Probing the importance of π-stacking interactions in DNA-templated self-assembly of bisfunctionalized guanidinium compounds

Bisfunctionalized guanidinium compounds displaying aromatic side groups of varying size are shown to self-assemble in aqueous solution with single-stranded DNA through phosphodiester backbone recognition. Competition experiments indicate the importance of pi-stacking interactions in the stabilization of these DNA-templated supramolecular self-assemblies.