Synthesis of human growth hormone-releasing hormone via three-fragment serine/threonine ligation (STL)

The synthesis of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (hGH-RH), by the chemoselective serine/threonine ligations (STLs) of three unprotected peptide fragments, is reported. To allow for the multiple-fragment ligation, we chose the Msz (p-(methylsulfinyl)benzyloxycarbonyl) group, which is compatible with the preparation of peptide salicylaldehyde esters via Fmoc-SPPS and readily removed by reductive acidolysis, to protect the serine and threonine residue at the N-terminus.