Carbohydrate-based switch-on molecular sensor for Cu(II) in buffer: absorption and fluorescence study of the selective recognition of Cu(II) ions by galactosyl derivatives in HEPES buffer

[graph: see text] 1-(Beta-D-galactopyranosyl-1'-deoxy-1'-iminomethyl)-2-hydroxynaphthalene (L1), possessing an ONO binding core, was found to be selective for Cu2+ ions in N-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperazine-N'-[2-ethanesulfonic acid] buffer, at concentrations < or = 580 ppb, at physiological pH by eliciting switch-on behavior, whereas the other ions, viz., Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+, caused no significant change in the fluorescence. Whereas the binding characteristics were ascertained by absorption spectroscopy, the species formed were shown by Q-TOF ES MS.     

Non-covalent calixarene-amino acid complexes formed by MALDI-MS

Non-covalent inclusion complexes formed between amino acids and derivatized calix[6]arenes are observed in MALDI mass spectrometry. The methyl, ethyl, and propyl ester derivatives of calix[6]arene yielded amino acid complexes, while the smaller calix[4]arene analogs did not. Similarly the underivatized calix[6]arene and calix[4]arene did not produce complexes. Amino acid complexes were observed for nearly all 20 amino acids in time-of-flight (TOF) analysis. In Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) analysis, however, only the most basic amino acids arginine, histidine, and lysine formed stable adducts. The complexes were abundant under matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) conditions, which suggested favorable interactions between host and guest.     

Structural scaffold of 18-crown-6 tetracarboxylic acid for optical resolution of chiral amino acid: X-ray crystal analyses and energy calculations of complexes of D- and L-isomers of tyrosine, isoleucine, methionine and phenylglycine

To clarify the structural scaffold of (+)-18-crown-6 tetracarboxylic acid ((+)-18C6H4) for the optical resolution of a chiral amino acid, the crystal structures of its equimolar complexes with L- and D-isomers of tyrosine (Tyr), isoleucine (Ile), methionine (Met) and phenylglycine (PheG) were analysed by X-ray diffraction methods. (+)-18C6H4 took very similar conformations for all complexes. Although the chemical structure of (+)-18C6H4 is C2-symmetric, it took a similar asymmetric ring conformation of radius ca. 6.0 A. In all complexes, the amino group of chiral amino acids was located near the center of the ring and formed three hydrogen bonds and five electrostatic interactions with eight oxygen atoms of the ether ring and carboxyl groups. Also, the Calpha atom of chiral amino acids participated in Calpha-H...O interaction with the oxygen atom of (+)-18C6H4. In contrast, the carboxyl group of chiral amino acids did not directly interact with (+)-18C6H4. These results indicate that the structural scaffold of (+)-18C6H4 for the optical resolution of chiral amino acids is mainly based on the mode of interaction of (+)-18C6H4 with the amino and Calpha-H groups of chiral amino acids. The differences in interaction pattern and binding energy between the L- and D-isomers of each amino acid are discussed in relation to the chiral recognition of (+)-18C6H4.     

Quantitative electrospray ionization mass spectrometric studies of ternary complexes of amino acids with Cu(2+) and phenanthroline

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of ternary complexes of Cu(2+) and 1,10-phenanthroline with the 20 essential amino acids (AA) were investigated quantitatively. Non-basic amino acids formed singly charged complexes of the [Cu(AA - H)phen](+) type. Lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) formed doubly charged complexes of the [Cu(HAA - H)phen](2+) type. Detection limits were determined for the complexes of phenylalanine (Phe), glutamic acid (Glu) and Arg, which were at low micromolar or submicromolar concentrations under routine conditions. Detection limits of low nanomolar concentrations are possible for amino acids with hydrophobic side-chains (Phe, Tyr, Trp, Leu, Ile) as determined for Phe. The efficiencies for the formation by ESI of gaseous [Cu(AA - H)phen](+) ions were determined and correlated with the acid-base properties of the amino acids, ternary complex stability constants and amino acid hydrophobicities expressed as the Bull-Breese indices (DeltaF). A weak correlation was found between DeltaF and the ESI efficiencies for the formation of gaseous [Cu(AA - H)phen](+) [Cu(HAA - H]phen](2+) and [AA + H](+) ions that showed that amino acids with hydrophobic side-chains were ionized more efficiently. In the ESI of binary and ternary amino acid mixtures, the formation of gas-phase Cu-phen complexes of amino acids with hydrophobic side-chains was enhanced in the presence of complexes of amino acids with polar or basic side-chains. An interesting enhancement of the ESI formation of [Cu(Glu - H)phen](+) was observed in mixtures. The effect is explained by ion-cluster formation at the droplet interface that results in enhanced desorption of the glutamic acid complex.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of potassium cation interactions with the acidic amino acids and their amide derivatives

