Inclusion of thiamine diphosphate and S-adenosylmethionine at their chemically active sites

[structure: see text] Molecular clips functionalized by phosphonate or phosphate groups bind thiamine diphosphate (TPP) and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) with high affinity in water; both sulfur-based cofactors transfer organic groups to biomolecules. For TPP, various analytical tools point toward a simultaneous insertion of both heterocyclic rings into the electron-rich clip cavity. Similarly, SAM is also embedded with its sulfonium moiety inside the receptor cavity. This paves the way for enzyme models and direct interference with enzymatic processes.