Building functionalized peptidomimetics: Use of electroauxiliaries for introducing N-acyliminium ions into peptides

A series of silyl-substituted amino acids have been synthesized, inserted into peptides, and then employed as precursors for oxidatively generating reactive N-acyliminium ions. Both electrochemical and chemical oxidation procedures have been employed. N-Acyliminium ion generation in a solid-phase substrate as well as application to a small library of functionalized dipeptides has been demonstrated. Limitations in terms of how electron-rich the silyl groups can be as well as the compatibility of multiple silyl groups within a longer peptide are defined.