Description
General Description
Fmoc-NH-PEG-COOH is a versatile heterobifunctional PEG linker designed for orthogonal synthetic strategies, particularly in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). The terminal carboxylic acid group can be readily activated using carbodiimide chemistry (EDC/NHS) or peptide coupling reagents such as HATU, HBTU, and DIC for conjugation to primary amines, forming stable amide bonds.
The opposite terminal amine is protected with an Fmoc group, preventing undesired side reactions during synthesis. The Fmoc protecting group can be selectively removed under mild basic conditions, typically using 20% piperidine in DMF, to generate NH2-PEG-COOH, allowing further functionalization.
The hydrophilic PEG spacer improves water solubility, molecular flexibility, and biocompatibility while reducing steric hindrance and minimizing nonspecific interactions. Fmoc-NH-PEG-COOH is extensively employed in peptide chemistry, PEG linker synthesis, hydrogel preparation, nanoparticle functionalization, targeted drug delivery, and advanced biomaterials development.
Applications
- Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)
- Peptide synthesis
- Polymer synthesis
- PEG linker synthesis
- Protein conjugation
- Hydrogel synthesis
- Surface modification
- Nanoparticle functionalization
- Drug delivery systems
- Biomaterials research
Features and Benefits
- Fmoc-protected amine
- Terminal carboxylic acid group
- Compatible with EDC/NHS coupling
- Compatible with peptide coupling reagents
- Base-labile protecting group
- Orthogonal functionalization
- Excellent water solubility
- Excellent biocompatibility
- Available in multiple PEG molecular weights
