2006 Volume 64 Issue 6 Pages 608-616
In natural biological systems, Zn2+ ion is found used as a structural factor, a catalytic factor, and a cocatalytic factor in many enzymes and proteins. In this article, we describe the design and synthesis of two classes of three-dimensional supramolecular complexes that are formed by assembly of multinuclear Zn2+ complex modules. The first group includes cuboctahedral capsules and trigonal prisms, in which Zn2+ ions are 5-coordinated and work as structural factors. The other class includes a supramolecular luminescent sensor for inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate (IP3) and its achiral model compound, cis, cis-1, 3, 5-cyclohexanetriol triphoshate (CTP3), which is formed by Ru-templated assembly of dimeric Zn2+ complexes, where Zn2+ ions work as recognition factors for three phosphates. This knowledge will be useful in designing novel supramolecular complexes and their applications in bioinorganic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, and other related scientific fields.
