H-D-1-Nal-OH is a D-configured amino acid derivative featuring an indole-like 1-naphthyl (Nal) side chain attached to the amino acid backbone, classifying it as a non-proteinogenic aromatic amino acid analog. The molecule bears a free amino group (H-) and a free carboxylic acid (-OH) while the aromatic side chain provides a hydrophobic, π-rich functionality that can participate in noncovalent interactions during peptide or ligand formation. H-D-1-Nal-OH is used as a building block in chemical synthesis and structure-activity studies where incorporation of an aromatic Nal side chain is used to tune binding, labeling, or physicochemical properties of amino acid and peptide derivatives.
CAT No: CP27471
CAS No:78306-92-0
Synonyms/Alias:78306-92-0;3-(1-Naphthyl)-D-alanine;D-1-Naphthylalanine;H-D-1-Nal-OH;(R)-2-AMINO-3-(NAPHTHALEN-1-YL)PROPANOIC ACID;(2R)-2-amino-3-naphthalen-1-ylpropanoic acid;3-(1-NAPHTHYL)-D-ALA;(2R)-2-amino-3-(naphthalen-1-yl)propanoic acid;(2R)-2-azaniumyl-3-naphthalen-1-ylpropanoate;MFCD00038544;SCHEMBL660499;(2R)-2-AMINO-3-(NAPHTH-1-YL)PROPANOIC ACID;H-D-ALA(1-NAPH)-OH;AKOS017482146;D-1-Naphthylalanine (H-D-1Nal-OH);AC-5877;PS-3747;CS-0146968;F12291;EN300-1692426;
H-D-1-Nal-OH is a deuterium-labeled amino acid derivative featuring a D-configured stereocenter and a 1-naphthyl (Nal) side chain, with the alpha-amino group and carboxylic acid present as a free amino acid (H- and -OH). The aromatic naphthalene ring provides strong hydrophobic and pi-interaction characteristics that can influence binding in peptide and small-molecule contexts, while the deuterium label supports kinetic, mechanistic, and NMR-based tracking of incorporation or transformation. The free carboxylic acid and amino functionality enable standard amino acid coupling chemistry and downstream derivatization without requiring immediate conversion to an ester or protected acid form. The stereochemical definition of the D-amino acid intermediate makes it suitable for stereocontrolled peptide building block preparation and for studies where enantiomer-specific behavior is monitored.
1. Peptide Synthesis
H-D-1-Nal-OH serves as a chiral amino acid building block for peptide coupling chemistry in solid-phase or solution-phase workflows. The free alpha-amino and carboxyl groups can be incorporated into peptide sequences after appropriate protection of the amine and activation of the acid, enabling amide bond formation with common coupling reagents used for amino acid derivatives. The 1-naphthyl side chain functions as a hydrophobic aromatic handle that can be used to modulate folding propensity, membrane affinity, or receptor contact patterns in peptide analogs. Deuterium labeling at the alpha position can be retained through coupling and later used to monitor incorporation, quantify exchange processes, or distinguish labeled fragments in analytical readouts. H-D-1-Nal-OH thus supports stereodefined peptide construction and structure-function studies where aromatic side-chain effects and isotopic traceability are required.
2. Chemical Biology Probes
H-D-1-Nal-OH is suitable for chemical biology research that relies on aromatic amino acid analogs and isotopic labeling for mechanistic interrogation. The naphthyl side chain can participate in noncovalent binding and can serve as a reporter-like pharmacophore when incorporated into peptide-based probes or small-molecule mimetics. The D-stereochemistry enables enantiomer-specific probe design, supporting experiments that compare stereochemical requirements for binding or enzyme recognition. The deuterium label can be leveraged for kinetic isotope effect measurements, mass spectrometric discrimination, or NMR signal differentiation during probe uptake, metabolism, or cleavage studies. H-D-1-Nal-OH thereby functions as an amino acid-derived probe intermediate for biochemical research intermediate preparation and mechanistic mapping.
3. Deuterated SAR Studies
H-D-1-Nal-OH is applicable to structure-activity relationship (SAR) investigations where stereochemistry and isotopic substitution are used to resolve contributions from specific molecular motions or bond-making events. The D-configured alpha-carbon and the deuterium label can be incorporated into analog series to test whether rate-limiting steps or binding dynamics depend on the labeled position. The 1-naphthyl side chain provides a consistent aromatic motif across analogs, facilitating controlled comparisons of side-chain hydrophobicity and pi-interaction patterns. The free amino acid format enables systematic derivatization into protected intermediates for parallel synthesis of peptide or peptidomimetic scaffolds. H-D-1-Nal-OH supports deuterated amino acid derivatization strategies that connect stereodefined chemistry to downstream SAR readouts.
4. Protected Amino Acid Chemistry
H-D-1-Nal-OH can be transformed into protected amino acid derivatives for compatibility with peptide coupling and industrial intermediate manufacturing routes. The alpha-amino group can be converted to an N-protected form, while the carboxylic acid can be activated or temporarily protected to control chemoselectivity during multi-step syntheses. The aromatic Nal side chain is stable under many standard protection and deprotection conditions, enabling orthogonal strategies that preserve the deuterium label and D-configuration. The resulting protected amino acid intermediates can be used for rapid assembly of peptide building block preparations, including C-terminal modifications and side-chain-functionalized analog generation. H-D-1-Nal-OH therefore serves as a stereodefined starting point for protected amino acid synthesis and downstream fine chemical production.
5. Analytical Standards And Tracing
H-D-1-Nal-OH is suitable for analytical research requiring deuterated amino acid standards and traceable reference materials. The combination of a defined D-stereocenter and deuterium label supports unambiguous identification by mass spectrometry and can improve discrimination against unlabeled Nal-containing amino acids in complex matrices. The free amino acid functionality allows conversion into derivatives compatible with chromatography or derivatization-based analytical workflows used to quantify incorporation into peptides or degradation products. The naphthyl side chain provides strong UV absorbance and can enhance detectability in chromatographic methods, supporting method development for peptide and peptidomimetic analysis. H-D-1-Nal-OH thus functions as a reliable amino acid-based intermediate for isotope-labeling studies, analytical standard development, and biochemical sample tracing.
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