The binding of K(+) to aspartic acid (Asp), glutamic acid (Glu), asparagine (Asn), and glutamine (Gln) is examined in detail by studying the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the four potassium cation-bound amino acid complexes with Xe using a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer (GIBMS). Formed by electrospray ionization, these complexes have energy-dependent CID cross sections that are analyzed to provide 0 K bond energies after accounting for unimolecular decay rates, internal energy of reactant ions, and multiple ion-molecule collisions. Quantum chemical calculations for a number of geometric conformations of each K(+)(L) complex are determined at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level with single-point energies calculated at B3LYP, B3P86, and MP2(full) levels using a 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set. Theoretical bond dissociation energies are in good agreement with the experimental values. This coordinated examination of both experimental work and quantum chemical calculations allows for a comprehensive understanding of the molecular interactions of K(+) with the Asx and Glx amino acids. K(+) binding affinities for the amide complexes are systematically stronger than those for the acid complexes by 9+/-1 kJ/mol, which is attributed to an inductive effect of the OH group in the carboxylic acid side chain. Additionally, the K(+) binding affinity for the longer-chain amino acids (Glx) is enhanced by 5+/-1 kJ/mol compared to the shorter-chain Asx because steric effects are reduced. Further, a detailed comparison between experimental and theoretical results reveals interesting differences in the binding of K(+) and Na(+) to these amino acids.     

电喷雾质谱法研究谷胱甘肽与L型芳香性氨基酸非共价复合物

为探索谷胱甘肽和L型芳香性氨基酸的非共价相互作用, 将一定化学剂量比的还原型γ-谷胱甘肽分别与L型芳香性氨基酸(包括苯丙氨酸、酪氨酸和色氨酸)在室温和生理pH条件下混合后, 温育1 h, 生成非共价复合物, 并使反应完全. 电喷雾质谱测量结果揭示谷胱甘肽和L型芳香性氨基酸反应可以生成非共价复合物. 在二级串级质谱MS2测得的复合物碎片离子峰中, 除芳香性氨基酸离子峰外, 还包括谷胱甘肽及其它再次碎裂产生的b2和y2碎片离子, 进一步确认了非共价复合物的形成. 紫外光谱也证实了电喷雾质谱的实验结果. 为避免严重的离子化效率差异和质谱信号的相互抑制作用, 定量评估了谷胱甘肽和酪氨酸的相互作用, 结果显示反应物的初始浓度应该选择在5×10-5~3.00×10-4 mol/L范围内. 用质谱滴定法测定了谷胱甘肽与3个芳香性氨基酸非共价复合物的解离常数, 结果表明, 谷胱甘肽复合物的稳定性按Tyr, Trp和Phe次序依次增大.     

Complex Formation Reactions of Promethazine Copper(II) and Various Biologically Relevant Ligands. Synthesis,Equilibrium Constants,Spectroscopic Characterization and Biological Activity

