Solventless Formation of G-Quartet Complexes Based on Alkali and Alkaline Earth Salts on Au(111).
Template cations have been extensively employed in the formation, stabilization and regulation of structural polymorphism of G-quadruplex structures in vitro. However, the direct addition of salts onto solid surfaces, especially under ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) conditions, to explore the feasibility and universality of the formation of G-quartet complexes in a solventless environment has not been reported. By combining UHV-STM imaging and DFT calculations, we have shown that three different G-quartet-M (M: Na/K/Ca) complexes can be obtained on Au(111) using alkali and alkaline earth salts as reactants. We have also identified the driving forces (intra-quartet hydrogen bonding and electrostatic ionic bonding) for the formation of these complexes and quantified the interactions involved. Our results demonstrate a novel route to fabricate G-quartet-related complexes on solid surfaces, providing an alternative feasible way to bring metal elements to surfaces for constructing metal-organic systems.
['Zhang|Chi|C|', 'Wang|Likun|L|', 'Xie|Lei|L|', 'Kong|Huihui|H|', 'Tan|Qinggang|Q|', 'Cai|Liangliang|L|', 'Sun|Qiang|Q|', 'Xu|Wei|W|']
D054856:G-Quadruplexes D006046:Gold D006860:Hydrogen Bonding D008672:Metals, Alkali D008673:Metals, Alkaline Earth D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling D011789:Quantum Theory D013499:Surface Properties
G-quartet salts density functional theory electrostatic ionic interactions scanning tunneling microscopy