Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a process for extraction of a peptide from a reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction. This process is preferably used in a method of liquid phase peptide synthesis (LPPS). The process for extraction of a peptide from a reaction mixture can also be used in other types of peptide synthesis, for example in a postcleavage isolation of synthetic peptides prepared by a solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). This process is also applicable for hybrid solid and liquid phase peptide synthesis. Moreover, the process for extraction of a peptide can be employed for the isolation of peptides from natural sources such as yeast or bacteria, in particular for the isolation of recombinantly expressed peptides.

Background of the present invention In the text of the present application, the nomenclature of amino acids and of peptides is used according to "Nomenclature and symbolism for amino acids and peptides", Pure & Appl. Chem. 1984, Vol. 56, No. 5, pp. 595-624, if not otherwise stated.

The following abbreviations have the meaning as given in the following list, if not otherwise stated:

ACN acetonitrile

Boc ferf-butoxycarbonyl

Bsmoc 1 , 1 -dioxobenzo[b]thiophen-2-ylmethyloxycarbonyl

Bzl benzyl

Cbz benzyloxycarbonyl

DCC A ./V-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

DCM dichloromethane DEA diethylamine

DIPE diisopropyl ether

DIPEA A/,A/-diisopropylethylamine

DMA A/,A/-dimethylacetamide

DMF /V,A/-dimethylformamide

EDC 1 -ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide

eq equivalent(s)

EtOAc ethylacetate

Fmoc fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl

h hour(s)

HOBt 1 -hydroxybenzotriazole

HOBt H ₂ 0 1 -hydroxybenzotriazole monohydrate

HPLS high-performance liquid chromatography

LPPS liquid phase peptide synthesis

MeTHF 2-methyltetrahydrofuran

min minute(s)

MS mass spectrometry

NMP /V-methyl-2-pyrrolidone

OMe methoxy

OiBu te/f-butoxy

PG protecting group

PyBOP benzotriazol-1-yloxy-tris(pyrrolidino)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate

SPPS solid phase peptide synthesis

TAEA tris(2-aminoethyl)amine

TBTU 0-(benzotriazol-1 -yl)-1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate fBu ferf-butyl

TEA triethylamine

TFA trifluoroacetic acid

THF tetrahydrofuran

TLC thin layer chromatography

TOTU 0-[cyano(ethoxycarbonyl)methylenamino]-1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate

Trt trityl

UV ultraviolet Processes for extraction of peptides are generally employed in various types of peptide synthesis, such as liquid phase peptide synthesis (LPPS), solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) as well as hybrid solid and liquid phase peptide synthesis. LPPS is particularly often used for industrial large-scale preparations of peptides. LPPS typically involves coupling of two partially protected amino acids or peptides, whereby one of them bears an unprotected C-terminal carboxylic acid group and the other one bears an unprotected /V-terminal amino group. After completion of the coupling step, the /V-terminal amino group or, alternatively, the C-terminal carboxylic acid group of the resulting peptide can be deprotected by specific cleavage of one of its protecting groups (PGs), so that a subsequent coupling step can be carried out. LPPS is usually finalised by a global deprotection step, in which all remaining PGs are removed.

The handling of peptides, in particular of peptides bearing an unprotected C-terminal carboxylic acid group and/or an unprotected /V-terminal amino group during the LPPS, is often compromised by the poor solubility of the peptides in common organic solvents. In general, the solubility of peptides in common organic solvents decreases with the length of the peptide chain. Dichloromethane (DCM) is commonly used in LPPS as a suitable reaction solvent. DCM has good solvent properties, a low boiling point and its limited miscibility with water allows working-up of the reaction mixtures by extraction with an aqueous solution. The use of DCM on an industrial scale is, however, problematic for environmental reasons and generally limited due to its high density, which makes an extraction of a DCM layer with an aqueous solution time and cost-consuming.

Furthermore, some recently developed and highly efficient coupling reagents such as benzotriazol-1 -yloxy-tris(pyrrolidino)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBOP) and 0-(benzotriazol-1 -yl)-1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU) are poorly soluble in DCM. These coupling reagents are particularly advantageous for a coupling of two large peptide fragments, which is known to be low-yielding upon usage of other coupling reagents.

In addition, many peptides show only a poor solubility in DCM under neutral and basic conditions and are only sufficiently soluble in polar aprotic solvents, such as e.g. N,N- dimethylformamide (DMF), Λ/,/V-dimethylacetamide (DMA) or /V-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Therefore, these polar aprotic solvents are traditionally used as reaction solvents in LPPS, alone or in a mixture with a less polar solvent such as tetrahydrofuran (THF).

On the other hand, the usage of polar aprotic solvents for LPPS suffers from a number of drawbacks. Since polar aprotic solvents have a high boiling point, it is difficult to concentrate the reaction mixture by evaporation. Furthermore, a direct working-up of the reaction mixture by extraction with an aqueous solution is not possible due to the miscibility of polar aprotic solvents with water.

When LPPS is carried out on an industrial scale, the intermediate peptide is usually isolated by a direct precipitation from the reaction mixture after each coupling step, so that impurities, such as unreacted starting materials, side products as well as an excess of coupling reagents and bases, etc. can be separated. After the completion of the peptide coupling reaction, the reaction mixture is typically poured into an anti- solvent, such as e.g. diethyl ether or water, whereby the precipitation of the peptide takes place. Unfortunately, already the transfer of the reaction mixture into the anti- solvent is known to trigger gel formation issues.

Moreover, polar aprotic solvents commonly interfere with the process of peptide precipitation, so that the precipitated peptide is obtained as a sticky gum-like solid, which is difficult to filter and to dry. In some cases, it is not possible to filter the precipitated peptide or not even possible to transfer the precipitated peptide onto a filter. Particularly, peptide precipitations carried out on an industrial scale are often difficult to perform and are very time-consuming, whereby the filtration time determines the lead time. This problem can be partially overcome by an increase of the volume ratio anti-solvent : polar aprotic solvent during the precipitation process, so that in practice a large amount of a suitable anti-solvent is required for obtaining the precipitated peptide in a filterable form.

In addition, residues of polar aprotic solvents present in the precipitated peptide are known to interfere with the subsequent deprotection step involving trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Therefore, an additional step of removal of the polar aprotic solvent residues by washing the precipitated peptide with a more volatile solvent is necessary before a cleavage of acid cleavable type PGs such as terf-butoxycarbonyl (Boc), trityl (Trt), tert- butyl (fBu) and fe/f-butoxy (OfBu) can be carried out.

Description of related art

WO 2005/08171 1 is directed to drug-linker-ligand conjugates and drug-linker compounds and to methods for using the same to treat cancer, an autoimmune disease or an infectious disease. The document discloses inter alia methods for preparation of peptide based drugs and extractions of peptides using ethylacetate, dichloromethane and a mixture of fBuOH/CHCI ₃ .

US 5,869,454 is directed to arginine keto-amide enzyme inhibitors. The document discloses inter alia synthesis of these inhibitors and extractions with ethylacetate. US 2005/0165215 relates to methods of synthesizing peptides and methods for the isolation of peptides during the synthetic process. The document further relates to improvements for the large scale synthesis of peptides. The document suggests that suitable solvents for the peptide extractions include halogenated organic solvents, such as dichloropropane, dichloroethane, dichloromethane, chloroform, chlorofluorocarbons, chlorofluorohydrocarbons and mixtures thereof. A preferred solvent is dichloromethane.

C. H. Schneider et al. (Int. J. Peptide Protein Res. 1980, 15, pp. 41 1 - 419) describes a procedure of peptide synthesis in solution based on liquid-liquid extraction for the purification of intermediates (two-phase method). The peptide extractions employ dichloromethane as a solvent.

J. W. van Nispen (Pure and Appl. Chem. 1987, Vol. 59, No. 3, pp. 331 - 344) provides an overview over synthesis and analysis of (poly)peptides. The document teaches that a large number of combinations of solvents of widely varying nature is possible in order to find optimal separation of peptide components. For this purpose so-called Craig machines are commonly employed, where in the multiplicative distribution, the lower phase retains its position while the upper phase is mobile.

US 2010/0184952 discloses a method of removing dibenzofulvene and/or a dibenzofulvene amine adduct from a reaction mixture obtained by reacting an amino acid compound protected with an Fmoc group with an amine for deprotection, which comprises stirring and partitioning the reaction mixture in a hydrocarbon solvent having a carbon number of 5 or above and a polar organic solvent (excluding organic amide solvents) immiscible with the hydrocarbon solvent, and removing the hydrocarbon solvent layer in which the dibenzofulvene and/or the dibenzofulvene amine adduct are/is dissolved. During this method, an amino acid ester or peptide is transferred to a polar organic solvent. Examples of such polar organic solvents include acetonitrile, methanol, acetone and the like and a mixed solvent thereof, with preference given to acetonitrile and methanol.

L. A. Carpino ef a/. (Organic Process Research & Development 2003, 7, pp. 28-37) describe a rapid, continuous solution-phase peptide synthesis. The methods employing deprotections of the Fmoc and Bsmoc protective groups of peptide segments in the presence of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine were shown to be applicable for the gram-scale rapid, continuous solution synthesis of short peptides as well as for the synthesis of a relatively long (22-mer) segment (hPTH 13-34). In the latter case, the crude product was reported to be of a significantly greater purity than a sample obtained via a solid- phase protocol. The Bsmoc methodology was optimised by a new technique involving filtration of the growing partially deprotected peptide at each coupling deprotection cycle through a short column of silica gel.

However, the methodology described by L. A. Carpino ef a/, has several limitations. This methodology employs DCM as a reaction solvent and, therefore, cannot be applied for the preparation of peptides showing a poor solubility in DCM. Moreover, it employs a high quantity of high-cost tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TAEA) which further limits the applicability of this methodology on an industrial scale.

Thus, there is a strong demand for a time- and cost-efficient synthetic methodology for the preparation of peptides, in particular on an industrial scale. Such methodology must overcome the drawbacks resulting from the usage of DCM and of polar aprotic solvents such as DMF, DMA and NMP during LPPS. Summary of the invention

The authors of the present invention surprisingly found that a broad range of structurally diverse peptides has an excellent solubility in toluene, preferably in combination with an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of n-heptane, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, ethylacetate, isopropylacetate, acetonitrile or tetrahydrofuran (this group is designated as organic solvent 1 ). In particular, the solubility of the peptides in the combination of toluene and the organic solvent 1 is generally higher than in neat toluene. Moreover, they found that commonly used polar aprotic solvents largely partition into the aqueous layer in a biphasic system comprising water and toluene or a combination of toluene and the organic solvent 1.

Therefore, water and neat toluene or a combination of toluene with the organic solvent 1 are highly suitable for the extraction of a peptide from a mixture containing a polar aprotic solvent. In one of the embodiments of the present invention, the resulting organic layer containing the peptide is partially evaporated and the peptide dissolved therein is precipitated upon addition of a suitable anti-solvent (this group of solvents is designated as organic solvent 2). Because substantially no polar aprotic solvent is present during the process of peptide precipitation the resulting peptide can easily be filtered. By applying the extraction process of the present invention, the time required for the peptide filtration can be significantly reduced. Thus, by applying such a process of extraction, the drawbacks resulting from the usage of polar aprotic solvents during LPPS can be successfully overcome. The present invention relates to a process for extraction of a peptide from a reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction, the reaction mixture containing the peptide and a polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of N,N- dimethylformamide, /V,A/-dimethylacetamide and /V-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, whereby the process comprises a step a) and a step b):

step a) comprises the addition of a component a1) and a component a2), whereby component a1 ) is toluene,

component a2) is water,

to the reaction mixture, so that a biphasic system with an organic layer and an aqueous layer is obtained; step b) comprises the separation of the organic layer containing the peptide from the aqueous layer, whereby

the biphasic system obtained in step a) is characterised by the following volume ratios: polar aprotic solvent : toluene from 1 : 20 to 1 : 2; and

polar aprotic solvent : water from 1 : 20 to 1 : 2.

One of the preferred embodiments of the present invention relates to a process for extraction of a peptide from a reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction containing the peptide and a polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of Λ/,/V-dimethylformamide, /V,/V-dimethylacetamide and A/-methyl-2- pyrrolidone, whereby the process comprises a step a) and a step b):

step a) comprises the addition of a component a1 ), a component a2) and a component a3), whereby

component a1) is toluene,

component a2) is water,

component a3) is an organic solvent 1 , the organic solvent 1 is selected from the group consisting of n-heptane, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, ethylacetate, isopropylacetate, acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran,

so that a biphasic system with an organic layer and an aqueous layer is obtained;

step b) comprises the separation of the organic layer containing the peptide from the aqueous layer, whereby

the biphasic system obtained in step a) is characterised by the following volume ratios: polar aprotic solvent : toluene from 1 : 20 to 1 : 2;

polar aprotic solvent : organic solvent 1 from 1 : 5 to 30 : 1 ;

polar aprotic solvent : water from 1 : 20 to 1 : 2; and

toluene : organic solvent 1 from 50 : 1 to 1 : 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the biphasic system obtained in step a) is characterised by the following volume ratios:

polar aprotic solvent : toluene from 1 : 6 to 1 : 3;

polar aprotic solvent : organic solvent 1 from 1 : 1 to 4 : 1 ;

polar aprotic solvent : water from 1 : 5 to 1 : 3; and

toluene : organic solvent 1 from 10 : 1 to 2 : 1 . In a particularly preferred embodiment, the polar aprotic solvent is N,N- dimethylformamide or /V-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the organic solvent 1 is absent in the biphasic system.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the peptide is extracted but not precipitated. Instead, one or several protecting groups of the peptide are cleaved and the resulting partially unprotected peptide is extracted and the organic layer comprising the peptide is employed for the subsequent peptide coupling reaction. Thus, the present invention provides an efficient synthetic methodology for a continuous LPPS which is suitable for the preparation of peptides on an industrial scale. The continuous LPPS of the present invention is highly suitable for the peptide synthesis upon usage of Boc, Fmoc and Bzl as protective groups as will be illustrated by the examples below.

Process for extraction

The present invention relates to a process for extraction of a peptide from a reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction, the reaction mixture containing the peptide and a polar aprotic solvent, whereby the process comprises a step a) and a step b):

step a) comprises the addition of a component a1) and a component a2), whereby component a1 ) is toluene,

component a2) is water,

to the reaction mixture, so that a biphasic system with an organic layer and an aqueous layer is obtained;

step b) comprises the subsequent separation of the organic layer containing the peptide from the aqueous layer.

One of the preferred embodiments of the current invention relates to a process for extraction of a peptide from a reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction containing the peptide and a polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of DMF, DMA and NMP, whereby the process comprises a step a) and a step b):

step a) comprises the addition of a component a1), a component a2) and a component a3), whereby

component a1 ) is toluene,

component a2) is water,

component a3) is an organic solvent 1 , the organic solvent 1 is selected from the group consisting of n-heptane, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, ethylacetate, isopropylacetate, acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran,

so that a biphasic system with an organic layer and an aqueous layer is obtained;

step b) comprises the separation of the organic layer containing the peptide from the aqueous layer.

Optionally, the component a1), the component a2) and the component a3) are mixed with each other, whereby this can be done in any sequence. The three components can also be added as premixed mixtures of two or all three components as long as no precipitation of the peptide takes place during the process for extraction.

The mixture containing the polar aprotic solvent is preferably a crude reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction. Preferably, this mixture does not contain any compounds, which can act as surfactants and interfere with the phase separation during the process for extraction. In a particularly preferred embodiment the mixture does not contain any surfactants known in the prior art, such as cationic tensides and non-ionic tensides.

The addition of the component a1), the component a2) and the component a3) to the mixture containing the peptide and a polar aprotic solvent can take place in any order as long as no precipitation of the peptide takes place during the process for extraction. For example, it is possible to combine the mixture containing the peptide and a polar aprotic solvent with toluene, add water thereto and, finally, add the organic solvent 1 . It is also possible that the mixture containing the peptide and a polar aprotic solvent is transferred into the water and toluene and the organic solvent 1 are added thereto afterwards. In the particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mixture containing the peptide and a polar aprotic solvent is combined with toluene and the organic solvent 1 , whereby the addition of toluene and the organic solvent 1 can take place in any order. Subsequently, water is added thereto.

It is understood that the added water (component a2)) may contain dissolved components, such as salts, for instance inorganic salts.

It is preferred that the obtained biphasic system is vigorously stirred. The process of stirring of the obtained biphasic system can be carried out upon usage of mixing equipment known in the state of the art and commonly used for extractions. For example, in the case of batch extractions, jet- or agitator-type mixers can be employed for the stirring of the biphasic system. The choice of the suitable equipment for the extraction mainly depends on the scale on which the process for extraction is being carried out as well as on the extraction temperature. The process for extraction can be carried out by using batch extractions or continuous extractions. The process for extraction can also be repeated several times, if required, so that an optimal extraction of the peptide is achieved.

After the process of stirring has been carried out, it is preferred that a phase separation is allowed to take place, whereby two liquid layers are formed: an organic layer and an aqueous layer. The organic layer has a lower density than the aqueous layer. Phase separation may be accomplished upon usage of settling tanks or by means of centrifugation. The time required for the phase separation depends on the scale on which the process for extraction is taking place and on the equipment employed. Preferably, the phase separation requires less than 1 hour, more preferred less than 10 min, particularly preferred less than 1 min. After the phase separation has taken place, the peptide is mainly located in the organic layer, which further contains toluene and, optionally, the organic solvent 1 . The upper organic layer containing the peptide is separated from the aqueous layer. Preferably, after the process for extraction more than 90 wt.-% of the peptide is located in the organic layer and less than 10 wt.-% of the peptide is located in the aqueous layer. It is even more preferred that after the process for extraction more than 98 wt.-% of the peptide is located in the organic layer and less than 2 wt.-% of the peptide is located in the aqueous layer. It is particularly preferred that after the process for extraction more than 99 wt.-% of the peptide is located in the organic layer and less than 1 wt.-% of the peptide is located in the aqueous layer.

The process for extraction of the present invention allows an efficient extraction of the peptide from a crude reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction. The solubility of polar aprotic solvents in the organic layer is significantly lower than in the aqueous layer. Therefore, the organic layer containing the peptide further contains only a low amount of the polar aprotic solvents after the extraction.

Preferably, after the process for extraction less than 15 vol.-% of the polar aprotic solvents is located in the organic layer and more than 85 vol.-% of the polar aprotic solvents is located in the aqueous layer. It is, however, more preferred that after the process for extraction less than 5 vol.-% of the polar aprotic solvents is located in the organic layer and more than 95 vol.-% of the polar aprotic solvents is located in the aqueous layer. It is particularly preferred that after the process for extraction less than 2 vol.-% of the polar aprotic solvents is located in the organic layer and more than 98 vol.-% of the polar aprotic solvents is located in the aqueous layer. This may require repeated extractions.

