Allosteric regulation of metal-binding sites inside an optically-active helical foldamer and its tubular assemblies

A helical foldamer possessing conformationally switchable metal-binding linkers underwent supramolecular polymerization to form a helical nanofiber. A reversible helix-to-helix transition of the helical nanofiber took place upon cooperative binding and release of Ag( i ) ions via a metal-coordination-driven W-to-U-shape conformational change of the linkers in a positive allosteric manner. A helical foldamer bearing metal-binding linker units self-assembles into helical nanofibers that undergo a reversible helix-to-helix transition upon the binding and release of Ag( i ) ions.