Poly(ε‐L‐lysine): Synthesis and conformation

Abstract

Abstract The synthesis of poly(ε‐ L ‐lysine) is described. This is a poly(ε‐amino acid) in which the ε‐amino group of lysine is condensed with the α‐carboxyl group to produce a chain backbone that is a variant of the usual one seen in proteins and the side chain is the α‐amino group. Conformational studies of poly(ε‐ L ‐lysine) and its t ‐butyloxycarbonyl derivative suggest the likelihood of a chain order that is formally similar to the antiparallel pleated‐sheet conformation of proteins.