Importantly, the process for extraction according to the present invention not only allows to separate the peptide from a substantial part of the polar aprotic solvent but also from salts and side products, which originate from the coupling reagents (ureas, tetrafluoroborates etc.). These salts and side products usually cannot be removed if a direct precipitation from a crude reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction takes place upon addition of a hydrophobic anti-solvent such as n-heptane or diethyl ether. However, these salts and side products are known to reduce the capacity of chromatography columns used for the downstream processing of peptides. Such additional purification by column chromatography is essential if the prepared peptides are used as active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Thus, if required, the precipitated peptide can be subsequently purified by column chromatography. In cases wherein the peptide is used as an active pharmaceutical ingredient such additional purification steps are used. Therefore, the process for extraction according to the present invention allows isolating the peptide in a higher purity than upon usage of the direct precipitation process from the reaction mixture.

The composition of the biphasic system obtained during the process for extraction has a strong impact on the distribution coefficients of the peptide and of the polar aprotic solvents between the organic layer and the aqueous layer. In the following the ratios are given as volume to volume ratios.

It is preferred that the volume ratio polar aprotic solvent : toluene ranges from 1 : 20 to 1 : 2. Preferably, this volume ratio ranges from 1 : 10 to 1 : 2. It is particularly preferred that this volume ratio ranges from 1 : 6 to 1 : 3.

The solubility of the peptide in a combination of toluene and the organic solvent 1 was shown to be higher than in the neat toluene. Therefore, the solubility of the peptide in the organic layer obtained during the process for extraction is particularly high when the amount of the organic solvent 1 used is sufficiently high. It is preferred that the volume ratio polar aprotic solvent : organic solvent 1 ranges from 1 : 5 to 30 : 1. Preferably, this volume ratio ranges from 1 : 3 to 10 : 1. It is particularly preferred that this volume ratio ranges from 1 : 1 to 4 : 1.

It is preferred that the volume ratio toluene : organic solvent 1 ranges from 50 : 1 to 1 : 1 . Preferably, this volume ratio ranges from 20 : 1 to 2 : 1. It is particularly preferred that this volume ratio ranges from 10 : 1 to 2 : 1 . The volume ratio polar aprotic solvent : water has a significant influence on the efficiency of the process for extraction and on the solubility of the peptide in the aqueous layer. In particular, the peptide has a considerably high solubility in the aqueous layer, if the volume ratio polar aprotic solvent : water in the biphasic system is higher than 1 : 2, i.e. if the aqueous layer contains more than 34 vol.-% of the polar aprotic solvent. It is therefore preferred that the volume ratio polar aprotic solvent : water ranges from 1 : 20 to 1 : 2. Preferably, this volume ratio ranges from 1 : 10 to 1 : 3. It is particularly preferred that this volume ratio ranges from 1 : 5 to 1 : 3.

Preferably, the polar aprotic solvent present in the mixture containing the peptide is selected from the group consisting of DMF and NMP. Thus, both neat toluene and a combination of toluene and the organic solvent 1 are particularly suitable for the process for extraction of a peptide. Toluene is an easily recyclable, low-cost solvent which has a relatively low toxicity to humans and aquatic organisms. Accordingly, the present invention can be advantageously employed on an industrial scale.

The solubility of the peptide in a combination of toluene and the organic solvent 1 is particularly high if the organic solvent 1 is selected from the group consisting of n- heptane, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, ethylacetate (EtOAc), isopropylacetate, acetonitrile (ACN) and tetrahydrofuran (THF), more preferred from the group consisting of EtOAc, isopropylacetate, ACN and THF, particularly preferred from the group consisting of ACN and THF. In a particularly preferred embodiment for the process for extraction of the peptide the organic solvent 1 is selected from the group consisting of ACN and THF.

The component a2) employed for the process for extraction of the peptide can consist of water only. However, the miscibility of toluene and of the organic solvent 1 in the component a2) and, consequently, the solubility of the peptide in the aqueous layer can be significantly reduced if the component a2) further contains at least one inorganic salt. In addition, the water content in the organic layer is reduced if the component a2) contains at least one inorganic salt.

In one of the preferred embodiments the component a2) contains at least one inorganic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium hydrogensulfate, potassium hydrogensulfate, sodium hydrogencarbonate and sodium hydrogenphosphate. In other embodiments the component a2) can also contain other compounds such as acids. In particular, the component a2) can contain inorganic salts which do not act as buffering agents in the pH range from 2 to 1 1. An addition of such inorganic salts can decrease the solubility of the peptide in the aqueous layer and reduce the time required for the phase separation during the process for extraction. For instance, the component a2) can contain sodium chloride or sodium sulfate. The concentration of the inorganic salt present in the component a2) preferably ranges from 1 wt.-% to 20 wt.-%, even more preferred from 5 wt.-% to 15 wt.-%. A salt like sodium chloride is used to facilitate the separation of the two phases and a salt that acts as a buffering agent is used to selectively extract an acid or a base in the aqueous layer. The pH value of the component a2) can have a strong influence on the solubility of the peptide as well as on the solubility of some impurities in the aqueous layer. In addition, the choice of the pH value of the component a2) depends on the chemical stability of the peptide as well as on the chemical stability of its PGs. It is preferred that the pH value of the component a2) ranges from 2 to 1 1 , particularly preferred from 5 to 8, so that the tertiary bases used for the peptide coupling reaction predominantly remain in the aqueous layer during the process for extraction. The pH value of the component a2) can be adjusted by an addition of an acid or a base and/or upon using a buffering agent. The choice of the acid which can be used for the adjustment of the pH value of the component a2) is not particularly limited as long as the acid present in the component a2) does not interfere with the process for extraction of the peptide and does not cause the degradation of the peptide. For example, Bransted acids such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, trifluoroacetic acid or citric acid can be employed for this purpose.

The choice of the base which can be used for the adjustment of the pH value of the component a2) is not particularly limited as long as the base present in the component a2) does not interfere with the process for extraction of the peptide and does not cause the degradation of the peptide. For example, hydroxides of alkali metals such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide are suitable for the adjustment of the pH value of the component a2).

It is preferred that the component a2) contains the buffering agent, so that the pH value of the aqueous layer is kept within the desired range during the process for extraction. Preferably, the buffering agent is selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, sodium hydrogensulfate, potassium hydrogensulfate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogenphosphate, sodium dihydrogenphosphate and sodium phosphate. The concentration of the buffering agent present in the component a2) preferably ranges from 1 wt.-% to 10 wt.-%, even more preferred from 3 wt.-% to 8 wt.-%.

Optionally, the obtained organic layer containing the peptide can be additionally washed at least one time with an aqueous solution. Preferably, the pH value of the aqueous solution used for this purpose ranges from 2 to 1 1 .

Depending on the conditions of the peptide coupling reaction and the reagents used, the organic layer can contain compounds with free primary, secondary or tertiary amino groups as impurities, for instance, peptides with unprotected A erminal amino groups or tertiary bases. In such cases, it is preferred that the organic layer is washed with an aqueous solution having a pH value of from 2 to 7.

In other cases, the organic layer can contain compounds having a free carboxylic acid group, for instance, peptides with unprotected C-terminal carboxylic acid groups. In these cases, it is preferred that the organic layer is washed with an aqueous solution having a pH value of from 7 to 1 1.

The temperature at which the process for extraction of the peptide is preferably carried out (hereinafter designated as extraction temperature) depends on the choice of the solvents employed as well as on the properties of the peptide. The extraction temperature has a strong influence on the miscibility of the solvents employed and on the solubility of the peptide in the organic layer and in the aqueous layer. The extraction temperature is therefore chosen in such a way that a biphasic system is formed during the process for extraction and the solubility of the peptide in the organic layer is sufficiently high. Preferably, the process for extraction of the peptide is carried out at the extraction temperature of from 0°C to 60°C. It is particularly preferred that the extraction temperature ranges from 20°C to 30°C. Depending on the conditions of the peptide coupling reaction and on the coupling reagents employed, a formation of solids can take place before and/or during the process for extraction. This can be, for instance, the case, if carbodiimides are used as coupling reagents. For this reason, it may be required that a filtration of the biphasic system obtained after combining the mixture containing the peptide, a polar aprotic solvent, toluene, optionally, the organic solvent 1 and the component a2) is carried out. Therefore, in one of the embodiments of the present invention, a filtration of the biphasic system is carried out before the organic layer containing the peptide is separated. The peptide extracted by the process for extraction of the present invention may be any peptide. Preferably, the peptide extracted by the process for extraction comprises 100 or less amino acid residues, more preferably 50 or less amino acid residues, most preferably 20 or less amino acid residues. The amino acids of the peptide can be D- and/or L-a-amino acids, β-amino acids as well as other organic compounds containing at least one primary and/or secondary amino group and at least one carboxylic acid group. Preferably, the amino acids are a-amino acids, even more preferably L-a-amino acids, whereby proteinogenic amino acids are particularly preferred.

Preparation of the peptide

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase comprising a step aa), a step bb) and a step cc):

in step aa) a peptide coupling reaction is carried out in the polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of Λ/,/V-dimethylformamide, Λ/,/V-dimethylacetamide and A/-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in the presence of a coupling reagent and, optionally, a tertiary base;

in step bb) the resulting peptide is extracted according to a process described above; and

in step cc) at least a part of the organic layer obtained in step bb) is evaporated.

