L-Aspartic acid α-tert.butyl ester

L-Aspartic acid α-tert.butyl ester is an amino acid ester derived from the acidic amino acid aspartic acid, featuring a side-chain carboxylic acid and an α-carboxyl group converted to a tert-butyl ester while retaining the amino functionality. The molecule contains a free amino group and a tert-butyl ester moiety that masks the α-carboxyl as a protected ester, with the side-chain carboxyl remaining available for further derivatization or salt formation, and the stereochemistry is specified as L at the α-carbon. In peptide and amino acid chemistry, this ester is used as a protected aspartate building block to control chemoselectivity during stepwise synthesis and to support preparation of more complex aspartyl-containing intermediates and conjugates.

Designed for biological research and industrial applications, not intended for individual clinical or medical purposes.

CAT No: CP00448

CAS No:4125-93-3

Synonyms/Alias:H-Asp-OtBu;4125-93-3;(S)-3-Amino-4-(tert-butoxy)-4-oxobutanoicacid;L-Asparticacid1-tert-butylester;SCHEMBL375959;MolPort-005-938-093;PUWCNJZIFKBDJQ-YFKPBYRVSA-N;EBD48489;ZINC2526295;L-Asparticacid|A-tert.butylester;SBB065928;AM81597;AC-19185;AK-41698;AJ-112518;A6815;FT-0635143;ST24036129;V1208;(S)-2-Amino-succinicacid1-tert-butylester;K-8726;(3S)-3-amino-4-tert-butoxy-4-oxobutanoicacid;;I04-0873;I14-32625

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M.F/Formula
C8H15NO4
M.W/Mr.
189.2

L-Aspartic acid α-tert.butyl ester is an L-configured aspartate derivative in which the α-carboxyl group is converted to a tert-butyl ester while the side-chain carboxylic acid remains available for further functionalization. The molecule therefore presents a stereogenic α-carbon consistent with L-amino acid chemistry, along with two carboxyl functional groups that can be selectively protected, activated, or transformed depending on the coupling strategy. The tert-butyl ester is acid-labile and can be removed under conditions compatible with many peptide-synthesis protecting-group schemes, enabling controlled exposure of the α-carboxyl functionality for subsequent amide bond formation. The remaining side-chain carboxyl group can be used to build side-chain amide/ester motifs, generate aspartyl linkages, or serve as a handle for downstream derivatization in both synthetic and biochemical research workflows.

1. Protected Amino Acid Synthesis

L-Aspartic acid α-tert.butyl ester supports protected amino acid synthesis workflows where orthogonal protection and selective deprotection are required for clean peptide coupling sequences. The α-tert-butyl ester functions as a removable protecting group that can be deprotected to regenerate the α-carboxylic acid while preserving other protecting groups on the side chain and amine as needed. The L-aspartate stereochemistry enables stereodefined incorporation into peptide intermediates, minimizing epimerization risk during activation and coupling steps. Downstream use commonly includes preparing aspartyl building blocks for iterative chain assembly and generating protected intermediates for fine chemical synthesis where controlled functional-group exposure is required.

2. Peptide Coupling Chemistry

L-Aspartic acid α-tert.butyl ester is suitable for peptide synthesis chemistry targeting aspartate-containing sequences and aspartyl linkages in protected peptide fragments. The α-carboxyl ester can be activated after deprotection to participate in amide bond formation, while the side-chain carboxyl group can be selectively protected or converted to side-chain functional motifs to match the intended peptide architecture. The presence of two carboxyl groups enables design of orthogonally protected aspartic acid derivatives that support sequential coupling and selective side-chain modifications without cross-reactivity. Resulting peptide intermediates can be used to construct peptide libraries, generate defined peptide analogs, and support structure-activity relationship studies requiring stereochemically consistent aspartate residues.

3. Side-Chain Functionalization

L-Aspartic acid α-tert.butyl ester enables side-chain functionalization strategies that exploit the free aspartate β-carboxyl group for derivatization beyond simple peptide incorporation. The side-chain carboxyl can be transformed into activated esters, amides, or other carboxyl-derived functionalities, while the α-tert-butyl ester provides a chemically distinct site for orthogonal manipulation. The L-configuration and rigid aspartate framework can influence conformational preferences of resulting conjugates, which is relevant when generating peptidomimetics or carboxyl-functional scaffolds for subsequent coupling. Downstream products may include aspartyl-containing conjugation handles for biomolecule modification, polymer end-group functionalization, or synthetic intermediates used to access diverse carboxylate-based materials.

4. Chemical Biology Conjugation

L-Aspartic acid α-tert.butyl ester can be applied in chemical biology and biomolecule modification programs where aspartate-derived carboxyl handles are used to build defined conjugation motifs. The compound's carboxyl functionality supports formation of amide or ester linkages to introduce controlled acidic groups into peptide tags, probe scaffolds, or linker systems. The tert-butyl ester protecting group can be leveraged to stage deprotection and coupling so that only the intended carboxyl site reacts during conjugate assembly. Resulting aspartate-containing linkers and conjugation intermediates can be used to generate labeled peptides, affinity reagents, or molecular tools for studying biomolecular recognition and processive assembly.

5. Process Chemistry Intermediate

L-Aspartic acid α-tert.butyl ester serves as a practical process chemistry intermediate for manufacturing routes that require acid-labile ester protection to manage reactive carboxyl groups during multistep synthesis. The tert-butyl ester group provides a clear functional-group switch for controlled deprotection, supporting scalable synthesis of protected amino acid derivatives and peptide building blocks with predictable reactivity profiles. The L-aspartate backbone allows stereochemically consistent downstream transformations, including activation for coupling and selective side-chain derivatization under orthogonal protection schemes. Industrially relevant downstream utility includes preparation of fine chemical intermediates for peptide manufacturing workflows and aspartate-based specialty chemicals where staged functional-group exposure improves route control and reduces undesired side reactions.

6. Analytical Reference Standards

L-Aspartic acid α-tert.butyl ester can be employed in analytical research for method development and reference standard preparation involving aspartate derivatives and protected amino acid esters. The defined stereochemistry and characteristic tert-butyl ester functionality make the compound suitable for monitoring ester stability, deprotection behavior, and conversion of protected carboxyl groups during synthesis. The dual carboxyl motif supports targeted derivatization strategies that can generate measurable analytical signals for LC-MS, HPLC, or related characterization workflows. Downstream use includes preparing calibration materials for tracking protected amino acid intermediates and verifying identity and functional-group integrity in peptide synthesis and amino acid derivatization studies.

Abbr
H-Asp-OtBu
InChI
1S/C8H15NO4/c1-8(2,3)13-7(12)5(9)4-6(10)11/h5H,4,9H2,1-3H3,(H,10,11)/t5-/m0/s1
InChI Key
PUWCNJZIFKBDJQ-YFKPBYRVSA-N
Canonical SMILES
CC(C)(C)OC(=O)C(CC(=O)O)N

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