Optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism studies of copoly(propyl-L-aspartate-benzyl-L-aspartate)

Copoly(propyl-L -aspartate-benzyl-L -aspartate)s with various compositions were synthesized by propylation of a parent poly(β-benzyl-L -Aspartate). The variation of helix sense of copolyaspartate obtained against a degree of propylation and temperature was examined by optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism method. Copolyaspartate of propylation less than about 70% is in a left-handed α helix conformation and its Moffitt parameter b₀ and molecular ellipticity [θ]₂₂₂ decreased gradually with increasing propylation. On the other hand, a different temperature dependence of b₀ and [θ]₂₂₂ was observed for copolyaspartate of propylation more than about 80%, i.e., the reversible transition of the helix sense from right- to left-handed α helix took place by temperature increasing. These features were basically similar to the variation in helix sense of copoly(ethyl-L -aspartate-benzyl-L -aspartate), although a slight difference was seen for copoly(propyl-L -aspartate-benzyl-L -aspartate). The thermodynamic treatment indicating larger entropy of right-handed α helix suggests much mobile side chain of the right-handed α helix than the left handed one.