The enantiomerically pure (1R,2R)-and (1 S,2S)-1-amino-2-phenylcyclohexane-1-carboxylic acids (c6Phe) 3a and 3b were synthesized in good yields by a resolution method described by Obrecht. This method involves the formation of the diastereoisomeric peptides 7a and 7b followed by chromatographic separation. The free (1R,2R)-and (IS,2S)-c6Phe amino acids (3a and 3b) were converted into appropriately protected phenylalanine analogues 10a and 10b for possible use in peptide synthesis. The conformational analysis, in solution, of these peptides revealed that dipeptide 3a shows an extended-type conformation, while dipeptide 3b shows a type I B-turn geometry. In addition, we have prepared the unsaturated peptides 11a and llb and the structure of 11b, determined by X-ray analysis, also shows a type I I~-tum conformation in the solid state. The NMR data of this dipeptide (llb) allowed the characterisation of the type I ~-tum conformation in solution and established it to be similar to the solid state structure. These results suggest that c6Phe can be used as building blocks to stabilise type I B-turns or extended chains in peptides, depending on their absolute configurations.