Application of Ring-Closing Metathesis for the Synthesis of Macrocyclic Peptidomimetics as Inhibitors of HCV NS3 Protease

An efficient synthetic approach for the preparation of macrocyclic peptidomimetics for inhibition of HCV NS3 is presented. The macrocyclic core is built using ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of a tripeptidic diene. The presented approach allows the introduction of heteroatoms in strategic places along the macrocyclic ring. The methyl ester moiety in the RCM products was synthetically manipulated to install a keto-amide moiety via a Passerini reaction.