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 The word ‘synthesis’
is derived from the Greek suntithenai (meaning putting together).
Organic synthesis is the systematic building of organic molecules
through chemical reactions involving the making or breaking of
bonds. It has enabled the replication of almost any substance
found in nature, the design of new chemicals to fulfill specific
needs (for example, medicines, fuel, or structural material), and
even the prediction of the properties of a target molecule.
Organic synthesis is
important because, not only can natural products be expensive,
they are often difficult to extract and purify from natural
sources. They, therefore, need to be mimicked by synthesis from
less-expensive or more available raw material. Examples of such
products include aspirin and Vitamin C. Additionally, many
synthetic substances like certain drugs, agro products, plastics,
and polymers, have novel properties that make them especially
useful.
However,
synthesizing structurally complex organic molecules is not easy.
An organic chemist's task is often limited by the availability of
starting materials, and an imperfect knowledge of their
possibilities and limitations. Additionally, the synthetic
compound should be safe, environmentally acceptable, and
cost-effective. Such challenges call for new reagents, new
strategies and a new science altogether. This article explores the
advantages of incorporating synthetic alpha (œ)-amino acids into
peptides, for the preparation of therapeutically superior
compounds.
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The Origins
The first chemical synthesis of a natural product from
inorganic compounds was in 1828, when Friedrich Wöhler
accidentally created urea in place of the intended ammonium
cyanate. However, the first real demonstration of organic
synthesis was the production of acetic acid from carbon
disulphide by Hermann Kolbe in 1844. Soon follwed by the
synthesis of salicylic acid and more organic compounds, the
introduction of sulphonamides in 1935 became the point of
departure for explosive growth in organic synthesis. |
Peptides as life saving drugs
Proteins and
peptides play a vital role in cell function. The amino acids,
which are the building blocks of peptides, can be arranged in an
infinite number of sequences to make a variety of proteins. The
unique three-dimensional structure formed by the folding of
specific amino acid sequences, determines the protein's function.
Several peptides have been identified as life saving drugs, and
the demand for them is growing. However, unfavorable
pharmacological properties such as, rapid degradation in body
fluids have limited their applications. Hence, it is necessary to
identify the structural modifications that may give stability to
the native peptide, and improve its pharmacological profile....more
on next page
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