# Studies in Amide and Peptide Synthesis

> **NIH NIH R01** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $343,922

## Abstract

4.2.1 Project Summary and Relevance
This proposal seeks support to develop a fundamentally new approach to amide and peptide chemical
synthesis, one that complements existing methods based on dehydrative amide synthesis using
carboxylic acids and amines. Bromonitroalkanes serve as carboxylic acid surrogates in a direct amide
synthesis that utilizes an amine acceptor and an activating agent (a halonium ion). The concise
preparation of amides derived from nonnatural amino acids, common constituents of biologically active
linear and cyclic peptides that have been isolated from natural sources, is a central theme. Without this
new paradigm, alternative chemical methods would provide access to the desired amides at rising cost
due to the large number of steps required to prepare complex peptides, and the contamination of
intermediates and products by stereoisomers that are difficult to remove.
The practical chemical synthesis of biologically active peptides is an immediate goal. In the short term,
peptides of modest size (~10 residues) will be prepared and diversified. In the long term, this innovative
approach to amide synthesis will be used in combination with conventional methods to provide access
to large peptides (e.g. biologics) modified site-specifically with nonnatural amino acids.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10080734
- **Project number:** 5R01GM063557-15
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffrey Nicholas Johnston
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $343,922
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-03-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10080734

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10080734, Studies in Amide and Peptide Synthesis (5R01GM063557-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-10 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10080734. Licensed CC0.

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