Receptors that bind monosaccharides selectively have potential application in sensing, catalysis, and drug delivery, but the structural similarities between pyranosides make their development challenging. We have prepared receptors that achieve specificity through cooperative binding rather than rigid preorganization. Although receptor 1  binds 1:1 to pyranosides with negligible selectivity, excellent selectivity for �-Mannose is achieved when a second host or guest associates (See Figure). The application of cooperativity as a strategy towards developing hosts for difficult targets will be discussed.

Synthetic carbohydrate receptors achieve specificity through positive allosteric cooperativity

244th National Meeting (2012)

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