Solid-phase synthesis and CD spectroscopic investigations of novel β-peptides from L-aspartic acid and β-amino-L-alanine

A solid-phase synthesis method for the preparation of novel beta(3)- and beta(2)-peptides derived from L-aspartic acid and beta-amino-L-alanine, respectively, is described. The methodology allows independent buildup of the beta-peptide backbone and the introduction of sequential side chain substitutions. Representative peptides from the two classes, an amino-substituted beta(3)-hexapeptide and an acyl-substituted beta(2)-hexapeptide, have been prepared, and their solution conformation is studied by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy.