Synthesis of Biologically Active Dicarba Analogues of the Peptide Hormone Oxytocin Using Ring-Closing Metathesis

Facile synthesis of cis and trans olefinic analogues of oxytocin 1 that have carbon in place of sulfur is achieved via ring-closing metathesis (RCM) on a resin-bound linear precursor peptide. Hydrogenation of the cis olefin, 3, proceeds selectively to generate the previously reported saturated derivative 5. Biological testing on rat uterus strips shows that cis compound 3 has an EC50 value of 38 ng/mL (EC50 for oxytocin is 2.7 ng/mL) whereas 5 and trans olefin 4 are less active. reaction--see text