We report the synthesis of a stable analogue of τ-phosphohistidine: 4-phosphopyrazol-2-yl alanine (pPza). Polyclonal antibodies generated against the mimic show high reactivity and selectivity for τ-phosphohistidine, with minor or no cross-reactivity towards non-phosphorylated histidine or O-phosphoamino acids, including phosphotyrosine.

Polyclonal antibodies raised against 4-phosphothiophen-2-yl alanine 2a, a novel five-membered ring analogue of phosphotyrosine, showed high selectivity for phosphotyrosine and no cross-reactivity with other phosphorylated amino acids. Western blots showed that the polyclonal was similarly effective, but different in selectivity, to a commercially available monoclonal antibody.

Branched a-amino acids incorporating an alkynyl group have been prepared by copper-catalysed reaction of a serine-derived organozinc reagent with bromoallenes. Substantial improvements to our previously reported Negishi cross-coupling of the serinederived organozinc reagent with cycloalkenyl triflates are possible using a combination of LiCl and SPhos as ligand. Finally, we report a preliminary example of addition of HF to cycloalkenyl alanine derivatives, leading to the corresponding tertiary fluoride.