Molecular recognition of ADP over ATP in aqueous solution by a polyammonium receptor containing a pyrimidine residue.

The synergistic action of the different binding groups of the polyfunctional HL receptor leads to the recognition of ADP over ATP in water, with a selectivity coefficient of up to 116, a phenomenon which is unprecedented in the context of synthetic receptors in water. The recognition is mostly due to the good matching between H(3)L(2+) and the protonated forms of ADP.