Photo-Controllable Catalysis and Chiral Monosaccharide Recognition Induced by Cyclodextrin Derivatives.

A supramolecular catalytic system was constructed from polycationic α-cyclodextrin (6-Iz-α-CD) and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) using a supramolecular assembly strategy. The cavity of cyclodextrin is the channel by which the substrate molecules come into contact with the catalytic center. Introduction of the azobenzene-modified diphenylalanine (Azo-FF) guest molecule allowed for precise photo-control of the catalytic activity owing to its sensitive response to irradiation. Importantly, as a unique glucose oxidase the AuNP@6-Iz-α-CD realizes unprecedented chiral recognition catalysis for chiral monosaccharides. In combination with a 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) color reaction, AuNP@6-Iz-α-CD is able to recognize the chirality of various monosaccharides.