Design and synthesis of trans-3-aminopyran-2-carboxylic acid (APyC) and α/β-peptides with 9/11-helix.

A new β-amino acid, trans-3-aminopyran-2-carboxylic acid (APyC), was designed and synthesized from (R)-glyceraldehyde derivative and used in the synthesis of α/β-peptides in a 1 : 1 alternating pattern with d-Ala. The presence of oxygen atom at the Cβ(2)-position in APyC was envisaged to provide opportunity for additional interaction. These hybrid peptides have shown the presence of 9/11-helix through extensive NMR and MD studies. The amide protons of d-Ala, in addition to participating in 9-mr H-bonding with CO of succeeding β-residue, were also involved in additional electrostatic interaction with pyran ring oxygen of preceding β-residue, which facilitated further stabilization to the 9/11-mixed helix. The study thus results in a new 'motif' for a 9/11-helix, and the first example from a cyclic β-amino acid.