New method for removing the S-p-methoxybenzyl and S-t-butyl groups of cysteine residues with mercuric trifluoroacetate.

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Abstract
The S-p-methoxybenzyl, S-t-butyl and S-1-adamantyl groups of cysteine were smoothly cleaved with mercuric acetate in trifluoroacetic acid or mercuric trifluoroacetate in aqueous acetic acid. The treatment of the formed mercaptides with thiols regenerated cysteine derivatives. This new method was applied to the synthesis of biologically active polypeptides oxytocin and somatostatin.