Synthesis of Phosphonopeptide Derivatives

Abstract

In 1959, Horiguchi and Kandatsu¹ first isolated 2-aminomethylphos-phonic acid from ciliate protozoa. Since then the compound has been found in numerous other organisms² and recently it has been found in human brain³, liver, heart and skeletal muscles⁴, and in red blood cell membrane. These findings establish the biological importance of the carbon-phosphorus bond in nature. Quin² suggested that the naturally occurring aminophosphonic acids are bound to proteins and peptides.