Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Peptide-Boronic Acids by a Versatile Building-Block Approach
Christian Klein reports on the synthesis of peptide-boronic acids by a versatile building-block approach.
Serine proteases fulfil multiple roles in biology, ranging from digestive functions in humans to the replication of viruses. The inhibition of these enzymes can therefore induce numerous pharmacological effects. The work of Professor Christian Klein’s group at Heidelberg University (Germany) has been motivated by their interest in peptide-boronic acids (PBAs) as serine protease inhibitors. Their focus is on viral serine proteases, such as from the dengue, Zika, and West Nile viruses, where peptide-boronic acids were instrumental in the determination of crystal structures. According to Professor Klein “the synthesis of these peptide-boronic acids from our group was highly challenging, involving multiple steps and encountering obstacles caused by, for example, difficulties in removing the pinanediol or pinacol protecting groups from the boronic acid function.”
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