The discovery of several supramolecular architectures generated by guanosine derivatives is described. The story started at the end of the ’80s from the fortuitous observation of a lyotropic behavior exhibited by a guanylic nucleotide in water. This observation stimulated extensive research on several guanosine derivatives which self-assemble in different architectures (discs, ribbons, helices,.) according to their structure and environment. These ordered structures can be used as scaffolds for photo- or electroactive moieties and for the fabrication of molecular electronic devices.
guanosine - G-quartet - G-ribbon - G-quadruplex - self-assembly - supramolecular chemistry - current rectifiers