SYNTHESIS AND SOLUTION PROPERTIES OF OPTICALLY-ACTIVE POLY(TRANS-5-METHYLPROLINE)

The role of L-proline in protein structure has been of considerable interest since it cannot be simply introduced into the alpha -helical structure of most naturally occurring poly alpha -amino acids. Poly(L-proline) is also of considerable interest since it maintains a helical structure in solution without hydrogen bonding. Since steric factors should be critical to the maintenance of the helical conformation, the authors have previously undertaken the study of cis-5-methylproline in order to investigate these factors. In this paper they report the synthesis and solution properties of poly(trans-5-methylproline). Experimental results are presented and discussed in terms of molecular structure of polymers obtained and relevant polymerization mechanisms.