Abstract
Various molecular recognition systems were investigated at the air-water interface because a study on molecular recognition in direct contact with bulk water is key to understand molecular recognition in biological systems. Monolayers with synthesized functional groups were found to recognize target molecules, such as ATP, nucleic acid base, sugars, through hydrogen bonding, while the similar recognition is known to be difficult in bulk water phase. The multi-point recognition at the air-water interface was accomplished by using mixed monolayer systems and multi-functional guests. Micellar system of the functional surfactant also showed the recognition ability in aqueous phase, which indicates the concept of specific molecular recognition found at the air-water interface can be extended to other type of interface. The theoretical approach based on quantum chemistry was applied to these systems to figure out the mechanism of molecular recognition at interfaces.
