Solid state and solution conformation of 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid hydrazides: a new structural motif for foldamers

X-Ray crystallography and NMR show a strong preference for trans conformers of N′-phenyl or N′-(2-pyridyl) 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid hydrazides, stabilized by an NHNpyr. intramolecular hydrogen bond both in the solid state and in solution. This allows us to extrapolate that oligomers of this unit should adopt extended linear conformations.