Convergent Functional Groups

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This project by Julius Rebek within the Organic Dynamics Program, is aimed at the design, synthesis and study of host molecules that can bind to a variety of bioorganic ligands. These latter target molecules include heterocyclic bases, peptides and nucleic acid components. The selectivity of these systems will provide important information about molecular recognition, and its role in biological processes. Receptors for adenine have been refined to include molecular chelation; these systems feature simultaneous Watson-Crick, and Hoogsteen base-pairing and aryl stacking interactions. The thermodynamics of the complexation events will be examined, and are expected to reveal the intrinsic binding provided by the polarizable aromatic surfaces in contact with the nucleic acid bases in a number of solvents. Base-pairing in model receptors will be used to drive acyl transfer reactions to learn about the characteristics of self-replicating systems. This aspect of the project will invlove kinetic studies, especially those involving competitive inhibitors.