Application of MDPF and fluorescamine XV chiroptical properties of MDPF condensation compounds with dipeptides in situ.

2-Methoxy-2,4-diphenyl-3(2H)-furanone (MDPF) reacts readily with the free amino group of a dipeptide to form a pyrrolinone-type chromophore with absorption maxima at 275-285 and 370-390 nm. A simple test tube procedure is described which allows in situ correlation of the absolute configuration of the NH2-terminal amino acid of a dipeptide with the chiroptical properties of its chromophoric derivative. In several cases, unexpected deviation of the chiroptical characteristics from previously established empirical rules is observed.