Polypeptides. Part XV. The synthesis and oxidation of some L-cysteinylpolyglycyl-L-cysteines
Abstract
S-Benzyl-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-cysteinyl-hepta-, -octa-, -nona-, -dodeca-, and -pentadeca-glycyl-S-benzyl-L-cysteine benzyl esters (IV; n= 7, 8, 9, 12, or 15) have been synthesised. The oxidation, in aqueous solution at pH 8·5, of the L-cysteinylpolyglycyl-L-cysteines (I; n= 7, 8, 9, 12, or 15) derived from these by removal of the protecting groups, and of two lower members of the series (I; n= 4 or 5), has been studied. It is shown that in all these cases the composition of the oxidation product, in particular the amount of cyclic monomeric disulphide (II) present, is close to that predicted by a simple statistical theory.