Synthesis, biological activity, and tritiation of L-3, 4-dehydroproline-containing peptides

A series of analogs of thyroliberin (TRH) ([L-delta3Pro3]-TRH, [D-delta3Pro3]-TRH, [L-3-MeHis2, L-delta3Pro3]-TRH) in which proline was replaced by L- or D-3, 4-dehydroproline was synthesized. The analogs exhibited approximately the same biological activity as the corresponding proline-containing peptides. These analogs and others in which 3, 4-dehydroproline is present at the NH2-terminal, COOH-terminal or internal positions in the peptide were successfully reduced with deuterium or tritium to provide the 3, 4-2H2-proline or 3,4-3H2-proline analogs, respectively, with near theoretical values of substitution. A novel procedure for the chemical resolution of DL-3, 4-dehydroproline is also described.