Synthesis of conjugated unsaturated Amino Acids

Abstract

Of the three main groups of biomolecules - lipids, carbohydrates and proteins - lipids and carbohydrates containing polyene functionalities have already been investigated. This thesis describes a first approach to the synthesis of polyene amino acids. Conjugated unsaturated amino acids could be interesting building blocks for the making of novel peptides and proteins with rigid structural elements and chromophoric properties. The first L-polyene amino acid was synthesized by a Wittig reaction between a protected glutamic acid aldehyde and a triphenylphosphonium salt of a C15:3-polyene compound.