Poly(-benzyl-L-glutamate)(PBLG) Ionomers Masanori Hara, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854 We try to develop a series of new polypeptide ionomers that use a-amino acids as building blocks. As a first step, we are studying a simple model system, i.e., model random ionomers, poly(-benzyl-L-glutamate)(PBLG) ionomers. We stress the effect of ionic groups (interactions) on the structures and properties of PBLG. With an increase in the ionic content, chain conformation changes from a rod (helical structure), to a broken rod , and to a random coil due to the existence of ionic groups (and ionic interactions). PBLG ionomers with a small amount of ionic groups develop thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior due to partial disruption of -helical structure in contrast to PBLG and acid form PBLG, which maintain helical structures and, as a result, are difficult to process.