Direct solid-phase synthesis of octreotide conjugates: precursors for use as tumor-targeted radiopharmaceuticals

Somatostatin analogues, such as octreotide, are useful for the visualization and treatment of tumors. Unfortunately, these compounds were produced synthetically using complex and inefficient procedures. Here, we describe a novel approach for the synthesis of octreotide and its analogues using p-carboxybenzaldehyde to anchor Fmoc-threoninol to solid phase resins. The reaction of the two hydroxyl groups of Fmoc-threoninol with p-carboxybenzaldehyde was catalyzed with p-toluenesulphonic acid in chloroform using a Dean-Stark apparatus to form Fmoc-threoninol p-carboxybenzacetal in 91% yield. The Fmoc-threoninol p-carboxybenzacetal acted as an Fmoc-amino acid derivative and the carboxyl group of Fmoc-threoninol p-carboxybenzacetal was coupled to an amine-resin via a DCC coupling reaction. The synthesis of protected octreotide and its conjugates were carried out in their entirety using a conventional Fmoc protocol and an autosynthesizer. The acetal was stable during the stepwise elongation of each Fmoc-amino acid as shown by the averaged coupling yield (> 95%). Octreotide (74 to 78% yield) and five conjugated derivatives were synthesized with high yields using this procedure, including three radiotherapy octreotides (62 to 75% yield) and two cellular markers (72 to 76% yield). This novel approach provides a strategy for the rapid and efficient large-scale synthesis of octreotide and its analogues for radiopharmaceutical and tagged conjugates.