From two to three dimensions on demand: control of secondary structure for materials applications

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In nature, strings of amino acids elegantly and readily fold into functional enzymes. This example illustrates the power of organizational control. Obtaining the same level of control over synthetic organic systems is an incredible challenge. However, great interest within the bio- and nanosciences for such technology drives chemists to develop strategies for the formation of well-defined shapes in three dimensions. One particularly interesting approach involves the design of a molecule that will have a particular response to the addition of a stimulus such as light. For example, molecules have been built that will fold from an unordered linear state into a helix when acted upon by an external signal.