Cyclic peptide structures for molecular scale electronic and photonic devices

Abstract

The present invention discloses a family of cyclic peptide monomers and supramolecular cyclic peptide structures comprising chromophore residues which possess electronic and electro-optic properties for producing molecular scale electronic and photonic devices made from such materials. More particularly, this invention provides for cyclic peptide nanotube structures formed from a plurality of stacked cyclic peptides comprising chromophore residues that provide molecular scale electronic conductivity and non linear optical behavior. The stackable cyclic peptide is represented by the general formula 1 wherein R1 is H, CH3 or alkyl; wherein R2 a chromophore or a rigid and flat extended conjugated pi system other than benzene; wherein R3 is H, CH3 or a polar or non-polar organic functional group used for controlling peptide stacking and solubility; wherein n equals 1 or 2; wherein m equals 4 or 6; and wherein a first adjacent amino acid residue has an α-carbon chirality of L and a second adjacent amino acid residue has an α-carbon chirality of D.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.