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A Second Breakthrough: New Methods for the Formation of the Peptide Bond

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The World of Peptides

Abstract

To some extent it is surprising that in the first half of this century so little attention was paid to methods of coupling. A reasonable explanation for this neglect and delay could be the effectiveness of the acid azides of Curtius and the acid chlorides of E. Fischer in the formation of the peptide bond. Most of the desired bonds could be secured without fail and for a long period the principal obstacle in the development of peptide synthesis remained the lack of suitable, readily removable blocking groups. When this barrier was finally removed in the 1930s (cf. Chap. 3) the incentive needed for intensive research toward improved coupling methods was still missing. The elucidation of the structure of excitingly interesting peptides, such as insulin, oxytocin or angiotensin, all within a few years in the early 1950s, provided the necessary stimulus for studies in the methodology of synthesis. Yet, even before these tangible objectives became apparent a certain inspiration was offered by the explosive growth of knowledge in biochemistry at about the same time. The reactive intermediates recognized in biological processes involving acylation revealed a degree of sophistication not seen in the methods generally used in the organic laboratory. Hence biomimetic procedures became both attractive and challenging.

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  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Medizinische Forschung, Jahnstraße 29, 6900, Heidelberg, Germany

    Professor Dr. Theodor Wieland

  2. One Markham Road 1E, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA

    Professor Dr. Miklos Bodanszky

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  1. Professor Dr. Theodor Wieland
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Wieland, T., Bodanszky, M. (1991). A Second Breakthrough: New Methods for the Formation of the Peptide Bond. In: The World of Peptides. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75850-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75850-8_4

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