As starting materials for the peptide coupling reaction according to step aa) a combination of two partially protected amino acids, of two partially protected peptides or a combination of a partially protected amino acid and a partially protected peptide is employed.

The process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase according to the present invention is highly suitable in a liquid phase peptide synthesis (LPPS). In one of the embodiments of the present invention, the peptide coupling reaction according to step aa) employs a combination of two partially protected peptides prepared by SPPS. Thus, the process of the present invention allows coupling of peptide fragments and can be used in combination with SPPS.

The peptide coupling reaction according to step aa) is carried out using conventional process parameters and reagents typical for peptide coupling reactions.

The peptide coupling reaction is conventionally carried out in a polar aprotic solvent and upon using one or more coupling reagents, preferably in the presence of one or more coupling additives, and preferably in the presence of one or more tertiary bases.

The coupling reagents used for the peptide coupling reaction are chosen in such a way that they do not react with the polar aprotic solvent under the conditions of the peptide coupling reaction and no substantial epimerisation of the stereogenic centre adjacent to the activated carboxylic acid group takes place. Preferred coupling reagents are therefore phosphonium or uronium salts of 0-1 H-benzotriazole and carbodiimide coupling reagents.

Phosphonium and uronium salts are preferably selected from the group consisting of BOP (benzotriazol-l -yl-oxy-tris-(dimethylamino)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate), PyBOP (benzotriazol-1 -yl-oxy-trispyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate),

HBTU (0-(1 H-benzotriazole-1 -yl)-1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate), HCTU (0-(1 /-/-6-chloro-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium

hexafluorophosphate),

TCTU (0-(1 H-6-chlorobenzotriazole-1 -yl)-1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium

tetrafluoroborate),

HATU (0-(7-azabenzotriazol-1 -yl)-1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate), TATU (0-(7-azabenzotriazol-l-yl)-1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate), TBTU (0-(benzotriazol-1 -yl)-1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate),

TOTU (0-[cyano(ethoxycarbonyl)methyleneamino]-1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate),

HAPyU (0-(benzotriazol-1 -yl)oxybis-(pyrrolidino)-uronium hexafluorophosphate), PyAOP (benzotriazole-1 -yl-oxy-tris-pyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate), COMU (1 -[(1 -(cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethylideneaminooxy)-dimethylamino- morpholinomethylene)]-methanaminium hexafluorophosphate), PyClock (6-chloro-benzotriazole-1 -yl-oxy-tris-pyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate), PyOxP (0-[(1-cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethylidene)amino]- oxytri(pyrrolidin-1 -yl)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate) and

PyOxB (0-[(1 -cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethylidene)amino]-oxytri(pyrrolidin-1 -yl)- phosphonium tetrafluoroborate).

Preferred coupling reagents selected from phosphonium or uronium coupling reagents are TBTU, TOTU and PyBOP. Carbodiimide coupling reagents are preferably selected from the group consisting of diisopropyl-carbodiimide (DIC), dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide (DCC) and water-soluble carbodiimides (WSCDI) such as 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC). Water-soluble carbodiimides are particularly preferred as carbodiimide coupling reagents, whereby EDC is mostly preferred.

The tertiary base employed in the peptide coupling reaction is preferably compatible with the peptide and with the coupling reagent and does not interfere with the process for extraction by acting as a surfactant.

Preferably, the conjugated acid of said tertiary base used in the peptide coupling reaction has a pKa value from 7.5 to 15, more preferably from 7.5 to 10. Said tertiary base is preferably selected from the group consisting of trialkylamines, such as N,N- diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) or triethylamine (TEA), further V,A-di-C ₁ _4 alkylanilines, such as A/,A/-diethylaniline, 2,4,6-tri-C _1-4 alkylpyridines, such as collidine (2,4,6- trimethylpyridine), or A/-C _1-4 alkylmorpholines, such as A/-methylmorpholine, with any C _-4 alkyl being identical or different and independently from each other straight or branched C^ alkyl. DIPEA, TEA and /V-methylmorpholine are particularly preferred as tertiary bases for the peptide coupling reaction.

A coupling additive is preferably a nucleophilic hydroxy compound capable of forming activated esters, more preferably having an acidic, nucleophilic A/-hydroxy function wherein N is imide or is /V-acyl or A/-aryl substituted triazeno, the triazeno type coupling additive being preferably a /V-hydroxybenzotriazol derivative (or 1 -hydroxybenzotriazol derivative) or a A/-hydroxybenzotriazine derivative. Such coupling additives have been described in WO 94/07910 and EP 0 410 182.

Preferred coupling additives are selected from the group consisting of N- hydroxysuccinimide (HOSu), 6-chloro-1 -hydroxybenzotriazole (CI-HOBt), /V-hydroxy- 3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-1 ,2,3-benzotriazine (HOOBt), l -hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (HOAt), 1 -hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and ethyl-2-cyano-2-hydroxyiminoacetate (CHA). CHA is available under trade name OXYMAPURE ^® . CHA has proved to be an effective coupling additive as epimerisation of the stereogenic centre of the activated carboxylic acid is suppressed to a higher degree in comparison to benzotriazole-based coupling additives. In addition, CHA is less explosive than e.g. HOBt or CI-HOBt, so that its handling is advantageous and, as a further advantage, the coupling progress can be visually monitored by a colour change of the reaction mixture. Preferably, HOBt is used as coupling additive for the peptide coupling reaction.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the combination of reagents in the peptide coupling reaction is selected from the group consisting of TBTU/HOBt/DIPEA, PyBOP/TEA, EDC/HOBt and EDC/HOBt/DIPEA.

The reaction solvent for the peptide coupling reaction is selected from the group consisting of DMF, DMA, NMP or mixtures thereof. The particularly preferred reaction solvent for the peptide coupling reaction is selected from the group consisting of DMF and NMP. Preferably, the reaction solvent is substantially water-free. Preferably, the reaction solvent contains less than 1 wt.-% water, more preferred less than 0.1 wt.-% water, even more preferred less than 0.01 wt.-% water and particularly preferred less than 0.001 wt.-% water. The water content in a solvent can be determined by Karl Fischer titration according to the standard test method ASTM E203-8 as known in the prior art.

Preferably, the reaction solvent for the peptide coupling reaction is substantially free of impurities selected from the group consisting of primary and secondary amines, carboxylic acids and aliphatic alcohols. The reaction solvent for the peptide coupling reaction is considered to be substantially free of these impurities if less than 1 mol.-% of any of the starting materials used in substoichiometric or stoichiometric amount undergoes an undesired reaction with these impurities during the peptide coupling reaction.

The choice of the appropriate reaction temperature depends on the employed coupling reagent as well as on the stability of the peptide. Preferably, the peptide coupling reaction is carried out at a reaction temperature of from -15°C to 50°C, more preferably from -10°C to 30°C, even more preferably from 0°C to 25°C.

Preferably, the peptide coupling reaction is carried out at the atmospheric pressure. However, it is also possible to carry out the peptide coupling reaction at a pressure which is higher or slightly lower than the atmospheric pressure.

Preferably, the peptide coupling reaction is carried out under an ambient atmosphere. However, an atmosphere of a protective gas such as nitrogen or argon is also preferable.

In the present application, the term "reaction time" refers to the time required until the conversion of the reaction is substantially complete. The conversion of the reaction is considered to be substantially complete, once the amount of the starting material used in substoichiometric or stoichiometric amount decreases to less than 5 mol.-% of its initial amount, preferably to less than 2 mol.-% of its initial amount. The progress of the reaction can be monitored by analytical methods known in the art, for instance, by analytical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), mass spectrometry (MS) or HPLC-MS, whereby HPLC is particularly preferred for this purpose.

Preferably, the reaction time for the peptide coupling reaction ranges from 15 min to 20 h, more preferably from 30 min to 5 h, even more preferably from 30 min to 2 h. The term "part" in this description of reaction conditions of the peptide coupling reaction is meant to be a factor of the parts by weight of the total weight of the peptides and/or amino acids employed as starting materials for the peptide coupling reaction. Preferably, from 1 to 30 parts, more preferably from 5 to 10 parts of the reaction solvent are used. Preferably, from 0.9 to 5 mol equivalents, more preferably from 1 to 1 .5 mol equivalents of coupling reagent is used, the mol equivalent being based on the mol of reactive C- terminal carboxylic acid groups. Preferably, from 0.1 to 5 mol equivalents, more preferably from 0.5 to 1.5 mol equivalents of coupling additive is used, the mol equivalent being based on the mol of coupling reagent.

Preferably, from 1 to 10 mol equivalents, more preferably from 2 to 3 mol equivalents, of tertiary base is used, the mol equivalent being based on the mol of coupling reagent.

