Condensation polymerization of N‐dithiocarbonyl alkoxycarbonyl‐amino acids. Part I. Synthesis and condensation polymerization of N‐dithiocarbonyl ethoxycarbonyl‐amino acids

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>N‐dithiocarbonyl ethoxycarbonyl‐amino acids (III), <jats:chem-struct-wrap><jats:chem-struct><jats:graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" mimetype="image/gif" position="anchor" specific-use="enlarged-web-image" xlink:href="graphic/must001.gif"><jats:alt-text>magnified image</jats:alt-text></jats:graphic></jats:chem-struct></jats:chem-struct-wrap> were synthesized in crystalline form from various amino acids by the addition of ethyl chlorocarbonate to dithiocarbamic acid salt obtained from amino acid and CS<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> at low temperature. When the reaction was performed above room temperature, polypeptides could directly be obtained without getting III.</jats:p><jats:p>Compounds such as III were synthesized from glycine, <jats:sc>DL</jats:sc>‐α‐alanine, <jats:sc>DL</jats:sc>‐valine, DL‐methionine, L‐leucine, glycylglycine, β‐alanine, γ‐amino‐<jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐butyric acid and ε‐amino‐<jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐caproic acid in this paper. III were polymerized to polypeptides in high yields in the presence of a basic catalyst or by heating; acid inhibited the polymerization of III.</jats:p>