Singh Santosh K, Das Aloke
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune-411008, Maharashtra, India.
Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2015 Apr 21;17(15):9596-612. doi: 10.1039/c4cp05536e.
This perspective describes the current status of a recently discovered non-covalent interaction named as the n → π* interaction, which is very weak and counterintuitive in nature. In this review, we have provided a brief overview of the widespread presence of this interaction in biomacromolecules, small biomolecules and materials, as well as the physical nature of this interaction explored using various experimental and theoretical techniques. It has been found that this interaction is equally important to other non-covalent interactions for the stability and specific structures of biomolecules and materials. An in-depth understanding of this interaction can help in designing more efficient functional materials as well as drugs. The review also provides a future outlook in terms of exploring the detailed functional role of this interaction in biological processes and its direct spectroscopic evidence, which other commonly known non-covalent interactions (conventional hydrogen bonding, π-hydrogen bonding, π-stacking, etc.) have.
这篇综述描述了一种最近发现的名为n→π*相互作用的非共价相互作用的现状,这种相互作用本质上非常微弱且有违直觉。在本综述中,我们简要概述了这种相互作用在生物大分子、小分子生物分子和材料中的广泛存在,以及使用各种实验和理论技术探索的这种相互作用的物理性质。已经发现,这种相互作用对于生物分子和材料的稳定性及特定结构而言,与其他非共价相互作用同样重要。深入了解这种相互作用有助于设计更高效的功能材料以及药物。本综述还展望了未来探索这种相互作用在生物过程中的详细功能作用及其直接光谱证据的前景,而其他常见的非共价相互作用(传统氢键、π-氢键、π-堆积等)则具备这样的证据。