Molecular recognition of carbohydrates with artificial receptors: mimicking the binding motifs found in the crystal structures of protein-carbohydrate complexes.

The binding motifs found in the crystal structures of protein-carbohydrate complexes have been successfully mimicked with simple acyclic pyridine- and pyrimidine-based receptors. A full discussion of the recognition motifs observed in the crystal structures of complexes of receptors 1 and 3 with glucopyranosides 4a and 4b is provided. A remarkable similarity of these motifs to those observed in the crystal structures of sugar-binding proteins and those found by molecular modeling is shown. In addition, the recognition properties of the new pyrimidine receptor 3 toward monosaccharides 4-6 are described. This molecule has been established as a highly effective receptor for beta-glucopyranosides.