posted on 2019-12-13, 13:03authored byYuren Sun, Jun Gu, Hongyu Wang, Jonathan L. Sessler, Pall Thordarson, Yue-Jian Lin, Hegui Gong
The use of geminal di(guanidinium) and acridin-9(10H)-one-derived di(carboxylate) derivatives (1a–c and 2a–e,
respectively) allows stabilization of heterodimers characterized by
high binding affinities in water (maximum ΔG < −7 kcal mol–1, Ka > 105 M–1) as inferred from
UV–vis spectroscopic titrations and ITC measurements, therefore
rivaling or surpassing the interaction energy between the strongest
DNA or RNA triplet pairs. These duplexes are readily accessible and
are structurally modifiable, rendering them attractive as building
blocks for creating heteroduplex constructs. Incorporating poly(ethylene
glycol)-decorated benzyl groups into the dicarboxylate, allows formation
of hydrogels in the case of 1b–2c.