Facile synthesis of cyclopentapeptide, cyclo[Arg(NO2)-Gly-Asp(OBn)-D-Phe-Lys(Fmoc)], and its application in synthesis of integrin-targeting anticancer conjugate

An efficient approach for integrin-targeting cRGDfK conjugate synthesis has been developed using a new protected cyclopentapeptide, cR(NO2)GD(Bn)fK(Fmoc), as the key intermediate. cR(NO2)GD(Bn)fK(Fmoc) was conveniently prepared in high yield. The Fmoc group of this cyclopentapeptide was selectively removed under mild conditions which makes it an ideal intermediate for cRGDfK conjugate synthesis as was well demonstrated in this paper by the synthesis of cRGDfK chlorambucil conjugate.