Synthesis of a new ß-amino acid with a 3-deoxy-L-ara furnaoside side chain: the influence of the side chain on the conformation of α/ß-peptides.

The important role of side chains in the stabilization of helical folds in peptidic foldamers containing C-linked carbo-ß-amino acids (ß-Caa), an interesting class of ß-amino acids, with carbohydrate side chains has been extensively elaborated. As a pragmatic approach to alleviate the interference of substituents in the side chains on the folding propensities of the peptides, they are often modified or removed. The present study reports the synthesis of a new ß-Caa with a 3-deoxy-L-ara furanoside side chain, [(R)-ß-Caa(da)], from D-glucose, and its use in the synthesis of α/ß-peptides in 1 : 1 alternation with D-Ala. The synthesis of peptides using (R)-ß-Caa(da), was facile unlike those from (R)-ß-Caa(a) having the L-ara furanoside side chain. The detailed NMR, molecular dynamics (MD) and CD studies on the new α/ß-peptides showed the presence of robust left-handed 11/9-mixed helices. The study demonstrates that the new (R)-ß-Caa(da), behaves differently compared to the other two related monomers, (R)-ß-Caa(x) with the D-xylo furanoside side chain and (R)-ß-Caa(a).

Chirality and template-mediated induction of helical preferences in achiral ß-peptides.

This study describes chirality- or template-mediated helical induction in achiral ß-peptides for the first time. A strategy of end capping ß-peptides derived from ß-hGly (the smallest achiral ß-amino acid) with a chiral ß-amino acid that possesses a carbohydrate side chain (ß-Caa; C-linked carbo ß-amino acid) or a small, robust helical template derived from ß-Caas, was adopted to investigate folding propensity. A single chiral (R)-ß-Caa residue at the C- or N-terminus in these oligomers led to a preponderance of right-handed 12/10-helical folds, which was reiterated more strongly in peptides capped at both the C- and N-terminus. Likewise, the presence of a template (a 12/10-helical trimer) at both the C- and N-terminus resulted in a very robust helix. The propagation of the helical fold and its sustenance was found in a homo-oligomeric sequence with as many as seven ß-hGly residues. In both cases, the induction of helicity was stronger from the N terminus, whereas an anchor at the C terminus resulted in reduced helical propensity. Although these oligomers have been theoretically predicted to favor a 12/10-mixed helix in apolar solvents, this study provides the first experimental evidence for their existence. Diastereotopicity was found in both the methylene groups of the ß-hGly moieties due to chirality. Additionally, the ß-hGly units have shown split behavior in the conformational space to accommodate the 12/10-helix. Thus, end capping to assist chiralty- or template-mediated helical induction and stabilization in achiral ß-peptides is a very attractive strategy.