Unusual conformational preferences of beta-alanine containing cyclic peptides. VII

In the present paper we describe the synthesis, purification, and single crystal x-ray analysis of the cyclic pentapeptide cyclo-(Pro-Phe-Phe-beta-Ala-beta-Ala). This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2I2I2I from methanol and adopts in the solid state an unusual conformation characterized by a cis beta-Ala5-Pro1 peptide bond and by an intramolecular hydrogen bond stabilizing a C11-and a C12-ring structure. The C11 structure contains the Phe3 and the beta-Ala4 at the corner position of the turn; it is the first observation of a type II beta-turn enlargement due to the insertion of an extra methylene group of the beta-alanine residue. The rest of the molecule participates in a newly characterized C12-ring structure, which incorporates a beta-Ala residue at position i of the turn.