Ab initio molecular fragment calculations with pseudopotentials: Model peptide studies

The energetics of rotation about the N? C′(ω); N? C^α(φ), and C^α? C′(?) bonds of the peptide unit have been investigated in the pseudo-FSGO fragment scheme on model compounds formamide and N-methylacetamide. The results indicated that the position of the minimum in ω is in the near vicinity of 0°, i.e., the planar arrangement of the peptide unit. The minimum in φ (C′? N? C^α? H) has been found to be 180° and in ψ(H? C^α? C′? N) to be 60°, in good agreement with PCILO and Gaussian-70 results.