Methods for Enhancing Ring Closing Metathesis Yield in Peptides: Synthesis of a Dicarba Human Growth Hormone Fragment

Ruthenium-alkylidene catalysed ring closing metathesis (RCM) provides a convenient method for the synthesis of cyclic dicarba peptide analogues. Sequences devoid of turn-inducing residues, however, can often fail to cyclise. A combination of pseudoproline (IPro) insertion and microwave irradiation can be used to enhance RCM yield in these problematic sequences. This strategy is illustrated in the synthesis of a dicarba human growth hormone (hGH) fragment. The structural changes associated with cystine to dicarba replacement were found to change the metabolic profile of the peptide.