Cooperative duplex formation by synthetic H-bonding oligomers

Abstract

Flexible phenol-phosphine oxide oligomers show promise as a new class of synthetic information molecule.

Two-component assembly of recognition-encoded oligomers that form stable H-bonded duplexes

“…However, the subsequent values of EM 2 , EM 3 etc leading to duplex propagation can be much lower in systems with a backbone that is incompatible with formation of an extended duplex. 14,18 The results in Table 1 show similar values of EM for duplex initiation and propagation, which indicates that this backbone will support formation of longer duplexes. 14,18,19 The structure of the AAA$DDD duplex is illustrated in Fig.…”

“…For the AA$DD duplex, EM is 31 mM, which is consistent with the values of EM that we have measured for duplex forming oligomers with different backbones and base-pairing systems (10-100 mM). 12b, 18 The chelate cooperativity associated with duplex formation is expressed as the product K 1 EM, which is equal to 80, implying that the doubly H-bonded closed duplex is almost exclusively populated (98%). 12a The complex formed by the two 3-mers AAA and DDD was too stable in toluene for measurement of the association constant by NMR titration, so all of the binding studies were repeated in chloroform.…”

Emergent supramolecular assembly properties of a recognition-encoded oligoester

“…1). [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Hydrogen bonding interactions between sequence-complementary oligomers leads to formation of stable duplexes in organic solvents for a wide range of molecular designs based on different synthesis, backbone and recognition modules.…”

Can Life Emerge from Synthetic Polymers?

“…Some of the earliest examples have been reported by Lehn and coworkers using either metal‐ligand or hydrogen‐bonding supramolecular interactions . Afterwards, other interesting studies have been reported by the groups of Gong, Yashima, Hunter, Scott and others . However, in most reported examples, the hybridization of two homopolymer strands was studied, which is the simplest situation that can be achieved.…”

“…[12] Indeed, it is nowadays possible to control accurately the chain-length and monomer sequence of synthetic macromolecules. [1] Furthermore, synthetic hybridization [13] as well rudimentary replication and translation processes have been described. [14] In this context, it is worth asking the following question: will synthetic macromolecules ever lead to Life?…”