DESIGN OF CHIRAL PICEN-BASED METAL-COMPLEXES FOR MOLECULAR RECOGNITION OF ALPHA-AMINO-ACIDS AND NUCLEIC-ACIDS

Molecular design features which determine the enantio-and stereoselect ive behaviour of metal complexes derived from chiral linear N-4-tetrad entate ligands with terminal alpha-pyridyl are described. Examples are provided of the ability of these complexes to recognise the molecular structures of biologically interesting molecules (alpha-aminoacids an d nucleic acids). Noncovalent binding and steric factors which influen ce these molecular recognition processes are analysed and assessed. Th ese include discriminatory interactions which occur at the intraligand , interligand (intramolecular) and intermolecular levels. (C) 1997 Els evier Science S.A.