Solid phase synthesis of peptides containing backbone-fluorinated amino acids

Backbone-fluorinated amino acids exhibit unique conformational behaviour, and have potential utility as components of bioactive shape-controlled peptides. However, methods for the elaboration of backbone-fluorinated amino acids have thus far been limited to solution phase peptide coupling reactions. In this paper, protocols are developed that allow the successful manipulation of backbone-fluorinated amino acids using Fmoc-strategy solid phase peptide synthesis. To exemplify this strategy, several fluorinated RGD peptide analogues were synthesised in moderate to good overall yields.