Binding of AMP, ADP, and ATP Nucleotides by Polyammonium Macrocycles

The macrocyclic polyamines 4–6, when protonated, bind strongly and selectively nucleotides (AMP, ADP, ATP) and pyrophosphate in aqueous solution. The stoichiometry of the complexes formed was determined by titration experiments followed by 31P‐NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 4 and 5 form 1:1 complexes with ATP, ADP, and pyrophosphate, whereas 6 forms complexes with ATP and ADP involving 2 nucleotides and 1 receptor molecule. The stability constants of these complexes have been determined by pH‐metric measurements. At pH 7, both 5 and 6 give complexes of mainly the fully protonated species 5.6H+ and 6.8H+, whereas 4 yields predominantly complexes of 4.5H+ and 4.4H+.