Conformation Control of Abiotic α-Helical Foldamers

With the aim to find new protein protein inhibitors, a three part methodology was applied to oligophenylpyridines. Theoretical ring twist angle predictions have been validated by X-ray diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations with NMR constraints. Careful choice of substituent and nitrogen positions in oligophenylpyridyl foldamer units opens the way to conformational control of the side chain distribution of this alpha-helix mimic.