Any peptide is obtainable by the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase of the present invention. Preferably, the peptide obtained by the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase of the present invention comprises 100 or less amino acid residues, more preferably 50 or less amino acid residues, most preferably 20 or less amino acid residues. The amino acids of the peptide can be D- and L-a-amino acids, β-amino acids as well as other organic compounds containing at least one primary and/or secondary amino group and at least one carboxylic acid group. Preferably, the amino acids of the peptide obtained by the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase of the present invention are a-amino acids, even more preferably L-a-amino acids, whereby proteinogenic amino acids are particularly preferred. Preferably, after the process for extraction, the organic layer containing the peptide is partially evaporated. In the present application, the obtained layer is thus designated as "partially evaporated organic layer". The temperature at which the partial evaporation takes place is not particularly limited and is chosen according to the thermal stability of the peptide as well as to the properties of toluene or of the mixture of toluene with the organic solvent 1 . It is preferred that the partial evaporation of the organic layer is carried out at a temperature of from 30°C to 50°C. If required, the partial evaporation of the organic layer is carried out under reduced pressure of from 20 mbar to 1000 mbar (20 hPa to 1000 hPa), preferably under reduced pressure of from 50 mbar to 200 mbar (50 hPa to 200 hPa). A person skilled in the art is aware that the pressure at which the partial evaporation of the organic layer takes place is preferably adjusted according to the desired evaporation temperature.

Since toluene and the organic solvent 1 are sufficiently volatile, the partial evaporation of the organic layer containing the peptide can be easily carried out.

In one of the embodiments of the present invention, the organic layer containing the peptide is directly evaporated until dryness and the remaining residue is dissolved in a solvent which is distinct from toluene and the organic solvent 1. However, if the organic layer containing the peptide comprises more than 30 vol.-% of a solvent selected from the group consisting of MeTHF, and THF, the complete evaporation until dryness is preferably avoided for safety reasons. Instead, the partial evaporation of the organic layer containing the peptide can be carried out, followed by an addition of toluene and a subsequent evaporation until dryness.

Because toluene present in the organic layer forms an azeotrope with water, the traces of water in the organic layer containing the peptide are efficiently removed during the process of partial evaporation. In one of the preferred embodiments, the substantial part of the peptide is precipitated upon combining the partially evaporated organic layer with an organic solvent 2.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the organic layer containing the peptide is evaporated until dryness and the remaining residue is dissolved in a solvent which is distinct from toluene and the organic solvent 1. The obtained solution is subsequently combined with the organic solvent 2, whereby the peptide precipitation takes place.

The volume ratio partially evaporated organic layer : organic solvent 2 employed during the process for precipitation of the peptide has a strong impact on the completeness of the process for precipitation and on the properties of the precipitated peptide. In the following the ratios are given as volume to volume ratios. It is preferred that the volume ratio partially evaporated organic layer : organic solvent 2 ranges from 1 : 20 to 1 : 1. Preferably, this volume ratio ranges from 1 : 12 to 1 : 2. It is particularly preferred that this volume ratio ranges from 1 : 6 to 1 : 3. The organic solvent 2 is preferably selected from organic solvents having a boiling point of less than 160°C at the atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the solubility of the peptide in the organic solvent 2 is lower than in toluene and/or in the mixture of toluene and the organic solvent 1 . The organic solvent 2 is preferably selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether and n-heptane, more preferred from the group consisting of acetonitrile, diethyl ether and diisopropyl ether, particularly preferred from the group consisting of diisopropyl ether and n-heptane.

Because the partially evaporated organic layer containing the peptide is substantially free of the polar aprotic solvent, the amount of the organic solvent 2 required for the precipitation of the peptide is significantly lower than in the precipitation processes of the prior art, which use crude reaction mixtures resulting from the peptide coupling reaction. In addition, contrary to the precipitation processes of the prior art, the precipitated peptide is a non-sticky solid material. Preferably, during the precipitation process at least 80 wt.-% of the peptide present in the partially evaporated organic layer precipitates as a solid material. It is even more preferred that at least 90 wt.-% of the peptide present in the partially evaporated organic layer precipitates as a solid material. It is yet even more preferred that at least 95 wt.-% of the peptide present in the partially evaporated organic layer precipitates as a solid material. It is particularly preferred that at least 98 wt.-% of the peptide present in the partially evaporated organic layer precipitates as a solid material.

The temperature at which the precipitation process is carried out (this temperature is hereinafter designated as precipitation temperature) depends on the composition of the partially evaporated organic layer, choice of the organic solvent 2 and on the properties of the peptide.

The precipitation temperature has a strong influence on the completeness of the precipitation of the peptide and on the physical properties of the precipitated peptide. Preferably, the precipitation process is carried out at the precipitation temperature of from -10°C to 60°C, whereby the precipitation temperature of from -10°C to 30°C is even more preferred. It is, however, particularly preferred that the precipitation temperature ranges from -10°C to 0°C. Since the partially evaporated organic layer containing the peptide is substantially free of the polar aprotic solvent, the precipitated peptide can be easily separated by filtration. Therefore, the time required for the filtration process is significantly shortened. Preferably, the precipitated peptide is separated by filtration and dried under reduced pressure.

It is also possible, however, to separate the precipitated peptide by centrifugation.

If desired, the filtrate collected during the filtration can be subjected again to a partial evaporation and to a subsequent precipitation, so that a second batch of the precipitated peptide can be collected.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the partially evaporated organic layer containing the peptide is directly treated with a reagent cleaving one or several PGs of the peptide. Because the partially evaporated organic layer containing the peptide is substantially free of the polar aprotic solvent, the choice of the reagents for the cleavage of one or several PGs of the peptide is not particularly limited. For instance, the partially evaporated organic layer containing the peptide can be treated with an acidolytic reagent, whereby no undesired reactions between the acidolytic reagent and polar aprotic solvent or inhibition of the cleavage take place. This embodiment of the present invention is particularly preferable if the /V-terminal PG of the peptide is tert- butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the partially evaporated organic layer is used for carrying out other reactions such as disulphide bridge formation.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the reagent cleaving one or several PGs of the peptide is added directly to the reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction. After the cleavage of the targeted PG is complete, the resulting peptide is extracted from the reaction mixture. This embodiment of the present invention is particularly suitable if the A erminal PG of the peptide is fluorenyl-9- methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group.

In one particular embodiment, the peptide after PG cleavage is extracted with toluene or with a mixture of toluene and the organic solvent 1 . This is typically the case with Fmoc protected peptides that are difficult to keep in solution without NMP or DMF. After Fmoc cleavage these can be extracted in an organic layer containing toluene and, optionally, the organic solvent 1. With Boc protected peptides, it is the opposite, NMP and DMF have to be removed before the Boc cleavage, but these peptides are usually soluble in the presence of TFA > 5 vol-% in toluene, ethylacetate or, eventually, heptanes.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the organic layer containing the peptide is evaporated until dryness as described above, the remaining residue is dissolved in a solvent distinct from toluene and the organic solvent 1 and the reagent cleaving one or several PGs of the peptide is added thereto afterwards.

Protecting groups

Protecting groups (PGs), be it for protecting functional groups in side chains of amino acids or peptides or for the protection of AMerminal amino groups or C-terminal carboxylic acid groups of amino acids or peptides, are for the purpose of the present invention classified into four different groups:

1 . PGs cleavable under basic cleaving conditions, in the following called "basic type PGs",

2. PGs cleavable under strongly acidic cleaving conditions but not cleavable under mildly acidic cleaving conditions, in the following called "strong type PGs",

3. PGs cleavable under mildly acidic cleaving conditions, in the following called "weak type PGs",

4. PGs cleavable under reductive cleaving conditions, in the following called "reductive type PGs", and

5. PGs cleavable under saponification cleaving conditions, in the following called "saponification type PGs". PGs and typical reaction conditions, parameters and reagents for cleaving PGs, which are conventionally used in the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase of the present invention, are known in the art, e.g. T. W. Greene, P. G. M. Wuts "Greene's Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis" John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006; or P. Lloyd- Williams, F. Albericio, E. Giralt, "Chemical Approaches to the Synthesis of Peptides and Proteins" CRC: Boca Raton, Florida, 1997.

Basic cleaving conditions involve treatment of the peptide with a basic cleaving solution. Preferably, the basic cleaving solution consists of a basic reagent and a solvent. Basic reagents used in the present invention are preferably secondary amines, more preferably the basic reagent is selected from the group consisting of diethylamine (DEA), piperidine, 4-(aminomethyl)piperidine, tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TAEA), morpholine, dicyclohexylamine, 1 ,3-cyclohexanebis(methylamine)-piperazine, 1 ,8- diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene and mixtures thereof. Even more preferably, the basic reagent used in the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase of the present invention is selected from the group consisting of DEA, TAEA and piperidine.

The basic cleaving solution can also comprise an additive, preferably selected from the group consisting of 6-chloro-1 -hydroxy-benzotriazole, 1 -hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole, 1 -hydroxybenzotriazole and ethyl-2-cyano-2-hydroxyiminoacetate and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the solvent of the basic cleaving solution is identical to the polar aprotic solvent employed for the peptide coupling reaction. Thus, the solvent for the basic cleaving solution is preferably selected from the group consisting of D F, DMA and NMP. Alternatively, the peptide containing organic layer which is obtained by the process for extraction of a peptide from a reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction can be evaporated until dryness as described above. The remaining residue can be dissolved in one of the solvents selected from the group consisting of DMF, DMA, pyridine, NMP, acetonitrile or a mixture thereof and subsequently treated with a basic cleaving solution. DMF or NMP may be necessary to keep the peptide in solution in Fmoc cleavage reaction mixture as shown in example 1 .

The terms "part" and "wt.-%" in the description of basic, strongly acidic, mildly acidic and reductive cleaving conditions are meant to be a factor of the parts by weight of the peptide carrying the corresponding groups PG(s) which are being cleaved. For instance, the expression "5 parts of basic cleaving solution are used" means that 5 g of basic cleaving solution are used for the treatment of each 1 g of the peptide carrying a basic type PG. Preferably, from 5 to 20 parts, more preferably from 5 to 15 parts of basic cleaving solution are used. Preferably, the amount of basic reagent ranges from 1 to 30 wt.-%, more preferably from 10 to 25 wt.-%, even more preferably from 15 to 20 wt.-%, with the wt.-% being based on the total weight of the basic cleaving solution. Strongly acidic cleaving conditions, as defined in the present invention, involve treatment of the peptide with a strongly acidic cleaving solution. The strongly acidic cleaving solution comprises an acidolytic reagent. Acidolytic reagents are preferably selected from the group consisting of Bronsted acids, such as TFA, hydrochloric acid (HCI), aqueous hydrochloric acid (HCI), liquid hydrofluoric acid (HF) or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, Lewis acids, such as trifluoroborate diethyl ether adduct or trimethylsilylbromid, and mixtures thereof.

The strongly acidic cleaving solution preferably comprises one or more scavengers, selected from the group consisting of dithiothreitol, ethanedithiol, dimethylsulfide, triisopropylsilane, triethylsilane, 1 ,3-dimethoxybenzene, phenol, anisole, p-cresol and mixtures thereof. The strongly acidic cleaving solution can also comprise water, a solvent or a mixture thereof, the solvent being stable under strong cleaving conditions.

Preferably, the solvent of the strongly acidic cleaving solution is identical to the solvent present in the partially evaporated organic layer containing the peptide. Thus, the solvent for the strongly acidic cleaving solution is toluene or a combination of toluene and the organic solvent 1 . Alternatively, the organic layer containing the peptide can be evaporated until dryness as described above and the remaining residue can be dissolved in one of the solvents selected from the group consisting of ACN, toluene, DCM, TFA and mixtures thereof. Because toluene and the organic solvent 1 are sufficiently volatile, the evaporation of the organic layer can be easily carried out.

Preferably, from 10 to 30 parts, more preferably from 15 to 25 parts, even more preferably from 19 to 21 parts of strongly acidic cleaving solution are used. Preferably, the amount of acidolytic reagent ranges from 30 to 350 wt.-%, more preferably from 50 to 300 wt.-%, even more preferably from 70 to 250 wt.-%, especially from 100 to 200 wt.-%, with the wt.-% being based on the total weight of the strongly acidic cleaving solution. Preferably, from 1 to 25 wt.-% of total amount of scavenger is used, more preferably from 5 to 15 wt.-%, with the wt.-% being based on the total weight of the strongly acidic cleaving solution.

Mildly acidic cleaving conditions according to the present invention involve treatment of the peptide with a weakly acidic cleaving solution. The weakly acidic cleaving solution comprises an acidolytic reagent. The acidolytic reagent is preferably selected from the group consisting of Bronsted acids, such as TFA, trifluoroethanol, hydrochloric acid (HCI), acetic acid (AcOH), mixtures thereof and/or with water.

The weakly acidic cleaving solution can also comprise water, a solvent or a mixture thereof, the solvent being stable under weak cleaving conditions. Preferably, the solvent of the weakly acidic cleaving solution is identical to the solvent present in the partially evaporated organic layer containing the peptide. Thus, the solvent for the weakly acidic cleaving solution is toluene or a combination of toluene and the organic solvent 1. Alternatively, the organic layer containing the peptide can be evaporated until dryness as described above and the remaining residue can be dissolved in one of the solvents selected from the group consisting of ACN, toluene, DCM, TFA, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, from 4 to 20 parts, more preferably from 5 to 10 parts, of weakly acidic cleaving solution are used. Preferably, the amount of acidolytic reagent ranges from 0.01 to 5 wt.-%, more preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt.-%, even more preferably from 0.15 to 3 wt.-%, with the wt.-% being based on the total weight of the weakly acidic cleaving solution.

Reductive cleaving conditions employed in one of the embodiments of the present invention involve treatment of the peptide with a reductive cleaving mixture. The reductive cleaving mixture comprises a catalyst, a reducing agent and a solvent.

The catalysts employed for the reductive cleaving conditions are selected from the group consisting of derivatives of Pd(0), derivates of Pd(ll) and catalysts containing metallic palladium, more preferably selected from the group consisting of Pd[PPh ₃ ] ₄ , PdCI ₂ [PPh ₃ ] ₂ , Pd(OAc) ₂ and palladium on carbon (Pd/C). Pd/C is particularly preferred.

The reducing agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of Bu N ⁺ BH ₄ ^" , NH ₃ BH ₃ , Me ₂ NHBH ₃ , £Bu-NH ₂ BH ₃ , Me ₃ NBH ₃ , HCOOH/DIPEA, sulfinic acids comprising PhS0 ₂ H, tolS0 ₂ Na and /-BuS0 ₂ Na and mixtures thereof as well as molecular hydrogen; more preferably the reducing agent is tolS0 ₂ Na or molecular hydrogen.

Preferably, the solvent employed under reductive cleaving conditions is identical to the solvent present in the partially evaporated organic layer containing the peptide. Accordingly, the solvent employed under reductive cleaving conditions is preferably toluene or a combination of toluene and the organic solvent 1. Alternatively, the organic layer containing the peptide can be evaporated until dryness as described above and the remaining residue can be dissolved in one of the solvents selected from the group consisting of NMP, DMF, DMA, pyridine, ACN and mixtures thereof; more preferably the solvent is NMP, DMF or a mixture thereof. Preferably, the peptide is soluble and dissolved in the solvent employed under reductive cleaving conditions.

Preferably, from 4 to 20 parts, more preferably from 5 to 10 parts, of reductive cleaving solution are used.

Saponification cleaving conditions involve treatment of the peptide with a saponification cleaving solution. Preferably, the saponification cleaving solution consists of a saponification reagent and a solvent. Saponification reagents used in the present invention are preferably hydroxides of alkaline and earth alkaline metals, more preferably the saponification reagent is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Even more preferably, the saponification reagent used in the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase of the present invention is sodium hydroxide.

Preferably, the solvent of the saponification cleaving solution comprises a mixture of water with a solvent selected from the group consisting of THF, MeTHF, ethanol, methanol and dioxane. According to the present invention, the basic type PGs are not cleavable under strongly acidic or mildly acidic cleaving conditions. Preferably, the basic type PGs are not cleavable under strongly acidic, weak or reductive cleaving conditions. Under the term "strong type PGs" are protecting groups understood which are not cleavable under mildly acidic or basic cleaving conditions. Preferably, the strong type PGs are not cleavable under mildly acidic, basic or reductive cleaving conditions. Usually strong acidic PGs like Bzl are cleaved by hydrogenation. Typically, the global deprotection of a peptide is carried out by hydrogenation under very mild conditions.

The weak type PGs are not cleavable under basic cleaving conditions, but they are cleavable under strongly acidic cleaving conditions. Preferably, the weak type PGs are not cleavable under basic or reductive cleaving conditions, but they are cleavable under strongly acidic cleaving conditions.

According to one of the embodiments of the present invention, the basic type PG is preferably Fmoc. Preferably, the strong type PGs are selected from the group consisting of Boc, fBu, OfBu and Cbz. Preferably, the weak type PGs are selected from the group consisting of Trt and 2-chlorophenyldiphenylmethyl group. Preferably, the reductive type PGs are selected from the group consisting of Bzl, /V-methyl-9H- xanthen-9-amino group and Cbz. Preferably, the saponification type PG is OMe.

In the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase of the present invention, the A/-temninal PG of the peptide is removed in a deprotection reaction before the subsequent peptide coupling reaction is carried out. According to the present invention, the /V-terminal PGs are preferably Fmoc, and Boc.

In one of the embodiments of the present invention, Fmoc is highly preferred for the LPPS as an A/-terminal PG because it can be easily removed under basic conditions. Furthermore, the Fmoc as a PG of the A erminus of the peptide is compatible with the side chain PGs in order to represent an orthogonal system. The term "orthogonal system" is defined in G. Baranay and R. B. Merrifield (JACS, 1977, 99, 22, pp. 7363- 7365). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, Boc is highly preferred as an N- terminal PG of the peptide for process for the preparation of a peptide in liquid phase. Its removal can be carried out under strongly acidic conditions. Usage of Boc PG of the /V-terminus is also compatible with the side chain PGs in order to represent an orthogonal system.

According to the present invention, the C-terminal PG of the peptide is removed in the final deprotection step. Preferred C-terminal PGs are OiBu, Biz, OMe, NH ₂ , as well as 2-chlorophenyl- diphenylmethylester or A/-rmethyl-9H-xanthen-9-amide.

In one of the embodiments of the present invention, Bzl is highly preferred for the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase as a C-terminal PG because it can be easily removed under reductive cleaving conditions described above. Furthermore, the Bzl PGs of the C-terminus is compatible with the side chain PGs in order to represent an orthogonal system.

In another embodiment of the present invention, OiBu as a C-terminal PG is used for the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase. Its removal can be carried out under strongly acidic cleaving conditions as described above. Usage of OiBu PG of the C-terminus is also compatible with the side chain PGs in order to represent an orthogonal system. In another embodiment of the present invention, OMe as a C-terminal PG is used for the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase. OMe can be easily cleaved by saponification and is particularly useful if the /V-terminal PG of the peptide is Boc.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the solubility of the peptide in the organic layer can be additionally increased by using a hydrophobic PG for the C- terminus of the peptide. For this purpose, the C-terminal carboxylic acid group of the peptide can be protected with a weak type PGs, which are cleavable in mildly acidic conditions, such as a 2-chlorophenyldiphenylmethylester or A/-methyl-9H-xanthen-9- amide. These PGs are particularly useful for the synthesis of peptide fragments, which, in turn can be employed in a convergent peptide synthesis. These C-terminal carboxylic acid protecting groups have another important advantage: they are cleaved under mildly acidic conditions, allowing for the liquid phase synthesis of protected peptides, as an alternative to SPPS, that are used as peptide fragments in a convergent synthesis strategy. Actually, 2-chlorophenyldiphenylmethylester and N- methyl-9/-/-xanthen-9-amide are chemical functions that are used as linkers on SPPS resins for the synthesis of protected peptide fragments.

According to the present invention, it is desirable that the hydroxy-, amino-, thio- and carboxylic acid groups of the amino acids side chains of the peptide obtained by the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase are protected with suitable PGs, so that undesired side reactions are avoided. In addition, usage of the side chain PGs generally improves the solubility of the peptide in the polar aprotic solvents as well as in toluene or/and in the combination of toluene and the organic solvent 1 . Generally, side chain PGs are chosen in such a way that they are not removed during the deprotection of the /V-terminal amino groups during the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase. Therefore, the PG of the /V-terminal amino groups or C-terminal carboxylic acid groups and any side chain PG are typically different, preferably they represent an orthogonal system.

According to the present invention, the preferred side chain groups are iBu, Trt, Boc, OfBu and Cbz.

Once the amino acid sequence of the peptide obtained by the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase is identical to the amino acid sequence of the target peptide, preferably the /V-terminal PG, the C-terminal PG and any side chain PG are removed so that the unprotected target peptide is obtained. This step is called global deprotection. Preferably, the PGs used during the process for preparation of a peptide in liquid phase are selected to allow global deprotection under mildly acidic, strongly acidic or reductive cleaving conditions, as defined above, depending on the nature of PGs.

Any side chain PGs are typically retained until the end of the LPPS. Global deprotection can be carried out under conditions applicable to the various side chain PGs, which have been used. In case that different types of side chain PGs are chosen, they may be cleaved successively; e.g. this is the case for the synthesis of a branched peptide. Advantageously, the side chain PGs are chosen in such a way so that they are cleavable simultaneously and more advantageously concomitantly with /V-terminal PG or with C-terminal PG of the peptide prepared by LPPS.

In one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible that the /V-terminal PG of the peptide in the partially evaporated organic layer is directly removed. Thus, in this case, the precipitation of the peptide upon usage of the organic solvent 2 is not required and LPPS of the present invention can be carried out without an isolation of the intermediate peptides, e.g. as a continuous LPPS.

Depending on the nature of the /V-terminal PG of the peptide, appropriate cleaving conditions can be chosen for this step. If the /V-terminal PG of the peptide is a strong type PG or a weak type PG, as defined above, the organic layer containing the peptide is preferably treated with TFA or HCI. Because the organic layer containing the peptide is substantially free from the polar aprotic solvents, the removal of the /V-terminal PG of the peptide is not inhibited by an undesired reaction between TFA or HCI and the polar aprotic solvent. In one of the embodiments of the present invention, the V-terminal PG of the peptide is Boc group.

If the /V-terminal PG of the peptide is a basic type PG, as defined above, the peptide can be deprotected upon usage of an organic base, as known in the prior art. Preferably, for this purpose the reaction mixture resulting from a peptide coupling reaction is directly treated with a basic reagent selected from the group consisting of DEA, TAEA and piperidine and the peptide with an unprotected /V-terminus is extracted from this reaction mixture. Alternatively, the organic layer containing the peptide is treated with the basic reagent. Alternatively, the organic layer containing the peptide can be evaporated until dryness as described above and the remaining residue can be dissolved in one of the solvents selected from the group consisting of DMF, DMA, pyridine, NMP or a mixture thereof and subsequently treated with the basic reagent.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the /V-terminal PG of the peptide is fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group. Cleavage of the Fmoc group of the peptide is accompanied by formation of dibenzofulvene. If DEA or piperidine is used as a basic reagent and the solvent of the basic cleaving solution is acetonitrile, the resulting solution containing the peptide with an unprotected A/-terminus is subsequently washed with a hydrocarbon such as e.g. n-heptane so that dibenzofulvene is substantially removed. If TAEA is used as a basic reagent for the cleavage of the Fmoc group, the resulting solution is subsequently subjected to the extraction process of the present invention. Thus, the solution containing the peptide with an unprotected A erminus is substantially free of dibenzofulvene before a subsequent peptide coupling reaction is carried out. After the cleavage of the /V-terminal PG of the peptide, the solution containing the peptide with an unprotected /v-terminus can be at least partially evaporated and employed for the subsequent peptide coupling reaction or, alternatively, to the global deprotection step. Thus, the present invention provides continuous LPPS methodology, which has a number of advantages over commonly used SPPS methodology.

Concentrations of reagents present in the reaction mixture during the peptide coupling reactions and deprotection reactions in the case of the continuous LPPS of the present invention are higher than in the case of SPPS. As a consequence, the corresponding reaction times are shorter and batch reactors with a lower capacity can be used for the synthesis of a given amount of target peptide. The total time required for the synthesis of a peptide carried out by the continuous LPPS of the present invention is nearly the same as the total time required for its synthesis if SPPS is used. Thus, use of the continuous LPPS of the present invention leads to reduced operating costs.

A peptide coupling reaction in the LPPS of the present invention requires a lower excess of an amino acid or a peptide having an unprotected C-terminal carboxylic acid group (1.1 -1.2 equivalents) than the corresponding peptide coupling reaction in SPPS (1 .5 equivalents or more). Moreover, SPPS further requires a high amount of solvents for rinsing the resin after each peptide coupling step. Thus, the amount of solvents required in the case of SPPS is significantly higher than in the case of the continuous LPPS of the present invention. Hence, use of continuous LPPS of the present invention leads to a significant reduction of material costs in comparison to use of SPPS. In addition thereto, the scaling up of the continuous LPPS process of the present invention is known to be easier than the scaling up of the corresponding SPPS process, and the target peptide prepared by the continuous LPPS of the present invention has a higher purity than the corresponding peptide prepared by SPPS.

In summary, the continuous LPPS of the present invention provides a number of advantages over other methodologies for peptide synthesis, known in the prior art, and is particularly useful for the preparation of peptides on an industrial scale. Description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates the influence of residual DMF on the rate of removal of the Boc protecting group of peptide Boc-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu- OBzl.

Figure 2 shows an image of peptide Boc-Ser(Bzl)-Phe-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)- Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu(OBzl) precipitated in the absence of DMF.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting examples will illustrate representative embodiments of the invention in detail.

All experiments were carried out at room temperature of 20±3°C and atmospheric pressure of 1013±50 kPa if not specified otherwise.

Methods Description

A) HPLC analysis

Detection in HPLC method A was done with a UV photodiode array detector.

Step 1 Sample preparation:

Mobile Phase A: 0.1 Vol.-% TFA in water

Mobile Phase B: 0.085 Vol.-% TFA in ACN

Step 2 Chromatography conditions:

Method MIH-009-2TG1 1 Column: Purospher Star RP18 55 x 4 mm

Oven temperature: 40°C

Flow rate: 2.0 mL/ min

Detector wavelength: 215 nm

Gradient run time: 15 min

Gradient composition: 2 to 78 % B in 5 min, 78 to 98 % B in 10 min

Step 3 Chromatographic profile analysis:

The composition of the isolated products was determined by the measurement of the areas of all chromatography peaks. The determined purity of the expected products corresponds to the area-% of the corresponding product peaks.

1. Apparatus and equipment Gas chromatograph : GC equipped with a flame ionization detector and an automatic injector system coupled with acquisition software

Analytical GC column Fused silica column, length 50 m; 0.53 mm internal

diameter; stationary phase : CP SIL 8CB DF = 5.0 μηη Reagents Methanol (analytical grade)

2. Sample preparation

Test and reference solution

In a 10 mL volumetric flask, add accurately 400 iL of sample and make up to volume with methanol.

3. Chromatographic conditions

Carrier Gas: Helium 30 kPa

Oven temperature: 35°C, 14 minutes 5°C/min 55°C, 3 minutes 5°C/min

1 10°C, 5 minutes 10°C/min 225°C, 5 minutes

Injector temperature: 225°C

Detector temperature: 260°C

Injected volume: 1 ML

Injection mode: Split

Split flow: 85 mL/min

Ratio: 24 Filterability measurements

The mixtures containing precipitated peptides were transferred into a 2.7 cm diameter filtration column equipped with a 20 m pore size filter. Filtrations were carried out at 20°C under a pressure of 50 mbar. The flow rate and the cake heights were measured and the filterability coefficient K was calculated as:

K = volume of mother liquor (mL) x cake heights (cm) / filter surface (cm ² ) / pressure (bar) / filtration time (min). Example 1 Extraction of NMP in systems eTHF THF/NaCI solution, EtOAc/THF/NaCI solution and toluene/THF/NaCI solution

Extraction properties of the solvent combination toluene/THF (according to the present invention) were compared to those of the combination MeTHF/THF and EtOAc/THF (comparative). The experiments were carried out with an aqueous solution containing 150 g/L NaCI. No peptides were present in the systems of the present example.

