Solventless Formation of G-Quartet Complexes Based on Alkali and Alkaline Earth Salts on Au(111).
Template cations have been extensively employed in the formation, stabilization and regulation of structural polymorphism of G-quadruplex structures in vitro. However, the direct addition of salts onto solid surfaces, especially under ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) conditions, to explore the feasibility and universality of the formation of G-quartet complexes in a solventless environment has not been reported. By combining UHV-STM imaging and DFT calculations, we have shown that three different G-quartet-M (M: Na/K/Ca) complexes can be obtained on Au(111) using alkali and alkaline earth salts as reactants. We have also identified the driving forces (intra-quartet hydrogen bonding and electrostatic ionic bonding) for the formation of these complexes and quantified the interactions involved. Our results demonstrate a novel route to fabricate G-quartet-related complexes on solid surfaces, providing an alternative feasible way to bring metal elements to surfaces for constructing metal-organic systems.
Tongji-Aarhus Joint Research Center for Nanostructures and Functional Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Caoan Road 4800, Shanghai 201804 (P. R. China).
Chi
C
Zhang
Tongji-Aarhus Joint Research Center for Nanostructures and Functional Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Caoan Road 4800, Shanghai 201804 (P. R. China).
Likun
L
Wang
Tongji-Aarhus Joint Research Center for Nanostructures and Functional Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Caoan Road 4800, Shanghai 201804 (P. R. China).
Lei
L
Xie
Tongji-Aarhus Joint Research Center for Nanostructures and Functional Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Caoan Road 4800, Shanghai 201804 (P. R. China).
Huihui
H
Kong
Tongji-Aarhus Joint Research Center for Nanostructures and Functional Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Caoan Road 4800, Shanghai 201804 (P. R. China).
Qinggang
Q
Tan
Tongji-Aarhus Joint Research Center for Nanostructures and Functional Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Caoan Road 4800, Shanghai 201804 (P. R. China).
Liangliang
L
Cai
Tongji-Aarhus Joint Research Center for Nanostructures and Functional Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Caoan Road 4800, Shanghai 201804 (P. R. China).
Qiang
Q
Sun
Tongji-Aarhus Joint Research Center for Nanostructures and Functional Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Caoan Road 4800, Shanghai 201804 (P. R. China). xuwei@tongji.edu.cn.
Wei
W
Xu
D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008672:Metals, Alkali / Q000737:chemistry*; D008673:Metals, Alkaline Earth / Q000737:chemistry*; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013499:Surface Properties
D008672:Metals, Alkali; D008673:Metals, Alkaline Earth; D006046:Gold
G-quartet; density functional theory; electrostatic ionic interactions; salts; scanning tunneling microscopy