A Dynamic Helical Supramolecular Peptide Framework Displaying Enantioselective Guest Adsorption

The ability to use bio-inspired building-blocks in the assembly of novel supramolecular frameworks is at the forefront of this exciting research field. Herein, we present the first helical polyproline peptide to self-assemble to form a reversibly porous, crystalline, supramolecular peptide framework (SPF). This framework is assembled from a short oligoproline, adopting the polyproline II conformation, driven by hydrogen-bonding and pi-interactions. Thermal activation, guest-induced dynamic porosity and enantioselective guest inclusion have been demonstrated for this novel system. The principles of the self-assembly associated with this SPF will be used as a blueprint allowing for the further development of helical, proline-based peptide linkers in the rational design of SPFs and metal-peptide frameworks.