SynopsisThe synthesis and characterization of a series of sequential polypeptides with the repeating sequences Aze-Pro-Aze, Pro-Aze-Pro, Pro-Aze-Gly, Aze-Pro-Gly, Ala-Aze-Gly, Aze-Ala-Gly, and Pro-Pro-Gly are reported. The polymers were prepared by the active ester method, using the p-nitrophenyl, pentachlorophenyl, and N-hydroxysuccinimide esters as the polymerizable tripeptide derivatives. Except for poly(A1a-Aze-Gly) obtained via the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, all polymers were isolated in good yields and have weight-average molecular weights in the range 10,000-30,000. The molecular weights have been determined by applying the calibrated gel chromatography system described by Fairweather e t al. [J. Chromatogr. (1972) 67, 1571 and by viscometry. All di-and tripeptide intermediates were chemically and optically pure.