Polypeptides by light: photo-polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA)Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental procedures, additional MALDI-ToF-MS spectra, real-time FTIR results, light source distance results. See DOI: 10.1039/c6py02018f

The synthesis of polypeptides by N -carboxyanhydride (NCA) photopolymerization is demonstrated. The active initiator cyclohexylamine was produced in situ by the UV-induced breakdown of photoamine generators. Real-time FTIR and MALDI-ToF-MS analyses provide clear evidence for the proposed photoinitiation mechanism as well as the attachment of the active initiator to the polypeptide chain. NCA photopolymerization generates new possibilities for designing polypeptides both in solution and on surfaces. Synthesis of well-defined synthetic polypeptides by in situ UV-triggered formation of amine initiators.