Synthesis of the chromophores of fluorescent proteins and their analogs

Members of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) family are widely used in experimental biology as genetically encoded fluorescent tags. Chromophores of GFP-like proteins share a common structural core: 3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one. This review covers synthetic approaches to 3,5-dihydro-4H-imida-zol-4-ones, substituted at different positions. General, as well as specific methods, represented by single examples are considered. The most popular synthetic route to substituted 3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-ones includes synthesis of azlactones, followed by transformation into N-acyldehydroamino acids and, finally, cyclization into target heterocycles. Accordingly, the review is divided into three parts: the first part covers syntheses of azlactones, the second part covers main approaches to N-acyldehydroamino acids, and in the third part we summarize cyclizations of N-acyldehydroamino acids, as well as all other approaches to 3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-ones.