Photoinduced C(sp3)–H Functionalization of Glycine Derivatives: Preparation of Unnatural α-Amino Acids and Late-Stage Modification of Peptides
ChaoWang,RupengQi,RuiWang,ZhaoqingXu
Accounts of Chemical Research Pub Date : 07/19/2023 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00260
Abstract
Peptides are essential components of living systems and contribute to critical biological processes, such as cell proliferation, immune defense, tumor formation, and differentiation. Therefore, peptides have attracted considerable attention as targets for the development of therapeutic products. The incorporation of unnatural amino acid residues into peptides can considerably impact peptide immunogenicity, toxicity, side effects, water solubility, action duration, and distribution and enhance the peptides’ druggability. Typically, the direct modification of natural amino acids is a practical and effective approach for promptly obtaining unnatural amino acids. However, selective functionalization of multiple C(sp3)–H bonds with comparable chemical reactivities in the peptide side chains remains a formidable challenge. Furthermore, chemical modifications aimed at highly reactive (nucleophilic and aromatic) groups on peptide side chains can interfere with the biological activity of peptides.