Recent progress in the racemic and enantioselective synthesis of monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres

Abstract

Monofluoroalkenes are fluorinated motifs that can be used to replace amide bonds. In order to be incorporated into peptides, it is normally necessary to first synthesize a dipeptide where the amide bond has been replaced with a monofluoroalkene. In that context, this review will present the racemic and enantioselective synthesis of monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres described since 2007. Some applications of those compounds will also be presented.

Introduction

Nowadays, the pharmaceutical industry is interested in the development of new categories of drugs. While small molecules were the principal targets in the last decades [1], larger biomolecules, such as peptides, are now widely studied [2–3]. The interest of these biopolymers originates, in part, from their high potency and selectivity towards the target, which results in a decrease of the toxicity and/or side effects. However, peptides have a poor metabolic stability [2].

A solution to enhance the stability of peptides is to modify their structure, in particular the amide bond linkage. Different moieties can be used as amide bond isosteres and some are illustrated in Figure 1 [4–6].

Figure 1.

Selected amide bond isosteres.

Of those amide bond isosteres, the monofluoroalkene is of particular interest as it possesses many relevant characteristics (Figure 2a). The resonance in the amide generates a double bond character between the carbon of the carbonyl and the nitrogen, which is responsible of the slow rotation around this bond. Furthermore, the negative charge is located on the oxygen atom and the dipole moment of the amide bond is 3.6 D [7]. The amide bond can also perform hydrogen bonds, with the oxygen atom as the hydrogen bond acceptor and N–H as hydrogen bond donor. This characteristic is important for the formation of secondary structures and folding into tertiary and quaternary structures. To have a good amide bond isostere, these different aspects should be reproduced, which is mostly the case with the monofluoroalkene moiety [8]. The monofluoroalkene is a rigid molecule as it possesses a double bond. Furthermore, the fluorine atom bears a partial negative charge, with a dipole moment of 1.4 D. Finally, the monofluoroalkene has the ability to accept a hydrogen bond through the fluorine atom [9]. Geometrically, the monofluoroalkene is quite similar to the amide bond. The C=O bond of the amide is 1.228 Å, compared to 1.376 Å for the C–F bond, and the C–N bond is 1.368 Å compared to 1.333 Å for the C=C bond [5,10–12]. Also, the amide structure is found in Nature as the s-trans or s-cis isomer, which can be in equilibrium (Figure 2b) [13]. However, most of the time it is found as the s-trans isomer to minimize steric interaction and to favour a linear and less hindered shape [14]. A notable exception is found in the case of the proline, where the s-cis isomer is favoured [15]. With the monofluoroalkene moiety, it is possible to mimic selectively one or the other isomer as no equilibrium exists between them. As such, the (Z)-monofluoroalkene is an analogue of the s-trans amide bond, while the (E)-monofluoroalkene mimics the s-cis form.

Figure 2.

Monofluoroalkene as an amide bond isostere.

Considering those favourable properties, monofluoroalkenes constitute an interesting amide bond isostere, thus many researches have investigated their synthesis and application [16–22]. In order to be incorporated into peptides, it is normally necessary to first synthesize a dipeptide where the amide bond has been replaced with a monofluoroalkene. This review is the follow-up of the last one published by Taguchi and Yanai in 2009 which covered the literature until 2007 [5] and will discuss the new developments on the racemic and enantioselective synthesis of monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres from 2008 to September 2017. First, synthetic approaches to analogues in which there is no side chain or where the side chain stereochemistry is not controlled will be highlighted. This will be followed by the presentation of the synthesis of analogues where the side chain stereochemistry is controlled. In both cases, the review will be divided according to the monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres prepared. Finally, recent applications will be described.

Review

Analogues in which there is no side chain or where the side chain stereochemistry is not controlled

Gly-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly

The Gly-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly analogue is the simplest one, as it does not present side chains. Its synthesis was performed by two groups, using in both cases an olefination reaction. Sano’s group was interested in the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) olefination to develop the synthesis of α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated ester 3, which can be used as a precursor for the synthesis of monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres [23]. Cbz-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly 5 was obtained in seven steps (Scheme 1). First, triethyl 2-fluoro-2-phosphonoacetate (1) was converted into the α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl 3 using the HWE olefination. The (Z)-isomer was obtained with complete selectivity. Then, reduction of the ester into the corresponding alcohol followed by a Mitsunobu reaction allowed the insertion of the NH-carboxybenzyl moiety to afford 4. Finally, removal of the tert-butyldiphenylsilyl group using tert-n-butylammonium fluoride, followed by oxidation with the Jones reagent, provided the C-terminal carboxylic acid 5.

