title: A chiral sensor for arginine and lysine
abstract: [structure: see text] We provide access to a new class of C1- or C2-symmetrical host molecules 1 and 2 based on a spirobisindane skeleton. Whereas 1 is selective for short, rigid diamines, 2 prefers longer alpha,omega-dications. Of all the amino acid methyl esters, only those of lysine and arginine with the correct distance between their cationic groups form strong 1:1 complexes in DMSO with 2. NMR titrations reveal high association constants as well as discrimination between the enantiomers of lysine and arginine.
authors.affiliation: Institut fur Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, Germany.
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wehner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Finocchiaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Failla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Consiglio