Chemodivergent Manganese-Catalyzed C–H Activation: Modular Synthesis of Fluorogenic Probes

Bioorthogonal diversification of peptides is generally dependent on impractical prefunctionalization methods. Here, the authors develop a manganese(I)-catalyzed C–H fluorescent labeling with BODIPY probes, which enables the development of activatable fluorophores to image cell function

Late-stage peptide C–H alkylation for bioorthogonal C–H activation featuring solid phase peptide synthesis

Methods for the late-stage diversification of structurally complex peptides hold enormous potential for advances in drug discovery, agrochemistry and pharmaceutical industries. While C-H arylations emerged for peptide modifications, they are largely limited to highly reactive, expensive and/or toxic reagents, such as silver(I) salts, in superstoichiometric quantities. In sharp contrast, we herein establish the ruthenium(II)-catalyzed C-H alkylation on structurally complex peptides. The additive-free ruthenium(II)carboxylate C-H activation manifold is characterized by ample substrate scope, racemization-free conditions and the chemo-selective tolerance of otherwise reactive functional groups, such as electrophilic ketone, bromo, ester, amide and nitro substituents. Mechanistic studies by experiment and computation feature an acid-enabled C-H ruthenation, along with a notable protodemetalation step. The transformative peptide C-H activation regime sets the stage for peptide ligation in solution and proves viable in a bioorthogonal fashion for C-H alkylations on user-friendly supports by means of solid phase peptide syntheses.peerReviewe