Chiral Recognition by Flexible Coordination Polymers of Ag+ with a Cysteine-Based Chiral Thiol Ligand That Bears a Binding Site

We report a new scheme for chiral recognition using coordination polymers of Ag+ with a chiral thiol ligand that contains a binding group. N-Benzoyl-L-cysteine ethyl ester equipped with a boronic acid group at the para position of the phenyl ring forms coordination polymers with Ag+ in alkaline aqueous solutions that exhibit excellent selectivity toward a D-glucose enantiomer over Lglucose, while the coordination polymers from the D-cysteine-based thiol ligand are specific for L-glucose. It is assumed that a conformation change occurs upon interaction of a saccharide molecule with the polymeric chain receptor, for which the next binding is promoted, leading to the highly effective chiral recognition, despite the flexible nature of the polymeric receptor.

Automated summary

A new method for chiral recognition using coordination polymers of Ag+ with a chiral thiol ligand that contains a binding group is reported, showing excellent selectivity. The research demonstrates that a conformation change occurs upon interaction of a saccharide molecule with the polymeric chain receptor, promoting the next binding and leading to highly effective chiral recognition.