A Facile Fmoc Solid Phase Synthesis Strategy To Access Epimerization-Prone Biosynthetic Intermediates of Glycopeptide Antibiotics

A rapid protocol based on Fmoc-chemistry for the solid phase peptide synthesis of vancomycin- and teicoplanin-type peptides is described. Epimerization of highly racemization-prone arlyglycine derivatives is suppressed through optimized Fmoc-deprotection and coupling conditions. Starting from easily accessible Fmoc-protected amino acids, this strategy enables the enantioselective synthesis of peptides corresponding to intermediates found in vancomycin and teicoplanin biosynthesis with excellent purity and in high yields (38%-71%).