Scheme 1.

Synthesis of Cbz-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly using a HWE olefination by Sano and co-workers.

In 2011, Lequeux and co-workers used rather the Julia–Kocienski olefination to access Phth-Gly-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly 9, from benzothiazolyl fluoroaminosulfones (Scheme 2) [24–25]. The Julia–Kocienski olefination of 3-alkoxypropanal 7 with phthalimido sulfone 6 afforded the corresponding monofluoroalkene 8 as a (Z):(E) mixture (54:46). Removal of the benzyl group using titanium tetrachloride gave the free alcohol which was oxidized to provide the N-protected dipeptide isostere 9. Some limitations were observed towards the compatibility of the N-protecting groups and in particular, N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-protected amines were not compatible with this methodology.

Scheme 2.

Synthesis of Phth-Gly-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly using the Julia–Kocienski olefination by Lequeux and co-workers.

Xaa-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly

To access Xaa-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly isosteres, a S_N2’ reaction upon 3,3-difluoropropene substrates can be used, as shown by Taguchi’s group. The synthesis of monofluoroalkenes starting from 3,3-difluoropropenes and using trialkylaluminium reagents was developed. Using this methodology, they were able to prepare Boc-Nva-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly isostere [26] via a S_N2’ reaction (Scheme 3). The defluorinative allylic alkylation of terminal 3,3-difluoropropene 10 with triethylaluminium selectively provided the corresponding (Z)-monofluoroalkene 11. In this case, the use of Et₃Al allowed access to a norvaline (Nva) isostere. Then, alcohol 11 was converted into the trichloroimidate, and heating in xylenes permitted a [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. At this stage, the trichloroimidate was transformed into an NHBoc moiety. Deprotection of the alcohol followed by Jones oxidation gave the final dipeptide isostere 13.

Scheme 3.

Synthesis of Boc-Nva-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly by Taguchi and co-workers.

Taguchi and co-workers proposed a variant of the defluorinative reaction using heteroatom nucleophiles using aluminum-based reagents such as Me₂AlCl and (iPrO)₂AlN₃, and (Z) selectivity was observed for the formation of the monofluoroalkene [27]. When dimethylaluminum chloride was used, the resulting allylic chloride reacted easily in a S_N2 reaction to give a more functionalized molecule. For example, treatment of the chlorinated monofluoroalkene with NaN₃ provided the corresponding N₃-containing monofluoroalkene. The azide group underwent a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to give a 1,2,3-triazole, which is also a peptide bond isostere [6]. Using this strategy, a mutant tripeptide containing two different peptide bond isosteres could be synthesized (Figure 3).

Figure 3.

Mutant tripeptide containing two different peptide bond isosteres.

In 2016, Konno and co-workers developed a stereoselective chromium-mediated C–F bond cleavage followed by a C–C bond formation to access (Z)-monofluoroalkenes with excellent selectivity (Scheme 4) [28]. The chromium-mediated coupling of 1-bromo-4-(tert-butyldiphenylsiloxy)-1,1-difluorobutane (15) with aldehyde 16 led to the formation of monofluoroalkene 17. This was then reacted with sodium azide and a further Staudinger reduction gave 18. Boc protection of the resulting amine 18, cleavage of the alcohol protecting group, Jones oxidation and formation of the methyl ester afforded the corresponding dipeptide isostere Boc-Ser(PMB)-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-OMe (19). In the same way, Boc-Val-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-OMe, Boc-Leu-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-OMe and Boc-Ala-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-OMe were prepared.

Scheme 4.

Chromium-mediated synthesis of Boc-Ser(PMB)-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-OMe by Konno and co-workers.

