Carbohydrate-metal interactions shaped by supramolecular assembling

Cyclodextrin ligands: Carbohydrates can be used as framework molecules that provide patterns of metal-binding oxygen atoms. The divalent forms of the biologically important metals iron and manganese can be part of such assemblies (see structure: Fe blue, O red, counterion green, hydrogen bonds between water molecules yellow). The assemblies are stabilized by favorable contributions other than the carbohydrate-metal interaction.