The design and synthesis of coordination compounds for the selective recognition of nucleic acids, and, Studies on the cooperative recognition properties of fluorescent receptors

The synthesis of a series of pyridine based ligands is described. These ligands are designed to be used in the formation of supramolecular Ru 2+ based coordination compounds for the purpose of creating a general scaffold for aqueous phase molecular recognition. Bis(bipyridyl)pyrimidine and bis(bipyridyl)naphthyridine ligands were prepared in order to make dinuclear metal complexes. The substituted pyrimidines were unsuitable for metal complexation, however, a grid complex was prepared using the naphthyridine ligand. Bis(oxazole)pyridine and bis(pyrazole)pyridine ligands were prepared to make mononuclear metal complexes. The bis(pyrazole)pyridine ligands were the most effective, though the highly substituted derivatives were only sparingly soluble.; The design and synthesis of a series of bis(trityl)butadyne receptors is also described. These receptors vary in their cooperative response from non-cooperative to three-fold cooperative. The affinity of these receptors for various transition metals was determined via UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The advantages of cooperative interactions are highlighted by the fact that cooperative receptors do not appreciably lose binding affinity for Zn 2+ at elevated temperatures.