Synthesis of 17O isotope labeled Leu-enkephalin and 17O n.m.r.

Oxygen-17 isotope was introduced into the alpha-carboxyl group of glycine, 1-phenylalanine, 1-leucine and 1-tyrosine by acid catalyzed exchange of 17O from H2O(17) or by acid hydrolysis of respective amino acid methyl esters in H2O(17). Quantitative enrichment of glycine was achieved by acid hydrolysis of amino acetonitrile in H2O(17). For alpha-amino protection in amino acids t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group was employed for 17O labeled enkephalin synthesis. Five analogues of Leu-enkephalins (I-V) labeled with 17O at different amino acid residues were synthesized by solid phase method. 17O n.m.r. spectra were measured at 24.4 and 67.8 MHz for Leu-enkephalins 17O labeled at Gly2 and Phe4 positions. A downfield shift was observed for 17O labeled Gly2 Leu-enkephalin upon heating. This shift is indicative of the rupture of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The preliminary results confirm the hypothesis that an intramolecular hydrogen bond exists between the carbonyl group of Gly2 and NH group of Leu5.