Folding and self-assembly of aromatic and aliphatic urea oligomers: towards connecting structure and function.
Folding and self-assembly of biomacromolecules has inspired the development of discrete, non-natural oligomers that fold and/or self-assemble in a controlled manner. Though aromatic and aliphatic oligoamides remain unmatched for structural diversity and synthetic versatility, oligomers based on amide bond surrogates, such as urea backbones, also demonstrated a propensity for folding and self-assembly. In this Perspective, we review the advances in the design of oligomeric aromatic and aliphatic urea sequences (essentially N,N'-linked) that fold and/or self-assemble. Whenever applicable, the relationship between structure and function will be highlighted.
Fischer
Lucile
L
Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux-CNRS UMR5248, CBMN, 2 rue R. Escarpit, 33607, Pessac.
Guichard
Gilles
G
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; C045786:polyurea