Caged O-phosphorothioyl amino acids as building blocks for Fmoc-based solid phase peptide synthesis.

The synthesis of 1-(2-nitrophenylethyl) caged O-phosphorothioylserine, -threonine and -tyrosine derivatives is reported. These amino acid building blocks can be directly incorporated into peptides by Fmoc-based solid phase synthesis as their pentafluorophenyl esters or as symmetric anhydrides. Upon irradiation with UV light, the thiophosphate group, representing a hydrolysis resistant phosphate analog, is revealed.