Three analogues of the natural bioactive cyclodepsipeptide jaspamide (3-5) were efficiently synthesized using a combination of solid and solution phase techniques. The preliminary design of the molecules has involved the rational substitution and/or simplification of the most critical structural features of the lead compound. The synthetic products were subjected to pharmacological assays, and the conformational properties were investigated by MM (molecular mechanics) and MD (molecular dynamics) calculations, to describe the potential pharmacophoric core responsible for the observed activities.