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Cyanamide-Induced Desulfhydration Enables Access to α,β-Dehydropeptides

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Dehydroamino acids are found in natural products, disease-associated proteins, and are used for the diversification of proteins and peptides. The synthesis of peptide sequences containing dehydroamino acids remains nontrivial and only a few chemical methods allow for their incorporation. We report the conversion of amino acid residues bearing β-thiols into dehydroamino acids through the treatment of unprotected peptides and proteins with cyanamide under mild, fully aqueous conditions that are compatible with commonly used buffer salts.

Source: Organic Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.6c03312

Authors: Yi Yang, Songyi Xue, Ryan Moreira, Wilfred A. van der Donk

Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Language: English

Topic: Chemical Synthesis and Analysis

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Life Sciences Research Foundation, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

OpenAlex ID: W7164160696

FWCI:

Cites: 42

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Related to: 10