A stereoselective synthetic route is reported for the introduction of side chains at the 3-positionof
trans-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ACPC). Rin
g openin
g of the aziridine 2-benzyloxymethyl-6-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane with selected nucleophiles occurs in a re
gioselective manner and provides ACPCprecursors with functional
groups at the 3-position, trans to the 2-amino
group. Oli
gomers composed ofthe 3-substituted ACPC residues maintain the 12-helical conformation displayed by the nonsubstitutedanalo
gues, as shown by their similar circular dichroism si
gnatures. The added diversity of the new residuesprovides
good dispersion of NMR si
gnals, allowin
g the assi
gnment of nearly all the NOE si
gnals of a selectedhexamer in aqueous solution. The NOEs between protons on nonadjacent residues are characteristic ofthe 12-helix. 3-Substituted ACPC residues allow one to arran
ge specific functional
groups in a
geometricallydefined fashion, which should facilitate the desi
gn of
ges/
gifchars/beta2.
gif" BORDER=0 ALIGN="middle">-peptides for biolo
gical applications.