Towards a New SPE Material for EDCs: Fully Automated Synthesis of a Library of Tripodal Receptors Followed by Fast Screening by Affinity LC

A series of human estrogen receptor (hER) mimics were synthesised. On the basis of the knowledge on the structure of the hormone binding domain of the hER, three different peptide chains were constructed onto a tripodal scaffold. By using a fully automated solid‐phase synthesis protocol, 120 members with known identity were synthesised in only a week. Affinity towards estrogenic compounds was checked by affinity LC. For this purpose, ethinylestradiol was “clicked” onto a modified‐silica phase, and the obtained material was packed into an HPLC column. The results stemming from the affinity LC experiments were confirmed by clicking one library member to silica and by using this solid phase to extract different endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from aqueous media. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) A 120‐member parallel library of tripodal human estrogen receptor mimics was prepared. Screening of cleaved library members was performed by affinity LC by using a novel “clicked” estradiol silica HPLC column. Alternatively, alkyne‐derivatised library members were reattached on azido‐modified silica to construct solid‐phase extraction cartridges for extraction of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals.