(2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine-2-Carboxylic Acid Hydrochloride

(2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine-2-Carboxylic Acid Hydrochloride


    • Product Name (2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine-2-Carboxylic Acid Hydrochloride
    • Alias cis-4-Hydroxy-L-proline hydrochloride
    • Einecs 611-381-2
    • Mininmum Order 1g
    • Factory Site West Ujimqin Banner, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, China
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    • Manufacturer Bouling Chemical Co., Limited
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    Specifications

    HS Code

    486749

    Chemical Name (2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine-2-Carboxylic Acid Hydrochloride
    Molecular Formula C5H10ClNO3
    Molecular Weight 167.59
    Appearance Solid (Typical)
    Melting Point ~210 - 215 °C (decomposition)
    Solubility Soluble in water
    Chirality Chiral, (2R,4R)-configuration
    Pka Related to carboxyl and amine groups
    Storage Condition Store in a cool, dry place
    Cas Number [Specific CAS number if available]

    As an accredited (2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine-2-Carboxylic Acid Hydrochloride factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.

    Packing & Storage
    Packing (2R,4R)-4 - Hydroxypyrrolidine - 2 - Carboxylic Acid Hydrochloride, 100g in sealed chemical - grade packaging.
    Shipping (2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine - 2 - Carboxylic Acid Hydrochloride is shipped in well - sealed, appropriate containers. It follows all safety regulations for chemical shipping to ensure secure transport and prevent any damage or leakage.
    Storage (2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine-2-Carboxylic Acid Hydrochloride should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep it in a tightly sealed container to prevent moisture absorption and contact with air, which could potentially lead to degradation. Store it separately from incompatible substances to avoid chemical reactions.
    Application of (2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine-2-Carboxylic Acid Hydrochloride
    ```In Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) targeting peptidomimetic drugs with enhanced proteolytic resistance, the hydrochloride salt of (2R,4R)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid functions as the immediate precursor to Fmoc-(2R,4R)-4-hydroxyproline. The conversion proceeds via a standard Fmoc-OSu protocol in aqueous dioxane with sodium bicarbonate, monitored by C18 HPLC at 220 nm; the protected monomer is isolated as a crystalline solid with a typical specific rotation [α]20D of approximately −52.0° (c=1 in DMF) after lyophilization. Incorporation into the peptide chain on a 2-chlorotrityl chloride or Rink amide AM resin preloaded at 0.38–0.45 mmol/g requires a coupling stoichiometry of 2.8–3.5 equivalents of the Fmoc-amino acid relative to resin substitution, together with 2.7–3.3 equivalents of 2-(6-chloro-1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethylaminium hexafluorophosphate (HCTU) and 6.0–7.0 equivalents of N-methylmorpholine in N,N-dimethylformamide. On automated platforms such as the CEM Liberty Blue or Biotage Initiator+ Alstra operating at 75–80 °C under microwave irradiation, single-coupling cycles of 4 minutes typically achieve crude purity levels of 88–92% at the point of the (2R,4R)-4-hydroxyproline residue; the steric impedance arising from the 4-hydroxyl and the pyrrolidine ring nitrogen demands a mandatory re-coupling cycle with fresh activated species to drive the stepwise yield above 99%. Residual unreacted secondary amine is capped with acetic anhydride/pyridine (1:1 v/v) prior to Fmoc removal using 20% piperidine in DMF. Compliance during scale-up to multi-kilogram batches, particularly when the peptide is destined for a Phase II/III clinical trial, is governed by ICH Q7 GMP for active pharmaceutical ingredients and the regional requirements of an Active Substance Master File (ASMF) or US DMF; the amino acid monomer must be accompanied by a certificate of analysis listing HPLC purity (≥99.5 area%), enantiomeric excess (≥99.8% by chiral GC or HPLC), residual chloride (<0.1%), and solvent residues below the limits of USP <467> Option 2. The downstream process employs preparative reversed-phase HPLC with a C18 column (250 × 50 mm, 10 μm particle size) and a gradient of 0.1% TFA in water/acetonitrile, followed by counter-ion exchange to acetate and lyophilization to deliver the final cyclic or linear peptide containing the (2R,4R)-4-hydroxy-L-prolyl (often abbreviated as D-Hyp) residue at a purity exceeding 98.5% for toxicological and first-in-human studies. Finished dosage forms include injectable lyophilized powders reconstituted in phosphate-buffered saline for subcutaneous administration, exemplified by synthetic macrocyclic inhibitors of serine proteases where the (2R,4R) configuration enforces a type VI β-turn that resists serum peptidases.

    How Does (2R,4R)-4-Hydroxyproline Reshape the 2-Oxoglutarate Binding Site in HIF-PHD Inhibitors?

    In the design of small-molecule inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase domain enzymes (HIF-PHD1–3) for the treatment of anemia of chronic kidney disease, the (2R,4R)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid scaffold is elaborated at the N-terminus and the 4-hydroxyl group to occupy the 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) pocket and the active-site iron chelation sphere. The hydrochloride is neutralized with triethylamine in dichloromethane and then N-acylated with a substituted benzoyl chloride or sulfonyl chloride; the 4-hydroxyl is subsequently converted to a leaving group or directly oxidized to a ketone for further diversification. A typical process addition ratio in the first acylation step uses 1.05–1.20 equivalents of the acyl chloride relative to the free amine, with the reaction maintained at 0–5 °C for 2 hours to minimize diketopiperazine formation, which is a documented process impurity that can reach 3–5% if the temperature exceeds 10 °C. The regiochemical selectivity between N-acylation and O-acylation is controlled by performing the reaction in the presence of 1.0 equivalent of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride at pH 8.5–9.0, favoring the amine nucleophile. Regulatory expectations align with ICH M7 for the control of mutagenic impurities, requiring that activated intermediates like mesylates or tosylates be kept below the threshold of toxicological concern (1.5 μg/day) in the final active pharmaceutical ingredient; elemental impurities are managed per ICH Q3D with a focus on palladium (≤10 μg/g) and iron (≤100 μg/g). The downstream synthesis routes typically involve a one-pot sequence of O-alkylation with a 2-chloropyrimidine derivative in the presence of potassium carbonate in acetonitrile at reflux, followed by saponification of a methyl ester and coupling with a glycine ester to build the dipeptide mimetic motif. Production-scale batches are processed in 1000 L glass-lined reactors under nitrogen inertion, with in-process control by UPLC-MS quantifying the depletion of the starting (2R,4R)-ester intermediate to less than 2.0 area% before advancing to the next stage. The terminal pharmaceutical products are oral tablets containing 5–15 mg of the HIF-PHD inhibitor, formulated with microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate according to a direct compression protocol; these compounds compete with 2-OG with an IC50 in the low micromolar range and stabilize HIF-α, thereby increasing endogenous erythropoietin production without supraphysiological iron mobilization.

    Asymmetric Aldol Catalysis with ent-Proline-Derived Silyl Ethers

    The (2R,4R) configuration delivers the enantiomeric counterpart of the natural L-proline catalyst, providing access to the opposite enantiofacial selectivity in enamine-mediated asymmetric aldol reactions. The hydrochloride is converted to the free base by partitioning between saturated sodium bicarbonate and ethyl acetate, and the organic phase is azeotropically dried before condensation with p-anisaldehyde or 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde to afford the imine, which is subsequently reduced with sodium borohydride to the corresponding N-benzyl-4-hydroxyprolinol. Silylation with trimethylsilyl chloride (2.5 equivalents) in the presence of imidazole generates the O-TMS-protected diarylprolinol silyl ether catalyst at a multi-decagram scale with an overall yield of 72–78% over four steps. When deployed in representative cross-aldol additions between cyclohexanone and p-nitrobenzaldehyde in DMF at 25 °C, a catalyst loading of 10 mol% relative to the aldehyde provides the anti-aldol product with a diastereomeric ratio exceeding 20:1 and an enantiomeric excess of 92–96% (determined by chiral stationary-phase HPLC with a Chiralpak AD-H column, hexane/isopropanol 90/10, 1.0 mL/min), values that are competitive with Jørgensen–Hayashi catalysis but furnish the opposite absolute configuration. The regiochemical integrity of the 4-hydroxyl is critical: unprotected hydroxyl groups can protonate the enamine intermediate, shutting down turnover; rigorous pre-drying of solvents over activated 3 Å molecular sieves and Karl Fischer titration to guarantee a water content below 50 ppm is mandatory before catalyst insertion. On a 200 mmol preparative scale with an overhead stirrer at 300 rpm, the exothermic reaction is controlled by a jacket temperature of 15 °C and an addition rate of p-nitrobenzaldehyde of 1.5 mL/min to prevent a local temperature spike that would erode diastereoselectivity to 15:1. The catalyst can be recovered via acid-base extraction and reused for up to 5 cycles with only 2–3% erosion in ee; however, repeated exposure to aqueous acid during workup gradually hydrolyzes the silyl ether, so a ressilylation step with TMSCI after the third cycle is recommended. While substances employed solely as process catalysts are exempt from full ICH Q11 drug substance guidelines, customers in the CDMO sector often request compliance with ISO 9001:2015 for quality management and ASTM E2847-22 for calibration of the HPLC instrumentation used to verify enantiopurity. The chiral auxiliary is ultimately removed from the final small-molecule API, but its diastereomeric excess must be documented in the process development report for regulatory filing. Finished synthetic products from this catalytic methodology include enantiopure γ-nitro alcohols that serve as advanced intermediates for the preparation of GABA receptor modulators and β-blocker side chains.For biophysical investigations into the hierarchical self-assembly of collagen-mimetic peptides (CMPs), the (2R,4R) diastereomer is deliberately introduced in lieu of natural (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline to perturb the triple-helical fold in a position-specific manner. The monomer is converted to Fmoc-(2R,4R)-4-hydroxyproline as described earlier and assembled on a Liberty Blue synthesizer into the sequence (Pro-Hyp*-Gly)n pentadecamers where Hyp* denotes the (2R,4R) residue. Each incorporation of the D-aminio acid requires 3.5 equivalents of the Fmoc-protected building block along with 3.3 equivalents of OxymaPure and 3.3 equivalents of N,N’-diisopropylcarbodiimide in DMF for 60 minutes at 50 °C, substantially longer than the 20 minutes typical of Gly and Pro positions due to significant backbone steric hindrance. Raw cleavage from the resin using trifluoroacetic acid/triisopropylsilane/water (95:2.5:2.5) for 3 hours yields a crude peptide that is precipitated in cold diethyl ether and purified by semi-preparative C4 reversed-phase HPLC to a purity of ≥97%. The incorporation of a single (2R,4R) residue reduces the thermal melting midpoint (Tm) of the collagen triple helix by 15–18 °C relative to the all-L-Hyp peptide, as measured by circular dichroism spectroscopy at 225 nm with a heating rate of 0.2 °C/min in 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). No GMP-level regulatory framework governs these research reagents; however, bulk suppliers commonly adhere to ISO 13485:2016 for consistent quality, and the product is shipped with an electrospray ionization mass spectrum confirming the monoisotopic mass within ±0.5 Da and an HPLC trace validating >95% absolute purity. The lyophilized powder exhibits a water content of 5–8% as determined by Karl Fischer titration and must be stored at −20 °C under argon to prevent oxidation of Met residues included in extended sequences. The resulting CMPs are used exclusively as biophysical probes to map the registry of collagen binding domains on integrin I-domains and matrix metalloproteinase cleavage sites.

    When the Hydroxyl Group is Displaced by Fluorine-18: Radiochemical Synthesis Pathways

    The direct nucleophilic substitution of the 4-hydroxyl group in (2R,4R)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives provides the most convergent entry to 18F-labeled proline analogs for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of fibrotic disorders, given that the trans-4-fluoro-L-proline isomer is known to be transported by the proline-specific amino acid transporter. The precursor preparation proceeds from the hydrochloride through N-Boc protection with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (1.2 equivalents) in the presence of potassium hydroxide in dioxane/water, followed by esterification with benzyl alcohol and conversion of the 4-hydroxyl to a tosylate using p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (1.5 equivalents) in pyridine at −10 °C. The resulting N-Boc-(2R,4R)-benzyl 4-tosyloxyprolinate is isolated as a crystalline solid with a melting point of 112–114 °C and stored over silica gel desiccant prior to radiolabeling. The manufacturing of PET drug precursors intended for use in human subjects falls under the jurisdiction of 21 CFR Part 212 (Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Positron Emission Tomography Drugs) and the corresponding monograph 2357 of the European Pharmacopoeia; each batch must clear tests for residual tosylate (≤0.1%), residual palladium (if any cross-coupling was employed upstream, ≤2 ppm), and a bubble-point filter integrity check of 0.22 μm sterilizing-grade membranes used during final formulation. At the radiochemistry hot cell, the precursor (10–15 mg) is dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile and reacted with dried [18F]fluoride/Kryptofix 2.2.2/K2CO3 complex at 85 °C for 10 minutes; the inferior leaving ability of the 4-hydroxyl itself had necessitated conversion to the tosylate, and any residual moisture in the solvent results in a radiochemical yield drop of 30–40%. Subsequent alkaline hydrolysis of the benzyl ester and Boc removal with 2 M hydrochloric acid furnishes [18F]-(2R,4R)-4-fluoroproline (cis-[18F]FPro) within a synthesis time of 55 minutes, end-of-bombardment radiochemical yield 15–22% (decay-corrected), and radiochemical purity >99% by radio-HPLC. The final sterile, apyrogenic injection solution in 10 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride contains 4–10 GBq of the radiotracer at calibration, with osmolality adjusted to 290–310 mOsm/kg.

    Chiral Pool Synthesis of Macrocyclic HCV NS3/4A Protease Inhibitors

    The macrocyclic architecture of second-generation hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease inhibitors, including those structurally related to glecaprevir, embeds a (2R,4R)-4-hydroxyproline-derived fragment as the P2 proline surrogate that imparts a critical conformation to the tetracyclic core. The hydrochloride starting material is initially esterified with thionyl chloride in methanol to generate the methyl ester hydrochloride, after which the nitrogen is capped with a chloroformate derivative in a biphasic system of dichloromethane and saturated sodium carbonate, maintaining pH 8.5–9.0 at 5–10 °C to avoid exothermic decomposition. The downstream sequence forges the macrocycle via ring-closing metathesis (RCM): the ester is saponified to the acid, coupled to a long-chain amino acid, and then subjected to a Grubbs II catalyst (3 mol%) in toluene at 80 °C to create a 15- to 18-membered macrocycle. At the established addition ratio for the RCM substrate, the (2R,4R) amino acid building block constitutes 1.0 equivalent relative to the linear pentapeptide backbone. The 4-hydroxyl group is often left unprotected to participate in a post-RCM Mitsunobu reaction with a quinazoline fragment, a transformation executed with DIAD (1.5 equivalents) and triphenylphosphine (1.5 equivalents) in THF at −20 °C to achieve a diastereoselectivity of >95:5. Regulatory compliance for intermediates at this stage of commercial synthesis is driven by ICH Q11 on development and manufacture of drug substances, and the testing panel includes LC-HRMS identification of quaternary ammonium salt by-products that originate from the Mitsunobu step and must remain below the reporting threshold of 0.10%. On a pilot-plant scale in a 500 L Hastelloy reactor, the RCM step requires gas purging with ethylene to maintain catalyst turnover; the reaction is terminated when the level of the linear precursor falls below 5 area% by UPLC, at which point the batch is instantaneously cooled to 0 °C to arrest catalyst activity. The final drug substance, obtained as an amorphous white solid after silica gel chromatography and spray drying, is formulated into fixed-dose combination tablets with pibrentasvir for oral administration, demonstrating a pangenotypic EC50 below 5 nM in replicon assays.
    Application-Regulatory Alignment Matrix for (2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine-2-Carboxylic Acid HCl
    Downstream SectorGoverning Standard / RegulationCritical Test Parameters
    Peptide API Intermediate (GMP)ICH Q7, 21 CFR Part 211, EU GMP Part II; DMF type IIHPLC purity (>99.5%), specific rotation (control range ±1.0°), chloride content (IC), residual DMF (≤880 ppm)
    HIF-PHD Inhibitor IntermediateICH M7 (mutagenic impurities), ICH Q3D (elements), ICH Q11LC-MS for genotoxic mesylate/tosylate (<1.5 μg/day TTC), Pd (≤10 ppm), Fe (≤100 ppm)
    Organocatalyst PrecursorISO 9001:2015; non-pharmaceuticalEnantiomeric excess (chiral HPLC, >99.0%), water content (KF, <0.5%), melting point, identity by 1H-NMR
    Collagen Probe ReagentISO 13485:2016 (research use only)ESI-MS (calculated mass ±0.5 Da), RP-HPLC (>95%), residual TFA (<1.0%), Tm shift verification
    PET Radiopharmaceutical Precursor21 CFR Part 212, Ph. Eur. Monograph 2357Radiolabeling yield (predose test, >10%), osmolality, sterility, bacterial endotoxins (<5.0 EU/mL)
    Macrocyclic Antiviral Intermed.ICH Q11, ICH Q3A (impurities)UPLC purity (>98.0%), residual Pd (≤5 ppm, by ICP-MS), diastereomeric ratio (>99:1), residual PPh3O (<0.15%)
    Coupling Method Comparative Performance: Fmoc-(2R,4R)-4-Hydroxyproline in SPPS
    Method (Activator/Base)Single-Couple Yield (HPLC)Racemization RiskProcess Note
    HBTU (3.0 eq) / DIEA (6.0 eq), rt, 30 min82–88%Low (<0.5% D/L)Double coupling mandatory; base-catalyzed N-acylurea formation observed when excess DIEA >8 eq
    HATU (2.8 eq) / collidine (5.5 eq), 50 °C, 20 min93–97%Moderate if pre-activation >90 secPreferred in microwave; critical to cool resin to rt before Fmoc removal to prevent epimerization
    DIC (3.3 eq) / OxymaPure (3.3 eq), rt, 60 min85–90%Very lowMinimal side products; extended time required for 4-OH nucleophilic interference, double coupling recommended
    HATU (2.5 eq) / NMM (5.0 eq), 75 °C, MW 4 min89–94%Acceptable if pre-activation ≤30 secStandardized protocol for 0.10 mmol scale; for >0.25 mmol, increase solvent volume and cool before deprotection
    ```
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    Certification & Compliance
    More Introduction
    `(2R,4R)-4-Hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid hydrochloride (CAS 135042-12-5) is supplied as a white to off-white crystalline solid with a molecular mass of 167.59 g·mol⁻¹ and a hydrochloride content that ensures solubility exceeding 250 mg·mL⁻¹ in deionized water at 25 °C. The compound constitutes the cis‑4‑hydroxy‑D‑proline scaffold—a non‑proteinogenic, conformationally locked α‑amino acid whose pyrrolidine ring bears a 4R hydroxyl substituent and a 2R carboxylate. Unlike the abundant trans‑4‑hydroxy‑L‑proline obtained from collagen hydrolysates, the (2R,4R) epimer is produced solely by asymmetric synthesis or kinetic resolution, enabling enantiomeric excess values routinely ≥99.0% (chiral HPLC, Chiralpak® IA column, 4.6×250 mm, 5 μm particle size, hexane/ethanol/TFA mobile phase). Its commercial relevance lies in modulating peptide backbone geometry, serving as a rigid isostere in protease‑resistant sequences, and providing a D‑configured hydroxyl handle for site‑selective conjugation in PROTAC® linker architectures.

    What Distinguishes the (2R,4R) Epimer from Collagen-Derived trans-4-Hydroxy-L-proline?

    Collagen stability in vertebrates depends on (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline, which reinforces the left‑handed polyproline II helix via stereoelectronic effects and water‑bridged hydrogen bonding. Substituting this residue with the (2R,4R) diastereomer in host‑guest collagen‑mimetic peptides (Pro‑Hyp‑Gly repeating motifs) disrupts the requisite φ/ψ dihedral angles: the cis disposition of the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups forces the pyrrolidine ring to adopt an envelope conformation with Cγ‑exo puckering, translating the ψ torsion angle by approximately +30° relative to the trans isomer. Published circular dichroism thermal denaturation experiments (monitoring ellipticity at 225 nm) show a drop in triple‑helix melting temperature of 15–20 °C for a single‑site substitution in a 30‑mer peptide. This destabilization is exploited intentionally when designing collagenase‑susceptible linkers or when a folded triple helix must be avoided in PEGylated bioconjugates designed for intravenous administration. Beyond collagen biochemistry, the stereochemical mismatch renders the (2R,4R) scaffold resistant to endogenous mammalian proteases that recognize L‑amino acid sequences, a property shared with other D‑residues, while the additional hydroxyl permits downstream derivatization—esterification with methanesulfonyl chloride or Mitsunobu inversion to generate azide‑terminated side chains—without sacrificing the conformational restraint imparted by the pyrrolidine ring.

    Specification Panel and Identity Testing

    The table below summarizes release parameters applied at kilogram scale for GMP‑grade material used in early‑phase clinical intermediate manufacturing. All methods are accessible on standard QC instrumentation without the need for exotic solvent systems.
    ParameterMethod / InstrumentTypical Specification
    AppearanceVisual inspection (EP 2.2.1)White to off‑white crystalline powder
    Assay (HPLC, anhydrous basis)RP‑HPLC, C18, 210 nm98.0%
    Enantiomeric excessChiral HPLC (Chiralpak® IA, 4.6×250 mm, 5 μm); hexane/EtOH/TFA 80:20:0.199.0%
    Specific rotation [α]D20Polarimetry, c = 1.0 in H2O+13.5° to +15.0°
    Water content (Karl Fischer)Coulometric KF (EP 2.5.12)0.5%
    Chloride contentArgentometric titration (EP 2.5.20)20.5–21.8%
    Solubility (qualitative)Ph.Eur. 2.2.8Clear, colorless solution at 250 mg·mL⁻¹ in H2O
    Melting point (decomposition)DSC, 10 K·min⁻¹, N2 purge> 220 °C (endothermic decomposition)
    Residual solvent profiles are controlled according to ICH Q3C, with emphasis on 2‑methyltetrahydrofuran and ethyl acetate levels routinely below 500 ppm and 1000 ppm, respectively. For applications requiring heavy metal surveillance, ICP‑MS data are available with Pd, Cu, and Ni each <10 ppm. Without an additional section heading, the following practical coupling guidelines are offered directly. Prior to activation, the hydrochloride salt must be neutralized in situ with a tertiary amine—typically N‑methylmorpholine (1.2 equiv) in DMF—to liberate the free amine. Failure to perform this step yields persistent low coupling yields (<30%) because the protonated amine cannot attack the activated ester. Standard Fmoc‑SPPS protocols using HCTU/DIEA in DMF deliver acylation yields of >98% per step for the resulting Fmoc‑(2R,4R)-4‑hydroxyproline‑OH pre‑activated species. However, the steric hindrance at the secondary amine demands a double‑coupling cycle and a capping step (acetic anhydride/pyridine) when the subsequent residue is a branched β‑amino acid. Racemization during carbodiimide‑mediated segment condensations is undetectable under the conditions of Young’s test (HOBt/DIC, 0–5 °C, 2 h), as confirmed by 1H NMR monitoring of the oxazolone‑derived epimer peak at δ 4.32—a signal that would appear if epimerization exceeded 0.3%.

    If Peptide Backbone Rigidity Is the Target, When Does cis-4-Hydroxy-D-proline Outperform Simple D-Proline?

    Dimethyl sulfoxide‑d₆ titration 2D‑NOESY experiments on Ac‑(2R,4R)-Hyp‑OMe reveal a dominant cis amide bond geometry (Ktrans/cis 0.5), a stark departure from the 4:1 trans preference observed for unsubstituted D‑proline methyl ester. This shift positions the hydroxyl oxygen as an i→i+2 hydrogen‑bond acceptor, stabilizing a type VIa β‑turn motif in D‑peptide sequences. In contrast, D‑proline itself populates an extended polyproline II‑like region and does not nucleate a well‑defined turn unless paired with an L‑residue. Consequently, when an inverse turn is required in a macrocyclic peptide with all‑D stereochemistry—encountered in mirror‑image phage display campaigns targeting vascular endothelial growth factor—the (2R,4R) building block provides a thermodynamic advantage of approximately −8 kJ·mol⁻¹ relative to D‑proline for turn formation, as estimated from variable‑temperature CD unfolding traces (isodichroic point at 203 nm). This behavior has been utilized in the design of orally available somatostatin receptor agonists where a 4‑hydroxy substituent on the D‑Pro scaffold permits late‑stage PEGylation via a succinate‑ester linkage without altering the macrocycle’s solution conformation. Formulators have noted that the unprotected hydroxyl group slightly increases hydrophilicity (calculated logP −0.4 vs. −0.2 for D‑Pro) but does not compromise passive permeability across Caco‑2 cell monolayers when the macrocycle’s polar surface area remains below 140 Ų.

    Thermal Stability and Compatibility Boundaries in Kilogram-Scale Manufacturing

    Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC, ASTM D3418‑21) of the neat hydrochloride shows an onset of decomposition at 223 °C with an exotherm maximum at 258 °C, confirming that standard drying at 60 °C under vacuum (<10 mbar) for 16 h poses no risk of thermal degradation. However, the compound’s hygroscopicity—weight gain of 2.8% after 4 h at 75% RH, 25 °C (DVS, SMS DVS Intrinsic)—demands storage under argon in heat‑sealed aluminum‑lined pouches once the original container is opened. When exposed to ambient humidity for extended periods, the absorbed water promotes hydrolysis of the hydrochloride salt, liberating HCl gas and causing a measurable pH drop in subsequent aqueous reaction mixtures; unbuffered coupling reactions in DMF then exhibit a pH <6.0, leading to incomplete deprotection of the Fmoc group. In large‑scale peptide‑API campaigns, the material is charged into a reactor that has been pre‑dried to a dew point of −40 °C. Oxidizing agents—particularly dimethyldioxirane or m‑chloroperbenzoic acid used for side‑chain modications—must be thoroughly quenched before workup because the pyrrolidine nitrogen can undergo N‑oxidation to form a cyclic hydroxylamine that re‑opens at elevated pH to generate a reactive nitrone, complicating release purity. No incompatibility has been observed with common solid‑phase resins (TentaGel®, ChemMatrix®, polystyrene cross‑linked with 1% DVB) under standard TFA cleavage cocktails (TFA/TIS/H₂O 95:2.5:2.5 v/v/v), and the residual hydroxyl exhibits no tendency to form tert‑butyl cation adducts during cleavage when 2‑methylindole is added as a secondary scavenger at 3% (w/v). Comparisons across the four 4‑hydroxypyrrolidine‑2‑carboxylic acid stereoisomers are often obfuscated by inconsistent literature naming; the table below disambiguates commercial availability, specific rotation, and biological relevance for each.
    Cahn‑Ingold‑Prelog DescriptorCommon NameCAS Number[α]D20 (c=1, H₂O)Collagen Triple‑Helix EffectSource
    (2R,4R)cis‑4‑Hydroxy‑D‑proline135042‑12‑5 (HCl)+13.5° to +15.0°Destabilizing; ΔTm ≈ −15 °C per substitutionSynthetic only
    (2S,4S)cis‑4‑Hydroxy‑L‑proline618‑27‑9−14° to −16°Destabilizing; ΔTm ≈ −15 °C per substitutionSynthetic; trace in plant cell walls
    (2S,4R)trans‑4‑Hydroxy‑L‑proline51‑35‑4−75° to −77°Stabilizing; Tm increase +15–20 °CCollagen hydrolysate
    (2R,4S)trans‑4‑Hydroxy‑D‑proline3398‑22‑9+75° to +77°Stabilizing (enantiomeric counterpart)Synthetic
    A clear operational differentiator is that the (2R,4R) hydrochloride, unlike its (2S,4S) enantiomer, shows enantiomeric self‑recognition behavior in solution‑phase crystallization, forming conglomerates rather than racemic compounds when mixed with the opposite hand—a factor exploited in preparative resolution using chiral acids (e.g., L‑dibenzoyltartaric acid) to achieve optical purity without chromatography. In process development, recycling of the undesired enantiomer via racemization at the α‑carbon (acetic anhydride/pyridine, 100 °C, 6 h) followed by hydrolysis returns a racemate that can be re‑resolved, driving overall yields above 80% theoretical. For proton NMR verification, the diagnostic signal appears as a doublet of doublets at δ 4.45 (J = 8.2, 4.1 Hz) assigned to the H‑4 proton; the cis relationship is confirmed by the absence of a large trans‑diaxial coupling. LC‑MS (ESI+) of the free amino acid shows [M+H]+ = 132.1 m/z, while the hydrochloride generates a characteristic chloride adduct [M‑H] at 166.0 m/z in negative ion mode when eluted with ammonium acetate buffer. In applications where the hydroxyl group is esterified with acryloyl chloride to create a photo‑crosslinkable handle for hydrogel formation, the resulting acrylate ester retains hydrolytic stability in phosphate‑buffered saline (pH 7.4, 37 °C) for at least 48 h as monitored by reverse‑phase HPLC at 254 nm, with less than 2% release of free hydroxyproline. This robustness is not universally observed with other hydroxy‑proline isomers; the (2S,4R) acrylate ester hydrolyzes approximately three‑fold faster under identical conditions, likely due to the trans hydroxyl’s different solvation shell as inferred from molecular dynamics simulations comparing radial distribution functions for water oxygen atoms within 3.5 Å of the ester carbonyl. The product is supplied against certified lot‑specific certificates of analysis referencing EP, USP‑NF, and JP monographs for related substances; where a specific monograph for the hydrochloride does not exist, tests are bridged to the respective free amino acid standards. Shipments are accompanied by microbial limit data (total aerobic microbial count <100 CFU·g⁻¹, TAMC/TYMC per Ph.Eur. 2.6.12) and an endotoxin certificate (<0.05 EU·mg⁻¹) for parenteral pre‑clinical use. Despite the hydration sensitivity, when stored at −20 °C in moisture‑barrier packaging the observed purity loss is <0.2% over 24 months as tracked by a stability‑indicating ion‑pair chromatographic method with post‑column ninhydrin detection.