2,6-Di(pyrimidin-4-yl)pyridine Ligands with Nitrogen-Containing Auxiliaries: The Formation of Functionalized Molecular Clefts upon Metal Coordination

Supramolecular Analytical Chemistry

A large fraction of the field of supramolecular chemistry has focused in previous decades upon the study and use of synthetic receptors as a means of mimicking natural receptors. Recently, the demand for synthetic receptors is rapidly increasing within the analytical sciences. These classes of receptors are finding uses in simple indicator chemistry, cellular imaging, and enantiomeric excess analysis, while also being involved in various truly practical assays of bodily fluids. Moreover, one of the most promising areas for the use of synthetic receptors is in the arena of differential sensing. Although many synthetic receptors have been shown to yield exquisite selectivities, in general, this class of receptor suffers from cross-reactivities. Yet, cross-reactivity is an attribute that is crucial to the success of differential sensing schemes. Therefore, both selective and nonselective synthetic receptors are finding uses in analytical applications. Hence, a field of chemistry that herein is entitled "Supramolecular Analytical Chemistry" is emerging, and is predicted to undergo increasingly rapid growth in the near future.

A Differential Array of Metalated Synthetic Receptors for the Analysis of Tripeptide Mixtures

A novel library of resin-bound receptors within a cross-reactive differential array for the identification and discrimination of tripeptides and tripeptide mixtures is reported. Pattern recognition using principal component analysis showed complete discrimination of four similar tripeptides and three tripeptide mixtures. The library is comprised of a Cu(II)-centered core with two proximally appended tripeptide arms emanating outward. One tripeptide arm was prepared using combinatorial chemistry to generate the differential nature of the library. Thirty resin-bound receptors were randomly selected from the library and placed within a silicon microchip array that included integrated microfluidics elements, and an indicator-uptake assay was used for colorimetric signaling. The indicator Orange G yielded an accurate measure of the degree of association between receptors and analytes as determined by kinetic analysis of the indicator-uptake assays. Within this paper we detail the method used for differential sensing using a novel receptor library. This work further demonstrates the power and utility of a differential array of synthetic receptors for identification and discrimination of complex bioanalytes.

“Naked-Eye” Detection of Histidine by Regulation of CuII Coordination Modes

The association of various alpha-amino acids with four new, coordinatively unsaturated metal complexes ([Cu(5)]2+, [Cu(6)]2+, [Cu(7)]2+, and [Zn(8)]2+) was examined. The receptors [Cu(5)]2+ and [Cu(7)]2+ were found to discriminate histidine (His) from other zwitterionic alpha-amino acids by means of indicator-displacement assays (IDAs) using 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein as an indicator in buffered methanol/water (3:1) solvent. The colorimetric detection of His was achieved by using this IDA method, which appears to owe its selectivity to a unique process involving disruption of the host complex to form a 2:1 His/Cu(II) complex rather than simple indicator displacement. The occurrence of distinct intermolecular coordination processes in response to the introduction of a different amino acid is observed. X-ray crystal structures of the host metal complexes were obtained and exhibit the adoption of a variety of coordination geometries about the metal center.