Solvent-free synthesis of peptides

Abstract

Chamical Equation Presentation A crush on sweetness! The coupling of a urethane-protected N-carboxyanhydride of an amino acid with another amino acid derivative under ball-milling conditions gives a protected dipeptide in very high yield (see scheme; PG: protecting group). The reaction takes place in the solid state. The synthesis was applied to the preparation of a tri peptide and the sweetener aspartame, without any organic solvent or purification. © 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.