Efficient Procedure for the Preparation of Oligomer-Free Nα-Fmoc Amino Acids

A two-step method is presented for the peptide-free, high-purity, and high-yield synthesis of N-Fmoc amino acids. The first step involves the preparation of stable dicyclohexylammonium-amino acid ionic adduct in acetone. Subsequently, the ionic adducts, on reaction with Fmoc-Nosu under mild alkaline conditions, give dipeptide-free N-Fmoc amino acids. The positive charge of the dicyclohexylammonium counterion in the ionic salt has a longer radius, moderating the nucleophilicity of the carboxylate ion of the amino acid and preventing by-products by arresting the formation of mixed anhydrides, the precursors of oligopeptide impurities.