Controlling Peptide Structure with Coordination Chemistry: Robust and Reversible Peptide–Dirhodium Ligation

Mild and reversible: A dirhodium tetracarboxylate reacts with peptides to bridge carboxylate side chains (see scheme). The ligation proceeds under mild aqueous conditions and is readily reversible. Dirhodium adduct formation can be used to control the conformation and supramolecular structure of peptides.