Synthetic strategy for bicyclic tetrapeptides HDAC inhibitors using ring closing metathesis

Cyclic peptides show diverse biological activities and are considered as good therapeutic agents due to structural rigidity, receptor selectivity and biochemical stability. We have developed bicyclic tetrapeptide HDAC inhibitors based on different cyclic tetrapeptide scaffolds. For the synthesis of these bicyclic tetrapeptides, two cyclization steps, namely, peptide cyclization and fusion of aliphatic side chains by ring closing metathesis (RCM) were involved. In the course of these syntheses, we have established two facts: a lower limit of aliphatic loop length and better synthetic route for bicyclic tetrapeptide synthesis. It was found that nine methylene loop length is the lower limit for aliphatic loop and the synthetic route selection depended on the configuration of amino acids in the cyclic tetrapeptide scaffold. RCM followed by peptide cyclization was the proper route for LDLD configuration and the reverse route was suitable for LLLD configuration. Graphical Abstract Nine methylene units is the lower limit for aliphatic loop length and the synthetic route selection depends on the configuration of amino acids in the cyclic tetrapeptide scaffold. RCM followed by peptide cyclization is the proper route for LDLD configuration and reverse route for LLLD configuration.