New Benchmark in DNA-Based Asymmetric Catalysis: Prevalence of Modified DNA/RNA Hybrid Systems
Nicolas Duchemin, Sidonie Aubert, João Vicente Braga de Souza, Lucas Bethge, Stefan Vonhoff, Agnieszka K. Bronowska, Michaël Smietana, Stellios Arseniyadis
Abstract
By harnessing the chirality of the DNA double helix, chemists have been able to obtain new, reliable, selective, and environmentally friendly biohybrid catalytic systems with tailor-made functions. Nonetheless, despite all the advances made throughout the years in the field of DNA-based asymmetric catalysis, many challenges still remain to be faced, in particular when it comes to designing a "universal" catalyst with broad reactivity and unprecedented selectivity. Rational design and rounds of selection have allowed us to approach this goal. We report here the development of a DNA/RNA hybrid catalytic system featuring a covalently attached bipyridine ligand, which exhibits unmatched levels of selectivity throughout the current DNA toolbox and opens new avenues in asymmetric catalysis.