mushroom Clitocybe acromelalga , (2 S )-3-(2-carboxy-4-pyrrolyl)alanine ( 2 ), has been synthesized in protected form as a racemate and in optically active form from l -aspartic acid. − Enantiomerically pure (>94% ee) (2 S )- N -Cbz-3-(2-pyrrolyl)alanine derivatives were synthesized by enantioselective hydrogenation of the corresponding methyl and tert- butyl ( Z )-α,β-didehydroalaninates . (2 S )- N -(Boc)- N ′-Acetyl-3-(2-pyrrolyl)alanine was also synthesized from l -aspartic acid by a route featuring ring-closing metathesis and aromatization to form the heterocycle .…”