Xaa-ψ[CF=C]-Pro

The methodologies presented in the last decades used the olefination of cyclopentanone derivatives as the key step to access Xaa-ψ[CF=C]-Pro, via either a Peterson olefination or a HWE olefination [29–31]. In all cases, the selectivity was modest and the isomers had to be separated by flash chromatography. In 2014, Sano and co-workers reported a selective synthesis of Xaa-ψ[CF=C]-Pro with a new cyclopentanone derivative 20 bearing a bulky 2-(4-methyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-yl) group (OBO), which favoured the formation of the (E)-isomer in the HWE olefination (Scheme 5). The (E)-monofluoroalkene was thus obtained in an excellent selectivity using n-butyllithium in tert-butyl methyl ether. The resulting ester 21 was reduced using lithium aluminum hydride, and treatment with tartaric acid deprotected the OBO, thus providing the free triol 22. This was then converted into a protected amino group employing a Mitsunobu reaction. Finally, removal of the nosyl group, followed by hydrolysis using lithium hydroxide, afforded the targeted isostere 24.

Scheme 5.

Synthesis of Cbz-Gly-ψ[(E)-CF=C]-Pro by Sano and co-workers.

Sano and co-workers also worked on the Mg(II)-promoted stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-monofluoroalkenes (Scheme 6) [32–33]. HWE olefination promoted by Mg(II) of (diethoxyphosphoryl)fluoroacetic acid (25) with triisopropylsilyl-protected 2-hydroxymethylcyclopentanone 26 was realized with excellent yield and stereoselectivity. Esterification of the resulting carboxylic acid 27 into the corresponding methyl ester using trimethylsilyldiazomethane, followed by its reduction to the corresponding alcohol and a Mitsunobu reaction, permitted the incorporation of the N-terminal moiety. Then, removal of the Ns group of 28 and deprotection of the primary alcohol was performed to obtain 29 which underwent a Jones oxidation to give the final dipeptide isostere 30.

Scheme 6.

Synthesis of Cbz-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=C]-Pro by Sano and co-workers.

Analogues in which the side chain stereochemistry is controlled

Gly-ψ[CF=CH]-Xaa

Different strategies have been used over the years to access Gly-ψ[CF=CH]-Xaa isosteres in which the side chain stereochemistry of the Xaa is controlled. This could be achieved using an olefination reaction, a metathesis reaction or a copper-mediated reduction of 3,3-difluoropropenes. Pannecoucke’s group employed a chiral auxiliary, the Evans oxazolidinone, to prepare the non-racemic dipeptide isostere 35 (Scheme 7) [34]. Stereoselective alkoxymethylation on the oxazolidinone derivative 31 was first achieved with an excellent yield (88%) and diastereoselectivity (de > 95%). The chiral auxiliary was then removed and the free alcohol was oxidized to the corresponding aldehyde 32. Alkene 33 was then obtained after olefination of 32 with low selectivity ((Z):(E) = 64:36). The resulting ester 33 was then reduced to the corresponding aldehyde, followed by the formation of the terminal imine and its subsequent reduction to access the N-terminal moiety of 34. The alcohol and the amine deprotections were then achieved, followed by reprotection of the amine with a fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl group. Oxidation of the remaining alcohol to the corresponding carboxylic acid provided the dipeptide isostere 35.

Scheme 7.

Stereoselective synthesis of Fmoc-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Phe by Pannecoucke and co-workers.

Couve-Bonnaire and co-workers developed the preparation of (E)-monofluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres towards an intramolecular ring-closure metathesis (Scheme 8) [35]. The bis-alkene 36 underwent a ring-closure metathesis reaction in the presence of catalyst 37 under microwave irradiation to give lactam 38. Deprotection of the amine followed by acidic opening of the ring gave the (E)-monofluoroalkene 39 in good yield. The reaction was also performed on the racemic starting material to confirm that the process did not induce any epimerization. This methodology was then extended to the synthesis Gly-ψ[(E)-CF=CH]-Gly (not shown).

Scheme 8.

Ring-closure metathesis to prepare Gly-ψ[(E)-CF=CH]-Phg by Couve-Bonnaire and co-workers.

Finally, Dory and co-workers reported the synthesis of Fmoc-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Phe (Scheme 9) [36].Their work was inspired by the methodology reported by Fujii, Otaka and co-workers, which showed that the sultam moiety is a useful chiral auxiliary to control the stereochemistry during the incorporation of the lateral chain (see Scheme 15) [37]. The copper-mediated reduction of 3,3-difluoropropene 40 bearing a sultam (Xs) as a chiral auxiliary followed by α-alkylation afforded the monofluoroalkene 41. Hydrolysis of the chiral auxiliary followed by deprotection of the Boc-protected amine and its subsequent reprotection by a Fmoc group gave the final dipeptide isostere 42.

