General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Full terms of use are available: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pure/about/ebr-terms A threading receptor for polysaccharides Polysaccharides are the dominant organic molecules in the biosphere 1 , and thus key renewable resources 2,3 . However the most abundant, including cellulose and chitin, are generally the most difficult to utilise due to extreme insolubility. At present there is no method for mobilising these materials in water under mild conditions, so that modifications involve chemical transformations in aggressive media [4][5][6] or the slow action of enzymes on undissolved solids 7 . Dissolution in aqueous media at biological pH would allow new paths to exploitation. In particular, the polysaccharides could be exposed to enzymes, either natural or engineered, to which they would be far more vulnerable. The rapid conversion of cellulose to glucose is just one prospective outcome.Here we adumbrate a strategy for the dissolution of cellulose, and related polysaccharides, through the application of synthetic receptors. The approach employs cage molecules with amphiphilic interiors, complementary to the carbohydrate targets. Critically the receptors are able to thread onto the polysaccharides, forming polypseudorotaxanes 8,9 . Because of the threaded topology, many receptor molecules can bind to one polysaccharide chain, surrounding the polymer with hydrophilic groups. If binding is sufficiently strong to counteract crystal packing forces, dissolution should be feasible. We report the design and synthesis of a threading receptor for polysaccharides, and show that it forms pseudorotaxanes with water-soluble oligosaccharides.We also describe evidence for polypseudorotaxane formation from polysaccharides under certain conditions. The results demonstrate the feasibility of polysaccharide threading in water, and could point the way to systems capable of solubilisation.A defining feature of cellulose 1 and chitin 2 (Fig. 1a) is the all-equatorial disposition of intra-chain linkages and polar substituents and (consequently) the axial positioning of apolar CH groups. In the extended conformation of the polymer, this creates two parallel strips of hydrophobic surface separated by lines of hydrogen-bonding functional groups. Our strategy for complementing these supramolecular valencies is illustrated in Fig. 1b. We sought a cage-like receptor structure in which two aromatic surfaces would be held parallel to each other, separated by rigid, polar spacers. The portals of the cage would be large enough to allow threading by the polysaccharide substrates. The aromatic surfaces would be capable of forming hydrophobic and CH-π interactions with axial CH groups in the substrates, while polar groups would hydrogen bond to equatorial substituents.We had previously used a related approach to bind all-equatorial mono-and di-saccharides in water 10-13 .However, these earlier designs e...

Dendritic side chains have been used to modify the binding environment in anthracene-based synthetic carbohydrate receptors. Control of length, charge, and branching enabled the positioning of side-chain carboxylate groups in such a way that they assisted in binding substrates rather than blocking the cavity. Conformational degeneracy in the dendrimers resulted in effective preorganization despite the flexibility of the system. Strong binding was observed to glucosammonium ions in water, with Ka values up to 7000 m−1. Affinities for uncharged substrates (glucose and N-acetylglucosamine) were also enhanced, despite competition from solvent and the absence of electrostatic interactions.

So-called "soap boats" have been known for decades and can be used to demonstrate the Marangoni effect. Inspired by recent scientific work, this paper reports an improved demonstration: a "soap boat 2.0". With this demonstration, a floating object (typically polystyrene foam) can be propelled along the water surface for up to several minutes. The direction of motion (straight, left-handed, or right-handed circles) can be influenced by the boat design. Three easy-to-make and effective boat designs are presented, and fifteen "fuels" have been considered with regard to safety, effectiveness, duration, ease of use, and availability. Some other possible variations of the demonstration are also proposed. The demonstration can be done with any age group, lasts for up to several minutes, and can be turned into a student project of varying length. Readily available materials (e.g., polystyrene foam) and benign household chemicals (e.g., ≥10% 2-propanol ("rubbing alcohol") in water) can be used.

A monocyclic "temple" synthetic lectin, with extended electron-rich aromatic surfaces, shows enhanced affinities for carbohydrates in water. The methoxy substituents favour binding to α-linked maltodextrins, against the all-equatorial substrates normally favoured by this family of receptors.

Dendritic side chains have been used to modify the binding environment in anthracene-based synthetic carbohydrate receptors. Control of length, charge, and branching enabled the positioning of side-chain carboxylate groups in such a way that they assisted in binding substrates rather than blocking the cavity. Conformational degeneracy in the dendrimers resulted in effective preorganization despite the flexibility of the system. Strong binding was observed to glucosammonium ions in water, with K a values up to 7000 m À1 . Affinities for uncharged substrates (glucose and N-acetylglucosamine) were also enhanced, despite competition from solvent and the absence of electrostatic interactions.