Foldamers are Artificial Molecular Architectures Inspired by Biopolymers Which can hold the Molecules in the Matrix by Non-Covalent Interactions

Biological macromolecules are composed of one or more linear oligomers that fold into a functional form. The information that governs the final structure is encoded in the sequence of monomers and the precise functionality that they display, but accurate prediction of such structures remains a major challenge in structural biology. Recently, chemists have begun to develop small molecule systems that fold in a similar way and these may help to answer more complex questions or find applications in artificial molecular assemblies. Study of the properties of a family of oligoamides composed of alternating repeats of isophthalic acid and bisaniline building blocks have a rich supramolecular chemistry in non-polar solvents, forming macrocyclic receptors, catenanes, knots and double-stranded zipper complexes via a combination of amide–amide hydrogen bonds and aromatic interactions. Here the serendipitous discovery of a new member of the family that folds into a well-defined, compact, three-dimensional structure, governed by a combination of hydrogen bonding and aromatic interactions.