Synthesis of polyamides and polyureas containing leucine–tyrosine linkages

Monomers with leucine–tyrosine linkages were synthesized using diphenyl phosphoryl azide as a coupling reagent. Leucyltyrosylpoly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether) tyrosylleucine (monomer 1 ) has a longer spacer: poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether) (Jeffamine® D-400), and leucyltyrosyliminohexamethyleneiminotyrosylleucine (monomer 2 ) has a shorter spacer: hexamethylenediamine. Polyureas from monomers 1 and 2 with hexamethylene diisocyanate and methylenedi-p-phenyl diisocyanate were synthesized. Polyamide, polyesteramide from monomer 2 were synthesized. The characterization of these polymers using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, solid-state ¹³C-NMR, IR, GPC, and also thermal analysis are presented. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.