5-(beta-Cyclodextrinylamino)-5-Deoxy-alpha-D-Riboses as Models for Nuclease, Ligase, Phosphatase, and Phosphorylase.

beta-Cyclodextrin derivatives crowned with ribose rings (such as 1) catalyzed the hydrolysis, esterification, and phosphorylation of catechol-derived phosphate esters. The vicinal cis-diols on the ribose groups appear to play a major role in the catalytic activity of these enzyme models by the formation of hydrogen bonds which activate the phosphorus atom to nucleophilic attack.