Synthesis of biotinylated retinoids for cross-linking and isolation of retinol binding proteins

The synthesis of (3R)-3-[Boc-Lys(biotinyl)-O]-11-cis-retinol bromoacetate and 3-[Boc-Lys(biotinyl)-O]-all trans-retinol chloroacetate is described. These biotinylated retinoids are instrumental in labeling the retinol binding proteins (RBPs) via a nucleophilic displacement of the haloacetate by a residue in the binding site of the protein. The covalently linked biotin will allow for a facile isolation and purification of the protein on a streptavidin column thus rendering the protein ready for a tryptic digest followed by mass spectrometric analysis. The 11-cis retinoid was synthesized via metal reduction of an alkyne intermediate generated from a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction whereas the all-trans was synthesized via two consecutive HWE couplings.