Binary and ternary complexes of copper(II) involving promethazine, N,N-dimethyl-3-(phenothiazin-10-yl)propylamine (Prom) and various biologically relevant ligands containing different functional groups, were investigated. The ligands (L) are dicarboxylic acids, amino acids, amides and DNA constituents. The ternary complexes of amino acids, dicarboxylic acids or amides are formed by simultaneous reactions. The results showed the formation of Cu(Prom)(L) complexes with amino acids and dicarboxylic acids. The effect of chelate ring size of the dicarboxylic acid complexes on their stability constants was examined. Amides form both Cu(Prom)(L) complexes and the corresponding deprotonated species Cu(Prom)(LH₋₁). The ternary complexes of copper(II) with (Prom) and DNA are formed in a stepwise process, whereby binding of copper(II) to (Prom) is followed by ligation of the DNA components. DNA constituents form both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with Cu(Prom)²⁺. The stability of these ternary complexes was quantitatively compared with their corresponding binary complexes in terms of the parameters Δlog₁₀ K. The values of Δlog₁₀ K indicate that the ternary complexes containing aromatic amino acids were significantly more stable than the complexes containing alkyl- and hydroxyalkyl-substituted amino acids. The concentration distribution of various complex species formed in solution was also evaluated as a function of pH. The solid complexes [Cu(Prom)L)] where L=1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid (CBDCA), oxalic and malonic acid were isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, TGA, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Spectroscopic studies of the complexes revealed that the complexes exhibits square planar coordination with copper(II). The isolated solid complexes have been screened for their antimicrobial activities using the disc diffusion method against some selected bacteria and fungi. The activity data show that the metal complexes are found to have antibacterial and antifungal activity.     

Interaction of dipropyltin(IV) with amino acids,peptides, dicarboxylic acids and DNA constituents

Interaction of dipropyltin(IV) with selected amino acids, peptides, dicarboxylic acids or DNA constituents was investigated using potentiometric techniques. Amino acids form 1?:?1 and 1?:?2 complexes and, in some cases, protonated complexes. The amino acid is bound to dipropyltin(IV) by the amino and carboxylate groups. Serine is complexed to dipropyltin(IV) with ionization of the alcoholic group. A relationship exists between the acid dissociation constant of the amino acids and the formation constants of the corresponding complexes. Dicarboxylic acids form both 1?:?1 and 1?:?2 complexes. Diacids forming five- and six-membered chelate rings are the most stable. Peptides form complexes with stoichiometric coefficients 111(MLH), 110(ML) and 11-1(MLH_?1)(tin: peptide: H⁺). The mode of coordination is discussed based on existing data and previous investigations. DNA constituents inosine, adenosine, uracil, uridine, and thymine form 1?:?1 and 1?:?2 complexes and the binding sites are assigned. Inosine 5′-monophosphate, guanosine 5′-monophosphate, adenosine 5′-monophosphate and adenine form protonated species in addition to 1?:?1 and 1?:?2 complexes. The protonation sites and tin-binding sites were elucidated. Cytosine and cytidine do not form complexes with dipropyltin(IV) due to low basicity of the donor sites. The stepwise formation constants of the complexes formed in solution were calculated using the non-linear least-square program MINIQUAD-75. The concentration distribution of the various complex species was evaluated as a function of pH.     

Formation of metal complex ions from amino acid in the presence of Li+, Na+ and K+ by electrospray ionization: metal replacement of hydrogen in the ligands

Alkali metal cations easily form complexes with proteins in biological systems; understanding amino acid clusters with these cations can provide useful insight into their behaviors at the molecular level including diagnosis and therapy of related diseases. For the purpose of characterization of basic interaction between amino acids and alkali metal, each of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids were ionized in the presence of lithium, sodium and potassium cations by electrospray ionization, and the resulting product ions were analyzed. We focus our attention on the gas phase alkali metal ion-proton exchanged complexes in current study, specifically complexes with serine, threonine, asparagine and glutamine, which share characteristic pattern unlike other amino acids. All amino acids generated [M + H](+) and [M + Na](+) ions, where M stands for the neutral amino acid. Serine, threonine, asparagine and glutamine generated cluster ions of [nM - nH + (n + 1)Na](+) and [nM - (n - 1)H + (n - 1)Na + K](+) , where n = 1-7. While the (M - H + Li) and (M - H + K) species were not observed, the neutral (M - H + Na) species formed by proton-sodium cation exchange had a highly stable cyclic structure with ketone and amine ligand sites, suggesting that (M - H + Na) serves as a building block in cluster ion formation. Cluster ion intensity distributions of [nM - nH + (n + 1)Na](+) and [nM - (n - 1)H + (n - 1)Na + K](+) showed a magic number at n = 3 and 4, respectively. Extensive B3LYP-DFT quantum mechanical calculations were carried out to elucidate the geometry and energy of the cluster ions, and they provided a reasonable explanation for the stability and structure of the cluster ions.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric study of encapsulation of amino acids by cyclodextrins

