Synthesis of (2S,4S)- and (2S,4R)-5-fluoroleucine and (2S,4S)-[5,5-2H2]-5-fluoroleucine.

Syntheses of (2S,4S)- and (2S,4R)-5-fluoroleucine, and, and of (2S,4S)-[5,5-(2)H(2)]-5-fluoroleucine, have been completed. The methodology allows these compounds to be prepared in sufficient quantities for incorporation by solid-state protein synthesis into strategic sites in proteins for folding studies. X-ray structures of the epimers and have been obtained and show the presence of conformational isomerism. The torsion angles between the F-C bond and the main chain are compared with values found in a mutant of the protein ubiquitin in which (2S,4S)-5-fluoroleucine replaces leucine residues 50 and 67 in the native protein.

Synthesis of (2S,3S)-3'-fluoroisoleucine.

The fluorinated amino acid, (2S,3S)-3'-fluoroisoleucine 3, has been synthesised by a route involving stereoselective cuprate or photochemical addition to the compound 4, derived in turn from (2S)-pyroglutamic acid. This provides a reporter group for the hydrophobic amino acid (2S)-isoleucine for use in protein studies.