A Synthetic Lectin for Glucuronate.

ABSTRACT: The selective recognition of hydrophilic carbohydrates in water remains a longstanding challenge in supramolecular chemistry due to solvent competition and the lack of a strong driving force comparable to the hydrophobic effect. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of a water-soluble tetralactam macrocycle, MPNT²⁺·2Cl^-, as a highly effective synthetic lectin for glucuronate. MPNT²⁺·2Cl^- features two dimethylnaphthalene panels, pyridinium spacers, and morpholine side chains, forming a rigid, preorganized cavity with convergent hydrogen bond donors, polarized C-H donors, and complementary electrostatic interactions. The receptor achieves a binding affinity of 103,000 M^-1 for glucuronate in water, over 19-fold hig

SUBMITTER: Zhai C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12464755 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature