Effect of Hydrogen Bonding and Partial Deprotonation on the Oxidation of Peptides

In a recent computational study, we found that hydrogen bonding/partial deprotonation facilitates subsequent electron transfer from amides to HO^•. We have now analyzed these and related reactions with a glycine derivative as a model peptide, investigating not only reaction energies but also barriers for the individual steps. We find that partial deprotonation not only assists subsequent electron transfer (a sequential proton-loss electron-transfer (SPLET)-type reaction pathway) but also promotes sequential hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT, in a sequential proton-loss hydrogen-atom-transfer (SPLHAT)-type process), both being potential alternatives to direct HAT as routes for peptide oxidation. Each of these alternative pathways is calculated to have energy requirements that make them accessible and competitive. These oxidative processes may produce α-carbon-centered peptide radicals that, through deprotonation, are readily oxidized to the corresponding imines. We have also examined the possibility of competing reactions of amino acid side chains by comparing reactions of the glycine model with those of an analogous valine derivative. We find that, while the side chains of amino acids are more reactive toward direct HAT, a preceding partial deprotonation instead continues to favor the SPLET- and SPLHAT-type reactions, leading to the production of α-carbon-centered peptide radicals. Taken together, these processes have broad implications that impact many aspects of the science and utility of peptides.