Living polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) upon decreasing the reaction temperature

The n-hexylamine-initiated polymerization of N-epsilon-trifluoroacetyl-L-lysine N-carboxyanhydride in N,N-dimethyformamide was studied by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis. A polypeptide with a broad molecular weight distribution was obtained and side reactions were clearly identified for polymerization at room temperature. The possibility of living polymerization at 0degrees C demonstrated.