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A simple method to identify supramolecules in action: Hill coefficients for exergonic self‐assembly
Author(s) -
Bhosale Sheshanath,
Matile Stefan
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
chirality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.43
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1520-636X
pISSN - 0899-0042
DOI - 10.1002/chir.20326
Subject(s) - chemistry , supramolecular chemistry , circular dichroism , exergonic reaction , monomer , self assembly , nanotechnology , crystallography , organic chemistry , crystal structure , catalysis , polymer , materials science
Precise supramolecular architecture is often essential for significant function. Simple methods to reliably and rapidly demonstrate the existence of such supramolecular structure and function at relevant concentrations in complex systems are badly needed. Hill plots, describing the dependence of a signal on the n ‐th power of the monomer concentration, are compatible only with the identification of supramolecules that do not really exist, that is, endergonic self‐assembly (Litvinchuk et al., J Am Chem Soc 2004;126:10067). Here, we show that the artificial increase in monomer concentration by chemical denaturation restores compatibility of Hill plots with exergonic self‐assembly and affords Hill coefficients n > 1 for stable supramolecules. Recent rigid‐rod π‐stack architecture with photosynthetic and ion channel activity is used as timely example, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy as method of choice for both sensitive and selective detection under relevant conditions. Chirality, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.