Artificial Receptors for the Recognition of Phosphorylated Molecules

The investigation of synthetic (abiotic) phosphate receptors seeks to provide improved methodologies for the detection, extraction, and transport of biologically, chemically, and environmentally important phosphates. The design of phosphate receptors is complicated by the acid-base properties of phosphate anions. In addition to the more common anion-hydrogen bond donor interactions, protonated phosphate anions can also interact with hydrogen bond acceptors. A variety of recognition interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, van der Waals forces, π-surface interactions, shape complementarity, and metal coordination, have been employed alone or in concert to generate phosphate receptors. Many noncolored receptors have been functionalized with chromophores to produce covalent frameworks that undergo a pronounced color change when treated with an appropriate guest. Indicator displacement assay (IDA) is a competition method for the sensing of analytes.