Foldamers are synthetic molecules which, like DNA or a-helices in peptides, utilise hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions to coil in a helical fashion. This project will synthesise foldamers decorated with emissive groups such as pyrene. The binding of analytes (acids or environmentally relevant metal ions) will cause uncoiling, and result in altered emission properties for the sensor molecule. In this manner, the presence of these analytes will be ‘sensed’ through emission in the visible spectrum.