EGDMA–cross-linked polystyrene resin: An efficient support for gel phase peptide synthesis

article illustrates the application of a 2% ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate–cross-linked polystyrene support (EGDMA–PS) in manual solid phase peptide synthesis. This copolymer has been characterised and optimised for peptide synthesis by performing the synthesis of a few model peptides and two biologically important peptides. EGDMA–cross-linked polystyrene support was prepared by the suspension polymerisation of the monomers EGDMA and styrene. EGDMA–PS resin undergoes facile swelling in a variety of solvents, both polar and nonpolar, used in peptide synthesis. The polymer was functionalised by Friedel–Crafts chloromethylation reaction. Peptides were assembled on a 2% cross-linked chloromethyl polymer support of capacity 1,63 mmol Cl/g. The biological peptides synthesised are an 11- residue peptide ATP binding site of the CDC2 kinase and a difficult sequence-a nineresidue peptide beta 34-42 corresponding to a portion of the hydrophobic terminus of the b-amyloid protein beta1-42. After synthesis, the peptides were cleaved from the support by treating with neat TFA. Purity of the peptides obtained in good yield was checked by TLC and HPLC methods and found to be fairly high.