Spectrophotometric Determination of pKa's of 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole and Oxime Derivatives in 95% Acetonitrile-Water

Summary: 1-hydroxybenzotriazole derivatives are used with carbodiimide as additives to generate active esters during peptide bond formation. They are also used as additives during the peptide bond formation. Dissociation constants of the 1-hdroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and its derivatives, 1hydroxy-6-chlorobenzotriazole, 1-hydroxy-6-trifluoromethylbenzotriazole, 1-hydroxy-6-nitrobenzotriazole were determined spectrophotometrically in 95% acetonitrile-water. In addition, 7-aza-1hydroxybenzotriazole (7-HOAt) and 4-aza-1-hydroxybenzotriazole (4-HOAt) were also studied. Recently, oxyma was reported as a good replacement for the benzotriazole derivatives. As alcoholic components of active esters, the oximes seem to be good leaving groups. Therefore it was expected, that the strongly acidic and nucleophilic oximes, which possess electron-withdrawing groups in the molecule, are suitable as additives during the peptide bond formation. The dissociation constant of some oximes, such as diethyl 2-(hydroxyimino)malonate, ethyl 2-cyano-2-(hydroxyimino)acetate (oxyma), hydroxycarbonimidoyl dicyanide and N-hydroxypicolinimidoyl cyanide in 95% acetonitrile-water are reported.