The synthesis of microcolin analogs is described using an approach tha
t could be of considerable practical interest for structure-activity s
tudies on microcolin and related peptides. This synthetic pathway is m
ore efficient than the methods reported to date, and allows the variat
ion of the Xaa-pyrrolin-2-one unit of these molecules, which has been
shown to be crucial for the biological activity. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci
ence Ltd.