PNNL

Abstract

Since the breakthrough discovery of the double helix structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by Watson and Crick (1). in the early 1950’s, research interest in nucleobases and complementary base pairing chemistry has been a cornerstone of structural biochemistry, pharmaceutical development, protein crystallography, crystal engineering, modern biology, and many other areas (2-4). Current advances in the areas of solid-state chemistry and supramolecular chemistry have already achieved an ability to anticipate the formation of exotic supramolecular assemblies with tailor-made properties. Despite the research interest in the supramolecular chemistry of nucleobases, it is rather surprising that anionic forms of free nucleobases are relatively unexplored and crystal structures of salts of free anionic nucleobases and base pairs are unknown.