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Substituent effects in synthetic lectins--exploring the role of CH-π interactions in carbohydrate recognition
Nicholas P Barwell1, Anthony P Davis
1School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, UK BS8 1TS.
Abstract:
Contacts between aromatic surfaces and saccharide CH groups are common motifs in natural carbohydrate recognition. These CH-π interactions are modeled in "synthetic lectins" which employ oligophenyl units as apolar surfaces. Here we report the synthesis and study of new synthetic lectins with fluoro- and hydroxy-substituted biphenyl units, designed to explore the role of π-electron density in carbohydrate CH-π interactions. We find evidence that recognition can be moderated through electronic effects but that other factors such as cavity hydration are also important and sometimes predominant in determining binding strengths.
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