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry has been used to study inclusion (host-guest) complexes of cyclodextrins (CDs) with amino acids. Host-guest complexes formed in solution are stable for characterization by ESI mass spectrometry: The relative abundances and the stoichiometry of the complexes formed in solution can, thus, be determined in the gas phase. The studies verified that β- and γ-cyclodextrin better accommodate protonated amino acids than α-cyclodextrin, and that chemically modified cyclodextrins such as heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CD) may show profound improvement in complexation. The preferential formation of DM-β-CD-aromatic amino acid over DM-β-CD-aliphatic amino acid complexes is confirmed by the experiments, and the relative gas-phase stabilities determined by repeller-collimator collision-induced dissociation show an identical trend to the complexation in solution. Although molecular mechanics studies also may predict the encapsulation preference of protonated amino acids by cyclodextrins, only small differences in the total complexation energies are obtained because of the inability of the calculations to consider hydrophobic interactions. An experimental approach based on ESI mass spectrometry is, therefore, more reliable in predicting host-guest interactions that involve cyclodextrins and amino acids than the theoretical calculations that employ molecular mechanics models.     

Enantioseparation of underivatised amino acids by ligand exchange capillary electrophoresis in a counter-electroosmotic mode

Enantiomer separations of underivatised amino acids were carried out by using ligand exchange capillary electrophoresis (LECE). Chiral discrimination is based on the formation of ternary complexes between copper(II), a chiral selector (L-proline or trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline) and an amino acid. All amino acids containing aromatic moieties or not were detected at 214 nm because of their interactions with copper(II). In order to reduce copper(II) adsorption onto capillary walls, we used hexadimethrine bromide to reverse the electroosmotic flow. Using this original strategy, the studied enantiomers migrated in the opposite direction of the anodic electroosmosis. After optimising the analytical conditions taking into account the chiral resolution and the detection sensitivity, we performed very satisfactory enantioseparations not only of aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine) but also of aliphatic amino acids (threonine, serine, isoleucine and valine). These enantioseparations were performed in a short analysis time at 35 °C. In order to rationalise the obtained results, we evaluated the complexation constants corresponding to the formed ternary complexes by capillary electrophoresis and we used molecular mechanics modelling.     

Effects of hydrogen-bonding and stacking interactions with amino acids on the acidity of uracil

The effects of hydrogen-bonding interactions with amino acids on the (N1) acidity of uracil are evaluated using (B3LYP) density functional theory. Many different binding arrangements of each amino acid to three uracil binding sites are considered. The effects on the uracil acidity are found to significantly depend upon the nature of the amino acid and the binding orientation, but weakly depend on the binding site. Our results reveal that in some instances small models for the amino acids can be used, while for other amino acids larger models are required to properly describe the binding to uracil. The gas-phase acidity of uracil is found to increase by up to approximately 60 kJ mol(-1) due to discrete hydrogen-bonding interactions. Although (MP2) stacking interactions with aromatic amino acids decrease the acidity of uracil, unexpected increases in the acidity are found when any of the aromatic amino acids, or the backbone, hydrogen bond to uracil. Consideration of enzymatic and aqueous environments leads to decreases in the effects of the amino acids on the acidity of uracil. However, we find that the magnitude of the decrease varies with the nature of the molecule bound, as well as the (gas-phase) binding orientations and strengths, and therefore solvation effects should be considered on a case-by-case basis in future work. Nevertheless, the effects of amino acid interactions within enzymatic environments are as much as approximately 35 kJ mol(-1). The present study has general implications for understanding the nature of active site amino acids in enzymes, such as DNA repair enzymes, that catalyze reactions involving anionic nucleobase intermediates.     