Scheme 9.

Stereoselective synthesis of Fmoc-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Phe by Dory and co-workers.

Scheme 15.

One-pot intramolecular redox reaction to access amide-type isosteres by Otaka and co-workers.

Xaa-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly

The development of new methodologies to access Xaa-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly isosteres with control of the stereochemistry at the side chain will be discussed in this section. In particular, olefination reaction, defluorinative reduction of 3,3-difluoropropene derivatives and electrophilic fluorination of alkenylstannanes are presented. Pannecoucke’s group described the synthesis of monofluoroalkenes from α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes 45, which are more easily accessible than the corresponding enones (Scheme 10) [38]. Their synthesis started with the olefination of aldehyde 43 which gave the corresponding monofluoroalkene 44. Reduction with subsequent oxidation of the ester gave the corresponding aldehyde 45 which was then transformed into the α-fluoroenimine 47. This was selectively converted into the corresponding sulfinylamines using Grignard reagents to access (S)-amino acids 48, while addition of organolithium reagents gave (R)-amino acids. A sequence of N- and O-deprotection, N-Fmoc-protection and oxidation to the carboxylic acid afforded the final Fmoc-Ala-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly (49).

Scheme 10.

Diastereoselective addition of Grignard reagents to sulfinylamines derived from α-fluoroenals by Pannecoucke and co-workers.

Then, it was discovered that the diastereoselectivity of the addition of the Grignard reagent on 47 was enhanced when dimethylzinc (Me₂Zn) was used as an additive (Table 1) [39]. Indeed, triorganozincates (Me₂(R)ZnMgX) were formed in situ and these reagents activated favourably the substrates towards the stereoselective addition of the alkyl chain.

Table 1.

Diastereoselective addition of Grignard reagents to sulfinylamines derived from α-fluoroenals with Me₂Zn as additive.

entry	RMgX	yield (%)	dr
1	iPrMgCl	63	93:7
2	iBuMgBr	75	98:2
3	BnMgCl	96	84:16
4	(allyl)MgBr	74	67:33
5	(vinyl)MgBr	98	91:9

To prepare Boc-Val-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-OEt, Otaka’s group developed an intramolecular redox reaction of 3,3-difluoropropenes using N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs, Scheme 11) [40]. The reaction was first performed on the γ,γ-difluoro-α,β-enal 52 which was synthesized via a Wittig olefination of 50. The resulting monofluoroalkene Boc-Val-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-OEt was obtained in good yield. Afterwards, the γ,γ-difluoro-α,β-enoylsilane 55, obtained after HWE olefination using dimethyl phosphonoacylsilane 54, was found to facilitate the NHC-catalyzed reduction and gave in this way the dipeptide isostere 56 in excellent yield.

Scheme 11.

NHC-mediated synthesis of monofluoroalkenes by Otaka and co-workers.

The defluorinative reduction could also be performed using samarium iodide. Altman and co-workers proposed the synthesis of Boc-Tyr-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly using a diastereoselective Reformatsky–Honda condensation, a (E)-selective HWE olefination and a SmI₂ reduction as key steps (Scheme 12) [41]. First, Reformatsky–Honda reaction of TIPS-protected phenylacetaldehyde 57 with the chiral auxiliary (L)-phenylglycine derivative 58 afforded 59. Removal of the chiral auxiliary and subsequent Boc protection were then performed. Reduction of the ester followed by HWE olefination of the resulting aldehyde gave the 3,3-difluoropropene 60. The latter was reduced in the presence of SmI₂ to furnish the (Z)-monofluoroalkene with good yield. A final saponification gave the monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isostere 61.

Scheme 12.

Stereoselective synthesis of Boc-Tyr-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly by Altman and co-workers.

Finally, Fürstner’s group developed the silver-mediated fluorination of functionalized alkenylstannanes to access monofluoroalkenes [42]. Hydrostannation of the N-protected ynamines 62 followed by electrophilic fluorination with Selectfluor gave the corresponding (Z)-monofluoroalkenes 64 in good yields (Table 2). The reported results showed that the methodology was suitable to replace an amide bond and could be used in late-stage fluorination to access monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres.

Table 2.

