Synthesis of a chiral amino acid with bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane moiety and its incorporation into linear and cyclic antimicrobial peptides.

The synthesis of the lipophilic chiral amino acid 1 bearing the bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane moiety is described. Linear and cyclic hexapeptides of the type Arg-Arg-Xaa-Yaa-Arg-Phe containing 1 instead of one or two tryptophan residues are prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis and the antimicrobial and hemolytic activity of the peptides obtained are discussed.