A convenient preparative method for tryptophan benzyl esters

Abstract

The utilization of amino acid benzyl esters in synthetic peptide procedures offers advantages over the corresponding methyl or ethyl derivatives. Whereas the latter groups must by cleaved by alkaline saponification, the benzyl ester function can be removed by acidolysis or by catalytic hydrogenation under conditions which permit the simultaneous cleavage of N-acyl-protecting groups such as t-Boc or CBzl.*