Photocaged DOPA derivatives may serve for non-invasive unmasking of the catechol fragment
in biological systems. This would enable efficient control of the redox and metal-coordinating
properties associated with the free catechol moiety, in particular, in biosynthetically
produced adhesive proteins and synthetic peptides. Synthetic routes towards photocaged
DOPA derivatives are reported herein. A new method for preparing para-alkylated DOPA starting from 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde is described for the first
time.
Key words
amino acids - DOPA - photocaged -
o-nitrobenzyl group - protection group