Equilibrium Studies of Binary and Mixed-Ligand Complexes of Zinc(II) Involving 2-(Aminomethyl)-Benzimidazole and Some Bio-Relevant Ligands

Binary and mixed-ligand complexes of zinc(II) involving 2-(aminomethyl)-benzimidazole (AMBI) and amino acids, peptides (HL) or DNA constituents have been investigated. Ternary complexes of amino acids or peptides are formed simultaneously. Amino acids form the complex Zn(AMBI)L, whereas amides form two complex species Zn(AMBI)L and Zn(AMBI)(LH_?1). The ternary complexes of zinc(II) with AMBI and DNA are formed in a stepwise process, whereby binding of zinc(II) to AMBI is followed by ligation of the DNA constituents. The stability of ternary complexes is quantitatively compared with their corresponding binary complexes in terms of the parameters ??log₁₀ K, log₁₀ ??_stat and log₁₀ X. The effect of the side chains of amino acid ligands (??_R) on complex formation is discussed. The values of ??log₁₀ K indicated that the ternary complexes containing aromatic amino acids are significantly more stable than the complexes containing alkyl- and hydroxyalkyl-substituted amino acids. This may be taken as evidence for a stacking interaction between the aromatic moiety of AMBI and the aromatic side chains of the bio-active ligands. The concentration distributions of various species formed in solution were also evaluated as a function of the pH.     

Molecular recognition on supramolecular systems (XXXV)-- Synthesis of novel b-cyclodextrin derivative bearing pyridinio group and its chiral discrimination of amino acids

A novel b-cyclodextrin derivative 4 bearing a pyridinio group on the primary side was synthesized by the reaction of 2-aminopyridine with 6-b-cyclodextrin monoaldehyde 3, and its complexation stability constants with several aliphatic amino acids have been determined in phosphate buffer solution ( pH = 7.2, 0.1 mol·L-1) at 25 ℃ by using spectrofluormetric titrations. The stoichiometry is 1︰1 for the inclusion complexation of amino acids with compound 4. Circular dichroism study indicates that the aromatic moiety was embedded shallowly into the cyclodextrin cavity. As a spectral probe, the pyridinio group in the modified cyclodextrin can recognize not only differences of the size and shape of amino acid molecules, but also the L/D-amino acid chiral isomer. As com-pared with mono-[6-(1-pyridinio)-6-deoxy]-b-cyclodextrin 5, compound 4 switched the enantiomer preference for L- to D-isomer, and showed the highest enantioselectivity of 5.4 for D/L-serine. The-se results are discussed from the viewpoints of geometric compensation, induced-fit concept and cooperation of several weak interactions.     

Evaluation and determination of the cyclofructans–amino acid complex binding pattern by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The noncovalent complex interactions between cyclofructans, a new class of cyclic oligosaccharide hosts, and various amino acids have been characterized by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. The 1 : 1 stoichiometry of cyclofructans and amino acid complexes was confirmed by their mass‐to‐charge ratio in positive mode. Cyclofructans (CFs)–amino acid complexes and cyclodextrin–amino acid complexes exhibited distinctive different fragment behaviors in collision‐induced dissociation experiments. Coupled with the results of ¹H NMR and nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy, cyclofructan–amino acid complexes were deduced to be rim complexes via formation hydrogen bonding and ion–dipole forces. The interaction pattern could be controlled by changing the pH condition. In neutral solution, amino acids are located on the positive side of CFs, although moved to the negative side pocket constructed by 3‐OH oxygen of furanose ring and the crown ether oxygen in acid condition. In addition, theory calculation for geometry optimization of Trp and CFs was performed, which was in good agreement with the experimental results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cation-pi interactions: structures and energetics of complexation of Na+ and K+ with the aromatic amino acids, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan

Threshold collision-induced dissociation of M(+)(AAA) with Xe is studied using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry. M(+) include the alkali metal ions Na(+) and K(+). The three aromatic amino acids are examined, AAA = phenylalanine, tyrosine, or tryptophan. In all cases, endothermic loss of the intact aromatic amino acid is the dominant reaction pathway. The threshold regions of the cross sections are interpreted to extract 0 and 298 K bond dissociation energies for the M(+)-AAA complexes after accounting for the effects of multiple ion-neutral collisions, internal energy of the reactant ions, and dissociation lifetimes. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G level of theory are used to determine the structures of the neutral aromatic amino acids and their complexes to Na(+) and K(+) and to provide molecular constants required for the thermochemical analysis of the experimental data. Theoretical bond dissociation energies are determined from single-point energy calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level using the B3LYP/6-31G geometries. Good agreement between theory and experiment is found for all systems. The present results are compared to earlier studies of these systems performed via kinetic and equilibrium methods. The present results are also compared to the analogous Na(+) and K(+) complexes to glycine, benzene, phenol, and indole to elucidate the relative contributions that each of the functional components of these aromatic amino acids make to the overall binding in these complexes.     

