Cyclic peptoids have recently emerged as an important class of bioactive scaffolds with unique conformational properties and excellent metabolic stabilities. In this paper, we describe the design and synthesis of novel cyclic octamer peptoids as simplified isosters of mycotoxin depsipeptides bassianolide, verticilide A1, PF1022A and PF1022B. We also examine their complexing abilities in the presence of sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (TFPB) salt and explore their general insecticidal activity. Finally, we discuss the possible relationship between structural features of free and Na⁺-complexed cyclic octamer peptoids and bioactivities in light of conformational isomerism, a crucial factor affecting cyclic peptoids' biomimetic potentials.
Keywords: conformational isomerism; cyclic peptoids; cyclodepsipeptides; insecticidal activity; peptidomimetics; structure-based design.