Solvophobically driven folding of nonbiological oligomers.

In solution, biopolymers commonly fold into well-defined three-dimensional structures, but only recently has analogous behavior been explored in synthetic chain molecules. An aromatic hydrocarbon backbone is described that spontaneously acquires a stable helical conformation having a large cavity. The chain does not form intramolecular hydrogen bonds, and solvophobic interactions drive the folding transition, which is sensitive to chain length, solvent quality, and temperature.