Peptide Synthesis

Abstract

The modern era of peptide synthesis began in 1932 with the introduction by Bergmann and Zervas of the carbobenzoxy derivative for the protection of the &-amino group of amino acids and peptides [91]. Before that time some peptides had been synthesized by methods that were laborious and very limited in their application. The introduction of the carbobenzoxy group provided protection for the amino function that could be removed under very mild conditions (catalytic hydro- genolysis), conditions which left the peptide bond unaffected. Today we have numerous other very useful protecting agents, and new and widely applicable coupling methods have been developed, but peptide synthesis is essentially the same procedure it was in 1932. The carbobenzoxy group is still one of the most widely used groups for protection of the amino function.