Acid‐Initiated Stereospecific Polymerization of Isocyanopeptides

Abstract

Recognition with a twist: The acid-initiated polymerization of dipeptide-derived isocyanides (see scheme) is found to be an exceptionally stereospecific process that requires a helical template. The reaction is very sensitive to the acid concentration. At high acid concentrations, the template is destroyed and a competing cyclization reaction becomes predominant.