Preparation of Boc-[S-(3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl)]-cysteine and its use for unsymmetrical disulfide bond formation.

The 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl (Npys) derivative of cysteine was prepared and used to facilitate the formation of an unsymmetrical disulfide bond. Since this derivative is stable in trifluoroacetic acid:CH2 Cl2 (1:1) and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, Boc-Cys(Npys) could be used directly in solid phase synthesis of the 14-peptide acetyl-Cys(Npys)-Gly-Glu-Gln-Gln-His-His-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ala-Lys-G ln-Ala-amide. Reaction of this peptide with the free thiol of another peptide, acetyl-Gly-Glu-Gln-His-His-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ala-Lys-Gln-Cys-amide, gave a single product containing an unsymmetrical disulfide bond. The amino acid composition of this product and HPLC analysis of its dithiothreitol reduction products were consistent with the desired heterodimer. As evidenced by HPLC, the mixed disulfide forms rapidly at alkaline pH and usefully over a wide pH range in aqueous buffers.