Template Synthesis of Recognition-Encoded Oligomers

The project will take concepts from molecular biology and apply them to the organic chemistry of a new class of molecules. The unique properties of nucleic acids have made them the material of choice for complex nanofabrication. High fidelity formation of duplexes via non-covalent interactions between complementary sequences provides a straightforward approach to molecular programming of multicomponent self-assembly and template synthesis. The structure of the nucleic acid backbone and bases can be changed without destroying these properties, suggesting that there are all kinds of unexplored organic molecules that will also show sequence selective duplex formation. This project will explore the synthesis of new oligomeric molecules equipped with defined sequences of recognition sites. The aim is to establish protocols for using one oligomer to template the synthesis of a copy of the same sequence or complementary sequence. This template chemistry will provide tools for polymerisation of conventional monomers using templates to determine the sequence of recognition sites and hence incorporate the selective recognition properties of nucleic acids into new systems that have the potential for replication and evolution.