H-Cys(phenyl)-OH is a cysteine-derived amino acid analogue featuring a thiol-containing side chain substituted with a phenyl group, along with a free primary amino group and a free carboxylic acid group on the α-carbon. The molecule bears a benzyl/phenyl-type thioether or thio-substituted sulfur functionality (as indicated by the phenyl substitution on the cysteine framework) that provides a distinct sulfur chemical environment relative to unmodified cysteine, while retaining the amino and carboxyl functionalities typical of amino acids. H-Cys(phenyl)-OH is employed as a building block for preparing modified peptides and peptide-related intermediates, and as a substrate or reference material in structure-activity studies and analytical method development where a phenyl-substituted cysteine side chain is required.
CAT No: CP27031
CAS No:34317-61-8
Synonyms/Alias:S-Phenyl-L-cysteine;34317-61-8;(R)-2-Amino-3-(phenylthio)propanoicacid;L-Cysteine,S-phenyl-;4-Thia-L-homophenylalanine;3-(Phenylthio)-L-Alanine;ST092360;S-Phenylcysteine;beta-Phenylcysteine;(2R)-2-amino-3-phenylthiopropanoicacid;H-Cys(phenyl)-OH;PubChem19031;AC1Q5QNH;AC1L3OV5;CHEMBL63062;SCHEMBL342512;530190_ALDRICH;CTK1C3415;MolPort-003-849-882;XYUBQWNJDIAEES-QMMMGPOBSA-N;ZINC403488;5437-52-5;AN-116;ANW-60723;AR-1L5460
H-Cys(phenyl)-OH is a chiral cysteine-derived amino acid bearing a phenyl-substituted side chain, with the canonical amino and carboxylic acid functionalities positioned for amino acid coupling chemistry. The molecule contains a stereogenic center at the alpha-carbon, and the side chain features a sulfur-containing nucleophile characteristic of cysteine chemistry, enabling thioether or thioester formation under appropriate conditions. The free carboxylic acid and free amino group can be selectively protected to control chemoselectivity during peptide bond formation, while the phenyl substituent influences hydrophobicity and aromatic reactivity in downstream transformations. As an amino acid-based intermediate, H-Cys(phenyl)-OH can be incorporated into synthetic sequences that require thiol-aware handling, stereochemical fidelity, and functionalized sulfur chemistry for peptide science and industrial fine chemical production.
1. Protected Amino Acids
H-Cys(phenyl)-OH is suitable for protected amino acid synthesis workflows where the amino and carboxyl groups are masked to enable controlled peptide coupling chemistry. The presence of a cysteine-like sulfur functionality supports thiol-compatible protecting-group strategies, while the alpha-amino and alpha-carboxyl groups can be converted into N-protected and C-protected derivatives for orthogonal deprotection schedules. The phenyl-bearing side chain can be retained through protection steps, allowing downstream side-chain derivatization without disturbing the aromatic motif. Protected amino acid derivatives derived from H-Cys(phenyl)-OH can serve as peptide building blocks and process intermediates for manufacturing routes that require reproducible stereochemical outcomes and predictable functional group reactivity.
2. Peptide Synthesis
H-Cys(phenyl)-OH is applicable to peptide synthesis and fragment assembly where a cysteine-derived residue with an aromatic side chain is required for thio-functional or hydrophobic sequence design. The alpha-amino and carboxyl groups participate in standard peptide coupling logic once protected appropriately, enabling formation of amide linkages while the sulfur functionality can be managed to prevent undesired oxidation or side reactions. The stereogenic center supports incorporation of a defined chiral configuration into peptide strands, which can be critical for conformational control in peptide analogs. The resulting peptide products can incorporate sulfur chemistry for later transformations such as thioether formation or thiol-directed conjugation, supporting downstream generation of peptide-based probes, crosslinking handles, and peptidomimetic scaffolds.
3. Chemical Biology Conjugation
H-Cys(phenyl)-OH is relevant to chemical biology workflows that require cysteine-aware conjugation chemistry and aromatic modulation of binding or labeling behavior. The sulfur functionality can be transformed into electrophilic or activated sulfur derivatives under controlled conditions, enabling selective coupling to nucleophilic partners in biomolecule labeling or probe construction. The free amino acid framework allows conversion into activated forms or protected intermediates that can be integrated into linker strategies for bioconjugation. The phenyl substituent can influence hydrophobic interactions and local microenvironment effects around the conjugation site, which may be leveraged when constructing labeling reagents, affinity tags, or chemically defined biomolecule derivatives from amino acid building blocks.
4. Peptidomimetics And SAR
H-Cys(phenyl)-OH is suitable for peptidomimetic construction and structure-activity relationship studies where a cysteine-derived, aromatic side chain can tune sterics, polarity, and conformational preferences. The alpha-chiral center enables stereochemically defined incorporation into analogs that model native or modified peptide residues, supporting comparative SAR investigations across stereoisomeric or side-chain variants. The sulfur functionality can be used as a chemical handle for converting to thioether, thioester, or other sulfur-containing motifs that preserve residue-like geometry while altering reactivity. The resulting analogs can be assembled into libraries of amino acid derivatives for fragment-based molecular design, enabling systematic exploration of how side-chain sulfur chemistry and phenyl substitution affect molecular recognition.
5. Process Chemistry Intermediates
H-Cys(phenyl)-OH can function as a chiral amino acid intermediate in process chemistry intermediate preparation for fine chemical synthesis. The combination of a protected amino acid-compatible backbone and a thiol-reactive sulfur group supports staged manufacturing sequences where chemoselective protection, activation, and controlled deprotection are used to manage reactivity. The phenyl substituent provides a defined hydrophobic element that can be carried through multi-step routes to reach downstream thio-functionalized products used in specialty chemical production. The compound's stereochemical integrity and functional group profile make it appropriate for designing scalable synthetic intermediates that feed peptide building blocks, sulfur-containing linkers, and other chiral amino acid derivative targets.
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