Binding properties of a phosphonate substituted clip towards nucleosides

Molecular recognition and self-assembly, based on weak non-covalent interactions, are significant processes in chemical and biological systems [1], e.g. in enzyme-substrate binding or formation of protein complexes. So, the development of efficient synthetic receptors with the ability to bind substrates selectively is important. The water-soluble naphthalene clip with substituted phosphonate groups (Fig. 1) offers electron-rich side walls, which are suitable to bind electron-poor guests [2]. The complexation behavior of this clip toward nucleosides has been studied by time resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy with ultrafast pulses (fs-TRLFS).

[1] Vögtle, F. (1997) Supramolekulare Chemie, Teubner Verlag, Stuttgart.
[2] Jasper, C. et al. (2002) Angew. Chem. 114, 1411-1415.