Liquid crystalline behaviour of hydrogen bonded complexes of a non-mesogenic anil with p-n-alkoxybenzoic acids

Phase diagrams of binary mixtures of the non-mesogenic N -( p -methoxy- o -hydroxybenzylidbe ene)- p -aminopyridine with a series of p - n -alkoxybenzoic acids ranging from methoxy to hexadecyloxy were established using differential scanning calorimetry and polarising optical microscopy. The key results obtained are: (1) the formation of 1 1 hydrogen bonded complexes between the pyridine derivative and the alkoxybenzoic acids, (2) the stability of the alkoxybenzoic acid mesophases over a wide range of compositions (up to slightly over 50 mol% of the pyridine derivative), (3) the absence of additional mesophases corresponding specifically to the 1 1 complexes, and (4) the complete miscibility of the acids with the complexes in the mesomorphic state. With alkoxy chains from methoxy to heptyloxy, mixtures produce only nematic phases; they produce both nematic and smectic phases with chains from octyloxy to dodecyloxy, and only smectic phases with chains from tetradecyloxy to hexadecyloxy. The formation of hydrogen bonded complexes was investigated at various temperatures using FTIR spectroscopy. Molecular ordering was studied by X-ray diffraction as a function of temperature and composition both for the crystalline and the mesomorphic states.     

Complexation of calix[4]arenehydroxymethylphosphonic acids with amino acids. Binding constants determination of the complexes by HPLC method

Host–Guest complexation process of calixarenehydroxymethylphosphonic acids with 10 amino acids in solution H₂O/MeCN (99:1) had been studied. Binding constants of the inclusion complexes from the dependence between capacity factors of the Guest and the calixarene-Host concentration in the mobile phase had been calculated. It was shown the binding constants depend on the nature of the amino acid residue, conformation of the calixarene skeleton, quantity of phosphoryl groups at the upper rim. In accordance with molecular calculation the complexation is determined by the electrostatic interactions between the positively charged nitrogen atom of amino acid and the negatively charged oxygen atom of phosphonic group of calixarene molecule, hydrogen bonds, π–π, CH–π and solvatophobic, interactions.     

超分子体系中的分子识别研究 5: 单-[6-(1-吡啶)-6-脱氧]-α-和γ-环糊精对氨基酸分子识别的热力学性质

本文用分光光度滴定法测定了单-[6-(1-吡啶)-6-脱氧]-α-和γ-环糊精(1)和(3)与一系列氨基酸在磷酸缓冲溶液中(pH=7.20), 25.0~40.0℃时形成超分子体系的稳定常数, 进而计算了配位焓和配位熵, 并与单-[6-(1-吡啶)-6-脱氧]-β-环糊精(2)的实验结果作了比较。化学计量法表明,所有的氨基酸均与环糊精衍生物形成了1:1的超分子体系。从热力学的观点,讨论了化学修饰环糊精和客体氨基酸的尺寸或形状适合、疏水效应、范德华力和氢键等几种弱相互作用对形成超分子体系的贡献。研究结果发现, 具有正电荷环糊精衍生物的吡啶基, 作为一种分子探针不仅可以识别氨基酸生物分子的尺寸或形状之间的差异, 而且还可以识别L/D-型手性对映体之间的差异, 进一步表明了主-客体间的诱导楔合、几何互补在分子受体选择性键合底物形成超分子体系中的重要作用。     

A new receptor molecule for lysine and histidine in water: strong binding of basic amino acid esters by a macrocyclic host

We present the new host molecule 1 which binds basic amino acid esters in water. It recognizes both positively charged groups of the amino acid esters by electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions with its four strategically placed phosphonate anions. Selectivity for lysine is achieved by the correct distance between both bisphosphonate pairs. By contrast, the smaller amino acid esters arginine, ornithine, and histidine form 2:1 complexes with 1. In methanol, a double chelate assembly enforced by pi-cation interactions with the imidazolium cation leads to a very high association constant for the 1:histidine complex of 3 x 10(4) M(-)(1).