Anion recognition by d-ribose-based receptors

Anion recognition properties of d-ribose-based receptors α- and β-1 were measured by 1H NMR in CDCl3 and MeCN-d3. Receptor β-1 showed effective binding with anions by cooperative hydrogen bonds of cis-diol. The anomeric isomer α-1 is a less effective anion receptor which has similar cis-diol as a recognition site, indicating that the stereo configuration of the anomeric position is of significant influence on the anion recognition ability.