Selective Modification of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post‐Translationally Modified Peptides (RiPPs) through Diels–Alder Cycloadditions on Dehydroalanine Residues

We report the late-stage chemical modification of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RIPPs) by Diels-Alder cycloadditions to naturally occurring dehydroalanines. The tail region of the thiopeptide thiostrepton could be modified selectively and efficiently under microwave heating and transition-metal-free conditions. The Diels-Alder adducts were isolated and the different site- and endo/exo isomers were identified by 1D/2D ¹ H NMR. Via efficient modification of the thiopeptide nosiheptide and the lanthipeptide nisin Z the generality of the method was established. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays of the purified thiostrepton Diels-Alder products against thiostrepton-susceptible strains displayed high activities comparable to that of native thiostrepton. These Diels-Alder products were also subjected successfully to inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reactions with a variety of functionalized tetrazines, demonstrating the utility of this method for labeling of RiPPs.