COMU: a safer and more effective replacement for benzotriazole-based uronium coupling reagents

Chemistry. 2009 Sep 21;15(37):9404-16. doi: 10.1002/chem.200900615.

Abstract

We describe a new family of uronium-type coupling reagents that differ in their iminium moieties and leaving groups. The presence of the morpholino group in conjunction with an oxime derivative--especially ethyl 2-cyano-2-(hydroxyimino)acetate (Oxyma)--had a marked influence on the solubilities, stabilities, and reactivities of the reagents. Finally, the new uronium salt derived from Oxyma (COMU) performed extremely well in the presence of only 1 equiv of base, thereby confirming the effect of the hydrogen bond acceptor in the reaction. COMU also showed a less hazardous safety profile than the benzotriazole-based HDMA and HDMB, which exhibited unpredictable autocatalytic decompositions. Furthermore, the Oxyma moiety contained in COMU suggests a lower risk of explosion than in the case of the benzotriazole derivatives.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aza Compounds / chemistry
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Digoxigenin / analogs & derivatives
  • Digoxigenin / chemistry
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Morpholines / chemistry*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemistry*
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Pregnadienes / chemistry
  • Succinimides / chemistry
  • Triazoles / chemistry*

Substances

  • (1-(cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethylideneaminooxy)-dimethylamino-morpholinomethylene)methanaminium hexafluorophosphate
  • Aza Compounds
  • Morpholines
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Peptides
  • Pregnadienes
  • Succinimides
  • Triazoles
  • N-hydroxysuccinimidyl digoxigenin-3-O-methylcarbonyl-epsilon-aminocaproate
  • oxyma
  • benzotriazole
  • 1-hydroxybenzotriazole
  • Digoxigenin
  • 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole