LAUSR

Herein, we report the preparation of lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) phases of poly-β-benzyl-l-aspartate (PBLA), a polymer that has not been known to form LLC phases before. Compared to other l-configured polypeptides usually forming right-handed helices, PBLA forms left-handed helices. The LLC phase behavior was observed for PBLA in a specific range of molecular weights, exclusively. Living polymerization allowed for this excellent control over the molecular weight. Furthermore, the LLC phase was used as a host matrix for two chiral analytes—isopinocampheol and β-pinene—used as probes. The interaction between these probes and the polypeptide was measured indirectly using NMR spectroscopy by investigation of the resulting orientation of probes in general and the enantiodifferentiation of the chiral analytes in particular. By comparison of the orientation induced on the probes by PBLA and the well-known poly-β-benzyl-l-glutamate, the effect of side-chain flexibility and conformation of the polypeptides ...