Probing molecular recognition by mass spectrometry

The use of mass spectrometry for the study of host-guest complexation and molecular recognition involving either synthetic hosts or biological hosts has been a growing area of research over the past decade. Mass spectrometry has allowed the first studies of host-guest chemistry in a solvent-free environment in which both size selectivity and electronic effects influence the formation, reactions and stabilities of gas-phase host-guest complexes. Aspects of solution equilibria, such as the determination of binding selectivities of hosts and binding constants, may be examined by using electrospray ionization to transfer noncovalent complexes from solution to the gas phase for analysis. This article will review some of the highlights involving the application of mass spectrometry for solving problems in the area of molecular recognition. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.