Glycosylated tris-bipyridine ferrous complexes as molecular mimics of densely packed glycoclusters on cell surfaces: spatial carbohydrate packing of glycoclusters changes on additions of salts

Tris-bipyridine ferrous complexes having β-lactosides, β-maltosides or α-mannosides with serinol spacers were prepared as molecular mimics of densely packed carbohydrate clusters on cell surfaces. Conformational analysis on these glycosylated complexes were conducted by UV–vis and circular dichroism spectroscopy measurements, which disclosed that the chloride, nitrate and sulfate salts induced the conformational changes of the glycosylated complexes in the anion- and carbohydrate-dependent manners.