Turning peptides in comb silicone polymers

We have recently reported on a new class of silicone–peptide‵ biopolymers obtained by polymerization of di‐functionalized chlorodimethylsilyl hybrid peptides. Herein, we describe a related strategy based on dichloromethylsilane‐derived peptides, which yield novel polymers with a polysiloxane backbone, comparable with a silicone‐bearing pendent peptide chains. Interestingly, polymerization is chemoselective toward amino acids side‐chains and proceeds in a single step in very mild conditions (neutral pH, water, and room temperature). As potential application, a cationic sequence was polymerized and used for antibacterial coating. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.