Enantioselective ester hydrolysis catalyzed by β-cyclodextrin conjugated with β-hairpin peptides

Designed cyclodextrin–peptide conjugates, which have one or two β-hairpin peptides, have been synthesized as catalysts for ester hydrolysis. One or two β-hairpin peptides were located at the primary hydroxyl group side of β-cyclodextrin so as to arrange two histidine residues that act as a general acid and a general base catalysts and provide the substrate recognition subsite. Kinetic studies revealed that the two-β-hairpin peptide was more effective than that of the one-β-hairpin peptide for substrate recognition.