Steric structure of L-proline oligopeptides. I. Infrared absorption spectra of the oligopeptides and poly-L-proline

Poly-L -prolines I and II were differentiated by the characteristic bands in the far infrared region. Form I showed two broad bands at about 280 and 160 cm^?1 and form II two bands at, 400 and 670 cm.^?1. Furthermore, three broad bands at about 250, 200, and 100 cm.^?1 were observed in the spectrum for form II. Infrared absorption bands of the pentamer, hexamer, and octamer of tert-amyloxycarbonyl-L -proline were almost similar to those of poly-L -proline II in the 1800–75 cm.^?1 region. In the far-infrared region, especially, the absorption bands of these three oligopeptides were in good agreement with that of poly–L –proline II. Accordingly we concluded that the molecules of pentamer, hexamer, and octamer had a helical structure of a left-handed threefold screw axis. The tetrapeptide of tert-amyloxycarbonyl-L -proline might also have a left-handed helix, probably one turn, since the tetramer clearly showed an absorption band at about 400 cm.^?-1 characteristic of poly–L –proline II.