Phosphatase-triggered guest release from a cyclodextrin complex

[GRAPHICS] A synthetic supramolecular system is described that models the effect of ph osphoryl transfer in molecular recognition. beta-Cyclodextrin-6A-phosphate (pCD), which is shown to be a substrate of alkaline phosphatase, binds cati onic aromatic guests, including anticancer agents, up to 100-fold better th an native beta-CD. The above observations demonstrate that pCD is capable o f releasing the guests from its cavity upon hydrolysis with the phosphatase , as also confirmed by monitoring the hydrolysis in the presence of a guest .