Synthesis of VIP-lipopeptide using a new linker to modify liposomes: towards the development of a drug delivery system for active targeting.

A new component for the solid phase peptide synthesis of lipopeptide, 2-[(4R,5R)-5-({[(9H-fluoren-9-yl)methoxy]carbonylaminomethyl}-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methoxy]acetic acid (2), was designed and synthesized from (-)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-threitol (3) in 4 steps. The key step was the selective alkylation of 3 with benzyl bromoacetate in the presence of Cs2CO3. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-lipopeptide (1) incorporating this linker was synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis.