Activation of peptides by cobalt ions

Abstract

The combination of dipeptides with cobalt ions is described with particular attention to (a) the stoichiometry, (b) the number and nature of compounds present in the system, (c) the stereospecificity of combination, when asymmetric peptides are involved. The activation of the co-ordinated dipeptides is described from two viewpoints, first, the catalysis of exchange of methylene protons in glycine residues, and secondly the catalyzed oxygenation of glycyl-L-tryptophan in the presence of cobalt ions.