The volume ratios were as follows:

NMP : EtOAc : THF : NaCI solution = 1 : 3 : 3 : 3

NMP : MeTHF : THF : NaCI solution = 1 : 3 : 3 : 3

NMP : toluene : THF : NaCI solution = 1 : 3 : 3 : 3

Fraction of NMP in the aqueous layer was determined by GC. The results of the experiments are summarized in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Extraction of NMP in the biphasic system NMP/solvent 1/solvent 2/NaCI solution (150 g/L NaCI).

As can be noticed from Table 1 above, the extraction with the combination toluene/THF led to a higher fraction of NMP in the aqueous layer than the extractions using EtOAc/THF and MeTHF/THF. Accordingly, the NMP content in the organic layer after the extraction with toluene/THF was lower than after an extraction with MeTHF/THF or EtOAc/THF.

Example 2 Synthesis of H-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu-OBzl

Example 2.1 LPPS of Boc-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu-OBzl

Boc-Tyr(Bzl)-OH (4.7 g, 12.7 mmol) and H-Leu-OBzl Tos (5.0 g, 12.7 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (25 mL) at 20°C. The reaction mixture was cooled to -8°C then HOBt H ₂ 0 (2.0 g, 13.1 mmol, 1 .0 eq) and EDC HCI (2.8 g, 14.6 mmol) were added. The reaction temperature was kept in the range of -5°C to -10°C until completion of the reaction as determined by HPLC. The reaction progress was monitored by the following method: 5 pL sample of the reaction mixture, diluted 50 fold in acetic acid : water (9 : 1 ), were analysed according to method MIH-009-2TG1 1 described above.

Example 2.2 Boc cleavage: H-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu-OBzl

To the mixture prepared according to example 2.1 , toluene (90 mL) was added and the reaction mixture was successively extracted with:

1 ) aqueous solution containing 20 g/L NaCI (90 mL)

2) aqueous solution containing 150 g/L NaCI and 50 g/L NaHC0 ₃ (90 mL)

3) aqueous solution containing 20 g/L NaCI and 50 g/L NaHC0 ₃ (90 mL)

4) aqueous solution containing 20 g/L NaCI and 50 g/L NaHC0 ₃ (90 mL)

5) aqueous solution containing 150 g/L NaCI (90 mL). The combined organic layers were then concentrated under reduced pressure at 35°C, so that the volume of the combined organic layer was reduced to 20 mL.

The removal of the Boc protecting group was performed by addition of phenol (0.25 g, 2.6 mmol) and TFA (20 mL) at 5°C. After completion of the reaction, as determined by HPLC, the reaction mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure at 35°C. Residual TFA was removed by co-evaporations with toluene (3 x 25 mL). The reaction progress was monitored by the following method: 5 pL sample of the reaction mixture was diluted 30 fold in methanol and analysed according to method MIH-009-2TG1 1 described above. Example 3 (comparative) Influence of residual DMF on the removal of the Boc protecting group. H-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu-OBzl

Boc-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-OH (3.5 g), H-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu-OBzl (5.0 g) and HOBt (0.88 g) were dissolved in DMF (20 mL). The coupling reaction was performed overnight under stirring at -6°C to 0°C with EDC HCI (1.2 g) and TEA (1 .5 mL). Completion of the reaction was verified by HPLC (method MIH-009-2TG1 ).

The reaction mixture was filtered to remove insoluble salts. Samples of 1 mL of reaction mixture were mixed with organic solvents as shown in Table 2 below and were then extracted with 3 mL of aqueous solution of NaCI (15% w/v) and Na ₂ C0 ₃ (2.5% w/v). The DMF content in the organic layer was determined by GC.

Table 2. Extraction of Boc-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bz )-Leu-OBzl

The extraction with EtOAc (tests # 2) led to a lower DMF content in the organic layer than the extraction with DCM (tests # 1)

The obtained products from tests # 1 and 2 were further processed. The organic layers were separated and the solvents were exchanged by three co-evaporations with toluene (bath temperature = 40°C, pressure = 50 mbar). After the volatile solvents were completely evaporated, toluene (4 mL) and phenol (0.05 g) were added to the residues of evaporation. Boc cleavages were performed at 0°C by addition of 3.5 mL TFA. The reactions were monitored by HPLC (method MIH-009-2TG1 1 ). The obtained results are summarised in Table 3 and graphically presented in Figure 1

Table 3. Deprotection of Boc-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu- OBzl

Results

Traces of DMF in the materials significantly inhibited the removal of Boc protective group. Thus, Boc cleavage of the material obtained by extraction with DCM was significantly slower than in the case of material obtained by extraction with EtOAc.

The process for extraction of the present invention allows an efficient separation of polar aprotic solvents such as DMF from the isolated peptide. Accordingly, acidolytic cleavage of the peptide material isolated by the process for extraction according to the present invention can be expected to proceed smoothly.

Example 4 (comparative) Coupling of Boc-Ser(OBzl)-OH with H-Phe-Pro-lle-Leu- Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr-Leu(OBzl)

Boc-Ser(OBzl)-OH (1.62 g, 5.5 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (25 mL) at 20°C and added to crude H-Phe-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr-Leu(OBzl). HOBt H ₂ 0 (0.89 g, 5.8 mmol) and EDC HCI (1 .2 g, 6.3 mmol) were added thereto, and the reaction mixture was cooled to 5°C. The reaction mixture was kept at this temperature until a complete conversion was confirmed by HPLC. The reaction progress was monitored by the following method: 5 μΙ_ sample of the reaction mixture was diluted 50 fold in acetic acid : water (9 : 1) and analysed according to method MIH- 009-2TG1 1 described above. a) Extraction with MeTHF and precipitation in DIPE

25 mL of the reaction mixture containing 5 g Boc-Ser(Bzl)-Phe-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro- Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzi)-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu(OBzl) were combined with MeTHF (75 mL) and an aqueous solution containing 100 g/L NaCI (75 mL). After a thorough mixing and phase separation (approx. 4 min) the lower aqueous layer was removed. The upper organic layer was further extracted three times with an aqueous solution containing 100 g/L NaCI (3 x 75 mL). The organic layer was finally isolated and partially evaporated at 30°C, 60 mbar to a residual volume of 10 mL. The partially evaporated organic layer was added dropwise under stirring into DIPE (250 mL) at 0°C whereby the precipitation of the peptide took place. The resulting mixture was transferred into a 2.7 cm diameter filtration column equipped with a 20 μιη pore size filter. The filtration was carried out under a pressure of 50 mbar. The total mother liquor of precipitation (260 mL) was filtered in 3 minutes and 45 seconds. The cake heights after filtration was 3.5 cm giving a filterability coefficient K = 848. The solids were collected and dried under reduced pressure. 4.5 g of the peptide was isolated as a solid material.

An image of the isolated peptide is shown as Figure 2 (40x enlargement).

The aqueous layer resulting from the extraction process and the mother liquors of precipitation were analysed by HPLC. The amount of the peptide detected therein was below 0.5 wt.-% of the total amount of the peptide present in 25 mL of the reaction mixture resulting from example 4. b) Comparative example: Influence of DMF addition to the mother liquors of precipitation

The procedure of extraction and precipitation was performed as described under a) above but DMF (2.5 mL) was added to the precipitation mixture before the filtration of the peptide was carried out. The solid precipitate immediately turned into a gum-like solid that was not filterable. c) Comparative example: Direct precipitation in DIPE

25 mL of the reaction mixture obtained in example 4, containing 5 g Boc-Ser(Bzl)-Phe- Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu(OBzl) were added dropwise into DIPE (250 mL) under stirring at 0°C for precipitation. The peptide precipitated in the form of a sticky gum-like solid. After decantation the supernatant was pumped off and replaced with a second batch of DIPE (250 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred for one hour in order to de-aggregate the sticky gum-like solid. After decantation the supernatant was replaced again with a third batch of DIPE (250 mL). The mixture was stirred again for one hour and it was finally transferred into the filtration column. However, a large part of the solid was still in the form of a sticky gum-like solid that was left stuck onto the precipitation vessel and therefore could not be transferred. The mother liquors were filtered in 2 min 30 sec, yielding a 1.75 cm high cake. This gave a filtration coefficient K = 636. The collected solids were dried under reduced pressure. 2.45 g of the peptide were isolated. d) Comparative example: Direct precipitation in water.

25 mL of the reaction mixture resulting from example 4 and containing 5 g Boc- Ser(Bzl)-Phe-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bzl )-Leu(OBzl) were added dropwise into water (250 mL) under stirring at 0°C for precipitation. This yielded a very thin precipitate that was subsequently transferred into the filtration column. The filtration rate was very low (< 3 mL/h), a considerable amount of precipitate went through the filter in the beginning of the filtration and the filter was definitely clogged after about 65 min. Moreover, there was no clear decantation of the precipitate. Thus, it was not possible to collect the obtained precipitate.

Results

Precipitation of the peptide Boc-Ser(Bzl)-Phe-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)- Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bzl)-Leu(OBzl) in the presence of DMF (Examples b)-d)) led to gum-like solids, which were difficult to handle. In Example a) the precipitation of the peptide Boc- Ser(Bzl)-Phe-Pro-lle-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Tyr(Bzl )-Leu(OBzl) was carried out after the traces of DMF had been substantially removed by an extraction. The resulting product could be isolated in a good yield and was easily filterable. The process for extraction of the present invention allows an efficient separation of polar aprotic solvents such as DMF from the peptide. Accordingly, the undesired interference of polar aprotic solvents with the process of peptide precipitation can be excluded.