H-alpha-Me-D-Asp(tBu)-OH is a D-configured, non-proteinogenic amino acid derivative of aspartic acid bearing an alpha-methyl substituent and a tert-butyl-protected side-chain carboxyl group, classifying it as an amino acid with a modified backbone and protected acidic functionality. The molecule contains a free amino group and a free carboxylic acid at the alpha position, while the side-chain terminus is masked as a tert-butyl ester (Asp(tBu)), and the alpha-methyl substitution alters steric and conformational properties relative to unmodified aspartate. In peptide and amino acid derivative synthesis, this protected, sterically modified Asp analogue is used as a defined building block to introduce an aspartate-like residue with controlled side-chain deprotection behavior and to support structure-activity studies, chemical labeling, or analytical preparation of aspartate-containing peptide intermediates.
CAT No: CP25239
CAS No:1231709-25-3
Synonyms/Alias:MolPort-023-223-484;ZINC36914702;(R)-alpha-Methylasparticacid-4-(tert-butyl)ester;1231709-25-3
Chemical Name:alpha-Methyl-D-aspartic acid beta-t-butyl ester
H-alpha-Me-D-Asp(tBu)-OH is a chiral D-aspartic acid derivative bearing an alpha-methyl substituent and a tert-butyl-protected side-chain carboxyl group, giving a protected amino acid framework with defined stereochemistry at the alpha carbon. The molecule contains a free carboxylic acid at the C-terminus (as the hydroxyl-bearing acid) and a protected side-chain carboxyl (tBu ester), which together modulate polarity and control chemoselective coupling behavior. The alpha-methyl group can influence conformational preferences during peptide bond formation and can serve as a steric handle for stereochemically defined peptidomimetic design. The presence of a single stereogenic center and the protected acid functionality make it well suited for stepwise protection/deprotection strategies and downstream conversion into peptide building blocks or synthetic intermediates.
1. Peptide Synthesis
H-alpha-Me-D-Asp(tBu)-OH supports peptide coupling workflows where a protected aspartate side chain is required to prevent undesired side reactions during chain assembly. The D-configuration and alpha-methyl substitution provide stereochemical control at the amino acid backbone, while the tert-butyl ester on the side-chain carboxyl helps maintain orthogonality with the free carboxylic acid for selective activation and coupling. The compound can be employed as a residue for generating Asp-derived peptide segments in solution-phase or solid-phase synthesis, where side-chain deprotection can be scheduled after peptide bond formation. The resulting Asp-containing peptides can then be used for structure-activity relationship studies, peptide analog libraries, and stereochemically defined backbone investigations in peptide science.
2. Peptidomimetics And SAR
H-alpha-Me-D-Asp(tBu)-OH can be applied in peptidomimetic construction and SAR studies that require controlled placement of a methylated alpha-carbon adjacent to an aspartate motif. The alpha-methyl group can bias local backbone geometry and can affect hydrogen-bonding patterns around the carboxylate functionality once the tert-butyl group is removed. The protected side-chain carboxyl enables late-stage functionalization or incorporation into larger scaffolds without premature formation of reactive carboxylates. Downstream derivatives may include side-chain carboxylate activation products for amide or ester formation, enabling systematic SAR mapping of stereochemistry and conformational effects in amino acid-derived molecular designs.
3. Protected Amino Acid Chemistry
H-alpha-Me-D-Asp(tBu)-OH functions as a chiral protected amino acid intermediate for chemoselective protection-group management in amino acid derivative synthesis. The tert-butyl ester on the side-chain carboxyl provides a clear deprotection handle compatible with orthogonal strategies, allowing sequential unmasking of carboxyl functionalities when building complex molecules. The free C-terminal carboxylic acid and the amino functionality enable conversion into activated derivatives for peptide coupling or for generating acylation reagents under controlled conditions. The D-stereochemistry and alpha-methyl substitution make the compound suitable for preparing defined stereochemical intermediates used in protected amino acid synthesis, chiral building block development, and downstream synthetic methodology development.
4. Chemical Biology Labeling
H-alpha-Me-D-Asp(tBu)-OH can be utilized in chemical biology research where aspartate-like motifs are incorporated into probes, substrates, or affinity reagents with controlled stereochemistry. The molecule's protected side-chain carboxyl allows incorporation into larger constructs while minimizing uncontrolled anion formation during synthesis, and subsequent deprotection can reveal a carboxylate for charge-directed interactions or conjugation chemistry. The D-alpha-methylated backbone can support the creation of stereochemically constrained analogs that may be used to probe binding-site preferences or substrate recognition patterns in biochemical assays. The resulting labeled or conjugatable derivatives can serve as tools for molecular recognition studies, enzyme-substrate mapping, and biomolecular interaction investigations.
5. Pharmaceutical Intermediate Preparation
H-alpha-Me-D-Asp(tBu)-OH is suitable for pharmaceutical intermediate preparation in fine chemical synthesis routes that require stereochemically defined aspartate-derived fragments. The protected side-chain carboxyl (tBu) supports manufacturing-friendly handling by reducing premature cross-reactivity, while the chiral alpha-methyl center provides a defined structural element for medicinal chemistry programs. The compound can be transformed into activated carboxyl derivatives for amide coupling steps that build drug-like scaffolds containing aspartate or aspartate-mimicking motifs. The ability to unmask the side-chain carboxyl after scaffold assembly supports modular synthesis planning for larger intermediates used in applied product development and industrial chemical manufacturing workflows.
6. Process Chemistry Intermediate
H-alpha-Me-D-Asp(tBu)-OH can be employed as a process chemistry intermediate where orthogonal functional group protection supports scalable synthetic sequencing. The tert-butyl-protected side-chain carboxyl offers a practical protection strategy for minimizing side reactions during activation and coupling, while the alpha-methyl substitution contributes to stereochemical fidelity in downstream transformations. The free carboxylic acid enables controlled activation to form coupling-ready intermediates, supporting manufacturing routes that assemble peptide-like fragments or carboxylate-bearing building blocks. The compound's defined stereochemistry and protected group profile make it compatible with iterative intermediate generation for specialty chemical production, including the preparation of chiral amino acid derivatives used in peptide science and industrial synthesis of functional molecules.
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