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Desmosine, a crosslinking amino acid of elastin, is an attractive biomarker for diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study, the first total synthesis of (+)-desmosine was achieved in 11% overall yield in 13 steps utilizing stepwise and regioselective Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions.

The Negishi cross-coupling reaction of an organozinc derivative prepared from protected L-aspartic acid with monohalopyridines was improved by employing a combination catalyst of Pd 2 (dba) 3 and P(2-furyl) 3 and removing an extra Zn from the organozinc reagent via centrifugation. The reactivity of halogenated pyridines (Cl, Br, I) with substituents at the C2, C3, and C4 positions of the pyridine ring was investigated, and it was found that the use of 4-iodopyridine as a substrate gave the best yield (90%) for the cross-coupling reaction.

Desmosine-CH2, an analog of the elastic tissue degradation biomarker desmosine, can be regarded as a potential internal standard for precise quantification of desmosines by LC-MS/MS. In this study, the chemical synthesis of desmosine-CH2 was completed in 22% overall yield in five steps. The LC-MS/MS analysis of desmosine-CH2 was also achieved.

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