Different olefination methods on Boc-phenylalanine methyl ketone for t
he synthesis of gamma-methyl-E-olefin Phe-Gly isosteres are investigat
ed. The Horner phosphonate reagent gave the highest yield of E-isomer.
The conformational behaviour of four tetrapeptides containing the E-o
lefin isostere with and without a vinyl methyl group is studied by H-1
NMR. No evidence for turn structures is found.