Organophosphorus and nitro-substituted sulfonate esters of 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole as highly efficient fast-acting peptide coupling reagents.

Organophosphorus esters 9, 10, 14, and 15 prepared via reaction of diethyl- and diphenylphosphoryl chloride, di(o-tolyl)phosphinyl chloride, and 2,8-dimethylphenoxaphosphinyl chloride with HOAt are excellent coupling reagents for peptide synthesis which are generally superior to their uronium/guanidinium analogues and HOBt- or HODhbt-derived phosphate ester counterparts in minimizing loss of configuration during segment coupling. The phosphinyl analogues are more shelf-stable than the phosphoryl systems. The new reagents have been tested in segment couplings leading to two tripeptides (20, 21) and a hexapeptide 22.

3-Hydroxy-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-5-azabenzo-1,2,3-triazene.

The known but long-neglected compound HODhat was shown to be in certain situations a useful peptide coupling additive. Uronium and phosphonium salts with HODhat built into the system were also useful stand-alone coupling reagents. Comparisons with related additives and coupling reagents showed that the new systems were sometimes more and sometimes less effective than previously described systems in the case of stepwise and segment couplings.