A new class of analogs of natural products useful for supramolecular a
nd combinatorial chemistry is presented. Starting from the structure o
f natural dolastatins, we have designed and synthesized a series of am
ino acid-based unnatural rigid platforms having multiple functional gr
oups pointing in the same direction. The stereochemistry of the final
product is entirely determined by the chirality of the constituent ami
no acids. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.