Simple and versatile method for tagging phenyldiazirine photophores

The first effective method for the introduction of a versatile substituent on 3-phenyl-3-trifluoromethyldiazirine has been developed. The simple preparation of a useful aldehyde intermediate allows easy access to various elaborated photoaffinity ligands, including a l-phenylalanine analog bearing a diazirine ring (TmdPhe). The asymmetric synthesis of TmdPhe was easily accomplished in gram quantities. Site-directed incorporation of this compound into the structure of a calmodulin-binding peptide using automated peptide synthesis afforded a photoreactive peptide that was successfully used for the specific labeling of calmodulin.