Heterocyclic amines for the construction of peptoid oligomers bearing multi-dentate ligands

Peptoids are oligomers of N-substituted glycine that can be readily assembled using haloacetic acids and primary amines as synthons. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of three new heterocyclic amines, 2-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-4′-yloxy)ethylamine, 2-(1,10-phenanthroline-5-yloxy)ethylamine and 8-hydroxy-2-quinolinemethylamine, and their incorporation into a series of different peptoid oligomer sequences. Since the heterocycles are all known to coordinate metal ions, the peptidomimetic products are designed to bind metal species with the potential for applications in catalysis and materials science.