P-dipeptides

Scheme 7.31 Lipases in P-dipeptide synthesis in organic solvents.

Many reports confirm notable reductions in reaction times when carrying out reactions under micro flow conditions. Concerning p-dipeptide synthesis, for example, a comparison between batch and micro-reactor processing was made for the reaction of Dmab-P-alanine and Fmoc-i-P-homophenylalanine [158]. While the micro reactor gave a 100% yield in 20 min, only about 5% was reached with the batch method. Even after 400 h, only 70% conversion was achieved. 

Eledroosmotic flow (EOF) conditions were applied and yielded only 10% conversion with constant reactant movement [9]. The use of stopped-flow techniques, which periodically push and mix the flow, led to a 50% increase in yield. A change in the coupling agent from l-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethyl-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI) to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) for reasons of limited solubility resulted in a 93% yield of the dipeptide. Batch P-dipeptide synthesis using EDCI gave a yield of 50% [6]. 

A reduction in reaction time by virtue of the improved transport properties in eledroosmotic-driven microreadors was demonstrated for the P-dipeptide synthesis using pentafluorophenyl O-activation. Fmoc-P-alanine was preactivated by introducing the pentafluorophenyl fundion as ester group [9]. Dmab-P-alanine and the pentafluorophenyl ester of Fmoc-P-alanine readed, and the synthesis of the corres-... 

The assembly of tetrapeptide 19 that contains all possible P-dipeptide bonds, (P -P )-, (P -P )-, and (P -P ), and also a turn inducing P -(R)-Ala-P -(/ )-Val element was achieved employing a Boc-strategy (Scheme 5). A fluorous benzyl group was incorporated in the first amino acid to streamline the purification procedure by fluorous solid phase extraction (LSPE) (Filippov et al. 2002 de Visser et al. 2003). Thus, the assembly of the fully protected tetrapeptide commenced with the construction of the first P -P -peptide bond by applying the previously established conditions. A residence time of 3 min at 90°C provided the Boc-protected dipeptide 15 in 91% isolated yield after LSPE. Notably, the product precipitated in the collection flask, which was kept at ambient temperature, indicating the poor solubility of this class of compounds (Hessel et al. 2005). 

Reproduced with permission from Machuca E, Rojas Y, Juarlsti E Synthesis and evaluation of (S)-prolhe-contalnlng a. p-dipeptides as organocatalysts In solvent-free asymmetric aldol reactions under ball-milling conditions. Asian J Org Chem 2015 4 46-53. Copyright (2015), Wiley. 

Hernandez J, Juaristi E. Green synthesis of a,p- and p,p-dipeptides under solvent-free conditions. J Org Ghem 2010 75 7107-11. 

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