Silver-mediated fluorination of functionalized alkenylstannanes.

entry	R1	R2	yield (step 2, %)
1	iBu	Cbz	77
2	iBu	P(O)(OPh)2	84
3	iBu	t-BuSO2	81
4	iBu	Ns	54
5	iPr	Cbz	76
6	Ph	t-BuSO2	76
7	Ph		83

Xaa-ψ[CF=CH]-Xaa

The preparation of Xaa-ψ[CF-CH]-Xaa derivatives represents a synthetic challenge, as the stereochemistry of two side chains should be controlled during the synthesis. Here, the monofluoroalkenes can be access either by an olefination reaction or a S_N2’ reaction starting from 3,3-difluoropropenes. First, Miller reported the asymmetric synthesis of a monofluoroalkene using a chiral auxiliary (Scheme 13) [43]. The synthesis started with the alcohol protection of known compound 65 followed by chiral auxiliary removal and acylation of the resulting carboxylic acid. A HWE olefination was performed in two steps on 66 to give the (Z)-monofluoroalkene 67 as a single isomer (dr > 95:5). Conversion of the ester into the corresponding Weinreb amide, followed by addition of an organolithium reagent gave the corresponding ketone 69. Four further steps gave the ring skeleton for the proline residue of 71, i.e., formation of the chiral sulfinylimine, reduction into the corresponding sulfinylamine using DIBAL, deprotection of the terminal alcohol and Mitsunobu ring closure into the corresponding pyrrolidine derivative. Then, simultaneous deprotection of the amine and the alcohol in acidic conditions followed by coupling with Boc-Asp(OBn)-OH gave the final tripeptide isostere Boc-Asp(OBn)-Pro-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH)-Val-CH₂OH (72).

Scheme 13.

Synthesis of the tripeptide Boc-Asp(OBn)-Pro-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH)-Val-CH₂OH by Miller and co-workers.

In the last years, Taguchi and co-workers described the synthesis of the monofluoroalkenes 74 by S_N2’ reaction between 4,4-difluoro-5-hydroxyallylic alcohols 73 and Gilman reagent prepared in situ from trialkylaluminium reagents and CuLi (Scheme 14A) [44–45]. Even if the diastereoselectivity of the reaction was excellent, two problems remained. First, an excess of trialkylaluminium reagent and of copper had to be used. Second, trialkylaluminium reagents are not widely available. As an alternative, they proposed in 2011 a new synthetic route using Grignard reagents, which are widely available or can be easily synthetized in the laboratory (Scheme 14B) [46]. Unfortunately, these reagents did not react with the 4,4-difluoro-5-hydroxyallylic alcohols 73. Terminal 3,3-difluoropropenes 76 were then prepared starting from the commercially available protected chiral hydroxyl ester 75. Reduction to the aldehyde followed by coupling with bromodifluoropropene gave two diastereoisomers 76a and 76b separable by flash chromatography. Then, the copper-catalyzed defluorinative allylic alkylation using Grignard reagents was performed on 76a and monofluoroalkenes 77 were obtained in good yields and high selectivity. Claisen rearrangement and further modifications (hydrolysis of the trichloroacetoamide, Boc protection of the free amine, deprotection of the alcohol and Jones oxidation to give the carboxylic acid) afforded the final dipeptide isosteres 79a and 79b.

Scheme 14.

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of monofluoralkenes by Taguchi and co-workers.

The sultam Xs moiety has also been used as chiral auxiliary for the synthesis of Xaa-[CF=CH]-Xaa [37]. Otaka and co-workers developed a one-pot methodology to access amide isosteres at the C-terminal (Scheme 15) [47]. Cyanide-mediated reductive defluorination of γ,γ-difluoro-α,β-enoylsilane 80 in the presence of 18-crown-6 followed by addition of camphorsultam 81 gave the corresponding monofluoroalkene 82. Then, α-alkylation of the amide with either allyl bromide or benzyl bromide provided the corresponding dipeptide isosteres 83a and 83b. Interestingly, different amino acids, such as H₂N-Gly-OEt, H₂N-Val-OMe and H₂N-Pro-OMe, could be used instead of the sultam 81 to access tripeptide isosteres in a racemic manner (not shown).

