Methylthiomethyl, a new carboxyl protecting group in peptide synthesis

N alpha-protected amino acid methylthiomethyl esters (MTM) were obtained in good yields under mild conditions using the "ButBr/Me2SO" reagent. Selective removal of the N-protecting group was achieved in HCl/anhydrous ethyl ether and the MTM ester hydrochlorides were successfully used in the synthesis of dipeptides.