Abstract
M.Sc.
The aim of this project was the synthesis of viridamine analogues, to be used for selective
metal complexation. This, therefore, required the synthesis of diketopiperazines,
containing an imidazole-type side chain. The imidazole functionality was introduced into
the synthesis via peptide acid coupling reaction between histidine and another amino
acid. Before any coupling reactions were possible it was necessary to protect the
carboxylic acid functionality of one of the two amino acids being used and the amine
functionality of the other. This was to prevent mixed products forming.
Owing to the continued difficulty at achieving selective N-protection of histidine, it was
decided to make use of the corresponding methyl ester instead. After some initial
attempts, it was found that the methyl ester of histidine, which was bought as the
dihydrochloride salt, could be readily coupled to a variety of Boc protected amino acids.
The Boc protected amino acids could be prepared under various conditions using di-tertbutyl
dicarbonate.
A range of conditions was investigated for the coupling of the two amino acids, i.e. the
histidine methyl ester dihydrochloride and a Boc protected amino acid. Successful
coupling was finally achieved using tetrahydrofuran as solvent, N-hydroxy benzotriazole
as reaction promoter, N-methyl morpholine as a base and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as
the coupling agent. After varying the reaction conditions the optimised reaction
conditions gave yields in the region of 76%.
Once coupling had been achieved, it remained to cyclise the dipeptide. Cyclisation was
preceded by the removal of the Boc protecting group either in situ or in a two step
process. In the absence of the imidazole functionality, removal of the Boc group was
readily achieved using trifluoroacetic acid. However, attempted deprotection of
dipeptides containing the imidazole functionality led to decomposition of the dipeptide
under identical conditions. It was therefore necessary to find an alternative form of
deprotection. This was found in the form of formic acid, which proved to be successful
in removing the Boc group and in effecting cyclisation to the analogous diketopiperazine.
This particular form of in situ cyclisation proved to be very low yielding. This problem
was circumvented by following the formic acid treatment by a period of reflux in a
toluene I 2-butanol mixture. Cyclisation was effected with pure products being obtained
in high yield, after column chromatography.
Complexation reactions were initiated with the synthesised diketopiperazines but
unfortunately no X-Ray diffraction studies could be carried out, due to the formation of
amorphous solids instead of crystalline materials.