Fujii and co-workers also used the sultam Xs as a chiral auxiliary but started their synthesis with 3,3-difluoropropenes bearing a N-enoyl sultam moiety 84 instead. A 3-key step strategy involving a copper-mediated reduction, a transmetalation and an asymmetric alkylation was adopted for the preparation of monofluoroalkenes 85 (Scheme 16). After some synthetic modifications, Fmoc-Orn(Ns)-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Orn(Ns) [48], Fmoc-Lys(Cbz)-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Lys(Cbz) [49] and Fmoc-Orn(Ns)-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Nal were obtained [50].

Scheme 16.

Copper-mediated reduction, transmetalation and asymmetric alkylation by Fujii and co-workers.

Fujii and co-workers also worked on the stereoselective synthesis of (E)-monofluoroalkenes (Scheme 17) [51]. To obtain a good selectivity towards the (E)-alkene, they relied on the copper-mediated reduction and the α-alkylation on the γ,γ-difluoro-α,β-unsaturated δ-lactam 86. Unfortunately, the α-alkylation provided a mixture of diastereoisomers 87a and 87b which was separable by flash chromatography. The dipeptide isostere 88 was finally obtained after the opening of the lactam 87b in acidic conditions and N-Boc protection.

Scheme 17.

Synthesis of (E)-monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isostere by Fujii and co-workers.

Xaa-ψ[CF=C]-Pro

The first asymmetric synthesis of Xaa-ψ[CF=C]-Pro was reported in 2012 by Chang’s group with the synthesis of MeOCO-Val-ψ[(Z)-CF=C]-Pro 93 (Scheme 18) [52]. Their synthesis started with a stereoselective aldol reaction using (L)-threonine to furnish a chiral β-hydroxy cyclopentanone 90. A HWE olefination converted 90 into (Z)-monofluoroalkene 91 without any significant selectivity. The chiral Ellman’s sulfinylimine 92 was obtained in 3 steps. The diastereoselective addition of isopropyllithium was then possible to afford the (L)-Leu residue with a moderate selectivity (dr = 75:25). Further modifications (removal of the sulfinyl group and the silyl protecting group in acidic conditions, transformation of the amine in methyl carbamate and oxidation of the primary alcohol into the corresponding carboxylic acid) gave the final isostere 93.

Scheme 18.

Diastereoselective synthesis of MeOCO-Val-ψ[(Z)-CF=C]-Pro isostere by Chang and co-workers.

In 2013, Pannecoucke and co-workers proposed a new strategy based on a chemoenzymatic reduction of ethyl 2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate (94) using Baker’s yeast to afford the corresponding chiral alcohol 95 (Scheme 19) [53]. Then, reduction of the ester into the primary alcohol, its selective protection by a silyl protecting group, oxidation of the secondary alcohol with pyridinium dichromate into the corresponding cyclopentanone derivative and subsequent olefination using CBr₃F gave the monofluoroalkene 96 with a modest selectivity towards the (Z)-alkene. A Negishi coupling then gave alkene 98. Stereoselective reductive amination using a chiral sulfonamide as chiral auxiliary afforded 99 (de > 98:2). Finally, group manipulations, i.e., deprotection of the amine, Fmoc reprotection and oxidation gave the isostere 100.

Scheme 19.

Asymmetric synthesis of Fmoc-Ala-ψ[(Z)-CF=C]-Pro by Pannecoucke and co-workers.

Then, Pannecoucke’s group proposed a modified and more versatile approach where the monofluoroalkene 102 was synthesized by a HWE olefination of the chiral cyclopentanone 101 (Scheme 20) [54]. The resulting ester was converted into the aldehyde and β-fluoroenimine 104 was obtained using Ellman’s conditions. At this stage, the lateral chain of the N-terminal residue was added by an alkylation reaction using a Grignard reagent to give 105. The last three steps (simultaneous deprotection of the amine and the alcohol in acidic conditions, Fmoc protection of the amine and oxidation of the alcohol into the corresponding carboxylic acid) led to the formation of three isosteres: Fmoc-Val-ψ[(E)-CF=C]-Pro (106a), Fmoc-Val-ψ[(Z)-CF=C]-Pro (106b) and Fmoc-Ala-ψ[(Z)-CF=C]-Pro.

Scheme 20.

Synthesis of Fmoc-Val-ψ[(E)-CF=C]-Pro by Pannecoucke and co-workers.

Applications

In this section, recent applications of monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres will be briefly described.

