Research progress in cation-π interactions

Abstract

Cation-π interaction is a potent intermolecular interaction between a cation and an aromatic system, which has been viewed as a new kind of binding force, as being compared with the classical interactions (e.g. hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions). Cation-π interactions have been observed in a wide range of biological contexts. In this paper, we present an overview of the typical cation-π interactions in biological systems, the experimental and theoretical investigations on cation-π interactions, as well as the research results on cation-π interactions in our group. cation-π interaction, intermolecular interaction, noncovalent interactionNoncovalent interactions are common intermolecular binding forces, which have earned much concern in the fields of chemistry, materials science and life science. Now, in depth study on their binding natures has been a research direction of physical organic chemistry and computational chemistry [1] . The interactions between cations and aromatic rings are generally referred to as cation-π interactions [2,3] , which have been viewed as a kind of new binding force, as being compared with the classical interactions such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic effects and ion pairing. Cation-π interactions are prevalent in many chemical and biological systems. Cation-π interactions play central roles in molecular recognition, stabilization of protein structures and nucleic acid structures, and their biological functions. A detailed investigation of this interaction might be helpful in finding new binding sites, designing new ligands and drugs, designing functional peptides and engineering modified proteins, and developing nonbonding interaction theory. Now, the study on cation-π interactions has become a research focus in many fields of chemistry and biology. During the past decade, cation-π interactions have also been well concerned and studied in our group.This review attempts to briefly combine and summarize the knowledge gained from theoretical calculations and experimental studies.

The Influence of Ca2+ and pH on the Interaction between PAHs and Molybdenite Edges

“…It is likely that the cation-π interaction between PAHs and absorbed Ca 2+ and the π-π interaction between PAHs and MoO4 2− take place on molybdenite edges supported by previous studies [33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. In fact, the cation-π interaction and the π-π interaction have been widely observed in biological systems [40]. This study indicates that the presence of CaMoO4 precipitates on molybdenite edges is the main reason that PAHs could adsorb on molybdenite edges.…”

Aromatische Ringe in chemischer und biologischer Erkennung: Energien und Strukturen

“…[195] Der Schlüsselaufsatz von Ma und Dougherty [189d] wurde durch neuere Übersichten ergänzt, hauptsächlich vom Standpunkt theoretischer Untersuchungen aus. [28,196] Neue Beispiele von Kation-p-Wechselwirkungen in der Biologie, Abbildung 22. Berechnete Abstände und Wechselwirkungsenergien der drei lokalen Minima des H 2 S···Aren-Komplexes (CCSD(T)/aug-ccpVTZ).…”

The Ionic Palladium Porphyrin as a Highly Efficient and Recyclable Catalyst for Heck Reaction in Ionic Liquid Solution Under Aerobic Conditions

“…Although the CT transition had been universally observed in metalloporphyrin catalyzed oxidations and metal-ligand coordination compounds [38,39], it was firstly observed in palladium porphyrin catalyzed Heck reaction herein. The formation of this lowlying and long-lived CT complex could be dramatically affected by ''environmental tuning'' [37] like the polar solvent of [Bpy]BF 4 , due to the strong cation-p/p-p interaction [40,41], which was favored by the structural similarity and preferential symmetry between [Bpy] ? cations and 3.…”