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Polymerization of optical isomers of phenylalanine N ‐carboxyanhydride by poly ( N ‐methylalanine) diethylamide
Author(s) -
Imanishi Yukio,
Kugimiya Kazuya,
Higashimura Toshinobu
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.1974.360130612
Subject(s) - chemistry , polymerization , selectivity , polymer chemistry , phenylalanine , amine gas treating , organic chemistry , polymer , amino acid , catalysis , biochemistry
In the polymerization of phenylalanine N ‐carboxyanhydride (NCA) using poly( N ‐methyl‐ L ‐or DL ‐alanine) diethylamide as initiator, the polymerization rate was L ‐NCA ≃ D ‐NCA > DL ‐NCA. This is a new type of selective polymerization and indicates the incompleteness of earlier investigations to study the asymmetrically selective polymerization without D ‐NCA. Neither secondary structure nor optical activity of the polymeric initiator is a reason for the selectivity. Hence the cause for the selectivity was sought in the properties of the NCA's in solution. However, the selectivity was not observed in the polymerization initiated by poly( L ‐phenylalanine) dimethylamide. The importance of the initiator being a secondary amine type was suggested. The experimental results are discussed on the basis of these considerations.