Helical peptaibol mimics are better ionophores when racemic than when enantiopure.

Helical peptide foldamers rich in α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) act as peptaibol-mimicking ionophores in the phospholipid bilayers of artificial vesicles. Racemic samples of these foldamers are more active than their enantiopure counterparts, which was attributed to differing propensities to form aggregates with crystal-like features in the bilayer.