Synthesis of redox-active fluorinated 5-hydroxytryptophans as molecular reporters for biological electron transfer.

Fluorinated 5-hydroxytryptophans (Fn-5HOWs) were synthesized in gram scale quantities and incorporated into a ß-hairpin peptide and the protein azurin. The redox-active Fn-5HOWs exhibit unique radical spectroscopic signatures that expand the function of as probes for biological electron transfer.