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Vernier templating and synthesis of a 12-porphyrin nano-ring
Authors:
Melanie
O'sullivan
(Oxford University)
,
Johannes
Sprafke
(Oxford University)
,
Dmitry
Kondratiuk
(Oxford University)
,
Corentin
Rinfray
(Oxford University)
,
Timothy
Claridge
(Oxford University)
,
Alex
Saywell
(University of Nottingham)
,
Matthew
Blunt
(University of Nottingham)
,
James
O'shea
(University of Nottingham)
,
Peter
Beton
(University of Nottingham)
,
Marc
Malfois
(Diamond Light Source)
,
Harry
Anderson
(Department of Chemistry, Oxford University)
Co-authored by industrial partner:
No
Type:
Journal Paper
Journal:
Nature
, VOL 469
, PAGES 72-75
State:
Published (Approved)
Published:
January 2011
Abstract: Templates are widely used to arrange molecular components so they can be covalently linked into complex molecules that are not readily accessible by classical synthetic methods1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Nature uses sophisticated templates such as the ribosome, whereas chemists use simple ions or small molecules. But as we tackle the synthesis of larger targets, we require larger templates—which themselves become synthetically challenging. Here we show that Vernier complexes can solve this problem: if the number of binding sites on the template, nT, is not a multiple of the number of binding sites on the molecular building blocks, nB, then small templates can direct the assembly of relatively large Vernier complexes where the number of binding sites in the product, nP, is the lowest common multiple of nB and nT (refs 8, 9). We illustrate the value of this concept for the covalent synthesis of challenging targets by using a simple six-site template to direct the synthesis of a 12-porphyrin nano-ring with a diameter of 4.7 nm, thus establishing Vernier templating as a powerful new strategy for the synthesis of large monodisperse macromolecules.
Subject Areas:
Biology and Bio-materials
Instruments:
I22-Small angle scattering & Diffraction
Added On:
17/01/2011 12:20
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