Oligoamides based on natural raw materials, l-lysine and l-tartaric acid, were synthesized using one-pot processes. A l-lysine diketopiperazine structure was obtained with good selectivity without protection/deprotection steps.

Homogeneous core-shell systems were obtained with a growth, in controlled steps, of several oligoamides on TiO 2 nanoparticles. Derivatives of natural compounds, such as L-tartaric acid and a,a 0 -trehalose, were used as diesters in the polycondensation reactions with ethylenediamine. TiO 2 anatase was chosen because of its high photo-activity and its antimicrobial activity. The TiO 2 nanoparticles had been previously activated then functionalized using two different coupling agents, and finally, the TiO 2 -oligoamide nanocomposites were synthesized using two synthetic pathways. The final products were characterized by 1 H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and transmission electron microscope. These nanocomposites can show improved properties in comparison with the single components (TiO 2 nanoparticles or oligoamides), which are useful in many fields, such as antimicrobial coatings for surfaces in cultural heritage conservation. A nanocomposite (TiO 2 -polyethylenetartaramide) was used for applicative studies, and it has shown a good efficacy against fungal attack by Trametes versicolor on wood specimens (Fagus sylvatica). V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42047.

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