Prof Jonathan Clayden

School of Chemistry – University of Bristol

Abstract
Biology presents many challenges for the chemist to tackle, and 20th century synthetic chemistry made great advances in building the molecular structures of nature. A new target
for synthesis is the mimicry of biological molecular function – for example the ability to manipulate and communicate information using complex molecular interactions and induced conformational changes, or to induce reactivity through fine control of molecular
orientation. This lecture will describe the development of ‘dynamic foldamers’ – synthetic structures with the ability to adopt multiple conformations and to move between them in a controlled manner. Synthetic molecular systems will be described that can act as functional mimics of membrane-bound receptors, can interpret aspects of the genetic code, can induce unprecedented reactivity, and can undergo controlled directional motion.