Inside Back Cover: Enantioselective Catalysis by Using Short, Structurally Defined DNA Hairpins as Scaffold for Hybrid Catalysts (Chem. Eur. J. 25/2017)

Abstract

DNA oligonucleotides that fold into hairpin structures are suitable nucleic acid components for the formation of DNA hybrid catalysts. In combination with a low‐molecular‐weight copper complex, these catalysts induce excellent enantioselectivity in asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions with selectivity values as high as 96% enantiomeric excess (ee). Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the nucleic acid components adopt a conformation with flexible loops, but a rigid, B‐DNA‐like stem region. More information can be found in the Communication by A. Heuer and U. Hennecke et al. on page 6004 ff.