mz9b00784_si_001.pdf (2.23 MB)
Facile Synthesis of Helical Multiblock Copolypeptides: Minimal Side Reactions with Accelerated Polymerization of N‑Carboxyanhydrides
journal contribution
posted on 2019-10-31, 20:43 authored by Xuefang Wang, Ziyuan Song, Zhengzhong Tan, Lingyang Zhu, Tianrui Xue, Shixian Lv, Zihuan Fu, Xuetao Zheng, Jie Ren, Jianjun ChengMultiblock
copolypeptides have attracted broad interests because
their potential to form ordered structures and possess protein-mimetic
functions. Controlled synthesis of multiblock copolypeptides through
the sequential addition of N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs),
especially with the block number higher than five, however, is challenging
and rarely reported due to competing side reactions during the polymerization
process. Herein, we report the unprecedented synthesis of block copolypeptides
with up to 20 blocks, enabled by ultrafast polypeptide chain propagation
in a water/chloroform emulsion system that outpaces side reactions
and ensures high end-group fidelity. Well-defined multiblock copolypeptides
with desired block numbers, block lengths, and block sequences, as
well as very low dispersity were readily attainable in a few hours.
This method paves the way for the fast production of a large number
of sequence-regulated multiblock copolypeptide materials, which may
exhibit interesting assembly behaviors and biomedical applications.