Fragments of Peptoid 1:Synthesis of N-Substituted Glycine Monomers

Peptoids are N-substituted glycine oligomers comprising multiple biomedical applications. In particular, they are used in nanotechnological approaches. In this context, their application is typically focused on larger oligomers, which form two-dimensional structures, but are difficult to be synthesized. However, a short peptoid of three N-substituted glycine building blocks, referred to as peptoid 1, is known to inhibit the proapoptotic protein APAF1. Herein, we report on the preparation of various peptoidic building blocks of peptoid 1. The synthesis was conducted by alkylation of two different amine components, 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethylamine and 3,3-diphenylpropylamine with tert-butyl bromoacetate, benzyl bromoacetate, and 2-bromoacetamide, respectively. The resulting glycine derivatives have been characterized by NMR and LC/MS data. The new peptoid units will be provided to biochemical studies, e.g. to the evaluation of protease-inhibiting properties, in order to perform a fragment-based approach.