Chang’s group used the Val-ψ[(Z)-CF=C]-Pro isostere (see Scheme 18) to synthesize a fluorinated analogue of BMS-790052, which is a promising inhibitor of the non-structural protein NS5A, an interesting target of the chronic hepatitis C virus [52]. The monofluoroalkene replaced the amide group, and the use of a dipeptide isostere containing a proline residue favoured a γ-turn substructure which is necessary for the interaction with the NS5A protein. This fluorinated peptide isostere showed activity in the picomolar range against one genotype and did not exhibit any cytotoxicity (Figure 4).

Figure 4.

BMS-790052 and its fluorinated analogue.

Pannecoucke and co-workers synthesized three heptapeptides, Gly-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Phe-Ser-Phe-Arg-Phe-NH₂, Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe-Arg-Phe-NH₂ and Gly-ψ[(E)-CF=CH]-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe-Arg-Phe-NH₂ (see Scheme 7), representing the seven last amino acids of the neuropeptide 26Fra [34]. For the analogue containing the Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Phe isostere, epimerization was observed during last stages of the synthesis. The two diastereoisomers were separated after incorporation into the heptapeptide prior to biological studies, hence one had a D-Phe while the other had a L-Phe. The functional activity of the fluorinated mutants was evaluated by the calcium mobilizing response in GPR103-transfected cells. The peptides containing Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly or Gly-ψ[(E)-CF=CH]-Gly showed a higher activity than the non-fluorinated one, while an important decrease was observed for the peptides containing Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-D-Phe and Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-L-Phe (Table 3). These results underlined the importance of the Gly-Phe amide bond for the functional activity of the peptide. On the other hand, the fluorinated peptides showed a higher stability towards enzymatic degradation.

Table 3.

Activity towards the calcium mobilizing response in GPR103-transfected cells of different 26FRa analogues.

entry	pseudopeptides	EC50 (nM)
1	Gly-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe-Arg-Phe-NH2	(739 ± 149)
2	Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe-Arg-Phe-NH2	(618 ± 104)
3	Gly-ψ[(E)-CF=CH]-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe-Arg-Phe-NH2	(538 ± 13)
4	Gly-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-D-Phe-Ser-Phe-Arg-Phe-NH2	6752
5	Gly-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-L-Phe-Ser-Phe-Arg-Phe-NH2	(1720 ± 1010)

Fujii’s group studied several applications of monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres. First, the affinity of the monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres Phe-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly and Phe-ψ[(E)-CF=CH]-Gly for the peptide transporter PEPT1 was investigated (see Scheme 17) [51]. As the (Z)-monofluoroalkenes had a better bioactivity than the (E), the conclusion was that the transporter preferred the s-trans peptide bond. The K_i values obtained were also compared to the alkene analogues (Table 4).

Table 4.

K_i values of Phe-Gly and analogues based on inhibition of [³H]Gly-Sar uptake by PEPT1 in Caco-2 cells.

entry	pseudopeptides	Ki (mM)
1		0.205
2		0.853
3		1.34
4		>10.0
5		>10.0

Comparison between Phe-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly and Phe-ψ[(E)-CF=CH]-Gly isosteres and their alkene analogues was also performed in an antagonist activity study towards GPR54. The fluorinated isosteres were incorporated into pentapeptides using Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Similar results as above were obtained in the sense that the activity of the s-trans peptide bond isostere was superior and that the fluorinated pseudopeptides were not more active than the natural peptide or the alkene-containing pseudopeptides (Figure 5) [55].

Figure 5.

Bioactivities of pentapeptide analogues based on the relative maximum agonistic activity at 10 nM of the compound to 1 μM kisspeptin-10 (%). 100% = maximum agonistic activity at 1 μm kisspeptin-10.

Fujii and co-workers also prepared, without isomerization or epimerization, cyclic pseudopeptides using Fmoc SPPS [48,50]. Biological studies were conducted on monofluoroalkene-containing analogues of FC131, which is a known antagonist of the chemokine receptor CXCR4. The latter has implications in cancer metastasis and HIV 1 infection. Anti-HIV 1 activity of the fluorinated antagonists showed an acceptable EC₅₀ for the mutant containing Arg-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Arg, while the one containing Arg-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Nal (where NaI = L-3-(2-naphthyl)alanine) was not active (Table 5).

Table 5.

