Is it the global minimum which counts

The goal of conformational analysis is to find those conformations of the molecule which are observed under experimental conditions. At temperatures close to 300 K the lowest-enei conformations prevail in the sample, Le. first of all those corresponding the global minimum of the potential energy V. 

For large molecules, there is a possibility that, due to the synthesis conditions, the molecule is trapped in a local minimum kinetic minimum), different from the global minimum of the free energy thermodynamic minimum). Fig. 7.6. 

For the same reason that the diamonds (kinetic minimum) in your safe do not change spontaneously into graphite (thermodynamic minimum), a molecule imprisoned in the kinetic minimum may rest there for a very long time (when compared with experimental time). Nobody knows whether the native conformation of 

Christian Anfinsen obtained the Nobel Prize in 1972 for his work on ribonuclease. especially concerning the connection between the amino acid sequence and the biologically active conformation . He made an important contribution showing that after de-naturation (a large change of conformation) some proteins fold back spontaneously to their native conformation. 

Global molecular mechanics is, in my opinion, one of the most important challenges in chemistry. Students need to look for an important research subject. This is such a subject.  

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