3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl (Npys) group. A novel selective protecting group which can be activated for peptide bond formation.

The novel 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl (Npys) group, which is useful for the protection and the activation of amino and hydroxyl groups for peptide synthesis, is reported. The Npys group is readily introduced by treatment of amino acids with 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl chloride. The Npys group is easily removed by treatment with very dilute HCl, e.g. 0.1-0.2 N HCl in dioxane, but is is resistant to trifluoroacetic acid and 88% formic acid. Npys is also selectively removed under neutral conditions using triphenylphosphine or 2-pyridinethiol 1-oxide without affecting benzyloxycarbonyl (Z), tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), 2-(4-biphenylyl)propyl(2)oxycarbonyl (Bpoc), 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc), benzyl (Bzl) or tert-butyl (tBu) protecting groups. The N-Npys and O-Npys groups when activated in the presence of RCOOH by the addition of tertiary phosphine form peptide or ester bonds via oxidation-reduction condensation. The important features of the Npys group are demonstrated through the synthesis of peptides in solution and by solid phase methodology without a formal deprotection procedure. In solid phase synthesis, 4-(Npys-oxymethyl) phenylacetic acid is used as the key intermediate for the introduction of the trifluoroacetic acid resistant 4-(oxymethyl) phenylacetamido linking group to the resin.