Nucleotides are constituents of nucleic acids and they have a variety of functions in cellular metabolism. Synthetic receptors and sensors are required to reveal the role of nucleotides in living organisms and mechanisms of signal transduction events. In recent years, a large number of nucleotide‐selective synthetic receptors have been devised, which utilize different molecular designs and sensing mechanisms. This Minireview presents recent progress in the design of synthetic molecular receptors for selective recognition of nucleotides in aqueous solution. The binding properties of receptors and the origins of their selectivity for a particular nucleotide are discussed.

Receptors bearing hydrogen and halogen bond donors for recognition of perrhenate and pertechnetate were designed and studied. Acyclic hosts with N-H and C-H binding sites showed the best selectivity for TcO4- and ReO4- over spherical and more basic tetrahedral anions.

The synthesis of crinane is disclosed via intramolecular C-N bond formation by the displacement of an allylic sulfoxonium salt. The allylic sulfide precursor was synthesized by a ring-closing metathesis reaction. The quaternary carbon stereocenter was created by alkylation of a benzylic cyanide. The allyl sulfide 14 was prepared by adding vinylmagnesium bromide to an α-chlorosulfide.

A cation molecular exchanger has been developed that consists of the bipyridine and crown ether receptor subunits. It has been shown that binding of the zinc­(II) cation to the bipyridine subunit induces the conformational switching of the crown ether subunits, which results in a release of the potassium cation. Two conformational states of the cation exchanger have been supported by the results from solution- and solid-state studies. It has been demonstrated that the cation exchanger is able to communicate with a cation sensor induced by a chemical stimulus.

Five coordinated antipyrine (A) complex of copper(II) perchlorate, [CuA5](ClO4)2 has been prepared. Both the electric conductivity and the cryoscopic determination of molecular weight in nitrobenzene solution show that the complex dissociates into three ions. Differential thermal analysis gives one peak at about 285°C owing to the explosion of the complex. Infrared spectrum reveals the presence of both strongly and weakly coordinated antipyrine molecules in the complex. The complex in 1,2-dichloroethane absorbs at 16130 (ε=51) cm 15630 (ε=53) and 14500 (ε=56) cm1. These d-d transitions with comparatively high intensities suggest C4v symmetry for the complex ion [CuA5]2+. A square pyramidal structure with four antipyrine molecules in the square plane at normal Cu-O bond distance and one antipyrine occupying the axial position with an elongated Cu-O bond, is assigned to the complex ion.