6-Membered ring intermediates in polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride-L-α-arginine in H_2O

In polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride-L-α-arginine(L-Arg-NCA) in H2O,nucleophilic reaction of guanidine group with the carbonyl group of L-Arg-NCA leads to quick intramolecular rearrangement,yielding a 6-membered ring intermediate 1-amidino-3-amino-2-piperidone,which is either elongated by another L-Arg-NCA yielding arginyl-1-amidino-3-amino-2-piperidone or hydrolyzed to L-α-arginine.The oligoarginines are formed mainly through hydrolysis of arginyl-1-amidino-3-amino-2-piperidones.This is a unique pathway...