"Principles of Peptide Synthesis" is a concise and critical account of methods for amino acid protection, their activation and peptide bond formation. The author introduces strategies for the synthesis of peptide chains and cyclic peptides by outlining the underlying chemistry common to the peptide bond. The book addresses graduate students and researchers planning peptide synthesis. Its second edition has been completely revised and new ideas are assessed and evaluated.

I. Introduction.- References.- II. Activation and Coupling.- 1 Activation.- 2 Coupling.- 3 Coupling Methods.- References.- III. Reversible Blocking of Amino and Carboxyl Groups.- 1 General Aspects.- 2 Protection of the Carboxyl Group.- 3 Protection of the Amino Group.- References.- IV. Semipermanent Protection of Side Chain Functions.- 1 Carboxyl Groups of Aspartyl and Glutamyl Residues.- 2 Side Chain Amino Groups of Lysine and Ornithine.- 3 Hydroxyl Groups in Serine, Threonine and Tyrosine.- 4 The Sulfhydryl Group in Cysteine.- 5 The Guanidino Group of Arginine.- 6 Imidazole in Histidine.- 7 The Thioether in Methionine.- 8 The Indole Nitrogen in Tryptophan.- 9 The Carboxamide Groups in Asparagine and Glutamine.- References.- V. Side Reactions in Peptide Synthesis.- 1 Side Reactions Initiated by Proton Abstraction.- 2 Side Reactions Initiated by Protonation.- 3 Side Reactions Due to Overactivation.- 4 Side Reactions Related to Individual Amino Acid Residues.- References.- VI. Tactics and Strategy in Peptide Synthesis.- 1 Tactics.- 2 Strategies.- 3 Disulfide Bridges.- 4 Synthesis of Cyclic Peptides.- 5 Sequential Polypeptides.- 6 Partial Synthesis (Semisynthesis).- References.- VII. Techniques for the Facilitation of Peptide Synthesis.- 1 Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS).- 2 Synthesis in Solution.- References.- VIII Recent Developments, New Trends.- 1 Formation of the Peptide Bond.- 2 Protecting Groups.- 3 Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis.- 4 Undesired Reactions in Peptide Synthesis.- 5 New Trends and Perspectives.- References.