Synthesis of a selenocysteine-containing peptide by native chemical ligation

(equation presented) A new method for the synthesis of selenocysteine derivatives and selenocysteine-containing peptides is described. Fmoc-Se-p-methoxybenzylselenocysteine (1) was prepared and used for solid-phase synthesis of peptides with an N-terminal unprotected selenocysteine. Subsequent native chemical ligation with a peptide thioester provided a 17-mer that corresponds to the C-terminus of ribonucleotide reductase with selenocysteine in place of cysteine.