Left-Handed Helix of Three-Membered Ring Amino Acid Homopeptide Interrupted by an N-H···Ethereal O-Type Hydrogen Bond.

A chiral three-membered ring C-disubstituted α-amino acid ( R, R)-Acc, in which the α-carbon is not a chiral center, but two side chain β-carbons are chiral centers, was synthesized from dimethyl l-(+)-tartrate, and its homopeptides were prepared. X-ray crystallographic analysis of ( R, R)-Acc pentapeptide showed bent left-handed ( M) 3-helical structures with an unusual intramolecular hydrogen bond of the N-H···O (ethereal) type. The left-handedness of the bent helices was exclusively controlled by the side-chain β-carbon chiral centers.