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3 years ago in Chemistry , Organic Chemistry By Justin
How is carbodiimide chemistry used in peptide synthesis?
In my peptide synthesis work, I routinely use EDC/HOBt, but I want to deepen my mechanistic understanding to troubleshoot side-reactions like racemization and low yields. What are the critical steps and conditions that determine success in this cornerstone methodology?
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By Adi Answered 2 years ago
Carbodiimides like EDC are workhorse reagents because they activate the carboxylate in situ. The key practical insight I've learned is that the mechanism isn't just about forming that reactive O-acylisourea intermediate. That intermediate is prone to racemization. This is why we always use an additive like HOBt or HOAt it rapidly reacts to form a more stable, less racemization-prone active ester. For success, keep your reactions cold (0-4°C) to suppress side reactions, use high-quality, dry solvents, and ensure your carboxyl component is truly acidic. Monitoring by HPLC is essential to catch issues early. It's a delicate dance of activation and controlled transfer.
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