Anti-HIV activities of FC131 and its fluorinated derivatives against three HIV strains.

entry	pseudopeptides	EC50 (μM)
		NL4-3	IIIB	Ba-L
1		(0.014 ± 0.002)	(0.019 ± 0.003)	>10
2		(0.332 ± 0.073)	(0.403 ± 0.051)	>10
3		>10	>10	>10

Finally, incorporation at different positions of the monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isostere Lys-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Lys into a fusion inhibitory peptide active against HIV 1, SC29EK, was investigated [49]. Weak to moderate anti-HIV activity was observed for the fluorinated analogues, but the potency was always lower than for SC29EK. This suggested than the H-bonding behaviour was important for the activity (Table 6). Conformational studies of the fluorinated peptide using circular dichroism also showed that the incorporation of the monofluoroalkene did not perturb the formation of the secondary structure of the peptide, which was a α-helix.

Table 6.

Anti-HIV activities of SC29EK and its fluorinated derivatives against three HIV strains. The number indicates the position of the dipeptide isostere.

entry	pseudopeptides	EC50 (nM)
		NL4-3	IIIB	Ba-L
1	SC29EK	(2.2 ± 0.2)	(6.5 ± 0.9)	(1.9 ± 0.2)
2	SC29EK-6-Lys-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Lys	(5220 ± 202)	>10 000	(5580 ± 1920)
3	SC29EK-13-Lys-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Lys	(599 ± 96)	(3010 ± 554)	(600 ± 302)
4	SC29EK-20-Lys-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Lys	(663 ± 242)	(2200 ± 712)	(527 ± 95)
5	SC29EK-27-Lys-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Lys	(43 ± 7)	(237 ± 16)	(51 ± 7)

Dory and co-workers wanted to study the pentapeptide Leu-enkephaline, which can have analgesic properties when bounded to the DOPr receptor [36]. In order to study some derivative of the peptide, Fmoc-Gly-ψ[(Z-CF=CH]-Phe was synthesized (see Scheme 9). Using Fmoc SPPS, the fluorinated mutant was incorporated in the sequence of the Leu-enkephaline to obtain Tyr-Gly-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Phe-Leu. The fluorinated Leu-enkephaline presented a 6-fold decreased binding affinity towards the DOPr receptor that the non-fluorinated analogue, showing that a hydrogen bond acceptor is necessary at this position of the peptide (Figure 6). The fluorinated peptide also showed higher lipophilicity, which can improve its pharmacokinetic properties.

Figure 6.

Structures and affinities of the Leu-enkephalin and its fluorinated analogue. The affinity towards DOPr was measured by competitive binding assays.

Altman and co-workers also studied a fluorinated mutant of the Leu-enkephaline [41]. The isostere Boc-Tyr-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly (see Scheme 12) was coupled to a tripeptide to afford Boc-Tyr-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu. Then, the opioid activity was calculated towards the DOPr receptor and an EC₅₀ in the nanomolar range was observed (Figure 7). Even if this value represented a 60-fold decrease compared to the non-fluorinated peptide, it showed that the fluorinated peptide binds to the receptor and that the amide bond at this position was not necessary. Thus, Boc-Tyr-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu is shown to be a better isostere than Tyr-Gly-Gly-ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Phe-Leu for interactions with the DOPr receptor. The activity was also tested for the MOPr receptor, where it was lower than the Leu-enkephaline, and no activity was shown for the KOPr receptor.

Figure 7.

Activation of the opioid receptor DOPr by Leu-enkephaline and a fluorinated analogue.

Conclusion

Different methodologies to synthesize monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isosteres were developed since 2007. First, synthetic approaches to analogues in which there is no side chain or where the side chain stereochemistry is not controlled was discussed, either to obtain Gly-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly, Xaa-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly or Xaa-ψ[CF=C]-Pro. The synthesis of fluorinated isosteres with control of the stereochemistry at the side chain was then described, allowing the preparation of Gly-ψ[CF=CH]-Xaa, Xaa-ψ[CF=CH]-Gly, Xaa-ψ[CF=CH]-Xaa and Xaa-ψ[CF=C]-Pro. In both syntheses, control of the geometry of the fluoroalkene (i.e., Z vs E) was important. Finally, as the monofluoroalkene is of interest in medicinal chemistry as a non-hydrolyzable peptide bond isostere, some applications have been presented.

This article is part of the Thematic Series "Organo-fluorine chemistry IV".