Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Photo-Induced Cross-Linking of Unmodified Proteins (PICUP) Applied to Amyloidogenic Peptides
Published on: January 12, 2009
Slow tert-butyl ester acidolysis and peptide 3(10)-helix to alpha-helix transition in HFIP solution
Alessandro Moretto1, Marco Crisma, Fernando Formaggio
1Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Abstract:
We have already shown by CD and NMR techniques that the terminally protected homo-octapeptides Z (and Ac)-[L-(alphaMe)Val](8)-OtBu undergo a slow and irreversible 3(10)-helix to alpha-helix transition when dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol. In the present work, we find by HPLC and CD that under the aforementioned experimental conditions, a slow acidolysis of the tert-butyl ester functionality does take place affording the corresponding octapeptide free acids. The results of our combined chromatographic and spectroscopic experiments are confirmed by a comparison with the properties of independently synthesized and chemically characterized authentic compounds.
Related Concept Videos
Acid Halides to Esters: Alcoholysis
Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
As shown below, the mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen π bond along with the departure of a halide ion. A final proton transfer step yields carboxylic acid...
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...
Amides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis:
Hydrolysis of amides under acidic conditions yields carboxylic acids. Since the reaction occurs slowly, hydrolysis requires the conditions of heat.
The mechanism begins with the protonation of the carbonyl oxygen by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the amide carbonyl carbon more...
Acid Halides to Amides: Aminolysis
In the first step of the aminolysis mechanism, the amine attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acyl chloride to form a tetrahedral intermediate. In the second step, the carbonyl group is re-formed with the elimination of a chloride...
Protein Folding
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...

