Metal-modified nucleobase pairs and triplets as cytosine receptors

A preorganized cationic receptor 2 for cytosine (C) is described which is composed of trans-a2PtII (a= NH3 or CH3NH2) cross-linked modules with adenine (A), guanine (G), and uracil (U) or thymine (T) model nucleobases. The functions of these three modules are as follows: i) Adenine orientates the two other bases at right angles, thus producing the L-shape of the receptor. ii) Guanine is the primary receptor. iii) Uracil or thymine act as coreceptors. Compared with the normal Watson-Crick pair between G and C, the association constant between 2 and C increases by a factor of 3 (in DMSO). As deduced from 1H NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by the X-ray crystal structure of the C adduct 4b, cytosine is fixed through five hydrogen bonds to the receptor, one of which involves the aromatic H(5) of C. A comparison of C binding is made with a structurally related linkage isomer receptor as well as the precursor molecule trans[alpha2PtAG]2+. The potential of modular, cationic receptors is illustrated.