Modification and Functionalization of the Guanidine Group by Tailor-made Precursors

Summary

A protocol for the synthesis of alkyl-modified guanidines based on the use of the corresponding precursors is presented.

Abstract

The guanidine group is one of the most important pharmacophoric groups in medicinal chemistry. The only amino acid carrying a guanidine group is arginine. In this article, an easy method for the modification of the guanidine group in peptidic ligands is provided, with an example of RGD-binding integrin ligands. It was recently demonstrated that the distinct modification of the guanidine group in these ligands allows for the selective modulation of the subtype (e.g., between the subtypes αv and α5). Moreover, a formerly unknown strategy for the functionalization via the guanidine group was demonstrated, and the synthetic approach is reviewed in this document. The modifications described here involve terminally (N_ω) alkylated and acetylated guanidine groups. For the synthesis, tailor-made precursor molecules are synthesized, which are then subjected to a reaction with an orthogonally deprotected amine to transfer the pre-modified guanidine group. For the synthesis of alkylated guanidines, precursors based on N,N′-Di-Boc-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxamidine are used to synthesize acylated compounds, the precursor of choice being a correspondingly acylated derivative of N-Boc-S-methylisothiourea, which can be obtained in one- and two-step reactions.

Introduction

Among the most abundant pharmacophoric groups in natural ligands is the guanidine group, which is involved in multiple interactions^1,2. For example, it serves as a potential four-fold hydrogen donor in hydrogen bond interactions and is involved in electrostatic interactions, such as salt bridges or cation-π interactions. In medicinal chemistry, this group is often found in drugs and drug candidates⁴, although very often as guanidine mimetics^5,6. The reason for the development of guanidine mimetics is the removal of the ubiq....

Protocol

Note: All reagents and solvents were obtained from commercial suppliers and were used without further purification.

Caution: Please consult all relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS) before use. Please use all appropriate safety equipment when performing chemical syntheses (e.g., fume hood, safety glasses, gloves, lab coat, full-length pants, and closed-toe shoes).

1. Synthesis of the Guanidinylation Precursors

1. Alkylated species
   1. Methylated species
      1. Dissolve 1.0 g of N,N′-di-Boc-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxamidine....

Results

The cyclic peptide precursor was synthesized as a linear peptide, cyclized, and orthogonally Dde-deprotected. After the precipitation, the purity of the compound was analyzed with HPLC-MS (Figure 1). To monitor the progress of the reaction, an HPLC analysis was performed after the 2-h reaction time (Figure 2).

For larger residues on the guanidine group, the reaction time of 2 h is often not enou.......

Discussion

The precursor for guanidinylation is an orthogonally deprotected cyclic peptide derivative, (c(OrnD(OtBu)Gf(NMe)V)), which is synthesized by a standard Fmoc protocol of solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Ornithin was used as the orthogonally protected derivative, (Fmoc-Orn(Dde)-OH), which can be deprotected with hydrazine in DMF after the cyclization of the peptide scaffold. The peptide precursor is purified by the precipitation of the compound and by the subsequent lyophilization.

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
N,N′-Di-Boc-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxamidine, 98%	Sigma Aldrich	434167 ALDRICH
Triphenylphosphine, 99%	Sigma Aldrich	T84409 SIGMA-ALDRICH
Tetrahydrofuran, >99.5%	Carl Roth	4745
Tetrahydrofuran anhydrous, 99.8%	Carl Roth	5182
Methanol anhydrous, 99.8%	Sigma Aldrich	322415 SIGMA-ALDRICH
Diisopropyl azodicarboxylate, 98%	Sigma Aldrich	225541 ALDRICH
Dichlormethan, for synthesis, 99.5%	Carl Roth	8424
Silica gel for flash chromtaography	Sigma Aldrich	60738 SIGMA-ALDRICH
n-Pentane, 99%	Carl Roth	8720
n-Hexane, 99%	Carl Roth	CP47
Ethylacetate, 99.5%	Carl Roth	7338
Aminohexanol, 95%	Sigma Aldrich	A56353 ALDRICH
S-Methylisothiourea hemisulfate, 98%	Sigma Aldrich	M84445 ALDRICH
Di-tert-butyl dicarbonate, 99%	Sigma Aldrich	205249 ALDRICH
N,N-Dimethylformamid, 99.8%	Carl Roth	A529
N,N-Diisopropylethylamin, 99.5%	Carl Roth	2474
Acetic anhydrid, 99%	Carl Roth	4483
Chlortrityl resin	Carbolution	CC11006
Fmoc-Gly-OH, 98%	Carbolution	CC05014
Piperidin, 99%	Sigma Aldrich	104094 SIGMA-ALDRICH
Fmoc-Orn(Dde)-OH	Iris-Biotech	FAA1502
HATU, 99%	Carbolution	CC01011
HOAt, 99%	Carbolution	CC01004
Fmoc-Val-OH	Carbolution	CC05028
2-Nitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride, 97%	Sigma Aldrich	N11507 ALDRICH
2,4,6-Collidine, 99%	Sigma Aldrich	27690 SIGMA-ALDRICH
Mercaptoethanol, 99%	Sigma Aldrich	M6250 ALDRICH
Diazabicycloundecen, 98%	Sigma Aldrich	139009 ALDRICH
Fmoc-D-Phe-OH, 98%	Sigma Aldrich	47378 ALDRICH
Fmoc-Asp(OtBu)-OH, 98%	Carbolution	CC05008
Hexafluoroisopropanol	Carbolution	CC03056
Diphenylphosphoryl azide, 97%	Sigma Aldrich	178756 ALDRICH
TFA, 99.9%	Carl Roth	P088
Triisopropylsilan, 98%	Sigma Aldrich	233781 ALDRICH
Acetonitrile, HPLC grade	Carl Roth	HN44