Solvent assisted structural diversity: supramolecular sheet and double helix of a short aromatic γ-peptide

Solvent interaction has a significant effect on the folding and structural diversity of short aromatic gamma-peptides that lead to a change in initial helical conformation. The internal rigidity of building blocks promotes the helical conformations of the gamma-peptides containing m-aminobenzoic acid and N, N'-dicyclohexylurea. Various solution state NMR experiments show the existence of intermolecular hydrogen bonded structures of the short aromatic gamma-peptides. In a polar protic solvent (MeOH), the helical strand interacts with the solvent molecules and expands to a more open (nearly extended) structure which further self-assembles to form a supramolecular sheet like structure. However, crystals obtained from chloroform show a supramolecular double helix which is stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking interactions. The report describes how significantly different self-assembled structures are developed from compounds folded in a subtly different manner by interaction with the solvent.