Rhodium-Catalyzed Regioselective C3Ar Functionalization of Tyrosines with Maleimides and Its Late-Stage Peptide Exemplification

Pyridyloxy-directed Rh(III)-catalyzed regioselective C3_Ar-H alkenylation of protected tyrosines was achieved with N-aryl and N-alkyl maleimides, furnishing a series of maleimide-appended tyrosine-based unnatural amino acids in good yields. Further, the late-stage exemplification of the strategy was successfully accomplished on tyrosine-containing dipeptides, tripeptides, and tetrapeptides in moderate reactivity. Also, the chemical applications of the strategy were successfully executed toward nailing tyrosine with other amino acids via a maleimide linker and intramolecular hydroarylation to produce tyrosine-centered stapled products and succinimide-glued macrocyclized products, respectively.