Multipin peptide synthesis at the micromole scale using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate grafted polyethylene supports

The multipin peptide synthesis procedure has been adapted to allow the synthesis of peptides at micromole loadings. The original solid pin support was replaced with a detachable crown-shaped polyethylene support with an increased surface area. In addition, the polyethylene crowns were radiation-grafted with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer instead of acrylic acid to yield hydroxy functionalised supports with a larger concentration of polymer and hence a large peptide capacity. Fmoc-β-Alanine was directly esterified to the HEMA hydroxy groups with subsequent addition of a diketopiperazine-forming handle for peptide attachment. Peptides varying in lenght from 10 to 25 residues were assembled at a number of loadings from 1.0 to 2.2 μmd. Purity of peptides at all loadings was equal to, and in some instances superior to, that achieved on conventional solid-phase supports. (au) (17 refs.)