The dipeptide and tripeptide analogues salicyl-L-aspartic acid (Sal-L-Asp) and salicylglycyl-L-aspartic acid (SalGly-L-Asp) were synthesized and their protonation and complex formation with V(IV)O2+ were studied in aqueous solution through the use of pH-potentiometry and spectroscopic (UV-Vis, CD and EPR) techniques. The phenolate terminus proved to be a good anchoring site to promote (i) the metal ion-induced deprotonation and subsequent coordination of the peptide amide group(s) in the pH range 4-5 for the dipeptide analogue, (ii) and in the pH range 5-6 in a very cooperative way for the tripeptide analogue. The results suggest that the presence of good anchoring donors on both sides of the amide groups is responsible for the cooperative deprotonation of the two amide-NH groups.