Application of microwave irradiation to the synthesis of 14-helical beta-peptides.

[structure: see text] We have evaluated the effects of microwave irradiation on the solid-phase synthesis of beta-peptides. Sequences designed to adopt the 14-helix, especially those containing the structure-promoting residue trans-2-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (ACHC), suffer from poor synthetic efficiency under standard SPPS conditions. A comparison of microwave and conventional heating shows that both provide excellent synthetic results for shorter sequences; however, we identify a clear benefit from microwave irradiation for longer beta-peptides.