Solid-state conformation of copolymers of ß-benzyl-L-aspartate with L-alanine, L-leucine, L-valine, γ-benzyl-L-glutamate, or ε-carbobenzoxy-L-lysine

The solid-state conformation of copolymers of ß-benzyl-L-aspartate [L-Asp(OBzl)] with L-leucine (L-Leu), L-alanine (L-Ala), L-valine (L-Val), γ-benzyl-L-glutamate [L-Glu(OBzl)], or ε-carbobenzoxy-L-lysine (Cbz-L-Lys) has been studied by ir spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD). The ir spectra in the region of the amide I and II bands and in the region of 700-250 cm-1 have been determined. The results from the ir studies are in good agreement with data obtained by CD experiments. Incorporation of the amino acid residues mentioned above into poly[L-Asp(OBzl)] induces a change from the left-handed into the right-handed α-helix. This conformational change for the poly[L-Asp(OBzl)] copolymers was observed in the following composition ranges: L-Leu, 0-15 mol %; L-Ala, 0-32 mol %; L-Val, 0-8 mol %; L-Glu(OBzl), 3-10 mol %; and Cbz-L-Lys, 0-9 mol %.