Method for peptide synthesis and apparatus for carrying out a method for solid phase synthesis of peptides

1. A method of forming protecting groups on functional groups during water-based peptide synthesis, the method comprising using a protective agent,

wherein the protective agent comprises

a) a backbone structure,

b) at least two water-solubility enhancing functional groups and

c) at least one reactive group,

wherein the backbone structure comprises a moiety selected from the group consisting of 9-methylfluorene, and/or di- or triphenylmethane,

wherein the at least two water-solubility enhancing functional groups are selected from SO 3 − , PO 3 2− , N(CH 3 ) 2 , N(CH 3 ) 3 + , CN, OSO 3 − ester, OPO 3 2− ester and combinations thereof, and

wherein the water-solubility enhancing functional group and the reactive group are attached to the backbone structure via at least one covalent bond,

for protecting a functional group in a water-based reaction of a first amino acid or first peptide with an α-amine protected second amino acid or α-amine protected second peptide,

wherein the protective agent forms protecting groups on at least one of said α-amino functional group during the water-based reaction of said first amino acid or first peptide with said α-amine protected second amino acid or α-amine protected second peptide, and

wherein the C-terminus of said first amino acid or first peptide is anchored to an insoluble support.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the functional group to be protected is further selected from amine, alcohol, thiol and carboxyl groups.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the reactive group is selected from the group consisting of oxycarbonyl halogenide, oxycarbonyl Oxyma ester, oxycarbonyl O-succinimide, oxycarbonyl anhydride, halogenide, hydroxide and thiol groups.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the water solubility-enhancing functional group is SO 3 − .

5. Protective agent suitable for forming protecting groups on functional groups on a peptide and/or amino acid during water based peptide synthesis,

wherein the protective agent comprises

a) a backbone structure,

b) at least two water-solubility enhancing functional group and

c) at least one reactive group,

wherein the backbone structure comprises a moiety selected from the group consisting of 9-methylfluorene, t-butane and/or mono-, di or triphenylmethane,

wherein the water-solubility enhancing functional group is selected from the group consisting of SO 3 − , PO 3 2− , N(CH 3 ) 2 , N(CH 3 ) 3 + , CN, OSO 3 − ester, OPO 3 2− ester and combinations thereof, and

wherein the water-solubility enhancing functional group and the reactive group are attached to the backbone structure via at least one covalent bond.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the protective agent has the following formula

wherein R2 and R7 are SO 3 − and R1, R3 to R6 and R8 are hydrogen, or R3 and R6 are SO 3 − and R1, R2, R4, RS, R7 and R8 are hydrogen, and

wherein R99 is selected from the group consisting of oxycarbonyl halogenide, oxycarbonyl O-succinimide, oxycarbonyl Oxyma ester, oxycarbonyl anhydride, halogenide, oxymethyl halogenide, hydroxide and thiol groups.

7. Protective agent according to claim 5 , having the following formula

wherein R2 and R7 are SO 3 − and R1, R3 to R6 and R8 are hydrogen, or R3 and R6 are SO 3 − and R1, R2, R4, R5, R7 and R8 are hydrogen, and

wherein R99 is selected from the group consisting of oxycarbonyl halogenide, oxycarbonyl O-succinimide, oxycarbonyl Oxyma ester, oxycarbonyl anhydride, halogenide, oxymethyl halogenide, hydroxide and thiol groups.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protective agent is used for forming protecting groups on functional groups on amino acids or peptides during water based peptide synthesis, and wherein the method comprises water-based reaction of a first amino acid or first peptide with an α-amine protected second amino acid or second peptide, wherein the second amino acid and/or second peptide is protected by protecting groups formed by the protective agent.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protective agent is used for forming protecting groups on functional groups on amino acids or peptides during water based peptide synthesis, and wherein the method further comprises deprotecting the functional groups and repeating the reaction and deprotection using further amino acids or peptides.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said water based peptide synthesis is a peptide synthesis in a solvent limited to a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, alcohol and mixtures of water and alcohol; and wherein the protective agent enhances solubility of said second peptide or said second amino acid in said solvent.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, prior to reacting said second peptide or said second amino acid with said first peptide or said first amino acid in said solvent, protecting said at least one of said α-amino functional group of said second peptide or said second amino acid with said protective agent.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the backbone structure comprises a 9-methylfluorene moiety.

13. A method of forming protecting groups on functional groups during water-based peptide synthesis, the method comprising using a protective agent,

wherein the protective agent comprises

a) a backbone structure,

b) at least two water-solubility enhancing functional groups and

c) at least one reactive group,

wherein the backbone structure comprises a moiety selected from the group consisting of 9-methylfluorene, and/or di- or triphenylmethane,

wherein the water-solubility enhancing functional groups are selected from SO 3 − , PO 3 2− , N(CH 3 ) 2 , N(CH 3 ) 3 + , CN, OSO 3 − ester, OPO 3 2− ester and combinations thereof, and

wherein the water-solubility enhancing functional group and the reactive group are attached to the backbone structure via at least one covalent bond,

for protecting a functional group in a water-based reaction of a first amino acid or first peptide with an α-amine protected second amino acid or α-amine protected second peptide,

wherein said water based peptide synthesis is a peptide synthesis in a solvent limited to a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, alcohol and mixtures of water and alcohol; and wherein the protective agent enhances solubility of said second peptide or said second amino acid in said solvent, wherein using said protective agent for protecting a functional group in said water-based reaction comprises protecting said at least one of said α-amino functional group of said second peptide or said second amino acid with said protective agent prior to coupling said second peptide or said second amino acid with said first peptide or said first amino acid in said solvent.